Abstract:
A device for use in folding a sheet of packaging material is disclosed. The device comprises first support means rotatably mounted on a frame to be rotatable about a predetermined axis of rotation; at least one further support means, the or each said further support means being slidably mounted on the first support means and being rotatable therewith; at least one pair of elongate folder members, the folder members of the or each pair being interconnected by a respective further support means and being supported thereby to project radially in mutually opposite directions with respect of the axis of rotation; stationary cam means connected to the frame to define a camming surface encompassing the axis; cam follower means contacting the camming surface and connected to a respective one of the further support means to impart reciprocatory motion thereto on each rotation of the first support means about the axis, whereby each folder member is displaced between a radially outer operative position and a radially inner inoperative position.
Abstract:
A revolver for use as part of a packaging machine for wrapping cigarettes in sheets of packaging material is disclosed. The revolver comprises article receiving means connected to a shaft to rotate therewith. The article receiving means is provided with a plurality of cells spaced at angular intervals around the axis of rotation, and each adapted to receive one block of cigarettes to be wrapped in a sheet of wrapping material, which is introduced into the cell prior to the cigarettes being introduced therein. Each cell is associated with a respective suction chamber defined between the outer wall of the cell and a perforate wall thereof. Each suction chamber, when connected to a source of vacuum pressure, serves to retain a sheet of wrapping material in contact with the perforate inner wall of the cell. Each cell is so dimensioned that the width of the cell - as measured by the distance separating two mutually parallel inner perforate wall portions thereof - is substantially less than the extent of these perforate wall portions - as measured in a direction extending generally radially of the axis of rotation. The shaft is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending passages each in communication with a suction chamber of a respective one of the cells. The revolver is provided with valve means co-rotational with the shaft. Each of the longitudinal passages is selectively connected to the source of vacuum pressure via the valve means when and only when the respective cell is located in a predetermined range of angular positions relative to the axis of rotation.
Abstract:
A funnelling device for use in a cigarette packing machine is disclosed. Cigarettes are fed into the mouth of a funnel-shaped housing from a container, which contains cigarettes and is mounted above the inlet mouth of the funnel. A displaceable shutter is disposed between the bottom of the cigarette container and the mouth of the funnel to control the flow of cigarettes. The funnel housing comprises vertically extending walls, which define the inlet mouth at the top of the funnel. A pair of deflector members are pivotably mounted in the funnel housing below the mouth. These deflector members are each pivotably displaceable through a predetermined angular displacement about a respective horizontal axis, and each deflector member has an exterior surface portion of substantially spiral-shape centered on the respective axis of rotation. In use, the deflector members are pivotably displaced so as to raise them and, thereby, to raise the level of cigarettes remaining in the funnel-shaped housing during periods when an emptied cigarette container is being replaced by a replenished one. In this way the distance, through which cigarettes have to drop from a replenished container before striking the uppermost layer of cigarettes remaining in the funnel-shaped housing, is minimised. The deflector members are so shaped and mounted that substantially no risk of crushing cigarettes against the walls of the funnel arises when the deflector members are upwardly angularly displaced. Expediently, the deflector members are angularly displaced by displacement means automatically controlled by sensing means, which is responsive to the level of the uppermost layer of cigarettes in the funnel to generate electrical control signals.
Abstract:
A supplementary device mountable on a packaging machine is disclosed. The device includes mounting means for mounting the device on such a packaging machine and two web feed paths, each associated with a respective web feeder and with a respective rotary web cutter. The web feeders are alternately operable so that, when the reel from which a web fed along a first of the feed paths approaches the emptied condition, the respective other web feeder means is actuated and the first web feeder means is de-actuated. Each cutter comprises a first member rotatable relatively to a second member to bring mutually co-operable knife elements of the first and second members into co-operative action. The rotatable member of each cutter is a disc-shaped member provided with, preferably, four knife elements spaced at equal angular intervals around its periphery.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a control arrangement for an automatic tool having a linear profiled master cam which is mounted on a movable carrier with its linear profile inclined at a predetermined angle to the direction of displacement of the carrier. The linear profile is sensed by a main follower which is coupled to control means for controlling a milling tool operating on a rotating workpiece. A composite auxiliary cam is rotated with the workpiece and an auxiliary follower co-operating with the composite auxiliary cam is coupled to the carrier to control the displacement thereof, whereby the control of the milling tool is so dependent on the shape of the composite auxiliary cam as to cause the tool to form the workpiece with a cam profile corresponding to that of the composite cam. Preferably, the predetermined angle may be adjusted to vary the size of the cam profile formed on the workpiece compared with that of the composite auxiliary cam.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a control arrangement for an automatic machine tool having a pair of identically profiled parallel master plate cams which are mounted on a movable carrier with their profiles reversed with respect to each other. The profile of a selected one of the master cams is sensed by a main follower which is coupled to control means for controlling a milling tool operating on a rotating workpiece. An auxiliary cam is rotated with the workpiece and an auxiliary follower co-operating with the auxiliary cam is coupled to the carrier to control the displacement thereof. At least one end portion of the profile of the selected master cam is linear and disposed parallel to the direction of displacement of the carrier, whereby the displacement of the selected master cam when the main follower is in contact with a linear portion of the profile thereof does not result in displacement of the main follower. Alternatively, the pair of master cams are replaced by a single reversibly mountable master cam.
Abstract:
An arrangement for checking cigarettes comprises means for forming an image of an end of each cigarette on a photoelectric element by directing light obliquely towards the cigarette end, and electric means responsive to the illumination of said photoelectric element for creating a control effect under the control of said photoelectric element.