US2940795A - Tobacco feeding devices for cigarette making machines - Google Patents

Description

June 14, 1960 O. PETERS TOBACCO FEEDING DEVICES FOR CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Filed Sept. 9, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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TOBACCO FEEDING DEVICES F OR CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES chamber by means of a screen.

United States Patent TOBACCO FEEDING DEVICES FOR CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Otto Peters, Hamhurg-Lohbrngge, Germany, assignor t Kurt Korher 8: Co., K.G., Hamhurg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Sept. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 682,848 Claims priority, application Germany Sept. 10, 1956 6 Claims. (Cl. 302-49 This invention relates to cigarette making machines and more particularly to an improved tobacco feeding device for cigarette making machines.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide the tobacco feeding devices, which are conventionally disposed above the spreading devices of cigarette making machines, with vacuum actuated tobacco discharge chambers. The vacuum source was separated from the tobacco discharge These tobacco feeding devices had the disadvantage that in the last state of the tobacco charging process the free area of said screen was substantially reduced by clogged tobacco so that the vacuum in the discharge chamber was reduced to a major extent, thus reducing the pressure and density of the tobacco filling in the discharge chamber. This resulted in irregular discharge of the tobacco onto said spreading device for the cigarette making machine and substantially aflfected the quality of the cigarettes.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved tobacco feeding device for cigarette making machines which will insure a uniform and even supply of tobacco onto the cigarette making machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum pipe line to the tobacco feeding device in a horizontal plane and parallel to a pipe line which conveys the tobacco to the feeding device, and also parallel to the horizontally disposed screen of said feeding device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved operation of the tobacco feeding device by extending to a substantial amount the vacuum pipe line and the screen in the direction of the tobacco supply line such, that these extended parts of the screen and of the vacuum line will extend into said tobacco supply pipe line.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control chamber by extending the vacuum pipe line in the direction of a vacuum source and disposing in said control operating means for operation of the control valve. 7

Further objects and advantages of this invention will readily become apparent upon reading the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: V I

Fig. 1 shows the front elevation of the tobacco feeding device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows the side view of the device,

Fig. 3 shows the plan view of the device, p

Fig. 4 shows the electrical circuit for the operation of the control device of the tobacco feeding device, and

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the inventive device taken along the line V-V, in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 thereof, the reference numeral 1 designates the tobacco feeding device designed in accordance with the present invention; The device 1 is divided by a horizontal screen 2 into an upper vacuum chamber 3 and a lower tobacco discharge chamber 4. The vacuum chamber 3 is connected by a horizontal vacuum pipe line 5, disposed in the same direction as the vacuum chamber 3 to a vacuum source (not shown). 7

A horizontal tobacco supply pipe line 6 is provided: at the end of the feeding device 1, opposite to that of the vacuum chamber '3, said pipe line 6 being connected to the discharge chamber 4. According to the present invention the vacuum chamber 3 and the screen 2 are extended by a substantial amount 3a, 2a, respectively, in the direction of the tobacco supply pipe line 6. These extended parts 2a and 3a extend into said supply line 6. The surface of the part 6a of the tobacco supply pipe line 6 is enclosed by said extension 3a of the vacuum chamber 3 and is preferably cut off to provide a satisfactory vacuum action from the vacuum chamber 3 into the end part 6a of the pipe line 6. The remaining part 42 (see Fig. 5) of the pipe line 6a is connected at its ends 40, 41 to the projecting parts 38, 39 of the extended vacuum chamber part 3a preferably by welding.

A controldevice 7 which is responsive to the amount of tobacco in the discharge chamber 4 is provided inside the discharge chamber 4. The control device 7 comprises a flap rigidly connected to a shaft 8 which is supported in bearings 9 provided on the stationary wall 10 of the feeding device 1. A switch lever 11 is connected to said shaft 8 of the control device 7. The lever 11 passes through the wall 10 of the feeding device and is operatively connected to a switch 12. p

The discharge chamber 4 is provided with a discharge door 13 which is hingedly connected about a horizontal axis at 13a to the wall 14 (Fig. 2) of the vacuum chamber 3. A spring 15, which holds the discharge door 13 closed during the filling of .the discharge chamber 4, is fastened on said wall 14,: of the vacuum chamber 3. The tension of the spring 15 is adjusted to enable the discharge door 13 to open under a predetermined weight of the tobacco in the discharge chamber and against the action of said spring 15 when the vacuum in the discharge chamber is interrupted.

According to. the presentinvention the vacuum chamber 3 is extended in the direction of the vacuum source to form a control chamber 3b. The control chamber comprises a control valve 16, a throttle 17 and a control operating means .30. The bottom of the control chamber 3b is flattened at 19 (see Fig. 3) and air inlet openings 20 and 21 are provided therein. The control valve 16 is rotatably disposed around its shaft 18 at right angles to said bottom 19 of. the control chamber 3b. Said air inlet openings 20 and 21 are disposed in theoperating range of the lower part 18a of the shaft 18 in. front of'and rear wardly of said shaft. The control valv e le is provided. with shutters 22 and 23 for closing said air inlet openings. 20 and 21 when the control valve 16 is operated. The.

control valve 16 is actuated by means of a sprocket;

wheel 24 provided at the upper end 18b of the valve: shaft 18. The control operating means 3c comprise a solenoid 27 having an iron core, 26. The solenoid Z7 is fastened to a bracket 28'pr'ovided in the housing of the control chamber. A chain 25 actuates said sprocket wheel 24 on the valveshaft 18: Said chain 25 is connectedwith one end to said iron core 26 of the solenoid 28 and on its other end to a tension'spring 29 (see Fig. 3). When the solenoid is energized the core 26 will exert a pulling force onto the chain'25 against the action of saidspring 29 and thus' rotate thesprocket wheel 24 and-the control valve 16; \F/hen the solenoid 27 is deenergizcdf the tension spring 29 will exert a pulling force in opposite direction onto said chain 24 and will actuate the valve 16 in reversed direction. I The operationof the tobaccofeeding device, considering also the circuit of Fig.4, isas follows I A time switch 30 (see Fig. 4), which can beadju's'te'd the supply pipeline 6, the relay will be energized. The

relay closes the contacts 33a and 33b in the energizing circuit of the solenoid 27 and energizes the solenoid. The energized relay'3 2' simultaneously'closesthe operating contacts 36a'and'36b, thereby overbridging the contacts 35a and 35b .of the time switch 34 'so that the energizing. circuits of the relay 32fand of the solenoid 27 will remain closed. The closure of energizing circult of the solenoid 27 will actuate the iron core'26 and the chain 25 will actuate the control valve into its opening position. The vacuum 'source' will be connected over the vacuum pipe line 5 to the vacuum chamber 3 so that the feeding device 1 and the'supply line' 6 will become operative. i

'The tobacco will be conveyed from the supply pipe line 6 to the discharge chamber 4. A uniformvacuum will bemaintained during the whole filling period of the discharge chamber 4 until same is completely filled. This continuous uniform vacuum is made possible by the in ventive arrangement of the extended part 2a of the screen 2 and the part 3a of the vacuum chamber 3 extending into the part 6a of the tobacco supply pipe line 6. When the discharge chamber 4 is filled with the Y tobacco the switch 12 will be actuated over lever 11 and shaft 8 by the control device 7 which will now be pressed by the tobacco against the wall '10 of the discharge chamber 4 and thus actuate the switch 12. This action of switch 12 will release the cntact'37a and 37b and will open the energizing circuit ofthe relay 32. This will subsequently open the energizing circuit of the sole noid 27; The tensioning spring 29 will actuate {the con trol valve 16 in reversed direction closing the vacuum pipe line 7 and 23, which kept closed the air inlet opening 20 and 21, will open said inlet openings and will introduce the air at atmospheric pressure into the vacuum chamber 3 and the discharge chamber 4. The door 13 will be opened against the action of spring 15 by the weight of the tobacco, evenly distributing the tobacco onto the spreader of the cigarette machine. Y

The throttle 17 is'adjustably supportedin the control 3b for adjusting the vacuum condition in the vacuum chamber 3. a 7 r While the description discloses a specific structure of a tobacco feeding device for cigarette making machines,

' it is to be understood that the same has been described merely for the purpose of illustration, and that changes and modifications may readily be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. 7

WhatIclaimis: V 1. A tobacco feeding device for cigarette making ma chines and the like, comprising an elongated horizontal 'vacuum chamber, an elongated horizontal charging chamber mounted beneath said vacuum chamber, a horizontal screen disposed between said chambers, said vacuum chamber being of a greater length than said charging chamber to extend beyond the ends thereof, a horizontal vacuum pipe line connecting a source of vacuum to one end of said vacuum chamber, a horizontal tobacco supply pipe line connected to said charging chamber located at the end of said charging chamber in opposition to said vacuum pipe line, at least one hingedly connected discharge door in said charging chamber; sad vacuum pipe and said supply line being disposed parallel to each other and to said screen, and arranged one above the other, a pair of depending side Walls on the extended portion 2,94o,79s I W 7 p l V tobacco supply pipe, the arrangement of said horizontal pipe lines being such that the screen and the vacuum chamber are horizontally extended a substantial amount in the direction of said tobacco supply line, the extended portion of the horizontal screen and of the' vacuum chamber being in communication with said tobacco sup- 7 ply line.

