Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit – System includes a rotating or endless carrier with a load...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2001-02-13
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit
System includes a rotating or endless carrier with a load...
C198S476100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186313
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a method of transferring a group of cigarettes continuously between conveyors.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of continuously transferring a group of cigarettes from a seat on a continuous supply conveyor to a corresponding seat on a continuous wrapping conveyor or wheel.
Here and hereinafter, the term “group of cigarettes” is intended to mean a number of cigarettes arranged in a number of layers with no outer sheet of wrapping material, i.e. a number of cigarettes which, to remain together, need some sort of outer retaining wrapping.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In known units for transferring a group of cigarettes from a seat on a continuous supply conveyor to a corresponding seat on a continuous wrapping wheel, as described for example in British Patent No. 1,203,259, the supply conveyor is normally defined by a chain or belt conveyor, the seats of which are fed along a path having one portion—hereinafter referred to as the “transfer portion” —which reproduces a portion of the circular path along which the seats on the wrapping wheel are fed. Along the transfer portion, the seats on the supply conveyor are moved in time, and maintained coaxial, with the corresponding seats on the wrapping wheel to transfer the group of cigarettes axially between two corresponding coaxial seats.
Axial transfer involves several drawbacks by subjecting the group of cigarettes to fairly severe mechanical stress (especially on modern packing machines capable of producing over ten packets a second) which may result in deformation of the cigarettes or tobacco fallout.
Axial transfer also requires that the supply conveyor and wrapping wheel be positioned side by side, i.e. in two different planes, which therefore increases the overall depth of the transfer unit and complicates control and maintenance.
Finally, the need for a common path portion defined by said transfer portion—between the wrapping wheel and the supply conveyor makes for a highly rigid arrangement of the conveyors, and calls for an extremely long and therefore bulky, high-cost chain or belt, as shown clearly by the device described in British Patent No. 1,203,259. A shorter chain or belt may be used, but only on condition that it be fed along a much more tightly curving path, thus subjecting the chain or belt to extremely severe mechanical stress.
EP Patent No. 548,978 discloses a unit for continuously transferring a group of cigarettes between relevant seats of two wrapping wheels. At a given transfer zone the seats on the two wheels are maintained facing and parallel to each other and to a fixed direction—in particular, a direction perpendicular to the respective axes of rotation of the wheels—by moving, in particular oscillating, the seats continuously with respect to the respective wheels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of continuously transferring a group of cigarettes, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, and which in particular is straightforward and cheap to implement.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of transferring a group of cigarettes continuously between conveyors, the method comprising a conveying step wherein said group is fed, by means of a first conveyor traveling continuously in a first direction, along a first path comprising an initial straight loading portion and a final transfer portion; and a transfer step wherein said group is transferred, as the group travels along said transfer portion, from said first conveyor to a second conveyor traveling continuously in a second direction along a second path; the method being characterized in that said first path and said second path are coplanar; said transfer step being performed by housing the group, at least as the group is fed along said transfer portion, inside a movable seat, which is fed by said first conveyor at least along said transfer portion, and is simultaneously moved, with respect to said first conveyor and as the movable seat travels along the transfer portion, between a first position along said first path and a second position along said second path, so as to effect a rotation of said group to enable the group to travel along said straight loading portion and said second path with two respective different orientations with respect to said first direction and said second direction respectively; said two orientations being substantially at 90° to each other.
The present invention also relates to a unit for transferring a group of cigarettes continuously between conveyors.
According to the present invention, there is provided a unit for transferring a group of cigarettes continuously between conveyors, the unit comprising a first conveyor for feeding said group continuously and in a first direction along a first path comprising an initial straight loading portion and a final transfer portion; a second conveyor for feeding said group continuously and in a second direction along a second path; and transfer means acting along said transfer portion to transfer said group from the first conveyor to the second conveyor; characterized in that said first path and said second path are coplanar; said transfer means comprising a movable seat for housing the group and which is fed by said first conveyor at least along said transfer portion; and actuating means for moving said movable seat, with respect to the first conveyor and as the movable seat is fed along said transfer portion, between a first position along said first path and a second position along said second path to effect a rotation of said group to enable the group to travel along said straight loading portion and said second path with two respective different orientations with respect to said first direction and said second direction respectively; said two orientations being substantially at 90° to each other.
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Spatafora Mario
Tale' Fabrizio
Bidwell James R.
G.D Societa' Per Azioni
Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun
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