GB2035777A

GB2035777A - Control arrangement for a stream of rod-like objects, in particular cigarettes or filter rods

Info

Publication number: GB2035777A
Application number: GB7932774A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hauni Werke Koerber and Co KG
Current assignee: Koerber AG
Priority date: 1978-09-22
Filing date: 1979-09-21
Publication date: 1980-06-25
Also published as: DE2841266A1; GB2035777B

Abstract

A control arrangement is provided for a stream of rod-like objects, in particular cigarettes or filter rods of the tobacco processing industry. The arrangement includes a conveyor, a controllable drive for the conveyor and a membrane located above the conveyor and anchored at one side so as to overlie the stream of cigarettes in use and rise and fall therewith. Scanning means are provided for scanning the height of the membrane and the other end of the membrane is movable and under the action of a load provided by a weight or spring. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Control arrangement for a stream of rod like objects, in particular cigarettes or filter rods The invention relates to a control arrangement for a stream of rod-like objects, in particular cigarettes or filter rods, with a conveyor, a controllable drive for this conveyor, a mem brane located above the stream and anchored in a fixed manner at one side, which rises and falls with the stream of cigarettes, and with scanning means scanning the height of the membrane.

A control arrangement of the aforementioned type is known, in which both boundary lines of the control membrane are firmly anchored. Arrangements of this type have the drawback that the membrance only bears in d taut manner on the surface of the objects when it has reached its maximum height.

Whereas, in its other positions, it hardly exerts any pressure, so that the rod-like articles may lie transversely below the latter, which may lead to disturbances in the conveying operation.

The object on which the invention is based consists of ensuring that the switcing membrane bears in a taut manner at all times on the surface of the material.

The solution according to the invention consists in that the other end of the membrane is able to move and is under the action of a load.

If this load is applied by a weight, which is attached to the movable end of the membrane advantageously guided over a roller, then the pressure exerted by the membrane is largely constant. However, the load may also be applied by a spring, in which case an at least approximately constant load can be produced by a long and weak spring.

The position of the memrane can be scanned by a scanning arm of scanning means bearing on its surface, which scanning means control the conveying movement of the material according to the height. In place of electromechanical scanning means, an optoelectronic barrier may also be used.

The invention is described in detail hereafter with reference to the drawing.

The drawing shows a conveying arrangement for a stream of material 1, which is conveyed on a conveyor in the form of a conveyor belt 2 with a controllable drive 5 to a magazine 3. The material, for example rodlike articles such as cigarettes or filter rods can be removed for further processing (packing, pneumatic conveyance) at an outlet 4 of the magazine 3.

Extending in the end region of the conveyor belt 2 and above the inlet to the magazine 3 is a flexible membrane 6, which is attached at one side 6a to an anchorage point 7a. The other side 6b of the membrane 6 is not anchored in a fixed manner, but is able to move under the effect of a load, which brings it into close contact with the surface of the quantity of material 7 located in the inlet region of the magazine 3. In this way, the membrane exerts a certain pressure on the rod-like articles, which reduces the danger of the latter being located transversely.

The load can be produced by a weight 8, which, approximately in the form of a bar weight, is located at the end 6b of the membrane guided over a rotating roller 9. However, the load can also be applied by a preferably long and weak spring 17, in which case the weight 8 can be dispensed with.

A switching arm 10 of an electrical switch 11 rests on the upper side of the member 6 and emits a control signal when the membrane 6 reaches a predetermined upper height. This control signal is supplied by the scanning means 11 by way of a lead 1 5 to a control arrangement 12, which controls the drive 5 (for example an electric motor) of the conveyor belt 2, for the purpose of reducing or stopping the feed.

In place of the electromechanical scanning means, a non-contacting scanning means, for example an opto-electronic light barrier (drawn in broken lines) with a light source 1 3 and opto-electronic receiver 1 4 can be provided.

The scanning means 11 may also be constructed so that they emit a signal by way of the lead 16 when the scanning arm 10 reaches a lower limit position. This signal is then used to prevent any further removal of material from the outlet 4 of the magazine 3.

This signal may also be emitted by a lower limit contact 18, when the free end 6b of the membrane 6 has reached a predetermined lower value.

The advantage of the afore-described arrangement consists in that the membrane does not rest loosely, as already known, but with a certain pressure on the rod-like objects (even in their lower layers), so that the objects are not able to move easily.