'2; A'tobacco feeding device for cigarette making ma chines and the like, comprising an elongated horizontal vacuum chamber, an elongated horizontal charging .chamber mountecl beneath saidfvacuum chamber, a horizontal screen disposed between said chambers, said vacuum chamber being of a greater length than said' charging chamber to extendbeyond theendsthereof, a horizontal'vacuum pipe line connecting a source of vacuum to one end of said vacuum chamber, a horizontal tobacco supply pipe line connected to said charging chamber and located at the end of said chamber opposite said a vacuum pipe line, at least one hingedly connected dis- 5. At the same time the shutter means '22 charge door in said' charging chamber, spring 'means provided on said vacuum chamber for closing said discharge door, said vacuum pipe and said supply line be ing disposed one above the other in spaced apart parallel planes with the screen arranged in a plane'intermediate and parallel to the planes of said vacuum pipe and supply line, the arrangement of said horizontal pipe parts of the horizontal screen and vacuum chamber are in communication with said tobacco, supply line.

3. A tobacco feeding device for cigarette making machines and thelike, comprising an elongated horizontal vacuum chamber, an elongated horizontal charging cham-f ber mounted beneath said vacuum chamber, a horizontal screen disposed between said vacuum and charging chambers, said vacuum chamber being ofa greater length than said charging chamber to extend beyond the ends thereof, a horizontal vacuum pipe line connecting a source of vacuum to one end of said vacuum chamber, a horizontal tobacco supply pipe line connected to said'charging chamber and located at the end of said charging chamber in opposition to said vacuum pipe line at least one hingedly connected discharge door in saidcharging chamber, an

ot said vacuum chamber overlying the tobacco supply f electric switch located at one end ofsaid charging chamber, responsive to the amount of tobacco: in said charging chamber, a pivotally mounted sensing "member mounted in the charging chamber adjacent said switch and responsive to the quantity of tobacco in said'charging chamber operatively connected to said switch for controlling the vacuum in said vacuum chamber, said vacuum pipe and said supply line being disposed in planles parallel to each other and parallel to the, plane of said screen and arranged offset one above the other, a pair of depending side walls on the extended portion of said vacuum chamber overlying the tobacco supply pipe and form'- ing a duct through an ope i g in the tobacco supply pipe, the arrangement of said horizontal pipe lines being such 1 that the screen and vacuum chamber are horizontally ex tended a substantial amount in the direction of said tobacco supply line with the extended parts of the'horizontal screen and vacuum chamber in communication with said tobacco supp ly line. 7

4. A tobacco feed'ng device for cigarette making machines and the like, comprising an elonga't'ed horizontal vacuum chamber, an elongated horizontal charging cfhamber'mounted beneath said vacuumchamben-a horizontal screen disposed between '-said chambers, said' vacuum chamber being of a greater length -than saidcharg'ing chamber to extend beyond the ends thereof, a horizontal vacuum pipe line connecting a source of vacuum to one end of said vacuum chamber, a'horizontal tobacco supply pipe line connected to said charging chamber located at the end of said chargingchamber' opposite said'vacuum pipe line, at least one hingedly connected discharge-door lines being such that the screen and vacuum chamber are" horizontally extended a substantial amount in the direc- 7 tion of said .tobacco supply line, and that the extended in said charging chamber, said vacuum pipe line and" said tobacco supply line being disposed in parallel planes offset from one another and from said screen, the portion of said vacuum chamber extending horizontally in the direction of said source of vacuum forming a control chamber, a rotary control valve in said control chamber, and a control operating means on said control chamber above said valve, said control valve being disposed with its axis of rotation arranged vertically in said chamber and being actuated by said control operating means, a pair of depending side Walls on the extended portion of said vacuum chamber overlying the tobacco supply pipe and forming a duct through an opening in the tobacco supply pipe, the arrangement of said vacuum chamber and tobacco supply pipe being such that the screen and vacuum chamber are horizontally extended a substantial amount above said charging chamber in the direction of said tobacco supply line with the extended portions of the horizontal screen and vacuum chamber in communication with said tobacco supply line.

