2

3 This invention relates to a conveyor system for rod-like articles, particularly articles of the tobacco industry such as cigarettes or filter ό rods.

6 In the manufacture of articles of the tobacco industry it is common

7 to transport the articles directly from a delivery device such as a

₈ producing machine to a receiving device such as a packing machine, with the articles being conveyed in the form of a continuous multi-layer io stream of articles moving in a direction transverse to the lengths of the a articles. Typically such streams are 90-100mm in height. It is known to i2 provide a conveyor system for such articles which incorporate a buffer i reservoir facility for accommodating temporary or longer term differences j* in the rates of operation of the delivery and receiving devices. Known i5 buffer reservoirs providing this facility may incorporate variable length i6 conveyors for storing directly a stream of articles in multi-layer stack i7 formation and/or means for loadin g (and unloading) articles in is containers. i According to a first aspect of the invention a conveyor system for

2o rod-like articles, particularly for conveying articles between a producing

2i device and a receiving device, includes conveyor means for conveying a

₂ 2 stream of articles in multi-layer stack formation in a direction transverse

23 to their lengths, and means for transferring batches comprising portions

24 of the stream between the conveyor means and a transfer position by

25 movement of the articles in a direction parallel to the lengths of the

26 articles, wherein said transferring means is arranged so that at least in

27 the region of said conveyor means the articles being transferred 2B continue to move in said transverse direction. Transfer may be from the

29 conveyor means, e.g. into a stationary container at the transfer position,

30 or from the transfer position (e.g. from a stationary container) to the 3i conveyor means. In a preferred arrangement for transfer from the

32 conveyor means the transferred batch of articles continues to travel at

33 the rate of said conveyor means for such distance as is required to allow

3 said conveyor means to move continuously at a predetermined rate. 5 Subsequently said batch may be slowed for transfer into a stationary container.

37 In a preferred arrangement successive batches comprising 36 portions of a stream on a substantially horizontal conveyor may be

1 transferred into one or more containers at a loading station, said

2 batches being defined by partitions inserted into the stream in the same

3 manner as disclosed in British patent specification No. 1404141. The

4 batches may be transferred by means of a pusher which moves with the conveyor as well as across it and they may be received in a shuttle or

6 other device which initially moves with the conveyor but subsequently

7 slows to deliver the portions into a stationary container. The shuttle may a be reciprocated to transfer successive batches.

9 According to a further aspect of the invention a conveyor system io for rod-like articles, particularly for conveying articles between a u producing device and a receiving device, includes means defining a i2 conveying path for articles in multi-layer stack formation moving in a i3 direction transverse to their lengths, transfer means for transferring i4 successive batches of said stream from said path at a transfer position, i first partition means including spaced first partitions for bounding the i respective leading and trailing ends of successive batches delivered on i7 said path to said transfer position, second partition means including at iβ least one second partition for bounding the trailing end of a stream of i9 articles on said path downstream of said transfer position, and means for

20 moving said first and second partitions at different rates, whereby,

2i following transfer of a batch at said transfer position to leave a gap in

₂₂ said path between a first partition at the leading end of a stream

₂ 3 extending on said path upstream of said transfer position and a second

24 partition at the trailing end of a stream extending on said path

25 downstream of said transfer position, said respective first and second

₂ 6 partitions may be brought together so that a continuous stream of

27 articles may be reformed on said path by withdrawal of said partitions

28 after they have been moved into mutually adjacent positions, thereby

29 closing said gap.

30 According to a still further aspect of the invention a conveyor 3i system for rod-like articles, particularly for conveying articles between a

3 ₂ producing device and a receiving device, includes conveyor means for

33 conveying a stream of articles in multi-layer stack formation in a direction

3 transverse to the lengths of the articles, means for loading articles into 5 containers, means for unloading articles from containers and for

36 delivering said articles to said conveyor means, wherein said delivering

37 means includes means for transferring articles in a direction parallel to

38 their lengths while conveying them also in a direction transverse to their

1 lengths, so that said conveyor means may operate continuously. This

2 transfer of batches of cigarettes from a container may be by way of a

3 shuttle or the like, in a manner similar to that proposed for transfer of batches to containers.

5 In British patent specification No. 2296000 there is disclosed a

6 cigarette making and packing system in which successive leading

7 portions of a mass flow stream delivered from a making machine are s loaded into one or more containers which are subsequently unloaded for 9 recombination into a mass flow stream conveyed to the packing io machine. The present application discloses apparatus similar to that a disclosed in Figure 5 of said specification in a system including a direct i2 mass flow path between a making machine and a packing machine, i.e. π where only some of the articles are loaded into containers. i4 Known buffer reservoirs include those of the so-called first-in i first-out types where the first articles (or group of articles) which enter the i6 reservoir are the first to leave. EΞxamples of such reservoirs are disclosed i7 in British patent specification No. 1301 843 and European patent is specification No. 581 143A. These examples relate to reservoirs for i9 continuous streams of rod-like articles: examples of such reservoirs for

20 articles in containers are disclosed in British patent specification No.

2i 2296000.

22 According to another aspect of the invention a conveyor system

23 for rod-like articles comprises a delivery device, a receiving device, and

24 conveyor means defining first and second paths extending between the

25 delivery device and the receiving device and on which streams of said

26 articles are conveyed in multi-layer stack formation, said first path being

2 relatively direct and said second path extending through a variable

28 capacity first-in first-out buffer reservoir for said articles. Preferably the

29 first and second paths include common portions upstream and 0 downstream of first and second junctions at wh ich said paths 3i respectively diverge and converge. The second path preferably includes

32 a portion leading to an inlet to and a portion leading from an exit from the

33 reservoir. Said first and second junctions may conveniently comprise

3 T-junctions. 5 The reservoir may conveniently be of the type disclosed in said

36 British patent specification No. 1301843 or in Figures 6 and 7 of said

37 British patent specification No. 2296000. Basically these reservoirs

38 comprise a reservoir conveyor extending around laterally spaced guides

1 in a generally heiical path, the spacing of the guides being variable to

2 vary the capacity of the reservoir, Alternatively, the reservoir may

3 comprise a container reservoir.

* In a preferred mode of operating the conveyor system, with the

5 speeds of the delivery and receiving devices matched, the articles are

6 transferred between the devices on the first relatively direct path. When

7 there is a mismatch between the speeds of the delivery and receiving a devices articles are delivered to or received from the reservoir by way of 9 the second path. A small flow of articles may be arranged to pass along io the second path at all times, thereby avoiding occupation of any articles ii in the reservoir for an excessive period of time. Alternatively, or i2 additionally, the conveyor means of the second path (including the i reservoir) may be periodically deliberately run (irrespective of the need i to do this according to the speeds of the delivery and receiving devices) i5 in order to ensure that no articles remain in the reservoir (or elsewhere i6 on the second path) for an excessive period. i7 The invention will be further described, by way of example only, is with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: i9 Figure 1 is a plan view of a conveyor system for rod-like articles,

2o Figure 2 is a side view of the system of Figure 1 ,

2i Figure 3 is a perspective view of another conveyor system for

22 rod-like articles,

2 Figure 4 is a side view of a container of the system of Figure 3,

24 Figure 5 is a plan view of the system of Figure 3,

25 Figure 6 is a side view of the system of Figure 3,

₂ 6 Figure 7 is a plan view of a further conveyor system for rod-like

27 articles,

₂ a Figure 8 is a side view of the system of Figure 7,

₂ 9 Figure 9 is an enlarged side view of part of the system of Figure 7,

30 Figure 10 is a perspective view of part of another conveyor system 3i for rod-like articles,

32 Figure 1 is a side view of the system of Figure 10,

33 Figure 12 is a plan view of the system of Figure 10, 4 Figure 13 is an end view of the system of Figure 10, 5 Figure 14 is a perspective view of part of another conveyor system

36 for rod-like articles,

37 Figure 15 is a side view of the system of Figure 14, 3β Figure 16 is a plan view of the system of Figure 14,

1 Figure 17 is an end view of the system of Figure 14,

2 Figure 18 is a perspective view of part of yet another conveyor

3 system for rod-like articles,

4 Figure 19 is a side view of the system of Figure 18,

5 Figure 20 is a plan view of the system of Figure 18,

6 Figure 21 is an end view of the system of Figure 18, and

7 Figure 22 is a side view of yet another conveyor system for a rod-like articles. The conveyor system shown in Figures 1 and 2 extends between io a cigarette making machine 200 and a cigarette packing machine 202. A ii mass flow conveyor 204, which includes an elevator 206, extends i2 between the machines 200 and 202 and conveys a continuous stream of i3 cigarettes in multi-layer stack formation. A container loading unit 208 is

