Apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles

摘要

Cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are transported sideways from a source along an elongated horizontal path into at least one downwardly extending second path. If the inlet of a second path is to be sealed from the adjacent outlet portion of the horizontal path, a partition is moved across the inlet in the general direction of advancement of articles along the first path. The partition includes a carrier which is reciprocable along a slightly upwardly and forwardly inclined track, and a flexible belt which is tensioned by one or more springs and is trained over the leader of the carrier. A variable-capacity reservoir is located above the horizontal path opposite the inlet of each second path to accept some of the articles which are being moved back into the first path in response to movement of the partition across the inlet of the adjacent second path. A rotary member is installed adjacent the leader of the partition when the latter seals the inlet of the corresponding second path to thus further reduce the likelihood of damage to articles as a result of movement of the partition from its retracted position across the inlet of the respective second path.