US3863750A

US3863750A - Device for forming pairs of axially aligned cigarettes with an interposed double filter

Info

Publication number: US3863750A
Application number: US328493A
Authority: US
Inventors: Filippo Giatti
Original assignee: AMF Inc
Current assignee: AMF Inc
Priority date: 1972-02-24
Filing date: 1973-01-31
Publication date: 1975-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-04
Also published as: GB1376567A; IT949430B; FR2173244B1; FR2173244A1; DE2308349A1; CA969201A; JPS4892600A; BR7301377D0

Abstract

A device for providing from a row of rodlike articles, such as cigarettes, disposed in end to end relationship and advancing axially along a linear path, pairs of such rod-like articles of which each pair is disposed in spaced axial alignment with the interspace being of predetermined length for receiving a filter plug to be attached to the adjacent cigarette ends and divided to provide two filter tipped cigarettes.

Description

United States Patent [191 Giatti [75] Inventor: Filippo Giatti, Bologna, Italy [73] Assignee: AMF Incorporated, White Plains,

[22] Filed: I Jan. 31,1973

[21] Appl. No.: 328,493

[52] U.S. Cl 198/20 C [51] Int. Cl B65g 47/00 [58] Field of Search 198/20 C, 31 R, 32, 30; 221/211 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,106,280 8/1963 Baker 198/30 3,485,337 12/1969 Everhart 198/32 7 DEVICE FOR FORMING PAIRS OF AXIALLY ALIGNED CIGARETTES WITH AN INTERPOSED DOUBLE FILTER Feb. 4, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,291,670 3/1969 Germany 198/20 C 412,502 6/1934 Great Britain 198/20 C 498,355 l/I939 Great Britain 198/31 R Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Hadd S. Lane Attorney, Agent, or F irm-George W. Price; Charles .1. Worth [57] ABSTRACT A device for providing from a row of rodlike articles,

such as cigarettes, disposed in end to end relationship and advancing axially along a linear path, pairs of such rod-like articles of which each pair is disposed in spaced axial alignment with the interspace being of predetermined length for receiving a filter plug to be attached to the adjacent cigarette ends and divided to provide two filter tipped cigarettes.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED E 1975 SHEET 1 0F 4 PATENTEU FEB 419. 5

1863.750 SHEET 20F 4 DEVICE FOR FORMING PAIRS OF AXIALLY ALIGNED CIG-ARETTES WITH AN INTERPOSED DOUBLE FILTER This invention relates generally to making filter tip cigarettes and more particularly to the mechanism which is interposed between a machine which makes cigarettes and a machine which puts filter tips on the cigarettes.

in cigarette makers, cigarettes are obtained by transversely cutting at a regular cutting rate a continuous rod, consisting ofa continuous cut tobacco braid which is wrapped and sealed in a formed paper tube, while advancing longitudinally or axially through a cutting station. The cigarettes are ejected from the cutting station in an orderly manner, aligned one after the other in a row in the direction of their length following a generally rectilinear guided path section at a frequency commensurate to the cutting rate and at a speed depending upon the characteristics of the ejection means.

When the cigarettes are to beprovided with filters it has been found convenient to associate two cigarettes from the row with a filter plug which is twice the desired length of the filter for each cigarette. Each such assembly consists of two cigarettes with a filter plug disposed between' the cigarettes all in axial alignment. Subsequently, a gummed tipping material patch is wrapped round the assembly of three articles embracing the filter and a short section of the cigarette ends in abutment with the said filter plug which is thereafter cut in the middle thus obtaining two separate filter tip cigarettes.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for organizing orderly assemblies of rodlike articles each assembly consisting of two of such articles in spaced axial alignment with a predetermined constant interspace between the articles of the assemblies, while the articles to be assembled are available, under the form of an orderly row of similar articles, which advance in an oderly manner, one after the other, in the direction of their length, guided along a generally rectilinear path and at a pre-set speed and feed rate of the articles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the foregoing device comprising a receiving drum having a series of peripheral'flutes equispaced around the periphery of the drum which is caused to rotate around its own axis in correlation with the advancing rate of the rodlike articles of said row; and an endless transferring device, operatively interposed between the row of cigarettes and the fluted drum, which is caused to move in correlation with the drum rotation and with the advancing rate of the articles to successively receive from the row pairs of axially aligned cigarettes abutting each other; and means operatively associated with the support and/or to the drum, to effect a pre-set length separation between the cigarettes of each pair of cigarettes before or during their transfer to the same drum flute.

In one embodiment of the invention, the receiving drum is caused to rotate on its axis which is parallel to but offset from the longitudinal axis of the row of articles, and the transferring support is driven along a closed circuit having a straight section and oriented in such a way as to form a predetermined angle with the common direction of the drum axis and of the row axis. A number of pairs of axially aligned cradles are mounted on said support,-said pairs of cradles being regularly interspaced along the support and oriented with their longitudinal axes parallel to those of the drum and of the row at least in said section, where the pairs of aligned cradles are successively and periodically coordinated with the row of articles and with the drum flutes. Pneumatic suction means being associated with said transferring support, which can be selectively and periodically actuated, retain in the cradles the cigarettes received from the row during their transfer to the receiving drum.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is also provided pneumatic suction means associated with the receiving drum which can be actuated in correlation of time with the pneumatic means associated with the transferring support in order to obtain a desired interspacing between the two cigarettes of each pair, while always maintaining the axial alignment of such cigarettes.

In another embodiment of the invention, the transferring support comprises two distinct endless transferring elements with each of which is associated a respective cradle of each of the pairs of cradles and the said elements are caused to move along closed circuits which are parallel to and adjacent each other at least along the said straight sections. The desired interspacing between the cigarettes of each pair on said support is obtained by providing suitable means capable of temporarily modifying the conditions of motion of a cigarette in relation to the other at the moment of the formation of a pair or an instant immediately before said formation.

In still a further embodiment of the invention the transferring support comprises also two distinct endless transferring elements, driven along closed circuits comprising said straight section, where the circuits of the transferring elements diverse forming a predetermined angle towards the receiving drum, so that the cigatettes of each pair are transferred to the receiving drum are always axially aligned, but having interspacing the length of which is in accordance with the amplitude of said angle.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a device made in accordance with the present invention with portions thereof broken away to more clearly show operating details.

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on lines III- III and IVIV, respectively of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary plan views corresponding to a portion of FIG. 2 to illustrate the successive phases of the transfer of a pair of cigarettes from the transferring support of the receiving drum in the device according to the invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are elevation and plan views, respectively schematically illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. and 11 are elevation and plan views, respectively, schematically illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a device made in accordance with the present invention comprises essentially a receiving drum 1 and an endless track type of transfer support 2. The drum 1 is provided with a series of equispaced longitudinally or axiallydisposed peripheral flutes 101.

The rodlike articles to be assembled, which in the preferred environment of the present invention are cigarettes S, are ejected one after the other at a cadenced rate from the cutoff associated to a cigarette maker and the novel device according to the invention must, in this case continuously pick up cigarettes S from the row, forming pairs of axially aligned cigarettes and subsequently delivering each of these pairs to a successive flute 101 of drum 1 so that a pre-set length interval or space exists between the two cigarettes of each pair.

The drum 1 is rotated on its axis 201 at a speed correlated with the advancing rate of cigarettes S along the row, for instance, by deriving the drive from a cigarette maker through suitable driving element (not shown).

The transfer support 2 is operatively interposed between one end ofa fluted guide 3, along which the cigarettes S of the row advance one after the other, and the fluted drum 1. The transfer support 2 is caused to move along a closed circuit by driving means, shown as meshed

gears

4 and 5, which synchronize and time the transfer support with the fluted drum 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 the transfer support 2 is provided with a pair of flexible elements such as articulated chains or

timing belts

102 and 202. The belts are stretched around a pair of spaced

drums

6 and 7 which may be toothed or otherwise have an irregular peripheral surface. One of the drums, in this instance drum 6 is coupled by the

meshed gears

4 and 5 to driving means or a power source (not shown).

With this arrangement the

belts

102 and 202 are driven or run side by side along a closed circuit having at least one straight section located between the line of arrival of the row of cigarettes S and receiving drum 1, the revolving shaft 201 of which is oriented parallel to the longitudinal geometrical axis of the cigarette row and offset in relation to said axis. Accordingly, the straight section of the transfer support 2 is equally oblique both in relation to the longitudinal axis of the row of cigarettes S and to the geometrical axis 201 of rotation of drum 1 and its direction forms, therefore, with each of these axes an acute angle alfa (a), the value of which can also be relatively low. Furthermore, the two

belts

102 and 202 are obviously driven at the same peripheral speed.

In the area of the straight sections the edges of the

belts

102 and 202 are slidably mounted in sealed relationship with corresponding fluted guides of a pneumatic box 8 so that the two belts complete the closure. The box 8 extends substantially the full length of the said straight section of

belts

102 and 202, and is preferably subdivided longitudinally into two

separate chambers

108 and 208 each of which is closed by a

respective belt

102 or 202 and communicates with a suitable suction air source through a respective pipe 308 and 408 (see particularly FIGS. 2 and 3).

On the outer face of each of

belts

102 and 202 is fastened a set of longitudinally fluted elongated elements or cradles 9. The cradles 9 of each set are uniformly spaced around the periphery of the corresponding belt and each belt carries an equal number of the cradles. Furthermore, cradles 9 are each oriented with its longitudinal geometrical axis parallel to the common direction of the axis of rotation of receiving drum 1 and the longitudinal axis of the row of cigarettes S. Each cradle 9 on belt 102 is axially aligned with a corresponding cradle 9 on belt 202. If transferring support 2 consists of two distinct elements, such as

timing belts

102 and 202, the axial alignment of cradles 9 in pairs can be obtained by adjusting the relative position between the two belts with suitable adjusting means (not shown). If however, transferring support 2 consists of a single movable element or a single timing belt (and this is obvious due to the identity of the conditions of motion between the two belts 102 and 202), the alignment will have to be preset when cradles 9 are fitted to the support.

When

belts

102 and 202 are run concordantly and at the same speed, the axes of alignment of the successive pairs of cradles 9 coincide substantially, first, with the longitudinal geometrical axis of the row of cigarettes S and, then, with that of flutes 101 of receiving drum 1. On the other hand, as already mentioned, the rotation of the receiving drum 1 and the belt movement of the transfer support 2 are closely correlated to each other and with the advancing speed of the row of cigarettes S to allow the continuous transfer of the cigarettes S from the row to the receiving drum 1. More particularly, the speed of transfer unit 2 is correlated with the advancing speed of the cigarette row in such a way that each pair of axially aligned cradles 9 receives a pair of cigarettes consisting of two consecutive cigarettes 81 and S2 of said row. The cradles 9 are provided at their bottom, with openings 10 which communicate with

suction chambers

108 and 208 so that cigarettes 81, and S2 are held pneumatically by suction in the cradles 9 during their transfer from the row to the receiving drum.

In accordance with the invention succeeding cigarettes S1 and S2 of the row of cigarettes are delivered to a flute 101 of the drum 1 in such a manner as to provide a preset or predetermined interspace between the two cigarettes. The interspace or the axial space provided between two cigarettes S1 and S2 in a flute 101 of the drum 1 is to be of sufficient length to receive a filter plug 2F which may be provided by a fluted wheel or drum 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The interspacing between cigarettes S1 and S2 is obtained, in accordance with the invention by associating with the flutes 101 of receiving drum 1, suitable pneumatic means which is selectively actuated, in operative correlation with the pneumatic holding means associated with the transfer support 2, by providing a short lag in the delivery of one of cigarettes S1 or S2 to one of flutes 101 of receiving drum 1, said lag being allowed because the transfer support 2 is inclined by a certain predetermined angle (as previously explained) in relation to the axis of rotation of said drum 1 and, consequently in relation to the longitudinal axis of flutes 101.

More particularly, the pneumatic holding means associated with the receiving drum 1, comprises two distinct contiguous

annular chambers

12 and 13 formed in a fixed cylindrical part 14 around which rotates in airtight conditions periphery 15 of the drum 1 in which the longitudinal flutes 101 are formed. Each of these flutes 101 communicate with

chambers

12 and 13 through

respective openings

16 and 17 provided at the bottom of each flute. The interspacing between

openings

16 and 17 of a same flute is related to a pre-set range of values of the desired axial interspacing between the two cigarettes S1 and S2 which are delivered to said flute 101 of receiving drum 1.

The two

chambers

12 and 13 are both connected at the same time to a suction source through a pipe 18. Furthermore, two respective shields or concaves 19 and are associated with the two

chambers

12 and 13. These concaves block or intercept suction through selected openings 16 and'17 respectively, along pre-set sectors of the periphery of fluted drum 1. The edges of each of

concaves

19 and 20 are slidably engaged in corresponding curved flutes or tracks formed in the fixed body 14 and movement or positioning of the concaves in their tracks is accomplished by

respective pinions

119 and 120 which mesh with corresponding sector gears 219 and 220 formed in the faces-of the internal surface of

concaves

19 and 20.

Pinions 119 and 120are integral with two actuating

shafts

319 and 320 respectively which are rotatably supported in the fixed cylindrical body 14 and protrude therefrom each at one end. The protruding ends of

shaft

319 and 320 are provided with respective

knurled knobs

419 and 420 with which the relative position of

concaves

19 and 20 can be adjusted relative to each other and to the fixed cylindrical body 14. This arrangement enables to adjust the anticipation of the beginning of suction through one of

openings

16 or 17 of a same flute 101 of drum 1 in relation to the other of the openings of the same flute.

More precisely, when a pair of cigarettes S1 and S2 arrives at the area of coordination between transfer support 2 and receiving drum 1, the drum presents to said pair an empty flute 101 ready to receive them. The actual transfer of the second cigarette S2 of the pair S1 and S2 (S1 being the first cigarette of the pair in relation to the advancing direction towards drum 1) into the flute 101 is time shifted in relation to the transfer of the associated first cigarette S1. Since the movement imposed by transferring support 2 to pairs S1 and S2 presents a component parallel to the axis of rotation of drum 1 and, consequently, to the longitudinal axis of flutes 101 (which, in the embodiment being described are oriented according to the drum generatrix), and a component orthogonal to the drum axis, the said time shifting or delay will provide the desired interspacing of a corresponding length for a filter plug F2 between cigarettes S1 and S2 transferred in a same flute 101 of drum 1. v

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate sequential transfer of a pair of cigarettes S1 and S2 from a pair of axially aligned cradles 9 of the two

timing belts

102 and 202, intoa flute 101 of drum 1. In this case, the transfer involves an anticipation for cigarette S2 in relation to cigarette S1. Consequently, concave 20 will have to'be so adjusted as to anticipate the beginning of suction through opening 17 in relation to that through opening 16, while suitable intercepting means 21 and 22, operatively associated to

chambers

208 and 108, will provide a corresponding anticipation of the interruption of the suction to cradle 9 of cigarette S2 in relation to that of cigarette S1 of a same pair S1 and S2.

In the operative phase illustrated in FIG. 5, cigarette S2 of a pair is transferred from cradle 9 of the belt 202 into a flute 101 which is coordinated with it at this moment. lntercepting element 21 will have blocked the air suction through opening 10 associated with that cradle 9 to chamber 208, while opening 17, because of the movement of periphery 15 of drum 1 on fixed cylindrical body 14 will have moved out of the intercepting area of of concave 20, thereby permitting suction through said opening 17 to the associated vacuum chamber 13. The transfer of the cigarette S2 occurs in these conditions.

FIG. 6 illustrates the assembly of FIG. 5 in an intermediate time position between the time of transfer of a cigarette S2 and that of the successive transfer of the associated cigarette S1 of a pair S1 and S2. As a result of the inclination alfa (a) and of the relative movement between

belts

102 and 202 with drum 1, the position of cradles 9 in FIG. 6 appears displaced axially in the direction of flute 101 in relation to the corresponding position illustrated in FIG. 5, while the position of cigarette S2 in the same flute 101 has obviously remained unchanged having already been positioned and pneumatically held in the flute. The corresponding cigarette S1 is still retained in cradle 9 of belt 102 and continues, therefore, to move integrally with it so that in an interval of time the desired axial interspacing between corresponding cigarettes S1 and S2 is obtained.

