US3311114A

US3311114A - Apparatus for transferring tobacco to tobacco processing machines

Info

Publication number: US3311114A
Application number: US164125A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schlossmacher Hubert
Original assignee: Hauni Werke Koerber and Co KG
Current assignee: Koerber AG
Priority date: 1961-01-04
Filing date: 1962-01-03
Publication date: 1967-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1984-03-28
Also published as: GB1007309A; NL271445A; GB1007308A

Description

March 28, 1967 H. scHLossMAcHER APPARATUS FOR TRANSFEBRING TOBACCO TO TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES y 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1962 Q mm March 28. 1967 H. scHLoSsMAcHER 3,311,114

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING TOBACCO TO TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES March 28, 1967 H. scHLossMAcHER 3,311,114 APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING TOBACCO TO TOBACCO'.

PROCESSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet4 5 Fig. 3

/N VEA! T02 #055er .5c/a ass/VACHE@ Marh 28, 1967 H. scHLossMAcHL-:R 3,311,114

APPARATS FOR TRANSFERRING TOBACCO ATO TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1962 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 28, 1967 H, SCHLOSSMACHER 3,311,114

APPARATUS FCR TRANSFERRING TOBACCO To ToBAcco PROCESSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 3, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet Fig] Fig /213 rragA/EY United States Patent Oh burg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Jan. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 164,125 Claims priority, application Germany, Jan. 4, 1961,

16 claims. (cl. 131-1o9) The present invention relates to the manufacture of tobacco-containing products in general, and more partic-ularly to an apparatus for transferring metered (i.e., measured or predetermined) quantities of tobacco from one or more tobacco sources to one or more tobacco processing machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is capable of transmitting metered quantities of tobacco to two or more tobacco processing machines without it being necessary to idle certain machines because of insufficient supply of tobacco.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above described type which is capable of conveyin-g requisite metered quantities of tobacco to a given tobacco processing machine within extremely short periods of time constituting but a fraction of the time necessary for delivering equal quantities of tobacco with conventional yapparatus of which I am aware at this time.

A concomitant object of the instant invention is to provide an apparatus which is capable of selectively delivering the same type or two or more different types of tobacco to one or more tobacco processing machines, which is capable of delivering accurately metered quantities of tobacco in a fully automatic way, and wherein tobacco particles are subjected to the action of atmospheric air for very short periods of time so that air cannot affect or affects only negligibly the moisture content of conveyed tobacco particles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above outlined characteristics which is capable of blending two or more types of tob-acco prior to transferring blended tobacco to one or more tobacco processing machines.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of rapidly transferring metered quantities of tobacco to one or more tobacco processing machines.

In its basic form, the apparatus of my invention comprises at least one source of tobacco, means deiining at least one chamber adapted to accommodate a metered quantity of tobacco, means for withdrawing from the source metered quantities of tobacco and for transferring metered quantities of tobacco into the chamber, and means for conveying each metered quantity of tobacco from the chamber to the tobacco processing machine.

The invention will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain speciiic embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus which embodies my invention, certa-in portions of the apparatus being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the apparatus as seen in the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 1, certain portions of the apparatus being shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the front part of the apparatus as seen in the direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 2, the portion above the conveyer 60 in FIGURE 2 being omitted;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the control system of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a detail of the control system; l

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of a distributor which forms part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. l to 3, certain portions of the distributor being shown in section;

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary detail elevational view of the distributor, showing in sectional view a limit switch associated with one of the pneumatic conveyers and a cam which operates the limit switch, the cam being shown in a position it assumes just before its lobe trips the limit switch; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the structure of FIG. '7 in a different position in which the cam lobe engages and trips the limit switch.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, and rst to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown an apparatus for transferring metered quantities of tobacco to a series of tobacco processing machines. It is assumed that the machines are cigarette making machines and that the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3 is arranged to supply shredded tobacco to four such machines -at certain intervals whereby the frequency at Which a machine receives fresh supplies of tobacco depends on the capacity of the magazines in these machines, on the nature of tobacco-containing products which are being manufactured therein, etc.

The apparatus comprises eight tobacco sources which are idisposed in two groups 10, 216l respectively including four superimposed sources 11-14 and 211-214. 'I'he construction of tobacco sources 11-14 in the group 10 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, and the construction of tobacco sources in the other group 210 is analogous. The sources 11-14 of the group 10 assume the form of containers or troughs which have a common casing 10a and which are respectively provided with

movable bottoms

15, 17, 19 and 21. For example, the bottom 15 constitutes the upper run of an endless conveyer whose front end turn is formed by a combined driving and deecting roller 15a cooperating with a tensioning roll 15b. The outlet of the trough 11 is normally closed lby a spiked or toothed wheel 16 whose spikes extend into close proximity of the roller 15a so as to normally prevent escape of tobacco which is stored in the trough 11 and which rests on the movable -bottom 15. The

lower troughs

12, 13, 14 respectively cooperate with

spiked wheels

18, 20 and 22.` As shown, the wheel 181 is in the process of withdrawing Ia metered quantity of shredded tobacco from the supply 23 supported by the movable bottom 17 of the second uppermost trough 12, and this wheel is assisted by a pair of bladed roller combs or

