Patent ID: 6336896
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: A24C,A24D

Abstract:
An automatic filter tip making machine comprising:a rotatable disc adapted to intermittently rotate in predetermined angular increments; a plurality of first air pressure cylinders equidistantly spaced around an outer circumferential edge of said rotatable disc and affixed thereto, each of said plurality of first air pressure cylinders being rotatable through 180 degrees; a plurality of pairs of first clamp fingers spaced around said outer circumferential edge of said rotatable disc and extending therefrom, said plurality of pairs of first clamp fingers being respectively operatively coupled to said plurality of first air pressure cylinders; a first device disposed adjacent said outer circumferential edge of said disc for supplying a filter tip b to a corresponding pair of said pairs of first clamp fingers; a second device disposed adjacent said outer circumferential edge of said disc and angularly spaced from said first device by said predetermined angular increment, said second device including at least a pair of second clamp fingers for clamping fiber filter material supplied thereto, said pair of second clamp fingers being displaceable to insert said fiber filter material into a respective filter tip b; a third device disposed adjacent said outer circumferential edge of said disc and angularly spaced from said second device by said predetermined angular increment, said third device including at least a pair of third clamp fingers for clamping a respective filter tip c supplied thereto, said pair of third clamp fingers being displaceable into alignment with a respective filter tip b and a second air pressure cylinder for pressing said filter tip c into coupling engagement with said filter tip b; a fourth device including a plurality of third air pressure cylinders respectively coupled to said plurality of first air pressure cylinders for rotating said plurality of first air pressure cylinders through 180 degrees to invert said coupled filter tips b and filter tip c and direct a lower end of said filter tip b upwardly; a fifth device disposed adjacent said outer circumferential edge of said disc and angularly spaced from said third device by two of said predetermined angular increments, said fifth device including a vibrator and a feeding disk for dispensing a chemical powder to said lower end of a respective filter tip b; a sixth device disposed adjacent said outer circumferential edge of said disc and angularly spaced from said fifth device by said predetermined angular increment, said sixth device including at least a pair of fourth clamp fingers for clamping fiber filter material supplied thereto, said pair of fourth clamp fingers being displaceable to insert said fiber filter material into said lower end of a respective filter tip b; a seventh device disposed adjacent said outer circumferential edge of said disc and angularly spaced from said sixth device by said predetermined angular increment, said seventh device including at least a pair of fifth clamp fingers for clamping a respective filter tip a supplied thereto, said pair of fifth clamp fingers being displaceable into alignment with said lower end of a respective filter tip b and a fourth air pressure cylinder for pressing said filter tip a into coupling engagement with said lower end of said filter tip b to form a three stage filter; and, a eighth device disposed adjacent said outer circumferential edge of said disc and angularly spaced from said seventh device by said predetermined angular increment, said eighth device receiving said three stage filter from a respective pair of first clamp fingers, said eighth device including means for checking and counting said three stage filters received thereby.