Finally, FIG. 7 illustrates the operative phase in which the cigarette S1 is transferred from the associated cradle 9 of belt 102 to the same flute 101 of drum 1, into which cigarette S2 has already been transferred or positioned.

The transfer of cigarette S1 occurs in a manner similar to that of cigarette S2. Intercepting element 22 blocks the air suction through opening 10 from the cradle 9 opening 17 to the associated vacuum chamber 13. The transfer of the cigarette S2 occurs in these conditions.

belts

Finally, FIG. 7 illustrates the operative phase in which the cigarette S1 is transferred from the associated cradle 9 of belt 102 to the same flute 101 of drum 1, into which cigarette S2 has already been transferred tofore described. As before, the transfer support 2 by means of two timing

belts

102 and 202, and the associated pneumatic means pneumatically (suction) holds the axially aligned pairs of cigarettes 81 and S2 in cradles 9. The direction of the

belts

102 and 202 is still inclined by the angle alfa in relation to the common axis of rotation of drum 1 and of the longitudinal geometrical axis of the row of cigarettes S. The transfer of the pairs S1 and S2 from the said belts to the flutes of drum 1 occurs always by coordinating the actuation of pneumatic holding means associated to drum 1 with the interruption of the pneumatic holding means associated to

belts

102 and 202 and to cradles 9 fitted to them.

However, this coordination, unlike the one described with reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, involves the simple transfer of pairs S1 and S2 from transfer support 2 to receiving drum 1 and does not involve, during the transfer, any substantial change of the interspacing between cigarettes 81 and S2 of a same pair of cigarettes. The interspacing between these cigarettes S1 and S2 is obtained by associating with the guide 3 for the row of arriving cigarettes S an accelerating device or 103, which may be of the suction type, eccentric type, double disk type or of any other type capable of affecting an advancing motion of cigarettes S along the row soas to generate a pre-set interspacing between two consecutive cigarettes.

A further embodiment or modification illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 differs from that illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 due to the lack of accelerating device 103 and the interspacing of cigarettes S1 and S2 ofeach pair is obtained by arranging the two belts, 102 and 202 in such a manner that they present a predetermined angle of divergency opening towards receiving drum 1. By so doing, the transferring branches of these belts will be differently inclined in realtion to the common direction of the axis of drum 1 and of that of the row of arriving cigarettes S, whereby, since an axial interspacing is to be obtained between two cradles 9 operatively coupled on

belts

102 and 202, the axial or running speed of the less inclined belt 102 will have to be higher than that of the other belt 202.

However, the components of the speeds of the two

belts

102 and 202 in the direction orthogonal to that of the rotation of the drum 1 must remain equal to each other, and the axial alignment between the cradles 9 of the two belts must be maintained when a pair of cigarettes S1 and S2 is picked up from row S and when the same pair of cigarettes is transferred to receiving drum 1. Since the speeds of

belts

102 and 202 are different and the lengths of these belts are equal, this axial alignment is obtained by providing on the two

belts

102 and 202 different numbers of cradles 9 with the pitch of cradles 9 on one belt different from the pitch of cradles 9 on the other belt. By conveniently selecting said numbers of the cradles 9 in relation to the speeds of the

belts

102 and 202 and by conveniently synchronizing between each other these belts, the axes of the coupled cradles 9 will be maintained in alignment.

