The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 02, 1989
Filed:
Sep. 02, 1982
Korber AG, Hamburg, DE;
Abstract
Apparatus for removing samples from a single-layer stream of cigarettes which move sideways in the peripheral flutes of hollow rotary first and second drum-shaped conveyors has two valving elements which are disposed in the interior of the respective conveyors and establish or terminate connections between certain suction ports of the two conveyors and a suction generating device in such a way that a desired number of samples can remain on the first conveyor and advance therewith beyond a transfer zone between the two conveyors when the operator depresses a pushbutton, or at regular intervals. In normal operation, all of the cigarettes which are supplied to the flutes of the first conveyor upstream of the transfer zone are delivered to the flutes of the second conveyor. When the operator generates a signal which initiates the removal of samples, suction ports in a selected portion of the periphery of the first conveyor are connected with the suction generating device whereas the suction ports in a selected portion of the periphery of the second conveyor are disconnected from such source. Therefore, when such portions of the peripheries of the two conveyors meet in the transfer zone, the cigarettes which are attracted by the suction ports in the selected portion of the first conveyor remain in the respective flutes and are transported to a removing location where they enter a container. Except in the selected portions of the peripheries of the two conveyors, the suction ports from pairs of spaced parallel rows, and the suction ports in such selected portions form single rows which are disposed between the respective pairs of rows.