GB1589970A - Forming groups of cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

(54) FORMING GROUPS OF CIGARETTES (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 is concerned with forming successive rows of cigarettes, some rows being of n cigarettes and other rows of n + 1 cigarettes; for example the rows may alternately contain n and n + 1 cigarettes.

It is sometimes required that packets of cigarettes, in particular the so-called shoulder box, contain an odd number of cigarettes, for example 25, such a group being arranged in two rows (in this example in rows of twelve and thirteen cigarettes).

Usually in a shoulder box a separating strip or card is disposed between the two rows, and it is then necessary to form one row at a time and to superpose the two rows with the separating strip in between, for example in a bundle forming device of a packing machine as disclosed in British Patent Application No. 48039/76 (Serial No. 1,589,969), filed on 18 November 1976. Unless such unequal rows of cigarettes are produced by two separate cigarette hopper mechanisms, which would result in a larger and more complicated packing machine, it thus becomes necessary to provide an arrangement for producing successive rows having such different numbers of cigarettes alternately, or in some other desired sequence.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes which include adjacent rows of n and n + 1 cigarettes, comprising a first hopper having a plurality of downwardly disposed vanes between which cigarettes can descend in single columns to form rows of n cigarettes, the vanes terminating above a horizontal base, pusher means for axially removing each newly formed row of cigarettes, a second hopper adjacent to the first hopper, rotary conveyor means for withdrawing cigarettes one at a time from the second hopper and for feeding each cigarette on to the base at a position immediately adjacent to the vanes, and timed drive means for rotating said rotary conveyor means so that a single cigarette is added to a row of n cigarettes whenever a row of n + 1 cigarettes is required.

The rotary conveyor means may comprise a large fluted rotor mounted below the second hopper, and a small fluted rotor mounted adjacent the vanes below the large fluted rotor for receiving cigarettes therefrom, the large and small fluted rotors being rotatably coupled so that respective flutes are movable in synchronism.

The timed drive means preferably rotates the rotary conveyor means intermittently, and may comprise a pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by a reciprocating member.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes which include adjacent rows of n and n + 1 cigarettes, comprising a hopper having a plurality of downwardly disposed vanes between which cigarettes can descend in single columns to form rows of n + 1 cigarettes, the vanes terminating above a horizontal base, pusher means for axially removing each newly formed row of cigarettes, an opening formed in one of the outermost vanes, said opening being spaced from the base by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness (e.g. the diameter) of a cigarette, a finger movable into said opening so that it can enter between the lowermost cigarette and the next higher cigarette within said outermost vane, and timed actuating means to move said finger into said opening to hold back a cigarette whenever a row of only n cigarettes is required.

Said finger may be pivotally mounted on a lever which is spring biassed into said opening, and said timed actuating means may comprise a solenoid member connected to said lever and operable to withdraw the finger from said opening.

In order that the invention may be well understood, two embodiments of apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of the first embodiment, and Figure 2 is an elevational view of the second embodiment.

Referring first to Figure 1, a cigarette hopper, indicated generally by the reference 1, is provided with thirteen vanes 2 forming between them twelve passages 3 down which cigarettes C, pass in single. columns. The lowermost cigarettes of each column rests on a horizontal base plate 4, thus forming a row of. 12 cigarettes. The vanes 2 are spaced slightly from the plate 4 to allow a series of continuously moving pushers 5 (only one shown) successively to engage the end of each resulting row of cigarettes and to propel each row along the plate 4, as described in the above-mentioned application.

To the left of the vanes is a secondary hopper 6, below which is disposed a fluted drum 7 rotatable in an anti-clockwise direction. A refuser roller 8 ensures that only a single cigarette enters each flute of the drum 7. Below, and slightly to the right of, the drum 7 is a small fluted drum 9 for receiving cigarettes from the drum 7, and for releasing the cigarettes one at a time into the base plate 4 at a position immediately to the left of the vanes 3. An arcuate guide 10 prevents cigarettes from falling out of their flutes on the drum 7 while travelling between the refuser roller 8 and the drum 9.

The drive to the drums 7 and 9 and to the roller 8 is from a reciprocating link member. 11 which is biassed to the left by a spring -1 lA, and which carries a pawl 12 coacting with a ratchet wheel 13. The drum 7 and roller 8 are directly driven by the ratchet wheel 13 by means of gearing 7A and 8A respectively, while the drum 9 is driven by a toothed belt .14 passing around pulleys on the ratchet wheel 13 and drum 9.

The amount of the resulting indexing movement of the drums 7 and 9 is arranged to correspond with the common pitch of their flutes, so that adjacent flutes of the drums move in synchronism and at each indexing movement a cigarette is received by the drum .9 from the drum 7.

