US3121301A - Direct feed mechanism interconnecting cigarette packer and cellophane wrapper apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1.8, 1964 I A. c. MIZELL 3,121,301

T T DIRECT FEED MECHANISM INTERCONNECTING CIGARETTE PACKER AND CELLOPHANE WRAPPER APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1962 IN VENTOR. flDF/fl/V C 44/26 11 5 BY VM JMM Feb. 18,1964 A. c. MIZELLE 3,121,301

' DIRECT FEED MECHANISM INTERCONNECTING CIGARETTE PACKER AND CELLCPHANE WMPPER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ADIPM/V C. M/ZfLLE A rmgwfrs Feb. 18, 1964 A. c. MIZELLE 3,121,301

DIRECT FEED MECHANISM INTERCONNECTING CIGARETTE PACKER AND CELLOPHANE WRAPPER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ADP/AN c. M/Z'LL' ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,121,??31 DEEP-JCT FEED ME HANEM ENTERQGNNECT- ENG CE-IGARETTE PAQKER AND CELL DlHr J ZE WRAPPER ARPARAEUS Adrian C. Missile, Petershurg, VZL, assignor to Brown ft lliliiamson Tobacco Qorporation, Louisville, Ky a corporation of Delaware 1 Filed .lau. 3t 1952, Ser. No. 169,352 2 Claims. (til. 53-7 The present invention relates to a direct feed mechanism, interconnecting cigarette packer and cellophane wrapper machinery employed in the manufacture of packaged and cellophane Wrapped cigarettes and similar tobacco products.

A typical line in the manufacture of packaged and cellophane wrapped cigarettes for public consumption will probably include a cigarette packaging machine which forms the selected package containing a predetermined number of cigarettes, usually twenty, plain or filter tipped. The packets thus produced are then transferred to cellophane wrapping machinery which completes the cigarette package by hermetically sealing the enclosed cigarettes so that the moisture, flavor and aroma thereof is retained until the package is deliberately opened and the cigarettes smoked. Heretofore it was customary to effect this transfer manually.

A number of attempts have been made to interconnect the cigarette packer and cellophane wrapper machines so that the packets could be transferred automatically. However, these automatic link-ups did not prove efiicient or reliable. Costs were not appreciably reduced nor labor and production times improved to any significant extent. In this connection the malfunctioning of the connecting mechanism ordinarily resulted in considerable shut-down time pending the rectification of the trouble.

For example, it was suggested that such mechanism include a conveyor having chains driven by sprocket wheels. Widely used packaging machinery would ordinarily discharge the packets in a substantially vertical or upright position. The individual packets were therefore initially reoriented from an upright to an on-side position while in a substantially vertical plane. Cross-rods or lugs were mounted transversely between the chains of the conveyor and arranged to engage the packets and transfer them to the cellophane wrapper disposed at a lower level than the machine which fills the packages. The packets would now be disposed in a horizontal plane with their longest dimensions being substantially normal to the intended path of travel of the packets through the wrapper machine.

However, the chain lugs used to transfer the packets from the turning device to the cellophane wrapper caused considerable shutdown time of both the packer and wrapper machines. Unfortunately, an appreciable loss of operational efhciency was experienced. This was a result of the packets hanging on the conveyor and not releasing at the proper time when approaching the inlet end of the wrapper machine. Consequently, the automatic cycle of operation would be stopped in order to relieve the hung packet and necessarily retime the lug chain.

With this in mind, time and effort of a machinist or like qualified personnel would be required to attend to the situation. The quality of the cigarette packs were detrimentally afiected primarily by the chain lug hangup. In any event, the unpredictability of constant and trouble-free operation was of endless concern necessitating the presence of an operator whose function was to check packet quality. Needless to say, there was a loss in total production time; and the efiiciency of the particular link-up was not sufficiently high to render it practical for inclusion in the cigarette manufacturing line.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an automatic feed attachment for cigarette packaging and cellophane wrapping machines which avoid the many drawbacks and disadvantages incident to the many prior attempts at this link-up.

Another object is to provide a direct feed mechanism between cigarette packaging and cellophane wrapping machinery which eliminates the need for a timing device therebetween; maintains the quality of packets discharged by the packaging machine as they are transferred to the cellophane wrappin. machine; minimizes, if not eliminates the need for constant or, for that matter, periodic quality check at frequent intervals; does not materially affect total production time due to ineificiency or down time; decreases labor time and cost of a cigarette manufacturing line; is formed from a minimum number of parts each individually simple to construct and assemble at relatively low cost.

