US3490463A

US3490463A - Apparatus for producing a tobacco rod

Info

Publication number: US3490463A
Application number: US493322A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willy Richter
Original assignee: Hauni Werke Koerber and Co KG
Current assignee: Koerber AG
Priority date: 1958-12-02
Filing date: 1965-10-06
Publication date: 1970-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-20
Also published as: IT620065A

Description

Fig. 2

4 sne'efs-sneet 1 W. RICHTER APPARATUS FOR PRQDUCING A TOBACCO Ron SUCTON GENeRA-r MEANS I lg- Jan. 20, 1970 Original Filed Sept. 5, 1964 /N VEN rop.-

Jan. 20, 1970 w. RICHTER 3,490,463

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TOBACCO ROD 6 9 Fig.5

Fig. Q

/N VEN TOR; h/f' Ky Bindu- '9 Y MM f ffm* Hfs ATTORNEY Jan. 20,-1970 1 W. mCHTl-:R 3,490,463

PPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TOBACCO ROD original Filed Sept. s, 1964 l 4 sheets-shamI s /NVE/VTOR! ma, @MUO- HS ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1970 w. RICHTR AP.I JARMU'IS FOR PR'oDUC'NG A`flOBACco ROD original Filed sept. -sQ 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /N VENTOR:

United States Patent O M 3,490,463 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TOBACCO ROD Willy Richter, Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany, assignor to Hanni-Werke Koerber & Co., K.G., Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany `Continuation of application Ser. No. 394,364, Sept. 3, 1964, which is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 854,306, Nov. 20, 1959. This application Oct. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 493,322

Int. Cl. A24c 5 /00 U.S. Cl. 131-66 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for forming a wrapped tobacco rod comprises a belt for conveying a tobacco stream which contains tobacco in excess of that required in the rod, a feed wheel having a peripheral groove which receives tobacco from the belt, a suction chamber for holding tobacco in the groove along an arc of at least 90 degrees, a trimming device for removing excess tobacco from the stream in the groove so that the remainder of the stream forms a rod, and a wrapping mechanism which applies a wrapper around the tobacco rod.

This is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 394,364, led Sept. 3, 1964, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in part of my application Ser. No. 854,306, led Nov. 20, 1959, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making a tobacco rod for use in cigarette production.

In certain cigarette rod making machines in which a tobacco distributor is disposed beneath the rod forming mechanism, a tobacco rod is fed to the rod forming mechanism along a path in which it reverses the direction of its movement by travelling in a vertical plane through an arc of 180 degrees. Such machines include a feed wheel and a tobacco stream feeder belt which surrounds half the span of the feed wheel. The wheel is provided with a peripheral forming channel or groove and cooperates with the feeder belt to form a duct for the tobacco stream.

One object of the invention is to provide an improvement in such feed wheels, and the improvement consists essentially in that the introduction of tobacco into the forming channel andthe retention of tobacco in the forming channel is not effected by a conveyor belt or other mechanical means but by suction. ln some cases, compressed air is used to assist in delivering the tobacco stream or rod to the rod forming mechanism.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, devices may be provided, preferably in the region of the suction feed Wheel, which depend on measured physical factors to directly or indirectly influence the product or to control the effects or causes of variation in such factors.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a cigarette rod which comprises continuously removing a substantially uniform quantity of tobacco from a distributor or a similar source at a rate sufficient to form a tobacco stream which contains tobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod, feeding the tobacco on to a revolving wheel and retaining the stream by suction at the periphery of the wheel, conveying the stream through an iangle of at least 90 degrees, removing excess tobacco from the periphery of the wheel so that the remainder of tobacco forms a tobacco rod, and then wrapping the tobacco rod into a strip of paper to form a cigarette rod. It is preferred to install and to construct the wheel in such a way that the tobacco stream is held by suction while being conveyed in 3,490,463 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 ICC a vertical plan'e between the uppermost and lowermost points of the wheel so that the stream adheres to the periphery of the wheel While travelling through an angle of substantially degrees.