wheels

24, 25 which remove all such strands or fragments that extend beyond the spikes 18a of the wheel 18 so that the latter withdraws a layer or fleece of loose tobacco which forms -a mantle thereabout and that the quantity of loosened tobacco withdrawn from the supply 23` may be controlled by regulating the rotational speed and the dur-ation of rotation of the spiked wheel 18. When the wheel 18 is driven, the bottom 17 is simultaneously caused to advance -in a direction to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, to make sure that the teeth 18a may remove from the supply 23 equal quantities` of tobacco, i.e. that the supply advances toward the wheel 18 at `the s-arne rate at which tobacco in loose particulate form is With- Idrawn from the trough 12. The

wheels

18, 24, 25 together constitute means for withdrawing metered quantities of loose tobacco from the trough 12, and the other troughs are provided with analogous tobacco withdrawing means including the

aforementioned wheels

16, 20 and 22.

Of course, the

wheels

16, 18, 20, 22 may be replaced by so-called rake wheels or by other suitable means Patented Mar. 28, 1967" tration.

Vend of the vmovable lbottom 19. `26 of the wheel 20. carries a pulley 27 which transmits capable f withdrawing tobacco from a stack in such a way that the withdrawn tobacco is loose and that the quantities of tobacco to be withdrawn from the stack contained lin the respective trough may be regulated with suhcient accuracy. For example, each spiked wheel may be replaced by a suitable conveyer whose endless band is then provided with teeth, claws, spikes or other comminuting and entrainng means. All such modi-tications are so obvious that they require no separate illus- It will be noted that the roller comb 24 is located close to the level of the supply 23 and that the Vothercomb 25 is located at the downstream side of the A,cornlb 24.

The spiked wheels and the combined deflecting and driving rollers of the respective troughs are coupled to each other by belt-and-pulley arrangements one of which Vis Vshown -in FIG. 2. This belt-and-pulley arrangement couples the spiked wheel 20 which is associated with the trough 13 to the deflecting roller 19a located at the front As shown, the shaft motion to a pulley 30 through an endless ybelt 28. The pulley 30 is connected to the shaft 29 of the roller 19a, andit will be noted that the

drive

27, 28, 30 constitutes a step-down transmission which -drives lthe shaft 29 at a speed lower than the speed of the shaft 26 and whose ratio is selected with a view to synchronize the forward movement of shredded tobacco stacked on the movable bottom 19 with the speed of the spiked wheel 20' to insure that the spikesfof this wheel will withdraw tobacco at a uniform rate when the shaft 26 is driven at constant speed.

The shaft 32 of the spiked wheel 16 associated with the uppermost trough 11 of the group 10 is driven by an electric motor 38. The spiked wheel 13 and the deflecting roller 17a of the trough 12 are intermittently driven lby amagnetic clutch 39 which latter is mounted on the driver shaft 36, and by a beltand-pulley arrangement 42 which is analo-gous to the `belt-and-pulley arrangement 3\1,i 33,34. A third magnetic clutch 40 and v.a third belt-and-pulley arrangement 43 drive the wheel 20 and the deflecting roller 19a of the tray 13, and a furfther drive means including an electromagnetic clutch 41 and a belt-and-pulley arrangement 44 drives the wheel 22 and the deflecting roller 21a of the lowermost trough 14. Tobacco which is withdrawn -by the uppermost spiked

wheels

16, 18 drops onto a take-off conveyer 50 whose discharge end is located above a supply conveyer 60. Tobacco which is withdrawn by `the wheels 2i), 22 drops onto the upper run of a second take-off conveyer 51 which discharges onto a secondsupply conveyer 61.

Thegroup 210 of tobacco sources 2li-214 is arranged in mirror symmetry with respect to the groupand its construction is identical with the construction of the group 10. FIG. 1 illustrates only a few component parts ofthe group 210 including the casing 21M, the movable )bottom y215 and the spiked wheels 216 of the uppermost -

ments

242, 243, 244 respectively associated with the three lowerspiked wheels, the take-

off conveyers

250, 251 which ,respectively receive loose tobacco withdrawn from the Atroughs 211, 212 and 213, 214, and the

supply conveyers

260, 261 which respectively receive tobacco from the

conveyers

250, 251.

The provision of two symmetrically arranged groups 10, 2 10 renders it possible to reduce the overall dimensions of the apparatus even though the apparatus comprises a large number of tobacco sources.V Owing to the fact that the sources 11-14 and 211-214 are superimposed, they occupy comparatively little space.

The take-

off conveyers

50, 51 and 250, 251 are driven by an electric motor 52 (FIGS. l and 2) which operates a belt-and-pulley arrangement 53 whose driven pulley is mounted on an intermediate shaft 54 carried by a platform F forming part of the apparatus frame and located between the groups 10, 21d. The conveyers 5t?, 51, 25), 251 are respectively operated by belt-andpulley arrangements 55, `56, 255, 256 each of which h-as a driver pulley mounted on the intermediate shaft 54 and a driven pulley drivingly connected with the front deflecting roller of the respective conveyer. The arrows shown in FIG. 2 indicate the directions in which the conveyers 50', 51 are driven.

