# US 5,350,051 A · Agitator apparatus for cylindrical articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,350,051 A - Document ID: US5350051A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/160,308 - Filed: 1993-12-02 - Granted: 1994-09-27 - Earliest claimed: 1993-12-02 - Assignees: Philip Morris Incorporated - Inventors: Ricky N. Cooper; Renee R. Cooper; Charles P. Pendleton; Steven R. Rinehart; Louis R. Turano; Richard N. Webb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350051A ## CPC - A24C 5/325: {from a hopper} - A24C 5/35: Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine - B65G 65/46: using screw conveyors - A24C: MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for rotating the pins rotates the pins at a speed in a range of 400 to 600 revolutions per minute. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for agitating the articles in the flow. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for agitating the articles comprises the pins being rotatably mounted in said frame on eccentric axes of rotation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pin has a first end, a midpoint and a second end and wherein the threads from the first end to the midpoint are left handed, and the threads from the second end to the midpoint are right handed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pins are generally cylindrical and an outer profile of the pins tapers continuously from a maximum thickness at the midpoint to a minimum thickness at the first and second ends. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for rotating the pins rotates the pins in a single direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for urging arrested and removed articles from the pins. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for urging arrested and removed articles is an air blower. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pin has one of a right hand and left hand helical thread from a first end to a second end, and the pins are arranged in the frame so that threads of adjacent pins are alternately right and left handed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pins are substantially cylindrically shaped and have an eccentric axis of rotation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pins are tapered from a maximum width at the first end to a minimum width at the second end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for rotating the pins rotates alternatingly positioned pins in opposite directions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pin has a same thread direction from a first to a second end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pins are substantially cylindrically shaped and have an eccentric axis of rotation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for rotating the pins rotates adjacent pins the same direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pins are tapered from a maximum diameter at the first end to a minimum diameter at the second end.