'Ihe feed wheel preferably comprises a disc provided in its periphery with a forming channel which communicates with a suction chamber and, if desired, with a compressed air chamber. This feed wheel may cooperate with a tobacco conveyor, for example, with a conveyor belt, in such a manner that a portion of the tobacco stream is removed from the conveyor belt by suction. A suitable trimming or levelling device, for example, a combing roller, may be disposed beyond the pick-up point to comb olf excess tobacco from the stream carried by the feed wheel so that only a tobacco rod of predetermined cross section corresponding to the cross section of the forming channel at the trimming station is carried forward by the feed wheel.

The quantity of tobacco to be conveyed in the forming channel may be varied by displacing the side walls of the forming channel which side Walls may be constructed as axially adjustable rings, or by altering the distance between the trimming device and the bottom wall of the forming channel so that the trimming device removes a greater or lesser portion of the tobacco stream which is being conveyed in the forming channel.

At distances corresponding to one or two cigarette lengths, the forming channel may be provided with lateral bays or pockets. Because of the greater volume of such pockets, more tobacco is sucked into them than into the remaining parts of the channel. Since such greater accumulations of tobacco are subsequently compacted to equal in cross section the cross section of a normal cigarette rod, the resulting rod may yield cigarettes with portions of greater density at one or both ends.

The feed wheel may also be used purely as a conveyor device (e.g., when all of the tobacco which is sucked up by the feed Wheel may be conveyed to a further stage). In such apparatus, the conveyor belt which feeds tobacco to the forming channel may follow a part of the periphery of the feed wheel in order to press the tobacco stream into the forming channel during transfer until all of the tobacco received from the belt is effectively held by suction.

If the constantly acting suction is increased, the tobacco sucked into the forming channel can be compacted to a higher degree, so that the weight or density of the rod is increased. If the suction prevailing in the suction chamber is increased and decreased alternatively, the structure of the tobacco being subjected to suction will be more compact during application of increased suction than during the period when decreased suction is applied. In this way itis possible to produce cigarettes with densely compacted portions at one or both ends, provided that the trimming means is adjacent to a point of the periphery of the feed wheel at Iwhich the suction is also operative to compact the tobacco rod.

According to a further feature of the invention, suction Imay be controlled by a measuring device disposed, for example, beyond the rod forming mechanism and operating preferably with corpuscular radiation. Similarly, the invention covers the control of any factors iniiuencing the rod formation, for example, the delivery of tobacco, by means of a measuring device which is disposed in the region of the suction feed wheel.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus which is constructed in accordance with the invention, certain parts of the apparatus being broken away to illustrate various details.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view illustrating the manner in which the feed wheel is mounted on the machine frame.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic fragmentary front elevational view illustrating a modified feed belt which is adapted to press tobacco into the channel of the feed wheel.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a modified channel in the feed wheel, showing a pocket in the channel.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line A-A of FIG. 1 and illustrates various structural details of the feed wheel.

FIG. 6 illustrates the upper portion of the structure shown in FIG. 5 during removal of excess tobacco from the forming channel of the feed wheel.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section through the feed wheel and illustrates the manner in which the channel forming rings may be adjusted by the use of shims.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section through the partition walls of a modified feed wheel.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational View of the feed wheel and illustrates a perforated bottom wall having a screened area.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the feed wheel with the channel forming rings removed to show the openings which are adapted to communicate with suction and pressure chambers.

FIG. 11 is a diametral section through the structure of FIG. 10, showing further details of the feed wheel.

FIG. 12 shows a conventional measuring device, an adjusting device, and a control device whose fiap controls the degree of suction in the channel of the feed wheel.

FIG. 13 shows another control device similar to that shown in FIG. 12.

FIGS. l and 2 illustrate a pneumatic conveyor in the form of a feed wheel or suction wheel 3 rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft 2 which is supported by an arm 18, the latter being fastened to a machine frame 1. A feed including a horizontal conveyor belt 4 (not shown in FIG. 2) is arranged with the upper run of the belt 4 adjoining the lowest part of the periphery of the feed Wheel 3. The uppermost part of the periphery of the feed wheel 3 is arranged beneath a reversing roller 29 for an endless perforated belt 24 of a rod transfer means E (not shown in FIG. 2) which is a suction conveyor and may form part of an entry guide to a cigarette rod forming device. The horizontal lower run of the belt 24 passes under a suction chamber 25 which extends from the reversing roller 29 to a second reversing roller 28 of the transfer device E thereby overlapping a paper strip P which is supported by the horizontal upper run of a forming belt 5. Adjacent to the periphery of the feed wheel 3 and downstream of the point where the conveyor belt 4 adjoins the feed wheel 3, there is disposed a levelling or trimming device 23.