The

supply conveyers

60, 61, 260, 261 lare driven b y a third electric motor 62 which is mounted on the platform F and which operates Vthe belt-and-pulley `arrangements 63, 263 for the conveyers 60, 260', respectively."

Additional belt-and-pulley arrangements 66, 266 respectively connect the conveyers 60', 260 with the conveyers 61, 261 (see FIG. 1).

The electric circuits of the

motors

38, 52, 62 preferably remain completed as long as the -apparatus is in use, i.e. the driver shaft 36 which carries the

clutches

35, 235, 39, 239, 40, 240, 41, 241, the take-Gif

conveyers

59, 51, 250, 251 and the

supply conveyers

60, 61, 260, 261 may be driven without interruption as long as the tobacco processing machines associated with the appara.

tus of my invention are in actual use. This is of advantage because the electric circuitry of the apparatus `is simplified, but it will be readily understoodthat the

motors

38, 52, 62 may be operated intermittently, if desired. For example, the

motors

52,62 may be operated at desired intervals so as to arrest the take-

off conveyers

50, 51, 250, 251 and the

supply conveyers

60, 61, 260, 261 shortly after the spiked wheel or wheels associated with the troughs 11-14 and `211-214 -are arrested, i.e. as soon as metered quantitiesof loose tobacco withdrawn from one or more troughs in the

lgroup

10 or 210 are caused to advance beyond the discharge ends of the supply conveyers.

The

supply conveyers

60,61, 260, 261 discharge loose tobacco into a stationary hopper or chute 90' (FIG. 1') Which is located between the groups 10', 210 at a level below the platform F. The hopper has a discharge -opening 90a which is bounded by downwardly extending

converging side walls

91, 92 to discharge tobacco into a distributor 70 which is mounted below the hopper and whose function is to cooperate with pneumatic conveyers which deliver metered quantities of tobacco to the tobacco processing machines. The stator of the distributor 70 `comprises a ground-contacting base 71, a pair of spaced end walls 72, 73 (FIG. 3) which constitute bearing plates for the -shaft 75 of -a rotor 74 which latter is provided with radially outwardly `opening axially parallel chambers or cells 81-89. The rotortshaft 75 is driven by a motor 76 (FIGS. 3 and 4) through a train of reducing

gears

77, 78. The hollow cylindrical stator mantle 79 of the distributor 70l is provided with an elongated intake opening 79a which is aligned with the discharge opening 90a of the hopper 90. The width of the intake opening 7911 equals the width of the chambers 81-89 and the open outer sides of all chambers, excepting the one (S1) momentarily aligned with the discharge opening 90a of the hopper 90, are sealed by the mantle 79. The

side walls

91, 92 of the hopper 90 terminate immediately above the mantle 79 so as to prevent spilling of tobacco. The hopper 90 further comprises a pair of spaced end walls 93, 94 (see FIG. 3) which are respectively adjacent to 1but inwardly spaced from the

end walls

73, 72, i.e. the length of the discharge opening 90a in the bottom zone of the hopper 90, -as viewed in theaxialdirection of the distributor 70, is somewhat less than the length of a chamber in the rotor 74. Thus, loose tobacco descending by gravity through the discharge end 90a of the downwardly converging hopper 90 cannot spill around the distributor but is compelled to enter a selected chamber of the rotor 74, i.e that chamber (81 in FIG. 1) which is momentarily aligned with the intake opening 79a.

The mantle 79 of the distributor 7G supports a cornpressing or compacting member in the form of a tamping head 95 which is formed with a concave compacting face 96 with a radius of curvature substantially corresponding to the radius of the rotor 74. The compacting member 95 is pivotably supported in a bracket 79b (FIG. 6) carried vby the stator mantle 79 so as to turn about a horizontal axle 79C which is parallel with the rotor shaft 75. The compacting face 96 is adapted to travel in an arc between the idle or retracted position (shown in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 6) and an operative position 95 (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6) in which it projects through -a lateral slot in the side wall 92 of the hopper 90 and closes the intake opening 79a so as to compress -a predetermined quantity of tobacco (contained in part in the momentarily aligned cham-ber 81 and in part in the lower zone of the hopper 90) in such a way that the tobacco is transformed into a coherent body or batch which fills the ch-amber 81. The length of the compacting face 96, as viewed in the axial direction of the distributor 70, equals the distance between the

end walls

93, 94 of the hopper.

The means for moving the compacting member 95 comprises a plunger type solenoid 172 whose reciprocable plunger 171 is articulately connected with an arm 170 secured to the compacting member 95 so that, when the normally energized coil of the solenoid 172 is deenergized, the compacting member 95 pivots by gr-avity about the axle 79C in a direction to advance the compacting face 96 into the hopper and toward the chamber 81. When the coil of the solenoid 172 is energized, it withdraws the plunger 171 and thereby causes the compacting member 95 to return to the solid-line position of FIG. 6.

The compacting member 95 is formed with a cam face 96a which is adjacent to the compacting face 96 and which engages a trip 97 forming part of an electric starter switch 80 when the member 95 assumes the solid-line position of FIG. 6, i.e. when the compacting member is in idle position. The normally closed starter switch 80 is connected in the circuit of the motor 76, and the arrangement is such that the motor 76 is started whenever the cam face 96a engages and lifts the trip 97 upon return of the compacting member from the phantom-line position of FIG, 6 to the solid-line idle position of FIG. 1 or 6.

