Method and apparatus for shifting of rod-like articles, and apparatus of shifting of rod-like articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10159274-B2
Application number	US-201615741504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2016
Priority date	Jul 16, 2015
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus (10, 20, 30, 40) for shifting of rod-like articles (4, 4′) with different lengths or rod-like article groups (6) with different total lengths on a drum conveyor (3), comprising slidably mounted pusher elements (7, 27, 37) acting on at least one rod-like article (4, 4′) or at least one rod-like article group (6) so as to vary their position in the flute (3) of the drum conveyor (2), with the pusher elements (7, 27, 37) being 5 slidable in a direction substantially corresponding to the axis of the rod-like articles, and a pushing unit (5, 25, 35) mounted angularly relative to the pusher elements (7, 27, 37) forcing the movement of the pusher elements (7, 27, 37), whereas the pushing unit comprises rotational pushing elements for pushing against the pusher elements (7, 27, 37). The apparatus is characterized in that the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) is moveably mounted in a direction being substantially transverse to the axis of the flute (3) of the drum 10 conveyor (2) so as to shift the rod-like articles (4, 4′) or the rod-like article groups (6) inside the flute (3) of the drum conveyor (2).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for shifting of rod-like articles comprising the steps of:
conveying at least one rod-like article ( 4 , 4 ′) or a rod-like article group ( 6 ) in a flute ( 3 ) situated on the circumference of a drum conveyor ( 2 ), wherein the position of the rod-like articles ( 4 , 4 ′) or the position of the rod-like article groups ( 6 ) in successive flutes ( 3 ) vary,
shifting a pushing unit ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) in a direction being substantially transverse to the axis of the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ) by surfaces ( 11 A, 21 A, 31 A) of the pushing unit ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) which are disposed angularly relative to pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) and slidably mounted in the direction of the axis of the flute ( 3 ), wherein the force exerted by the pushing unit ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) is directed on the pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ), and
axially shifting the rod-like articles ( 4 , 4 ′) or the rod-like article groups ( 6 ) in the flutes ( 3 ) by the pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ).

2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
providing at least two pushing units ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) mounted on both sides of the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ) which are angularly shifted relative to the pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) substantially in the direction of the axis of the rod-like article ( 4 , 4 ′) or the rod-like article group ( 6 ),
directing a force on the pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) by the surfaces ( 11 A, 21 A, 31 A) of the at least two pushing units ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) mounted on both sides of the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor, and
axially shifting by the pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) the rod-like articles ( 4 , 4 ′) or the rod-like article groups ( 6 ) in the flutes ( 3 ) so that the centers of the rod-like articles ( 4 , 4 ′) or the rod-like article groups ( 6 ) in the flutes ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ) are positioned substantially in a common plane.

3. An apparatus ( 10 , 20 , 30 ) for shifting of rod-like articles ( 4 , 4 ′) with different lengths or rod-like article groups ( 6 ) with different total lengths on a drum conveyor ( 3 ), comprising
slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) acting on at least one rod-like article ( 4 , 4 ′) or at least one rod-like article group ( 6 ) so as to vary their position in the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ), wherein the slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) are slidable in a direction which substantially corresponds to the axis of the rod-like articles, and
a pushing unit ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) mounted angularly relative to the slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) and forcing a movement of the slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ), wherein the pushing unit comprises rotational pushing elements for pushing against the slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ),
characterized in that
the pushing unit ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) is movably mounted in a direction being substantially transverse to the axis of the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ) so as to shift the rod-like articles ( 4 , 4 ′) or the rod-like article groups ( 6 ) inside the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ).

4. The apparatus as in claim 3 characterized in that
at least two slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) mounted on both sides of the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor, acting on at least one rod-like article ( 4 , 4 ′) or at least one rod-like article group ( 6 ) so as to vary their position in the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ), and
at least two pushing units ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) mounted angularly relative to the at least two slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) on both sides of the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ), wherein
the at least two pushing units ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) are moveably mounted in a direction being substantially transverse to the axis of the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ) so as to shift, through the at least two slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ), the rod-like articles ( 4 , 4 ′) or the rod-like article groups ( 6 ) inside the flute ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ) so that the centers of the rod-like articles ( 4 , 4 ′) or the rod-like article groups ( 6 ) in the flutes ( 3 ) of the drum conveyor ( 2 ) position themselves substantially in a common plane.

5. The apparatus as in claim 3 characterized in that the contact of the rotational pushing elements ( 11 , 21 , 31 ) of the pushing unit ( 5 , 25 , 35 ) with the slidably mounted pusher element ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) is accomplished by a spring ( 16 , 53 ).

6. The apparatus as in claim 3 characterized in that the rotational pushing elements ( 11 , 21 , 31 ) have circumferential surfaces ( 11 A, 21 A, 31 A) selected from the group: conical, spherical, cylindrical, paraboloidal surface.

7. The apparatus as in claim 3 characterized in that the slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) have surfaces remaining in contact with the rotational pushing elements ( 11 , 21 , 31 ) selected form the group: conical, spherical, cylindrical, paraboloidal surface.

8. The apparatus as in claim 3 characterized in that the slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) are pneumatically moved outside the drum conveyor ( 2 ).

9. The apparatus as in claim 3 characterized in that the slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) are moved outside the drum conveyor ( 2 ) by a spring.

10. The apparatus as in claim 3 characterized in that the slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) are mounted in rotational rings ( 8 ).

11. The apparatus as in claim 3 characterized in that the slidably mounted pusher elements ( 7 , 27 , 37 ) have an axis of rotation being parallel to the axis of the drum conveyor ( 2 ).

Assignees

• Int Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp Zoo

Inventors

• Ostrzyzek Artur

Classifications

• A24C5/32

  Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes (in relation to packaging B65B19/00); Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition · CPC title

• A24C5/327 Primary

  Construction details of the cigarette transport drum · CPC title

• A24C5/478 Primary

  Transport means for filter- or cigarette-rods in view of their assembling · CPC title

• B65G2201/0226

  Cigarettes · CPC title

• B65G47/82

  Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)} · CPC title