Provided in the arm 18 is a suction pipe 19 and a compressed air pipe 20, both extending through the machine frame 1 and connected to sources (not shown) of suction air and compressed air respectively. One side of a discshaped wheel body 7 is covered by a stationary cover 17 provided with openings to which are connected flexible hoses 13', 14', 22. The hose 13 communicates with the suction pipe 19. The hoses 14', 22' communicate with the compressed air pipe 20. At the inner side of the stationary cover 17, there is provided a suction chamber 13 communicating with the hose 13 and a compressed air chamber 14 communicating with the hose 14'.

Blocks

21 and 21 extend between the suction chamber 13 and the compressed air chamber 14 to divide an annular charnber 12 of the feed wheel 3 into two compartments positioned with respect to the suction chamber 13 and the compressed air chamber 14 in a manner to be described later. A bore 22 in the block 21 is positioned beneath the reversing roller 29. One end of this bore communicates with one of a series of radial passages 11 in the wheel 3 and its other end communicates with the hose 22.

That portion of the annular chamber 12 which communicates with the suction chamber 13 is continuous from the tobacco-receiving lowermost point of the feed wheel 3 to the uppermost point of the same (adjacent to the rod transfer means E). It might sufce in some cases if suction is maintained along little more than one quarter of the peripheral span of the feed Wheel. Furthermore, the effect of suction may be reduced or eliminated in the zone adjacent to the trimming device. This can be achieved by installing in the suction chamber 13 a block 2lb opposite the trimming device 23.

The mounting of the conveyor belt 4 may be modified so that its upper run will have an arcuate portion engaging the lower part of the feed wheel 3, as shown in FIG. 3.

The feed wheel 3 comprises the wheel body 7 shown in FIG. 10. This wheel body 7 is provided with the annular chamber 12 which is arranged to receive the

stationary blocks

21, 21.

Referring to FIG. 5, the radial passages 11 which are separated by partition walls 15 and covered by a cylindrical perforated member 10 (see also FIG. 9) forming the bottom screen wall of the forming channel 6, connect the annular chamber 12 with the periphery of the wheel body 7. Between the bottom screen wall 10 and the partition walls 15 a small gap 16 is formed to allow for pressure equalization along the bottom of the forming channel 6 when compressed air or suction air is applied to channel 6.

Two

rings

9, 9 are fastened to the outer edges of the periphery of the wheel body 7 by means of

screws

8, 8. The inner sides of these rings define with the bottom screen Wall 10 an annular groove which constitutes the forming channel 6. If the inner sides of the rings 9, 9' are fiat, the channel 6 will have a constant width. If required, differently shaped

rings

9, 9 may be used, as shown in FIG. 4, to form pockets 27 by providing the inner sides of the rings 9, 9' with recesses located opposite each other.

The trimming device 23 which may be adjustable radially of the wheel 3 is shown in FIG. 6 in the form of a rotary brush. The position of this :brush determines the effective height h of the channel 6 through which the tobacco stream advances between the inner sides of the rings 9, 9' and the bottom screen wall 10.

The distance b lbetween the

rings

9, 9 may be adjusted in the axial direction of the wheel 3 by the use of shims 26, as shown in FIG. 7 for the ring 9.

A modified arrangement of partition Walls 315 is shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 shows the mounting of the bottom screen wall 10 in the peripheral groove of the Wheel body 7. The wall 10 overlies the partition walls 15 and the radial passages 11.

The apparatus of my invention operates in the following manner:

At least a portion of shredded tobacco supplied by the endless horizontal feed belt 4, for example, in the form of a layer having a width corresponding to the width of the forming channel 6 in the feed wheel 3, is drawn into the channel. This channel `6 is subjected to the action of suction in the region of the suction chamber 13 extending over the left-hand reversal point of the endless belt 4 and, therefore, tobacco is picked up by the rotating feed wheel 3.

