GB2082996A

GB2082996A - Reservoir for Feeding Rod-like Articles

Info

Publication number: GB2082996A
Application number: GB8121571A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Molins Ltd
Current assignee: Mpac Group PLC
Priority date: 1980-07-17
Filing date: 1981-07-13
Publication date: 1982-03-17
Also published as: GB2082996B

Abstract

A variable capacity reservoir for cigarettes or similar rod-like articles, in which an helical support surface 22 is reversibly drivable from a storage position (24), in which it is compactly stored with adjacent helical turns closely spaced, to an operative position (26), in which adjacent helical turns are spaced apart to allow a stack of the articles to be conveyed. Pairs of pinch rollers (28) engaging the inner edge of the strip (22) are provided for moving the strip. The strip (22) may be made up of a series of substantially annular sections, each of which has been severed along a substantially radial line, and with adjacent sections joined to each other in stacked formation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Reservoir for Rod-like Articles This invention relates to a reservoir for rod-like articles and, in particular, to a variable capacity reservoir for articles of the tobacco industry such as cigarettes or cigarette filter rods.

According to one aspect of the invention a reservoir for rod-like articles includes a substantially continuous support surface defining an helically-extending path for rod-like articles in stack formation, said surface consisting of a plurality of sections connected at junctions extending generally transverse of said path.

Preferably each section comprises a relatively thin strip, which may be in the form of an open-ended substantially annular disc. Such a disc may be produced from an annular disc by severing the disc along a substantially radial line. Alternatively each section could consist of part of an annular disc, e.g. half a disc produced by cutting the disc on a diameter.

Thus the support surface of the reservoir may comprise a generally flat strip of steel or plastics material made up of a series of, preferably substantially annular, sections, each of which has been severed along a substantially radial line, and with adjacent sections joined to each other in stacked formation. The strip or surface may be provided with corrugations or other projections to aid conveyance of the articles supported.

According to another aspect of the invention a reservoir for rod-like articles comprises support means having an helically-extending support surface progressively and reversibly drivable from a storage position, in which it is compactly stored with adjacent helical turns closely spaced, to an operative position, in which adjacent helical turns are spaced apart to allow a stack of rod-like articles to be conveyed, including drive means for engaging successive increments of said support means to convey it past said drive means.

Preferably the drive means includes at least one friction roller engaging the surface. Preferably the support surface is formed on a relatively thin strip the inner or outer edge of which is gripped between a plurality of pairs of pinch friction rollers.

The reservoir preferably extends generally vertically with drive rollers rotatable about approximately horizontal axes. The roller or rollers may be driven from a substantially vertical drive shaft extending inside the reservoir. Substantially horizontally extending guide channels (which may be discontinuous) may be provided for the surface, at least in its operative position.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a conveyor system for cigarettes, including a variable capacity reservoir, Figure 2 is a plan view of the reservoir of Figure 1,and Figure 3 Is a perspective view of a part of the reservoir of Figure 1.

The conveyor system shown in Figure 1 forms part of a system linking a cigarette making machine to a cigarette packing machine. The system includes a conveyor 2 along which cigarettes are moved in stack formation to a junction 4. A downdrop or chute 6 leads from the junction 4 to a low-level horizontal conveyor 8 and subsequently to an elevator 1 0. A short further conveyor section 12 leads from the top of the elevator 10 to a hopper 1 4 of the packing machine.A reversible cantilevered conveyor 1 6 connects the junction 4 to a variable capacity reservoir 1 8. A sensor 20 is positioned over the junction 4 and controls the speed and/or direction of conveyor 1 6. The general arrangement so far described and its control is known; for further details of construction and operation reference is directed to British Patent Specifications Nos.

1,299,174 and 1,453,191 and US Patent Specifications Nos. 4,099,608 and 4,120,391.

The reservoir 1 8 comprises an helical strip 22 of thin sheet material, e.g. steel or plastics. The strip 22 may be maintained in a lower compact storage position 24, with adjacent helical turns closely spaced, or may be driven upwards, past the end of conveyor 16, into an operative position 26 with sufficient spacing between adjacent turns to receive and convey a stack of cigarettes from the conveyor 1 6. In order to progressively advance the strip 22 from the storage position 24 to the operative position 26, and vice-versa, the strip is engaged on its inner edge between pairs of friction rollers 28, the upper roller of each pair being driven by an approximately horizontal drive shaft 30, as shown in Figure 2.The lower roller of each pair may be an idler roller and means (not shown) are preferably provided for urging the upper and lower rollers together. The drive shafts 30 are driven from a common vertical main drive shaft 32. There may be several sets of verticallydisposed drive shafts 30 and rollers 28. The helical path of the strip 22 in the operative position 26 is additionally defined by outer and inner guide channels 34 supported by vertical posts 36.

The strip 22 may include corrugations or ribs 38 to aid traction of the cigarettes conveyed. The ribs 38 do not extend to the outer edge of the strip 22; in an alternative arrangement the strip 22 might be provided with full width ribs which engage with appropriately-adapted drive means replacing the rollers 28, so that the ribs provide traction for the strip as weli as for the conveyed cigarettes. The end of the strip 22 has an upstanding plate 40 to bound the leading end of a stack in the reservoir 18.

When the reservoir 18 is empty the strip 22 lies almost entirely in the stored position 24, the plate 40 being closely adjacent the end of conveyor 1 6. When it is desired to load cigarettes into the reservoir 1 8 the strip 22 is advanced upwards, at a speed dependent on the speed of conveyor 16, so that an helically-extending stack is received on the strip 22 and advanced upwards into the reservoir. In order to unload the reservoir, when required, the strip 22 is driven in the reverse direction, also at a speed dependent on the speed of conveyor 1 6, which in turn is controlled by conditions at the junction 4 as sensed by the sensor 20.

The construction of the helical strip 22 is indicated in Figure 3. Annular discs 42 are produced and cut radially at one position. Discs 42 are then joined together (e.g. by welding) by connecting one of the open ends of the disc thus formed to that of other dics stacked immediately above it and the other end so that of another disc stacked immediately beiow it, as indicated at 44 in Figure 3. A plurality of such discs 42 joined together in this manner forms the required helical strip in a particularly simple and effective way.

Instead of using complete discs 42 parts of discs could be used, so that the strip 22 would contain more junctions for a given length.

Claims

1. A reservoir for rod-like articles, comprising a substantially continuous support surface defining an helically extending path for rod-like articles in stack formation, said surface consisting of a plurality of sections connected at junctions extending generally transverse of said path.

2. A reservoir according to claim 1, wherein each section comprises a relatively thin strip.

3. A reservoir according to claim 1 or claim 2, including sections which comprise open-ended substantially annular discs.

4. A reservoir according to claim 3, wherein said discs are connected together in series in stacked formation.

5. A reservoir according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said discs are connected along substantially radial lines.

6. A reservoir according to any preceding claim, wherein the support surface carries means for increasing traction of conveyed rod-like articles.

7. A reservoir according to any preceding claim, including guide means for said surface defining a storage position, in which adjacent helical turns are closely spaced, and an operative position, in which adjacent helical turns are spaced apart to allow a stack of rod-like articles to be conveyed.

8. A reservoir according to any preceding claim, including drive means for engaging successive increments of the surface to convey it past the drive means.

9. A reservoir for rod-like articles, comprising support means having an helically-extending support surface progressively and reversibly drivable from a storage position, in which it is compactly stored with adjacent turns closely spaced, to an operative position, in which adjacent helical turns are spaced apart to allow a stack of rod-like articles to be conveyed, including drive means for engaging successive increments of the support means to convey it past the drive means.

10. A reservoir according to claim 9, wherein the support surface comprises a relatively thin strip, at least one edge portion of which is engaged by said drive means.

11. A reservoir according to claim 10, wherein said drive means comprises a plurality of rollers between which said edge portion of said strip is moved.

12. A reservoir according to claim 9, wherein the drive means includes at least one drive roller engaging said surface.

1 3. A reservoir according to claim 12, wherein the axis of said helically-extending support surface is substantially vertical, and said roller is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis.

14. A reservoir according to claim 13, including a plurality of drive rollers and a common substantially vertical drive shaft drivingly connected to said rollers.

1 5. A reservoir according to any of claims 9 to 14, including a guide channel for said surface in said operative position, said channel engaging and extending along an edge portion of said surface.

1 6. A reservoir for rod-like articles, substantially as herein described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.