Briefly stated, the direct feed mechanism of the present invention is interposed between a packaging machine and cellophane wrapping machine and takes advantage of a turning device incorporated into the packaging machine at the discharge end thereof. This turning device serves to turn the normally vertical packets in a vertical plane to a substantially horizontal position while still in this plane. The packets are discharged from the turning device into a curved or arcuate chute which forms an extension of the turning device and has its discharge end terminating at the inlet of thecellophane wrapping machine. The chute functions to reorient the packets whereby they are disposed in a substantially horizontal plane. The packets will be received thusly by the cellophane wrapping machin with their long dimensions being substantially normal to the direction of feed.

As will be more fully explored shortly, the cellophane wrapping machine is set to run somewhat faster than the packaging machine and in order to prevent the wrapping operation from getting too far advanced of the packaging cycle, automatic means are provided by the present invention to cut off the wrapping machine until the packer has time to catch up. At this time, the Wrapper will r some its normal operation until such time as it is once again necessary for the packer to catch up with the wrapper. This automatic means includes a photo-electric switch on the chute for stopping the wrapping machine when the chute does not contain packages up to the level of the photo-electric eye. The photo-electric switch control unit is accompanied by a time delay so that the interval between two or three packages and at the same time the small gaps which may occur between packs will not cause the cellophane machine to stop and start unnecessarily. Thus, the sequence of operation will be performed as pre-set until such time as the wrapper input excoeds packer output by a prescribed number of packets. This di ferential is detected by the photo-electric switch which, through the timing device, in effect, measures the package level drop. Before the stack of pack ages below the photoelectric switch is completely drained or conveyed away, the motor of the wrapper ceases operating until the packer catches up to the wrapper as reflected by the deactivation of the photo-electric switch. The wrapper will then resume operation at its normal wrapping cycle.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description which is to be taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

MG. 1 is a side elevatioual view of the direct feed mechanism of the present invention interconnecting the discharge end of the packer machine to a cellophane wrapping machine so that packets may be automatically fed thereto, with certain parts being removed for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a portion of the attaching mechanism and cellophane Wrapping machine more clearly illustrating the sequence of operation of the cellophane wrapper machine and the packet feed thereto;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the direct feed mechanism with certain parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a direct feed mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of the transfer chute showing the details of the photo-electric switch and spring biasing means;

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated a direct feed mechanism 14) transfers packets of cigarettes from the discharge end of a packaging machine E2 to the intake end of a cellophane Wrapping machine 14-. The packaging machine 12 may be one of a number of commercially available machines such as the 3-l9 Cigarette Packer manufactured by the American Machine and Foundry Co. of New Jersey. Suiiice it to say that the usual group of 20 cigarettes, with surrounding foil, is enclosed within paper by this machine 12 to form a packet 16 which at the machines discharge end will be disposed in a substantially upright or vertical position in a vertical plane. These packets are received on the platform 18 and are fed or pushed on the table to the leading end of the direct feed mechanism 16 in any suitable manner which for illustrative purposes only, is shown as being accomplished by plunger 26. Generally, the feed of the packets is intermittent as is the case with the commercial machine identified in the foregoing.

The cellophane wrapping machinery 14 on the other hand may also be of a commercially available variety and, as illustrated, may assume the form of the Turret- Type Cellophane Wrapper manufactured by the Scandia Packaging Machinery Co. of New Jersey. An early version of this machine is disclosed in US. Patent 2,400,682 granted May 21, 1946, but the essential mode of operation is substantially the same. This machine 14 picks up a cigarette packet 16 in a horizontal plane with its longest dimension extending transversely of the direction of feed of the wrapper. The machine 14 encloses the packet 16 within cellophane by subjecting it to the various steps of the wrapping cycle and transforms the pack into the cellophate wrapped package 22 which is then transferred to the carton packaging station on the packing table 24.

The wrapping machine 14 in operation, will receive at its intake end 24 horizontally disposed packets r6. Under the circumstances, the packets are fed away from the discharge end of the feed mechanism it? on a bed 26 by means of pushers 28. Each pusher may take the form of lugs or rods extending between a pair of sprocket chains driven by sprocket wheels, as is the case with the machine 14 specifically identified in the foregoing.

