Transferring rod-like articles
US5860506A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2201/0226
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for delivering rows of cigarettes, each for forming one layer of a bundle of cigarettes to be packed in a packing machine, includes a number of fluted planetary wheels (42) carried by an annular carrier (44) along a path on which cigarettes are picked up directly from the lower ends of channels (40) formed between vanes (38) in the hopper of the machine. The wheels (42) transfer the cigarettes in rows to flute sets (48) on a coaxial drum (46) from which the rows are further transferred to a delivery drum (22). Generally the packing machine includes three such systems, one for each layer of the bundle of cigarettes to be packed. In an alternative system cigarettes forming one row are picked up substantially simultaneously by row carriers (220) mounted on planetary wheels (226) so as to follow an hypocycloidal path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.