US3176825A

US3176825A - Method of and apparatus for reversing stick-shaped articles

Info

Publication number: US3176825A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rudszinat Willy; Kaeding Heinz
Original assignee: Hauni Werke Koerber and Co KG
Current assignee: Koerber AG
Priority date: 1960-08-28
Filing date: 1962-02-12
Publication date: 1965-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-06
Also published as: DE1164904B; DE1160772B; GB987262A

Description

April 6, 1965 w. RUDSZlNAT ETAL 3,176,825

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REVERSING STICK-SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 6, 1965 w. RUDSZINAT ETAL 3,176,825

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REVERSING STICI FSHAPED-ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 INVENTORS WILLY RUDSZlNAT HEINZ KAEDING April 1965 w. RUDSZINAT ETAL 3,176,825

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REVERSING STICK-SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.6

April 6, 1965 w. RUDSZINAT ETAL 3,176,825

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REVERSING STICK-SHAPED ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 3 E A 6 w Jim W fwyww M 4* April 6, 1965 w. RUDSZINAT ETAL 3,176,825

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REVERSING STICK-SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MEANS ram/mam PARTIAL VACUUM SOURCE OF CUHRESS E B 13/13 MEANS FOR CREATING PARTIAL VA CUUM United States. Patent 3,176,825 METHOD (BF AND APPARATUS FUR REVERSWG SUCK-SHAPED ARTKCLES Willy Rudszinat, Hamburg-Lohbrugge, and Heinz Kaerling, Geesthacht, Luneberg, Germany, assignors to Hauni-Werhe Korher 8; Co. K.G., Hamburg-Bergedorf,

Germany Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,457 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 13, 1961, H 41,713; Aug. 28, 1961,11 43,496 21 Claims. (Cl. 198-42) The present invention relates to a reversing arrangement for elongated stick-shaped objects, and more part-icularly to an arrangement which is especially suited for reversing elongated stickor rod-shaped articles constituting or formingpart of tobacco-containin g products. For example, the reversing arrangement of our invention may be utilized in connection with cigarettes, filter tip cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, filter tips and similar articles which by themselves or in combination with other components constitute tobacco-containing products.

An important object of the invention is to provide a reversing arrangement wherein the holders which support the sticks need not be reversed with the sticks and wherein the length of holders need not substantially exceed the length of the sticks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reversing arrangement for plain or filter tip cigarettes and like stickshaped articles which is constructed and assembled in such a way that only undamaged cigarettes are reversed whereas the damaged or destroyed cigarettes are automatically ejected to make sure that all reversed cigarettes leaving the reversing arrangement are in condition for packaging or storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reversing arrangement for sticks and like elongated objects in which a large number of sticks may be consecutively reversed within exceptionally short periods of time and while the sticks remain in continuous motion so that the reversing arrangement is especially suited for use in mass- I manufacture of tobacco-containing products.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide an arrangement of the above outlined characteristics wherein the sticks are reversed without any likelihood of damage thereto and wherein the reversed sticks are automatically aligned in positions in which they are ready for further processing.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a reversing apparatus for cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, filter tips and like articles constituting or utilized in connection with tobacco-containing products, which is constructed and assembled in such a way that it may be readily installed in many types of tobacco processing machines of conventional design without necessitating any or by necessitating only minimal changes in the construction and operation of such machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reversing arrangement for filter tip cigarettes of the type obtained by halving twin-length filter elements of twin-length filter tip cigarettes, which is constructed and arranged in such a way that only one of each pair of filter tip cigarettes obtained upon halving of the respective filter elements is reversed and that the reversed cigarettes are automatically aligned with the nonreversed cigarettes.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in the provision of a reversing arrangement for elongated sticks, particularly for articles which by themselves or together with other articles constitute tobacco-containing products, comprising a plurality of elongated holding means preferably in the form of axially parallel peripheral pockets provided on a rotary advancing drum, means for transferring the sticks into the holding means so that one ice end of each stick is located intermediate the ends of the respective holding means, and means for automatically reversing the sticks by tilting the sticks about the ends thereof in planes passing through the respective holding means so that each stick is tilted away from a first section and comes to rest in a different section of the respective holding means. i

The reversing means may assume the form of one or more reversing guides constituting a purely mechanical reversing device, of a combinedmechanical and pneumatic reversing system in which a source of compressed air and a device for creating partial vacuum cooperates with one or more guides, or of a purely pneumatic system in which a device for creating partial vacuum (combined with suitably arranged ducts leading to the holding means) brings about a reversal of the sticks.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of reversing arrangement which embodies an advancing means in the form. of a rotary drum and which comprises purely mechanic-a1 reversing means;

FIG. 2 is a developed top plan view of the advancing drum and of the reversing means;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary axial section through the advancing drum, showing a series of elongated sticks in positions they assume in various stages of the reversing operation;

FIG. 4 is a part side elevational and part axial sectional view of the advancing drum as seen in the direction of arrows from the line lVIVof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified reversing arrangement which again utilizes purely mechanical reversing means and which is associated with a dividing drum adapted to continuously transfer into the pockets of the advancing means a series of properly positioned sticks and a series of sticks which must be reversed before leaving the advancing means;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a partly mechanical and partly pneumatic reversing arrangement which is analogous to that shown in FIG. 5 in that it also reverses certain sticks while the other sticks pass therethrough without changing their position with respect to the holding means;

FIG. 7 is a dilferent perspective view of the reversing arrangement which is illustrated in FIG. 6, showing in greater detail the transfer station between the dividing drum and the advancing means;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary radial section through the advancing means of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 68;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line X-X of FIG. 9, showing the arrangement of air admitting and air evacuating ducts, grooves and channels formed in the advancing means and in the shaft on Which the advancing means is mounted;

FIG. 11 is a similar fragmentary section taken along the line XIXI of FIG. 9, showing different portions :of channels and grooves in the shaft of the advancing means;

FIG. 12 is anadditional fragmentary section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line XIIXH of FIG. 9, showing still further portions of channels and grooves in the shaft of the advancing means;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section through the advancing means of FIGS. 6 to 8, showing a pocket and a s ick in a position the stick assumes immediately after being transferred from a dividing drum forming part of the reversing arrangement;

FIG. 14 is a similar section showing the stick in a partly til-ted position;

FIG. 15 is a similar section through the advancing means of FIGS. 6 to 8, showing the stick, in a further position in which it is substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the advancing means rotates;

FIG. 16 is an additional section, similar to the sections of FIGS. 9 and 13 to 15, showing the stick in nearly reversed position in which the stick is subjected to the action of mechanical and pneumatic reversing means;

