Method of feeding cigarettes to a hopper outlet

• US 6,318,540 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni.
• Original Assignee: G. D. Societa Per Azioni
• Inventors: Spatafora, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R.
• Application Number:
  US09/441,132
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 198/347.1, 198/347.4, 198/550.01, 198/532, 198/396, 198/383, 198/389, 198/390
• US Class Current: 198/396
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 19/04 Arranging, feeding, or orientating the cigarettes

Abstract

A method of feeding cigarettes, of a length considerably greater than their diameter, to an outlet of a hopper, whereby masses of cigarettes having a number of orientations are fed to an inlet, and the cigarettes are selected according to orientation by means of the orientation and size of the inlet.

Claims

1. A method of feeding cigarettes to an outlet of a hopper;

the cigarettes having a given diameter (D), and a given length (L) considerably greater than said diameter (D);

the hopper comprising at least one inlet, and a chamber extending between said inlet and said outlet;

the method comprising the steps of supplying said cigarettes in masses to said inlet, the cigarettes in said masses having a number of orientations;

selecting said cigarettes as a function of their orientation by means of said inlet;

wherein said inlet has a first length (L1) measured in a given first direction (D1) and approximately equal to but no smaller than said given length (L), and a first width (W1) measured in a given second direction (D2) perpendicular to said first direction (D1) and considerably smaller than said given length (L), to permit the passage of first cigarettes oriented within a given first range (I1), and to prevent the passage of second cigarettes oriented within a given second range (I2);

the method further comprising the step of expelling said second cigarettes from said masses by means of at least one expulsion inlet adjacent to said inlet;

said expulsion inlet having a second length (L2) measured in said second direction (D2) and greater than said given length (L), and a second width (W2) measured in said first direction (D1) and considerably smaller than said given length (L), to permit the passage of the second cigarettes and prevent the passage of the first cigarettes.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising feeding said masses along a given path (P) extending over said inlet and said expulsion inlet.

9. A hopper as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising an expulsion channel for expelling the second cigarettes and located beneath said expulsion inlet.

3. A method of feeding cigarettes to an outlet of a hopper;

the cigarettes having a given diameter (D), and a given length (L) considerably greater than said diameter (D);

the hopper comprising at least one inlet, and a chamber extending between said inlet and said outlet;

the method comprising the steps of supplying said cigarettes in masses to said inlet, the cigarettes in said masses having a number of orientations;

selecting said cigarettes as a function of their orientation by means of said inlet;

wherein said inlet has a first length (L1) measured in a given first direction (D1) and approximately equal to but no smaller than said given length (L), and a first width (W1) measured in a given second direction (D2) perpendicular to said first direction (D1) and considerably smaller than said given length (L), to permit the passage of first cigarettes oriented within a given first range (I1), and to prevent the passage of second cigarettes oriented within a given second range (I2);

said method further comprising the step of distributing said first cigarettes in a relatively thin layer over said outlet;

said layer being of a height, measured in a substantially vertical third direction (D3) perpendicular to the first and second direction (D1, D2), equal to a value ranging between three and ten times the diameter (D) of said first and second cigarettes.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising feeding said first cigarettes between said inlet and said layer by means of a substantially vertical channel having a third width, measured in said second direction (D2), smaller than said given length (L).

5. A hopper for supplying cigarettes having a diameter (D) and a given length (L) considerably greater than said diameter (D);

the hopper comprising at least one inlet, an outlet, and a chamber extending between said inlet and said outlet; and

said hopper inlet being so sized and oriented as to select said cigarettes as a function of their orientation;

the hopper further comprising a substantially vertical channel located beneath said inlet;

said channel having a third width considerably smaller than said given length (L).

6. A hopper as claimed in claim 5, wherein said channel is defined by two successive adjacent separators, including an expulsion channel being formed in said separator.

7. A hopper supplying cigarettes having a diameter (D) and a given length (L) considerably greater than said diameter (D);

the hopper comprising at least one inlet, an outlet, and a chamber extending between said inlet and said outlet; and

said hopper inlet being so sized and oriented as to select said cigarettes as a function of their orientation;

said hopper further comprising separators housed in said chamber and for reducing the capacity of the chamber.

8. A hopper supplying cigarettes having a diameter (D) and a given length (L) considerably greater than said diameter (D);

the hopper comprising at least one inlet, an outlet, and a chamber extending between said inlet and said outlet; and

said hopper inlet being so sized and oriented as to select said cigarettes as a function of their orientation;

wherein said inlet has a first length (L1) measured in a given first direction (D1) and approximately equal to but no smaller than said given length (L), and a first width (W1) measured in a given second direction (D2) perpendicular to said first direction (D1) and considerably smaller than said given length (L), to permit the passage of first cigarettes oriented within a given first range (I1), and to prevent the passage of second cigarettes oriented within a given second range (I2);

the hopper further comprising an expulsion inlet having a second length (L2) measured in said second direction (D2) and greater than said given length (L), and a second width (W2) measured in said first direction (D1) and considerably smaller than said given length (L), to permit the passage of the second cigarettes and prevent the passage of the first cigarettes.

10. A hopper as claimed in claim 8 and further comprising a conveyor for feeding masses of cigarettes along a given path (P);

the inlet and the expulsion inlet being located beneath said path (P).

11. A hopper as claimed in claim 10 and further comprising a number of inlets and a number of expulsion inlets;

said inlets and said expulsion inlets being located beneath said path (P).

12. A hopper as claimed in claim 11, wherein said conveyor comprises a succession of belt conveyors arranged successively in said second direction (D2) and between two guide walls;

said inlets extending between two successive adjacent belt conveyors and said guide walls.

13. A hopper as claimed in claim 11, wherein said expulsion inlets are formed along said belt conveyors.

14. A hopper as claimed in claim 12, wherein each belt conveyor comprises a number of belts separated from one another and from the guide walls and extending about at least two pulleys;

said expulsion inlets being defined by said pulleys of the belt conveyor, by the belts and/or by said guide walls.