GB2217574A

GB2217574A - Apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry

Info

Publication number: GB2217574A
Application number: GB8909173A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helmut Niemann
Original assignee: Koerber AG
Current assignee: Koerber AG
Priority date: 1988-04-23
Filing date: 1989-04-21
Publication date: 1989-11-01
Also published as: IT8920050A0; DE3813785A1; GB8909173D0; IT1229149B; JPH0213362A

Description

2217574 1.

4.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES OF THE TOBACCO PROCESSING INDUSTRY The invention relates to apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, and more particularly to improvements in apparatus for transferring rod-shaped articles from a first station to a second station in such a way that the speed of articles at one of the stations departs from the speed of articles at the other station.

Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,947 to Schumacher et al. discloses an apparatus which is designed to transfer successive pairs of coaxial cigarettes from a first station, where the cigarettes form a single file, to a second station where the cigarettes form two rows of cigarettes which move sideways (i.e., transversely of their respective axes) in the flutes of a rotary drum-shaped conveyor. The patented apparatus comprises a first planetary transmission with a planet carrier which can be driven to rotate about a fixed axis, a plurality of planet pinions rotatably mounted on the carrier at identical distances from the fixed axis, and a non-rotatable sun gear whose axis coincides with the fixed axis. The planet pinions rotatably mount cranks with holders for pairs of cigarettes. The throw of each crank is the same. A second planetary transmission is provided to control the orientation of the holders. The planet pinions of the second planetary transmission are rotatably mounted on the planet pinions of the first planetary transmission and are non- rotatably kinematically coupled to the respective holders. Apparatus of the just outlined character are used worldwide in assignee's cigarette making machines of the type known as PROTOS.

The apparatus of Schumacher et al. further 2.

comprises an intermediate gear which is mounted on the planet carrier and mates with the sun gear and with the planet pinions of the first planetary transmission, and a rotary intermediate ring coaxial with the planet carrier and having an annulus of internal gear teeth receiving motion from the intermediate gear. The ring is further provided with a first annulus of external gear teeth which mate with the planet pinions of the first planetary transmission. The ratio of the diameter of the annulus of external gear teeth to the diameter of a planet pinion of the f irst transmission is twice the ratio of the diameter of the annulus of internal gear teeth to the diameter of the sun gear of the first transmission. The sun gear of the first transmission is the sun gear of the second transmission, and the ring has a second annulus of external gear teeth in mesh with the planet pinions of the second transmission. Each planet pinion of the second transmission is rotatably journalled in a discrete planet pinion of the first transmission. The ratio of the diameter of the first annulus of external teeth to the diameter of a planet pinion of the first transmission is two- to-one, the same as the ratio of the diameter of the second annulus of external teeth to the diameter of a planet pinion of the second transmission.

Each planet pinion of the second transmission in the patented apparatus is coupled with the corresponding article holder by a cardanic shaft and two universal joints. The useful life of such coupling means is relatively short; therefore, the cardanic shafts are often replaced with bevel gear transmissions.

An important advantage of the patented a i 3.

apparatus is that it employs a relatively small number of gears. This is due to the fact that the aforementioned ring is a compound gear with an annulus of internal gear teeth and two annuli of external gear teeth. Another advantage of the patented apparatus is that the unbalanced masses of cranks which are rotatably mounted on the planet carrier are taken up by the ring. In fact, such unbalanced masses cancel each other if the carrier supports an even number of cranks and each crank is located diametrically opposite another crank.

However, the patented apparatus also exhibits a drawback, namely that the ring with an annulus of internal gear teeth and two annuli of external gear teeth is a rather complex and expensive component which must be made and finished with utmost precision. It is necessary to ensure that each annulus of gear teeth is exactly concentric with the other two annuli of gear teeth; this contributes significantly to the cost of the ring and of the entire apparatus.

1 4.

