Patent GB-1351619-A (GB)
Title: Conveying rod-like articles in the tobacco handling industry
IPC: A24C5/32
Filed: 1971-04-26
Abstract: 1351619 Pneumatic conveyers HAUNIWERKE KORBER & CO KG 26 April 1971 [6 May 1970] 11434/71 Heading B8A and B8S Apparatus for pneumatically distributing rodlike articles, e.g. filter rods, from a rod making machine 1 to a series of machines, e.g. filter attachment machines 6a-6d comprises a container 2 fed with rods by the machine 1 and having transfer means 7a-7d to transfer the rods to respective pneumatic delivery tubes 4a-4d which deliver the rods to magazines 9a- 9d on the machines 6a-6d. Measuring means 8a-8d associated with magazines 9a-9d detect upper and lower limits to control the operation of the transfer means 7a-7d. Further measuring means 14 associated with the container 2 controls the operating speed of the machine 1. In operation the rods are fed by the machine 1 to a pocket wheel 21 and then delivered to an endless conveyer 23 mounted for reciprocal movement over the container 2 to provide for even distribution of rods therein located at the lower end of the container 2 are the transfer means 7a-7d each comprising a pair of ducts 46a 47a having reciprocal rollers 49 at their uppers and each provided with a hook shaped stop member 51a-52a controllable by the measuring means 8a. Tubes 57a, 58a are provided at the lower ends of the ducts 46a, 47a between two flanges 54a, 56a, the latter bearing on a stationary flange 59a with bores 61a, 62a, 63a. The flanges 54a, 56a are reciprocal in the direction of arrow 51a such that in one end position the tube 58a is in alignment with the lowermost rod in the duct 47a and the bore 62a to which suction is applied to transfer the rod in to the tube 58a and the tube 57a is in alignment with the pipe 4a and the bore 62a. At the other end position the tube 57a is in alignment with the lowermost rod in the duct 46a and the bore 61a to which suction is applied to transfer the rod to the tube 57a and the tube 58a is in alignment with the pipe 4a and the bore 62a to which compressed air is applied to convey the rod along the pipe 4a. In a further embodiment, Figs. 7, 9, 10 the filter rods are delivered from the rod making machine to a pocket wheel (221) wherein the rods are held by suction and conveyed past the inlet of the pipes 204a-204d connecting the distributer with the filter attachment machines. Level sensors located in the magazines of the filter attachment machines control appropriate valves to feed compressed air through pipes (237a- 237d) and (227a-227d) to release the rods from the pockets and convey them along the pipe. The magazine with the lowest level taking precedent over the other magazines. If the magazines are full the rods are discharged from the wheel (221) into a pipe (204e) feeding a buffer store (216), from which the rods may be retrieved by a pocket wheel (217) feeding the pocket wheel (221). In a still further embodiment, Fig. 12 (not shown) filter rods from a supply pipe (441) connected to a rod making machine (401) are accelerated by a pair of rotary wheels (442), (443) and fed to a slide way (421) having channels (422a-422d) and movable to align one of the channels and associated feed pipe (404a)-(404e) with the supply pipe (441). The position of the slideway being controlled by level sensers in the magazines of the filter attachment machines, with the magazine with the lowest level taking precedent.