Any tobacco projecting beyond the outer radial limit of the forming channel 6 is taken off by the trimming device 23, for example, a combing roll, a brush or the like and, if desired, such trimmed-off excess tobacco is returned to the tobacco delivery point. After trimming, there is situated in the forming channel 6 a tobacco rod of uniform and exactly predetermined cross section corresponding to the cross sectional area of the passage formed by the channel 6 and trimming device 23. During further rotation of the feed Wheel 3 over the range of the suction air chamber 13, this tobacco rod is held by the action of suction in the forming channel 6. Just before the tobacco rod reaches the transfer point in the area beneath the transfer means E, the suction chamber 13 terminates so that the rod situated in the forming channel 6 is no longer held. As soon as the rod passes into the range of action of compressed air flowing out of the bore 22 through the bottom screen wall 10, it is forced out of the forming channel 6 and is passed to the transfer means E Where it is subjected to the action of suction prevailing in the suction chamber and effective through the perforated belt 14. Thus, no ybridge or scraper is required for transferring the tobacco rod. The parts of the bottom screen wall 10 of the forming channel 6, when reaching during the rotation of the feed wheel 3 the region of the compressed air chamber 14, are thoroughly cleaned of any adhering tobacco residue by compressed air issuing from the chamber 14. Thereafter, such cleaned parts of the screen 10 again pass into the region of the suction chamber 13 and the just described steps are repeated.

The density of the tobacco rod cannot be influenced by the previously described means of varying the cross sectional area of the passage defined jby the channel 6 and trimming device 23. In order to vary the density it is possible, for example, to increase suction in the suction chamber 13 so that tobacco sucked into the forming channel 6 becomes more compact. If the tobacco rod is to have a denser structure only in certain zones thereof, for example, when the apparatus is used for the production of cigarettes with compacted ends, suction may be increased intermittently by known means in the suction chamber 13 (for example, by a valve in the suction conduit 19) to compact the tobacco intermittently in the channel 6. In such apparatus, the trimming device 23 should be mounted at any point along the periphery of the feed wheel 3 at which the suction exerts a compacting inuence on the t0- bacco rod. This can 'be achieved .by removing the block 2lb from the suction chamber 13.

The production of a tobacco rod with spaced denser portions is also possible by utilizing a channel as shown in FIG. 4. This channel is provided with pockets at appropriate distances from each other. iMore tobacco is sucked into such pockets than into the narrower parts of the channel 6. Thus, the cigarette rod will have a denser structure at spaced points.

When the feed wheel 3 is used purely as a conveyor, or transfer means, the forming channel 6 is dimensioned in such a Way that it can receive all of the tobacco from the belt 4, and a levelling or trimming device 23 for removing excess tobacco is not required. In such apparatus, it is advantageous to mount the conveyor belt 4 in a manner as shown in FIG. 3. In the transfer region, the belt follows a portion of the periphery of the feed Wheel 3 to press tobacco during transfer into the forming channel 6 until the suction increases sufficiently to retain such tobacco in the forming channel.

A measuring device can be disposed in the region of the feed wheel 3, especially in the suction chamber 13, so as to provide rays shown in broken lines in FIGURE 8 and may serve to control any desired factor inuencing the rod y formation, for example, the tobacco delivery. It is necessary to insure that the measured results are not iniiuenced or else are influenced only in a manner that can easily be corrected by structural parts projecting into the path of the rays. If, for example, the source of the rays is mounted in the suction chamber 13, then, and as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8, the partitions 315 of the radial passages 11 in the rotating wheel body 7 may be positioned non-radially so that the measuring rays originating from the radiation source and masked by an axially extending slot constitute with respect to the passing partitions 315 trajectories which are indicated Iby broken lines and each of which intersects the partitions 315 so that their resistance is constant whatever the angular position. The radiation source could be so positioned that the rays penetrate the tobacco situated in the forming channel 6 in an axial direction.