It will be seen that in the two embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, the two

parallel belts

102 and 202 could be replaced by a single wide belt (not shown) to which the two sets of cradles 9 could be fastened in the same relative positions which they present when they are fitted on the two

belts

102 and 202 which travel at a common speed.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may also be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

LII

We claim:

1. A device for continuously moving rod-like articles in an orderly manner and for reorienting the articles being moved, comprising:

means for providing a linear path for a row of rodlike articles disposed end to end in axial alignment and advancing in an axial direction along said linear path;

means for receiving pairs of said articles in spaced axial alignment substantially parallel to the linear path with the interspace between the spaced ends of the articles of each pair being of predetermined length, and for moving said pairs of articles in a direction lateral to their axes;

means for transferring pairs of said articles from the row advancing along the linear path to said receiving means;

said receiving and transferring means each being provided with controlled vacuum means for selectively holding said pairs of articles while being moved thereby; and

means for providing rod-like members to said receiving means each being positioned'in axial alignment in the interspace between a spaced pair of said rodlike articles.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, and

said receiving means being provided with a spaced series of peripheral flutes offset from and parallel to the linear path of the advancing row of rod-like articles,

said flutes receiving said spaced pairs of rod-like articles transferred to said receiving means; and

each of said flutes being connected to said controlled vacuum means for holding said rod-like articles therein.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, and

said receiving means being a drum rotatable on an axis offset from and parallel to said linear path for said advancing row of rod-like articles; said drum having a spaced series of axially disposed peripheral flutes receiving the spaced pairs of rodlike articles transferred to said receiving means;

said controlled vacuum means being chamber means within said drum and connected to a vacuum source, two series of ports each providing communication between said flutes and said chamber means, and a pair of independently positionable shields each for blocking selective ports of a different series thereof from communication with said chamber means depending upon the position of the ports as said drum rotates.

4. The device in accordance with claim 3, and

said series of ports providing each flute with a pair of spaced ports each adjacent a different end of the flute;

said chamber means being a pair of vacuum chambers each communicating with a different series of ports; and

said shields each disposed in a different one of said chambers.

5. A device for continuously moving rod-like articles in an orderly manner and for reorienting the articles being moved, comprising:

means for providing a linear path for a row of rodlike articles disposed in end to end axial alignment and advancing in an axial direction along said lin ear path;

said receiving means being provided with a spaced series of peripheral flutes offset from and parallel to the linear path of the advancing row of rod-like articles, and with controlled vacuum means for selectively holding said pairs of articles while being moved thereby;

said flutes receiving said spaced pairs of rod-like articles transferred to said receiving means and being connected to said controlled vacuum means for holding said rod-like articles therein, and

said transfer means being endless belt means angularly offset from the axes of said linear path and said flutes of said receiving means;

said endless belt means being provided with two spaced series of cradles each with a vacuum port;

each of said cradles being offset from and parallel to said linear path when positioned to receive a rodlike article from the advancing row and to one of said flutes when positioned to transfer a rod-like article to said receiving means; and

each of said vacuum ports communicating with said vacuum means of said transfer means when the associated cradle is positioned to receive and hold a rod-like article and being blocked from communi- LII cating with such vacuum means when the associated cradle is positioned to transfer a rod-like article to said receiving means.

6. The device in accordance with claim 5, and

each cradle of one of said spaced series is axially aligned with a different one of said cradles of the other of said spaced series; and

the speeds ofsaid transfer and receiving means with the controlled vacuum means thereof being coordinated to transfer pairs of adjacent rod-like articles from the advancing row to successive flutes of said receiving means and for positioning said pairs of rod-like articles in spaced axial alignment in said flutes.

7. The device in accordance with claim 6, further comprising means for providing rod-like members to said receiving means each being positioned in axial alignment in the interspace between a spaced pair of said rodlike articles.

8. The device in accordance with claim 5, and

said endless belt means being a pair of adjacent belts diverging from each other in a direction toward said receiving means, each being provided with a different one of said spaced series of cradles;

the speeds of said belts and said receiving means together with the controlled vacuum means of said transfer and receiving means being coordinated to transfer pairs of adjacent rod-like articles from the advancing row to successive flutes of said receiving means and for positioning said pairs of rod-like articles in spaced axial alignment in said flutes.

9. The device in accordance with claim 8, further comprising means for providing rod-like members to said receiving means each being positioned in axial alignment in the interspace between a spaced pair of said rodlike articles.

Claims

1. A device for continuously moving rod-like articles in an orderly manner and for reorienting the articles being moved, comprising: means for providing a linear path for a row of rod-like articles disposed end to end in axial alignment and advancing in an axial direction along said linear path; means for receiving pairs of said articles in spaced axial alignment substantially parallel to the linear path with the interspace between the spaced ends of the articles of each pair being of predetermined length, and for moving said pairs of articles in a direction lateral to their axes; means for transferring pairs of said articles from the row advancing along the linear path to said receiving means; said receiving and transferring means each being provided with controlled vacuum means for selectively holding said pairs of articles while being moved thereby; and means for providing rod-like members to said receiving means each being positioned in axial alignment in the interspace between a spaced pair of said rod-like articles.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, and said receiving means being provided with a spaced series of peripheral flutes offset from and parallel to the linear path of the advancing row of rod-like articles, said flutes receiving said spaced pairs of rod-like articles transferred to said receiving means; and each of said flutes being connected to said controlled vacuum means for holding said rod-like articles therein.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, and said receiving means being a drum rotatable on an axis offset from and parallel to said linear path for said advancing row of rod-like articles; said drum having a spaced series of axially disposed peripheral flutes receiving the spaced pairs of rod-like articles transferred to said receiving means; said controlled vacuum means being chamber means within said drum and connected to a vacuum source, two series of ports each providing communication between said flutes and said chamber means, and a pair of independently positionable shields each for blocking selective ports of a different series thereof from communication with said chamber means depending upon the position of the ports as said drum rotates.

4. The devIce in accordance with claim 3, and said series of ports providing each flute with a pair of spaced ports each adjacent a different end of the flute; said chamber means being a pair of vacuum chambers each communicating with a different series of ports; and said shields each disposed in a different one of said chambers.

5. A device for continuously moving rod-like articles in an orderly manner and for reorienting the articles being moved, comprising: means for providing a linear path for a row of rod-like articles disposed in end to end axial alignment and advancing in an axial direction along said linear path; means for receiving pairs of said articles in spaced axial alignment substantially parallel to the linear path with the interspace between the spaced ends of the articles of each pair being of predetermined length, and for moving said pairs of articles in a direction lateral to their axes; said receiving means being provided with a spaced series of peripheral flutes offset from and parallel to the linear path of the advancing row of rod-like articles, and with controlled vacuum means for selectively holding said pairs of articles while being moved thereby; said flutes receiving said spaced pairs of rod-like articles transferred to said receiving means and being connected to said controlled vacuum means for holding said rod-like articles therein, and means for transferring pairs of said articles from the row advancing along the linear path to said receiving means; said transfer means being endless belt means angularly offset from the axes of said linear path and said flutes of said receiving means; said endless belt means being provided with two spaced series of cradles each with a vacuum port; each of said cradles being offset from and parallel to said linear path when positioned to receive a rod-like article from the advancing row and to one of said flutes when positioned to transfer a rod-like article to said receiving means; and each of said vacuum ports communicating with said vacuum means of said transfer means when the associated cradle is positioned to receive and hold a rod-like article and being blocked from communicating with such vacuum means when the associated cradle is positioned to transfer a rod-like article to said receiving means.

6. The device in accordance with claim 5, and each cradle of one of said spaced series is axially aligned with a different one of said cradles of the other of said spaced series; and the speeds of said transfer and receiving means with the controlled vacuum means thereof being coordinated to transfer pairs of adjacent rod-like articles from the advancing row to successive flutes of said receiving means and for positioning said pairs of rod-like articles in spaced axial alignment in said flutes.

7. The device in accordance with claim 6, further comprising means for providing rod-like members to said receiving means each being positioned in axial alignment in the interspace between a spaced pair of said rod-like articles.

8. The device in accordance with claim 5, and said endless belt means being a pair of adjacent belts diverging from each other in a direction toward said receiving means, each being provided with a different one of said spaced series of cradles; the speeds of said belts and said receiving means together with the controlled vacuum means of said transfer and receiving means being coordinated to transfer pairs of adjacent rod-like articles from the advancing row to successive flutes of said receiving means and for positioning said pairs of rod-like articles in spaced axial alignment in said flutes.

9. The device in accordance with claim 8, further comprising means for providing rod-like members to said receiving means each being positioned in axial alignment in the interspace between a spaced pair of said rod-like articles.