Hauni-Werke Korber & Co Kg.

Hans-Jochen Grasse

Rolf Gomann

Rolf G/o/ Mann

An automatic apparatus which transports filter cigarettes from a tipping machine to a packing machine has a first transporting unit which directly couples the output of the tipping machine with the magazine of the packing machine, and a second transporting unit which receives the surplus of filter cigarettes from a diverting device of the first transporting unit when the output of the tipping machine exceeds the requirements of the packing machine and delivers the removed surplus back to the first transporting unit when the requirements of the packing machine exceed the output of the tipping machine. The second transporting unit employs a tray filler which receives cigarettes from the diverting device, a first conveying section which transports filled trays away from the tray filler, a tray evacuator which converts the contents of successive filled trays into a stream of cigarettes and turns the cigarettes through 180.degree. so that the orientation of cigarettes in the stream deviates from the orientation of cigarettes in the first transporting unit, and second conveying section which delivers the stream to a junction of the first transporting unit. In order to restore the original orientation of diverted cigarettes, the first or second conveying section embodies a loop-shaped inverting device which changes the orientation of cigarettes in filled trays or the orientation of cigarettes in the stream by 180.degree. so that the orientation of cigarettes which reenter the first transporting unit is the same as that of non-diverted cigarettes.

Apparatus for transporting and changing the orientation of cigarettes or

An automatic apparatus which transports filter cigarettes from a tipping machine to a packing machine has a first transporting unit which directly couples the output of the tipping machine with the magazine of the packing machine, and a second transporting unit which receives the surplus of filter cigarettes from a diverting device of the first transporting unit when the output of the tipping machine exceeds the requirements of the packing machine and delivers the removed surplus back to the first transporting unit when the requirements of the packing machine exceed the output of the tipping machine. The second transporting unit employs a tray filler which receives cigarettes from the diverting device, a first conveying section which transports filled trays away from the tray filler, a tray evacuator which converts the contents of successive filled trays into a stream of cigarettes and turns the cigarettes through 180.degree. so that the orientation of cigarettes in the stream deviates from the orientation of cigarettes in the first transporting unit, and a second conveying section which delivers the stream to a junction of the first transporting unit. In order to restore the original orientation of diverted cigarettes, the first or second conveying section embodies a loop-shaped inverting device which changes the orientation of cigarettes in filled trays or the orientation of cigarettes in the stream by 180.degree. so that the orientation of cigarettes which reenter the first transporting unit is the same as that of non-diverted cigarettes.

The cigarette rod which is produced in a cigarette maker is subdivided into a file of plain cigarettes of unit length or double unit length. If the file contains cigarettes of unit length, successive pairs of cigarettes are deflected sideways to form two rows of coaxial cigarettes before the cigarettes of one row are staggered transversely of the cigarettes of the other row so that the two rows can be converted into a single row by shifting the cigarettes of at least one row axially between the neighboring cigarettes of the other row. If the file contains cigarettes of double unit length, such file is converted into a single row of parallel cigarettes which are thereupon severed to yield pairs of coaxial cigarettes of unit length forming two rows wherein each cigarette of one row is coaxial with a cigarette of the other row. The cigarettes of one row are then staggered with reference to the cigarettes of the other row prior to shuffling to form a single row of parallel cigarettes of unit length. The cigarette paper web which is draped around a tobacco filler to form therewith the rod is imprinted at intervals corresponding to the length of a plain cigarette of unit length.

Growing community of inventors

Wentorf, Germany

Hans-Jochen Grasse