US3885683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for temporary storage and transport of cigarettes or the like
Assignee: Körber AG
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Filing: 1973-06-14
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-06-14
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for temporary storage and transport of cigarettes between a maker and a packing machine has a variable-capacity reservoir with a movable floor which carries a first end wall and can be driven to move the first end wall toward or away from a second end wall. The inlet of the reservoir receives cigarettes from a feeding device which in turn receives cigarettes from the maker and is designed to deliver cigarettes into the inlet from above. The feeding device employs endless conveyors which positively engage the cigarettes during transport from the maker to the inlet of the reservoir. The outlet of the reservoir is connected with an evacuating device which transports a stream of cigarettes to the block forming assembly of the packing machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Ulrich Bornfleth
- 👤 Fritz Selonke
- 👤 Horst Scharnetzke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:15
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
Apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles from a source to a consumer, particularly for transporting rod-shaped smokers'' products from at least one producing machine to at least one packing or other processing machine, comprising a plurality of successive units defining an elongated path extending from said source to said consumer, said units including a first unit constituting a variable-capacity reservoir arranged to store a variable supply of articles and having an inlet for admission of articles into and an outlet for discharge of articles from the interior thereof, said reservoir comprising a first end wall adjacent to said inlet, a second end wall located opposite said first end wall, displacing means actuatable to move said second end wall toward and away from said first end wall to thereby change the capacity of said reservoir, and actuating means for said displacing means including pressure-responsive feeler means, said feeler means including said first end wall and said first end wall being movable by the articles of said supply between a plurality of positions each of which is indicative of a different number of articles in said supply, said units further including a second unit constituting feeding means for moving the articles from said source to said inlet, said path having a downwardly extending portion along which the articles move toward said inlet and said feeding means including conveyor means for positively engaging and moving the articles Between said source and said inlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
Apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles from a source to a consumer, particularly for transporting rod-shaped smokers'' products from at least one producing machine to at least one packing or other processing machine, comprising a plurality of successive units defining an elongated path extending from said source to said consumer, said units including a first unit constituting a variable-capacity reservoir arranged to store a variable supply of articles and having an inlet for admission of articles into and an outlet for discharge of articles from the interior thereof, said reservoir comprising a first end wall adjacent to said inlet, a second end wall located opposite said first end wall, displacing means actuatable to move said second end wall toward and away from said first end wall to thereby change the capacity of said reservoir, and actuating means for said displacing means including pressure-responsive feeler means, said feeler means including said first end wall and said first end wall being movable by the articles of said supply between a plurality of positions each of which is indicative of a different number of articles in said supply, said units further including a second unit constituting feeding means for moving the articles from said source to said inlet, said path having a downwardly extending portion along which the articles move toward said inlet and said feeding means including conveyor means for positively engaging and moving the articles Between said source and said inlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacing means comprises an endless flexible element constituting the floor of said reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said reservoir further comprises means for limiting the height of the supply of articles therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises at least one pair of endless conveyors located opposite each other and defining a gap for the articles moving toward said inlet, and drive means for said conveyors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said conveyors include at least one endless flexible element, said path further having a second portion defined by said second unit and extending upwardly toward said first mentioned portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said reservoir further comprises top wall means adjacent to said inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacing means is a floor, said inlet being located substantially vertically above said outlet of said reservoir.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said reservoir further comprises guide means flanking said inlet thereof and being adjustable so that the effective length thereof conforms to the height of the supply of articles in said inlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said guide means comprises a stationary wall adjacent to one side of that portion of said path which extends through said inlet and a mobile wall located opposite said stationary wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said last mentioned walls consists at least in part of elastomeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said mobile wall is loop-shaped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises a portion adjacent to said inlet and arranged to deliver into said reservoir articles in a direction having a horizontal component so that the articles entering said reservoir by way of said inlet tend to bear against said first end wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 for transporting articles of the type having a larger-diameter end and a smaller-diameter end, wherein said first end wall is positioned to compensate for differences in the width of said supply as a result of the different diameters of the ends of articles forming said supply.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said reservoir comprises two additional walls flanking said outlet thereof and being inclined relative to each other to compensate for the different diameters of the ends of articles leaving said reservoir by way of said outlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating means further comprises reversible drive means for said displacing means and control means for said drive means, said control means including said pressure-responsive feeler means and said feeler means being arranged to produce first signals in response to increasing pressure and second signals in response to decreasing pressure of articles forming said supply, said drive means being responsive to said first and second signals to respectively move said second end wall away from and toward said first end wall by way of said displacing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said plurality of positions of said first end wall corresponds to a different pressure of articles forming said supply, said feeler means further comprising signal generating limit switches actuatable by said first end wall in predetermined positions of said first end wall.
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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |