US3137110A - Collecting mechanism for cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles - Google Patents

Description

M. R. BOINNARD 3,137,110 COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTES OR OTHER ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Filed April 23, 1962 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tune 16, 1964 M. R. BOINNARD COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTES OR OTHER ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES June 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1962 Anoaue United States Patent 3,137,110 COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTES OR OTHER ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Michel Ren Boinnard, Orleans, Loiret, France, assignor to Service dExploitation lndustrielle des Tabacs et des Allurnettes, Paris, France, a public establishment of France Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,379 Claims priority, application France Apr. 24, 1961 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-236) the said cigarettes are lined-up side by side into the open receptacles or trays, the cigarettes being guided as they fall into the tray by a sloping guidehaving a width substantially equal to the length of a cigarette and stationarily fixed in position. Since the guide is stationary, the trays must be provided on two opposite lateral faces with openings or cutout portions having a shape which corresponds to that of the guide.

It is an object of the invention to make it possible to use trays having non-perforated walls.

It is another object of the invention to reduce the lost filling space resulting from the clearance between the front side of a tray and the guide as and when the filling of a tray commences.

It is still another object of the invention to provide for a reserve of cigarettes at the output end of the conveyor belt above the collecting trays Further particular features and characteristics of the invention will be brought out by the description which follows below with reference to examples of construction of improved devices in accordance with the invention as applied to the collecting of cigarettes in trays. The said description will be givenwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal crosssection, of one form of embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views in side elevation of the sloping guide seen in its two end positions and of the supporting box thereof;

FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrammatic-views similar to FIG..1, showing three successive stages of filling a tray, and

FIG. 8 is a view on a large scale and similar to FIG. 1, of another form of embodiment of the members for conveying and guiding the cigarettes.

In the example of construction of FIGS. 1 to 7, the cigarettes arrive perfectly lined-up, side by side, on the conveyor-belt 3 of the cigarettemaking machine, the axes of the cigarettes being at right angles tothe direction. of

movement. In the vertical plane of the conveyor-belt 3, a travelling apron or endlesschain 110 which is imparted a continuous longitudinal movement by virtue of a drum or sprocket-wheels 2, conveys the continuous train of trays 9, 8 to be filled and filled trays 7 in the direction opposite to the direction of arrival of the cigarettes on the conveyor-belt 3. The speed of longitudinal movement of the trays is in principle uniform, but can be adjusted in relation to the output of the machine by means of any known speedvariation device which has not been illustrated in the drawings. I

ice

The guide-supportii1g box 5 is secured to the frame 4 which supports the apron 1 and is located opposite to the end of the receiving apron of the cigarette-making machine. The box is essentially composed of two end-plates assembled together by means of three distance-pieces 13 (indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 3), two flanged rollers ill and 11 which are mounted to rotate freely on their pivot pins and which are intended to guide the metallic plate 6 which holds the cigarettes inside the filled portions of the trays, a rotary rubber roller 12 and a fixed rubber roller 20 which is mounted on the top distance-piece and is intended to serve as a stop or thrust-bearing member for the top incurved portion 21 of the guide 6. The roller 12 is continuously driven in rotation by means of a lowpower electric motor 17 which is coupled to a reduction unit 18. The guide 6 is mounted freely between the rollers v 10 and 11 on the one hand, and the rollers 12, 26 on the other hand, in such manner that, when the lower end of the said guide is free or subjected to the action of a force which is applied in the direction of arrival of the cigarettes, the said lower end is accordingly in contact with both rollers 10 and 11 and the top end 21 accordingly rests on the stationary roller 20 while on the other hand, when the lower end of the guide is subjected to the action of a force which is applied in the direction of progression of the trays, namely in the direction opposite to that previously mentioned, the lower end is in contact with the rollers 10 and 12 and is therefore driven in an upward movement of translation by the roller 12.