The leading end of the packet 16 will eventually impinge upon central sectors of a predetermined lentgh 35 of cellopheane which is supplied from a rotatably mounted roll 31 constituting one of a pair of supply rolls, the other being roll 32. These rolls are adapted to be spliced to one another when the cellophane on roll 39 is about to be exhausted or consumed by means of a splicer 34 which is available under the name Butler Automatic Splicer manufactured by the Butler Automatic Machine, Inc. of Cambridge, Mass. The leading end of the Web 36 of the cellophane being fed is passed between a pair of rolls 38 and 40 which feed it downwardly between a stationary knife 42 and a rotary knife 44. A predetermined length 35 of the Web 35 is severed by the cooperative action between the knives 4 2 and 44 at such time as the leading end of the package 16 strikes the cellophane. The packet 16 will then carry the predetermined length of cellophane with it between surfaces of a top plate 46 and the bed 26 at which time solvent is applied to the cellophane by a wick (not shown) to permit heat sealing of the side seam discussed below.

The package 16 with the embracing length of cellophane is fed into one of the pockets 48 of a six pocket turret 559 which is in packet-receiving position. The drive of turret 5%) is intermittent so that a number of operations may be performed on a length 35 of cellophane, while it, together with the packet 16 is carried thereby. Accordingly, at the next station of the turret St a bottom longitudinally extending flap 52 is formed in the cellophane length 35 by means of a pivotal tuck folder 54. Thereafter, the flap 56 is folded over the bottom flap 52 and heat sealed thereto by means of the oscillating heater 58. It should be understood that the tucker 54 and heat sealer 58 can be incorporated into a single unit oscillatable together in carrying out their intended functions as is the case with the commercial machine and as is exemplified in the above identified patent. When the packet 16 and the length of cellophane 35, with its longitudinal sealed overlapping marginal side edges, is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane due to the intermittent travel of the turret 56, a sprocket chain driven lug 6h removes the packet 16 and embracing length of cellophate 35 from its containing pocket 48. Substantially simultaneously therewith one finger 62 of an intermittently rotatable tucket 64 constituting one of a pair disposed at opposed sides of the turret 50 comes into play. In this connection both operational fingers 62 form tucks in the outwardly projecting portion of the cellophane at the trailing end of the packet as it emerges from a containing pocket 48 of the turret 5%.

Immediately thereafter, another pair of opposed tuckers 66 form a forward tuck in the cellophane at the edges of the packet. Accordingly, a top and bottom flap project from the edges of the package with the top flap traveling in slot 68 and the bottom flap traveling in slot 70. As will be observed, the bed 26 of the machine, as Well as the top plate 72, cooperate in defining these slots. An upper folder 7d urges the top flap downwardly whereas the bottom folder 76 directs the bottom flap upwardly over the top flap. Prior to this folding of the bottom flap, solvent wicks (not, shown) at both sides apply solvent to the exterior of the top flap to facilitate heat sealing the flaps to one another. The overlapped flaps are then passed through a heat sealer 78 at which time the edges of the cellophane are secured, thereby hermetically sealing the packet therein and consequently the contained cigarettes to form the finishd cigarette package 22.

The drive for the movable parts of the cellophane machine 14 is taken from the motor 80. It should be understood therefore that the movement of all cellophane machine parts are in synchronization such that the intended function of each is performed at the stated and desired time with respect to one another, notwithstanding acceleration or deceleration incident to starting and stopping of the motor.

' tween the output of the packaging machine and the input into the wrapper will be at random and out of synchronization with the travel of the rods 28. Rods have been known to rupture due to packets jamming, hanging and grouping at the wrapper inlet.

Referring now to the direct feed mechanism 1% it will be noted that a turning device 84 and transfer chute 86 are connected with one another and are coupled respectively to the discharge end of the packaging machine 12 and the inlet end 24 of the wrapper machine 14. As stated the packet 16, under the influence of plunger 20, is fed into the turning device 84 at which time they are turned from a substantially vertical to horizontal position in a vertical plane. As a result of the formation and configuration of the turning device 84, the turning of the package 16 therein is gradual and accomplished in successive and progressive stages. This turning movement of the packets is controlled by their contact with the walls 83 and 90, which may be integrally joined. As shown, the side wall 88 is curved so that at the entrance of the turning device, it is substantially vertical and at the discharge or delivery end thereof substantially horizontal. The wall on the other hand curves from a substantially horizontal position at the entrance of the turning device 84 to a substantially vertical position at the discharge end thereof.

