US1977239A - Device for testing cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1934. D. w. MOLINS DEVICE FOR TESTING CIGARETTES Filed Dec. 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 n WWW? Oct. 16, 1934.

D. W. MOLINS DEVICE FOR TESTING CIGARETTES Filed Dec. 14. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Oct. 16, 1934 I DEVICE FOR. TESTING CIGARETTES Desmond Walter Molins, Bexley, Kent, England Application December 14,1932, Serial No. 647,247 In Great Britain December 14, 1931 19 Claims. (01. 209-79) This invention is for improvements in or reers for the cigarettes. The feelers are arranged lating to cigarette making machines, and an in pairs, one feeler of each pair being conobject of the invention is to provide means stituted by a stud 12 on a rotatable disc 13 on whereby defective and soft ended cigarettes proa shaft 113 while the other feeler of each pair duced by the machine may be automatically is comprised by a stud 14 on a radial arm 15 6Q detected and rejected or separated from the rewhich is spring urged by means of a spring 16 maining cigarettes. towards its opposite stud 12. The movable This object is achieved according to the presarms 15 are carried on the rotating shaft 113 out invention by providing for use with a cigaand project through grooves 18 in a cylindrical l0 rette making or packing machine, a selecting deflange on the disc 1'7. The parts are so ar- 55 vice for rejecting or separating defective (e. g. ranged that the discs 13 and 17 lie outside the soft ended) cigarettes from the others, comdiscs 11, while the axes of the shafts 111 and prising in combination, a pair of feelers ar- 113 and also that of the deflector 6 are all ranged to engage the opposite ends of each parallelto one another. In this way, the cigacigarette, at least one feeler of each pair being rettes are removed laterally fromthe conveyor 70 yieldingly mounted to move inwardly towards 115., r the other, means for delivering one cigarette The deflector blades 6 are arranged to rotate at a time between said feelers, and means for between the discs 11 and the apparatus is so releasing the cigarette from the feelers at a diftimed that each deflector blade in turn coincides 20 ferent time and/or placeaccording to themovewith succeeding grooves in the discs 11 as the 75 ment of the yielding feeler when the particular deflectors revolve. cigarette is being tested. vAll the cigarettes delivered from the cut-off vIt will beappreciated that the apparatus may of the cigarette making machine are thereby be used for separating cigarettes of different transferred in turn to the groovesbetween the hardness, andof different lengths within cerprojections 10 and. the discs 11, ,and they are 80 tain predetermined limits. retained in position bythe circumferential One construction of a cigarette selecting deguides 9 provided near the edge of the revolvvice made in accordance with the invention will ing discs. Lateral guides 90, are provided to nowbe described by way of example with referensure that the cigarettes have their ends in enoe to the accompanying drawings, in which: alignment. 3 5

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the selecting de- Each pair of feelers 12.and 14 of the carvice. rier are so arranged on the shaft 113 and the Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking in the dirotation of the latter is so arranged, that each rection of the arrow 2 on Fig. 1. pair of feelers moves in synchronism with the Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a portion of the arrival of a cigarette at the detecting position. 90

device looking in the opposite direction to that As shown in Fig. 1, the arm 15 is moved past shown in Fig. 2, and the trailing end of ,a cam 19 and is moved Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the maninwardly towards the opposite feeler ,12 by a ner in which the cigarettes are gripped and respring 16 and a cigarette 5 is thereby gripped.

leased. As the discs 13 and 17'continue to rotate still 5 Like reference numerals refer to like parts further, the arm 15 approaches the leading edge throughout the several figures of the drawings. of a cam 20. This cam 20 lies outwardly be- The selecting device is preferably arranged yond a. predetermined point so as only to be atthe end of a continuous rod cigarette main the path of any of the arms 15 that are chine. gripping a cigarette which is of the proper The cigarettes 5, as they issue on the conlength and the ends of which are of the desired veyor 115 from the cut-off of the machine, are degree of hardness. In this case, the arm 15 deflected at right angles to their path in the carrying the cigarette 5 which is a good one, machine by deflectors 6 over a tiltable plate 7 will be'pressed outwardly beyond the leading 0 and between guides 8 and 9 to the arcuate edge of the cam 20 so that as the shaft 113 and grooves between projections 10 on discs 11 which the discs 13 and 17 rotate, the arm 15 will rotate on a shaft 111 in the direction shown on engage the outer face of the cam 20 and will the drawings. be moved outwardly thereby so that the ciga- Above the pairs of rotating discs 11 there are rette 5 is released. As shown in Fig. 4 this 5 mounted rotatable carriers which comprise feelrelease has just taken place. 119

The inner face of the cam 20 is, however, such that if a defective cigarette, such as cigarette 5 shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is either too short or is soft at the ends so that the feelers 12 and 14: penetrate into the cigarette, the arms 15 gripping such cigarettes, will pass the leading edge of the cam 20 on the inside, and consequently, the faulty ordefective cigarettes such as the cigarette 5 will be carried on by the rotating discs 13 and 17. The leading edge of the cam 20 is constituted by a separate element 120 that is pivotally mounted about a pin 1'21 and urged into its normal position by a tension spring 122. This mounting allows the element 120 to tilt back if it is accidentally struck by one of the arms 15, so as to allow the arm to pass by without damaging the machine.