In the position shown in the drawing the cigarette C1 has been released by the drum 9 to form, together with the row of twelve cigarettes produced at the ends of the vanes 2, a row of thirteen cigarettes. The pusher 5 then axially pushes the row of thirteen cigarettes along the base plate 4 towards a device for superposing the rows, as desscribed in the above mentioned application, allowing the next row of twelve cigarettes to form below the vanes. The link 11 now moves to the left, a holding pawl 15 locking the ratchet wheel 13 against inadvertent anti-clockwise movement so that the drums 7 and 9 and roller 8 remain stationary. The next pusher 5 then removes the row of twelve cigarettes, allowing a further row of twelve cigarettes to form.By this time the link 11 is moving to the right, so indexing the ratchet wheel 13, and thus also the drum 9, in a clockwise direction. The next cigarette C2 on the drum 9 is thereby released from its flute, so again forming a row of thirteen cigarettes.

It will thus-be apparent that in the grouping of cigarettes described, the drums 7 and 9 are indexed once for every two pushers 5 which pass the vanes 2. However the apparatus could be adapted to produce other cigarette groupings, for example a group of cigarettes consisting of three rows, in which the top row had 13 cigarettes and each of the other rows had 12 cigarettes.

In such an arrangement the timing of the drive to the drums 7 and 9 would be so arranged that the drums were indexed once for every three pushers 5.

In order to ensure that in the present grouping the full row of twelve or thirteen cigarettes, as the case may be, is formed each time, end detectors (not shown) are provided to monitor the ends of cigarettes in the passages 3 between the vanes 2; such detectors may be for example of the type described in British Patent No. 948,913. End detectors are also provided to check each cigarette from the secondary hopper 6 when it is in a flute of the drum 9 at the position of cigarette C3.If the end detectors in the passages 3 are located at positions further upstream of the base plate 4 when that of a cigarette C3 then a corresponding memory delay is applied to any fault signal from the detectors in the passages 3, in order to make any such fault signal available at the time at which any signal from the detector at C3 would appear, so that if any cigarette in a row of thirteen is faulty, the required fault signal will occur at the same time whether the faulty cigarette is in one of the passages 3 or at C3.

Referring now to the apparatus shown in Figure 2, cigarettes are fed from a hopper 11 down passages 13 defined by vanes 12, as described above. However, in this case there is a thirteenth passage 13A, defined by a further vane 12A at the extreme righthand side of Figure 2, so that a row of thirteen cigarettes can be formed on a base plate 14. A gap between the base plate 14 and the bottom of the canes 12 allows a series of pushers 15 (only one shown) to remove successive rows of cigarettes.

At the bottom of the vane 12A is formed an elongated opening 16 through which a correspondingly wide finger 17 passes. The finger is mounted on the lower limb 18A of a bellcrank lever 18 which is biassed by compression spring 19 to urge the finger into the opening. The position of the finger is such that it can enter between the two lowermost cigarettes in the passage 13A to hold back the cigarettes in the passage. The other limb 1 8B of the bellcrank lever is connected to the plunger of a solenoid 20. When the solenoid 20 is energised, the bellcrank rotates anti-clockwise about its pivot so that lever 18 rotates anti-clockwise about its pivot 18c so that the finger 17 is withdrawn from the passage 13A to allow a cigarette in that passage to descend onto the plate 14.

In the position as shown in Figure 2 a row of thirteen cigarettes has been formed on the plate 14, and is about to be removed by the pusher 15. As soon as this row has been removed, a further row of cigarettes will be formed on the plate 14. But as the finger is now in its extended position in the passage 13A, the cigarettes will be held back in this passage so that a row of only twelve cigarettes is formed.

After removal of the row of twelve cigarettes by the next pusher 15, the solenoid is energised to allow a row of thirteen cigarettes to form again. Thus the solenoid is energised once for every two pushers which pass the vanes 12. This may be arranged, for example, by having a switch (not shown) operated by every second pusher 15.

Clearly the apparatus may be arranged to form groupings of cigarettes other than alternate rows of, for example, twelve and thirteen cigarettes as described above. Thus if a grouping of three rows of cigarettes is required in which there are two rows of twelve cigarettes and an adjacent third row of thirteen cigarettes, then the timing of operation of the solenoid 20 is arranged to occur once for every three pushers 15.

End detectors (not shown) may be provided in the passages 13 and 13A in a manner as described above with a reference to Figure 1. Conveniently the end detectors of the passage 13A may be arranged in line with those from the other passages, in which case a corresponding memory delay has to be applied between the signals from the two separate detectors, as explained above.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes which include adjacent rows of n and n + 1 cigarettes, comprising a first hopper having a plurality of downwardly disposed vanes between which cigarettes can descend in single columns to form rows of n cigarettes, the vanes terminating above a horizontal base, pusher means for axially removing each newly formed row of cigarettes, a second hopper adjacent to the first hopper, rotary conveyor means for withdrawing cigarettes one at a time from the second hopper and for feeding each cigarette on to the base at a position immediately adjacent to the vanes, and timed drive means for rotating said rotary conveyor means so that a single cigarette is added to a row of n cigarettes whenever a row of n + 1 cigarettes is required.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the rotary conveyor means comprises a large fluted rotor mounted below the second hopper, and a small fluted rotor mounted adjacent the vanes below the large fluted rotor for receiving cigarettes therefrom, the large and small fluted rotors being rotatably coupled so that respective flutes are movable in synchronism.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the timed drive means rotates the rotary conveyor intermittently, and comprises a pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by a reciprocating member.

4. Apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes which include adjacent rows of n and n + 1 cigarettes, comprising a hopper having a plurality of downwardly disposed vanes between which cigarettes can descend in single columns to form rows of n + 1 cigarettes, the vanes terminating above a horizontal base, pusher means for axially removing each newly formed row of cigarettes, an opening formed in one of the outermost vanes, said opening being spaced from base by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness (e.g. the diameter) of a cigarette, a finger movable into said opening so that it can enter between the lowermost cigarette and the next higher cigarette within said outermost vane, and timed actuating means to move said finger into said opening to hold back a cigarette whenever a row of only n cigarettes is required.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said finger is mounted on a lever which is spring biassed into said opening.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said timed actuating means comprises a solenoid member connected to said lever and operable to withdraw the finger from said opening.

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

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. series of pushers 15 (only one shown) to remove successive rows of cigarettes. At the bottom of the vane 12A is formed an elongated opening 16 through which a correspondingly wide finger 17 passes. The finger is mounted on the lower limb 18A of a bellcrank lever 18 which is biassed by compression spring 19 to urge the finger into the opening. The position of the finger is such that it can enter between the two lowermost cigarettes in the passage 13A to hold back the cigarettes in the passage. The other limb 1 8B of the bellcrank lever is connected to the plunger of a solenoid 20. When the solenoid 20 is energised, the bellcrank rotates anti-clockwise about its pivot so that lever 18 rotates anti-clockwise about its pivot 18c so that the finger 17 is withdrawn from the passage 13A to allow a cigarette in that passage to descend onto the plate 14. In the position as shown in Figure 2 a row of thirteen cigarettes has been formed on the plate 14, and is about to be removed by the pusher 15. As soon as this row has been removed, a further row of cigarettes will be formed on the plate 14. But as the finger is now in its extended position in the passage 13A, the cigarettes will be held back in this passage so that a row of only twelve cigarettes is formed. After removal of the row of twelve cigarettes by the next pusher 15, the solenoid is energised to allow a row of thirteen cigarettes to form again. Thus the solenoid is energised once for every two pushers which pass the vanes 12. This may be arranged, for example, by having a switch (not shown) operated by every second pusher 15. Clearly the apparatus may be arranged to form groupings of cigarettes other than alternate rows of, for example, twelve and thirteen cigarettes as described above. Thus if a grouping of three rows of cigarettes is required in which there are two rows of twelve cigarettes and an adjacent third row of thirteen cigarettes, then the timing of operation of the solenoid 20 is arranged to occur once for every three pushers 15. End detectors (not shown) may be provided in the passages 13 and 13A in a manner as described above with a reference to Figure 1. Conveniently the end detectors of the passage 13A may be arranged in line with those from the other passages, in which case a corresponding memory delay has to be applied between the signals from the two separate detectors, as explained above. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes which include adjacent rows of n and n + 1 cigarettes, comprising a first hopper having a plurality of downwardly disposed vanes between which cigarettes can descend in single columns to form rows of n cigarettes, the vanes terminating above a horizontal base, pusher means for axially removing each newly formed row of cigarettes, a second hopper adjacent to the first hopper, rotary conveyor means for withdrawing cigarettes one at a time from the second hopper and for feeding each cigarette on to the base at a position immediately adjacent to the vanes, and timed drive means for rotating said rotary conveyor means so that a single cigarette is added to a row of n cigarettes whenever a row of n + 1 cigarettes is required.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the rotary conveyor means comprises a large fluted rotor mounted below the second hopper, and a small fluted rotor mounted adjacent the vanes below the large fluted rotor for receiving cigarettes therefrom, the large and small fluted rotors being rotatably coupled so that respective flutes are movable in synchronism.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the timed drive means rotates the rotary conveyor intermittently, and comprises a pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by a reciprocating member.

4. Apparatus for forming groups of cigarettes which include adjacent rows of n and n + 1 cigarettes, comprising a hopper having a plurality of downwardly disposed vanes between which cigarettes can descend in single columns to form rows of n + 1 cigarettes, the vanes terminating above a horizontal base, pusher means for axially removing each newly formed row of cigarettes, an opening formed in one of the outermost vanes, said opening being spaced from base by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness (e.g. the diameter) of a cigarette, a finger movable into said opening so that it can enter between the lowermost cigarette and the next higher cigarette within said outermost vane, and timed actuating means to move said finger into said opening to hold back a cigarette whenever a row of only n cigarettes is required.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said finger is mounted on a lever which is spring biassed into said opening.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said timed actuating means comprises a solenoid member connected to said lever and operable to withdraw the finger from said opening.

7. Apparatus for forming groups of

cigarettes substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.