FIG. 17 illustrates the stick in fully reversed position; and

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary axial section through a modified reversing arrangement which utilizes purely pneumatic reversing means.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrated embodiments, and first to FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown an arrangement which is utilized for reversing or inverting the position of elongated sticks or'rods in the form of 'filter tip cigarettes Z. As shown in FIG. 1, the sticks Z are supplied by a rotary transfer drum 2 2 which is formed with axially parallel holding means in the form of peripheral grooves or pockets 21 each of which may receive a stick Z, and the pitch circle of the drum 22 is tangential to the pitch circle of an advancing means or conveyer here shown in the form of a driven rotary drum 1. This last mentioned drum is provided with a plurality of equally spaced axially parallel peripheral holding means in the form of grooves or pockets 2 and is mounted on a horizontal shaft 3 which may but need not constitute the means for driving the drum 1 so that the pockets 2 travel in a circular path about the axis of the shaft 3.

At the transfer station T, the sticks Z are consecutively transferred from the pockets 21 of the drum 22 and are introduced into the pockets 2 of the drum 1, and the sticks thereupon advance in anticlockwise direction indicated by the arrow 8. It will be noted that one end of each newly transferred stick Z is located intermediate the ends of the respective pocket 2.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show that the length of the pockets 2 exceeds the length of the sticks Z, and FIGS. 2 to 4 show that each of these pockets has a central retaining recess 4 which is bounded by a substantially flat central bottom surface 4a and by a pair of convex

lateral bottom surfaces

5, 6. The sticks Z to be reversed come to rest on the supporting surfaces 14 in the left-hand or lower portions of the respective pockets 2, as viewed in FIGS. 2 to 4, and when the reversal of the sticks is completed, the reversed sticks Z nest on the supporting surfaces 15 in the upper or right-hand portions of the respective pockets 2. It will be noted that the length of the pockets 2 is somewhat less than twice the length of a stick Z so that the outer end portions of the sticks may project beyond the respective end faces of the drum 1.

The pockets 2 are separated from each other by smoothsurfaced axially parallel partitions or walls '7 each of which is formed with a cutout or notch 10, and these notches are aligned with each other in the circumferential direction of the drum 1 and are located closer to the supporting surface 14 than to the supporting surface 15. In other words, the notches are located radially outwardly of the filter tips K which form part of the'sticks Z and which are adjacent to the recesses 4 of the respective pockets 2. The purpose of the notches 10 is to receive a stationary tilting or lifting guide 11 which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and which is secured to a member M forming part of the machine frame. The tilting guide 11 depresses the filters K of the consecutive sticks Z so that the outer end portions of the sticks resting on the supthe form of

stationary arcuate guides

12, 13 which are fixed to the frame member M or to another part of the machine frame, for example, in a manner to be described in connection with FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the

reversing guides

12, 13 extend in planes which are inclined with respect to the axis of the shaft 3 and with respect to the common plane of the notches 11). These

guides

12, 13 are located above the upper portion of the advanc- 7 ing drum 1 and their projections onto a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the shaft 3 assume the form of straight lines. The guide 12 has an outer or front end portion 12a which projects beyond the respective end face of the advancing drum 1 so that this outer end portion supportingly engages the outer end portions of the partially lifted or tilted sticks Z which are tilted in their respective pockets 2 by the stationary tilting guide 11, and the tilting of the sticks Z is thereupon continued as they travel through the gap H between the

guides

12 and 13. The guide 13 has a rear end portion 13a which projects beyond the opposite end face of the advancing drum 1 so that it actually deposits the reversed sticks Z at the other sides of the respective recesses 4 onto the right-hand or upper supporting surfaces 15 of the respective pockets 2, as viewed in FIGS. 2 to 4. The reversed sticks Z are thereupon advanced to a second transfer station T, shown in FIG. 1, at which they are deposited into peripheral holding means or pockets 16 of a take-off drum 14 which may advance the reversed sticks Z to a further processing station.

It will be noted that the stationary tilting guide 11 is comparatively short and that it terminates at a point where the outer ends of the non-reversed sticks Z reach the front end portion 12a of the reversing guide 12. g

The reversing arrangement of FIGS. 1 to 4 operates as follows;

Immediately after being transferred from the pockets 21 and before reaching the stationary tilting guide 11, the sticks Z rest on the supporting surfaces 14 in the respective pockets 2 and assume the positions a shown in FIG. 3. When their inner. ends are engaged by the tilting guide 11, the sticks Z are partially tilted by rolling with their filter tips K about the respective convex bottom surfaces 5 and assume the positions :1 shown in FIG. 3. Once they are engaged by the reversing guides 12, 13, the tilting of the sticks Z continues until, preferably at the uppermost point of the advancing drum 1, they reach the positions corresponding to the position b of the median stick shown in FIG. 3. As the drum 1 continues to rotate in anticlockwise direction, the sticks Z begin to become tilted in the opposite direction and their filter tip K roll along the respective convex bottom surfaces 6 so as to finally reach the supporting surfaces 15 and to assume positions corresponding to the position 0 of the vertical stick Z shown in FIG. 3. It will be noted that the reversal of sticks Z takes place in planes which are radial with respect to the drum 1, which pass through the respective pockets 2, and which also pass through the axis of the shaft 3. The sticks are retained in their respective pockets 2 by the smooth radial surfaces of the partitions '7 so that they slide along the inner guide faces of the reversing guides 12, 13 while advancing from the positions a to the positions 0. It is preferred to form the reversing guides 12, 13 with arcuate guide faces so that they are in a mere point contact with the sticks to reduce friction. Preferably, the reversing guides 12, 13 are of circular cross section and consist of metallic stock.

The height of the partitions 7, as viewed in the radial direction of the advancing drum 1, depends on the peripheral speed of this drum and is selected in such a way that the centrifugal force acting on the sticks Z during travel through the gap H between the guide faces of the reversing guides 12, 13 cannot eject the sticks from the respective pockets.

The drums 1d and 22 rotate in clockwise direction, and the spacing between the

pockets

16 or 21 is the same as the spacing between the pockets 2. The drums l4 and 22 may be axially offset with respect to each other and their axial length may be less than the axial length of the advancing drum 1. This is due to the fact that the length of pockets 2 must exceed the length of the

pocket

16 or 22 since the pockets 2 must support the sticks in nonreversed (Z) and reversed positions (Z).

