GB1299174A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for feeding articles - Google Patents

Abstract

1299174 Temporarily storing cigarettes during their conveyance MOLINS MACHINE CO Ltd 14 Nov 1969 [14 Nov 1968 24 Jan 1969 (2) 14 Feb 1969 16 May 1969] 54034/68 4195/69 55634/69 55636/69 and 25152/69 Divided out of 4196/69 and 8313/69 Heading B8A A conveyer system for feeding cigarettes or other rod-like articles sideways between an article-delivery device (not shown) and an article-receiving device (not shown) which receives the articles in stack formation, includes a variable-capacity reservoir comprising a conveyer 602 (Fig. 1) which serves as the floor of the reservoir and which, when the reservoir is at maximum capacity, carries a long stack of articles of which the length is considerably greater than the thickness which is substantially the same as the thickness of the stack 616 delivered through an outlet from the reservoir leading to the article-receiving device. The conveyer forming the floor of the reservoir is laterally flexible, and in at least a part it extends along a helix. The articles enter the reservoir at one end and are discharged, when needed, from the same end. The conveyer carries a wall member 418 (Figs. 18 and 19) which defines the end of the stack of articles in the reservoir and moves with the conveyer. The member 418 is connected with the conveyer 602 by a cord 424 carrying spacer blocks 420 and sponge rubber spacer rings 426. The conveyer 602 comprises an article-support member 310 (Figs. 15 and 16) of acetal or nylon having a zigzag formation which permits lateral flexing. Pins 322 provide lateral location of the cigarettes, and guide portions 340 co-operate with a nylon track member 336. Traction is provided by a chain 324 secured to the member 310 by studs 326. Recesses 344 in the member 310 receive fingers (not shown) for guiding cigarettes on to, and away from, the conveyer. In a modified form (Fig. 10) the conveyer is provided by a spiral surface 232 on a drum 230. The latter is driven by the action of a motor 252 connected to a drive roller 258 which co-operates with a spiral surface 244 on the inside of the drum wall. The surface 244 ensures the necessary vertical traverse of the drum. A bridge 238 provides a connection between the drum and an input conveyer 236. Various feeler operated mechanisms are described for detecting the rate of feed of cigarettes into and away from the system.