14 located adjacent to the conveyor 204 and serves to load cigarettes from is the conveyor 204 into containers (such as those shown in Figure 4) i6 when required. Containers carrying cigarettes are transported from the

I? loading unit 208 towards a container unloading unit 210 by means of a is container transport unit 212. Cigarettes unloaded from containers at the i unloading unit 210 are reformed into a continuous mass flow stream on a

20 conveyor 214 which extends to a junction 216 with the conveyor 204 at

2i the top of the elevator 206. The conveyor 214 includes an elevator 218

22 and a portion 220 having an S-shape in plan.

2 The form of the loading unit 208 and unloading unit 210 may be

24 similar to that disclosed in British patent specification No. 1404141 , to

25 which reference is directed for details. Thus, compared with that

26 system, the system shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the present application

27 differs in that not all of the cigarettes flowing from the making machine

28 200 are loaded into containers, although that mode of operation would

2 be possible and for such purpose a ciosable gate 215 is provided to

30 extend across the top of the elevator 206 at the junction 216. i As indicated diagrammatically in the drawing, the loading unit 208

32 receives batches of cigarettes directly from the conveyor 204.

33 Alternatively, the loading unit 208 could operate from a conveyor 222 4 which branches from the main conveyor 204. In this way it would not be

3 necessary to insert dividers of the type disclosed in said specification 6 No. 1404141 into the stream of cigarettes on the main conveyor 204.

37 Operation of the system shown in Figures 1 and 2 is similar to that

38 of the system of Figure 5 of said British patent specification No. 2296000

1 except that generally the majority of cigarettes produced by the making

2 machine 200 pass directly to the packing machine 202 by way of the

3 direct path along conveyor 204. Cigarettes are only loaded into containers at the loading unit 208 when the production of the making machine 200 exceeds the requirements of the packing machine 202.

6 Similarly, cigarettes are unloaded from containers at the unloading unit

7 210 when the requirements of the packing machine 202 exceed the a production at the making machine 200. In addition, the system is 9 controlled such th at contain e rs are unl oad ed acco rdi n g to io predetermined requirements, e.g. in the same order as that in which they u are loaded, i.e. so that the transport unit 212 for containers acts as a i2 variable capacity first-in first-out reservoir. In order to achieve this each i3 container may carry a programmable tag or other device capable of i4 recording time of loading at the unit 208. Thus the unit 208 may include is write device and the unit 210 a read device to facilitate control as i6 required. Furthermore, the system may operate such that containers are i7 automatically unloaded at the unit 21 0 a predetermined time after is loading or production: in this way no cigarettes should remain unpacked i9 for an excessive period.

20 Figures 3-6 show a system having many similarities with that of

2i Figures 1 -2: similar reference numbers have been used for similar parts.

22 The system of Figures 3-6 can be operated in any of the ways described

2 with reference to the system of Figures 1 and 2.

24 As shown particulariy in Figure 4, each container 224 comprises

25 four compartments 226, each capable of holding a stack of cigarettes

26 having the same height as the stream on conveyor 204. Typically each

27 compartment 226 may hold about 1250 cigarettes. Each container 224

28 has side ledges 228 at its upper corners, from which the containers may

29 be suspended on rails 230 in the transporting unit 212.

30 When loading of cigarettes is required successive portions of the 3i stream 204 are sub-divided by partitions movable with the conveyor (for 2 example, as described in said specification No. 1404141 or as described

33 below with reference to Figures 7-9), each portion having substantially

3 the same width as a compartment 226 of a container 224. At the loading

35 unit 208 a pusher 232 transfers the portion of the stream from between

36 the partitions onto a shuttle 234. The pusher 232 and shuttle 234 move

37 at the speed of the conveyor 204 during transfer but subsequently

38 decelerate so as to have no component of movement in the direction of

ι conveyor 204 just prior to transfer of the portion of the stream from the

2 shuttle and into an adjacent compartment 226 of a container 224 at the

3 loading unit 208. The shuttle 234 may take any form, e.g. a rectangular sleeve, capable of maintaining the formation of the portion of stream