5. A tobacco feeding device for cigarette maldng machines and the like, comprising an elongated horizontal vacuum chamber, an elongated horizontal charging chamber mounted beneath said vacuum chamber, a horizontal screen disposed between said chambers, said vacuum chamber being of a greater length than said discharge chamber to extend beyond the ends thereof, a horizontal vacuum pipe line connecting a source of vacuum to one end of said vacuum chamber, a horizontal tobacco supply pipe line connected to said charging chamber and located at the end of said charging chamber in opposition to said vacuum pipe line, at least one hingedly connected discharge door in said charging chamber, said vacuum pipe and said supply line being disposed in offset parallel planes one above the other with the screen extending horizontally therebetween, the portion of said vacuum chamber extending horizontally in the direction of said source of vacuum forming a control chamber, a rotary control valve in said chamber, and a control operating means mounted on said control chamber, said control valve being disposed with its axis of rotation arranged vertically in said control chamber and being actuated by said control operating means to alternately open and close said valve, a pair of depending side Walls on the other end of said vacuum chamber overlying the tobacco supply pipe and providing a ductway through an opening in the supply pipe, the arrangement being such that the screen and vacuum chamber are horizontally extended a substantial amount in the direction of said tobacco supply line with the extended parts of the horizontal screen and vacuum chamber in communication with said tobacco supply line, a vertical shaft in said control valve, said vacuum chamber being provided with a flat horizontally disposed bottom wall in its extended portion having air inlet openings, said openings being disposed in front and rearwardly of said shaft, a shutter on the lower end of said control valve shaft, said shutter being attached to said shaft at right angles to the axis of the same and in operative relation with the air inlet openings in the bottom wall of said vacuum chamber extension.

6. A tobacco feeding device for cigarette making machines and the like, comprising an elongated horizontal vacuum chamber, an elongated horizontal charging cham- N ber mounted beneath said vacuum chamber, a horizontal screen disposed between said chambers, said vacuum chamber being of a greater length than said charging chamber to extend beyond the ends thereof, a horizontal vacuum pipe line connecting a source of vacuum to one end of said vacuum chamber, a horizontal tobacco supply pipe line connected to said charging chamber and located at the end of said charging chamber in opposition to said vacuum pipe line, at least one hingedly connected discharge door in said charging chamber, a sensing control member in said charging chamber adjacent one end thereof, said vacuum pipe line and tobacco supply line being disposed in parallel offset horizontal planes arranged one above the other with the horizontal screen disposed therebetween, the portion of said vacuum chamber extending horizontally in the direction of said source of vacuum forming a control chamber, a pivotally mounted control valve in said chamber, and a control operating member on said control chamber, said control valve being disposed to rotate about a vertical axis in said control chamber and being actuated by said control operating means, a pair of depending side Walls on the extended end portion of said vacuum chamber overlying the tobacco supply pipe and forming a ductway through an opening in the tobacco supply pipe, the arrangement of said vacuum chamber overlying the tobacco supply pipe being such that the screen and extended portion of the vacuum chamber project horizontally a substantial distance in the direction of said tobacco supply line with the extended portions of the horizontal screen and vacuum chamber in communication with said tobacco supply line, said pivotally mounted control valve including a vertical shaft, said vacuum chamber being provided with a flat horizontally disposed bottom wall in its extended portion in the direction of said vacuum pipe line, said bottom wall being provided with air inlet openings, disposed in front and rearwardly of said shaft axis, a shutter valve on the lower end of said shaft of said control valve, said shutter valve being attached to said valve shaft at right angles to the axis thereof and in operative relation with the air inlet openings in said bottom wall, said control operating means including an elecuo-magnetic device operatively connected to said valve shaft for turning said shaft in one direction and actuating said control valve in response to the action of the sensing control member in said charging chamber which is responsive to the amount of tobacco in said chamber and spring means for rotating said control valve shaft in the opposite direction upon de-energization of said electro-magnetic device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 521,676 Schulze June 19, 1884 571,473 Elliot Nov. 17, 1896 705,310 Seifert July 22, 1902 2,149,056 Klux Feb. 28, 1939 2,153,984 Leicht Apr. 11, 1939 2,812,217 Koch et al Nov. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 552,229 Germany June 11, 1932

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