Patent GB-1537143-A (GB)
Title: Compensating store device for association with a cigarette manufacturing machine
IPC: B65B19/04
Filed: 1976-01-15
Abstract: 1537143 Dispensing articles; endless conveyers G D SpA 15 Jan 1976 [29 Jan 1975] 01637/76 Headings B8U and B8A In a cigarette production plant, Fig. 1, (not shown), a compensating store device (M, M1) is associated with a respective cigarette manufacturing machine (C, C1) in order to store cigarettes in the event of a cigarette packeting machine (I) temporarily ceasing operation. One of the store devices (which are the same) is shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a hollow cylindrical body 2 which is intermittently rotatable about its vertical axis and which is formed with radial compartments 3 extending the length thereof so that each compartment 3 can dwell at a station R at which cigarettes are either fed thereto or withdrawn therefrom, a conveying means 17 in the form of endless chains 18 to which three spaced bars 23 are attached being provided, and located such that each bar 23 during its downward vertical movement moves through the compartment 3 then located at the station R so that the bar 23 supports the bottom of the stack of cigarettes being fed into that compartment, or if a compartment is being discharged at station R a bar 23 initially supports the bottom of the stock while it is being lowered from that compartment. Cigarettes are fed to the top of the compartment 3 at the station R from a conveyer 86 through a pivotally mounted duct 90 which can be tilted (as shown in Fig. 7, not shown) to prevent the feed of cigarettes into the compartment 3, and cigarettes, when required, fall from a compartment 3 located at station R and pass through ducts (75, 76) to a delivery conveyer (77), Fig. 6 (not shown), the duct (76) being pivotally mounted so that it can block the flow of cigarettes between the duct (75) and the conveyer (77). The bottom of each compartment 3 is obstructed by a respective radial rod (10) which is forced out of the way when a compartment 3 is at the station R, Fig. 10 (not shown). The intermittent drive of the cylindrical body 2 as well as the continuous drive of the conveying means 17 is derived from a bi-directional motor 24 and the associated gearing shown in Fig. 5. The arrangement is such that the motor 24 rotates the body 2 clockwise during the filling operation of its compartments 3, the motor 24 being reversed to rotate the body 2 anticlockwise during emptying of its compartments 3, but the conveying means 17 always moves in the clockwise direction irrespective of the direction of rotation of motor 24. Intermittent rotation of the body 2 results from the provision of a drum cam 15 having a short surface 46 which is higher than a prevailing surface 45, formed thereon. Under the action of motor 24 the drum cam 15 rotates and when the surface 46 passes under a roller 43 an arm 42 is pivoted upwards about a shaft 40, the free end of the arm 42 having opposed rollers 41 (one shown) provided thereon which, when the arm 42 pivots upwardly, causes a roller 34 to engage with and rotate a Maltese cross 14 which, through gears 13, 38, 8, rotates the body 2. A bevel gear 50, which is simultaneously driven from the motor 24, engages with either of two bevel gears 51, 52 which are connected to the sprocket 21 of the conveying means 17 in order to maintain the direction of movement of the latter constant. A second embodiment of compensating store device, which is described in relation to Figs. 11-17 (not shown), differs from the above embodiment in that the compartmental cylindrical body (102) rotates continuously, and the feed and delivery ducts (163, 168) are movable through a given distance along with the particular compartment which is being filled or emptied respectively. The lower ends of the compartments are closed by a fixed plate (104) which is open at the station (R). A movable strip (166) is operative to close the lower end of the feed duct (163) and a projection (169) on the delivery duct (168) is operative to prevent the discharge of cigarettes from an adjacent compartment of the cylindrical body (102).