The constant downward movement of the cigarettes is facilitated by a chute 14 fitted with a finger 15 which is intended to eliminate any possibility of jamming and a freely mounted shutter 16 which is intended to regularize the feeding of the trays, more especially when the filling of each tray commences. I

A plate 19 of transparent material is fitted on the frame of the assembly on. that side of the trays which is not closed, with a view to protecting the ends of thecigarettesfrom being damaged against the projecting portions of the frame 4.- r 1 During operation, the cigarettes which are lined-upon the receiving apron 3 fall off at the end of the latter and slide againstthe metallic guide 6 which holds the said cigarettes along the front side of each tray; the sloping plate 6 guides the cigarettes inside the tray during the filling operation, while the level of the layers of cigarettes remains constant. In order to obtain this result, the speed of forward motion of the aprons 1 is regulated by means of a speed-variation device, while the control of this variation can be carried out either manually or automatically by means of any known regulating device based on the control of the level of cigarettes. 7 When the guide comes against the rim of the rear side of the tray, the said guide swings over against the freely mounted roller 10 and comes into contact with the rubber roller 12 to which is imparted a continuous movement of rotation. As has been explained in the foregoing, the guide then moves upwards (as shown in FIG. 7) until it reaches the top portion of the tray. When passing above the rim, the guide is released from the roller 12 and falls down freely while beingguided by the rollers 10, 11 inside the following tray for the purpose of performing another cycle (as shown in FIG. 5). The bottom end of the guide moves down the front Wall of the tray as the filling operation takes place until it reaches the bottom. At this moment, the incurved top end 21 rests on the stop roller 20 and the filling operation continues as can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 6.

In the example which is illustrated in FIG. 8, in which the members which are similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, the chute 14 is replaced by a hopper 22 of relatively large size and into which penetrates the receiving apron 3.

The said hopper 22 remains constantly filled with cigarettes up to a level above that of the top length of the travelling apron 3. This level is regulated by means of a pivoting pallet 23 which takesthe place of a floater and works in combination with a micro-switch 24 which controls the stopping of the trays-conveyor.

The hopper 22 constitutes a reserve of cigarettes which provides for the complete filling of the trays.

A shutter 25 which is fitted at the bottom portion of the hopper 22 and which is normally in contact with the guide 6 or retaining plate stops the movement of cigarettes as the filling of a tray commences and, after a few moments, frees a sutficient quantity of cigarettes to prevent the formation of bridges in the hopper and to ensure that the cigarettes fall horizontally into the corner which is defined by the plate and the tray.

The guide-supporting box 5 which carries the metallic plate 6 for retaining the cigarettes inside the tray is in this case pivotally mounted about a pin 26 wihch is at right angles to the direction of movement of the trays as indicated by the arrows and which is located at a level.

below that of the top rims of the trays.

By virtue of this system of assembly, when the rear rim of the tray comes into contact with the guide at the end of the filling operation, this action is accordingly transmitted to that portion of the guide which is located above the pivot pin 26 of the box 5, thereby having the effect of raising the box and consequently the guide 6 which accordingly takes up a nearly vertical position (as shown in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 8); A fixed abutment limits the rotation of the box. As a result of this inclined position, the chamber which is formed between t the front side of a tray and the metallicguide is accordingly reduced to a substantial extent as the filling of the next tray commences.

At the same time as the box 5 swings upwards, the force applied by the tray against the guide has a tendency, as in the previous cycle of operation, to causethis latter to pivot about the central roller 10 and to put the guide in contact with the top rubberized roller 12, the rotation of which drives the guide upwards until the bottom portion of this latter has escaped from the action of the tray.

As soon as the guide is no longer in contact with the in no way limited to those details of construction which have been illustrated or described and which have been given solely by way of example. It accordingly follows in particular that the guide-supporting box could comprise more than one sloping guide; for example two guides serving for the purpose of collecting in two trains of trays fed. by the two streams of a cigarette-making machine having two output channels, in which case the box comprises an inter-mediate or centre plate, two pairs of flanged rollers and two rubber rollers keyed on a same shaft and finally, two giudes 6 each corresponding to each stream of cigarettes. The two guides can, however, be

v entirely separate form each other, and the u ward movement effected by the said two guides as and when these latter come into contact with the rear sides of the trays can take place at dilferent times, thereby permitting a displacement, whether manually or not, of the trays on the coinveyor-apron. It also follows from the foregoing that the device for regulating the level of the cigarettes in the hopper could be constituted by a photoelectric cell and a small'projector placed-on each side of the hopper.

What I claim is:

V 1. In a collecting mechanism for cigarettes, or similar rod-shaped articles, of the type comprising movable collecting trays having rear and forward Walls with free top rims, a conveyor belt for conveying the cigarettes to the trays, and guiding means for guiding said cigarettes from said conveyor belt into said trays, said guiding means comprising a supporting box, a sloping guide freely mounted on" said box and having upper and lower positions, thrust bearing members and a driving member for said guide on said box, said sloping guide being adapted t to be driven upwardly by said driving member to its upwall of the tray, the box 5 is released and again pivots about its pin 26 under the action of its weight and of the counterweight 27, thus again taking up the position in dicated in full lines in FIG. 8, and the guide'6 slides into the following tray. i A ratchet-wheel brake 28 damps the fall and prevents the impact of the box against the bottom abutment.