A wedge-shaped stationary ejecting element 17 extends with its upper end portion beyond the outer end portions of the sticks Z at a point adjacent to the second transfer station T so as to make sure that the reversed stick are actually transferred into the pockets in. Alternately, the drum 1 may be formed with a circumferential notch extending to the supporting surfaces 15, and the ejecting element 17 then extends into this notch so as to lift the reversed sticks Z from their respective pockets.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified arrangement which is again assumed to constitute a means for reversing the position of elongated sticks in the form of filter tip cigarettes Z This reversing arrangement comprises a stick transferring means in the form of a dividing or cutting drum 222 which rotates in anticlockwise direction (arrow 222a) and which cooperates with a rotary disc knife 225 mounted on a drive shaft 225a so as to halve consecutive groups G of twin filter tip cigarettes into pairs of filter tip cigarettes or sticks Z Z The purpose of the reversing arrangement is to reverse the sticks Z so that, when they reach the take-off conveyer 231, the sticks Z: are reversed and assume positions Z shown in the left-hand half of FIG. 5 in which their filter tips F are disposed at the same side of the conveyer as the filter tips P of the nonreversed sticks Z The groups G are manufactured and assembled in a manner not forming part of this, invention, and each thereof comprises two tobacco-filled cigaettes C C and a twin-length filter L therebetween. The knife 225 halves the twin-length filters L into pairs of shorter filter tips K K by extending into a circumferential groove or slit 226 provided in the central portion of the dividing drum 222. The latter is formed with axially parallel peripheral holding means or pockets 221 each of which receives a group G (in advance of the knife 225) or a pair of sticks Z Z (past the knife 225). The drive shaft 224 of the dividing drum 222 and the drive shaft 225a of the disc knife 225 are supported by an upright frame member or wall M which forms part of the machine frame. This frame member also supports the preferably horizontal shaft 2% of an advancing means in the form of a rotary drum 2&1 corresponding to the drum 1 of H65. 1 to 4 and having a plurality of equidistant axially parallel peripheral holding means or pockets 2ii2 separated from each other by smooth-surfaced radially outwardly extending partitions 2il7 which are parallel with the axis of the drum 201. The configuration of the pockets 2 32 is analogous to that of the pockets 2, i.e. each pocket 262 has a substantially centrally located recess 2% bounded by a substantially fiat central bottom surface and by a r pair of convex lateral bottom surfaces 235, 2% with smooth transitions into the supporting surfaces 214, 2% which latter respectively receive the sticks Z Z at the transfer station between the drums 222, 2M.

Each partition 2ii'7 is formed with a cutout or notch 21% which is located radially outwardly of the respective convex supporting surface 2%, and with a circumferential groove 2% which may extend radially inwardly to the supporting surfaces 214 of the pockets 2'22. it will be noted that the angular distance between the centers of adjacent pockets 2 32 equals one-half the angular distance between the centers of the adjacent pockets 221 in the dividing drum 22-2.

Adjacent to the underside of the advancing drum Zill, there is provided a eries of retaining shield means 227, 228, 229 which are located in the space between the dividing drum 222 and the take-off conveyer 231. The purpose of these shield means is to retain the sticks Z in the respective pockets 2% while the sticks travel to the transfer station between the drum 201 and the conveyer 231. Furthermore, certain of these shield means prevent the non-reversed sticks Z from dropping onto the conveyer 231 prior to actual reversal which takes place along the upper half of the drum 2M. Additional shields (not shown) are provided to retain the sticks 2 in their respective pockets 2&2 while the sticks Z move clockwise from the right-hand to the left-hand transfer station, as viewed in FIG. 5.

The shield means 227 comprises a pair of spaced arcuate components which are closely adjacent to the drum 222 and which retain the sticks Z during the initial stage of their advance toward the conveyer 231. These components are outwardly adjacent to the supporting surfaces 214 so that they automatically retain each stick Z as long as one thereof engages with the stick. The shield means 227 terminates short of the conveyer 231 at the front ends of two spaced arcuate components forming part of the second of median shield means 228. The distance between the components of the shield means 228 is greater than the length of a cigarette C so that, should the filter tip K fail to adhere to the respective cigarette C both the cigarette C and the filter tip K will be free to drop by gravity into a suitable collecting tray or another receptacle (not shown) located beneath the advancing drum 2% One such cigarette C is shown beneath the outer component of the shield means 223.

The shield means 223 terminates short of the transfer station between the drum 2% and the conveyer 231 and is followed by the third shield means 22% which comprises a pair of spaced arcuate components extending upwardly beyond the upper run of the conveyer 231 so as to prevent the sticks Z from dropping onto this conveyer. in other words, the sticks Z advancing along the upper or inner sides of the shield means 227, 228, 229 are not deposited onto the conveyer 231 but are compelled by the shield means 2259 to travel along the upper part of the advancing drum Zill and toward the dividing drum 222. The spacing between the components of the shield means 229 may be the same as that between the com ponents of the shield means 227, i.e. less than the distance between the components of the median shield means 22-3. The parts which connect the components of the shield means 227-229 to the frame member M may assume the form of elongated rods or bolts 2%;

The spacing between the components of the non-illustrated hield means for the sticks Z preferably corresponds to the spacing between the components of the shield means 227 or 229, and these non-illustrated components are locatedbelow the supporting surfaces 215 intermediate the drum 222 and the conveyer 231 at the underside of the advancing drum 2%.

An ejector 238 is provided at the underside of the drum 2M and comprises a wedge-shaped front. end portion or tip which extends into a circumferential groove 238 provided in the partitions 267 and extending radially inwardly to the supporting surfaces 215. The positioning of the ejector 230 is such that it automatically ejects the sticks Z and the reversed stick Z' so that, along the upper half of the drum 201, the right-hand portions of the pockets which previously accommodated the sticks Z always remain empty, and all pockets 202 are empty at a point immediately adjacent to the transfer station between the drum 201 and conveyer 231.

The foremost end of the inner component of the shield means 227 extends into a circumferential groove 220 of the dividing drum 222 to make sure that all sticks Z are transferred into the corresponding pockets 202 or the advancing drum 201. At a level above the transfer station between the

drums

222, 221, there is provided an ejector 232 which extends into the circumferential groove 209 of the drum 201 and ejects such cigarettes Z which were not deposited on the conveyer 231. The rejects removed by the ejector 232 may be collected in a pan or tray, such as the element 112 shown in FIG. 7, which prevents the rejects from dropping onto the dividing drum 222.