The invention is embodied in an apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry between spaced-apart first and second stations, preferably in such a way that the speed at which the articles are picked up at the first station departs from the speed at which the articles are delivered to the second station. The apparatus comprises a first planetary transmission which includes a planet carrier rotatable about a first axis, at least one first planet pinion which is mounted on the carrier for rotation about a second axis remote from and pardllel to the first axis, a non-rotatable first sun gear coaxial with the carrier, and a first intermediate gear mounted on the carrier and mating with the first sun gear and the first planet pinion. The apparatus further comprises at least one first crank having a first arm rotatably mounted on and coaxial with the first planet pinion, a second arm which is remote from the first arm, a web between the first and second arms, and an article holder (e.g., a fluted article holder) rotatably mounted in the second arm. Still further, the apparatus comprises a second planetary transmission including a non-rotatable second sun gear coxial with the carrier, at least one second planet pinion rotatablY mounted on the carrier coaxially with the first planet pinion, and a second intermediate gear mounted on the carrier and mating with the second sun gear and the second planet pinion. The apparatus also comprises means for non-rotatably coupling the second planet pinion with the article holder to thus enable the second planetary transmission to control the orientation of the article holder while the carrier rotates and the intermediate gears 0 G_ 5.

1 orbit about the respective sun gears to thereby rotate the corresponding planet pinions.

The first transmission preferably comprises a plurality of first planet pinions each of which is mounted on the carrier for rotation about a discrete second axis. The second axes are equidistant from the first axis, and each first planet pinion mates with a discrete first intermediate gear. Such apparatus comprises a discrete crank and a discrete article holder for each first planet pinion, and the second planetary transmission then comprises a discrete second planet pinion for each first planet pinion and a discrete second intermediate gear for each second planet pinion. The coupling means of such apparatus comprises a plurality of coupling units each of which is arranged to non-rotatably couple one of the second planet pinions to a discrete article holder.

The ratio of the diameter of the first sun gear to the diameter of each first planet pinion is preferably two-to-one, and the ratio of the diameter of the second sun gear to each second planet pinion is preferably one-to-one or 1:1.5.

Each crank is preferably a right-angled crank, and each unit of the coupling means can comprise a toothed belt transmission including a first toothed pulley coaxial with a first planet pinion, a second toothed pulley coaxial with the respective article holder, and a toothed belt which is trained over the first and second pulleys. The ratio of the diameters of first and second pulleys is preferably one-to-one or 1.5:1 (if the ratio of the diameter of the second sun gear to each second planet pinion is 1:1.5). This ensures that the transmission ratio between the second sun gear and each second pulley is one-to-one.

The novel features which are considered as 6.

characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

7.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of an apparatus embodying a presently preferred form of the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line II-II of FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line III-III of FIG. 1.

8.

The transporting apparatus which is shown in FIGS. 1-3 departs from the transporting apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,947 in certain important details which will be explained in detail hereinafter. FIG. 1 shows only a small fraction of an apparatus which embodies the present invention, namely only one of two or more cranks 34 each of which carries a holder 38 for two rod-shaped smokers' articles Z, e.g., plain cigarettes of unit length or multiple unit length.

The improved apparatus comprises a first planetary transmission 9 including a rotary planet carrier 1 having two sections la and lb which are connected to each other and can rotate as a unit about the (first) axis of a shaft 6 mounted in a frame member 4 of a machine for processing rod-shaped articles Z of the tobacco processing industry. The carrier 1 is rotatable on antifriction ball bearings 2 and 3 which are interposed between the sections la, lb and the shaft 6. The shaft 6 is rigidly connected with a sun gear 7 of the first planetary transmission 9 and with a sun gear 8 of a second planetary transmission 11. Each of the sun gears 7 and 8 is a spur gear with a set of external gear teeth.

The section la of the planet carrier 1 carries a set of equidistant boltshaped stubs 12 which are rotatable in antifriction ball bearings 13, 14 and carry intermediate gears 16 forming part of the planetary transmission 9. The section lb of the carrier 1 supports a set of stubs 17 which are rotatable in antifriction ball bearings 18, 19 and carry intermediate gears 21 forming part of the second planetary transmission 11.

The section la of the planet carrier 1 1 9.

further supports a set of sleeves 26 which are rotatable in antifriction ball bearings 24 and nonrotatably mount planet pinions 27 of the first planetary transmission 9. Each sleeve 26 is rotatable relative to a shaft 28 which is parallel to the shaft 6. Antifriction ball bearings 29 are mounted between the sleeves 26 and the respective shafts 28, and each shaft 28 is rotatably mounted in the respective sleeve 26 by way of a needle bearing 31. Antifriction ball bearings 32 are interposed between the section lb of the carrier 1 and the respective shafts 28.

The second planetary transmission 11 comprises planet pinions 33 each of which is nonrotatably connected to a discrete shaft 28.

Each sleeve 26 further supports a rightangled crank 34. These cranks are disposed at those ends of the sleeves 26 which are renote from the respective planet pinions 27 and 33. Each crank 34 is non-rotatably affixed to the respective sleeve 26 and each crank comprises a first arm 34a coaxial with the respective shaft 28, a second arm 34b coaxial with the respective article holder 38, and a web 36 which extends between and connects the arms 34a, 34b to each other. Each article holder 38 is connected to a shaft 37 which is rotatable in the respective arm 34b. Needle bearings and/or antifriction ball bearings are mounted between the shafts 37 and the respective arms 34b.

The apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 further comprises coupling means including a discrete coupling unit 39 for each article holder 38. Each coupling unit 39 is a toothed belt transmission having a first pulley 41 on the respective shaft 28, a second pulley 42 on the respective shaft 37, and 10.

an internally toothed belt 43 which is trained over the pulleys 41 and 42. The belts 43 are tensioned by rolls 44 mounted on pivotable spring- biased levers 46 which are secured to the respective cranks 34 by screws 47 or analogous fasteners.

The ratio of the diameter of each pulley 41 to the respective pulley 42 is one-to-one. The ratio of the diameter of the sun gear 7 to the diameter of each planet pinion 27 is two-to-one. The ratio of the diameter of the sun gear 8 to the diameter of each planet pinion 33 is one-to-one.

The means for attracting rod-shaped articles Z to the article holders 38 comprises suction i:)orts 48 in the holders 38. Each port 48 communicates with an axial bore 49 in the respective shaft 37, and each bore 49 communicates with a channel 51 in the web 36 of the respective crank 34. Each channel 51 communicates with an annular chamber 53 of the respective crank 34 by a radial bore 52, and each chamber 53 communicates with an axial bore 56 of the respective shaft 28 by way of a radial bore 54. Each bore 56 communicates with a slot 58 in the machine frame 4 by way of a bore 57 in the section lb of the planet carrier 1. The slot 58 is in communication with a suction generating device (e.g., a fan, not shown) by way of a bore 59 in the frame member 4.

The means for rotating the planet carrier 1 in a predetermined direction comprises an externally toothed pulley 61 which is threadedly connected with the section lb, and a toothed belt 62 which is trained over the pulley 61 and is driven by the main prime mover (not shown) of the machine embodying the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3.

The mode of operation is as follows:

-1 V 11 1P When the apparatus is in use and the holders 38 transport pairs of articles Z from a first station (A in the drawing of Schumacher et al.) to a second station (B in the drawing of Schumacher et al.), the planet carrier 1 is driven by the main prime mover of the machine embodying the improved apparatus through the medium of the belt conveyor 62 and pulley 61. This causes the intermediate gears 16 and 21 to roll about the corresponding sun gears 7 and 8 and to rotate the associated planet pinions 27 and 33, respectively. In view of the aforediscussed diameter ratios, each revolution of the carrier 1 entails two revolutions of each crank 34 and the corresponding article holder 38 with reference to the carrier 1. In view of subtraction of superimposed movements of the carrier 1 and planet pinions 27, the cranks 34 and their article holders 38 actually complete one revolution during each orbital movement about the sun gears 7 and 8.

The planet pinions 33 are non-rotatably coupled with the associated article holders 38 by way of the respective shafts 28 and toothed belt transmissions 39. Each revolution of the planet carrier 1 entails one revolution of each planet pinion 33 relative to the carrier 1. However, in view of subtraction of superimposed movements of the carrier 1 and planet pinions 33, the angular positions of the pinions 33 relative to the carrier 1 remain unchanged. Thus, the article holders 38 move along a flat endless arcuate path and their orientation remains unchanged.