Suitable measuring and control devices may be arranged to regulate suction in the channel 6 of the feed wheel 3. Referring to FIG. 12, the suction pipe 19 is provided with a nipple 38 whose opening may be closed by a pivotable ap 37. This flap 37 is pivotally attached to an adjusting link 36 which in turn is actuated by an adjusting device 35. A measuring device 30 located adjacent to the belt 4 (FIG. 1) is connected by a line 31 with a control device 32 (FIG. 12) which in turn is connected with

control lines

33 and 34 leading to the adjusting device 35.

During operation, the measuring device 30 detects any undesirable variations in the tobacco stream and transmits electrical impulses to the control device 32. In response to such impulses, the control device 32 transmits an electrical signal to the adjusting device 35 which thereupon imparts a mechanical motion to the adjusting link 36 so that the link adjusts the position of the ap 37, thereby increasing or decreasing the rate of flow of outside air into the pipe 19 and hence decreasing or increasing, respectively, the effect of suction in the channel of the feed wheel 3 to an extent determined by the measuring de-vice 30.

Referring to FIG. 13, a ap 137 is centrally pivoted in the suction pipe 19 and is connected yby a linkage 136:1 to an adjusting lever 136. The operation of this arrangement is similar to that of the arrangement shown in FIG. 12 excepting that the ilap 137, when operated by the adjusting device 35 through the adjusting lever 136 and linkage 136a, varies the resistance to the ow of suction to an extent determined by the measuring device 30.

The measuring device 30 may also be mounted at any point along the path of the cigarette rod.

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

1. In an apparatus for forming a continuous cigarette rod, a belt arranged to convey a stream of tobacco containing tobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod; a feed wheel having two side walls forming an annular channel in the periphery of said wheel for receiving tobacco from said belt, and suction generating means for holding the tobacco so received in said channel While the tobacco travels with said wheel through an angle of at least degrees; a trimming device adjacent to said channel and arranged to remove excess tobacco from the stream so that the remainder of the stream forms a tobacco rod; and a rod forming mechanism for receiving the tobacco rod and enclosing the same in a paper strip to form a cigarette rod.

2. An apparatus for forming a continuous cigarette rod, comprising a first conveyor for delivering a substantially uniform quantity of shredded tobacco from a source of shredded tobacco at such a rate that the thus formed tobacco stream contains tobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod; a second conveyor comprising a suction wheel having a channel with a foraminous bottom wall extending around the periphery of said wheel for receiving tobacco from said first conveyor and for advancing tobacco through an angle of at least 90 degrees; means for compacting the tobacco in said channel; a trimming device for removing excess tobacco from said channel so that the remainder of tobacco forms a tobacco rod; and a rod forming mechanism for forming the tobacco rod into a cigarette rod.

3. An apparatus for forming a continuous cigarette rod, comprising a source of shredded tobacco including a conveyor for continuously feeding a measured quantity of tobacco so that such tobacco forms a stream which contains tobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod; a Wheel having a foraminous channel around the periphery thereof and positioned to receive tobacco from said conveyor; a suction generating device acting on said channel for retaining tobacco at the periphery of said wheel through an angle of at least 90 degrees; a trimming device for removing excess tobacco from said channel;

and a rod forming mechanism for receiving the remainder of tobacco from said channel and to form such tobacco into a cigarette rod.

4. A method of forming a cigarette rod which comprises continuously removing a substantially uniform quantity of tobacco from a source of tobacco at a rate sufficient to form a tobacco stream which contains tobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod; feeding the tobacco stream into an arcuate path and retaining the stream by suction; conveying the stream through an angle of it at least 90 degrees; removing excess tobacco from the stream in said path so that the remainder of tobacco forms a tobacco rod; and then wrapping the tobacco rod into a strip of paper to form a cigarette rod.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the tobacco stream is held by suction while being conveyed in a vertical plane between the uppermost and lowermost points of the arcuate path.

