METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES OF THE TOBACCO PROCESSING INDUSTRY

摘要

A method of and an apparatus for delivering successive filter rod sections of a series of such sections onto the upper reach of an endless belt conveyor whereon the sections form a single file of coaxial articles. A first rotary drum-shaped conveyor has axially parallel peripheral flutes which draw successive filter rod sections from a magazine and move them at right angles to their axes to a transfer station where each oncoming section is brought to a halt in the flute of a stationary ramp. A second rotary drum-shaped conveyor has peripheral pushers which engage the rear end faces of successive sections in the flute of the ramp and move the entrained sections axially toward and onto the belt conveyor. A brush is adjacent the path of sections on the second drumshaped conveyor to ensure that each section abuts the respective pusher not later than immediately prior to transfer onto the belt conveyor. The second drum-shaped conveyor has a peripheral groove wherein the sections in front of the respective pushers are attracted by suction.