GB949493A - Improvements in or relating to feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

949,493. Feeding tobacco. D. W. MOLINS, and MOLINS MACHINE CO. Ltd. July 28, 1960 [July 28, 1959], No. 25863/59. Heading A2C. [Also in Division B8] In a feeding mechanism for tobacco or other loose material the tobacco is fed by an endless belt 3a to a shoot 103 forming part of a hopper from which the tobacco is supplied by carded drums 1, 2 to a cigarette machine, the belt 3a being driven at a higher or lower speed according to the depth of tobacco in the hopper by selectively coupling one or other of two drive transmissions to a motor 10. The two drive transmissions are driven from the motor 10 via a common gear train 13-17 which drives the drums 1, 2. From the gear wheel 17 the drive is divided between a low speed transmission comprising gear 18 and sprocket 19 freely rotatable on a shaft 30, chain 20 and sprocket 7, and a high speed transmission comprising gears 26-29, shaft 30, magnetic clutch 31, 32, sprocket 34, chain 38 and sprocket 39. The sprockets 7 and 39 are interconnected by a free-wheel, the arrangement being such that sprocket 7 drives conveyer shaft 25 via the freewheel while sprocket 39 drives shaft 25 directly and at a higher speed so that freewheeling occurs. The magnetic clutch comprises plates 35, 36 which are attracted to one another to engage the clutch when a coil 37 is energized. Energization of coil 37 is effected when the level of tobacco in the hopper falls below a predetermined level a roller 8 resting on the tobacco and carried by an arm then operating a microswitch 9. The roller 8 is driven by a belt 40 from a sprocket 41 engaging the chain 20, so that the tobacco is distributed in the hopper. Specification 909,222 is referred to.