6. An apparatus for forming a continuous cigarette rod, comprising a source of shredded cigarette tobacco including a first conveyor for feeding continuously a substantially uniform quantity of tobacco; a second conveyor including a suction wheel having a channel with a foraminous bottom extending around the periphery of said wheel for receiving tobacco from said first conveyor and for advancing the tobacco through an angle of at least 90 degrees; a compactor for compacting tobacco in said channel; a trimming device for removing tobacco in excess of a given amount from said channel; and a rod forming mechanism for forming the tobacco remaining in said channel into a cigarette rod.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said wheel is mounted to rotate in a Vertical plane and wherein said channel has an uppermost point and a lowermost point, said first conveyor being arranged to deliver tobacco to said channel at one of said Points, and further comprising transfer means for removing tobacco remaining in said channel subsequent to trimming at the other point of said channel so that the tobacco travels with said wheel through an angle of about 180 degrees.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising pneumatic ejector means for removing from said channel all of the tobacco which remains after trimming.

9. 'An Iapparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising means for regulating the suction in said channel.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim y6, further comprising means for adjusting the width of said channel.

11. An apparatus for `forming a continuous cigarette rod, comprising a feed for removing continuously a substantially uniform quantity of tobacco from a source of supply; a suction wheel having a channel with Ia foraminous bottom extending around the periphery of said wheel for receiving tobacco from said feed; a refuser for removing tobacco in excess of a given amount from said channel; and rod forming mechanism for forming the tobacco remaining in said channel into a cigarette rod.

12. 'An apparatus for making a continuous cigarette rod, comprising a first conveyor arranged to feed a continuous stream of tobacco which contains tobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod; a rod forming mechanism comprising a belt having an upper run spaced from said first conveyor; transfer means comprising a suction conveyor for transferring tobacco from said rst conveyor directly onto said upper run; a trimming device adjacent to one of said conveyors for removing excess tobacco from and for thereby equalizing the stream so that said rod forming mechanism receives an equalized tobacco stream; and means for feeding a strip of wrapping material upwardly between said rst conveyor and said rod forming mechanism and onto said upper run.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said suction conveyor is located above the path of tobacco from said first conveyor to said upper run and comprises an endless foraminous belt having a lower run adjacent to the path of tobacco and a suction chamber adjacent to and located above said lower run.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said runs are substantially horizontal and wherein said first conveyor is a pneumatic conveyor.

15. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, said feed wheel comprising a disk shaped body provided at its circumference with an annular channel for receiving a stream of tobacco, said annular channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annular chamber provided in said body concentrically with said annular channel and open toward one side of said body, means for connecting said annular chamber with said annular channel through said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side of said feed wheel and covering the open side of said annular chamber therein, stationary block members in said annular chamber for dividing said annular chamber into separate compartments, means forming a suction chamber in said cover and connecting the same with one of said compartments so as to subject that portion of said annular chamber which is in communication with said one compartment to the influence of suction, said portion of said annular chamber being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion of said feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upper portion thereof, means forming an air pressure chamber in said cover and connecting the sarne with the other one of said compartments so as to subject that portion of said annular chamber which is in communication with sai-d other compartment to the inuence of air pressure, said last named portion of said annular chamber being adjacent to the downwardly moving portion of said feed wheel, and conveyor means for feeding a tobacco stream to the lower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channel which is in communication with said suction chamber.

16. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to `rotate about a horizontal axis and comprising a disk shaped body having at its circumference an annular channel having a series of circumferentially spaced portions of greated width and being arranged to receive a stream of tobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annular chamber provided in said body, means for connecting said annular chamber with said channel through said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side of said feed wheel, stationary means in said annular chamber for forming therein a substantially semicircular compartment, means forming a suction chamber in said stationary cover and connecting the same with said compartment so as to subject that portion of said channel which communicates with said cornpartment to the inuence of suction, said last named portion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion of said feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upper portion thereof, and conveyor means for feeding a tobacco stream to the lower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channel which is in communication with said suction chamber.

17. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, said feed wheel comprising a disk shaped body provided at its circumference with an annular channel for receiving a stream of tobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annular chamber provided in said body concentrically with said channel and open toward one side of the body, means for connecting said annular chamber with said channel through said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side of said feed wheel and covering the open side of said annular chamber, stationary block members in said annular chamber for dividing said annular chamber into separate compartments, means forming a suction chamber on said cover and connecting the same with one of said compartments so as to subject that portion of said annular chamber which is in communication with said one compartment to the inuence of suction, said portion of said annular chamber being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion of said feed wheel and eX- tending from the lower portion to the upper portion thereof, means forming an air pressure chamber on said cover and connecting the same with the other one of said compartments so as to subject that portion of said annular chamber which is in communication with said other compartment to the influence of air pressure, said last named portion of said annular chamber being adjacent to the downwardly moving portion of said feed wheel, one of said block members being arranged in the uppermost portion of said annular chamber and being provided with a bore, means for connecting one end of said bore with said air pressure chamber, the other end of said bore being arranged to discharge compressed air through said bottom wall and into said annular channel for lifting the tobacco rod from said channel, and conveyor means for feeding a tobacco stream to the lower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channel which is in communication with said suction chamber.

18. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and comprising a disk shaped body provided at its circumference with an annular channel for receiving a stream of tobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annular chamber provided in said body concentrically with said annular channel, Ameans for connecting said annular chamber with said channel through said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side of said feed wheel, stationary means vin said annular chamber for forming a substantially semicircular compartment in said annular chamber, means forming a suction chamber in said cover and connecting the same with said compartment so as to subject that portion of said channel which cornmunicates with said compartment to the influence of suction, said portion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion of said feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upper portion thereof, conveyor means for feeding a tobacco stream to the lower -portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channel which is in communication with said suction chamber, and means for intermittently increasing and decreasing the suction in said suction chamber.

19. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and comprising a disk shaped body provided at its circumference with an annular channel for receiving a stream of tobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annular chamber provided in said ybody concentrically with said annul'ar channel, means for connecting said annular chamber with said channel through said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacentto one side of said feed wheel, stationary means in said annular chamber for forming a substantially semicircular compartment in said annular chamber, means forming a suction chamber in said cover and connecting the same with said compartment so as to subject that portion of said channel which communicates with said compartment to the influence of suction, said portion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion of said feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upper portion thereof, conveyor means for feeding a tobacco stream to the lower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channel which is in communication with said suction chamber, and trimming means adapted to cooperate with the feed wheel to remove excess tobacco from said channel during rotation of said feed wheel.

20. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and comprising a disk shaped body provided at its circumference :with an annular channel for receiving a stream of tobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, :an annular chamber provided in said body concentrically .=with said annular channel, means for connecting said annular chamber with said channel through said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side of said feed fwheel, stationary means in said annular chamber for forming a substantially semicircular compartment in said annular chamber, means forming a suction cham- =ber in said cover and connecting the same with said :compartment so as to subject that portion of said chan- =nel which communicates with said compartment to the influence of suction, said portion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion of said feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upper portion thereof, and conveyor means for feeding :a tobacco stream to the lower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channel which is in corn- =munication with said suction chamber, said conveyor =means comprising an endless belt a portion of which abuts against the periphery of said feed wheel.

Y 21. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel =mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and comprising Pa disk shaped body provided at its circumference with an annular channel for receiving a stream of tobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annular tchamber provided in said body concentrically with said annular channel, means for connecting said annular chamber with said channel through said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side of said feed wheel, stationary means in said annular chamber for forming a substantially semicircular compartment in said annular chamber, means forming a suction chamber in said cover and connecting the same with said compartment =so as to subject that portion of said channel which communicates with said compartment to the influence of suction, said portion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion of said feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upper portion thereof, conveyor means for feeding a tobacco stream to the lower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channel which is n communication with said tsuction chamber, a perforated endless belt having a lower 'run adjacent the discharge point of said feed wheel, and a suction chamber associated with said lower run to receive the tobacco discharged by the feed wheel and to transfer the same to the rod forming mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 231,947 9/1880 Allison. 1,393,524 10/1921 Grupe 131-61 1,869,395 8/1932 Stelzer. 2,704,079 3/ 1955 Molins et al. 3,059,650 10/ 1962 Gamberini 131--66 3,088,468 5/ 1963 Labbe 131-66 3,113,576 12/1963 Bell.

FOREIGN PATENTS 497,464 1/ 1930 Germany.

506,807 9/ 1930 Germany.

900,182 12/ 1953 Germany.

286,421 3/ 1928 Great Britain.

459,638 1/ 1937 Great Britain.

460,392 1/1937 Great Britain.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Prim-ary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 5131-21, 84,