Apparatus for handling rod-shaped articles
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsCharles Gary Atwell, Steven F. Spiers, William H. Smick, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for maintaining suitable profiles of rod-shaped articles contained in a hopper includes an agitator translatable in the hopper in the direction of movement of conveyors fed by the hopper. A detector unit is provided for sensing the level of articles in the hopper and arrangement is made for rendering the detector unit inoperative during preselected times attending the placement of article storage trays atop the hopper.
Claims11
Apparatus for handling rod-shaped articles comprising a hopper having an inlet for receiving said articles and an outlet, conveyor means supported in article-receiving relation to said hopper outlet, agitator means supported for translation in said hopper in the direction of movement of said conveyor means for providing a substantially flat profile for articles in said hopper in facing relation to said hopper inlet, support means for receiving a storage tray containing said articles and supporting said tray in article-issuing relation to said hopper inlet, detector means in said hopper for providing output indication when said articles in said hopper in facing relation to said hopper inlet are disposed at a predetermined level therein, and interrupting means selectively engageable by said storage tray and thereupon preventing said detector means from providing said output indication.
Apparatus for handling rod-shaped articles comprising a hopper having an inlet for receiving said articles and an outlet, conveyor means supported in article-receiving relation to said hopper outlet, agitator means supported for translation in said hopper in the direction of movement of said conveyor means for providing a substantially flat profile for articles in said hopper in facing relation to said hopper inlet, and detector means in said hopper for providing output indication when said articles in said hopper in facing relation to said hopper inlet are disposed at a predetermined level therein, said detector means comprising a radiant energy source propagating an output beam and a detector supported in the path of said beam, said apparatus further including a beam-interrupting member selectively movable into a position between said light source and said detector.
Apparatus for handling rod-shaped articles comprising a hopper having an inlet for receiving said articles and an outlet, conveyor means including plural conveyors arranged in successive feed relation, each such conveyor being supported in article-receiving relation to said hopper outlet, agitator means supported in said hopper for providing a substantially flat profile for articles in said hopper in facing relation to said hopper inlet, support means for receiving a storage tray containing said aricles and supporting said tray in article-issuing relation to said hopper inlet, and detector means in said hopper for providing output indication when said articles in said hopper in facing relation to said hopper inlet are disposed at a predetermined level therein, said detector means comprising a radiant energy source propagating an output beam and a detector supported in the path of said beam, said apparatus further including a beam-interrupting member selectively movable into a position between said light source and said detector.
Apparatus for handling rod-shaped articles comprising a hopper having an inlet for receiving said articles and an outlet, conveyor means including plural conveyors arranged in successive feed relation, each such conveyor being supported in article-receiving relation to said hopper outlet, agitator means supported for translation in said hopper in the direction of movement of said conveyor means for providing a substantially flat profile for articles in said hopper in facing relation to said hopper inlet, support means for receiving a storage tray containing said articles and supporting said tray in article-issuing relation to said hopper inlet and detector means in said hopper for providing output indication when said articles in said hopper in facing relation to said hopper inlet are disposed at a predetermined level therein, said detector means comprising a radiant energy source propagating an output beam and a detector supported in the path of said beam, said apparatus further including a beam-interrupting member selectively movable into a position between said light source and said detector.
Apparatus for handling rod-shaped articles comprising a hopper having an inlet for receiving said articles and an outlet, conveyor means supported in article-receiving relation to said hopper outlet, a wall of said hopper having a plurality of slots extending therethrough, said slots being spaced successively in the direction of movement of said conveyor means, agitator means comprising a plurality of rod-shaped members, each such rod-shaped member extending into said hopper through a distinct one of said slots, drive means imparting translation to said rod-shaped members, support means for receiving a storage tray containing said articles and supporting said tray in article-issuing relation to said hopper inlet and detector means in said hopper for providing output indication when said articles in said hopper in facing relation to said hopper inlet are disposed at a predetermined level therein, said detector means comprising a radiant energy source propagating an output beam and a detector supported in the path of said beam, said apparatus further including a beam-interrupting member selectively movable into a position between said light source and said detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.