5 during transfer: the shuttle is moved on its path parallel to the conveyor

6 204 by a reciprocating drive (not shown). After transfer, the shuttle 234

7 and pusher 232 return to their original positions to transfer the next a portion of the stream on conveyor 204 if required. At the same time the 9 container 224 is indexed downwards (or replaced by the next empty io container) so as to be ready to receive the next portion. The conveyor u 204 continues to move during transfer of a portion of the stream to a i2 compartment 226. The pusher 232 moves laterally at the same speed as i3 conveyor 204 until the portion of the stream has been transferred from i the conveyor and onto the shuttle 234. Consequently the path of the s pusher 232 as seen in Figure 5 is at an angle to the conveyor 204 and its i6 start position is initially upstream of the position of the receiving i7 container 224. The retum path of the pusher 232 avoids the path of the ia conveyor 204 (e.g. by passing over the top of the advancing stream of 9 cigarettes on the conveyor). Successive full containers 224 are

20 conveyed along a lower pair of rails 230 of the container transport unit

2i 212 towards the unloading unit 210. Empty containers 224 for filling at

22 the loading unit 208 are delivered along an upper pair of rails 230 and

2 indexed downwards at the unit 208.

2 Unloading of containers 224 at the unloading unit 210 is a reversal

25 of loadi n g . A co ntainer 224 is e levated intermittently to brin g

26 compartments 226 to a position in alignment with a horizontal portion of

27 the conveyor 214 and a pusher 236 transfers the portion of cigarettes in ₂ β a compartment onto the conveyor between upstanding partitions.

29 During transfer the conveyor 214 may be stationary, so that it is moved

30 intermittently to receive successive portions from successive 3 compartments 226, or alternatively a shuttle (not shown) may be

3 ₂ provided in a manner similar to that provided at the loading unit 208, so

3 that successive portions may be transferred from a container 224 to a

3 continuously moving conveyor 214. In either case the partitions are 5 progressively withdrawn after transfer so as to reform a continuous

36 stream on the conveyor 214, as described in said specification No. 7 1404141. After a container 224 has been unloaded at the unit 210 it is

38 received on the upper pair of rails 230 and advanced back towards the

ι loading unit 208. The transport unit 212 includes conveyor means for

2 advancing containers 224 along the rails 230 or in any other convenient

3 manner and for lowering containers at the loading unit 208 and for

4 elevating containers at the unloading unit 210: these are not illustrated in

5 the drawings but may be similar to conventional tray transport means

6 already known in the cigarette industry.

7 As with the system of Figures 1 and 2, the system may be β operated in such manner that all the product of the making machine 200 is loaded into containers 224 for transfer to the packing machine 202 by io way of the unloading unit 210 and conveyor 214. For this purpose a u gate similar to that disclosed in British patent specification No. 2157253, i2 to which reference is directed for details, may be provided at the junction i3 216. i Irrespective of whether all or part of the stream of cigarettes on is conveyor 204 is loaded into containers 224 the containers 224 in the i6 transport unit 212 create a first-in first-out variable capacity cigarette i7 reservoir. A control system for determining the period of occupation of is full trays in the reservoir may be provided as described with reference to i9 Figures 1 and 2.

20 Although it may be preferred to operate the system as

2i self-contained, in which case typically there would be up to, say, 25 full

22 containers in the transporting unit 212, providing a typical reservoir

2 capacity of 125,000 cigarettes, it would equally be possible to add or

₂ remove full or empty containers from the unit 212, e.g. by additional

2 transfer units (not shown) at the respective ends of the paths on the rails

2 230.

2 The system shown in Figures 7-9 is basically similar to that shown

28 in Figures 3-6: again similar reference numbers have been used for

2 similar parts. This system may be operated in the same way as that of 0 Figures 1 and 2 and Figures 3-6.

3i In Figures 7 and 8 two positions 232A, 232B of the pusher 232 are

32 shown, as well as two positions 234A, 234B of the shuttle 234. In

33 addition, partitions 238, which divide the stream on conveyor 204 into

3 portions for transfer by the pusher 232 are shown. Figure 9 shows

3 diagrammatically a first partition conveyor 204A extending from the

36 region of a stack former 240 at the making machine 200 and carrying spaced partitions 238A, 238B and 238C. When it is required to load

38 portions of cigarettes into containers at the loading unit 208 the partitions

1 238 are raised to their extended positions as shown in Figure 9 to

2 separate the stream into portions: at other times the partitions are not

3 raised above the surface of conveyor 204, so that a continuous stream of cigarettes is maintained on the conveyor. During loading at the unit 208 s portions of the stream on conveyor 204 are transferred so as to leave

