GB583696A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for feeding cigarettes and other articles of similar shape - Google Patents

Abstract

583,696. Packing. PEARMAN, A., and MOLINS MACHINE CO., Ltd. Nov. 17, 1944, No. 22884. [Class 94 (i)] [Also in Group XXX] In apparatus for feeding cigarettes and other articles of similar shape in batches from a hopper by a pusher, each batch being composed of a plurality of superimposed rows containing unequal numbers of articles, e.g., three rows containing seven, six and seven, respectively, the bottom of the hopper is divided into a number of compartments equal in number to the maximum number of articles in a row plus one, the articles being permitted to fall to the bottom of all the compartments except in the one next to the end in which a stop is provided at a distance of two cigarette diameter from the bottom, and a side pusher is provided to move an article from the bottom of the end compartment into the adjacent compartment. The partition 10, Fig. 1, which separates the end compartment from its neighbour, is provided with a stop 11 and terminates at a distance above the bed 7 slightly in excess of the diameter of an article. A side pusher 13 transfers an article from the end compartment to the adjacent one. The pusher is pivoted to an arm 14 and is constrained to move in a straight line by a roller 18. The arm is fast on a spindle 15, which is mounted in a bracket 16 and has an arm 19 fast on one end. The arm 19 is held in contact with a cam rod 21 by a spring 20. The rod is reciprocated by a cam 22 fast on the spindle 23 which carries the driving sprockets 24 for the chains 9 carrying the main pusher 8. During the transfer of a batch the articles in the middle row are moved laterally with respect to the top and bottom rows by contact either with tapering guide strips or with rotary non-circular members 28, Fig. 4.