In this form of embodiment, the bottom'retaining plate guiding roller 11 is slightly oii-centre on its pin. cordingly, as it' rotates,. the said roller communicates oscillations to the plate 6, thus assisting the packing of the cigarettes. The motor which drives the rubberized roller 12 serving to lift the plate is fitted on a chain secured to the frame and is mounted on the pivotal axis of the box which is thus made lighter in weight. A flat belt provides the transmission and drives as it passes the bottom eccentric roller.,

When the plate or guide reaches the top of its travel, the Weight of the said plate causes this latter to remain in contact with the rubber roller and continue its movement. A small roller bearing 29 which is held by a spring 30 forces the plate to move away from the'rubberized roller 12 when the said plate is no longeracted upon by the thrust of the tray.

The provision of a control member 23 at the level of the cigarettes inside the hopper makes it unnecessary to regulate the speed of the conveyor in relation to the output of the machine. This speed is set once and for all at a value which is slightly higher than that which is required by the supply and the motor stops when the level inside the hopper becomes too low.

It is naturally understood that the present invention is per position when said guide is submitted to a longitudinal thrust from the rear wall of said tray when coming into contact with said wall.

2. In a mechanism as in claim 1, said thrust-bearing members comprising an upper supporting roller, an intermediate guiding rollerand a lower guiding roller, and said driving member being a continuously driven roller so located as said guide engages said driving roller when said guide is pivoted about said intermediate guiding roller whensaid guide is submitted to said longitudinal thrust. I

3. Ina mechanism as in claim 2 wherein said lower guiding roller is off-centre.

4. In a collecting mechanism as in claim 2 further an elastic urging means on said box for disengaging said guide from said driving roller when said guide is getting free from said rear wall.

5. In a collecting mechanism for cigarettes, or similar rod-shaped articles, of the type comprising movable collecting trays having rear and forward walls with free top rims, a conveyor belt for conveying the cigarettes to the trays, and-guiding means for guiding said cigarettes from said conveyor belt into said trays, said guiding means comprising a supporting box pivotally mounted about an axis at right angles to the direction of displacement of said trays and located below the level of said top rimsof said tray walls, said box having a normal sloping position and a substantially vertical position, means for permanently urging said box to said normal sloping position, and a sloping guide mounted on said box and having an upper position and a lower position, said guide 8. In a collecting mechanism for cigarettes, or similar rod-shaped articles, of the type comprising movable collecting trays having rear and forward walls with free top rims, a conveyor belt for conveying the cigarettes to the trays, and guiding means for guiding said cigarettes from said conveyor belt into said trays and comprising a supporting box, at least one sloping guide mounted on said box and adapted to be driven upwardly to an upper position when said guide comes into contact with the rear wall of said trays and to be moved downwardly after getting free from said rear wall to come back to a lower position, said sloping guide being a plane plate having a longitudinal axis and movable in its own plane with respect to said supporting box in the direction of said axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Colgin June 11, 1895 Parker Dec. 31, 1912 Hillman Jan. 5, 1960 Pembroke Feb. 23, 1960 Horgan Sept. 19, 1961 Schubert et a1. Mar. 13, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 13, 1952

Claims (1)

1. IN A COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTES, OR SIMILAR ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES, OF THE TYPE COMPRISING MOVABLE COLLECTING TRAYS HAVING REAR AND FORWARD WALLS WITH FREE TOP RIMS, A CONVEYOR BELT FOR CONVEYING THE CIGARETTES TO THE TRAYS, AND GUIDING MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID CIGARETTES FROM SAID CONVEYOR BELT INTO SAID TRAYS, SAID GUIDING MEANS COMPRISING A SUPPORTING BOX, A SLOPING GUIDE FREELY MOUNTED ON SAID BOX AND HAVING UPPER AND LOWER POSITIONS, THRUST BEARING MEMBERS AND A DRIVING MEMBER FOR SAID GUIDE ON SAID BOX, SAID SLOPING GUIDE BEING ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN UPWARDLY BY SAID DRIVING MEMBER TO ITS UPPER POSITION WHEN SAID GUIDE IS SUBMITTED TO A LONGITUDINAL THRUST FROM THE REAR WALL OF SAID TRAY WHEN COMING INTO CONTACT WITH SAID WALL.

Images