US 5,350,051 A · Agitator apparatus for cylindrical articles

Abstract

An apparatus for agitating cylindrical articles in a bulk flow and removing non-aligned articles from the flow includes a plurality of parallel, spaced rotating pins having helical threads on an outer surface. The flow of articles is directed through the pins and non-aligned articles are conveyed out of the flow direction by the threads while aligned articles pass across the pins. Eccentric rotation of the pins agitates the articles to assist maintaining free flow of the articles.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for preventing jams in a flow of cylindrical articles, comprising:

a plurality of pins, the pins rotatably mounted with parallel axes of rotation in a frame, the pins being interposed in a flow of articles;
the pins being spaced apart for passage between adjacent pins of an article aligned parallel to the axes of rotation of the pins;
each pin having helical threads on an outer surface of the pin for conveying a non-aligned article out of the flow;
and,
means for rotating the pins.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/160,308Filed 2 Dec 1993

Granted

27 Sep 1994

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A24C 5/325
Transporting cigarettes during manufacturing: from a hopper
A24C 5/35
Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes: adaptations of conveying apparatus…
B65G 65/46
Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top: using screw conveyors
A24C
Machines for making cigars or cigarettes

Agitator apparatus for cylindrical articles

Life of this patent

Agitator apparatus for cylindrical articles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17