Patent · US Expired

Conveyor system for rod-like articles

US5361888A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
9References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 28, 1993
Grant dateNov 8, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 28, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G2207/24
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A reversible reservoir for cigarettes or filters includes relatively small and relatively large capacity sections arranged in series with a drive for driving these sections at different rates. The small section is preferably arranged adjacent the reservoir inlet and is capable of buffering the main part of the reservoir so that the latter is not required to undergo high accelerations. The reservoir may be in the form of an elongated helix with an endless conveyor (2;102) passing around spaced columns of wheels (8, 10, 12, 14, 16; 108, 112, 114), one of the lowermost wheels (8;108) being bodily movable so as to be capable of imposing an additional velocity on the section of conveyor adjacent the reservoir inlet (7;107). The movable wheel is carried on a (36;136) which also carries a pulley (26;126) for the conveyer return run. Tensioning (42-50;142-150) for the conveyor is provided by arranging for the position of the pulley (26;126) to be adjustable relative to the beam (36;136).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.