6 gaps between successive partitions 238, i.e. so that in Figure 9 there

7 would be no cigarettes between the partitions 238B and 238C. During β loading the trailing end of the stream of cigarettes on the downstream 9 part of conveyor 204 (which is stationary) is bounded by a partition 238D io carried by the conveyor 204B. After transfer of one or more portions of u the stream into a container at the loading unit 208 and when it is required i2 to cease loading portions of the stream and to reform a continuous i3 stream on the conveyor 204 the leading end of the stream on conveyor i4 204A, bounded by the partition 238C, is advanced towards the trailing is end of the stream of the conveyor on the downstream part of conveyor i6 204, which is bounded by partition 238D until the partitions 238C and i7 238D are substantially adjacent, after which the partition 238C is is progressively retracted followed by the partition 238D. It will be i understood that in order to achieve this condition at the start of each

20 loading operation a partition corresponding to the partition 238D carried

2i by the conveyor 204B must always be inserted into the stream alongside

22 a partition carried by the conveyor 204A and bounding the leading end

23 of the first portion of the stream to be loaded. Subsequently the

24 conveyor 204B and remainder of conveyor 204 downstream of the

25 loading unit 208 remains stationary until loading has ceased and it is

26 required to reform a continuous stream on conveyor 204 as described.

27 It will be understood that loading of portions of the stream 204

28 while allowing the upstream part of conveyor 204 to continue to move

29 avoids the need for a separate buffer reservoir to absorb cigarettes

30 produced by the making machine 200 while the conveyor 204 would i otherwise be stationary. In practice it may be necessary in any event to 2 provide a small buffer reservoir to accommodate cigarettes produced

33 during the period that the making machine 200 continues to operate if

34 the packing machine 202 fails immediately after partitions 238 carried by

35 the conveyor 204 have passed the loading unit 208. The maximum

36 necessary capacity for such a buffer reservoir would be the number of 7 cigarettes in a compartment 226. This buffer reservoir may be provided

38 in a downstream portion of the conveyor 204, e.g. adjacent the packing

1 machine 202.

2 It is similarly an advantage to provide a shuttle at the unloading

3 unit 210. In this case, however, there may need to be an additional

4 pusher 236A to transfer the batch of cigarettes from the shuttle onto the

5 conveyor 214. The reason for this is that the pusher 236 cannot pass

6 through the container 224 at the unloading unit 210 and continue to

7 move in the direction of movement of the conveyor 214. The additional s pusher 236A may, for example, be operated from overhead.

9 Figures 10-13 show in more detail an arrangement which achieves io movements of the pusher 232, shuttle 234 and partitions 238 in a system n similar to that of Figures 7-9. The shuttle 234 and pusher 232 are i2 connected to a carriage 300 movable on linear guides 302 in a direction i parallel to partition conveyor 204 under the action of a drive 304 i4 operating a recirculating ball screw 306. The pusher 232 is advanced is relative to the carriage 300 to push a portion of the stream on conveyor

IO 204 into the shuttle 234 and then into the container 224 by action of a i7 similar drive 308. After operation of the drive 308 to push a portion into a is container 224 a further drive 310 is provided to lift the pusher 232 so that i9 it clears the advancing stream 312 on conveyor 204 during its return

2o stroke. 2i The conveyor 204 includes partitions 238 which are lifted by a

2 ₂ lifting unit 314 and lowered by a lowering unit 316. A rail 315 maintains

23 the partitions 238 in their raised positions through the loading position

24 208. Beyond the loading position 208 is a further drive unit 318

25 including stop plates 320, 322 which can be inserted in a stream on the

₂ 6 conveyor 204 from above. The plate 320 is movable parallel to conveyor

27 204 by means of a linear drive 320A and is movable from an upper ∑a position in which the plate is above the level of a stream of cigarettes on

29 conveyor 204 to a lower position in which it is inserted in the stream by

30 means of a further drive 320B. The plate 322 is similarly movable by a 3i linear drive 322A and a further drive 322B.