An additional retaining shield 233 is provided above the transfer station between the drums 222, 201, and its purpose is to retain the reversed sticks Z' in their respective pockets 202 as the reversed sticks being to travel for the second time about the axis of the shaft 293. The radius of curvature of the inner face of the shield 233 is only slightly greater than the maximum radius of the drum 201.

The drum 201 is formed with an odd number of pockets 202, whereas the dividing drum 222 comprises an even number of pockets 221. Consequently, the drum 222 will transfer a pair of aligned sticks Z Z into the first, third, fifth, etc. pockets 202 when the drum 291 performs a first, third, etc. revolution, and into the second, fourth, sixth, etc. pockets 202 during the second, fourth, etc. revolutions of the advancing drum. The advantages of such distribution of

pockets

202, 221 will be readily understood as the description of the operation of the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 proceeds.

The arrangement of FIG. 5 further comprises a tilting guide 211 which is located at a level above the conveyer 231 and which extends into the aligned notches 219 of the partitions 207 so as to tilt the sticks Z advancing beyond the third shield means 229 by causing the sticks Z to roll along the convex supporting surfaces 205 and to move their outer end portions away from the respective supporting surfaces 214. At the downstream side of the tilting guide 211, there is provided a pair of stationary reversing

guides

212, 213 which are suspended on suporting rods 234- to 237, the latter secured to the frame member M in a manner not shown in FIG. 5. The mounting and configuration of the reversing

guides

212, 213 respectively correspond to the mounting and configuration of reversing

guides

12, 13 in the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2. The guide 212 has a front end portion which is adjacent to the tilting guide 211 and which engages the inner side of a partially tilted stick Z to thereupon guide this stick in a manner shown in FIG. 5, i.e. between the positions a and c and through the position b. While passing through the gap H defined by the guide faces of the reversing

guides

212, 213;, the sticks have a mere point contact with these guides because the guides are preferably of a circular cross section. Alternately, at least the guide faces of these guides may be of arcuate shape to reduce friction with the advancing sticks Z The manner in which the tilting guide 211, the retaining shield 233 and the ejectors 23-0, 232 are supported by the frame member M is not shown in FIG. 5.

The arrangement of FIG. 5 operates as follows:

The groups G delivered to and received in the pockets 221 of the rotary dividing drum 222 advance toward and are halved by the blade of the knife 225 so that each group G is divided into a pair of sticks Z Z The axially aligned pairs of sticks Z Z are thereupon transferred into alternate pockets 2112 of the advancing drum 221 and travel along the lower half of this drum while passing above the consecutive shield means 227, 228, 229 and above the non-illustrated shield means for the sticks Z During such advance, any sticks which are defective and which travel in the left-hand portions of the pockets 202 (i.e. those which rest on the supporting surfaces 214) are permitted to drop from the pockets 222 between the spaced components of the median shield means 228 so that only perfect sticks Z are permitted to advance along the third shield means 229 and toward the tilting guide 211.

The sticks Z are deposited on the conveyor 231 and advance in the direction indicated by the arrow 231a toward a stacking station, not shown. Consequently, the

right-hand portions of the alternate pockets 202 accommodating the sticks Z advancing upwardly from the upper run of the conveyer 231 are now empty so that they may ultimately receive the reversed sticks Z' before these sticks reach the first transfer station between the drums 222, 2191.

As the sticks Z continue to advance upwardly along the inner faces of the components forming part of the shield means 229, they reach the tilting guide 211 which depresses the respective filter tips K; into the recesses 204 of the alternate pockets 262 whereby the outer ends of the sticks 2. are lifted away from the periphery of the drum 2511 and may be engaged by the front end portion of the reversing guide 212. The reversal of the sticks Z thereupon progresses in the illustrated manner while the sticks travel through the gap H formed by the guide faces of the

guides

212, 213. At the time the sticks reach the retaining shield 233, they are completely reversed, i.e. they come to rest on the supporting surfaces 215 of the respective pockets 2ti2. The fully reversed sticks (identified in FIG. 5 by reference characters Z' now advance along the inner or upper faces of the non-illustrated shields for the sticks Z and toward the upper run of the conveyer 231 where they are deposited to alternate with the newly deposited sticks Z It will be noted that, after the drum 221 completes two full revolutions, each of its pockets 292 receives a stick Z or Z in other words, once the dividing drum 222 has delivered sticks into alternate grooves of the drum 201, the reversing mechanism including the

guides

211, 212, 213 and the smooth-surfaced partitions 2% makes sure that each pocket 2112 receives a stick Z' or Z so that the sticks Z and Z alternate with each other and are disposed at the right-hand sides of the respective recesses 204, namely, on the supporting surfaces 215. This is due to the fact that the drum 261 is formed with an odd number of pockets 202 and that the dividing drum 222, which latter serves as a means for transferring sticks to the pockets 202, is provided with an even number of pockets. Furthermore, such operation of the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 is due to the fact that the angular spacing between the pockets 221 is twice as large as the spacing between the pockets 202 of the drum 201.

It will be noted that, while advancing about the drum 201, each stick Z travels only through about one half of one full revolution, whereas the sticks Z perform more than one full revolution while travelling with the drum 201. In the first stage of such travel, the sticks Z are not reversed but merely travel in their respective pockets 2132 (on the supporting surfaces 214 of the alternate grooves 2192) and, once they reach the tilting guide 211, the reversing operation begins and is carried on to a point immediately in advance of the retaining shield 233 which latter insures that the reversed sticks Z' are retained in contact with the respective supporting surfaces 215 While they advance toward the non-illustrated shields for the sticks Z Of course, it will be readily understood that the arrangement of FIG. 5 may be provided with additional shields, such as the shield means 228, so as to automatically eject any defective sticks Z which may be delivered by the dividing drum 222.

During reversal, the sticks Z are supported by the smooth radial surfaces of the adjacent partitions 207 and by the guide faces of the

guides

212, 213 so that they travel in arcs of degrees and in planes passing through the axis of the shaft 2113. The

guides

212, 213 are inclined with respect to the direction in which the sticks move and extend substantially between the opposite end faces of the advancing drum, i.e. between the planes commen to the longitudinal ends of the pockets 202.

FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate a modified reversing arrangement which differentiates from the arrangements of FIGS. 1 to 5 in that the sticks are reversed in part mechanically and in part by pneumatic means. The arrangement of FIGS. 6 to 8 comprises an advancing means in the form of a rotary drum 1111 which is formed with axially parallel peripheral holding means or pockets N2 and which is 9 mounted on a coaxial shaft 103 supported by an upright frame member M. The drum 101 is assumed to rotate in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7. The pockets 102 are separated from each other by smoothsurfaced axially parallel radially extending partitions 106.

