Apparatus for changing the distance between rows of cigarettes or the like

Claim 1

Apparatus for changing the spacing between rows of substantially parallel elongated articles, such as cigarettes, comprising a first conveyor having means for advancing several rows of articles sideways along a first path to a first transfer station; a second conveyor having a plurality of transporting devices each defining a discrete second path for a different one of said rows, said devices including annuli having different diameters and said annuli including a larger-diameter annulus and a smaller-diameter annulus eccentric to and disposed within the confines of said larger-diameter annulus, and second paths extending from said first to a second transfer station and each of said devices having a plurality of receiving means for the articles of the respective row, said devices being rotatable about substantially parallel axes and the receiving means of each of said devices being substantially coplanar and extending substantially radially of the respective axis so that the elongated articles which are admitted into successive receiving means at said first station also extend substantially radially of the axes of the respective transporting devices whereby the distance between the rows in said second paths, as considered in the longitudinal direction of the articles, varies during movement from said first to said second station; and a third conveyor having means for receiving said rows at said second station and for advancing the articles of said rows sideways along a third path.