Patent GB-637850-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the packing or handling of cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles
IPC: A24C5/356
Filed: 1948-05-04
Abstract: 637,850. Feeding cigarettes to hoppers. MOLINS, D. W., RUAU, F. F., and MOLINS MACHINE CO., Ltd. May 4, 1948, Nos. 12277, 12672 and 27791. [Class 78 (i)] Apparatus for discharging the contents of cigarette trays comprises (Fig. 1) a charger 2 adapted to receive a filled tray 1 and pivotally mounted (at 16) adjacent a cigarette hopper 3 ; charger closure means 6 ; and means to invert the charger by swinging it about its pivot from the loading position to the discharging position above the hopper ; said closure means including a movable part 14 which supports the mass of cigarettes in the charger at the discharging position and is then withdrawn to permit the cigarettes to fall into the hopper. The charger 2, Figs. 2, 3, 4, has a front wall 6 pivoted at 7 to the base 4 and secured by latches 8. These latches are fixed to the ends of a rotatable rod 11 and are released under the influence of springs 9 by the depression of handles 12. Pivoted to the charger at 31 is a framework 13 which has a top extension 14, for holding the cigarettes as the charger rotates, and carries a roller 20 to engage a latch 19 pivoted at 11 to frontwall 6. The latch is operated by a roller 29 through linkage 26, bell crank lever 25 pivoted to 6 at 23, plate 33, and lever 32 ; and is restored by spring 21. When the latch is released, the framework is forced away by springs 30 on the wall 6 and pivots about 7, its opening movement being limited by pins 82 moving in slots in links 83 on the front wall. A plate 76 on the charger engages with aperture 77 to secure the charger in the inverted position over hopper 3, the charger being held between the guides 17 and 18, Fig. 1, and cam face 81 which operates roller 29 to release latch 19 to allow the framework 13 to spring open to allow the cigarettes to fall, the pivoted wall 6 remaining in position. Thus the wall 6 is lowered manually for charging, and the framework 13 pivots automatically for discharge. Movement of the filled charger from the position of Fig. 1 to the inverted position over hopper 3 and back again is effected by a motor 91 through a onerevolution clutch started by a push-button and stopped automatically. A safety device is provided to ensure that framework 13 is closed before the motor may be clutched in. An alternative electrical drive (Fig. 2) comprises an electric motor placed in series with two switches 94 and 95, which are themselves arranged in parallel. Switch 94 is broken when the charger returns to the loading position after one complete swing and switch 95 is made when framework 13 is closed and thus causes arm 96 of bellcrank 98, 96 to strike the switch. The swing movement is started by pressing the appropriate switch in the electric circuit. In order to accommodate the charger 2 in its discharging position over the receiving hopper 3, the frontwall of the hopper is pivoted and is weighted so that it normally pivots away from the hopper backwall and, when the charge of cigarettes is released, it is moved by a handle towards the backwall. In a modification, Fig. 9, for semi-automatic action, the charger 2 swings back to the loadings position with the framework 13 in the open position. A roller 116 on latch 8 strikes a cam plate 117 and releases the charger frontwall 6 which opens, pivoting about 7 and, by means of a spring catch, drags out the empty cigarette tray with it. The fall of frontwall 6 together with framework 13 is steadied by rollers 124 mounted on a pivoted lever 122 connected to a dashpot 125 and restoring spring 126. In a modified charger (not shown) the pivoted wall 6 of the charger has two horizontal slotted members to retain the tray by means of the abutments of the latter, and the cigarettes are retained by a plate slidable in the slots and are discharged by removal of the plate. The charger is resiliently pivoted to the oscillating arm 15. Specifications 430,742, [Group VI], and 549,875 are referred to.