GB605285A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for feeding cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

605,285. Packeting cigarettes. HALL, C. T., KEMP, W. J., and MOLINS MACHINE CO., Ltd. Dec. 19, 1945 ,No. 34384. [Class 94(i)] Apparatus for feeding and compressing batches of cigarettes comprises a hopper having one outlet provided with fixed partitions spaced apart to provide slots equal in number to the number of cigarettes in a major row of the batch, a compression device with an equal number of slots into which the cigarettes pass from the hopper slots, means for contracting the width of the slots of the compression device to compress the cigarettes, means for thereafter expanding the slots to permit the compressed cigarettes to fall on to a support at a lower level, and a pusher or the like to remove a compressed batch from the support. Cigarettes from a hopper 2 pass through slots defined by partitions 5 into slots defined by partitions 9, 10 of a compression means, where they are compressed laterally by means of the partitions 9, 10 being moved towards each other. Each partition 9, 10 is provided with a member 13 sliding in guides 14, and the partitions are coupled together by short slotted links, not shown, so as to allow relative lateral movement between them. The moving together of the partitions is caused by members 18, 19 operated by cams 21 to press on the ends of the rows of cigarettes, the members 18, 19 being retracted by springs 22 when released by the cams. On release of compression, the cigarettes fall on to a bed 6, being guided between the partitions 9 and between end plates 11, 12 provided by faces of the members 18, 19, whence the batch is removed by pushers 8 carried on an endless conveyer, the pushers being slotted at 24 to clear the partitions 9. In order to remove one cigarette from the central of the three rows constituting a batch according to the form illustrated, an abutment 25 is secured to the plate 11 retains the end cigarette in the row, the pusher being cut away to clear the cigarette and abutment. The batch is carried by the pusher between guides 26, 26<1> having projecting strips 28, the strip on the guide 26 being a parallel member supporting the end cigarette in the upper major row, and that on the guide 26<1> being of wedge shape at the beginning, so as to force the central row of cigarettes to the left so that they nest into the spaces between the cigarettes in the adjacent major rows.