The end wall 73 of the stator is formed with apertures 102-109 (FIG. 3) which respectively communicate with frustoconical connecting nipples 122-129 forming part of a pneumatic conveying system `and in turn communicating with pneumatic conveyer tubes 132-139 which connect the apparatus of my invention with the tobacco processing machines. The other end wall 72 of the rotor 74 is provided with apertures or cutouts 142-149 (FIG. 6) which are respectively aligned with the apertures 102-109 4and which communicate with air drawing pipes 152-159 each of which is provided with a set of swirl vanes 160.

The end wall 72 carries eight limit switches 112-119, one for each of the apertures 142-149, and each of these limit switches is radially aligned with the respective aperture. The switches 112-119 may be tripped by the lobe 121 of a cam disk 120 which is loosely supported on and is normally rotatable with respect to the rotor shaft 75. The means for selectively coupling the cam disk 120 with the rotor shaft 75 comprises an electromagnetic cl-utch 131 (see FIG. 4), and the cam disk 120 is permanently biased by a helical torsion spring 174 (FIGS. 7 and 8) which tends to rotate the cam disk in a direction counter to the direction in which the rotor 74 is driven by the Vmotor 76 (arrow 177 in FIG. 6) so that the lobe 121 normally abuts against a stop 141 which is located below the intake -opening 79a of the mantle 79. One end of the torsion spring 174 is convoluted about a pin 175 provided on the stop 141 and the other end of this spring is convoluted about a similar pin 176 provided on the cam disk 12). The spring forms one or more convolutions about a collar 124m which forms part of the disk (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

FIG. 4 illustrates the control system which operates the parts of the apparatus of FIGS. l to 3 in a predetermined sequence. It is assumed that the apparatus cooperates with four tobacco processing machines and that the pairs of troughs 11-12, 13-14, 211-212, 213-214 respectively contain identical types of tobacco. For example, these four pairs of troughs may contain four different brands of shredded tobacco which is ready to be used in the manufacture of ciga-rettes with or without lter tips. The tobacco contained in the

troughs

11, 12 is intended for delivery to the machine No. 4 (e.g., a conventional cigarette machine) which is shown schematically in FIG. 4 and includes an impulse generating means in the form of a photoelectric eye E. The control system of FIG. 4 comprises a signal storing device S which is connected with four

signal transmitting conductors

301, 302, 303, 364 each of which transmits signals from a tobacco processing machine, i.e. from the photoelectric eye of the respective machine. The signal storing device S is connected with four additional signal transmitting conductors 305-308 which are utilized in the event that each of the troughs 11-14 and 211-214 should deliver tobacco to a diterent machine, i.e. in the event that the apparatus of my invention is connected wtih eight tobacco processing machines. Conductors 311-318 connect the signal storing device S with a 4programming device P which is connected with eight control lines SI1-Sts leading to electromagnets (not shown) provided in the pneumatic conveyers of the tobacco processing machines. FIG. 4 illustrates only the electromagnet M which is mounted in the delivery box B of the machine No. 4. The box B is located at one end of the pneumatic conveyer tube and communicates with a pipe 135a leading to an air evacuating device 135]). The pipe 135a accommodates a buttery valve D, the latter normally sealing the box B from the device 135b. This valve is under the bias of a spring 135C which maintains it in sealing position, and the purpose of the magnet M is to open the valve D at certain intervals so that a coherent body or batch -of tobacco formed in -a selected chamber of the rotor 74 may be conveyed to the respective tobacco processing machine (that is, to the machine No. 4 which is connected with the distributor 70 by the pneumatic conveyer tube 135).

Control lines Schl-Sch., connect the programming device P with the

electromagnetic clutches

35, 39, 40, 41, 235, 239, 249, 241 of which only the

clutches

35, 39 are shown in FIG. 4 because they control the delivery of tobacco from the

troughs

11, 12 which are assumed to supply tobacco to the machine No. 4. The operative connection between the

electromagnetic clutches

35, 39 and the programing device P includes a timer relay Z and a changeover switch U which latter alternately connects the timer relay with the clutch 35 or 39. It is assumed that the clutch 39 is connected with the timer relay Z so that the trough 12 delivers tobacco to the machine No. 4. In the meantime, the trough 11 is being refilled with tobacco to avoid unnecessary delays at the time the supply of tobacco in the trough 12 is exhausted. The changeover switch U may be operated manually or in a fully automatic way, for example, by providing a connection between the trough 12 and the switch U so as to automatically change the position of this switch when the supply of tobacco in the trough 12 is exhausted.

The timer relay Z is connected with the solenoid 172 7 which controls the` movements of the compacting member- 95.

