GB513717A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for feeding cigarettes and other rod-shaped articles - Google Patents

Abstract

513,717. Delivering rod-shaped articles from hoppers; packeting-machines. FOALE, A. A., and MOLINS MACHINE CO., Ltd. May 19, 1938, No. 14949. [Class 78 (i)] [Also in Group XVII] In apparatus of the type in which rod-shaped articles are delivered in rows from a hopper between a series of partitions, the upper portions of some of the partitions are movable mainly in the plane of the partition to guide and direct the articles between the partitions. Fig. 1 shows a hopper 8 which delivers cigarettes between the partitions 10 to a reciprocating pusher 11. The upper parts 14 of alternate partitions are pivoted at 15, Fig. 2, and operated in timed relation by cams 18 on a common shaft 19 against the action of restoring springs 22. The semi-circular ends of the members 14 fit into correspondingly shaped recesses in the upper edges of the fixed parts of the partitions. In some cases, cam mechanism may be used to impart an axial movement to the spindle 15 to give the members 14 an additional movement at right angles to the fixed partitions. A further additional movement is obtained as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by mounting the members 14 on spherical bearings 47 on the shafts 15 and providing a projection 49 to engage a wavy groove 48 in the cam 18. This causes a rocking motion of the members 14 on the bearings. Stirring- apparatus 9 of the kind described in Specification 471,521 is fitted in the hopper, and a cam 38 on the stirrer shaft is used to drive members 44 which push the rows of cigarettes emerging below the partitions into close lateral contact so that all may be engaged by the pusher 11.