GB1589969A - Apparatus for forming groups of articles - Google Patents

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR FORMING GRO UPS OF ARTICLES (71) We, MOLINS LIMITED, a British Company, of 2 Evelyn Street, Deptford, London SE8 5DH, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention concerns improvements in or relating to apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes or similar rod-like articles to be packed.

One common way of forming groups of cigarettes which are to be packed, is to feed cigarettes from a supply hopper downwardly in a plurality of columns separated by thin vanes, and removing a number of cigarettes from each column simultaneously, to provide a group which contains the desired number of cigarettes arranged in two or more rows. Each group then has an inner wrapper of metallic foil formed round it and the wrapped group may be enclosed either in a paper cup, to form a "soft" pack, or in an outer packet of cardboard.

In certain cases anly one cigarette at a time may be removed from each column of the hopper, i.e. only one row of cigarettes at a time. One example is in the packing of groups of cigarettes in so-called "shoulder boxes", where it is desired to separate the individual rows in a group (usually two rows) by an interleaving strip of paper or the like. Another example is in the formation of oval cigarettes into groups: here the oval cigarettes have to be fed down the columns of the hopper with their major axes parallel with the vanes, and must then be removed one row at a time so that each cigarette in the row can be rotated through 90 about its longitudinal axis to bring its major axis into the plane of the row. In such cases it is then necessary to bring the two or more rows of cigarettes together into a group of the desired formation.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes or similar rod-like articles to be packed, each group containing a desired number of cigarettes in not more than three superposed rows, comprising feed means for successively feeding single rows of cigarettes in an axial direction; a platform movable from at least a first position, at which a first row of cigarettes is receivable from the feed means, to a second position vertically below the first position at which a second row of cigarettes is receivable from the feed means, so that the resulting group of superposed rows is supported by the platform; operating means to move the platform at least from the first position to the second position and from thence to a discharge position; and conveyor means movable in a direction substantially parallel to said feed means for axially removing said group from the platform at said discharge position.

If the number of cigarettes in the first and second rows is equal, the distance moved by the platform from the first position to the second position may correspond approximately to the diameter of the cigarettes or, in the case of oval cigarettes, their minor diameter. Clearly the platform may similarly move to a third position if it is desired to form three superposed rows in a group.

The apparatus may include means to feed a strip of sheet material (for example a cigarette coupon) between adjacent superposed rows.

A resilient curtain member may be positioned at the entry to the platform, so that the strip of sheet material is lightly pressed down against the first row and held squarely back against the feed means.

The resilient curtain member may take the form of a thin comb made of plastics material, the comb having a plurality of teeth, each tooth corresponding to the position of a rod-like article of a row. The comb also assists in decelerating the cigarettes before they meet an end stop associated with the platform.

A brush member having downwardly directed bristles, i.e. perpendicular to the axes of the cigarettes, may be mounted ahead of the curtain member so that it engages the top of the leading ends of the rod-like articles to decelerate them.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes, Figures 2 to 5 show successive positions of certain parts during operation of the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 6 is a section taken on the lines VI-VI of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a side view of a modification of the apparatus, being a view similar to Figures 2 and 3, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a part of the modified apparatus of Figure 7.

Referring first to Figure 1, cigarettes are fed in rows A and- B along a collating plate 1 by å series of pushers 2A, 2B respèctively.

The pushers are supported from a chain conveyor 3 which passes around a pair of sprockets, only the left-hand one 3A being shown. The cigarette rows are formed by each pusher extracting cigarettes from the base of a known hopper (not shown) which is provided with thin vertical vanes, being mounted above an extension of the collating plate 1 to the right of Figure 1. Convergent side guides 4 positioned above the plate 1 bring the cigarettes close together, so that at the position of the row B the individual cigarettes are laterally abutting.

Below the conveyor 3 is a further chain conveyor 6 on which a series of pushers 7 are mounted. The conveyor 6 passes around a sprocket 6A, the other sprocket (to the left of Figure 1) not being shown. The operative part of each pusher 7 consists of a shallow bar 8 which, as seen in the light hand portion of Figure 1, moves along a bed 9 between upper and lower fixed side guides 10A and lOB respectively (see also Figure 6). The plate 1 and conveyor 3 are slightly downwardly inclined towards the bed 9 and conveyor 6, for a reason which will become apparent below.

At the end of the plate 1 is a transfer platform 11 mounted for vertical movement on å pair of links 12 of dissimilar lengths.

The -longer link 12 is connected to a cam follower arm 13 which is driven by -a cam 14. The platform 11 is shown in Figure 1 in its uppermost position. in which it is substantially aligned with the plate 1. When the platform 11 is moved by the cam 14 to its lowermost position, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the unequal links 12 alter the inclination of the platform so that it becomes alioned with the bed 9.

Pivotally mounted above the platform 11 is a dabber plate 15, which is driven through a cam follower arm 16 by a cam 17. A pair of side walls 18 adjoins the ends of the guides 4 and lOA, the dabber 15 and platform 11 being of such a width that there is a small working clearance with each of the walls 18, as shown at X (Figure 6).

Driven coaxially with the cam 17 is a further cam 19, which operates through a cam follower push-rod 20A and arm 20B to oscillate a lever 21 secured to a shaft 22 to which the arm 20B is also attached.

At the free end of the lever 21 is pivoted a pawl 23 which is biassed into contact with a smooth inclined surface of a wedge-shaped member 24 on part of the fixed structure of the apparatus. A quick-release device, indicated generally at 22A, is provided to enable the lever 21 and pawl 23 to be swung freely about the shaft 22, in order to gain access to the surface of the member 24.

To the side of the pawl 23, viz. behind the pawi as viewed in Figure 1, is a mechanism (not shown) for feeding paper strips C one at a time on to the member 24. The strips C serve to separate the upper and lower rows of cigarettes of a group, and may for example take the form of cigarette coupons.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described, referring additionally to Figures 2 to 6.

In the position of Figure 1 the row of cigarettes A is just being fed on to the platform 11 by the pusher 2A. At the same time the pawl 23 is moving a strip C on to the row A, so that when it drops off the edge of the member 24 it will be positioned across the middle of the row. The pusher 2A continues to feed the row A to bring the leading end of the row into contact with a stop 25 secured across the side walls 18.

At this point the chain links which support the pusher 2A have started turning with the sprocket 3A, so that the pusher 2A ceases its movement towards the left and comes out of contact with the trailing end of the row A as the leading end meets the stop 25. This final position of the row A and strip C is shown in Figure 2.

The cam 14 now lowers the platform 11 by a distance corresponding to the diameter of the cigarettes plus the thickness of the strip C, so that the platform assumes the position shown in Figure 3. The pusher 2B now feeds the row B on top of the strip C and row A on the platform 11. It will be realised that due to the dissimilar lengths of the links 12, the platform will have rotated slightly clockwise in dropping to its second position, as shown in Figure 3. The row B thus first makes contact with the strip C approximately along its middle, so that the position of the strip remains undisturbed.

It is. for this reason that the plate 1 and conveyor 3 are slightly downwardly inclined, as described above.

The pusher 2B similarly continues to feca the row B towards the left to bring it into contact with the stop 25, when the row B assumes a superposed position over the previous row A. The rows A and B, together with the strip C, thus constitute a group or bundle which will later be wrapped by further apparatus (not shown).

The cam 17 now operates to bring the dabber plate 15 down against the top of the row B (Figure 4). The platform 11 next descends rapidly and the dabber 15 continues to descend at the same speed as the platform, maintaining a light contact against the top of the row B. On reaching the position shown in Figures 5, at which the platform is aligned with the bed 9, the platform and dabber come to rest and release their grip on the group.

The bar 8 of a pusher 7 meets the back of the group A, C, B and propels it along the bed 9 between the guides 10A and 10B towards the further apparatus (not shown) for forming a wrapper around the group, prior to the group being deposited into a shoulder box.

As the bar 8 pushes the group off the platform 11, the dabber 15 returns to the upper position shown in Figure 1, and as soon as the bar 8 is clear of the platform, the platform is also returned to its uppermost position in readiness for the next row of cigarettes to be deposited thereon. It may be noted that a larger spacing is provided between successive pairs of pushers on the chain conveyor 3 than between the individual pushers 2A and 2B of a pair. This allows time for the platform 11 to lower a group of cigarettes and to ascend again before the next row is deposited on it.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, as several of the parts in this modified apparatus are similar to those described above, the same reference characters will be used where possible.

In Figure 7 there is shown a row of cigarettes A being fed on to the vertically movable transfer platform 11, the row A being at a position slightly behind that shown in Figure 1. To the right of the platform as viewed in Figure 7, is the wedge-shaped member 24 having a smooth inclined surface down which a strip of material C, e.g. a paper coupon, is fed by means of a reciprocating pawl (similar to the pawl 23 above).

A pair of side walls 18, which guide the row A on to the platform 11, are connected at their upper end by a portion 18A. Secured to the portion 18A is a curtain member 30 made of plastics material. As can be seen from Figure 8 (in which the portion 18A has been omitted, and only part of the row A is shown) the curtain member is in the form of a comb having thin, lightly sprung teeth 31, each tooth corresponding with the position of a cigarette of a row. To the left of the walls 18, as viewed in Figure 7, is an end stop 33, which is mounted for horizontal adjustment to accommodate cigarettes of different length. Secured perpendicularly across the walls 18 in front of the stop 33 is a brush 32 having downwardly directed bristles which extend slightly into the path of row of cigarettes A as they are fed along the platform 11.

In operation, as the strip C is fed down the wedge surface 24 it meets the teeth 31 of the comb 30, which align it squarely with the row of cigarettes A concurrently being fed on to the platform 11. The strip C therefore remains in contact with the pawl which is feeding it forward, and as it passes under the teeth 31 it is lightly held down against the row A. The strip is initially moved slightly faster than the row A, until it reaches a position midway between the ends of the row. Subsequently it is held in such position by the light spring force of the teeth 31.

As the row A is fed along the platform, it passes under the brush 32, which decelerates the row before it meets the end stop 33. The light spring pressure of the teeth 31 on the strip, and subsequently on the back ends of the cigarettes, also assists in decelerating the row.

The platform 11 then descends by an amount slightly greater than the diameter of the cigarettes, and a second row of cigarettes is next fed on to the strip C and the row A. The teeth 31 and brush 32 similarly serve to decelerate the second row before it meets the stop 33.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes or similar rod-like articles to be packed, each group containing a desired number of cigarettes in not more than three superposed rows, comprising feed means for successively feeding single rows of cigarettes in an axial direction: a platform movable from at least a first position, at which a first row of cigarettes is receivable from the feed means, to a second position vertically below the first position at which a second row of cigarettes is receivable from the feed means, so that the resulting group of superposed rows is supported by the platform; operating means to move the platform at least from the first position to the second position and from thence to a discharge position; and conveyor means movable in a direction substantially parallel to said feed means for axially removing said group from the platform at said discharge position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each group consists of two rows of cigarettes and further comprising a dabber

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. conveyor 3 are slightly downwardly inclined, as described above. The pusher 2B similarly continues to feca the row B towards the left to bring it into contact with the stop 25, when the row B assumes a superposed position over the previous row A. The rows A and B, together with the strip C, thus constitute a group or bundle which will later be wrapped by further apparatus (not shown). The cam 17 now operates to bring the dabber plate 15 down against the top of the row B (Figure 4). The platform 11 next descends rapidly and the dabber 15 continues to descend at the same speed as the platform, maintaining a light contact against the top of the row B. On reaching the position shown in Figures 5, at which the platform is aligned with the bed 9, the platform and dabber come to rest and release their grip on the group. The bar 8 of a pusher 7 meets the back of the group A, C, B and propels it along the bed 9 between the guides 10A and 10B towards the further apparatus (not shown) for forming a wrapper around the group, prior to the group being deposited into a shoulder box. As the bar 8 pushes the group off the platform 11, the dabber 15 returns to the upper position shown in Figure 1, and as soon as the bar 8 is clear of the platform, the platform is also returned to its uppermost position in readiness for the next row of cigarettes to be deposited thereon. It may be noted that a larger spacing is provided between successive pairs of pushers on the chain conveyor 3 than between the individual pushers 2A and 2B of a pair. This allows time for the platform 11 to lower a group of cigarettes and to ascend again before the next row is deposited on it. Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, as several of the parts in this modified apparatus are similar to those described above, the same reference characters will be used where possible. In Figure 7 there is shown a row of cigarettes A being fed on to the vertically movable transfer platform 11, the row A being at a position slightly behind that shown in Figure 1. To the right of the platform as viewed in Figure 7, is the wedge-shaped member 24 having a smooth inclined surface down which a strip of material C, e.g. a paper coupon, is fed by means of a reciprocating pawl (similar to the pawl 23 above). A pair of side walls 18, which guide the row A on to the platform 11, are connected at their upper end by a portion 18A. Secured to the portion 18A is a curtain member 30 made of plastics material. As can be seen from Figure 8 (in which the portion 18A has been omitted, and only part of the row A is shown) the curtain member is in the form of a comb having thin, lightly sprung teeth 31, each tooth corresponding with the position of a cigarette of a row. To the left of the walls 18, as viewed in Figure 7, is an end stop 33, which is mounted for horizontal adjustment to accommodate cigarettes of different length. Secured perpendicularly across the walls 18 in front of the stop 33 is a brush 32 having downwardly directed bristles which extend slightly into the path of row of cigarettes A as they are fed along the platform 11. In operation, as the strip C is fed down the wedge surface 24 it meets the teeth 31 of the comb 30, which align it squarely with the row of cigarettes A concurrently being fed on to the platform 11. The strip C therefore remains in contact with the pawl which is feeding it forward, and as it passes under the teeth 31 it is lightly held down against the row A. The strip is initially moved slightly faster than the row A, until it reaches a position midway between the ends of the row. Subsequently it is held in such position by the light spring force of the teeth 31. As the row A is fed along the platform, it passes under the brush 32, which decelerates the row before it meets the end stop 33. The light spring pressure of the teeth 31 on the strip, and subsequently on the back ends of the cigarettes, also assists in decelerating the row. The platform 11 then descends by an amount slightly greater than the diameter of the cigarettes, and a second row of cigarettes is next fed on to the strip C and the row A. The teeth 31 and brush 32 similarly serve to decelerate the second row before it meets the stop 33. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes or similar rod-like articles to be packed, each group containing a desired number of cigarettes in not more than three superposed rows, comprising feed means for successively feeding single rows of cigarettes in an axial direction: a platform movable from at least a first position, at which a first row of cigarettes is receivable from the feed means, to a second position vertically below the first position at which a second row of cigarettes is receivable from the feed means, so that the resulting group of superposed rows is supported by the platform; operating means to move the platform at least from the first position to the second position and from thence to a discharge position; and conveyor means movable in a direction substantially parallel to said feed means for axially removing said group from the platform at said discharge position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each group consists of two rows of cigarettes and further comprising a dabber

plate engageable with the top of the second row and movable with the platform from the second position to the discharge position, so as to hold the two rows lightly together in a superposed relationship during such movement.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the distance moved by the platform from the first position to the second position corresponds approximately to the diameter of the cigarettes.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 and further comprising means to feed a strip of sheet material (for example a cigarette coupon) between each said first and second rows of cigarettes.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a resilient curtain member positioned at the entry to the platform.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the number of cigarettes in said first and second rows is equal and in which the resilient curtain member is in the form of a thin comb made of plastics material, the comb having a plurality of teeth and each tooth corresponding to the position of a cigarette of a row.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 further comprising a brush member having downwardly directed bristles, i.e. perpendicular to the axes of the rod-like articles, mounted ahead of the curtain member so that it engages the top of the leading ends of the rod-like articles to decelerate them.

8. Apparatus for forming groups of rodlike articles substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.