Abstract This invention is directed to continuously offsetting axially aligned double length filter plugs for cigarette making machines where rows of axially aligned double length filter plugs that are to be offset, are fed into discrete interspaced flutes of a rotary drum. The drum is provided with a number of peripheral longitudinal flutes, angularly and uniformly interspaced along the entire periphery of the drum such that two consecutive rows fed to the drum are caused to occupy two flutes of the drum which are interspaced between each other by as many flute pitches as the number of filter lengths within a row. All the filter lengths of a row minus one are transferred in an orderly manner to different empty flutes of the drum which rotates continuously such that, after the transfer, all of the filter lengths of each row are displaced or offset such that each filter length occupies a distinctive flute of the drum.
Apparatus for arranging groups of axially aligned elements, which comprises: a drum having a plurality of flutes spaced equally around the periphery thereof and two slots in the periphery thereof, means for feeding multi-length elements to every third flute of said drum, means for tri-secting said multi-length element, a first fluted disk mounted in one of said two peripheral slots for transporting one of said tri-sected elements to the next succeeding flute on the drum, a second fluted disk mounted on the other of said two peripheral slots for transporting another of said tri-sected elements to the next preceeding flute on the drum, and means for driving the drum and the first and second disks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for arranging groups of axially aligned elements, which comprises: a drum having a plurality of flutes spaced equally around the periphery thereof and two slots in the periphery thereof, means for feeding multi-length elements to every third flute of said drum, means for tri-secting said multi-length element, a first fluted disk mounted in one of said two peripheral slots for transporting one of said tri-sected elements to the next succeeding flute on the drum, a second fluted disk mounted on the other of said two peripheral slots for transporting another of said tri-sected elements to the next preceeding flute on the drum, and means for driving the drum and the first and second disks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluted disks protrude partially from the slots in the drum and thus intersect the drum at two spaced locations.