Patent GB-1352631-A (GB)
Title: Machine for producing rod-like articles such as cigarettes filters  or the like
IPC: A24C5/31
Filed: 1971-04-19
Abstract: 1352631 Continuous rod making-machines HAUNI-WERKE KORBER & CO KG 19  April 1971 [7 Feb 1970 6 May 1970] 21316/71 Heading A2C [Also in Divisions B8 and G3] A continuous rod machine for producing rod-like articles such as cigarettes, cigars or filter rods comprises a main drive for driving the machine means for generating signals for altering the speed of the main drive from a low operating speed to a high operating speed and control means responsive to the signals and including means for retarding the acceleration of the main drive during the speed alteration. As shown, the drive motor 64 of a cigarette rod machine is controlled in dependence on the level of cigarettes 101 in a magazine 4 intermediate the rod machine (1) or a filter attachment machine (2) and a packing machine (12), Figs. 1-4, (not shown). Lightcontrol units 106, 107, Fig. 5, check the upper and lower, levels and produce output signals to run the motor 64 at a high or low speed. The control arrangement is associated with an electrically controllable clutch 371, Fig. 11, between a three-phase asynchronous motor 64 and the shaft 372 of the rod machine. An alternative arrangement utilises photo-electronic light control devices 123, 124, Fig. 7 to count the cigarettes 101 in an intermediate store 111  and to pass the counted result as a digital signal to a digital-analog converter 125, the output voltage of which is a measure of the number of cigarettes rejected by a blower nozzle 122; i.e. a measure of cigarettes absent at the packing machine. This signal is used to control the speed of the rod machine drive motor 64, in this case a d.c. motor controlled by a thyristor amplifier 251, Fig. 9. A comparator 257 receives a signal for the actual motor speed via a tachometer generator 261 as well as the signal for the desired speed via a delay device 256 which retards the acceleration. Another arrangement involves a three phase asychronous squirrel cage motor with a frequency converter Fig. 10, (not shown), controlling the frequency and voltage. An auxiliary counter 127, Fig. 7, produces an energising signal for the motor 130 driving the packing machine after a pre-selected count. The control arrangements all include manual switches 61, 62, 63, for starting the machine 64 at low speed, running it at high speed or stopping it respectively and include the means for retarding acceleration so as to obtain smooth changing between the speeds. These means include a three-phase transformer, Fig. 8, (not shown), for controlling the drive motor, or a torque converter device between the motor and a drive shaft of the rod machine, Fig. 12 (not shown), the device including cored pulleys which are adjustably spaced by an electric servo motor to vary the transmission ratio and limit switches being provided for limiting the upper and lower speeds. The speed change is made dependent on sensing the diameter of an old reel of cigarette paper, which is changed over and a new reel spliced at the lower speed, Fig. 2, (not shown). The cigarette rod machine includes means for maintaining the tobacco supply constant by sensing its bulk, Fig. 3, (not shown).