For the sake of clearness, in Fig. 4, the part 120 has not been shown separate from the cam 20. In order to allow cigarettes of different lengths to be tested, provision is made to adjust the discs 17 axially along the spindle 113. This adjustment may be efi'ected by thumb-screw 124 shown on the right-hand side of Fig. 2. -A similar adjusting device would be employed, although not shown in the drawings, for effecting the axial adjustment of the disc 1'7 on that side.

At the rear end of the cam 20, there is pro- Vided' a catcher 21 into which the faulty or defective cigarettes are dropped. These latter are released by the feelers at the proper time by a cam 19. As seen in Fig; 3, the leading edge of the cam 19 is curved inwardly so that any feeler arms 15 which lie on the inside of the cam 20, will be gradually pressed outwardly by the cam 19 so as to'release the cigarettes at the proper time into the -catcher;'

The other feeler arms 15 (such as the arm 15 which have moved along the outside of the cam 20, move against the cam 19 under the tension of the springs 16 whenthey have passed the trailing end of the cam 20.

Thu's all the arms 15, whether they engage a good or a defective cigarette, will eventually engage the outer face of the cam 19.

The cam 19 is arranged to hold the feeler arm 15' outwardly beyond the ends of the cigarettes which are carried by the *discs 11, so that as the arms 15 pass the trailing edge of the cam 19, they move inwardly under the influence of their springs 16 to engage the cigarette.

It has just been shown that the faulty cigarettes are dropped into a catcher 21, and'it will be necessary to describehow the other cigarettes are removed from the selecting device.

- The sequence of events will be more clearly understood from a consideration of Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this case, the arm 15 which only a moment ago gripped the end of the cigarette 5 as shown in Fig. 1, has now reached the leading edge'of the cam20 and has been pressed outwardly thereby. The cigarette 5 is, therefore, released almost immediately after being gripped andialls back into the same groove in the discs 1.1 in which it was previously carried. The tested cigarettes such as 5 are carried round by the discs 11 between pairs. of

j lateral guides 22,1which set their ends in proper alignment. .A shield 23 prevents them from leaving the discs 11 radially and ensures that they are carried down between guides 24' and 25,- the latter being constituted by a spring finger. The cigarettes are thereby allowed to fall on to a travelling band 26, which may be the usual delivery band of the machine.

As shown in Fig. 2, two pairs of detectors are provided side by side in practice, the cigarettes being deflected to each detector alternately. A partition 28 separates the cigarettes on the delivery band 26.

In the event of the detecting apparatus ceasing to operate for any reason at all, the plate 7 can be lowered so that the cigarettes may be deflected from the conveyor 115 directly to the conveyor 26. In order, in such a case, toreduce thespeed of the cigarettes, a flap 27 of flexible material (for example, of felt) is provided, supportedafrom the guide 24.

It will be appreciated that the selecting device need not be used'inconjunction with a cigarette making machine as described above, as it may be used independent of the latter for checking made cigarettes.

w What I claim as my invention and desire to secure'by Letters Patent is:--

l. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a pair of studs arranged to engage and enter the opposite ends of each cigarette, one stud of each pair being yieldingly mounted tomove inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, means for delivering one cigarette at a time between said studs, and means for releasing the cigarettes from the studs at a'difterent'time and place dependent upon the extent of movement of the yielding stud when the particular cigarette is being tested.

2. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling'of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a movable carrier having at least one pair of studs operative to engage and enter opposite ends of a cigarette,- at" least one stud of each pair being yieldingly mounted tomove inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, means moving in timed relationship to the carrier for feeding one cigarette at a timebetween the studs, and means operative to control the studs in such a manner as to release a cigarette at a different time and place when a stud has moved inwardly I beyond a predetermined point than otherwise.

3. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a plurality of pairs of feelers arranged to engage and enter the opposite ends of each cigarette, at least one feeler of each pair being yie'ldingly mounted to move inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by'the consistency of the cigarette, means operative to receive each individual cigarette and convey it between a pair of feelers in axial alignment therewith, and means for releasing the cigarette from the feelers at a different time and place dependent upon the extent of movement of the yielding feeler when the particular cigarette being tested. F

4. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettesand separating def-ective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a plurality. of pairs of feelers arranged to engage and enter the opposite ends of each cigarette, at least one feeler or" each pair being yieldingly mounted to move inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, means operative to receive each individual cigarette and convey it between a pair of feelers in axial alignment therewith, said means being movable in substantially the same direction and speed. at the time the cigarette is fed between the feelers, and means for releasing the cigarette from the feelers at a different time and place dependent upon the extent of movement of the yielding feeler when the particular cigarette is being tested.

5. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a plurality of pairs of studs arranged to engage and enter opposite ends of each cigarette, one stud of each pair being yieldingly mounted to move inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, means operative to receive each individual cigarette and convey it between a pair of studs in axial alignment therewith, and means for releasing the cigarette from the studs at a different time and place dependent upon the extent of movement of the yielding stud when the particular cigarette is being tested.

6. A testing device'for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a plurality of pairs of studs arranged to engage and enter the opposite ends of each cigarette, one stud of each pair being yieldingly mounted to move inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, means operative to receive each individual cigarette and conveyit between a pair of studs in axial alignment therewith, said means being movable in substantially the same direction and speed at the time the cigarette is being fed between the studs, and means for releasing the cigarette from the feelers at a different time and place dependent upon the extent of movement of the yielding stud when the particular cigarette is being tested.

'7. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a movable carrier having at least one pair of feelers operative to engage and enter opposite ends of a cigarette, at least one feeler of each pair being yieldingly mounted to move inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, means operative to receive each individual cigarette and convey it between a pair of feelers in axial alignment therewith, and means operative to control the feelers in such a manner as to release a cigarette at a different time and place, when a feeler has moved inwardly beyond a predetermined point than otherwise.

8. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a movable carrier having at least one pair of feelers for opposite ends of a cigarette, at least one feeler of eachpair being resiliently mounted and arranged to move inward- 1y toward the other and enter the cigarette to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, and a device rotatable with respect to and between opposed feelers for delivering cigarettes to the latter.

9. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a movable carrier having at least one pair of studs foropposite ends of a cigarette, at least one stud of each pair being resiliently mounted and arranged to move inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, a pair of discs rotatable between opposed studs for delivering cigarettes to the latter, said discs being provided with means operative to control the cigarettes, and a rotatable deflector between the said discs, said deflector having its axis of rotation parallel to that of the discs and of the axes of the cigarettes.

10. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a movable carrier having at least one pair of feelers operative to engage and enter opposite ends of a cigarette, at least one feeler of each pair being yieldingly mounted to move inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, means operative in timed relationship to the carrier to feed one cigarette at a time between the feelers, a cam situated in the path of the movable feelers and operative to control those feelers which are pressed sufiiciently far outwardly by the cigarettes heldbetween them, said cam being clear of the feelers when they engage defective cigarettes, and a second cam situated. behind the last mentioned cam and operative in the path of the feelers engaging defective cigarettes to release the latter.

11. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination,a pair of feelers arranged to engage the opposite ends of each cigarette, one feeler of each pair being yieldingly mounted to move inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, a pair of discs rotatable between opposed feelers for delivering cigarettes to the latter, a deflector rotatable between the said discs about an axis parallel to that of the discs and of the cigarettes, a cam situated in the path of the movable feelers and operative to control those feelers which are pressed sufficiently far outwardly by the cigarettes held between them, said cam being clear of the feelers when they engage defective cigarettes, and a second cam situated behind the last mentioned cam and operative in the path of the feelers engaging defective cigarettes to re-- lease the same.

12. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination, a movable carrier having at least one pair of feelers operative to engage opposite ends of a cigarette, at least one feeler of each pair being resiliently mounted and arranged to move inwardly toward the other to an extent determined by the consistency of the cigarette, a pair of discs rotatable between opposed feelers for delivering cigarettes to the latter, a deflector rotatable between the said discs and about an axis parallel to that of the discs and of the cigarettes, a cam situated in the path of the movable feelers and operative to control these feelers L N "I Fir of the feelers engaging defective cigarettes, to release the defective cigarettes.

13. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes'from therothers, comprising in ccmbinationa rotatable shaft having 'mounted thereon a movable carrier composed of two parts, one of which is fixed to the shaft and the other adjustably mounted thereon, radial arms resiliently mounted on the adjustable part and provided with studs, said fixed part being provided with studs directed toward'and in alignment with said first named studs, the two parts of the carrier being spaced apart upon the shaft and each pair of aligned studs being operative to engage and enter the ends of a cigarette.

