Method of and apparatus for controlling access to groups of rod-shaped smokers' products in a packing machine

摘要

An elongated bridge-like member which normally assumes an operative position in which it prevents access to a track for the advancement of finished or partly finished cigarette packs between two successive stations in a packing machine is designed to have its length reduced prior to being movable-without colliding with parts at the stations-from the operative position to an inoperative position in which the track and the cigarette packs in the track are accessible. To this end, the bridge-like member has two carriages each of which includes one of the two end portions of the fully extended bridge-like member; each carriage is movable toward the end portion forming part of the other carriage. A locking device must be disengaged in order to permit movement of the bridge-like member from the operative to the inoperative postion.