The tangential velocity of article holders 38 reaches a maximum value (in view of superimposition of angular movements) when the holders 38 move closest 12.

to the axis of the shaft 6, and the tangential velocity of the holders 38 is reduced to a minimum value when the holders are located at a maximum distance from the axis of the shaft 6. The reasons for this are the same as in the apparatus of Schumacher et al. The locus of the station where the holders 38 receive pairs of articles Z is selected in such a way that the holders 38 receive articles when they are located at a minimum distance from the axis of the shaft 6. Since the tangential velocity of the holders 38 at such (first) station is somewhat greater, the articles Z which are accepted by successive holders are moved away from each other in the axial direction of the articles. This ensures that the articles can be properly shuffled during the next-following stage of transport toward the second station where the holders 38 are relieved of articles Z. The distance between successive pairs of articles Z gradually decreases on their way toward the second station which they reach at a reduced speed and at a smaller mutual spacing than at the first station. The second station can accommodate a rotary drum-shaped conveyor with axially parallel peripheral flutes for the articles Z.

The number of gears in the improved apparatus exceeds the number of gears in the apparatus of Schumacher et al. However, the gears which are used in the improved apparatus are simple gears which can be produced at a fraction of the cost of compound gears.

Another advantage of the improved apparatus over that of Schumacher et al. is that the article holders 38 on the right-angled cranks 34 are kinematically coupled with the respective planet 9 1 13.

pinions 33 by simple belt transmissions 39 which can be confined in the respective cranks 34.

A further important advantage of the improved apparatus is that the ratio of the diameter of the sun gear 8 to the diameter of each planet pinion 33 of the transmission 11 is one-to-one, the same as the ratio of the diameter of each driving toothed pulley 41 to the respective driven toothed pulley 42. This renders it possible to employ substantial numbers of identical gears and pulleys which also contributes to simplicity and lower cost of the improved apparatus.

14.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.

2 tl 15.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a first planetary transmission including a planet carrier rotatable about a first axis, at least one first planet pinion mounted on said carrier for rotation about a second axis remote from said first axis, a first sun gear coaxial with said carrier, and a first intermediate gear mating with said sun gear and said pinion and mounted on said carrier; at least one crank having a first arm rotatably mounted on and coaxial with said pinion, a second arm remote from said first arm, and an article holder rotatably mounted in said second arm; a second planetary transmission including a second sun gear coaxial with said carrier, at least one second planet pinion rotatably mounted on said carrier coaxially with said first planet pinion, and a second intermediate gear mounted on said carrier and mating with said second sun gear and said second planet pinion; and means for nonrotatably coupling said second plinet pinion with said article holder.

1 16.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first transmission comprises a plurality of first planet pinions each mounted on said carrier for rotation about a discrete second axis, all of said second axes being equidistant from said first axis and each of said first planet pinions mating with a discrete first intermediate gear.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising a discrete crank and a discrete article holder for each of said first planet pinions, said second planetary transmission comprising a discrete second planet pinion for each first planet pinion, and a discrete second intermediate gear for each second planet pinion, said coupling means including a plurality of coupling units each arranged to nonrotatably couple one of said second planet pinions to a discrete article holder.

1 6 1 1 17.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the diameter of said first sun gear to the diameter of said first planet pinion is two-to-one.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the diameter of said second sun gear to the diameter of said second planet pinion is one-toone.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said crank is a right-angled crank.

S 18.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises a toothed belt transmission.

8. The apparatus for claim 7, wherein said toothed belt transmission comprises a first pulley coaxial with said planet pinions, a second pulley coaxial with said article holder, and a toothed belt trained over said pulleys.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmission ratio between said second sun gear and said second pulley is one-to-one.

19.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ratio of the diameters of said second sun gear and said second planet pinion is 1:1.5 and the ratio of the diameters of said first pulley to said second pulley is 1.5:1.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ratio of the diameter of said first pulley to the diameter of said second pulley is one-to-one.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the diameter of said first sun gear to the diameter of said first planet pinion is a multiple of the ratio of the diameter of the second sun gear to the diameter of the second planet pinion.

13. Apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1989 at The Patent ffice, State House. 6671 High Holbarti. London WCIR 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Office Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR.5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87