Patent GB-1280835-A (GB)
Title: Arrangement for supplying rod-like articles in bulk to a storage means
Inventor: BORNFLETH ULRICH
IPC: A24C5/352
Filed: 1968-11-25
Abstract: 1280835 Cigarette packaging apparatus; endless conveyers HAUNI-WERKE KORBER & CO KG 9 Sept 1969 [25 Nov 1968] 55852/68 Headings B8A and B8C An automatic storage and transfer arrangement for cigarettes between a cigarette making machine and a packaging machine comprises an intermittently-operatable storage conveyer unit 6 for successively transporting filled trays 2b of cigarettes from a tray filler 1 of the cigarette machine and for accumulating a reservoir of full trays thereon, a conveyer 95, (96) for successively raising a filled tray from conveyer unit 6 to a tiltable magazine-filling device 3 for moving the tray into an emptying position E above a magazine 4 of the packaging machine, and an intermittently-operable storage conveyer unit 7 arranged vertically above the conveyer unit 6 for transporting the empty trays 2a directly back to the filler 1 and for accumulating a reservoir of empty trays thereon. As a tray is lowered stepwise by carriers 15, 16 on a conveyer chain 13, (14) of the filler and filled with layers of cigarettes, it actuates a sensor 122 which operates to release magnetically-operated retainer 94 to release the foremost of the empty trays 26 which is carried by belts 66, (67) of the conveyer unit 7 into the filler. The filled tray meanwhile seats on the conveyer belts 54, (55) of the conveyer unit 6 and actuates a switch 115 to actuate conveyer drive motor 64 to carry the filled tray therealong to a magnetically-operated retainer 65. A switch 114, actuated by an empty tray discharged from the magazine filling device starts a motor 109 which drives the conveyer 95, (96) to raise a foremost full tray released by the retainer 65 on carriers 99, (101) of the conveyer. The raised tray enters the base of a pivotal and reciprocable tray-support 18 of the magazine filling device past spring-loaded dogs 44 (Fig. 3, not shown), which support the tray in the holder whilst the drive motor 109 is reversed to return the carriers 99, (101) to their lowermost position. In response to control means (not shown) responding to cigarette level in the magazine, the tray-support and filled tray is moved along a shaft 24 from the tray-receiving position U to a position E and tilted over the magazine to empty the tray, and the empty tray and support moved back to the tray-receiving position U by a drive (not shown). During the return movement of the support and tray, a switch 123 is operated to actuate a piston and cylinder unit 88 which moves a carriage 82, comprising pulleys 71, 72 around which the belts of the conveyer unit 7 pass, to a position below the support and empty tray. The tray support drive (not shown) pivots the support to a vertical position when positioned over the conveyer unit 7 whereupon a cam 92 on the carriage pivots the locking dogs 44 at the base of the support to a release position so that the empty tray drops on to the conveyer 7 and actuates a switch 114. The piston and cylinder unit 88 is retracted and simultaneously, by release of a switch 112, the motor 74 driving the belts of conveyer 7 is started to move the empty tray laterally out of the tray holder past spring-loaded tray-retaining latches 25 of the holder, Figs. 3 and 4 (not shown), towards the empty tray retainers 94. The conveyer units 6 and 7 provide a buffer or storage station for full and empty trays respectively. The conveyer unit 6 is provided with a detector 117 which is operated by an excessive number of full trays on the conveyer and causes the cigarette making machine to operate at reduced speed, when for example, a fault occurs in the packaging machine. If the number of full trays still increases, a detector switch 118 actuates a signal light to indicate that a pivotal plate 10 lying below and between the top runs of the conveyer belts should be manually raised to lift some of the filled trays off the conveyer for manual removal. If the warning is ignored, a further detector 116 is actuated by an incoming tray, and the cigarette-making machine is shut down. If on the other hand, the number of full trays decreases due to an inoperative cigarette-making machine, a detector 119 actuates the signal light. If the machine is left and all the full trays are utilized, a detector 12 functions to shut down the motor of the packaging machine. Alternatively or-additionally, the conveyer unit 7 is provided with means-controlling the operation of the cigarette making machine and the packaging machine.