[0001] The invention relates to a device for the transport of cross seated cigarettes, disposed
in several layers one above the other, by means of a transporter connecting the cigarette
production line to the cigarette packing line.
[0002] Known transporters operate on the principle of continuous belts made of diverse materials,
or adapted in various ways. Originally transporters were desiged as smooth belts made
of a relatively soft material, e.g. rubber coated. Also known are smooth belts, the
surface of which is covered with a foam material, which protects the cigarettes and
improves their transport. Another group form transport belts, on the surface of which
are made various projections either of a constant shape or of a variable shape, obtained
e.g. by inflating. For the transport of cigarettes for a shorter distance, the transporter
or the belt is perforated and cigarettes are held on it be means of vacuum.
[0003] The device according to the invention solves the problem of transport of cigarettes
in several layers one above the other while the production line and packing line are
directly interconnected by means of transporters consisting of a row of carrying links,
fixed on the central links of a three-row roller chain, where the carrying link consists
of a holding-down part fixed onto the roller chain, of a supporting part including
a central part, from which protrude to both sides in the direction away from the chain
axis, surfaces for carrying cigarettes, and of a tightening screw, while the lateral
rows of the three-row chain either engage with driving and guiding chain wheels, or
are in contact with fixed guides, the carrying sides of the transporters being, at
least along a part of their length, oppositely parallel for carrying a layer of cigarettes.
Surfaces for carrying cigarettes, protruding from the supporting part, are divided
by several claws such that adjacent carrying links mesh one with the other, while
on the supporting surface of the central supporting part is made a cross projection
for carrying cigarettes. Between two claws situated nearer one to the other is created
a gap for the passage of a fixed element for feeding or removal of cigarettes from
the supporting surface of transporters. The transporters are guided in limit positions
over driving chain wheels and guiding chain wheels, and in parts between these wheels
they are guided by fixed guides, while in vertical sections, where they carry away
a layer of cigarettes, they are guided in a two-sided fixed guide, and in horizontal
sections they are supported by a fixed guide and in bends they are guided in a two-sided
curved guide. In parts between the driving and guiding chain wheels in sections outside
carrying of cigarettes they are guided in bends over fixed curved guides.
[0004] The mentioned example of a design arrangement of transporters is not a single and
limited embodiment, but only one of possible variants of arrangements which may be
made of the mentioned parts.
[0005] The transporter according to the invention has advantages, viz. an easy changing
of its length, as the links may be added or taken off as desired. Also the guide of
the transporter may be easily adapted according to requirements as to the direction
of its motion. By creating a linked transporter, its service life was increased compared
with hitherto used solid belts.
[0006] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
diagrammatic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a part of the transporter;
Figure 2 shows a cross-section along the axis of one link of the transporter, a dash
and dot line showing the two-sided guide;
Figure 3 shows a plan of a part of the transporter; and
Figure 4 shows an example of an arrangement of transporters and guide bars.
[0007] As is apparent from the drawings, the device for transporting cross seated cigarettes
comprises a transporter composed of carrying links 1 (Figure 1), which are fixed onto
the central row of a three-row roller chain 2. Each link 1 (Figure 2) has a supporting
part 3 and a holding-down part 4, which are joined together by a tightening screw
5 and are fixed onto the chain always in every second pitch. A projection 6 is made
on the upper part of the supporting part 3 in a direction substantially perpendicular
to the direction of the transporter motion. Each carrying link 1 is on its supporting
part 3 provided with claws 7 (Figure 3), which are so shaped that the carrying links
1, following one after the other, mesh with each other and in this way form a continuous
surface for carrying a layer of cigarettes.
[0008] In Figure 4, is shown an example of arrangement of transporters and their guides.
The transporter, providing a closed circuit, is guided over a driving chain wheel
11 and guide chain wheels 10, and in the space between these wheels the transporter
is guided either by a fixed curved guide 12, two-sided curved guide 13, two-sided
fixed guide 15 and in the zone of horizontal motion is supported by a fixed guide
14.
[0009] The transporting device operates as follows: cigarettes arrive from the production
line to a transition bridge 16 and from there into the area between transporters,
which make it possible to transport cigarettes in several layers one above the other.
Ciagrettes lie, or are closed between supporting parts 3 of the carrying links 1 of
the transporters. When cigarettes are transported in a horizontal direction, the projection
6 of the carrying link 1 facilitates the transport of cigarettes in that it prevents
the cigarettes from sinking in the area between the transporters, while the cigarettes
are not pressed together more than is necessary, and in this way no squeezing takes
place. Where the direction of transport is changed, i.e. in the bends of the transporter,
the carrying links 1 bend together with the three-row chain 2, to which they are fixed.
The claws 7 of the carrying link 1, which mesh with each other, provide a continuous
surface even in the bend with a constant distance between the internal and external
bends of the transporters. The transporters are driven synchronously by the driving
chain wheels 11 and are guided in the bends either over the guide chain wheels 10,
or over the fixed guides, namely in the bend, where the transporter does not come
into contact with the transported cigarettes, it is guided over the single-sided fixed
curved guide 12 and in bends, where it comes into contact with the transported cigarettes,
it is guided by a two-sided curved guide 13. In the horizontal sections the transporter
is guided over the fixed guide 14, situated as a support of the chain 2, which prevents
the cross-section of the space from transporting cigarettes from changing as a consequence
of the sagging of the chain by its own weight. In the vertical sections the transporter
is guided in the two-sided fixed guide 15, preventing again the cross-section from
changing because of possible vibration of the chain in the horizontal direction. At
the outlet part of the transporters there is situated over the horizontal part an
auxiliary belt, which arranges the transported and transferred layer of cigarettes.
A fixed cover 18 limits the space for the transport of cigarettes from outside.
[0010] Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to one preferred
embodiment thereof, it is to be expressly understood that it is in no way limited
to the disclosure of such a preferred embodiment, but it is capable of numerous modifications
within the scope of the appended claims.
1. A device for the transport of cross seated cigarettes, disposed in several layers
one above the other, including at least two transporters, wherein at least one of
the transporters is composed of a row of carrying links fixed on the central links
of a three-row roller chain, where each carrying link comprises a holding-down part,
fixed in the roller chain, a supporting part including a central part, from which
protrude, to both sides in the direction away from the chain axis, surfaces for carrying
ciagrettes, and a tightening screw, wherein side rows of the three-row chain either
engage with driving and guide chain wheels, or are in contact with guides, carrying
sides of the transporters being, at least along a part of their length, oppositely
parallel for carrying a layer of cigarettes.
2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the surface for carrying cigarettes, protruding
from the supporting part, are divided by several claws such that adjacent carrying
links mesh with each other, and on the supporting surface of the central supporting
part is made a projection for carrying cigarettes.
3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein between two claws, situated nearer one
to the other, a gap is created for a passage of a fixed element for supplying or taking
off cigarettes from the supporting surfaces of the transporters.
4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transporters
are guided in limit positions over the driving chain wheels and in parts between these
wheels they are guided by fixed guids, in vertical sections, where they carry the
layer of cigarettes, they are guided in a two-sided fixed guide, in horizontal zones
they are supported by a fixed guide and in bends they are guided in a two-sided curved
guide.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transporters
are guided in parts between the driving and guide chain wheels in sections without
carrying cigarettes, in bends, over fixed curved guides.