US2808105A - Mouthpiece feeding and severing machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 1, 1957 H. s. KROHNE MOUTHPIECE FEEDING AND SEVERING MACHINE Filed June so, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR HANS KROHNE ATToRNl-iY Oct. 1, 1957 H. G. KROHNE 7 2,808,105

MOUTHPIECE FEEDING AND SEVERING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1955 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY MOUTHPIECE FEEDING AND SEVERING MACHINE Filed June so, 1955 H. G. KROHNE Oct. 1, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'INVENT HANS G. KRO

BY 7M 5 EQ? A y? ATTORNEY -MU I HPIECE FEEDING ANDSEVERING MACHINE Hans G. Krohne, Richmond, V a,, assignor toA ne -ican Machine & Foundry Company, acorporation of'New Jersey .Anrli atiqnJuu fill, 71. .5. Schem -$9,1 4

14 Claims. c1. 1-64-61 This inven io relates t ann atg ,tfQ f eding a e erin mul pl len {m uthp e e mate :an seuering -said lengths into subdivisions of predetermined length.

Itis common practice in the cigarette manufacturing art to manufacture mouthpiece-and filter plu g material in sextuple lengths to facilitate thandlin g. .These sextuple lengths are subdivided into :smaller -,segrnents at .the time theylareltoibe incorporatedteithcninto a cigarette rod or united with a cut length ofcigarette rod :to vmake mouthpiece cigarettes.

,In various devices that have been devised .for subdividing multiple lengths .of mouthpiece material, .it has beenl found that the sextuple lengths ofmouthp iece material are notall oflthe same length. Therefore, any,a;xial f eding of such lengths which aretdependentupon one sextuple ,length pushing ,a preceding ;.s'e xtuple length to -.a cut-61f station where predetermined lengths of .mouthpiecematerial are cut from the multiple length, any errors thatprevail tend to become cumulative. .Qonseguently, seve e leng h a no a ay o thc same s ze T i obviously, is un desirable since it interferes with the proper functioning of a machinemaking mouthpiece cigarettes by forwarding mouthpieces to the machine which .areof subnor mal size, which will result in the ma chines becom ing jammed. .It also resultsincigarettesbeingmQImfactured which are defective, in thatthe n outhpieces areof the incorrect size.

*It is an ohjectof this invention to provide an apparatus, for feeding multiple lengths .of mouthpiece material, which will becompact in size.

A f h n Q t i v a Qnion viq a impl ifie d fe ed of multiple 'lengthsof mouthpiece naterial wherein the operating mechanism will belsimpliiied and y will avoid'the a umul ion 9 errm inthesgb r sion being severed from the multiple lengths of mouthpiece material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluted dr'um f e mul l s t q a iit zpi qerma ia n a rq a ns pu h i a na asiie Flags ex endin from the periphery thereof to successively advance a length of mouthpiece material along a'fluteto a cuuofi to i idi d Said .r a t l l n th af equ ,ssbs v tipns- Itis an object fthis invention to subdivide a multiple length of filteringmaterial into filte rplugs of equal length ready for insertion at the ends of individual lengths" of cigarette material or cigarette rod.

Other objects and 5 features of the :invention will appear as ;the description of the (particular physical t-embodiment selected :to ,illustrate the invention progresses. In {the accompanying, drawings, \whichb form .:a part QfgiIhiS SPQQi' t cat cnal ls ch ractcr te r ere qeih ezhee sa nli dst corresponding parts throughout .the seueral vieviis which malgeupdhedrawings.

-1 ir n i a a a flut dmnmhpieq iee 1 41mm an s ug e m h ism shown :in con unc ion .w t suitahl qpp and .traastennis nited States Patent Etc 2 .i i s c ona .side lev n c the teedmlunge mechanism.

3 is a side icnpar ywinis ct ann the ec inf; d um nd .feed plungeryand their assqqitt fid .drivi echanisms.

igs. .e d.cl at onu hc si n rticuq he eed and plunger dr n mech nism ta en 9 mm f Fig. 3.