32 Following initiation of a loading cycle the plate 320 is inserted

33 either immediately adjacent to the leading partition 238 on the conveyor

3 204 or so that it follows the lowering profile of the leading partition 238,

35 as determined by the lowering unit 316. The plate 320 then bounds the

36 trailing edge of the stream after the leading partition 238 has been 7 lowered. During the period when the plate 320 follows the path of the β leading partition 238 on the conveyor 204 it is advanced in the direction

i of the conveyor by the drive 320A and is lowered by the drive 320B.

2 The stop plates 320 and 322 may be inserted immediately in front

3 of or immediately behind a partition 238 or, if they are provided with

4 exactly the same lowering profile as that provided for the partition 238 by

5 the lowering unit 316, they may be aligned with and immediately above

6 the partition 238. Alternatively, the plates 320, 322 and the partitions 238

7 may comprise relatively laterally-spaced parts so that the plates 320 and 3 322 may be inserted in alignment with a partition 238 and without 9 interference with it. The plates 320,322 could be carried by an overhead io partition conveyor (i.e. somewhat similar to the conveyor 204) instead of ii by the linear drive arrangements. i2 When the requirement for loading portions of the stream into a i3 container 224 at the loading station 208 ceases, so that it is required to i4 reform a continuous stream, the plate 322 follows the leading partition i5 238 until it reaches the position of the stationary plate 320, which is just iβ above a dead plate 324 arranged between the end of conveyor 204 and i7 the beginning of conveyor 206, at which position both plates 320 and is 322 are retracted upwards and conveyance of a continuous stream on i9 the conveyor 206 can recommence.

20 Figures 14-17 show an arrangement for reforming a continuous

2i stream of cigarettes on a conveyor 218A at an unloading unit 210 in a

22 system similar to that shown in Figures 7-9. A first pusher 236 is

23 operable by means of a drive 340 to cause a batch of cigarettes to be

2 unloaded from a container 224 and moved into a shuttle 342. A second

25 pusher 236A operating from overhead is operable to move a batch from

26 the shuttle 342 and onto a conveyor 344 carrying partitions 346. A first

27 drive 348 for the pusher 236A causes it to move in a direction to remove

28 a batch of cigarettes from the shuttle 342. A second drive 350 causes

29 movement of the pusher 236A in a direction parallel to the conveying so direction of the conveyor 344. A third drive 352 causes the pusher 236A 3i to be lowered into an operative position and to be raised on its return so

32 as to avoid interference with operation of the pusher 236 which causes

33 the batches to be transferred from the container 224 and into the shuttle

34 342.

35 A lifting unit 354 is provided for the partitions 346 on conveyor

36 344, so as to present spaced partitions which are movable with the

37 shuttle 342. A lowering unit 356 causes successive partitions to be

38 lowered so as to allow formation of a continuous stream on conveyor

i 218A.

2 It will be appreciated that by operation of the shuttle 342 the

3 stream on conveyor 218A may be conveyed continuously. An alternative

4 arrangement, in which the stream is conveyed intermittently at the

5 unloading station 21 0, but which can still achieve conti n uo us

6 conveyance of a stream from the conveyor 218A is shown in Figures

7 18-21. This arrangement omits the shuttle 342 and second pusher 236A a but is otherwise similar to that of Figures 14-17.

9 The conveyor 344 is operated intermittently, so that the pusher io 236 delivers batches of cigarettes from the container 224 onto the a conveyor 344 between partitions 346 while the conveyor is stationary. i2 The conveyor 218A includes a buffer reservoir capacity, provided by is movement of the conveyor around a wheel (not shown) around which i4 the conveyor passes in a manner substantially as disclosed in British i patent specification No. 2263680. By causing the buffer to deliver i6 cigarettes during periods when the conveyor 344 is stationary and to i7 replenish its capacity during periods when the conveyor 344 is moving, a is continuous stream of cigarettes may be conveyed downstream of i9 conveyor 218A.

20 Either of the shuttles 234, 342 could be replaced by a partition

2i conveyor which indexes with and may be driven from the movement of

22 the respective pushers 232 or 236A.

23 The conveyor system shown in Figure 22 extends between a

2 cigarette making machine 10 and a cigarette packing machine 12 and

25 includes several unidirectional sections each of which conveys a

26 continuous stream of cigarettes in multi-layer stack formation. From the

27 making machine 10 a short lower horizontal conveyor 14 leads to an

28 elevator 16 at the upper end of which an upper horizontal conveyor 18

29 conveys cigarettes to a first T-junction 20. A downdrop or chute 22 0 descends from the T-junction 20 and leads into a first intermediate level 3i horizontal conveyor 24 extending to a second T-junction 26. A further

3 ₂ downdrop or chute 28 extends from the T-junction 26 and into the

33 packing machine 12.

3 At the first T-junction 20 a further upper horizontal conveyor 30

3 leads to the inlet or entrance 32 of a variable capacity reservoir 34. A

36 further conveyor 38 at the same intermediate level as the conveyor 24

37 extends from the exit 36 of the reservoir 34 to the second T-junction 26.

38 The reservoir 34 is a first-in first-out reservoir of the kind shown in

1 Figures 6 and 7 of said British patent specification No. 2296000 or in

2 British patent specification No. 1301843, to which reference is directed

3 for details. In essence, the reservoir 34 comprises a variable length of conveyor extending between the entrance 32 and the exit 36. The

5 reservoir 34 could be replaced by other forms of variable capacity first-in

6 first-out reservoirs capable of receiving a multi-layer stream of articles at

7 an entrance and delivering a multi-layer stream of articles at an exit. s Such reservoirs need not maintain the stream at a substantially constant height (as, preferably, does the reservoir 34). Moreover, the stream io need not be continuous in such alternative reservoirs: for example, the a reservoir 34 could be replaced by the transport unit 212 for containers as i2 disclosed in Figures 1 and 2. Any of these alternative reservoirs may be i operated in substantially the same way as the reservoir 34, as hereinafter i described. i5 In normal operation, when the speeds of the making machine 10 i6 and the packing machine 12 are matched, cigarettes flow along the path i7 defined by conveyors 14-28. If the speed of the making machine 10 is exceeds that of the packing machine 12, cigarettes also flow along conveyor 30 with the reservoir 34 expanding to accept additional

20 cigarettes. Similarly, if the speed of the packing machine 12 exceeds

2i that of the making machine 10, cigarettes flow from the reservoir 34 by

22 way of conveyor 38 to the second T-junction 26 to supplement flow from

23 the making machine arriving via the conveyor 24, and the reservoir

24 correspondingly contracts. It will be understood that the speeds of the

2 various conveyors is controlled electronically, in particular using speed

26 sensors for the making machine 10 and packing machine 12 and

2 cigarette level detectors at the T-junctions 20 and 26: control of

28 conveyors in this manner is well-known in the cigarette industry and

₂ 9 need not be further described here.

30 Where the speeds of the making machine 10 and the packing 3i machine 12 are matched it is theoretically possible for cigarettes to

32 remain in the reservoir 34 for an extended period of time. In order to

33 avoid this, which in extreme circumstances could lead to cigarettes of

34 inferior quality being delivered to the packing machine 12, the system 5 may be arranged so that there is generally a slight trickle of cigarettes 6 through a reservoir 34, i.e. even when the reservoir 34 would otherwise be stationary or even expanding a small flow of cigarettes is taken from

38 the exit 36 (with a corresponding inflow at the inlet 32). Alternatively or

1 additionally, the flow of cigarettes to the reservoir 34 may be controlled

2 based on elapsed time. Thus, the reservoir 34 may be emptied

3 periodically, so that no cigarette may remain in the reservoir for a period exceeding a predetermined maximum time, or the maximum time any

5 cigarette can have been in the reservoir may be actively monitored

6 (which may readily be achieved by detecting and recording conveyor

7 speeds) and emptying of the reservoir 34 controlled so as to ensure that a no cigarette remains in the reservoir for longer than a predetermined 9 maximum time. Typically the maximum time for cigarettes to remain in io the reservoir 34 might be set at 2 hours. For further details of controlling ii a reservoir so as to avoid occupati on of ci garettes beyon d a i2 predetermined maximum time, reference is directed to said British patent i3 specification No. 2296000. i4 Although in a preferred mode of operation the majority of i cigarettes pass from the making machine 10 to the packing machine 12 i6 by way of the path including downdrop 22 and horizontal conveyor 24, it i7 is possible to route all of the cigarettes through the reservoir 34. This is could be achieved by stopping flow on the conveyor 24 and, preferably, i9 in addition providing a gate or other closure device for the downdrop 22

2o at the junction 20. Such a gate or closure device may be substantially in

2i the form disclosed in British patent specification No. 2157253 to which

22 reference is directed for details.

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38