Apparatus for transporting filter rod sections or the like

Abstract

Apparatus which transports filter rod sections from a maker to a processing machine has a pneumatic sender which admits a file of sections into the inlet of a pneumatic conveyor whose outlet delivers sections to a receiver wherein the file of sections is converted into a row which is admitted into the magazine of the processing machine. A first photoelectronic detector monitors the travel of sections at the inlet of the conveyor and a second photoelectronic detector monitors the sections in the region of an accelerating device forming part of the receiver and serving to separate successive sections of the file from each other. The transducers of the detectors are connected with an evaluating circuit having several logic circuits one of which generates defect signals in response to detection of absence of delivery of sections from the sender into the conveyor, another of which generates defect signals in the absence of proper delivery of sections into the receiver, a third of which compares the numbers of impulses transmitted by the two detectors and generates a defect signal when the result of comparison indicates the presence of a pileup of sections in the outlet of the conveyor, and a fourth of which activates a pneumatic ejector if the width of gaps between successive sections downstream of the accelerating device is insufficient. The fourth logic circuit further serves to arrest the receiver when the spacing between the sections downstream of the accelerating device is insufficient to convert the file into a row, and to arrest the sender when the spacing between successive sections downstream of the accelerating device equals or approaches zero.