US1899898A - Machine for packing cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

b- 1933. w. E. MOUNS ET AL 1,399,893

MACHINE FOR PACKING CIGARETTES Filed May 1, 1931 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Feb 28, 1933. w, E, MOLJNS' ET AL, 1,899,898

MACHINE FOR PACKING CIGARETTES Filed May l, 1931- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Feb. 28, 1933 FUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER EVE3,1).1. MOLINS AND GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN, OF DEPTFORD, LONDON,

ENGLAND MACI-IINE FOR PACKING CIGARETTES Application filed May 1, 1931, Serial No. 534,412, and in Great Britain May 6, 1930.

This invention relates to machines for packing-cigarettes and has for its object to provide means whereby ovalcigarettes may be arranged in lapped formation ready for insertion intoa carton or the like. The invention is also useful for completely turning over cigarettes for a purpose hereinafter described.

The invention consists of an apparatus-for arranging oval cigarettes in lapped formation, comprising means for delivering a row of cigarettes to a table with their major axes parallel to the same, means for conveying the cigarettes through guides arranged to rotate or tilt the cigarettes so that their major axes lie at substantially the same angle to the table, and means for moving the tilted cigarettes towards one another so as to ob tain the required lapped formation.

= The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanyin drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a section of a portion of a cigarette packing machine with the invention applied thereto. 7

Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 1 on line 33.

Fig. 4.- is a section of Fig. 1 on line 44.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail.

Fig. 6 is an end view of another detail.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a modification.

Referring to the drawings, the cigarettes are fed from a hopper (not shown) into vertical'slots 1 formed by a group, of vanes 2 and deliveredto a plate or table 3 on which they are spaced apart sufficiently to permit them to lie flat.

A conveyor .4 having pusher pieces 5 carries the row of cigarettes throu h a set of slots 6 formed by turning guides At the entry, each slot'is sufficiently wide to permit the cigarettes to lie flat upon the plate 3 whilst at the exit the slot is considerably narrower, the cigarettes being turned in transit so that they will pass through the narrow outlet.

The turning guides 7 are shaped as shown in Fig. 5, and as each cigarette passes through the slots 6 it is turned through an angle by the ledge or rib 8 engaging with one side thereof, and pressing this side downwards, and when the cigarettes emerge from the slots 6 they are all standing on the plate 8 at an acute angle thereto.

The shape of the guides as shown in Fig. 5 ensures that all the cigarettes rotate through In order to correctly guide the cigarettes into the slots 6, the table 3 is preferably pro vided with a series of curved grooves 9 in which the cigarettes move shortly after they fall from the vane slots, and they are guided into the grooves and spaced correctly by a series of fingers 10 formed in a block 10 suspended above the table and pressed downwardly by a spring 11. The fingers also guide the cigarettes into the slots 6; a section of several of the fingers is shown in Fig. 6.

The guides? are carried in a frame pivoted at 12 so that it may be easily lifted should a jam occur. The frame is free to move up- Wards in the slots at the pivots so that the conveyor bar which pushes the cigarettes can pass beneath the guides 7.

After the cigarettes pass through the slots 6 they are delivered into a tapering guide channel 13, the width of which is sub-divided by small guides 14:.

In the case illustrated only five cigarettes are being fed and two pass at each side in the space 15 whilst the fifth one passes in the central space 16.

When larger numbers of cigarettes are being fed, a sufiicient number of the guides 14 are furnished so that every pair of cigarettes is separated by av guide similar to 14. As the cigarettes emerge from the channel 13-they are all correctly lapped as required,

as the space 17 between the guides is suficienh ly narrow to prevent the cigarettes from lyplate facilitates this action by resting onv the leading ends of the cigarettes as they are being delivered into position on the bed.

Although the invention has been described for lapping cigarettes, it is obvious that by extending the guides 7 and curving them suitably any one of the cigarettes may be turned through such an angle that it will eventually 5 fall over when free of the vanes so that it lies on its reverse side. In Fig. 7 a single guide 22 suitable for this purpose is shown. This method of completely reversing the cigarettes is of use when the cigarettes are to be automatically packed with the printed inscription on the upper surface and any cigarette which is initially lying with the inscription on its lower surface may be turned over by interposing in its path a guide such as 22, the guide being operated by any suitable mechanism which is in turn actuated from an apparatus which detects whether the cigarette is lying the right side up or not.

The detecting apparatus forms no part of 1, the present invention, but such detecting apparatus usually consists of light-sensitive cells which control electro-magnets through relays. In the present case each guide 22 would be raised and lowered by a separate magnet.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus for arranging oval cigarettes in lapped formation, the combination with means for moving a batch of cigarettes A in the direction of their length with the major axes thereof substantially horizontal, guide means through which the cigarettes are moved for engaging the same to tilt the H major axes, and converging guides through which the tilted cigarettes are moved for compacting the cigarettes to obtain the desired lapped formation.

2. In apparatus for arranging oval cigarettes in lapped formation, the combination with means for moving a batch of cigarettes in the direction of their length with the major axes thereof substantially horizontal,

and laterally disposed guides having a spac-' 1 ing less than the major axis of the cigarette through which the cigarettes are moved, each.

guide being cut away at the entrance portion thereof to provide a cam shoulder for engaging and depressing one side of the cigarette to tilt the same.

which the tilted cigarettes are moved for compacting the cigarettes to obtain the desired lapped formation, a bed on which the lapped cigarettes are discharged, and means for engaging a batch of the discharged cigarettes to retain the same in lapped relation while the succeeding batch is discharged thereon in superimposed relation.

4. In apparatus for arranging oval ciga-f rettes in lapped formation, the combination with means for moving a batch of cigarettes in the direction of their length with the major axes thereof substantially horizontal, of guide means through which the cigarettes are moved for engaging the same to tilt the major axes, said guide means being movable vertically to permit passage of said first named means thereunder.

5. In apparatus for arranging oval cigarettes in lapped formation, the combination with means for moving a batch of cigarettes in the direction of their length with the major axes thereof substantially horizontal, of guide means through which the cigarettes are moved for engaging the same to tilt the major axes, and a bed located in advance of said guide means and provided with grooves extending in the direction of the length of the cigarettes, said grooves conforming in cross-sectional area to the shape of the broad sides of the cigarettes to locate the cigarettes with their major axes disposed substantially horizontal.

6. In apparatus for arranging oval cigarettes in lapped formation, the combination with means for moving a batch of cigarettes in the direction of their length with the major axes thereof substantially horizontal, of guide means through which the cigarettes are moved for engaging the same to tilt the major axes, a bed located in advance of said guide means and provided with grooves extending in the direction of the length of the cigarettes, said grooves conforming in crosssectional area to the shape of the broad sides of the cigarettes to locate the cigarettes with their major axes disposed substantially horizontal, and yielding means engaging the cigarettes to guide the same into the said grooves.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS. GEORGE DANIEL I-IORGAN.

Images