Apparatus for assembling arrays of cigarettes or the like

Abstract

Apparatus for assembling multi-layer arrays of cigarettes in a packing machine has a magazine with a reciprocable support having platforms at different levels and a group of cigarette-delivering downwardly extending ducts above each platform so that each platform normally supports a layer of cigarettes. An intermittently driven conveyor has a series of receptacles which are adjacent to one side of the magazine and are open at least at those ends which face the platform. The magazine has elongated slot-shaped openings which are adjacent to the platforms and serve for evacuation of layers from the magazine into the neighboring receptacles during the periods of dwell of the conveyor and in response to penetration of reciprocable pushers into the magazine to move each layer along the respective platform, through the aligned opening and into the adjacent receptacle. Each next-following receptacle contains a larger number of layers than the preceding receptacle, and the articles of the layers are held against uncontrolled movement during transfer from the magazine as well as during movement with the receptacles by elongated plate-like guide members which overlie the layers issuing from the adjacent openings and which also partially overlap each other. Each guide member which is adjacent to a preceding opening, as considered in the direction of intermittent movement of the conveyor, extends toward and along the next-following opening. The last guide member extends toward and along an evacuating station where the arrays are expelled from successive filled receptacles. The layers are condensed by a reciprocable bottom portion of the magazine prior to transfer into the receptacles.