US1992740A

US1992740A - Delivery of cigarettes and the like

Info

Publication number: US1992740A
Application number: US726054A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chandler Robert John Alexander
Original assignee: AMF Inc
Current assignee: AMF Inc
Priority date: 1933-05-22
Filing date: 1934-05-17
Publication date: 1935-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1952-02-26
Also published as: GB420158A

Description

R. J. A. CHANDLER' 1,992,740 DELIVERY OF CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Feb. 26, 1935.

Filed May 17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1935. R. J. A. CHANDLER DELIVERY OF CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed May 17, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 26, 1935'. R, A NDLE 1,992,740

DELIVERY OF CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed May 17, 1934- s Sheets-Sheet 3 V Patented Feb. 26, 1935 DELIVERY OF CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Robert John Alexander Chandler, London, England, assignor to The American Machine & Foundry Company, New York, N. Y.

Application May 17, 1934, Serial No. 726,054- In Great Britain May 22, 1933 10 Claims. (Cl. 198-25) tinuous rod are delivered axially between upper This invention relates to the delivery and coland lower endless bands and 6 travelling at lection of cigarettes and like shaped articles which are formed as a continuous rod and severed into the desired lengths, but for convenience the 'in- 5 vention will be described with reference to the collection of cigarettes.

The invention more particularly relates to the type of machine in which the delivery of the cigarettes is effected along paths transverse to the'movement ofthe cigarette rod by the aid of a vaned drum or equivalent device rotating on an axis parallel to the cigarette rod and preferably disposed so that the vanes engage the cigarette when the vanes are at their lowest position.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for receiving. the cigarettes from the drum and transferring them to the collecting band or conveyor under conditions which precludes harsh treatment of the cigarettes while obtaining eflicient delivery and collection when working with present day speed of cigarette manufacture.

The invention is of particular advantage when collecting tipped cigarettes to enable the cigarettes to be separated and collected into two columns or files, the cigarettes in each column having the tips all facing in one direction.

According to the invention in a cigarette collecting machine of the type described, transfer means are provided adaptedto receive the cigarettes after they have been moved transversely by the vaned drum and positively transfer them preferably at a reduced speed of travel to the collecting band or conveyor.

Such means may comprise a rotary element adapted to rotate at a speed lower than that of the drum and having pockets into which the cigarettes are delivered by the vanes of the drum, the cigarettes being under the control of the vanes until they are deposited into the pockets.

The rotary element maycomprise a spaced pair of deeply toothed wheels projecting through slots in a delivery plate element, whereby the cigarettes are removed from the spaced wheels and delivered onto the plate, which preferably has an inclined part down which the cigarettes pass or roll to the collecting belt.

Further features of invention will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figures 1 and 2 are sectional elevation and end elevation of one form of apparatus according to the invention, while Figures 3 and 4 are sectional elevation and plan of a, modification. v I

.In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode as applied, by way of example, to a cigarette collecting device for separating and collecting tipped cigarettes, see Figwas 1 and 2, the cigarettes cut off from the con-- a speed adapted to cause an axial separation of the cigarettes. The lower band 6 extends beyond the upper band and beneath a rotary drum 7 provided with radial vanes or paddles 8, 8a parallel to the axis of the drum and adapted to engage the cigarettes and move them transversely from the travelling band. The conveying run of the lower band 6 at its outer side moves beneath an adjustable guide plate 9 which presents a shoulder 10 adapted to align the cigarettes on the conveyor as they are moved axially thereby so that they are in the correct position to be engaged by the appropriate vane.

The drum is divided longitudinally into two zones and the vanes 8 in one zone are staggered slightly with respect to the vanes 8a in the other zone, circumferential stops 11 being provided between the vanes.

At the end of the drum remote from the cut oil a stationary flange or fence 12 is provided to form a stop for the cigarettes passing into the zone, formed by the vanes 8a, the arrangement being such that alternate cigarettes in their axial movement are brought to rest against the fence 12 and the intermediate steps 11 between the vanes of the drum.

The feeding run of the lower travelling. band 6 is supported upon a table 13 which is curved upwardly at the delivery side of the band. The

move upwardly to the delivery edge of the table.

Leaf springs 14 are provided above the table andextend over the delivery edge thereof, being bent downwardly toward the delivery edge if necessary. The springs ensure each cigarette in its delivery movement over the edge of the table 13 being in contact with and under the control of the vane. The vanes of the drum are cut away at 15 to accommodate the leaf springs.

Mounted below and to one side of the drum and rotating on an axis parallel with the axis of the drum is a series of spaced toothed wheels 16, two wheels being provided for each zone. The teeth 17 are shaped to provide relatively deep pockets 18. The toothed wheels are preferably adapted to rotate at a slower speed than the vaned drum. For. example, the wheels 16 shown in the drawings are geared to the drum by gears l9 to rotate at a quarter the speed of the drum, and the number of pockets 18 formed by the teeth is accordingly four times the number of the vaned compartments in each zone. It will be appreciated that the speed of the toothed wheels will depend upon the spacing of the teeth thereon.

