Patent GB-1223806-A (GB)
Title: Cigarette packing machines
IPC: B65B19/24
Filed: 1969-05-29
Abstract: 1,223,806. Packaging. AMF Inc. 29 May, 1969 [11 June, 1968], No. 27190/69. Heading B8C. A packing machine for rod like articles, e.g. cigarettes, comprises a first conveyer 1 having a plurality of spaced containers 8 in each of which a group of articles of predetermined number are arranged, and a second conveyer 2 having a plurality of spaced arbors 12 about each of which a wrapper pack for said articles is formed the containers 8 corresponding in number and position to the arbors 12 and the conveyers each moving in a distinct closed path a portion of each of which being in common so that the containers 8 and arbors 12 are axially aligned. A pusher 16, is included for axially transforming each group of said articles from said containers to an associated arbor and means for compressing the articles, e.g. compressor pocket 14, in the group to fit within the pack and for removing the pack so filled with the articles therefrom are also provided. The means for transferring and removing the articles are mounted to move conjointly with the first and second conveyers during the common portion of their paths. As shown, the conveyer chains 1, 2 pass respectively around sprocket wheels 112, 203 and, with an intervening disc 305 having open radial notches 14, are rotatably mounted for synchronous movement upon a fixed shaft 5, rings of connectors 13 and compressors 14, Fig. 2, being mounted about the notches 14 on the respective sides of the disc 305. Each compressor, 14, Fig. 2, comprises a pair of parallel jaws 307 which slide on inclined guides 308A to move toward, or away from each other, in parallel relationship, each jaw 307 having a second spring-loaded horizontal jaw 310A to form a variable width frame for compressing a package of cigarettes. The jaws 307 are connected by the rods 313 to a rocker arm 314 which has a cam follower wheel 315 which rides in a cam profile 316 integral with a rotary disc 317 each rotation of which causes, at a selected position, the dimensions of the boxlike compressor pocket 14 to be reduced. Transfer means for the pack of articles from each container 8, through the corresponding connector 13, and compressor 14 and into the aligned arbor 12 comprises a pusher arm 16 which is reciprocable along a guide 17 carried by a drum 15 rotatably mounted, in unison with the sprockets 112, 203, on the shaft 5, and which consists of a plurality of parallel and interspaced flat rods equal to the number of compartments in the container 8. The pusher arm 16 has a roller 116 which runs in a, partially rearwardly open, cam 118 in a cylindrical cam member 18 which is fastened to the shaft 5 within the drum 15. Forward movement of a pusher arm 16 as the roller 116 traverses the cam profile 118 pushes the pack of cigarettes from the corresponding container 8, through the axially aligned connector 13, and into the adjacent pocket 14 where the pack is compressed by the jaws 307, 310A before being forwarded into the wrapper pack which is forced backwards to settle within its arbor 12. A backing device 416, associated with each pusher arm 16, and which is not released if a container 8 has a filling defect, comprises a pawl 319 which normally engages a ratchet 321 on the pusher 16 to maintain it in a retracted position and which is releasable by a motor 416A, controlled by filling defect means if the container is packed properly, the motor 416A rotating a lever 322 to rotate a rock arm 322, 322A so that the roller 116 can be moved, by a spring device 324, into engagement with the cam 18. After the package has been closed a further final forward motion of the pusher 16 transfers the closed package to a ring of expeller spider elements 25 each having four open top housings 325 and being mounted on a disc 24 which is mounted on the shaft 5 to rotate with the sprockets 103, 203. In order that the open top of each of the four housings, which are arranged in cross-formation, can be brought successively into a coaxial alignment with the associated compressor pocket 14 each group of housings is adapted to be moved itermittently around a shaft 326 by means of an axially fluted cam 327 on a fixed disc 328, and a radially slidable rack 329 having a wheel 327 which cooperates with the cam 32. The shaft 326 carries a ratchet wheel 331 which co-operates with two pawls to provide the intermittent motion of the spider.