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:
Apr. 21, 1992
Filed:
Jul. 16, 1990
Gerhard Tolasch, Wentorf, DE;
Horst Base, Wentorf, DE;
Korber AG, Hamburg, DE;
Abstract
Apparatus for removing filter cigarettes from a mass flow between one or more producing machines and one or more processing machines when the output of the producing machines exceeds the requirements of the processing machines, and for returning filter cigarettes into the mass flow when the requirements of the processing machines exceed the output of the producing machines, has a filling unit which withdraws cigarettes from the mass flow and introduces them into successive empty chargers or trays, and an emptying unit which dumps the contents of filled trays into a receptacle for reintroduction into the mass flow. The emptying unit is located at a level above the filling unit, and each of these units cooperates with two magazines, one for empty trays and the other for filled trays. The four magazines are adjacent and parallel to each other, the magazines for empty trays are disposed at a first level above the respective magazines for filled trays, the magazines for filled trays are disposed at a common second level, and the magazines which supply trays to and receive trays from the filling unit are immediately adjacent such unit. The apparatus further employs two linear conveyors one of which transfers empty trays between the magazines for empty trays and the other of which transfers filled trays between the magazines for filled trays, elevators for filled and empty trays, and a turn-around device for filled trays which are on their way to the emptying unit and for empty trays which are on their way from the emptying unit.