Tobacco container sorting conveyor

A method of selectively sorting tobacco containers, comprising the steps of:

• conveying a series of tobacco containers in a first direction along a series of stations,
• sensing the presence of each of the tobacco containers as they are conveyed into each station and generating a series of signals representing the presence of each tobacco container at each station, and
• selectively diverting each of the tobacco containers transversely of the first direction at preselected stations in response to the series of signals;
• diverting said containers using a pivotal diverting blade transversely in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and diverting said containers in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and opposite the second direction;
• and
• determining the position of said pivoting diverting blade prior to diverting a selected tobacco container and moving said diverting blade between different starting pivot positions prior to the arrival of said selected container so as to divert said tobacco container to a desired one of said second and third directions.

A tobacco container conveyor comprising:

• an endless conveyor having a longitudinal axis and a foraminous belt with top and bottom runs;
• means for driving said conveyor in an endless path;
• a longitudinal support located below said top run and slidably receiving said top run thereon, said support having a plurality of spaced elongated slots therethrough, and said support being substantially coextensive with said top run;
• and
• a longitudinal collector disposed directly below said longitudinal support and directly communicating with said support and elongated slots and between said top and bottom runs, for collecting tobacco particles falling directly through said slots from tobacco containers conveyed on said top run;
• said elongated slots being elongated and angled from said longitudinal axis in the direction of travel of said conveyor, and said elongated slobs being spaced generally across an entire width of said support upon which said belts slides;
• said foraminous belt including a plurality of links having a pair of end links and protruding ribbed bottom surfaces intermediate said end links which extend transverse to said support;
• said top run of said belt having said plurality of protruding ribbed bottom surfaces extending downwardly from said top run so that particles falling onto said support are swept by said movement of said belt into a next adjacent slot and do not accumulate on said support.