Fi -V .1 als a .se tiqna end el on o th driving mec ani m ta n omlinefi-ficfiFiaS- Fis- 6 i a ot m" e ti nalmd .e a i n th d v ng mechanism taken on line .6-6 QfJ'ElgJB.

M h ce edin and.c t i ..mach n consi t of a'fluted feeding drum'14into which seXtuple lengths qf mouthpiece material aredeposited. Any suitable" device c l b use t e os a ex gpl jl st .Q mouthp c materialiinto each of the flutes of my fiuteddrurn l such asthe structure shown in co-pending application of George "DearsleypSerial No. 509?;293, filed 'May 18, 19 55 ;For purposes of illustrating theinvention Thave shown how a simple'hopper -10 can be used for this purpose wherein a balfle plate 12 is employed for allowing a metered supply of:sextuplelength'mouthpieces Mgto slide or roll toward the fluted drum '1-4. A portion of the periphery of the fluted drum-1 4-is positionedat-the open end of-t'ne hopper lilso as-to allow a sext-uple length of mouthpiece material tofall-i-ntoeach-0f the fluted pockets 1-6 as they move pastthe open-end of/the hopper 10.

Thefiuted drum 1-4 is intermittently driven so as to successively present a .fiute carrying -a sextuple length of mouthpiece in line-withcut-off station E. At'this station E the sextuple length of mouthpiece material is intermittently advanced along the length of the flute a -predetermined distanceequalsto-a=predetermined length of mouthpiecematerial at aitime untila sextuple lengthmas been completely subdivided and ejected from the fiute.

This 'feeding process .is accomplishe'd by the viutermit tent ,reciprocation and rotation of .the feeding barrel .18. The feeding barrel @1815 provided -.with six 5(6) =radially extendingfeeding lugs Qatlwhich are-circumferentially and lengthwise vspaced :from .each .other on said abarrel .18. These feeding lugs :24) .a-re intermittently ,reciprocated and successiv ly e gag with: he-end Qfethe multiplet length.of mouthpiece v rnaterial and advance .it along 5 the flute 716 to pus x h e d ng e dcf them ut piec materialia predeermined di tanc hrough :th :at n ed ledger :tube :211. Ibi pr determ ne (distanc i s que to the z ength of m thp ec er ahsi sired oqbennitedwith-mendc cigerettehe ead n ero -9 h imu is :lensthnf rnquthaieqesm te i tthe i ete e zb ia uit blelt iit -213- After an div dua enethtq imqut nie eim teua she be n -se ere fwm h leddinse of th 'mit t pl leng f mat-li as m ter al t multipl l n h 1 c (mouthie ematsria i A ien again;asivan es z-ae imila ts is Thi -.sai se v ha s aes i aa q 'mou h i mate ia its epy h iin oton sa t ?r qve v nsra kst 10 aissitahl QQiQ -YQ T- 0 llu trat th i ve ti n hav u ed :a mouthpiece conveyor. similar to that. disclosed i the on s n g as wi 9 .Q WaId Jii sma Seria .No- 5 05,605 ,.filed May 3, 1955 's convey0r.may. cqnsis t 0 1 d s 2: ?car yinaapluna itm o equal sna di ee e Q rec c e e1 Tlil dis i inte m te y ctated t n t ms r lati a hi i h th mgv m n tlr iflme firum t4 .andt h lte i gh rrqh fi spa mirritan -at empted? q i qce viag n sitio t rece v a a q t housing 36. Sleeve member 34 is rotatably supported by a conventional ball bearing 38, the inner race of which is clamped between a flange of a shaft 46 and a conventional ball bearing lock nut 44 engaging with a threaded portion of shaft 46. The outer race of the ball bearing 38 is secured to the end of sleeve member 34 by means of a suitable clamp collar 48.

The rotation of drum cam 28 effects, through the connection just mentioned, an axial reciprocating motion of the actuating shaft 46. Actuating shaft 46 also carries a sleeve member 50 provided with an elongated slot 52 which engages with a roller 54 pivotally secured to said actuating shaft 46. To sleeve member 50 is also secured by means of a key 56 a Geneva wheel 58 which is actuated by :1 Geneva arm 60 carrying a roller 62 which engages with slots 64 of said Geneva wheel 58. Geneva arm 69 is suitably secured to the continuously rotating drive shaft 26.

