GB748794A - Improvements in or relating to collecting mechanism for cigarettes and other rod shaped articles - Google Patents

Abstract

748,794. Step-by-step conveyers. MOLINS, D. W., and MOLINS MACHINE CO., Ltd. Oct. 18, 1954 [Oct. 19, 1953], No. 28850/53. Class 78 (1). Collecting mechanism for cigarettes and other rodshaped articles used, e.g. for collecting cigarettes from a band conveyer 3 and delivering them into a tray 1, comprises a number of narrow grooved bars 5 arranged side-by-side which are so actuated that adjacent bars describe small oscillatory movements 180 degrees out of phase with one another. Alternate bars are mounted on eccentrics 8, 9 mounted on common shafts 10. The space between the band 3 and bars 5 is bridged by the upper part of a member 4, the lower part of which directs the cigarettes towards a guide 6 which leads them to the bottom of a tray. A pivoted member 11 bridges the gap between the parts 4, 6 and rises to permit the passage of a tray. It drops back to the position shown as soon as the tray end has passed. The other end of the mass of cigarettes 7 is supported by a fixed member 12 and a number of oscillatory levelling members 13 which are carried by eccentrics 14 on a shaft 15 and are formed with slots 16 through which passes a fixed bar 17. The lower ends of the members 13 have rubber toes 18 which sweep over and level the cigarettes in the tray. The members 13 are swung out of the way of the tray end when the arm 23 is moved down the slot 24. The rubber toes then remove cigarettes resting on the upper face of plate-like members 2 which bridge the gap between adjacent trays. When a single tray is used to collect cigarettes from two machines, another set of feeding bars 21 is provided. A pivoted member 20 resting on the cigarettes 7 rises and falls as the level changes to vary the tray speed as described in Specification 649,467.