In order to maintain the packet 16 in substantial conformity with the contours and configuration of the side walls 88 and 99 guide rod 92 extends for the length of the turning device and may be suitably secured in place in any known manner, as for example by mounting brackets or clamps 94 and 96. These brackets may be provided with suitable adjusting means in order to enable the guide rod 92 to be shifted away or towards the side walls 88 and 9ft in order to accommodate both 70 and 85 mm. packets. Thus, it will be apparent that the packets 16 enter the turning device 84 in a substantially vertical position under the influence of pusher 20. They travel along the confining side walls 88 and 9%}, as well as the guide rod 92, and during their passage therethrough are turned through an approximate 90 arc. The packets will accordingly be delivered to the inlet end of the chute 86 in a substantially horizontal position.

The transfer chute 86 will receive the packets l6 disposed in a vertical plane and deliver them to the wrapping machine 14- in a horizontal plane in order that the cellophane may be properly wrapped around the package 16. The transfer chute 86, under the circumstances, will include a pair of curved or arcuate channels 98 and 1th The inlet end of the transfer chute 86 and particularly each of the guides 93 and 1% are suitably secured to the discharge end of the turning device 8d, as for example by a suitable number of clamps or nuts and bolts. In this connection, the delivery or discharge end of the guiding channels 98 and 19a) may be secured in like manner to the frame of the wrapping machine 14 at the inlet end 24 thereof. As illustrated, the transfer chute may be suitably flanged for such purpose.

A spring biasing means 182 serves to induce a slight resistance to the travel of the packets l6 stacked one against the other as they are fed through the turning device 84 and transfer chute 86 for purposes of maintaining the desired stacked relationship; preventing uncontrolled free fall of the packs through the transfer chute 86 with consequent improper orientation of the packs for proper feeding into the cellophane wrapping machine 14; and assuring on the other hand, predictable packet descent whereby the relationship between the output of the pa ching machine 1L2 and input to the wrapping machine 14 can be readily determined and measured in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

in this connection, the biasing means 162 is comprised essentially of a bracket 1G4 attached to each of theguiding channels and Mill at a predetermined elevation. A plate 1% of substantially elongated configuration has one end thereof bolted to the exterior of the bracket 1G4 substantially intermediate its ends. The free end of the plate 1% mounts one leg 1% of a hinge Ill having a pivot pin 112 and second leg 114 projecting into the interior of the transfer chute 86 through the longitudinal opening 116 provided between the spaced guiding channels 98 and 1%. A spring 118 biases the leg 124 away from both the attached plate 1% and associated leg 1%. This spring 118 is so calibrated that the inwardly projecting leg 114- will support the column of packets 16' suspended above it within the transfer chute 86, but at the same time, will enable one packet to fall at a time under the influence of the force exerted by the plunger 242* of the packing machine 12. Accordingly, the free fall of the individual packet 15 past the biased leg 1 14- will be controlled so that they will not be turned on end or be oriented in any other manner than that required for proper feeding through the cellophane wrapping machine 14.

It should be understood that the packaging machine 12 will be set in operation and packets in accumulated in stacked relationship in the turning device 24- and transfer chute 86 with a slight space or void provided between the lowermost packet held by the hinge arm 1M- and the packet immediately below, before the cellophane wrapping machine 1% is started. Under ordinary circumstances, the expected packer delivery rate will be 125 packets per minute whereas the cellophane machine will wrap the packets at a rate of 125.5 to 12-5 per minute. Naturally, at this rate the wrapping machine 14 will eventually wrap the packets in below the hinge fi l at a rate faster than they are dropped into the intake thereof.

It should be understood that the packer 12 should not feed more packets than the wrapper can handle because the packets will be crushed and tend to deform while in the turning device 34 and transfer chute 86. If the respective rates are equalized, it has been found that there still remains slight crushing and depressing of the packets. Therefore, the most desirable rate differential would have the machine 14 wrapping at a rate faste than the packet discharge of the machine 12. However, with this differential as stated, there will eventually be no packets below the hing arm lid in the transfer chute 35 for the pushers 23 to piclc up and feed into the wrapping machine. Therefore, the present invention contemplates stopping the wrapping machine 14 in order that the packin machine f2 can catch up and provide an accumulation of packets 16 within the transfer chute 86 below hinge arm lid to insure proper synchronization of package feed into the wra A control means is accordingly provided for stopping the cellophane wrapping machine 14 when the transfer chute 36 does not contain a certain number of packages in for the wrapping cycle. In this connection, a photoelectric switch means l'Zt' is employed for such purposes, and includes a photo-electric eye having a light source 122 and photo-electric cell 124 on which the light source impin es for detectinthe level of the packets within the transfer chute 85 below the hinge arm 114. If the path of travel of the light ra s to the photo-electric cell 124 is interrupted, as for example by the presence of packets 16 within the transfer chute 86, the motor will continue to run normally in driving the cellophane wrapping machine 14. if on the other hand, light rays from the source 122 are permitted to be directed onto the photo cell 124 the motor Sit will cease its operation until such time as the packets 16 will accumulate in the transfer chute 86 and block the rays leading to the photo-electric cell 124.

Under normal circumstances the motor will be deenergized for a period of time during which the motor and consequently the cellophane wrapping machine 14 will only decellerate but not completely stop. The cellophane machine M, however, will stop completely in the event the packaging machine 12 is not feeding because the level of the packets will not reach the path of the photo-electric eye. This deceleration is sufficient to permit the packer to once again attain the desired wrapper intake to packer output conditions.

The photo-switch control unit 12% contains a time delay feature so that the small gaps Which occur between packages and spaced intervals created by the absence of only two or three packets below the electric eye, will not cause the cellophane machine 14 to stop unnecessarily. Therefore, the time will be set to ordinarily register a gap or space created by the absence of more packets. By the same token, the motor will not be energized by the momentary presence of a failing pack in the light path. To this end the signal derived by the photo-cell 124 due to the impingement of the light from the light source 122 thereon is transmitted to the control box 126 having a built-in adjustable sensitivity control and time delay. The transmission of this signal is dependent upon the sensitivity of the cell which determines the actuation time for a fixed light source of a particular intensity. Thus, falling packets 16 or spaces therebetween other than the ones to be measured will not influence the operation of the motor 815 by causing erroneous signals to be transmitted. In eifect, the motor 84} will not be actuated until the expiration of a predetermined time interval.

It should be understood that the photo-electric eye control unit 12% including the light source 122, the photoelectric cell 124 and the control box 126 together with its sensitivity control and time delay are all commercially available electrical components and for this reason their individual constituent parts will not be disclosed nor described in detail at this time. A typical unit usable with the present invention may be obtained commercially under the name Photoelectric Relay 3S7505GP108 from the manufacturer General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York. For details of this unit reference is made to the manufacturers instruction manual entitled Instructions; GEH2134 (Preliminary); Photoelectric Relay 3S7505GP108.

A number of switch controls may be conveniently located in the circuitry. In this connection the switch 134 may serve to de-energize the photo-electric control unit 120 so that the cellophane machine may be operated while the packets 16 are hand fed via a vertical chute 136 to the cellophane wrapping machine 14. A second switch 138 may start the cellophane machine 14 independently of the packer machine 12.

Thus it should be evident that an effective and eflicient interconnection is provided between the discharge end of a cigarette packaging machine and the inlet of a cellophane wrapping machine. This mechanism is substantially free from malfunctioning or trouble of any substantial nature, the contrary being true for most prior art attempts at a solution to the problem solved herein. In this connection, down time naturally is kept at a minimum if not eliminated altogether. The automatic feed from the packer to the wrapper eliminates the necessity for attendant personnel at this station thereby providing for labor saving. This saving is also amplified by the minimization of the time and expense of skilled mechanics required to rectify malfunctioning at this stage of operations. Of importance is the elimination of moving mechanical parts that would be required to transfer the packets from the packaging machine to the wrapping machine, all parts being stationary and advantage being taken of a photo-electric control means to determine the relationship of packer output versus wrapper input. The cost of replacement parts is kept at a minimum, and at the same time any necessary replacement for the interconnecting direct feed mechanism is a relatively simple matter. If the direct feed mechanism is for some reason out of order, the packets may be hand fed from the packer to the wrapper, thereby maintaining loss in production time at a relatively low figure. It should be readily understood by those skilled in the art, that the teachings herein disclosed are applicable to the manufacture of other tobacco products. Most important of all, is the fact that quality is not sacrificed in order to take advantage of the many benefits provided by the automatic feed attachment and direct feed mechanism of the present invention.

