Apparatus for transferring newly produced cigarettes or the like to a packeting machine

Claim 1

Apparatus for transferring goods produced by a producing machine to a packeting machine, comprising; a hopper for receiving newly produced goods and for delivering them to be packeted; a conveyor conveying the newly produced goods in a continuous flow, and having a delivery portion upstream of the hopper, to which portion it delivers the flow of products; separating and accumulating means in the delivery portion for separating from the continuous flow a quantity of goods and for accumulating said quantity in the delivery portion during each of a succession of cycles; transportation means for transporting during a part of each cycle, the then accumulated quantity of goods from the delivery portion into the hopper, the transportation means comprising a support for the accumulated goods and discharging means for discharging the goods from the support; detecting means for detecting a level of goods in the hopper and for actuation of the discharging means to discharge the goods when the detected level falls below a predetermined position; and driving means for (1) moving the transportation means in each cycle from a transfer position of the support, wherein the accumulated quantity of goods is shifted from the delivery portion onto the support, to a position above the hopper, and downwardly therefrom into the hopper to a discharge position of the support for the discharging of the accumulated goods from the support into the hopper upon the actuation of the discharging means, and for (2) returning the transportation means in each cycle, after said discharging, from the discharge position to the transfer position.