Integral with Geneva wheel 58 is a pair of spaced discs 66 which carry one roller 68 which in turn engages with slots 70 of a Geneva wheel 72 mounted on a shaft 74 supported by a suitable bearing in the housing 36. On shaft 74 is also mounted a gear 76 meshing with an intermediate gear 78 which in turn meshes with a gear 80 mounted on the fluted drum supporting shaft 82 which is also supported by suitable bearings in the housing 62.

The intermediate gear 78 is rotatably supported by a suitable stud shaft 84 held by the housing 36. Through the connection thus described it is evident that one rotation of shaft 46, which consists of six (6) intermittent steps, will effect a partial rotation of the drum 14 equal to the distance of the spacing of the center lines of two adjacent fluted pockets 16. An adjusting screw 45 holds a shoe carried by shaft 46 firmly against the barrel 18.

By loosening screw 45 the barrel 18 may be moved axially for fine adjustment of the correct line to which the leading end of the filter plug rod will be moved.

The operation of my apparatus may be briefly described as follows:

The sextuple length mouthpieces M move down the hopper 10 under the metering baffle 12 towards the open end of the hopper where they fall into the flutes 16 of the drum 14 exposed to the open end of the hopper as the drum 14 rotates intermittently in the direction of the arrow. The drum 14 carries the individual sextuple lengths of mouthpiece material upwardly to the feeding station B. At this station the shaft 46, carrying the barrel 18, is reciprocated lengthwise by drum cam 28, thereby causing one of the lugs 20, which is immediately behind the mouthpiece material to be advanced a predetermined distance corresponding to the length of the mouthpiece to be fed. When the lug 20 is advanced in this manner the leading end of the mouthpiece material is pushed into the conical ledger tube 21.

The barrel 18 is then rotated by means of the Geneva wheel 58, so as to bring the next adjoining radially ex tending lug 20 up behind the end of the advanced multiple mouthpiece. The barrel 18 is then again reciprocated by means of the drum cam 28 and again the multiple length mouthpiece is advanced through the ledger tube 21 a distance corresponding to the length of a desired mouthpiece. This causes the leading end of the mouthpiece material previously pushed into the ledger tube 21 to be advanced one desired mouthpiece length, to leave the ledger tube 21 and enter one of the mouthpiece carrying bushings 24 of the disc 22. After the mouthpiece material has been advanced in this manner, the cutoff knife 23 descends and severs the leading end of the mouthpiece material adjacent the ledger 21 by passing through the mouthpiece material between the bushing 24 and the ledger tube 21. This results in severing the desired length of mouthpiece material from the rod.

The barrel 18 is then rotated again by the Geneva 58 to bring the next adjacent lug behind the end of the multiple length mouthpiece material. Simultaneously with such intermittent rotation of the barrel 18, the mouthpiece carrying disc 22 is advanced one step to bring the next succeeding bushing into mouthpiece receiving position at station E. The next adjacent lug 20 formed on the barrel 18 is advanced when the shaft 46 is reciprocated by the drum cam 28 to push the leading end of the multiple length of mouthpiece material into the next bushing 24 by moving the mouthpiece material along the flute 16. The knife 23 is then actuated to sever a section of mouthpiece material from the leading end of the multiple length mouthpiece.

The process is then repeated. The Geneva 58 rotates the lug feeding barrel 18 one step and, simultaneously, through suitable gearing connections, causes the disc 22 carrying bushing 24 to advance the next bushing into plug receiving position. When the next plug receiving bushing has been located in plug receiving position, the next succeeding spirally arranged staggered lug 20 will also be in position behind the multiple length of mouthpiece material. When the cam through shaft 46 and barrel 18 reciprocates the ing 20 it advances the leading end of the multiple length of mouthpiece material into the bushing 24,

As previously stated, the distance the barrel 18 is reciprocated corresponds substantially to the length of a single mouthpiece. The knife 23 then severs the leading end of the multiple length of mouthpiece material from the balance of the mouthpiece material.

This process is repeated until the entire length of mouthpiece material has been advanced along the flute 16 of feed drum 14. The last section of mouthpiece material is engaged by the leading end of lug 25 which has a slight projection for pushing the end of this plug material clear of the fluted drum 14 so as to allow a slight clearance between the end of the plug and the side of the fluted drum 14.

It will be appreciated that while I have shown how a sextuple length of mouthpiece material may be divided into six (6) equal parts, it could just as readily be divided into three double lengths by changing the configuration of the drum cam 28 to provide a longer throw of the shaft 46, and, also, to eliminate three lugs from the drum 18. Similarly, the Geneva drives would be similarly changed to rotate the drums 14, barrel 18, and disc 22 in timed relationship with one another.

When one multiple sextuple length of mouthpiece material has been completely advanced through the fluted drum 14, the Geneva '72 is then rotated by means of the roller 68 so as to advance the next succeeding flute into mouthpiece feeding position, and then the process just described is again repeated.

It will be noted from the foregoing brief description of the invention that by combining rotary movement of a member having staggered feeding lugs thereon with a reciprocating movement of the drum carrying the staggered lugs, it is not necessary to have driving and feeding mechanism which extends over a large area. This particular design permits a very compact apparatus to be made. It will further be noted that a slight clearance is allowed between the lugs and the end of the mouthpiece material so as to readily permit the barrel 18 to be rotated without having the lugs 20 engage with the end of the mouthpiece material until the lug is reciprocated by means of the drum cam 28 and for determination of actual transport length. By employing a drum cam 28 which reciprocates the lugs and by positioning the lugs at the desired position, all of the filter plugs are of the correct length and there is no accumulation of errors that might result from the mouthpieces varying slightly in length from one another.

The invention hereinabove described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of the same. The

invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding multiple lengths of mouthpiece material comprising a fluted drum, a source of supply of-multiple 'leng'thso'f mouthpiece material, means for delivering and depositing one of such multiple lengths of mouthpiece .material into each of ,the ,flutes .of said fluted drum, means 'foriinterrnittently rotating said [fluted drum to bring aflute into alignment with aplug cutting station, .a drum hav ng Stag ered lugs extending radially from the surface of said drum, .means for intermittently reciprocating said lugtcarrying drum .to move one ;of said lugs .adistance corresponding substantially .to the length of ,a mouthpiece along :said fflute to advance .said .multiple length of mouthpiece material :towards .said severing station, -means for.-rotating said plug feeding drum to bring the next succeeding lug up .behind -the remaining portion of .the multiple :length of mouthpiece material to advance the .mouthpiece .material another mouthpiece length -.to push .the :leading :end .thereof into a plug receiving .conveyor, and a .knife for severing the leading plug from said multiple length mouthpiece to permit :it to he removed by .s aid conveyor.

v2. .Apparatus .for feeding multiple lengths :of mouthpiece material comprising .a :fluted drum, means -.for deliveringiindividual .lengthsof multiple :length mouthpiece material do -the flutes of :said fluted adrum, .a;s econd ,d-rum having spirally arranged projecting zlugs mounted on -the surfacecfsaid-second drum, means for reciprocating said second .drum axially zto move 1 one !Of said lugs along the fluted. sectiomof saidtfirst ,drum to radvance 'a-filter mouthpiece t-along the length :thereof, means -for;rotating said seconddrumtotbring-the next succeedinggfeedingflugtinto position behind .said multiple length mouthpiece; material, and .means for advancing said lug to :move ,said :multiple length mouthpiece :material axially {toward :a :severing station ,the distance corresponding :to the length of .a mouthpiece, means for :severing the leading .end :of. said severed mouthpiece,- anda mouthpieceireceiving:conveyor for receiving :and {conveying {each :section of mouthpiece material as it is severed.

3. Apparatus having the features provided for in claim 2 wherein-:meanszare provided for intermittently rotating said fluted drumeach timera multiple length mouthpiece has been completely fed through the, flutes of said,drum.

-4. Apparatus for feeding multiple j'lengths ofmouthpiece material comprising a fluted drum, means for depositing multiple lengths of mouthpiece material into the flutes of said drum, a second intermittently reciprocating drum for axially moving a multiple length of mouthpiece material along a flute of said fluted drum, means moving said second drum axially to advance the remaining multiple length of mouthpiece material supported in the flutes of said drum towards a cut-off station, each axial reciprocation of said second drum being substantially equal to the length of a single mouthpiece and along the same predetermined path of travel, spirally arranged lugs projecting from said second drum, means for rotating said second drum to bring the spirally arranged lugs into successive feeding position behind the remaining end of the multiple length mouthpiece material each time said second drum is reciprocated, means for cutting ofl a mouthpiece from the leading end of said multiple length of mouthpiece material, a mouthpiece receiving conveyor for receiving each piece of mouthpiece as it is severed, and means for intermittently rotating said fluted drum each time a multiple length of mouthpiece material has been completely fed through the flute of said drum to bring a new multiple length of mouthpiece material into feeding position.

5. The method of feeding multiple lengths of mouthpiece material and subdividing them into subdivisions of equal length which comprises feeding said multiple lengths laterally by indexing into alignment with a severing station, adva cing n o s d m ip e lengths of u hpiece materialQaxially by a member reciprocably .moving a distance substantially equal to the length of a subdivision and along the length thereof and revolving said member to bring successive pushing members actuated by said reciprocating member .into engagement with .the remaining end of the multiple length mouthpiece material to continue the step by-step advancement of said mouthpiece material untilthe entire length of said rod has "been fed to the severing station, revolving the next succeeding multiple length of mouthpiece material into position in front of said severing station, and then repeating said feeding and subdividing operation.

6 Apparatus for feeding and subdividing multiple lengths of mouthpiece material into subdivisions ofequal length comprising a ;flut ed drum, means for depositing multiple lengths of mouthpiece material into the flutes of said fluted drum, a cutrotf position adjacent the path of travel of said flutedsdrum, a drive for intermittently rotating .said fluted drum to bring a multiple length of mouthpiece mate ial into alignment with said cut-off, a second drum Positioned adjacent said first drum and jhavingtheaxis thereof aligned parallel with the axis of the first drum, adriveifor said second drum for intermittently rotating said second drum, mechanism for reciprocating said-.dliumfl,distancecorresponding to the length desired of subdivided mouthpiece material, lugs projecting from said seeonddrumandarranged in staggered relationship around the .periphery thereof each lug being staggered lengthwise along the axis of said second drum a distance correspQnding substantially to the desired length of a severed mouthpiecesubdivision, means for rotating said seconddrum after each reciprocation and severing operationadistancetohring the next succeeding lug up behind the ,end ,of .the,r.emainingmultiple length of mouthpiece material, mechanism-to continue said intermittent reciprocation and rotation to feed themultiple length 1 of ,mouthpiecematerialin stages equal to thelength of the mouthpiece untilihe entire length thereof has been subdivided, andlactuating mechanism for revolvingsaid fluted drum t .bring the .next .fiute in front of the severing station after the-preceding multiple length of mouthpiece material has been.cornpletely subdivided.

7. Apparatus for feeding and subdividing multiple lengths -,of mouthpiece material comprising a cylindrical conveyorfor supporting multiple lengths of mouthpiece materiahonthe periphery thereof, a severing stationpositioned adjacent said conveyor, troughs mounted on said conveyor for positioning an individual multiple length of mouthpiece material in front of a severing station, a second feed conveyor positioned adjacent said severing station, lugs projecting from the said second conveyor, said lugs being staggered from each other along the length of said second conveyor a distance equal to substantially the length of each subdivided length of mouthpiece material, means for reciprocating said second conveyor a distance equal substantially to the length of a severed subdivision of mouthpiece material, and means for rotating said second conveyor after each reciprocation to bring a succeeding lug into feeding position behind the end of the remaining length of multiple mouthpiece material.