Although a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated herein it is to be clearly understood that this is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for the manufacture of hermetically sealed packages of tobacco products comprising: feed means for discharging packets of tobacco products from the discharging end of a packaging machine; and a wrapping machine for wrapping the individual packets in a an automatic transfer means for directly feeding the packets from the discharge end of the packing machine to the inlet end of said wrapping machine, said automatic transfer means having a receiving end coupled with the discharge end of the packaging machine and a delivery end coupled with the inlet end of the wrapping machine, said transfer means comprising a turning means for turning the packets of tobacco products received from the packing machine, a transfer chute coupled with the turning means for receiving the turned packets from the turning means, said transfer chute having a delivery end at the inlet end of the wrapping machine for guiding the packets to the inlet end of the wrapping machine; control means for detecting the quantity of packets within said chute to determine the relationship between the discharge of the packing machine and the intake of the wrapping machine, said control means including a photoelectric switch for detecting the space between packets, the photo-electric switch being at a predetermined elevation with respect to the transfer chute, the photo-electric switch detecting the level of the packets at the elevation of the photo-electric switch means, timing means for causing initiation of the cessation of operation of the wrapping machine after the expiration of a predetermined period of time during which the space between adjacent packets exists, the timing means being sufiicient to cause the cessation of operation of the wrapping machine upon the detection of a predetermined elevation of the packets below the photo-electric switch, and said timing means being set to permit the activation of the wrapping machine upon detection of the level of said packets at the elevation of the photo-electric switch means.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chute includes a spring biased plate projecting into the interior for engaging the packets above the photoelectric switch means disposed therein, the bias acting against said plate being suflicient to support the packets above said plate while permitting packets to override said plate as the packets are discharged into said automatic transfer means from packing machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

1. IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HERMETICALLY SEALED PACKAGES OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS COMPRISING: FEED MEANS FOR DISCHARGING PACKETS OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS FROM THE DISCHARGING END OF A PACKAGING MACHINE; AND A WRAPPING MACHINE FOR WRAPPING THE INDIVIDUAL PACKETS IN A WRAPPER AND HERMETICALLY SEALING THE TOBACCO PRODUCTS THEREIN, SAID WRAPPING MACHINE HAVING AN INLET END FOR RECEIVING PACKETS OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND MECHANISM FOR ENCLOSING SAID PACKET IN A WRAPPER; THE IMPROVEMENT OF AN AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MEANS FOR DIRECTLY FEEDING THE PACKETS FROM THE DISCHARGE END OF THE PACKING MACHINE TO THE INLET END OF SAID WRAPPNG MACHINE, SAID AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MEANS HAVING A RECEIVING END COUPLED WITH THE DISCHARGE END OF THE PACKAGING MACHINE AND A DELIVERY END COUPLED WITH THE INLET END OF THE WRAPPING MACHINE, SAID TRANSFER MEANS COMPRISING A TURNING MEANS FOR TURNING THE PACKETS OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS RECEIVED FROM THE PACKING MACHINE, A TRANSFER CHUTE COUPLED WITH THE TURNING MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE TURNED PACKETS FROM THE TURNING MEANS, SAID TRANSFER CHUTE HAVING A DELIVERY END AT THE INLET END OF THE WRAPPING MACHINE FOR GUIDING THE PACKETS TO THE INLET END OF THE WRAPPING MACHINE; CONTROL MEANS FOR DETECTING THE QUANTITY OF PACKETS WITHIN SAID CHUTE TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DISCHARGE OF THE PACKING MACHINE AND THE INTAKE OF THE WRAPPING MACHINE, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A PHOTOELECTRIC SWITCH FOR DETECTING THE SPACE BETWEEN PACKETS, THE PHOTO-ELECTRIC SWITCH BEING AT A PREDETERMINED ELEVATION WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER CHUTE, THE PHOTO-ELECTRIC SWITCH DETECTING THE LEVEL OF THE PACKETS AT THE ELVATION OF THE PHOTO-ELECTRIC SWITCH MEANS, TIMING MEANS FOR CAUSING INITIATION OF THE CESSATION OF OPERATION OF THE WRAPPING MACHINE AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH THE SPACE BETWEEN ADJACENT PACKETS EXISTS, THE TIMING MEANS BEING SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE CESSATION OF OPERATION OF THE WRAPPING MACHINE UPON THE DETECTION OF A PREDETERMINED ELEVATION OF THE PACKETS BELOW THE PHOTO-ELECTRIC SWITCH, AND SAID TIMING MEANS BEING SET TO PERMIT THE ACTIVATION OF THE WRAPPING MACHINE UPON DETECTION OF THE LEVEL OF SAID PACKETS AT THE ELEVATION OF THE PHOTO-ELECTRIC SWITCH MEANS.

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