Patent GB-958406-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for collecting cigarettes
IPC: A24C5/354
Filed: 1961-09-22
Abstract: 958,406. Packaging-machines. D. T. N. WILLIAMSON, and MOLINS MACHINE CO. Ltd. Sept. 21, 1962 [Sept. 22, 1961], No. 34027/61. Headings B8C, B8D and B8H. A container filling apparatus, in which cigarettes C are stacked in a container 42 in rows so that the pitch of adjacent cigarettes in any row is equal to the cigarette diameter times the square root of three, comprises a catcher band 4 having flutes 3 spaced apart as abovo, and a transfer head 21 together with means for moving the cigarretes from the band 4 to the container 42 via the transfer head. The base of the container 42 is provided with projections 43 which enable the cigarettes to be stacked as required above. The band 4 is provided with bars 5 which engage teeth 6 on a driving pulley 7 and a tail pulley 10. The return run of the band 4 passes over a roller 51, operated by a cam 11, and about a roller 12 carried on an arm 13 which is tensioned by a spring 14. The transfer head 21 is fixed to four posts 20, which are slidably mounted in two brackets, and is urged upwards by springs 22. The transfer head comprises a series of segments 28 provided with upper and lower ports 29, 30 which communicate with grooves 31 on the underside of the segments 28 through vertical holes 32 and slanting holes 33 respectively. The upper ports 29 communicate with a source of suction and the lower ports 30 with a source of compressed air. Cigarettes C are fed by a deflector 2 into the flutes 3 of the band 4 and advanced towards the pulley 10 until the first cigarette is detected by a photo-electric cell 47 which then causes the shaft of the pulley 10 to lock and a magnetic clutch to engage the shaft 49 of the cam 11. The portion of the band 4 between the pulley 10 and idlers 15, 16 is then at rest while the remainder of the belt continues advancing, the cam 11 and roller 12 moving to provide the extra length of band required. The transfer head 21 is lowered and suction is applied to the ports 29 to lift the cigarettes from the band. Compressed air is also applied to the ports 30 so that a state of equilibrium is achieved with the cigarettes out of contact with the grooves 31. Air issuing from the holes 33 behind the cigarettes causes them to be moved along the grooves 31. They are dropped into the container 42 by cutting off the suction supply. The container 42 is arranged to travel downwards a distance equal to the radius of the cigarettes between the discharge of successive rows. As soon as the cigarettes have been lifted from the band 4 the brake 17 is released and tension in the lower part of the band due to the action of the spring 14 and the cam 11, which starts to rise, causes it to accelerate and use up the loop formed between the pulley 7 and the idlers 15, 16. After one complete revolution of the shaft 49 a micro-switch actuates the magnetic clutch to disconnect the drive. In a further embodiment, Figs. 8-10 (not shown), the catcher band 4 is divided into two continuous parts. A short band driven by the pulley 7 runs between the two bands. Two longitudinal apertured chambers beneath the transfer head are connected to a source of compressed air so that when the valve is open the cigarettes C are blown up towards the transfer head.