1. Control arrangement for a stream of rod-like objects in particular cigarettes or filter rods, comprising a conveyor, a controllable drive for the conveyor, a membrane located above the conveyor and anchored at one side so as to overlie the stream of cigarettes in use and rise and fall therewith, bnd scanning means for scanning the height of the membrane, the other end of the membrane being movable and under the action of a load.

2. Control arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the load is provided by a weight.

3. Control arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the load is provided by a spring.

4. Control arrangement according to any

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Control arrangement for a stream of rod like objects, in particular cigarettes or filter rods The invention relates to a control arrangement for a stream of rod-like objects, in particular cigarettes or filter rods, with a conveyor, a controllable drive for this conveyor, a mem brane located above the stream and anchored in a fixed manner at one side, which rises and falls with the stream of cigarettes, and with scanning means scanning the height of the membrane. A control arrangement of the aforementioned type is known, in which both boundary lines of the control membrane are firmly anchored. Arrangements of this type have the drawback that the membrance only bears in d taut manner on the surface of the objects when it has reached its maximum height. Whereas, in its other positions, it hardly exerts any pressure, so that the rod-like articles may lie transversely below the latter, which may lead to disturbances in the conveying operation. The object on which the invention is based consists of ensuring that the switcing membrane bears in a taut manner at all times on the surface of the material. The solution according to the invention consists in that the other end of the membrane is able to move and is under the action of a load. If this load is applied by a weight, which is attached to the movable end of the membrane advantageously guided over a roller, then the pressure exerted by the membrane is largely constant. However, the load may also be applied by a spring, in which case an at least approximately constant load can be produced by a long and weak spring. The position of the memrane can be scanned by a scanning arm of scanning means bearing on its surface, which scanning means control the conveying movement of the material according to the height. In place of electromechanical scanning means, an optoelectronic barrier may also be used. The invention is described in detail hereafter with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows a conveying arrangement for a stream of material 1, which is conveyed on a conveyor in the form of a conveyor belt 2 with a controllable drive 5 to a magazine 3. The material, for example rodlike articles such as cigarettes or filter rods can be removed for further processing (packing, pneumatic conveyance) at an outlet 4 of the magazine 3. Extending in the end region of the conveyor belt 2 and above the inlet to the magazine 3 is a flexible membrane 6, which is attached at one side 6a to an anchorage point 7a. The other side 6b of the membrane 6 is not anchored in a fixed manner, but is able to move under the effect of a load, which brings it into close contact with the surface of the quantity of material 7 located in the inlet region of the magazine 3. In this way, the membrane exerts a certain pressure on the rod-like articles, which reduces the danger of the latter being located transversely. The load can be produced by a weight 8, which, approximately in the form of a bar weight, is located at the end 6b of the membrane guided over a rotating roller 9. However, the load can also be applied by a preferably long and weak spring 17, in which case the weight 8 can be dispensed with. A switching arm 10 of an electrical switch 11 rests on the upper side of the member 6 and emits a control signal when the membrane 6 reaches a predetermined upper height. This control signal is supplied by the scanning means 11 by way of a lead 1 5 to a control arrangement 12, which controls the drive 5 (for example an electric motor) of the conveyor belt 2, for the purpose of reducing or stopping the feed. In place of the electromechanical scanning means, a non-contacting scanning means, for example an opto-electronic light barrier (drawn in broken lines) with a light source 1 3 and opto-electronic receiver 1 4 can be provided. The scanning means 11 may also be constructed so that they emit a signal by way of the lead 16 when the scanning arm 10 reaches a lower limit position. This signal is then used to prevent any further removal of material from the outlet 4 of the magazine 3. This signal may also be emitted by a lower limit contact 18, when the free end 6b of the membrane 6 has reached a predetermined lower value. The advantage of the afore-described arrangement consists in that the membrane does not rest loosely, as already known, but with a certain pressure on the rod-like objects (even in their lower layers), so that the objects are not able to move easily. CLAIMS

4. Control arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scanning means are constituted by a switch whereof a switching arm rests on the upper side of the membrane.

5. Control arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the scanning means is constituted by a light barrier.

8. Control arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the membrane extends above the end of the conveyor and the inlet to a magazine into which, in use, the objects are conveyed and from which they are removed for further processing at another point.

7. A control arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.