Each pocket 102 is shaped in a manner as shown in FIGS. 9 and 13 to 17. The recesses in the median portions of these pockets are bounded by the smooth radially extending surfaces of the respective partitions 106 and by axially parallel flat central supporting surfaces 107a which are located intermediate convex supporting surfaces 107a and inclined substantially flat supporting surfaces 107. In the illustrated embodiment, the advancing drum 101 is formed with a plurality of substantially radially extending ducts 104 which terminate in the supporting surfaces 107 and 1070. Each pocket 102 communicates with four ducts 104, two or more ducts terminating in the supporting surface 107a and two or more ducts terminating in the supporting surface 107. The supporting surface 107c forms part of a substantially flat supporting surface 107]: (see FIG. 13) which extends all the way to the adjacent end face of the drum 101 and which supports reversed sticks Z (see FIG. 17).

The drum 101 is disposed intermediate a dividing or transfer drum 113 and a take-off conveyer 114. The

drum 113 is formed with a plurality of equally spaced axially parallel holding means or pockets 113a and is mounted on a shaft 113b which is supported by the frame member M. The function of this drum 113 is the same as the function of the drum 222 illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, the drum 113 receives groups G which are delivered into its pockets 113a and are thereupon halved by a rotary disc knife 117 which is mounted on a horizontal shaft 117a and whose cutting edge extends into a circumferential slot 113s of the drum 113. The drum 113 is assumed to revolve in anticlockwise direction. Suitable shield means 113d are disposed about a portion of the drum 113 to retain the groups G and the sticks Z and Z in their respective pockets 113a. FIG. 7 illustrates only the shield 113d for the groups G and for the sticks Z The conveyer 114 assumes the form of two endless chains which are driven by a pair of sprockets 115 and whose links carry cradles 116 for reversed sticks Z and for non-reversed sticks Z The properly aligned and spaced sticks Z and Z advance in the direction indicated by the arrows 11 1a toward the next processing station, for example, to storage where the sticks are packed into boxes or into other types of receptacles. The sprockets 115 are driven in anticlockwise direction, i.e. in a direction counter to the direction in which the advancing drum 101 rotates.

The frame member M supports a stationary carrier 110 which in turn supports a curved blade-like retaining shield 108 extending upwardly from the conveyer 11 i and substantially to the uppermost point of the drum 101. The purpose of the retaining shield 108 is to prevent ejection of sticks Z during the reversing operation under the action of centrifugal force in the event that the drum 101 is rotated at a speed exceeding a precalculated speed. The carrier 110 also supports one end of a single reversing guide 118 which is of arcuate shape and whose other end is connected to a collecting device in the form of a pan or tray 112 secured to the frame member M and located at a level above the dividing drum 113. The purpose of the pan 112 is to collect any rejects which might have remained in certain pockets 102 and which, in the absence of this pan, would drop onto the dividing drum 113, thus hindering proper operation of the reversing arrangement.

The carrier 110 further supports pairwise arranged retaining shields one pair of which is illustrated in FIG. 6. The purpose of the illustrated shields 109 is to retain the sticks Z on their way between the drum 113 and the take-01f conveyer 114. The construction of the shields associated with the left-hand or rear portion of the drum 101, as viewed in FIG. 6, is the same as the construction and mounting of the shields 109 for the sticks Z The front end portion of the reversing guide 118 extends radially inwardly and beyond the inclined supporting surfaces 107 of the pockets 102 and thereupon forms a loop whose free end is connected to the carrier 110. As can be observed in FIG. 8, the projection of the guide 118 onto a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the shaft 103 is a straight line. The blade 108 is bent and terminates at a point slightly to the right of the central plane of the drum 101, as viewed in FIG. 8, i.e. to the right of the flat bottom surfaces 107a.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate in phantom lines certain Zones through which the pockets 102 travel while moving about the axis of the shaft 103. These zones include a zone D which extends substantially from the front end portion of the single reversing guide 118 and to the uppermost point of the drum 101, a second zone E which extends from the uppermost point of the drum 101 and to a point slightly above the transfer station between the

drums

115, 101, and a third zone E which is located at the downstream side of the zone E. While advancing through the zone D (FIGS. 13 and 14), certain of the ducts 104 communicating with the respective pockets 102 receive compressed air from a source 181 and the remaining ducts 104 are connected to a means 182- which creates partial vacuum (FIG. 9). In the zone E (FIGS. 16 and 17), the pockets 102 communicate with the means 182 which is then connected to the ducts 104 terminating in the respective supporting surfaces 107]), 1070. While advancing through the zone F, the ducts 104 are connected to the source 181 of compressed air so as to automatically eject any particles or non-evacuated sticks which might have remained in the respective pockets 102. Thus, the ducts 10 1, together with the associated source 181, replace the ejecting devices shown in FIG. 5. The zone F is adjacent to the upper side of the pan 112 so that any impurities or sticks ejected from the pockets 102 are automatically collected in the pan before dropping onto the dividing drum 113.

The drum 101 is formed with an odd number of pockets 102 in contrast to the drum 113 which is formed with an even number of pockets 113a. In addition, and as explained in connection with FIG. 5, the angular distance between the pockets 102 equals one-half of the angular distance between the pockets 1130:. The spacing between the cradles 116 carried by the chains of the conveyer 114 equals the spacing between the pockets 102.

As shown in FIG. 9, the stationary shaft 103 of the advancing drum 101 is formed with an axially parallel suction channel 104a connected to the vacuum creating means 132 and with a second channel 10422 which latter delivers compressed air from the source 181 to the ducts 104. In addition, the shaft 103 is formed with a plurality of radially extending bores (shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12) which respectively connect the channels 104a, 1041) with specially configurated peripheral grooves provided in the shaft 103 (see FIGS. 10-12). The grooves 105 communicate with selected ducts 104 of certain pockets 102 when the drum 101 rotates about its shafts 103. In FIGS. 10 to 12, the position of the rooves 105 is shown in relation to the zones D, E, F. The arrangement of FIGS. 6 to 8 operates as follows: The groups G delivered to the dividing drum 113 are halved by the knife 117 so that each group is transformed into a pair of coaxial sticks Z Z These sticks thereupon advance toward and are transferred into alternate pockets 102 of the advancing drum 101. The sticks Z advance along the respective shields corresponding to the shields 109 and are transferred into alternate cradles 116 carried by the chains of the conveyer 114. The sticks Z advance along the upper faces of the shields 109 shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 and their outer ends are engaged by the front end portion of the single reversing guide 118. This guide causes the sticks Z to pivot about their inner ends which, as shown in FIG. 14, rest on the flat bottom surfaces 107a of the respective pocket 102, so that each stick Z is gradually inverted by moving from the non-reversed position shown in FIG. 13 through intermediate positions of FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 to the reversed position Z of FIG. 17.