.14. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of'cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon a movable carrier composed of two parts, one of which is fixed to the'shaft and the other adjustably mounted thereon, radial arms resiliently. mounted on the adjustable part and provided with studs, said fixed part being provided with studs directed toward and in alignment with said first named studs, the two parts of the carrier being spaced apart upon the shaft and each pair of aligned studs being operative to enenter the ends of a cigarette, a cam situated in the path of the radial arms and operative to control those arms which are pressed sufiiciently far outwardly by the cigarettes held between them, said cam being clear of the radial arms when the studs engage defective cigarettes, and a second cam situated rearwardly of the last mentioned cam and operative in the path of the arms, the studs of-which engage defective cigarettes, to release the same. 1

15. A testing device for testing theconsistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination a rotatable shaft having, mounted thereon a movable carrier composed of two parts, one of which is fixed to the shaft and the other adjustably mounted thereon, radial arms resiliently mounted on the adjustable part and provided with studs, said fixed part being provided with studs directed toward and in. alignment with said first named studs, the two parts of the carrier being spaced apart upon the shaft and each pair of aligned studs being operative to enand enter the ends of a cigarette, a cam situated in the path of the radial arms and operative to control those arms which are pressed sufficiently far outwardly by the cigarettes held between them and the fixed studs, said cam being clear of the radial arms when the studs engage defective cigarettes, a pivotaliy mounted and spring-urged element on the leading end of said cam to engage with and guide the radial arms, and a second cam situated rearwardly of the lastv mentioned cam and operative in the path of the arms, the studs of which engage defective cigarettes, to release the same.

16. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon a movable carrier composed of two parts, one of which is fixed to the shaft and the other adjustably mounted thereon, radial arms resiliently mounted on the adjustable part and provided with studs, said fixed part being provided with studs dir'ected-toward-and in alignment with said first named studs, thetwo parts being spaced apart upon the shaft and each pair of aligned studs being operative toengage and enter the ends of a cigarette, a pair of rotatable discs disposed below and between. the parts of the movable carrier, said discs having peripheral projections, said projections being in alignment with each other and operative to receive a cigarette and feed it into position to be received by a pair of cooperating studs, a:cam situated-in the path of the -radial arms and operative to control those arms which are pressed sufficiently far "outwardly by the cigarettes held between'them and the fixed StlldS,S2lid carnzbeing clear of the radial arms when they engage defective cigarettes, and a second cam situated rearwardly of the last mentioned cam and operative in the path of the arms, the studs of which engage defective cigarettes, to release the same. 7

17. 'A testing -device'for testing the consistency of the filling of ci arettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon a movable carrier composed of two parts, one of which is fixed to the shaft-and the other adjustably mounted thereon, radial arms resiliently mounted en tne adjustable part and provided with studs, said fixed part being provided "with studs directed toward and in align- :hent wi'h saidfirst named studs, the two parts being spaced apart upon the shaft and each pair of aligned studs being operative to engage and enter the 'ends of a cigarette, a .pair of rotatable discs disposed below and between the parts of the said'movable carrier, said discs having peripheral projections, said projections being in alignment wiiheach' other and operative to receive a cigarette and feed it into position to be-received by a pair of cooperating studs, a cam situated in the path of the radial arms and operative to control those arms which are pressed sufilcienly far outwardly by the cigarettes held between them and the fixed studs, said cam being clear of the radial arms when they engage defective cigarettes, a pivotally mounted and spring-urged element at the leading end of said cam, and a second cam situated behind the last mentioned cam and opera-tivein the path of the-arms, the studs of'which engage the defective cigaretteato release the same. 7

18. A testing device for testing the consistency of the filling of cigarettes and separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising in combination a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon a movable carrier composed "of two part, one of which is fixedto the shaft and the other adjustably mounted thereon, radial arms resiliently mounted on the adjustable part and provided with studs, said fixed-part beingprovided with studs which are directed toward and are in alignment with said first named studs, saidparts being spaced apart'upon the shaft and each pair of aligned studs being operative to engage and enter the ends of a cigarette, and an element operative to adjust said ad justable part axially upon the' rotatable-shaft.

l9. A testing device for testing the. consistency of the filling of cigarettesand separating defective cigarettes from the others, comprising arms resiliently mounted on the adjustable part i";

and provided with studs, said fixed part being provided with studs directed toward and in alignment with said first named studs, the two parts being spaced apart upon the shaft and each pair of aligned studs being operative to engage and enter the ends of a cigarette, an element operative to adjust said adjustable part axially upon the rotatable shaft, a pair of ro tatable discs disposed below and between the parts of the said movable carrier, said discs having peripheral projections, said projections being in alignment with each other and operative to receive a cigarette and feed it into position to be received by a pair of cooperating

Images