Patent GB-316039-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for arranging cigarettes or the like, provided with imprints, for packing or the like
IPC: B65B19/06
Filed: 1928-08-27
Abstract: 316,039. Universelle Cigaretten-maschinenfabrik J. C. M³ller & Co., and Hohn, M. P. E. Aug. 27, 1928. Packeting cigarettes &c.-Relates to apparatus for arranging cigarettes &c. with imprints, so that, on subsequent packeting, all the imprints are turned in the same direction. The cigarettes are caused to pass beneath a selenium or photoelectric cell so that the intensity of the light rays reflected from the cigarettes depends upon whether the imprint is directed towards the cell or not. The differences in intensity, converted into electrical energy by the heat or light-sensitive medium, are used to control mechanical means for turning cigarettes with reversed imprints into their correct positions. As shown, two high candle-power projectors 1, Fig. 1, are arranged so that lenses 4, 5, cause parallel rays from directions at right angles to fall upon a cigarette Z. The rays are reflected upwards into a casing 6, and through a, lens 8, to cause them to fall in parallel formation upon a photo-electric cell 9. In another arrangement, two cells are mounted in the position occupied by the projectors 1, Fig. 1, and a single projector is mounted in the centre. The light is directed upon that part of the cigarette where the imprint should be, and, if no imprint is presented, the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is operated to turn the cigarettes about 180‹. The cigarettes Z, of oval cross-section, rest in seatings 10 on chains 11 with the ends projecting. A rock lever 14, on a hollow axis 15 in a bearing 16, is swung to and fro, at the same speed as that of the chain, by an arm 17. The upper end of the lever carries a bearing 18 in which are mounted the shanks 23, 24, of a pair of grippers 25, 26, urged together by a spring 27 and normally held open by a cone 28. The cone is adapted to be moved horizontally by an arm 31, pivoted at 34 on a boss on the lever 14. The lower end of the arm 31 engages a rod 36 slidable in the hollow axis 15. In the normal working of the machine, the rod 36 is prevented from moving to the left under the influence of a spring 35 by a bolt 39 held upwards by a hook 45 on a locking lever 44. If an incorrectly placed cigarette passes the detecting means, a circuit is interrupted and an armature 47 ceases to attract the top end of the lever 44, so that that bolt is released, and the jaws 25, 26, are closed by the spring 35 moving the lever 31 and the cone 28. The jaws are thus closed upon the incorrectly placed cigarette and, by means of worm gears 21, 51, rotate the cigarette through 180‹ during the travel of the lever 14 in the direction of the chain 11. The parts are reset in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a cam raising the bolt 39, an inclined face 49 on which forces the rod 36 to the right. In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the cigarettes Z arrive beneath the detecting device 9 on chain 11. The reflected light affects the device 9 so that an electromagnet 55. attracts a lever 57, against the action of a spring 59, and causes it to move a pin 63 on a drum 64. When an incorrectly placed cigarette passes the detector, the stronger excitation of the photo-electric cell is utilized to prevent the electric magnet 55 from being energized. The corresponding pin 63 is therefore not moved and ultimately contacts with a lever 68, which, by means of a wedge, moves a gripping pin 73 longitudinally slidable on a drum 74, so that an oval recess at 75 at the end engages the end of the cigarette. A similar device is caused by duplicating gear to grip the other end of the cigarette. The rotation of the drums 74 is timed with that of the movement of the chain 11 to engage the incorrectly placed cigarette and to deposit it at x, Fig. 5, in the same channel 10 from which it had been taken, after turning it through 180‹. The distance of the detector 9 from the point of engagement is arranged so that the rod which has not been displaced arrives there at the same time as the cigarette to be turned. The parts are reset by guides. In the form shown in Fig. 13, the seatings 10 in which the cigarettes are advanced through the machine are gapped to allow rollers 91, 92 of sponge rubber to engage and turn over a cigarette which is incorrectly placed. The lower roller 92 is movable and is moved into the operative position by gearing operated by a detector on the same principle as that described in connection with Figs. 5 and 6.