8. Apparatus for subdividing multiple length mouthpieces into subdivisions of equal length comprising a severing station, a barrel shaped cylinder for supporting a plurality of multiple lengths of mouthpiece material around the periphery thereof, means for indexing said barrel to position a multiple length of mouthpiece material endwise in front of said severing station, a guide for confining said multiple length to lengthwise movement towards said severing station, a feeding device, nonaligned lugs projecting radially from around the periphery of said feeding device, said lugs being spaced axially along the length of said reciprocating member from each other a distance corresponding substantially to the length a of a subdivided mouthpiece, a drive for reciprocating said feeding device a distance equal substantially to the length of a subdivided mouthpiece, and means for rotating said feeding device after each reciprocation to bring the next succeeding lug up behind the remaining length of the multiple length of mouthpiece material prior to the next reciprocation of said feeding device.

9. Apparatus having the features provided for in claim 8 wherein means are provided for operatingsaid indexing means each time a new length of multiple length mouthpiece material has to be placed into feeding position after -the preceding multiple length of mouthpiece material has been completely subdivided.

10. Apparatus for subdividing multiple lengths of mouthpiece material comprising a conveyor, multiple length mouthpiece supporting troughs extending around the circumference of said conveyor and having the axis thereof parallel to the axis of said conveyor, an intermittent drive for advancing said conveyor laterally stepby-step to move succeeding multiple lengths of mouthpiece material carried in said troughs in front of a severing station, a feed device positioned adjacent said severing station and adjacent said troughs, lugs extending from the periphery of said feed device, said lugs being staggered and spaced from each other lengthwise along the length of said second feeder a distance substantially equal to the length of a subdivided mouthpiece, means for reciprocating said feed device to cause 2. lug to advance said multiple length mouthpiece material toward said severing station the length of one subdivision, separate means for intermittently rotating said feed conveyor so that the next succeeding feeding lug will be brought up behind the remaining end of the multiple length of mouthpiece material after each reciprocation of said feed device.

ll. A device for feeding a length of multiple mouthpiece material to a severing device comprising a feeding device having a combined rotary and reciprocating movement, said feeding device comprising a central barrelshaped member, means for reciprocating said central member a distance corresponding substantially to the length of a subdivided mouthpiece, lugs extending from the central member, the number of lugs corresponding to the number of subdivisions of the multiple length of mouthpiece, means causing said feeding member to revolve after each reciprocation to cause a lug to move up behind the end of the remaining end of mouthpiece material so that when the next reciprocation occurs the multiple length of mouthpiece material will be advanced the length of one mouthpiece.

12. Apparatus for subdividing multiple lengths of mouthpiece material comprising a fluted drum, means for depositing multiple lengths of mouthpiece material into the flutes of said fluted drum, a cut-off, a reciprocating member positioned in front of said cut-off to advance a multiple length of mouthpiece material step-by-step toward said cut-off along said flute, feeding lugs radially projecting from the periphery of said feeding member, said feeding lugs being positioned along the axis of said feeding member and separated from each other a distance corresponding to the length of a subdivided mouthpiece material, means for rotating said member after each reciprocation to bring the next succeeding lug up behind the end of the remaining length of mouthpiece material preliminary to the reciprocatory movement of said feeding member to advance said multiple length mouthpiece material toward said cut-off.

13. Apparatus for subdividing a multiple length of mouthpiece material into equal lengths or subdivisions having the features provided for in claim 12 wherein circumferential grooves are formed in said fluted drum to permit the lug moving into position behind the end of a multiple length of mouthpiece material to pass across the flute of said drum.

14. Apparatus for subdividing multiple lengths of mouthpiece material into subdivisions of equal length comprising a revolver for laterally moving multiple lengths of mouthpiece material, a severing station in front of which a multiple length of mouthpiece material is positioned, a cutting knife positioned adjacent said severing station, a feeding member for advancing the multiple length of mouthpiece material lengthwise a distance corresponding to the length of a subdivided section of mouthpiece material, feeding lugs positioned in staggered relation along the length of said feeding member the distance said adjoining members are positioned from each other corresponding to the distance of a subdivided length of mouthpiece material, means for reciprocating said central feeding member, and means for rotating said member after each reciprocation to bring the next adjoining lug up behind the end of a multiple length of mouthpiece material preliminary to the next reciprocating movement of said central feeding member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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