The cigarettes in each zone as they are pressed upon the curved table 13 associated with the travelling band are successively transferred into the pockets 18 of the toothed wheels from which they are subsequently delivered for collection onto the usual transversely running collecting band 20. The edge of the curved table 13 and the end of the spring M are positioned so that, during transfer of a cigarette, they lie close to an adjacent pair of teeth on the toothed wheel, see Figure l, thus closing the pocket formed thereby and ensuring proper transfer of the cigarette.

It will be appreciated that owing to the upward curving or the table 13 and the slight downward pressure of the springs, the cigarettes will be under control by the vanes of the drum until they are positively fed over the edge of the table by the vane.

The delivery of the cigarettes from the pockets of the toothed transfer wheels 18 is effected by slotted plates 21 which extend between the toothed wheels so that their inner ends lie beneath. the lower edges of the pockets of said wheels. As the wheels rotate the teeth will move the cigarettes forward and onto the slotted plate.

The slotted delivery plates are inclined down wardly at a suitable angle so that the cigarettes will roll down and onto the travelling collecting band 20.

A pivot bailie plate .24 may be provided at the delivery end of the plate 21 to control the lie of the cigarettes on the collector belt.

In order to prevent the delivery of a short length cigarette when starting up the machine or after a stoppage, the slotted plates 21 may have an open central portion so that as the short length cigarette is delivered to the toothed wheels by the vaned drum it will fall through the open part or" the delivery plate and down the guide 22 into the receptacle 23.

In operation, as the cigarettes are cut on from the cigarette rod they are caught up by the conveyors 5 and 6 and axially separated. 'llhe separated cigarettes are then forwarded axially by the conveyor 6 and alternate cigarettes are fed into positions to be engaged by the vanes in the respective zones defined by the fence l2 and the division stops 11 on the drum.

As the drum continues to rotate the cigarettes are moved transversely off the conveyor and posi tively delivered or deposited between the curved table 13 and springs 14 to the pocketed wheels 16 from which they are received upon the inclined plate 21 down which they roll to the collecting belt in two separated stacks or columns.

Instead of the fixed partly inclined delivery plate a travelling band may be provided onto which the cigarettes are delivered from the toothed wheels, such band being guided on a drum concentric with the wheels and rotating at the same or a lower speed.

Referring for example to Figures 3 and a the collector bands 25 may be guided around drums 26 coaxial with the pocketed wheels 16 and if desired driven at the same speed as the wheels. Alternatively the drums 26 may be free to revolve on the shaft 27 of the wheels 16 and the bands 25 driven at a speed different from that of the wheel, for example, slower, so that the cigarettes will be delivered thereon in spaced relation or closed up as desired.

It will be obvious that instead of the two zone drum for the collection of tipped cigarettes into .l,il53,74ld

two series, as above described, when dealing with non-tipped cigarettes only one or more than two zones may be provided so as to deal with the collection of cigarettes from high speed cigarette forming machines.

What is claimed is,

l. Mechanism for collecting cigarettes from a cigarette rod making machine comprising means for conveying the cigarettes axially, a vaned drum mounted to rotate on an axis parallel to the cigarette rod for discharging the cigarettes transversely from said conveying means, a rotary fluted element mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the cigarette rod and adapted to receive cigarettes in the flutes as they are discharged from said conveying means and deliver them to a collector belt.

2. Mechanism for collecting cigarettes from a cigarette rod making machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluted element is rotated at a speed lower than that of the varied drum.

3. Mechanism for collecting cigarettes lrom a cigarette rod making machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluted element comprises an axially spaced pair or" deeply toothed wheels.

i. Mechanism for collecting cigarettes from a cigarette rod making machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conveyor passes beneath a guide plate having an edge adapted to maintain the cigarettes in axial alignment.

5. Mechanism for collecting cigarettes from a cigarette rod making machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluted element comprises an axially spaced pair of deeply toothed wheels and a discharge plate is located between the wheels to remove the cigarettes from the flutes and (16- liver them. by gravity to the catcher belt.

6. Mechanism for collecting cigarettes from a cigarette rod making machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluted element comprises an axially spaced pair of deeply toothed wheels and the catcher belt passes round a drum mounted between the wheels whereby the cigarettes are removed from the flutes by the belt.

7. Mechanism for collecting cigarettes from a cigarette rod making machine comprising a conveyor receiving the cigarettes from said machine and conveying them axially, a vaned drum for discharging the cigarettes transversely from the conveyor onto a delivery table, a spring for pressing the cigarettes onto the delivery table, a rotary transfer element having flutes adapted to receive the cigarettes and transfer them to a catcher belt, the arrangement being such that the cigarettes are under the control of the vanes until they are deposited over the edge of the delivery table and into flutes.

8. Mechanism for collecting cigarettes from a cigarette rod making machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the delivery edge or the table is curved upwardly to conform to the path or" the vanes.

9. Means for controlling the delivery of cigarettes as they are delivered transversely from a conveyor belt comprising a series of rotating vanes, a table across which the cigarettes are I successively delivered by said vanes, and spring means adapted to press the cigarettes onto the table, the arrangement being such that the cigarettes are under the control of the vanes until they are deposited over the edge of the table.

10. Means for controlling the delivery of cigarettes as claimed in claim 9 wherein the delivery edge of the table extends upwardly conforming to the path of the vanes.

ROBERT JOHN ALEXANDER CHANDLER.