FIG. 13 shows a stick Z in a position it assumes at the very moment when it is engaged by the front end portion of the single reversing guide 118. This occurs at a time when the inner end of the stick Z begins to descend toward the surface 107a under the action of gravity. In other words, the arrangement of FIGS. 6 to 8 is such that it takes advantage of the natural tendency of the sticks Z to move with their inner end portions toward the bottom surfaces 107a without requiring any means for bringing about such initial tilting movement. As explained hereinabove, the purpose of the shield 108 is to retain the sticks Z during the reversing operation in the event that the centrifugal force would tend to eject the sticks or to move their outer end portions away from sliding contact with the outer face of the reversing guide 118. The tendency of sticks Z to leave their respective pockets 102 under the action of centrifugal force is reduced as the sticks continue to travel toward the uppermost point of the advancing drum 101. In fact, as the sticks continue to travel toward the uppermost point of the drum 101, the force of gravity tends to maintain them in the pockets 102 so that the shield 108 can actually terminate at a point slightly or substantially below the uppermost point of the advancing drum.

Once the reversing guide 118 tilts a stick Z beyond the position of FIG. 15, the inner end portion of the stick (i.e. the fiilter tip K) rolls along the arcuate supporting surface 1070 so that the stick is automatically deposited on 'the supporting surface 107]) of the respective pocket 102 and assumes the position Z which is illustrated in FIG. 17. Since the arrangement of FIGS. 6 to 8 utilizes a single guide 118, the defective sticks are not reversed and are free to drop by gravity into the pan 112 before returning to the transfer station between the drums The bottom surfaces 107a act as stops for the filter tips K and prevent sliding of the sticks Z during reversal under the action of the guide 118. Should a stick begin to slide along the inclined surface 107, its filter tip comes into abutment with the convex surface 1070 so that any further sliding movement is prevented in a fully automatic way.

The arrangement of FIGS. 6 to 8 operates in the above described manner in the event that the pneumatic component of the reversing means is inactive. However, if the operator desires to utilize the pneumatic component, he may remove or dispense with the shield 108 because the function of this shield is then performed solely by compressed air and by the vacuum creating means 182. Again referring to FIGS. 13 to 17, it will be noted that these illustrations do not show the shield 108 because this shield is an optional feature since the sticks Z may be reversed by the guide 110 and/or by the action of air, namely by compressed air discharged through one group of ducts 104 and by air sucked into another group of ducts 104. The direction in which the air is admitted or evacuated in indicated by arrows in each of FIGS. 13 to 17.

When a pocket 102 enters the zone D, the duct 104 nearest to the surface 107a and terminating in the inclined supporting surface 107 communicates with the vacuum creating means 182 (see FIG. 13), whereas the other duct 104 also terminating in the supporting surface 107 communicates with the source 181 so that the two streams of air (one entering the inner right-hand duct 104 and the other passing outwardly through the outer righthand duct 104) bring about a tilting movement of the 12 stick Z in that the filter K of this stick moves toward the bottom surface 107a to assume the position illustrated in FIG. 14. The stream of air drawn into the inner right-hand duct 104 replaces the shield 103 because i it actually sucks the filter tip K of the stick Z against the bottom surface 107a in the respective pocket 102 and thereby prevents the centrifugal force from ejecting the stick radially outwardly with respect to the advancing drum 101. The blast of air discharged through the rightmost duct 104 in the pocket 102 of FIG. 13 serves as a means for bringing the filter tip K into the range of the air drawn into the other right-hand duct 104. During the initial phase of travel of the pocket 102 through the zone D, the left-hand pair of ducts 104,.as viewed in FIGS. 13 and 14, need not be connected with the source 181 and/or with the means 182. Of course, while being subjected to the action of air streams passing through the ducts 104 which terminate in the supporting surface 107, the outer end portion of the respective stick Z may be guided by the guide face of the guide 118 and is also guided by the smooth radial surfaces of the adjacent partition 106 which latter insures that the stick Z cannot be tilted in a plane other than the radial plane pass ing longitudinally through the respective pocket 102.

FIGS. 15 to 17 illustrate the stick Z in positions it assumes while the respective pocket 102 travels through the zones E and F. The right-hand pair of ducts 104, as viewed in FIGS. 15 and 16, is now sealed from the source 181 and from the means 182, whereas the lefthand pair of ducts 104 is free to communicate with the means 182 so that the air streams flowing into the lefthand pair of ducts 104 assist the guide 118 or by themselves reverse the stick Z by drawing the filter tip K of the stick against and by causing the filter tip to roll along the convex supporting surface 107a so that the stick ulti mately comes to rest on the substantially horizontal supporting surface 10711. The left-hand ducts 104 remain in communication with the means 182 through the entire zone E so that the inverted or reversed stick Z' (FIG. 17) adheres to the supporting surface 107]) until it reaches the upper run of the take-off conveyer 114.

FIG. 17 illustrates a pocket 102 which is assumed to travel through the zone F. It will be noted that the right-hand pair of ducts 104 which terminate in the inclined supporting surface 107 discharges blasts of compressed air which flows radially outwardly so as to automatically expel any fragments of tobacco or other impurities which might have accumulated in the pocket 102. In other words, when the pocket 102 reaches the transfer station between the

drums

113, 101, it is ready for reception of another pair of sticks Z Z The particles or impurities ejected from the pockets 102 by the blasts of air admitted in the zone F drop onto the pan 112 whence they may be removed in a fully automatic way or at certain intervals whenever it becomes necessary.

As explained in connection with FIG. 5, the movements of the advancing drum and of the dividing drum may be synchronized in such a way that the dividing drum transfers sticks Z Z into first, third, fifth, etc. pockets during a first revolution of the advancing drum, and into the second, fourth, sixth etc. pockets during the next revolution of the advancing drum. Such synchronization renders it possible to deliver non-reversed sticks Z together with the reversed Z without any interference on the part of sticks Z' FIG. 18 illustrates a reversing arrangement which embodies purely pneumatic reversing means, i.e. which operates without any mechanical reversing means such as the

guides

12, 13 of FIG. 1, the

guides

212, 213 of FIG. 5 or the single guide 118 of FIGS. 6 to 8. The slightly modified advancing drum 101 is formed with a plurality of peripheral pockets 120 whose configuration corresponds substantially to that of the pockets 2 shown in FIGS. 1'

to 4. Thus, the composite bottom surface of each pocket if)? 120 comprises a fiat median bottom surface 122, two arcuate bottom surfaces 126, 127 which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the median surface 122, and two substantially straight or flat surface portions adjacent to the outer ends of the pocket 120. The pockets 120 are separated by smooth-surfaced partitions 121 which assist the pneumatic means in reversing the position of the sticks Z The interior of the advancing drum 101 is formed with a large number of substantially radially extending ducts 123 which terminate in the supporting surfaces 126, 127 and which are preferably concentrated in the areas immediately or closely adjacent to the median bottom surface 122.

The periphery of the fixed shaft 125 on which the drum 101' is mounted is provided with a helical groove 124 which communicates with radially extending bores 124a leading to an axially parallel channel 123a serving as a means for connecting the groove 124 with a means 182 for creating partial vacuum.

The arrangement of the ducts 123 and the configuration of the helical groove 124 in the periphery of the shaft 125 are such that a stick Z is automatically reversed while the drum 101' rotates about the axis of the shaft 125. Thus, in the initial stage of reversing operation, suction is created in the ducts 123 adjacent to the right-hand end of the bottom surface 122 so that the filter tipK of the stick Z is caused to descend into the recess of the pocket 120 and that the stick simultaneously slides along the smooth surface of the adjacent partition 121. The stick is tilted at such rate of speed that it automatically moves through and beyond its deadcenter position Z" and starts to roll with its filter tip K along the arcuate surface 127. During such tilting movement, the stick Z is assisted by suction created at that time in the left-hand ducts 123 leading to the respective supporting surface 127 so that the moving stick may be reversed without the assistance of any mechanical means other than the partitions 121 bounding the respecting pocket 120. Of course, it may be desired to provide in the arrangement of FIG. 18 a guide analogous to the guide 118 of FIGS. 6 to 8 in order to make sure that, provided some of the ducts 123 become clogged after a certain period of actual use, the arrangement is still capable of reversing the position of the sticks Z Since the arrangement of FIG. 18 is not assumed to utilize mechanical reversing means, such as arcuate guides, and the like, the axial length of the drum 101' may be increased so that the length of the pockets 120 may equal or may even exceed the combined length of two aligned sticks Z The means 182 may assume the form of a conventional fan or blower.

A very important advantage of the improved reversing arrangement i that, in contrast to certain conventional arrangements utilized in the manufacture of tobacco-containing products, the holding means for the sticks need not pivot with the sticks during the'reversing operation. Therefore, the construction of the advancing means may be simplified and the entire arrangement is much less prone to malfunction since the holding means may simply assume the form of pockets formed in the periphery of the drum and the reversing operation may be carried out without any moving means other than the advancing drum and the means which transfer the sticks to the advancing drum and which receive the sticks from the pockets of the advancing drum. All that is necessary is to provide means which retain the sticks in the planes of the respective pockets (i.e. the radial surfaces of the partitions which separate the pockets from each other) and to provide means which compel the sticks to describe arcs of 180 degrees while remaining with one end thereof in the pockets of the advancing means.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for acteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, thenefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A reversing arrangement for elongated sticks, comprising a plurality of elongated holding means each having a first end and a second end; means for transferring sticks into said holding means so that one end of each stick is located intermediate the ends of the respective holding means; and combined pneumatic and mechanical means for automatically reversing the sticks in the respective holding means by tilting the same about said ends thereof in planes passing through the respective holding means, said reversing means comprising at least one fixed reversing guide.

2. A reversing arrangement for elongated sticks, particularly for rod-shaped articles constituting or forming part of tobacco-containing products, comprising advancing means including a plurality of elongated parallel pockets each having a first end and a second end, and smooth-surfaced partition means for separating said pockets from each other; means for moving said advancing means in a direction swbstarrtially perpendicular to the longitudinal extensions of said pockets; means for consecutively transferring sticks into said pockets so that one end of each stick is located intermediate the ends of the respective pocket; and means for automatically reversing the sticks in the respective pockets by tilting the same about said ends thereof in radial planes passing through the respective pockets so that the smooth-surfaced partition means retain the sticks in the respective planes during tilting.

3. A reversing arrangement for elongated sticks, particularly for rod-shoped articles constituting or forming part of tobacco-containing products, comprising a plurality of elongated parallel holding means each having a first end and a second end; means for moving said holding means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extensions thereof; means for consecutively transferring sticks into said holding means so that one end of each stick is located intermediate the ends of the respective holding means and that the other end of each stick is adjacent to one end of the respective holding means; and means for automatically reversing the sticks in the respective holding means by tilting each stick about said one end thereof in a plane passing through the respective holding means and substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said holding means, said reversing means comprising at least one fixed reversing guide adjacent and inclined with respect to the longitudinal extensions of said holding means and located past said transferring means, said guide having guide face means engaging the consecutiwe sticks for guiding the sticks in said planes while the sticks move in said direction so that, upon reversing its position, each stick has its other end adjacent to the other end of the respective holding means.

4. A reversing arrangement for elongated sticks, comprising a plurality of elongated holding means each having a first end and a second end; means for transferring stick into said holding means so that one end of each stick is located intermediate the ends of the respective holding means; and pneumatic means cooperating with said holding means for automatically reversing the sticks by tilting the sticks in the respective holding means about said end thereof in planes passing through the respective holding means, said reversing means comprising means for creating partial vacuum and duct means provided insaid holding means and connected with said vacuum creating means.

An arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein said holding means are pockets having stick-supporting bottom surfaces and said duct means terminate in said bottom surfaces.

6. An arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said pockets has an inclined substantially fiat bottom surface'for supporting the sticks prior to the reversal thereof and an at least partially convex bottom surface for supporting the sticks after reversal thereof.

7. An arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said pockets has a first bottom surface for supporting the sticks prior to the reversal thereof and a second bottom surface for supporting the sticks after reversal thereof, said reversing means further comprising a source of compressed gas and second duct means provided in said holding means, said second duct means terminating in said first bottom surfaces and connected with said source of compressed gas so that compressed gas may assist in tilting of the sticks and, upon reversal of the sticks, evacuates impurities which might accumulate in said pockets.

8. A reversing arrangement for elongated sticks, comprising a rotary advancing drum having a plurality of elongated axially parallel peripheral holding means, each of said holding means having a first end and a spaced second end; means for consecutively transferring into alternate holding means pairs of axially aligned sticks so that the adjacent ends of the pairwise arranged sticks are located between the ends of the respective holding means, that the pairwise arranged sticks are transferred into the oddly numbered holding means during a first revolution of said drum and that the pairwise arranged sticks are transferned into evenly numbered holding means during the next revolution of said ldrum; take-off means located past said transferring means for receiving from said holding means one of each pair of said sticks before said one stick returns to said transferring means; and means for automatically reversing the other of each pair of said sticks in the respective holding means while said other sticks advance from said take-01f means to said transferring means so that each other stick is tilted about said end thereof in a plane passing through the axis of said drum and, upon reversal, occupies space previously occupied by the originally aligned one stick of the respective pair.

9. A reversing arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein said transferring means is a revolving drum having an even number of elongated axially parallel peripheral pockets for the pairwise arranged sticks and wherein said advancing drum is provided with an odd number of holding means.

10. A reversing arrangement as set forth in claim 9, wherein said drums are rotatable about parallel horizontal axes and said reversing means comprises at least one fixed reversing guide located above said advancing drum and inclined with respect to the longitudinal extensions of said holding means, said guide having a front portion located in the path of said other sticks and guide face means engaging and compelling the sticks to turn in the respective planes and about said ends thereof.

11. A reversing arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein each of said holding means has a substantially centrally located recess and said drum comprises axially parallel partitions separating said holding means from each other, said partitions having circumferentially aligned notches adjacent to the respective recesses, said reversing means further comprising a stationary tilting guide extending into said notches for automatically tilting said other sticks into engagement with said guide face, said tilting guide located intermediate said take-off means and said reversing guide.

12. A reversing arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein said take-off means is a conveyer having a stickreceiving upper run and adjacent to one side of said adyancing drum opposite said transfering means.

13. A reversing arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein the angular distance between the pockets of said transferring means equals one-half the angular distance between the holding means of said advancing drum.

14. A method of automatically reversing one of each pair of pairwise arranged elongated parallel sticks, comprising the steps of moving the pairwise arranged sticks in a circular path about an axis which is parallel with the longitudinal extensions of said sticks; removing the other of each pair of sticks from said path before the other stick completes a full revolution about said axis; and reversing said one stick of each pair of sticks by tilting the one stick in a radial plane passing through said axis so that the one stick is turned through degrees and occupies space previously occupied by the corresponding other stick.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said sticks are cigarettes having filter tips and the filter tips of each pair of cigarettes are adjacent to each other prior to removal of said other cigarettes.

16. An inverting arrangement for cigarettes and similar rod-shaped articles, comprising a conveyer; a plurality of elongated holding means provided on and extending substantially transversely to the direct-ion of movement of said conveyer; means for introducing rod-shaped articles into said holding means in such a way that one end of each article is located intermediate the ends of the respective holding means; means for retaining the articles against substantial sliding in the longitudinal direction of the respective holding means so that said one end of each article is kept at a substantially constant distance from the ends of the respective holding means; and lifting means for tilting the thus retained articles through substantially 180 degrees and about said one end thereof to thereby transfer the articles from a portion ofthe corresponding holding means at one side to a portion of the same holding means at the other side of said one end thereof.

17. An inverting arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein said portions of each of said holding means are aligned with each other and wherein such aligned portions are at least slightly spaced from each other so that said one end of each rod-shaped article is located intermediate the spaced portions of the corresponding holding means.

18. An inverting arrangement as set forth in claim 17, wherein each of said holding means is provided with a recess located intermediate the aligned portions thereof, said one end of each rod-shaped article extending into the corresponding recesses during tilting in response to engagement by said lifting means.

19. An inverting arrangement for cigarettes and similar rod-shaped articles, comprising a conveyer having a plurality of grooves extending substantially transversely to the direction of movement thereof; means for introducing rod-shaped articles into consecutive grooves of said conveyer in such a way that one end of each article is located intermediate the ends of the respective grooves; means cooperating with said grooves for retaining the articles against substantial sliding in the longitudinal direction of the respective grooves so that said one end of each article is kept at a substantially constant distance from the ends of the respective groove; and lifting means for tilting the thus retained articles through substantially 180 degrees and about said one end thereof to thereby transfer the articles from a portion of the corresponding groove at one side to a portion of the same groove at the other side of said one end thereof.

20. An inverting arrangement for cigarettes and similar rod-shaped articles, comprising a conveyer having a plurality of elongated holding means extending substantially transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyer; means for introducing rod-shaped articles into holding means in such a way that one end of each article is located intermediate the ends of the respective holding means and that an end portion of each article extends outwardly and beyond one end of the respective holding means; means for retaining the articles against substantial sliding in the longitudinal direction of the respective lhold-ing means so that said one end of each article is kept at a substantially constant distance from the ends of the respective holding means; and lifting means for lifting the outwardly extending end portions of the thus retained articles and for thereby tilting each article through substantially 180 degrees about said one end thereof to thereby transfer each article from a portion of the corresponding holding means at one side to a portion of the same holding means at the other side of said one end thereof.

21. An inverting arrangement for cigarettes and similar rod-shaped articles, comprising a rotary drum having a plurality of equidistant axially parallel peripheral grooves; means for introducing rod-shaped articles into said grooves in such a Way that one end of each article is located intermediate the ends of the respective groove; means for retaining the articles against substantial sliding in the longitudinal direction of the respective grooves so that said one end of each article is kept at a substantially constant distance from the ends of the respective grooves; and lifting means for tilting each of the thus retained articles through substantially 180 degrees and about said one end thereof to thereby transfer each article from a portion of the corresponding groove at one side to a portion of the same groove at the other side of said one end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,355,597 8/44 Pond 198-33 X 2,857,039 10/58 Whitecar 19833 2,974,774 3/61 Stuart 19833 2,988,198 6/61 Pinkham l9833 X 3,000,488 9/61 Rowlands 198-33 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

Examiners.

Claims

1. A REVERSING ARRANGEMENT FOR ELONGATED STICKS, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED HOLDING MEANS EACH HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END; MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING STICKS INTO SAID HOLDING MEANS SO THAT ONE END OF EACH STICK IS LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE RESPECTIVE HOLDING MEANS; AND COMBINED PNEUMATIC AND MECHANICAL MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REVERSING THE STICKS IN THE RESPECTIVE HOLDING MEANS BY TILTING THE SAME ABOUT SAID ENDS THEREOF IN PLANES PASSING THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE HOLDING MEANS, SAID REVERSING MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE FIXED REVERSING GUIDE.