GB2271922A

GB2271922A - Apparatus for merging mass flows of rod-shaped articules of the tobacco processing industry

Info

Publication number: GB2271922A
Application number: GB9322873A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wolfgang Raschka
Original assignee: Koerber AG
Current assignee: Koerber AG
Priority date: 1990-05-08
Filing date: 1993-11-05
Publication date: 1994-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-07
Also published as: GB9322873D0; GB2271922B

Abstract

A first mass flow 121 of rod-shaped articles 122 of the tobacco processing industry is transported along a substantially horizontal path wherein the articles are moved sideways, and a second mass flow 128 of articles is transported along an upwardly or downwardly sloping path which makes with the horizontal path an acute angle and merges into the horizontal path at a junction zone wherein the flow of articles is controlled by a pivotable gate, the gate 134 has a blocking surface which intercepts the articles of the mass flow in the first or second path when the gate is moved to a first position, and at least one guide surface which controls the flow of articles in the first or second mass flow during advancement through the junction zone in the first position of the gate, the gate can be pivoted by a second position in which its blocking surface does not interfere with advancement of articles of both mass flows into, through and beyond the junction zone, the gate can be provided with a second guide surface which defines with the blocking surface and an adjacent wall a first-in last-out reservoir for surplus articles in the second position of the gate, the path for said one mass flow has a predetermined height and said gate is pivotable between said positions about a predetermined axis, said first section having a blocking surface extending substantially radially of said axis a distance which approximates or equals said predetermined height. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR EMERGING MASS FLOWS OF ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES OF THE TOBACCO PROCESSING INDUSTRY The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for manipulating mass flows or streams of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry.

More particularlv, the invention relates to imnrovements in apparatus for merging mass flows of plain or filter cigarettes, filter rod sections, cigarillos, cigars, cheroots or other rod-shaned articles of the tobacco processing industry Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus for merging mass flows consisting of parallel rod-shaped articles which are transnorted sideways, i.e., at right angles to their respective longitudinal axes.

Apparatus for merging mass flows of rodshaped articles are used in certain production lines for cigarettes, filter rod sections and other rodshaped articles of the tobacco processing industry.

Hereinafter, such articles will be referred to as cigarettes with the understanding, however, that the apparatus can be used with equal advantage for merging mass flows of other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. For example, mass flow merging apparatus can be used to unite the outputs of two or more producing machines on the wav to a lesser number of processing machines or to storage, or from two or more magazines to a lesser number of processing machines, such as packing machines or filter tipping machines.Furthermore, mass flow merging apparatus can be put to use in production lines which are composed of or contain large numbers of producing and processing machines, for example, to merge the outputs of two or more nroducing machines if one or more processing machines happen to be out of commission but it is desirable not to arrest the producing machines. Under such circumstances, the producing machines will be operated at less than their nominal speed.

Machines which employ apparatus for merging mass flows of cigarettes are described and shown, for example, in commonly owned U.S. Pats. Nos. 4,364,462 (granted December 21, 1982 to Tolasch et al.), 4,365,702 (granted December 28, 1982 to Tolasch et al.) and 4, 507,040 (granted March 26, 1985 to Baese et al.).

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for merging first and second mass flows of parallel rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry which are transported sideways, comprising a first article supplying conveyor defining an elongated first path and having means for advancing the first mass flow in a first direction; a second article supplying conveyor defining an elongated second path which extends at an acute angle to and merges into said first path at a junction zone, said second conveyor having means for advancing the second mass flow in a second direction toward and into said junction zone; an article removing conveyor having means for transporting the merged mass flows away from said junction zone; means for regulating the advancement of articles at said junction zone, comprising a gate disposed at said junction zone and including a first section and at least one second section, said gate being movable between a first position in which said first section prevents entry of one of said first and second mass flows into said junction zone and said at least one second section guides the other of said first and second mass flows at said junction zone, and a second position in which the one mass flow is free to enter said junction zone, the path for said one mass flow having a predetermined height and said gate being pivotable between said positions about a predetermined axis, said first section having a blocking surface for blocking the passage of articles and extending substantially radially of said axis a distance which approximates or equals said predetermined height; and means for urging said gate to one of said positions.

The gate can include or constitute a flap and is preferably pivotable between the first and second positions.

The at least one second section of such gate can include or constitute a convex or substantially convex guide surface which is adjacent the blocking surface of the first section.

The apparatus can be provided with a spring or with any other suitable means for biasing the gate to one of its positions, particularly to the first position.

The gate can comprise the aforementioned at least one second section at one end of the first section and another second section at the other end of the first section. Preferably, the removing conveyor defines a third path having a predetermined height and the at least one second section has a guide surface which directs the articles of the other mass flow into the third path the full height of the third path in the first position of the gate. Such apparatus preferably further comprises a mobile or stationary wall which is adjacent the junction zone to define with the other second section a first-in lastout reservoir or buffer in the second position of the gate so that the reservoir can temporarily store those rod-shaped articles which cannot be transported away along the third path, i.e., by the removing conveyor.The path for the other mass flow in such apparatus can be a substantially horizontal path and the path for the one mass flow is then preferably located above the substantially horizontal path.

The novel features which are considered as 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 presently preferred specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a similar schematic longitudinal vertical sectional view of a second apparatus wherein a descending mass flow is caused to merge into a horizontal mass flow of rod-shaped articles.

The apparatus which is shown in the drawing comprises a first article supplying conveyor including one or more driven endless belts 121 which define a substantially horizontal path for a first mass flow 122 of rod-shaped articles 123 advancing in the direction of arrow 119 toward, through and beyond a junction or merger zone 124. A second articles supplying conveyor includes several driven endless belts 127 which define a downwardly sloping second path for a second mass flow 128 of rod-shaped articles 123. The direction of advancement of articles 123 which form the mass flow 128 is indicated by arrow 126, and the second path makes with the first path an acute angle of less than 45 degrees. The mass flows 122 and 128 merge at the junction zone 124, and the resulting mass flow is advanced by a removing conveyor 141 having one or more driven endless belts 120. The direction of advancement of the merged mass flows 122 and 128 beyond the junction zone 124 is indicated by arrow 110. The articles 123 are parallel to each other and are moved sideways, i.e., at right angles to their longitudinal axes and to the directions which are indicated by arrows 119, 126 and 110. The height of the path which is defined by the belt or belts 120 of the removing conveyor 141 is indicated at h'.

The gate 134 can pivot about the horizontal axis of a shaft 129 which is located at a level above the mass flow 128 at the junction zone 124 and is surrounded by a cylinder 132. The latter is rigid with the gate 134 and is biased by a stressed coil spring 133 (through the medium of a chain, belt or rope 131) so that it tends to turn the gate in a clockwise direction toward the first position (shown by solid lines) in which the radially extending blocking surface of a first section 136 of the gate intercepts the articles 123 of the mass flow 128. At the same time, the convexly curved second section 137 of the gate 134 guides the articles 123 of the advancing mass flow 122 on their way through and beyond the junction zone 124 the full height h' of the path which is defined by the removing conveyor 141.The upper level of the merged mass flows 122 and 128 which enter the conveyor 141 (or of the mass flow 122 when the gate 134 assumes the position which is shown by solid lines) is indicated at 139.

The gate 134 comprises a further section 138 which can cooperate with the concave surface of an adjacent stationary wall 142 and with the section 136 to define a first-in last-out reservoir or buffer 143 for the surplus of rod-shaped articles 123 which cannot enter the removing conveyor 141 when the gate is caused to assume its open position (in which the radially extending blocking surface of the section 136 is ineffective). The sections 137, 138 of the gate 134 are located at opposite ends of the section 136, and the surfaces of the sections 137, 138 extend in opposite directions. The section 138 has a convexly curved surface which guides the mass flow 129 in the open position of the gate 134.

The drawing further shows an initiator 144 which can constitute an optoelectronic sensor in or at the reservoir 143 to transmit a signal when the reservoir is filled, and such signal is transmitted to a standard control circuit which arrests the belts 127 of the second article supplying conveyor. The fully open position of the gate 134 is indicated by phantom lines.

The reference characters 146 and 147 denote photoelectronic or other suitable detectors which serve to monitor and regulate the speed of the endless belts 122 and 127, respectively, in a manner not forming part of the present invention.

The three-section gate 134 can regulate the advancement of articles 123 through the junction zone 124 in a particularly satisfactory manner. When the gate 134 rides on the topmost layer of articles 123 in the mass flow 128, i.e., when the gate 134 is held in the open position, it is stressed by the spring 133 and can automatically reassume the position which is shown by solid lines when the pressure upon the radially extending surface of its section 136 is reduced. The means for positively moving the gate 134 against the opposition of the spring 133 is not shown in the drawing. Such moving means receives signals from the initiator 141 or from the machine which accepts articles 123 from the removing conveyor 141.

The gate 134 can be designed to regulate the flow of articles in both mass flows, and each of these gates can be moved to one or more intermediate positions to act not unlike a flow restrictor for one or both mass flows at the function zone.

An important advantage of the improved apparatus is that the gate 134 ensures gentle treatment of articles 123 during advancement through the junction zone 124. This reduces the number of rejects in the processing machine or machines which receive articles from the removing conveyor. Moreover, the gates prevent the development of gaps or cavities in the mass flow or mass flows which advance beyond the respective junction zones and, therefore, the orientation of articles 123 remains unchanged. This also ensures gentle treatment of the articles and entails a substantial reduction of the number of rejects in the machine or machines which receive articles from the improved apparatus. The mass flows 122, 128 merge gently without any, or without appreciable, movement of articles in one of the mass flows relative to the articles in the other mass flow.

Another advantage of the improved apparatus is that the reservoir 143 can automatically accept the surplus of articles 123 when the rate of removal of articles from the junction zone 124 cannot match the rate of delivery of articles to the junction zone. The shape of the reservoir 143 is such that its capacity exactly matches the requirements, i.e., that its ability to accept articles conforms to the momentary requirements. This, in turn, ensures that the articles which have entered the reservoir 143 cannot lie askew and are less likely to be deformed and/or otherwise damaged than if they were given freedom of movement relative to each other while forming part of a batch of articles in the reservoir 143. One or both article supplying conveyors are arrested or decelerated in automatic response to filling of the reservoir, i.e., when the reservoir cannot accept additional articles.

This prevents excessive compression of articles in the reservoir.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for merging first and second mass flows of parallel rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry which are transported sideways, comprising a first article supplying conveyor defining an elongated first path and having means for advancing the first mass flow in a first direction; a second article supplying conveyor defining an elongated second path which extends at an acute angle to and merges into said first path at a junction zone, said second conveyor having means for advancing the second mass flow in a second direction toward and into said junction zone; an article removing conveyor having means for transporting the merged mass flows away from said junction zone; means for regulating the advancement of articles at said junction zone, comprising a gate disposed at said junction zone and including a first section and at least one second section, said gate being movable between a first position in which said first section prevents entry of one of said first and second mass flows into said junction zone and said at least one second section guides the other of said first and second mass flows at said junction zone, and a second position in which the one mass flow is free to enter said junction zone, the path for said one mass flow having a predetermined height and said gate being pivotable between said positions about a predetermined axis, said first section having a blocking surface for blocking the passage of articles and extending substantially radially of said axis a distance which approximates or equals said predetermined height; and means for urging said gate to one of said positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said urging means comprises means for yieldably biasing said gate to said one position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said biasing means comprises at least one resilient element which urges said gate to said first position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gate includes a flap which is pivotable between said first and second positions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one second section has a convex guide surface adjacent said blocking surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one second section has a convex guide surface for the articles of said other mass flow.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first section has a first end and a second end, and said gate further comprises another second section, said at least one second section being adjacent one end and said other second section being adjacent the other end of said first section.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said removing conveyor defines a third path having a predetermined height and said at least one second section has a guide surface which directs the articles of the other mass flow into said third path up to the full height of said third path in the first position of said gate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the path for said other mass flow is a substantially horizontal path and the path for said one mass flow is located above said substantially horizontal path.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gate is pivotable about an axis which is located at a level above the path for said one mass flow at said junction zone.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a wall at said junction zone, said other second section and said wall defining a firstin-last-out reservoir which communicates with said junction zone in the second position of said gate to temporarily store rod-shaped articles which cannot be transported away by said removing conveyor.

12. Apparatus for merging first and second mass flows of parallel rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry which are transported sideways, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.