Patent ID: 6298976
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B65B,B65G

Abstract:
A device for assembling article groups from layers of rod-shaped articles used in the tobacco-processing industry, wherein the rod-shaped articles are stacked one above the other and side-by-side in group forming bins that are intermittently movable in a forward direction, said device comprising:a number of funnels that correspond, respectively, to the number of the article layers, each funnel being divided into chutes, the chutes of each funnel receiving the rod-shaped articles at chute inlets and being arranged for dropping the rod-shaped articles at chute outlets to form a layer of parallel aligned rod-shaped articles;a number of platforms each disposed at the chute outlets of a respective one of the funnels for receiving the respective layer of parallel aligned rod-shaped articles, the platforms being staggered at successively different heights to define respective layer planes;transfer push-rods associated with a respective one of the funnels and movable in the axial direction of the rod-shaped articles for pushing a respective one of the layers into a group forming bin, each transfer rod being disposed at a level corresponding to a height of the respective layer plane and having an elongated slot; anda phantom article arranged at one of the chute outlets of each funnel that corresponds to a placement of the elongated slot in a respective one of the transfer push rods, each phantom article being displaceable crosswise to the axial direction of the rod-shaped articles in the respective layer.