The control system of FIG. 4 lfurther comprises a register` R of eight relays R1-R8 which are connected with the programming device P by impulse input lines I1-I3 which are connected to gro-und. The number of relays in the register R corresponds to the maximum number of machines which can be supplied with tobacco by the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3. One end of the coil in each of the relays Rl-RS is connected to one terminal 173 of a source of direct current, and the other end of each relay coil in the register R is connected with the ground through the corresponding holding contacts H1- HS and through the corresponding limit switches 112-119 (see FIG. 5

The electromagnet of the clutch 131 is connected in parallel with the motor 76. The operating contacts of the relays R1-R8 in the register R are connected in parallel with each other and in series with the operating c-ontacts of the switch 80. The holding contacts Hl-HS of the relays Rl-RS are connected in series with the respective-limit switches, and each limit switch and the associated holding contact is connected in parallel with an impulse transmitting switch Is of the programming device P. The impulse transmitting switch Is which is associated with the limit switch 112 and with the holding contact H1 is shown in FIG. 5.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

As stated hereinabove, each tobacco processing machine is equipped with a photoelectric eye or cell E which transmits a signal through the respective conductor to the signal storing device S. The latter stores the impulses and transmits them to the programming device immediately upon completion of an operation in the same sequence in which they are received. In the position of the control system -as shown in FIG. 4, the machine No. 4 isready to receivetobacco from the trough 12 because the changeover switch U connects the timer relay Z with the clutch 39 which drives the belt-and-pulley arrangement 42 for the spiked wheel 18 and the deflecting roller 17a of the trough 12. The machine No. 4 receives batches of tobacco through the pneumatic conveyer pipe 135, i.e. the compacted batch of tobacco formed in the chamber 81 (FIG. 1) must be moved by the rotor 74 so as to assume the position occupied in FIG. 1 or 6 by the chamber 85.

The phot-oelectric cell E transmits an impulse through the conductor 304 so that the impulse is received by the impulse storing device S which then transmits the impulse through theconductor 314k and to the programming device P. Of course, the device S transmits impulses to the programming device in the same sequence in which the impulses are received. The device P thereupon initiates Va series of operations, namely:

The 'clutch 39 is energized through the timer relay Z so that this clutch now rotates with the -driver shaft 36 and transmits rotary motion to the belt-and-pulley arrangement 42. Thus, the bottom 17 `and the spiked wheel 18 of the trough 12 are set in motion whereby the wheel 18, in cooperation with the roller combs 24 an-d 25, withdraws a fleece of tobacco from the supply 23 and delivers a metered quantity of loose tobacco onto the upper run of the take-off conveyor 50. This conveyer delivers tobacco ronto t-he supply conveyer 60 which dumps loose tobacco into the hopper 90 so that tobacco may descend so that the wheel 18 may remove a metered quantity of loose tobacco from the stack 23 in the trough 12.

At the time is deenergizes the clutch 39, the timer relay automatically interrupts the supply of voltage to the coil of the solenoid 172 so that the coil releases the plunger 171 and the compacting member 95 is free to drop into the hopper 9i) to compact tobacco in the chamber y81 and to form a body or batch of coherent particles which contains a metered quant-ity of tobacco. The interruption of supply of vvoltage to the coil of the solenoid 172 is of very short duration so that the reenergized coil rapidly withdraws the plunger 171 and returns the compacting member 95 to the position of FIG. 1 or the solid line position of 6.

At the same time, the impulse transmitting switches is energize the relays Rl-RS in the register R and these relays remain energized because the holding contacts P11-H8 and the limit switches 112-1119 are closed (FIG. 5). When the compacting member 95 returns to the position of FIG. l or t-he solid line position of 6, its face 96a actuates the trip 97 and closes the starter switch 812 whereby the latterstarts the motor '76 which rotates the rotor 74 through such an angle that the chamber 81 is lmoved -to the position occupied in FIG. 6 by the chamber 85 in which the chamber 81 is aligned with the intake nipple 125 of the tube 135. The switch -80 also comlpletes the circuit of the electromagnetic clutch 131 so that the latter connects the cam disk 120 with the rotor shaft 75 whereby the cam disk participates in angular isplacement of the chamber 81. The circuit of the mo- -tor 76 and of the clutch 131 is completed as soon as the operating contacts of the switch Sti are closed by the cam face 96a of the compacting member 95.

When the clutch 131 connect-s the cam disk 120 with the -sharft 75 and the motor '76 drives the rotor 74, the cam disk rotates lagainst the bias of the torsion spring 174 and its lobe 121 consecutively opens the limit switches 1112-119 so asto open the circuits of the relays R1-R8. When the limit switch 115 opens the circuit of the relay R4, the circuit of the motor 76 and of the clutch 131 is interrupted so that the rotor 74 remains in an angular position in which the chamber 81 is aligned with the tube 135, but the spring 174 immediately returns the cam disk y120 to its initial position in which the lobe 121 abuts against the stop y141 because the clutch 131 is deenergized and the disk 120 is free to rotate under the bias of the spring 174 and with respect to the lrotor shaft 75.

The pipe 135er is maintained at subatmospheric pressure, whereas the pipe 135 is free to communicate with the atmosphere so that, as soon as the programming device P energizes the magnet M through the respective control line St4, the magnet M opens the valve D against the bias of the spring 135e and the batch of tobacco contained in the aligned chamber 81 is automatically transferred into the delivery box B off the machine No. 4. The device P transmits an operating impulse to the magnet M as soon as the angular movement of the rotor 74 is completed.

The delivery of tobacco to the machine No. 4 is now completed and the apparatus is ready ffor the next delivery. For example, the sig-nal storing device S might have received a signal from the photoelectric cell of t-he machine No. 2 (not shown) which is assumed to require tobacco stored in the

troughs

13, 14. The programming device P then completes the circuits of the relays R1, R2 and the operation is repeated in the sa-me manner as described above, i.e. the chamber 86 (which is moved into .alignment with the discharge opening 90a of the hopper 90 when the chamber 81 is aligned with the tube 135) is lled with tobacco withdrawn from the

trough

113 or 14, and this chamber 86 is thereupon moved into alignment with the nipple 123 of the tube 133.

Referring back to FIG. 6, it will be noted that the total number of chambers `Sil-89 exceeds by one the total number of pneumatic conveyer tubes 132-139. Consequently, one of the tobacco-receiving chambers is =always aligned with the discharge opening 90a of the hopper 90 :and with the intake opening 79a of the mantle 79, i.e. the motor 76 need not be of the reversible type since it is suicient to return the cam disk 1Z0 to its initial position subsequent to each conveying step. For example, after the chamber 81 is rotated to assume the position occupied iby the chamber 35 of FIG. 6, the `chamber 86 moves into alignment with the intake opening 79a to receive the next batch of tobacco. Of course, it is equally possible to provide the rotor 74 with a s-ingle tobaccoreceiving chamber and to return the single chamber into alignment with the intake opening 79a after each conveying operation. Suc-h distributor then requires some means for returning the rotor to its starting position as soon as the motor 76 is arrested, or the motor of the distributor 70 must be replaced by a different motor which can turn the rotor in clockwise and -anticlockwise directions or which is brought to a temporary halt when the single chamber is aligned with a selected pneumatic conveyer pipe 4and which thereupon continues to turn the rotor so that the latter completes a full revolution.

Of course, each pneumatic conveyor tube connected to the end Wall '73 of the stator forming part of the distributor 70 may have one or more branches so that it may be utilized for conveying batches of compacted tobacco to two or more tobacco processing machines.

The apparatus of my invention is equally useful for blending two or more types of tobacco during delivery of tobacco into the hopper 90. Thus, the electric control system of FIG. 4 may be modified in a sense to permit simultaneous withdrawal of tobacco from two or more troughs if the nature `of tobacco products manufactured in the processing machines is such that the products consist of blended tobacco.

Analogously, it is equally possible to consecutively withdraw tobacco from two yor more sources so as to fill the rotor chambers with a metered quantity -of tobacco formed by two or more layers consisting of different tobacco types. The hopper 90 may accommodate a suitable mixing device which blends two 'or more types of loose tobacco while the tobacco particles descend into the uppermost chamber of the rotor 74. All such and many other modilications will readily `occur to men skilled in this `art upon perusal of the above description.

Finally, it is equally possible to till the chambers of rotor '74- without awaiting signals from the respective processing machines so that, as soon as a signal for turning the rotor 74 is received, the machine may immediately receive a batch of tobacco when the signal is conveyed to the control system of the respective pneumatic conveyor. An important advantage of such operation is that it further reduces the time necessary for supplying the machines with metered quantities of compacted tobacco.

if desired, the hopper 90 may receive a new supply of loose tobacco as soon as a filled chamber is moved out of alignment with the discharge opening 90a.

The apparatus of my invention is especially useful in tobacco processing plants in which it is necessary to switch frequently from the manufacture of a given brand to the manufacture of one or morel different brands. For example, many cigarette manufacturers produce a series of different brands. By utilizing the apparatus of my invention, the manufacturer can rapidly set up one or more machines while the other machines remain in operation, or he may simultaneously operate a series of machines each of which produces a different brand of cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or other tobacco-containing products. As far as I am informed at this time, the apparatus of my invention is the first of its sort which is capable of transferring metered quantities of tobacco from one or more sources to -a large number of tobacco processing machines.

If the apparatus of my invention is utilized for supplying tobacco to eight processing machines, and if the apparatus should comprise two tobacco sources for each processing machine, the structure of FIGS. 1 to 3 may be modified by adding a third group of four superimposed troughs at the left-hand side of the group 10 and by adding a fourth group of four superimposed troughs at the right-hand side of the group 210.V In such apparatus, the

supply conveyors

60, 61 and 26), 261 must be replaced by longer conveyors so that they -rnay respectively receive tobacco from the third and fourth groups of troughs. Of course, and as mentioned hereinabove, the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 may be used to supply tobacco to eight machines if each machine receives tobacco from a single source, or if two or more machines utilize the same tobacco brand (eg. tobacco stored in the

troughs

11, 12 or 13, 14 or 211, 212 or 213, 214).

The volumes of the chambers 81-89 may but need not be the same, i.e. each chamber may receive a different metered quantity of tobacco. t

A very important advantage of my -apparatus is that the tobacco particles are subjected to the drying or moistening action 'of surrounding atmospheric and/or conveying air for very short periods of time, i.e. loose tobacco particles are surrounded by air only during their advance from the respective source to the hopper 90. The batches of compacted tobacco particles which are formed in the chambers 81-89 are sealed from the atmosphere all the way to the sluices of the respective tobacco processing machines. In addition, even if the pneumatic conveyers of my improved apparatus are operated by compressed air, such air can contact only the tobacco particles which form the outermost layers of the batches formed in the rotor chambers.

