Automatic cigarette feed machine

Claim 2

An automatic cigarette feed machine for conveying cigarettes from a cigarette making machine to a cigarette packaging machine comprising a first conveyor inclined to a horizontal plane for conveying a series of individually spaced cigarettes from the cigarette making machine upwardly to an elevated position, said first conveyor including at least a pair of endless belts forming runs spaced apart at approximately the diameter of the conveyed cigarettes to convey the cigarettes therebetween; a second conveyor disposed in a horizontal plane and extending from below said first conveyor at said elevated position to receive the series of cigarettes thereon in stacked fashion and to convey the stacked cigarettes towards the opposite end for depositing therefrom into the cigarette packaging machine; a guide between said first and second conveyors, said guide being positioned to permit sliding of the cigarettes from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor; means interconnecting said conveyors to drive said conveyors in synchronism with said second conveyor being driven at a speed less than said first conveyor to allow accumulation of the received cigarettes on said second conveyor into said stacked fashion; a guide means mounted at a delivery end of said second conveyor for delivery of cigarettes to a packaging machine while preventing jamming of the cigarettes; and a hold-down means extending over said second conveyor to hold down the stacked cigarettes.

Claim 3

An automatic cigarette feed machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second conveyor includes a pair of endless belts of interconnected chain pushers for conveying the stacked cigarettes therealong and a platform disposed between said pushers for supporting the stacked cigarettes thereon.

Claim 4

An automatic cigarette feed machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said run includes a pair of endless belts.

Claim 5

An automatic cigarette feed machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one belt includes a sponge layer to contact the series of cigarettes.

Claim 6

An automatic cigarette feed machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second conveyor includes a pair of endless belts of interconnected pushers for conveying the stacked cigarettes therealong.

Claim 7

An automatic cigarette feed machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means interconnecting said conveyors interconnects said conveyors to move said second conveyor at a 1 to 4 speed ratio with respect to said first conveyor.

Claim 8

An automatic cigarette feed machine for conveying cigarettes from a cigarette making machine to a cigarette packaging machine comprising a first conveyor inclined to a horizontal plane and having conveying means therein for conveying a series of individually spaced cigarettes from the cigarette making machine upwardly to an elevated position, said conveyor including a pair of endless belts forming a lower run and a pair of endless belts forming an upper run, said lower and upper runs being spaced apart at approximately the diameter of the conveyed cigarettes to convey the series of cigarettes therebetween; a second conveyor disposed in a horizontal plane and extending from below said first conveyor at said elevated position to receive the series of cigarettes thereon in stacked fashion and to convey the stacked cigarettes to the cigarette packaging machine, said second conveyor including a pair of endless belts of interconnected chain pushers for conveying the stacked cigarettes therealong and a platform disposed between said pushers for supporting the stacked cigarettes thereon; a guide plate between said first and second conveyors, said guide plate being positioned to permit rolling of the cigarettes from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor; means interconnecting said conveyors for driving said conveyors in synchronism with said second conveyor being driven at a speed less than said first conveyor to allow accumulation of the received cigarettes on said second conveyor into said stacked fashion; and a hold-down means positioned over said second conveyor to direct the individually conveyed cigarettes onto said second conveyor.

Claim 9

An automatic cigarette feed machine for conveying cigarettes from a cigarette making machine to a cigarette packaging machine comprising a first conveyor inclined to a horizontal plane and having conveying means therein for conveying a series of individually spaced cigarettes from the cigarette making machine upwardly to an elevated position, said conveyor including a pair of endless belts forming a lower run and a pair of endless belts forming an upper run, said lower and upper runs being spaced apart at approximately the diameter of the conveyed cigarettes to convey the series of cigarettes therebetween; a second conveyor disposed in a horizontal plane and extending from below said first conveyor at said elevated position to receive the series of cigarettes thereon in stacked fashion and to convey the stacked cigarettes to the cigarette packaging machine, said second conveyor including a pair of endless belts of interconnected chain pushers for conveying the stacked cigarettes therealong and a platform disposed between said pushers for supporting the stacked cigarettes thereon; a guide plate between said first and second conveyors, said guide plate being positioned to permit rolling of the cigarettes from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor; means interconnecting said conveyors for driving said conveyors in synchronism with said second conveyor being driven at a speed less than said first conveyor to allow accumulation of the received cigarettes on said second conveyor into said stacked fashion; and a hold-down means positioned over said second conveyor to direct the individually conveyed cigarettes onto said second conveyor.

Claim 10

An automatic cigarette feed machine for conveying cigarettes from a cigarette making machine to a cigarette packaging machine comprising a first conveyor inclined to a horizontal plane and having conveying means therein for conveying a series of individually spaced cigarettes from the cigarette making machine upwardly to an elevated position, said conveyor including at least One endless belt forming a first run and at least one endless belt forming a second run, said runs being spaced apart at approximately the diameter of the conveyed cigarettes to convey the series of cigarettes therebetween; a second conveyor disposed in a horizontal plane and extending from below said first conveyor to receive the series of cigarettes thereon in stacked fashion and to convey the stacked cigarettes to the cigarette packaging machine, said second conveyor including a pair of endless belts of interconnected chain pushers for conveying the stacked cigarettes therealong and a platform disposed between said pushers for supporting the stacked cigarettes thereon; a guide means between said first and second conveyors, said guide means being positioned to permit delivery of the cigarettes from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor; drive means for driving said first and second conveyors and including means for driving said second conveyor at a speed less than said first conveyor to allow accumulation of the received cigarettes on said second conveyor into said stacked fashion; and a guide means for delivering cigarettes from said second conveyor to the packaging machine.

Claim 11

An automatic cigarette feed machine for conveying cigarettes from a cigarette making machine to a cigarette packaging machine comprising a first conveyor inclined to a horizontal plane and having conveying means therein for conveying a series of individually spaced cigarettes from the cigarette making machine upwardly to an elevated position, said conveyor including at least One endless belt forming a first run and at least one endless belt forming a second run, said runs being spaced apart at approximately the diameter of the conveyed cigarettes to convey the series of cigarettes therebetween; a second conveyor disposed in a horizontal plane and extending from below said first conveyor to receive the series of cigarettes thereon in stacked fashion and to convey the stacked cigarettes to the cigarette packaging machine, said second conveyor including a pair of endless belts of interconnected chain pushers for conveying the stacked cigarettes therealong and a platform disposed between said pushers for supporting the stacked cigarettes thereon; a guide means between said first and second conveyors, said guide means being positioned to permit delivery of the cigarettes from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor; drive means for driving said first and second conveyors and including means for driving said second conveyor at a speed less than said first conveyor to allow accumulation of the received cigarettes on said second conveyor into said stacked fashion; and a guide means for delivering cigarettes from said second conveyor to the packaging machine.