US3827757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles
Assignee: Körber AG
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Filing: 1972-05-05
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1992-05-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for transporting filter stubs from a magazine having an open lower end into a tubular conveyor wherein the stubs are propelled axially into the hopper of a consuming or processing machine employs a single transfer drum which is continuously driven to move its axially parallel peripheral flutes from register with the open lower end of the magazine into register with the inlet of the tubular conveyor where the stubs are expelled from successive flutes by compressed air. A removable block is normally maintained in sealing engagement with ribs which separate the flutes from each other while the adjoining flutes register with the inlet of the tubular conveyor to thus prevent excessive losses in compressed air. Such compressed air is admitted by way of two ports one of which register with one end of a flute only while the other end of such flute registers with the inlet of the tubular conveyor. The other port communicates with successive flutes prior to, during and after the short interval of registry with the inlet. A mechanical intercepting device is movable into the lower end of the magazine to engage the adjacent ends of one or more layers of stubs and to press the other ends of such stubs against a stationary will of the magazine. This interrups the admission of stubs into the path of successive ribs on the transfer drum. The drum can remain in motion while the intercepting device dwells in its operative position.
Inventors
- 👤 J Torbeck
- 👤 B Heitmann
- 👤 A Kasparek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:53
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/32; A24C5/322; A24C5/323; B; B65; B65G; B65G51/00; B65G51/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
In an apparatus for transporting filter stubs, wrapped tobacco rod sections or analogous rod-shaped articles, a combination comprising transfer conveyor means having a plurality of open-sided receiving means and partitions alternating with said receiving means, and partitions and said receiving means being arranged to travel sideways along an arcuate path extending along first and second transfer stations; feeding means for supplying articles through the open sides of and into successive receiving means at said first station; tubular conveyor means adjacent to said second station and having an inlet in temporary register with successive receiving means; ejector means for pneumatically transferring articles from successive receiving means at said second station into said tubular conveyor means by moving the articles axially, said ejector means comprising a source of compressed gas, first port means connected with said source and registering with sucCessive receiving means only during the intervals of full registry of successive receiving means with the inlet of said tubular conveyor means so that the expulsion of an article can begin immediately when said first port means registers with the respective receiving means, and second port means connected with said source and communicating with successive receiving means at said second station to admit into successive receiving means and into said tubular conveyor means a stream of compressed gas prior to and while successive receiving means receive compressed gas from said first port means; and sealing means including a surface in sealing engagement with those partitions of said transfer conveyor means which flank the receiving means registering with said first port means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
In an apparatus for transporting filter stubs, wrapped tobacco rod sections or analogous rod-shaped articles, a combination comprising transfer conveyor means having a plurality of open-sided receiving means and partitions alternating with said receiving means, and partitions and said receiving means being arranged to travel sideways along an arcuate path extending along first and second transfer stations; feeding means for supplying articles through the open sides of and into successive receiving means at said first station; tubular conveyor means adjacent to said second station and having an inlet in temporary register with successive receiving means; ejector means for pneumatically transferring articles from successive receiving means at said second station into said tubular conveyor means by moving the articles axially, said ejector means comprising a source of compressed gas, first port means connected with said source and registering with sucCessive receiving means only during the intervals of full registry of successive receiving means with the inlet of said tubular conveyor means so that the expulsion of an article can begin immediately when said first port means registers with the respective receiving means, and second port means connected with said source and communicating with successive receiving means at said second station to admit into successive receiving means and into said tubular conveyor means a stream of compressed gas prior to and while successive receiving means receive compressed gas from said first port means; and sealing means including a surface in sealing engagement with those partitions of said transfer conveyor means which flank the receiving means registering with said first port means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer conveyor means comprises a drum which is rotatable about a predetermined axis, each of said receiving means constituting a peripheral flute provided in said drum and extending in parallelism with said axis, the open sides of said flutes facing away from said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said drum has an end face adjacent to said inlet and further comprising second sealing means having a surface in sealing engagement at least with those portions of said end face which travel along said second station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein at least that portion of at least one of said sealing means which is provided with the respective surface consists of synthetic plastic material with superior antifriction properties.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising drive means for continuously moving said transfer conveyor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said second port means is further arranged to admit compressed gas into successive receiving means and into said tubular conveyor means after successive receiving means receive compressed gas from said first mentioned port means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises a magazine arranged to accommodate a supply of rod-shaped articles, said magazine having an open lower end into which the articles of said supply descend by gravity and said arcuate path extending along said open lower end of said magazine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said magazine comprises a plurality of walls confining said supply of articles and further comprising a rotary agitating member extending through an opening provided in one of said wall means and having a peripheral surface containing the articles in the region of the open lower end of said magazine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said opening is provided at the downstream side of said open end, as considered in the direction of movement of said receiving means and said partitions along said arcuate path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said transfer conveyor means comprises a drum and means for rotating said drum about a predetermined axis in a predetermined direction, and further comprising means for rotating said agitating member about a second predetermined axis counter to said predetermined direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises a magazine containing a supply of rod-shaped articles at said first transfer station, and further comprising intercepting means movable to and from an operative position in which said intercepting means mechanically engages and holds rod-shaped articles in the region of said first transfer station to interrupt the admission of articles into successive receiving means of said transfer conveyor means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, further comprising drive means for constantly rotating said transfer conveyor means independently of the movements of said intercepting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said magazine comprises a wall remote From said intercepting means and said supply consists of parallel rod-shaped articles each having a first end adjacent to said wall and a second end adjacent to said intercepting means, said intercepting means being arranged to engage the second ends of adjacent articles in said magazine in response to movement of said intercepting means to said operative position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination a defined in claim 13, further comprising actuating means for moving said intercepting means to and from said operative position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, further comprising actuating means for maintaining said intercepting means in said operative position in response to stoppage of said transfer conveyor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said magazine comprises a discharge end through which the articles of said supply can enter successive receiving means at said first transfer station, said discharge end having a predetermined width and said intercepting means comprising a pressure applying device extending substantially across the full width of said discharge end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said discharge end is located at a level above said first transfer station and said pressure applying device is arranged to engage and hold at least the lowermost layer of the supply of articles in said magazine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein at least that portion of said intercepting means which comes into engagement with articles in said magazine consists of elastomeric material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for moving said sealing means into and from sealing engagement with the partitions at said second transfer station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer conveyor means comprises a drum which is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and said receiving means are axially parallel flutes provided in the periphery of said drum, said surface being a concave surface having its center of curvature on said axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |