Method and unit for transferring a group of cigarettes continuously between conveyors
AssigneeG.D Societa' Per Azioni
InventorsMario Spatafora, Fabrizio Tale'
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and unit continously transferring a group of cigerettes between conveyers, whereby the group of cigarettes is formed in a first seat on a group-forming first conveyor, and is fed by the first conveyor to a transfer station where the longitudinal ends of the group are engaged by a movable seat, which is moved with respect to the first seat to transfer the group from the first seat to a second seat on a wrapping conveyor.
Claims22
A method of transferring a group of cigarettes continuously between conveyors, the method comprising a conveying step wherein said group (2) is fed, by means of a first conveyor (4) traveling continuously in a first direction (D1), along a first path (P1) comprising an initial straight loading portion (P3) and final transfer portion (P4);
- and a
- transfer step wherein said group (2) is transferred, as the group (2) travels along said transfer portion (P4), from said first conveyor (4) to a second conveyor (6) traveling Continuously in a second direction (D2) along a second path (P2);
- wherein said first path (P1) and said second path (P2) are coplanar and are spaced apart one from the other and said first direction (D1) is not parallel to said second direction (D2) during the transfer of the group (2);
- said transfer step being performed by housing the group (2), at least as the group is fed along said transfer portion (P4), inside a movable seat (7;
- 3), which is fed by said first conveyor (4) at least along said transfer portion (P4), and is simultaneously moved, with respect to said first conveyor (4) and said transfer portion (P4) and as the movable said first path (P1) and a second position along said second path (P2), so as to effect a rotation of said group (2) with respect to the first and second paths (P1, P2) to enable the group (2) to travel along said straight loading portion (P3) and said second path (P2) with two respective different orientations with respect to said first direction (D1) and said second direction (D2) respectively;
- said two orientations being substantially at 90° to each other.
A unit for transferring a group of cigarettes continuously between conveyors, the unit comprising a first conveyor (4) for feeding said group (2) continuously and in a first direction (D1) along a first path (P1) comprising an initial straight loading portion (P3) and a final transfer portion (P4);
- a second conveyor (6) for feeding said group (2) continuously and in a second direction (D2) along a second path (P2);
- and transfer means (30) acting along said transfer portion (P4) to transfer said group (2) from the first conveyor (4) to the second conveyor (6);
- wherein said first path (P1) and said second path (P2) are coplanar and are spaced apart one from the other and said first direction (D1) is not parallel to said second direction (D2) during the transfer of the group (2);
- said transfer means (30) comprising a movable seat (7;
- 3) For housing the group (2) and which is fed by said first conveyor (4) at least along said transfer portion (P4);
- and actuating means (38) for moving said movable seat (7;
- 3), with respect to the first conveyor (4) and as the movable seat (7;
- 3) is fed along said transfer portion (P4), between a first position along said first path (P1) and a second position along said second path (P2) to effect a rotation of said group (2) with respect to the to the first and second paths (P1, P2) to enable the group (2) to travel along said straight loading portion (P3) and said second path (P2) with two respective different orientations with respect to said first direction (D1) and said second direction (D2) respectively;
- said two orientations being substantially at 90° to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.