Another very important advantage of the improved apparatus is that the time necessary for transfer of metered quantities lof tobacco to the tobacco processing machines is reduced to a minimum since it takes only a few seconds to advance a batch of coherent tobacco particles from the rotor 74 to the delivery box B of the respective machine. Consequently, the apparatus may be equipped with a single hopper and with a single distributor even though it can feed a large number of machines. The advantage resulting from shortened delivery time from a selected source to a selected machine will be readily understood if one considers that, for certain reasons, the machine must be at a standstill while it receives a new supply of tobacco. Thus, if the time necessary for deliverrng a metered quantity of tobacco to a processing machine is reduced to a few seconds, the machine may be operated nearly continuously, in contrast to machines which receive tobacco in the form of streams consisting of loose tobacco particles since it is obvious that more time is necessary to transfer a stream of loose tobacco particles.

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 various applications without omitting features that, from the standpomt of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristrcs of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalen-ce of the following claims.

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

1. an apparatus for consecutively transferring metered quantltles of tobacco to a plurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising at least one source of tobacco; a distributor having stator means formed with intake opening means -and intermittently rotating rotor means rotatably received in said stator means, said rotor means having a plurality of radially outwardly opening tobaccoreceiving chambers arranged to be aligned in sequence with said intake opening means in response to intermittent rotation of said rotor means; a plurality of pneumatic conveyers, one for each tobacco processing machine, said" Vmachines, comprising at least one source of tobacco; a

distributor having stator means formed with intake opening means and intermittently rotating rotor means rotatably received in said stator means, said rotor means having a plurality of radially outwardly opening tobaccoreceiving chambers arranged to be aligned in sequence with said intake opening means in response to intermittent rotation of said rotor means; a plurality of pneumatic conveyers, one for each tobacco processing machine, said conveyers being communicatively connected with said stator means; means comprising rotary spiked wheel means for intermittently withdrawing metered quantities of tobacco from said source; means for intermittently rotating said wheel means; means for transferring such metered quantities of tobacco withdrawn by said wheel means through said intake opening means and into the momentarily aligned chamber to fill the same; and means for intermittently rotating said rotor means so as to align lled tobacco-containing chambers with said conveyers preparatory to transfer of tobacco to the respective `tobacco processing machines.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said source comprises a tobacco-containing trough having an outlet adjacent to said wheel means and including movable tobacco-supporting bottom means, and further comprising means for intermittently moving said bottom means so as to advance tobacco contained `in said trough toward said wheel means.

4. An apparatus for consecutively transferring metered quantities of tobacco to a plurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising at least one source of tobacco; a distributor having stator means formed with intake opening means and intermittently rotating rotor means rotatably received in said stator means, said rotor means having a plurality of radially outwardly opening tobaccoreceiving chambers including a chamber for each of said machines and said chambers being arranged to be aligned in sequence with said intake opening means in response to intermittent rotation of said rotor means; a plurality of pneumatic conveyers, one for each tobacco processing machine, said conveyers being communicatively connected with said stator means; means for intermittently withdrawing metered quantities of tobacco from said source and for transferring such metered quantities of tobacco through said intake opening means and into the momentarily aligned chamber to ll the same; and means for intermittently rotating said rotor means so as to align filled tobacco-containing chambers with said conveyers preparatory to transfer of tobacco to the respective tobacco processing machines.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the number of chambers in said rotor means exceeds by one the number of pneumatic conveyers so that a chamber is always aligned with said intake opening means when the other chambers are aligned with the respective conveyers.

6. An apparatus for consecutively transferring metered quantities of tobacco to a plurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising at least one source of tobacco; a distributor having stator means having a top portion formed with intake opening means and intermittently rotating rotor means rotatably received in said stator means,

said rotor means having a plurality of radially outwardly opening tobacco-receiving chambers arranged to be aligned in sequence with said intake opening means in response to intermittent rotation of said rotor means; a plurality of pneumatic conveyers, one for each tobacco processing machine, said conveyers being communicatively connected with said stator means; means for intermittently withdrawing metered quantities of tobacco from said source; means located above said stator means for transferring such metered quantities of tobacco from said withdrawing means through said intake opening means and into the momentarily aligned chamber to lill the same; and means for `intermittently rotating said rotor means so as to align filled tobacco-containing chambers with said conveyers preparatory to transfer of tobacco to the respective tobacco processing machines.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said transferring means comprises a hopper having discharge opening means aligned with said intake opening means, supply conveyer means for delivering tobacco to said hopper, take-off conveyer means for delivering tobacco from said withdrawing means to said supply conveyel means, and means for driving said supply conveyer means and said take-olf conveyer means.

8. An apparatus for transferring metered quantities of tobacco to at least one tobacco processing machine, comprising at least one source of tobacco; means defining at least one chamber adapted to accommodate a metered quantity of tobacco; means for withdrawing tobacco in the form of loose particles from said source; means comprising a hopper for transferring the tobacco particles into said chamber so that the chamber contains a metered quantity of tobacco; means comprising -a movable compacting member for compressing the metered quantity of tobacco in said chamber so as to form a body of coherent compacted tobacco particles; means for intermittently moving said compacting member; and pneumatic conveyer means for advancing the body of coherent tobacco particles from said chamber to the tobacco processing machine.

9. An apparatus for consecutively transferring metered quantities of tobacco to a plurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising at least one source of tobacco; a distributor having stator means formed with intake opening means and intermittently rotating rotor means rotatably received in said stator means, said rotor means having a plurality of radially outwardly opening tobaccoreceiving chambers arranged to be aligned in sequence with said intake opening means in response to intermittent rotation of said rotor means; a plurality of pneumatic conveyers, one for each tobacco processing machine, said convey-ers being communicatively connected with said stator means; means for intermittently withdrawing metered quantities of tobacco from said source; means comprising a hopper having a discharge opening aligned with said intake opening means for transferring metered quantities of tobacco from said withdrawing means through said intake opening means and into the momentarily aligned chamber to iill the same; means comprising electric motor means for intermittently rotating said rotor means so as to align filled tobacco-containing chambers with said conveyers preparatory to transfer of tobacco to the respective tobacco processing machines; starter switch means connected in the circuit of said motor means; means comprising a compacting member movably mounted adjacent to said hopper and extendable into said intake opening means for compressing tobacco contained -in the momentarily aligned chamber so that the tobacco forms a batch of coherent tobacco particles; means for moving said compacting member toward and away from said intake opening means; and means provided on said compacting member for tripping said switch means and for starting said motor means when the compacting member is moved away from said intake opening means.

10. An apparatus for transferring metered quantities of tobacco to a plurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising `at least one source of tobacco; withdrawing means for intermittently withdrawing metered quantities of tobacco from said source; a plurality of pneumatic conveyers, one for each of said machines :and each adapted to convey metered quantities of compacted tobacco to the respective machine; distributor means located between said withdrawing means and said conveyers for selectively distributing metered quantities of tobacco to said conveyers; chamber means associated with said distributor means; and compacting means associated with said distributor means and with said chamber means for compacting metered quantities of tobacco in said chamber means upon receipt of such metered quantities from said withdrawing means and prior to delivery of compacted tobacco to said conveyers.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, comprising a plurality of sources and separate withdrawing means for each source.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said withdrawing means comprises removing means for removing tobacco from said sources, hopper means arranged to feed tobacco into said chamber means, and conveyer means for delivering tobacco from said removing means to said hopper means.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim l0, wherein each of said machines comprises a receptacle which receives compacted tobacco from the respective conveyer.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said distributor means comprises stator means having an intake `opening and intermittently rotating rotor means received in said stator means, said chamber means comprising. a plurality of chambers provided in said rotor means and each of said chambers being movable into a 14 rst position of registry with said intake opening so as to receive a metered quantity of tobacco from said withdrawing means and into a second position of registry with selected conveyer means.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said compacting means comprises a compacting member movable into and from said intake opening to compact tobacco in that chamber which registers with said opening.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the number of -said chambers exceeds the number of said conveyers and wherein one Iof said chambers is aligned with said opening during each interval between intermittent y rotations of said rotor means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 850,921 4/1907 Georgili 131-74 X 930,395 8/1909 Lindelof 131-74 1,912,598 6/1933 Snadden 131--237 1,941,429 12/ 1933 Berger. 1,952,336 3/1934 Schneider 131-110 X 1,984,980 12/1934 Muller 131-108 1,999,120 4/1935 Werner 131--108 2,983,275 5/1961 Volcker 131-110 X 2,989,964 6/ 1961 Willett 131-237 FOREIGN PATENTS 44,831 10/ 1931 Denmark. 459,765 9/ 1913 France. 365,453 1/ 1932 Great Britain.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner.

Claims

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CONSECUTIVELY TRANSFERRING METERED QUANTITIES OF TOBACCO TO A PLURALITY OF TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES, COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SOURCE OF TOBACCO; A DISTRIBUTOR HAVING STATOR MEANS FORMED WITH INTAKE OPENING MEANS AND INTERMITTENTLY ROTATING ROTOR MEANS ROTATABLY RECEIVED IN SAID STATOR MEANS, SAID ROTOR MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OPENING TOBACCORECEIVING CHAMBERS ARRANGED TO BE ALIGNED IN SEQUENCE WITH SAID INTAKE OPENING MEANS IN RESPONSE TO INTERMITTENT ROTATION OF SAID ROTOR MEANS; A PLURALITY OF PNEUMATIC CONVEYERS, ONE FOR EACH TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINE, SAID CONVEYERS BEING COMMUNICATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID STATOR MEANS; MEANS FOR INTERMITENTLY WITHDRAWING METERED QUANTITIES OF TOBACCO FROM SAID SOURCE AND FOR TRANSFERRING SUCH METERED QUANTITIES OF TOBACCO THROUGH SAID INTAKE OPENING MEANS AND INTO THE MOMENTARILY ALIGNED CHAMBER TO FILL THE SAME; AND MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ROTATING SAID ROTOR MEANS SO AS TO ALIGN FILLED TOBACCO-CONTAINING CHAMBERS WITH SAID CONVEYERS PREPARATORY TO TRANSFER OF TOBACCO TO THE RESPECTIVE TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES.