GB994813A - Apparatus for varying the feed path of rod-like articles moved transversely to theiraxes - Google Patents

Abstract

994,813. Cigarette-making machines. K. KÍRBER. Sept. 19, 1962, No. 35619/62. Heading A2C. A device for varying the feed path of cigarettes conveyed transversely to their longitudinal axes comprise a conveyer provided with holders for the cigarettes which holders are adapted to be pivoted relatively to the conveyer transversely to their longitiudinal axes. As shown, two oppositely faced rows of cigarettes are transferred from a cutting drum 4 (Fig. 1) to alternate pairs of holders 14, 15 of a conveyer drum 1 rotatably mounted on a shaft 3. The row of cigarettes in the holders 15 is directly transferred to a grooved belt 5, the other row being guided in the holders 14 by guides 7 and 8. The holders are mounted between walls 13 and are pivotally mounted at their mutually facing ends. The other ends of the holders are provided with pins 16 which co-operate with guides 11 and 12 so shaped that during rotation of the drum the holders are pivoted towards each other and the cigarettes held in the holders 14 are transferred to the holders 15 for delivery to the belt 5 to form a single row of cigarettes all facing the same way. The holders 14, 15 are provided with bores 39, 36 (Fig. 4) which communicate with a bore 34 in a bearing pin 31. The pin 31 has a slot 35 communicating with a radial air duct in the drum 1 which in turn leads to slots 26 and 17 in the shaft 3 (Fig. 3). The slots are connected to a suction duct 22. An opening 23 in the shaft 3 leads to a compressed air duct 21. Suction is applied to the holders 14 via the slot 27 and to the holders 15 via a slot 26. In operation, suction is applied to holders 14 and 15 as pairs of cigarettes are taken from the drum 4, the suction being shut off from the holders 15 when the cigarettes are deposited on the belt 5. Suction is applied to the holders 14 until the point of transference of the cigarettes therein to the holders 15 when suction is cut off from the holders 14, a blast of air is applied through the bores 39 via the opening 23 and suction is again applied to the holders 15. In alternative arrangements, cigarettes may be held in the grooves of the holders by further guides instead of by suction (Figs. 5 and 6, not shown), and instead of the guides 11, 12 and pins 16 the holders may be pivoted by a rack and pinion arrangement (Figs. 7-9, not shown), or by guide rollers on the holders which co-operate with suitably shaped cam members (Figs. 10 and 11, not shown). In a further embodiment (Figs. 12 and 13, not shown) a divided turning conveyer drum is employed, each section of which is provided with a single set of holders which have a limited pivotal movement, the transference of the cigarettes from the holders on one section of the drum to those of the other section being effected by bevel-like intermediate conveyer members.