US3503488A - Article feeding apparatus and method - Google Patents

Article feeding apparatus and method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3503488A
US3503488A US708928A US3503488DA US3503488A US 3503488 A US3503488 A US 3503488A US 708928 A US708928 A US 708928A US 3503488D A US3503488D A US 3503488DA US 3503488 A US3503488 A US 3503488A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
articles
drum
plugs
rod
feeding apparatus
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US708928A
Inventor
Horace Alexander Stone
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Molins Machine Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Molins Machine Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Molins Machine Co Ltd filed Critical Molins Machine Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3503488A publication Critical patent/US3503488A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/35—Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine
    • A24C5/352—Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine using containers, i.e. boats
    • A24C5/356—Emptying the boats into the hopper of the packaging machine

Definitions

  • Cigarette filter plug feeding apparatus in which a continuous stream of plugs one row deep is pushed sideways by a belt conveyor running underneath them, into the flutes of a rotating drum. The belt acts positively to urge each plug into a flute.
  • This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to article feeding apparatus and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with feeding cigarette filter plugs from a hopper to a rotating fluted drum.
  • Drums having a plurality of axial flutes around their periphery are used in many applications in the cigarette industry as a convenient way of handling cigarettes, filter plugs and other rod-like articles.
  • One of the problems which arises in their use is that of ensuring that as the articles are supplied to the drum each of the flutes receives one and none is missed out. This is particularly significant at high operating speeds,
  • article feeding apparatus comprising a rotary fluted drum, supply means for rod-like articles, and means to feed the articles, transversely of their longitudinal axes, from the supply means to the fluted drum in a continuous stream, wherein the means to feed the articles includes means to urge them sidewise one against the other so that the leading article is urged against the fluted drum.
  • the articles are fed from the supply means in a single row and are supported on a conveyor, which is conveniently an endless band, which pushes them desirably radially of the drum, into engagement with the drum.
  • the invention is intended for regular articles which are all similar to one another, such as cigarette filter plugs of a length being a multiple of the plug as it appears in a cigarette, the supply means, the fluted dmm and the conveyor all being of a width to accommodate the length of the plugs.
  • the invention also extends to a machine or machines for manufacturing filter tip or other mouthpiece cigarettes from their component tobacco rods and filter plugs which incorporates article feeding apparatus as described.
  • the apparatus comprises a supply 31 for plugs 32, which are multiples of the length of plug which is to be used in the cigarettes,'and which are drawn from the supply in a single stream on a downwardly sloping endless band 33 which pushes them radially against a rotating fluted drum 34.
  • a plate 35 is positioned to support the conveyor 33 and a platform 36 bridges the gap between the end of the bands 33 and the drum 34.
  • a plate 37 is positioned parallel to the con- Patented Mar. 31, 1970 veyor 33 adjacent the fluted drum 34 and is spaced from the surface of the conveyor such that only a single row of plugs may pass therebetween. A portion of the plate extends along the cylindrical surface of the drum to retain the plugs in the flutes.
  • the band 33 slips under the plugs 32 while urging them forwardly, and the effect is that as each flute comes around, a plug 32 jumps into it.
  • the pressure produced by the band tends to ensure that every flute receives a plug.
  • Apparatus for conveying rod-like articles comprising a rotatably mounted fluted drum, supply means for said rod-like articles and means to feed the articles transversely of their longitudinal axes from the supply means to the fluted drum in a continuous stream, said feed means being capable of urging said articles one against the other whereby the leading article is urged against the fluted drum.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to feed the articles comprises means to maintain said articles in a single row while being fed to the fluted drum.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to feed the articles comprises means to feed said articles in a direction radially of the fluted drum.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to feed the articles comprises an endless band.
  • Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a stationary bridge positioned between the downstream end of said endless band and said fluted drum for supporting said articles while moving between the endless band and the drum.
  • said means to feed the articles further comprises flow restricting means having a surface parallel to the endless band adjacent the fluted drum and spaced from the surface of the endless band supporting said articles such that only a single row of said articles may pass therebetween.
  • said means to feed said articles further comprises means for supporting said endless band positioned against the surface thereof opposite the surface of the band for supporting said articles.
  • rodlike articles are plugs of filter material for the mouthpieces of tobacco articles.
  • a method of feeding rod-like articles from a hopper to a rotating fluted drum so that each flute in the drum is filled by a rod-like article from the hopper comprising, extracting rod-like articles from the hopper, forming the extracted rod-like articles into a single row and side-byside with one another, moving the single row in a direction normal to the axis of each rod-like article in the row and towards the periphery of the rotating fluted drum such that the rod-like articles in the row successively enter flutes in the rotating drum.
  • a method as claimed in claim 10 comprising accelerating the row of rod-like articles as it moves from the outlet of the hopper to the periphery of the rotating fluted drum.

Landscapes

  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)

Description

March 31, 1970 H. A. STONE 3,5 ,48
' ARTICLE FEEDING APPARATUS Am) METHOD Filed Feb; 28, 1968 IxnsnT R United States Patent US. Cl. 198-403 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Cigarette filter plug feeding apparatus in which a continuous stream of plugs one row deep is pushed sideways by a belt conveyor running underneath them, into the flutes of a rotating drum. The belt acts positively to urge each plug into a flute.
This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to article feeding apparatus and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with feeding cigarette filter plugs from a hopper to a rotating fluted drum.
Drums having a plurality of axial flutes around their periphery are used in many applications in the cigarette industry as a convenient way of handling cigarettes, filter plugs and other rod-like articles. One of the problems which arises in their use is that of ensuring that as the articles are supplied to the drum each of the flutes receives one and none is missed out. This is particularly significant at high operating speeds,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved article feeding apparatus which is particularly, although not exclusively suitable for feeding cigarette filter plugs to a fluted drum.
According to the present invention there is provided article feeding apparatus comprising a rotary fluted drum, supply means for rod-like articles, and means to feed the articles, transversely of their longitudinal axes, from the supply means to the fluted drum in a continuous stream, wherein the means to feed the articles includes means to urge them sidewise one against the other so that the leading article is urged against the fluted drum. Preferably the articles are fed from the supply means in a single row and are supported on a conveyor, which is conveniently an endless band, which pushes them desirably radially of the drum, into engagement with the drum.
The invention is intended for regular articles which are all similar to one another, such as cigarette filter plugs of a length being a multiple of the plug as it appears in a cigarette, the supply means, the fluted dmm and the conveyor all being of a width to accommodate the length of the plugs.
The invention also extends to a machine or machines for manufacturing filter tip or other mouthpiece cigarettes from their component tobacco rods and filter plugs which incorporates article feeding apparatus as described.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawings which is a view in section of apparatus for feeding multiple lengths of plugs for filter cigarettes.
Referring to the drawing, the apparatus comprises a supply 31 for plugs 32, which are multiples of the length of plug which is to be used in the cigarettes,'and which are drawn from the supply in a single stream on a downwardly sloping endless band 33 which pushes them radially against a rotating fluted drum 34. A plate 35 is positioned to support the conveyor 33 and a platform 36 bridges the gap between the end of the bands 33 and the drum 34. A plate 37 is positioned parallel to the con- Patented Mar. 31, 1970 veyor 33 adjacent the fluted drum 34 and is spaced from the surface of the conveyor such that only a single row of plugs may pass therebetween. A portion of the plate extends along the cylindrical surface of the drum to retain the plugs in the flutes.
The band 33 slips under the plugs 32 while urging them forwardly, and the effect is that as each flute comes around, a plug 32 jumps into it. The pressure produced by the band tends to ensure that every flute receives a plug.
What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. Apparatus for conveying rod-like articles comprising a rotatably mounted fluted drum, supply means for said rod-like articles and means to feed the articles transversely of their longitudinal axes from the supply means to the fluted drum in a continuous stream, said feed means being capable of urging said articles one against the other whereby the leading article is urged against the fluted drum.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to feed the articles comprises means to maintain said articles in a single row while being fed to the fluted drum.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to feed the articles comprises means to feed said articles in a direction radially of the fluted drum.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to feed the articles comprises an endless band.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the downstream end of said endless band terminates adjacent said fluted drum.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a stationary bridge positioned between the downstream end of said endless band and said fluted drum for supporting said articles while moving between the endless band and the drum.
7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means to feed the articles further comprises flow restricting means having a surface parallel to the endless band adjacent the fluted drum and spaced from the surface of the endless band supporting said articles such that only a single row of said articles may pass therebetween.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means to feed said articles further comprises means for supporting said endless band positioned against the surface thereof opposite the surface of the band for supporting said articles.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rodlike articles are plugs of filter material for the mouthpieces of tobacco articles.
10. A method of feeding rod-like articles from a hopper to a rotating fluted drum so that each flute in the drum is filled by a rod-like article from the hopper, comprising, extracting rod-like articles from the hopper, forming the extracted rod-like articles into a single row and side-byside with one another, moving the single row in a direction normal to the axis of each rod-like article in the row and towards the periphery of the rotating fluted drum such that the rod-like articles in the row successively enter flutes in the rotating drum.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 comprising accelerating the row of rod-like articles as it moves from the outlet of the hopper to the periphery of the rotating fluted drum.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,393,642 lO/l92l Rose. 2,376,651 5/1945 Bardet.
ROBERT G. SHERIDAN Primary Examiner
US708928A 1967-03-03 1968-02-28 Article feeding apparatus and method Expired - Lifetime US3503488A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1009867 1967-03-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3503488A true US3503488A (en) 1970-03-31

Family

ID=9961465

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US708928A Expired - Lifetime US3503488A (en) 1967-03-03 1968-02-28 Article feeding apparatus and method

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3503488A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4270670A (en) * 1978-03-29 1981-06-02 Cir S.P.A. Divisione Sasib Device for the high speed feeding of rod-like articles
US4458804A (en) * 1977-08-12 1984-07-10 Sun Chemical Corporation Contour in-feed means for continuous motion can decorator
US4785928A (en) * 1985-05-18 1988-11-22 Molins Plc Feeding rod-like articles
US5220992A (en) * 1976-04-13 1993-06-22 Molins Limited Apparatus for conveying rods of the cigarette industry
US5810150A (en) * 1996-03-29 1998-09-22 F. R. Drake Company Collator for a food product packaging machine, and method of use thereof
US6257393B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2001-07-10 Planet Products Corporation Product collator

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1393642A (en) * 1921-01-08 1921-10-11 Rose William Apparatus for feeding, or both feeding, and counting, cigarettes for packeting, applicable also to analogous purposes
US2376651A (en) * 1941-07-16 1945-05-22 Bardet Gerard Device for feeding machines for packing tubular products

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1393642A (en) * 1921-01-08 1921-10-11 Rose William Apparatus for feeding, or both feeding, and counting, cigarettes for packeting, applicable also to analogous purposes
US2376651A (en) * 1941-07-16 1945-05-22 Bardet Gerard Device for feeding machines for packing tubular products

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5220992A (en) * 1976-04-13 1993-06-22 Molins Limited Apparatus for conveying rods of the cigarette industry
US4458804A (en) * 1977-08-12 1984-07-10 Sun Chemical Corporation Contour in-feed means for continuous motion can decorator
US4270670A (en) * 1978-03-29 1981-06-02 Cir S.P.A. Divisione Sasib Device for the high speed feeding of rod-like articles
US4785928A (en) * 1985-05-18 1988-11-22 Molins Plc Feeding rod-like articles
US5810150A (en) * 1996-03-29 1998-09-22 F. R. Drake Company Collator for a food product packaging machine, and method of use thereof
US6257393B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2001-07-10 Planet Products Corporation Product collator
US6378691B2 (en) 1999-10-29 2002-04-30 Planet Products Corporation Product collator

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3036581A (en) Apparatus for making cigarettes
US3224451A (en) Apparatus for removal of tips from scrap cigarettes
US2952105A (en) Wrapping device
US20040177855A1 (en) Degradable slitted cigarette filter
US3405579A (en) Apparatus for feeding rod-like articles
JP3615793B2 (en) Equipment for removing excess amounts of tobacco from a tobacco continuum
US3081778A (en) Method of making a cigarette having a composite filter plug
GB2260887A (en) Cigarettes with inserts
US3503488A (en) Article feeding apparatus and method
DE2241776A1 (en) DEVICE FOR PROMOTING ARTICLES OF THE TOBACCO MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
CN111480878B (en) Manufacture of rod-shaped smoking articles
US3032041A (en) Tobacco-manipulating machines
US4528050A (en) Producing filler material, particularly for cigarette filters
US4741350A (en) Method for producing cigarettes containing at least two different tobacco mixtures
US4861324A (en) Apparatus for manufacturing tobacco filter
US3525344A (en) Method and apparatus for producing bunches,cigars or cigarettes
US3308833A (en) Machine for making cigarettes
CN109303351B (en) Manufacture of rod-shaped smoking articles
US3513962A (en) Article feeding apparatus
GB2168586A (en) Supplying two types of tobacco for forming a rod of smokable material
US3238825A (en) Method of feeding and cutting filters
US4567902A (en) Tobacco trimmer device
GB1088002A (en) Apparatus for separating tobacco from the papers and the filter tips (if any) of imperfect cigarettes
US3306305A (en) Manufacture of cigarettes
US2646048A (en) Method of and apparatus for making mouthpiece cigarettes