Patent US3620349A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3620349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Article-handling apparatus
Assignee: Molins Machine Co Ltd
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Filing: 1969-05-07
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1989-05-07
Abstract
Abstract This invention is concerned with merging two stacks of cigarettes or other rodlike articles by carrying the stacks continuously into a merger zone from which a merged stack or a divided merged stack is delivered. The preferred arrangement includes flow sensors in both input channels to control the feed rates, and a flap to control automatically the relative rates of feed of the two stacks into the merger zone.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan K Mccombie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:39
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A feed system for cigarettes and other similar rodlike articles, comprising at least two substantially horizontal flow channels through which stacks of laterally extending articles are fed into a merger zone in which the stacks are merged, each flow channel being formed by a conveyor to carry the stack, and a top wall which is parallel to the conveyor to confine the upper surface of the stack, in which each flow channel includes a sensor which bears against one face of the stack of articles in that flow channel and is movable towards and away from the opposite face of the stack in accordance with the pressure exerted on the sensor by the articles, and in which the sensor controls a speed control device which determines the conveyor speed, the speed being decreased or increased automatically when the pressure on the sensor respectively increases or decreases.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A feed system for cigarettes and other similar rodlike articles, comprising at least two substantially horizontal flow channels through which stacks of laterally extending articles are fed into a merger zone in which the stacks are merged, each flow channel being formed by a conveyor to carry the stack, and a top wall which is parallel to the conveyor to confine the upper surface of the stack, in which each flow channel includes a sensor which bears against one face of the stack of articles in that flow channel and is movable towards and away from the opposite face of the stack in accordance with the pressure exerted on the sensor by the articles, and in which the sensor controls a speed control device which determines the conveyor speed, the speed being decreased or increased automatically when the pressure on the sensor respectively increases or decreases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A feed system according to claim 1 in which one or each sensor is movable up and down and rests on top of the articles so as to partly confine the upper surface of the stack.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A feed system according to claim 1 including a movable flap which partly defines throats on opposite sides of the flap through which the stacks enter the merger zone, and in which movement of the flap in one direction or the other has the effect of varying the proportions of the article flows from the two channels entering the merger zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A feed system according to claim 3 in which the flows from the two substantially horizontal channels both pass downwards into the merger zone, and in which the flap has a mean position which is substantially vertical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A feed system according to claim 1 in which the merged stack is carried away substantially horizontally from the merger zone by one or more horizontal conveyors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A feed system for cigarettes and other similar rodlike articles, comprising two flow channels for stacks of laterally extending articles, each flow channel having an associated reservoir which is variable in capacity and expands and contracts so as to absorb or make up for the difference between the input and output feed rates in the channel, and including a merger zone into which the flows from both channels pass, and means for varying the relative flow rates from the two channels in accordance with the states of the reservoirs, so that the flow channel of which the reservoir is less full at any given moment of time automatically delivers articles to the merger zone at a slower rate than the other channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A feed system for cigarettes and other similar rodlike articles, comprising two flow channels for stacks of laterally extending articles, each flow channel having an associated reservoir which is variable in capacity and expands and contracts so as to absorb or make up for the difference between the input and output feed rates in the channel, and including a merger zone into which the flows from both channels pass, and means for varying the relative flow rates from the two channels in accordance with the states of the reservoirs, so that the flow channel of which the reservoir is less full at any given moment of time automatically delivers articles to the merger zone at a slower rate than the other channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A feed system according to claim 5 in which the means for varying the relative flow rates from the two channels comprise a movable flap which partly defines throats on opposite sides of the flap through which the articles from the two channels enter the merger zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A feed system accordinG to claim 7 in which the position of the flap is determined by two gears which are independently rotatable and which both mesh with a planetary gear which rotates on a member controlling the flap position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A feed system according to claim 8 in which the flap is of composite construction including two separate plates which can independently control the flow from the two channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A feed system according to claim 9 in which each plate is pivoted and is normally held against a center member by a spring which has one end anchored to a member which is or can be arranged to be moved in direct proportion to the movement of a member controlling the capacity of an associated reservoir from which the corresponding flow of articles is received, the arrangement being such that the spring anchorage, as the corresponding reservoir decreases in capacity, can move to a position in relation to the plate pivot in which the turning moment applied by the spring is reversed so as to swing the plate to a position against a stop, in which position the plate closes off the flow from the corresponding flow channel into the merger zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A feed system according to claim 10 in which the two members carrying the spring anchorages are the two gears according to claim 9.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |