Patent GB-1042141-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for automatically delivering cigaretes or other rod-like articles into containers
Inventor: KOCHALSKI HORST
IPC: A24C5/354
Filed: 1961-08-18
Abstract: 1,042,141. Packaging cigarettes and associated articles. K. KÍRBER. Aug. 13, 1962 [Aug. 18, 1961], No. 29884/61. Heading B8C. Holders 9 (Fig. 1) which carry storage trays 16, of the type used in packaging cigarettes, in a closed path through a filling station include means for holding the containers in place. As shown, the trays are gripped between a flexibly mounted rail 50 (Fig. 3, not shown) and an adjustable rail 51 and are further located by a stop 55, which limits the extent by which the tray may move laterally on to the holders, a guide rail 54, a pivot arm 57 which can deflect over the leading wall of a tray to fall in front of its rear wall, and a blade spring 58 which is compressed by the tray. General arrangement.-The trays are brought to the machine on a trolley 160 (Fig. 10, not shown) coupled to indexing mechanism 166, 161 so that, after each tray has been drawn into the filler machine and subsequently returned full, the trolley 160 is automatically moved along to place a further tray in register with the machine. Rows of cigarettes picked up by a suction member 151 are pushed into the tray on the holder 9 by a plunger 150. During this operation the holder 9 rests on a platform 17 (Fig. 1) which is lowered in steps on guides 18 under the control of a chain 131 (Fig. 9, not shown) controlled by an escapement 132, 133, 134. The initial downward movement of the platform 17 may be positive. The holders 9 are pushed on to the platform 17, while the platform is in its upper position by pushers 13 (Fig. 1) driven by chains 77. When the platform 17 reaches its lowermost position, the holder 9 is pushed from it by a frame 93 driven through levers 98, 101 from a ram 102 and damper 103. By this means the holder 9 is delivered to a carriage 24 moved vertically by a chain 26 to return the holder 9 to its initial position. As the holder 9 moves on to the elevator 24 it engages a stop 109 to release a catch 110 permitting the platform 17 to be raised to engage beneath a second holder 9 which has been pushed by the pushers 13 on to rests 66 (Fig. 4, not shown) which are retracted after the platform 17 has been raised. The first two rows of cigarettes may be placed in the tray while the holder rests on the stops 66. Pawls 12 support the holder 9 after the carriage 24 has been retracted from beneath it. Delivering the trays to and from the holders.- The trays 125 (Fig. 8, not shown) are moved between the trolley 160 (Fig. 10, not shown) and the holders 9 by a pawl 124 (Fig. 8, not shown) which can swing over the front wall of the tray as the tray is moved by the trolley 160 into register with the machine. The pawl 124 is carried by a slide 4 provided with pawls 126, 127 adapted for engagement with chains 7, 8 continuously moving in opposite directions. The pawls 126, 127 are released automatically by cam rollers 118 at the ends of the path of movement of the carriage 4, and are re-engaged, when the tray is to be moved, by a fixed ram 122 acting through a lever 117. Withdrawing sliding covers.-A bead 91 (Fig. 5, not shown) on a sliding cover on the tray engages between a bracket 62 and a pivoted lever 90 on a yoke 42 slidably mounted (Fig. 3, not shown) on the holder 9. As the holder 9 is lowered on the platform 7 the yoke 42, and sliding cover, are held stationary by hooks 84 (Fig. 5, not shown) which engage in angle members 51 on the yoke 42. When the tray has been lowered to the point at which filling is complete, a cam on the platform 17 operates an air valve to cause a ram 78 to pivot the hooks 84, releasing the yoke 42 so that the sliding cover can fall into the closed position. These mechanisms may be removed when the machine is to handle trays not fitted with covers. All the motions of the machine are effected pneumatically under the control of cams, limit valves, and, for initiating the operation manually, a solenoid-operated valve.