Reservoir for rod-like articles
First Claim
1. A variable capacity reservoir system for rod like articles, comprising a product input station and a product output station, having a continuous endless conveyor with an adjustable product conveying length and a complementary adjustable conveyor take up length;
- conveyor adjustment means for effecting an increase or decrease in the product conveying length and complimentary decrease or increase respectively in the conveyor take up length, wherein the conveyor adjustment means comprises spaced first and second support members arranged respectively on substantially parallel first and second axes and between which, and supported by which, is one of said product conveying length or conveyor take up length so as to define a spiral path extending around said first and second support means;
the other of said product conveying length or conveyor take up length being supported between said second support member and a third support member, said first and third support members being restrained from relative displacement towards said second support member said second support member being displaceable relative to said first and third support means to simultaneously effect said complimentary adjustment of the conveyor length extending between said first and second support means and said second and third support means respectively.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a variable capacity reservoir (10) for rod-like articles comprising a product input station (24) and a product output station (26) having a continuous endless conveyor (12) extending therebetween with an adjustable product conveying length (14) extending between the product input and output stations and complimentary adjustable conveyor take up length (16) between the output and input stations, wherein the product conveying length (14) extends in a spiral arrangement between a first drum member (18) and a second drum member (20) and a conveyor take up length (16) extends between said second drum member (20) and a third drum member (22), wherein the second drum member (20) is adjustable between the two fixed outer drums (18, 22) to adjust the lengths of the product conveying length (14) and conveyor take up length (16) in a complimentary manner.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A variable capacity reservoir system for rod like articles, comprising a product input station and a product output station, having a continuous endless conveyor with an adjustable product conveying length and a complementary adjustable conveyor take up length;
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conveyor adjustment means for effecting an increase or decrease in the product conveying length and complimentary decrease or increase respectively in the conveyor take up length, wherein the conveyor adjustment means comprises spaced first and second support members arranged respectively on substantially parallel first and second axes and between which, and supported by which, is one of said product conveying length or conveyor take up length so as to define a spiral path extending around said first and second support means;
the other of said product conveying length or conveyor take up length being supported between said second support member and a third support member, said first and third support members being restrained from relative displacement towards said second support member said second support member being displaceable relative to said first and third support means to simultaneously effect said complimentary adjustment of the conveyor length extending between said first and second support means and said second and third support means respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A variable capacity reservoir system for rod like articles, comprising a product input station and a product output station, having a continuous endless conveyor with an adjustable product conveying length and a complementary adjustable conveyor take up length;
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conveyor adjustment means for effecting an increase or decrease in the product conveying length and complimentary decrease or increase respectively in the conveyor take up length, wherein the conveyor adjustment means comprises first and second support members arranged respectively on spaced substantially parallel first and second axes and between which, and supported by which, is one of said product conveying length or conveyor take up length so as to define a spiral path extending around said first and second support means;
the other of said product conveying length or conveyor take up length being supported between said second support member and a third support member that is arranged on a spaced third axis that is substantially parallel to the second axis so that the other one of said product conveying length or conveyor take up length defines a second spiral path extending around the second and third support members;
said first and third support members being restrained from relative displacement towards said second support member said second support member being displaceable relative to said first and third support means to simultaneously effect said complimentary adjustment of the conveyor length extending between said first and second support means and said second and third support means respectively. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification