Unit and method for transferring cigarette portions
AssigneeG.D Societa' per Azinoi
InventorsFulvio Boldrini, Salvatore Rizzoli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unit and method for transferring cigarette portions whereby the cigarette portions are transferred from a manufacturing machine to a filter assembly machine by means of a first conveyor having first seats movable along a first annular path to pick up respective cigarette portions at a pickup point, and by means of a second conveyor having second seats movable along a respective second annular path; the cigarette portions are transferred from a first seat to a second seat at a transfer point along the first path, and the speed of the second seats is corrected at the transfer point to substantially reach or approximate the speed of the first seats at the transfer point.
Claims26
A unit for transferring cigarette portions (5, 6) from a manufacturing machine (1) to a filter assembly machine (7);
- the unit (10) comprising a first conveyor (11) having a number of first seats (23, 24) movable along a first annular path (P11, P12) about a first axis (12) to pick up respective cigarette portions (5, 6) at a given pickup point (A1, A2) along the first path (P11, P12);
- and a second conveyor (13;
- 48) having at least one number of second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66) movable along a respective second annular path (P22, P21;
- P32, P31) about a second axis (15, 17;
- 51) perpendicular to the first axis (12);
- each said second seat (31, 41;
- 60, 66) receiving a cigarette portion (5, 6) from a said first seat (23, 24) at a transfer point (B1, B2) along said first path (P11, P12);
- for at least one said number of second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66), each second seat (31, 41;
- 60, 66) being located at the end of a respective arm (32, 39;
- 52, 53) which is movable to correct the speed of the second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66) to substantially reach or approximate the speed of the first seats (23, 24) at said transfer point (51, 52);
- each said arm (32, 39;
- 52, 53) being movable to increase the speed of the respective said second seat (31, 41;
- 60, 66) at said transfer point (B1, B2) to substantially reach or approximate the speed of the corresponding said first seat (23, 24) at said transfer point (B1, B2).
A unit of for transferring cigarette portions (5, 6) from a manufacturing machine (1) to a filter assembly machine (7);
- the unit (10) comprising a first conveyor (11) having a number of first seats (23, 24) movable along a first annular path (P11, P12) about a first axis (12) to pick up respective cigarette portions (5, 6) at a given pickup point (A1, A2) along the first path (P11, P12);
- and a second conveyor (13;
- 48) having at least one number of second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66) movable along a respective second annular path (P22, P21;
- P32, P31) about a second axis (15, 17;
- 51) perpendicular to the first axis (12);
- each said second seat (31, 41;
- 60, 66) receiving a cigarette portion (5, 6) from a said first seat (23, 24) at a transfer point (51, 52) along said first path (P11, P12);
- for at least one said number of second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66), each second seat (31, 41;
- 60, 66) being located at the end of a respective arm (32, 39;
- 52, 53) which is movable to correct the speed of the second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66) to substantially reach or approximate the speed of the first seats (23, 24) at said transfer point (51, 52);
- said first conveyor (11) comprising a first group of first seats (23) and a second group of first seats (24);
- each first seat (23) in the first group being side by side with a first seat (24) in the second group and supported by a head (21) common to said first seat (23) in the first group and to said first seat (24) in the second group;
- said second conveyor (13) comprising a drum (16) having a first group of second seats (41) for receiving the cigarette portions (5) from the first seats (23) in the first group at a first transfer point (B1);
- and a cage roller (14) surrounding said drum (16) and having a second group (31) of second seats for receiving the cigarette portions (6) from the first seats (24) in the second group at a second transfer point (B2);
- said second conveyor (13) comprising two annular tracks (37, 45) so formed that said second seats (41, 31) in the first and second group are accelerated at the first and second transfer point (B1, B2) respectively.
A method of transferring cigarette portions (5, 6) from a manufacturing machine (1) to a filter assembly machine (7) by means of a transfer unit (10) comprising a first conveyor (11) having a number of first seats (23, 24) movable along a first annular path (P11, P12) about a first axis (12) to pick up respective cigarette portions (5, 6) at a given pickup point (A1, A2) along the first path (P11, P12), and a second conveyor (13;
- 48) having at least one number of second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66) movable along a respective second annular path (P22, P21;
- P32, P31) about a second axis (15, 17;
- 51) perpendicular to the first axis (12);
- the method providing for feeding each said second seat (31, 41;
- 60, 66) about said second axis (15, 17;
- 51), and transferring a cigarette portion (5, 6) from a first seat (23, 24) to a second seat (31, 41;
- 60, 66) at a transfer point (51, 52) along said first path (P11, P12);
- for at least one said number of second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66), the speed of the second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66) being corrected so as to substantially reach or approximate the speed of the first seats (23, 24) at the transfer point (B1, B2);
- the speed of said second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66) being increased at said transfer point (B1, B2) so as to substantially reach or approximate the speed of the first seats (23, 24) at the transfer point (B1, B2).
A method of transferring cigarette portions (5, 6) from a manufacturing machine (1) to a filter assembly machine (7) by means of a transfer unit (10) comprising a first conveyor (11) having a number of first seats (23, 24) movable along a first annular path (P11, P12) about a first axis (12) to pick up respective cigarette portions (5, 6) at a given pickup point (A1, A2) along the first path (P11, P12), and a second conveyor (13;
- 48) having at least one number of second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66) movable along a respective second annular path (P22, P21;
- P32, P31) about a second axis (15, 17;
- 51) perpendicular to the first axis (12);
- the method providing for feeding each said second seat (31, 41;
- 60, 66) about said second axis (15, 17;
- 51), and transferring a cigarette portion (5, 6) from a first seat (23, 24) to a second seat (31, 41;
- 60, 66) at a transfer point (B1, B2) along said first path (P11, P12);
- for at least one said number of second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66), the speed of the second seats (31, 41;
- 60, 66) being corrected so as to substantially reach or approximate the speed of the first seats (23, 24) at the transfer point (B1, B2);
- said first conveyor (11) comprising a first group of first seats (23) and a second group of first seats (24);
- each first seat (23) in the first group being side by side with a first seat (24) in the second group and supported by a head (21) common to said first seat (23) in the first group and to said first seat (24) in the second group;
- said second conveyor (13) comprising a drum (16) having a first group of second seats (41) for receiving the cigarette portions (5) from the first seats (23) in the first group at a first transfer point (B1);
- and a cage roller (14) surrounding said drum (16) and having a second group (31) of second seats for receiving the cigarette portions (6) from the first seats (24) in the second group at a second transfer point (B2);
- the method accelerating said second seats (41, 31) in the first and second group at the first and second transfer point (B1, B2).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.