Apparatus for transporting and classifying discrete articles of the tobacco processing industry

摘要

Apparatus for selectively transferring cigarettes, uniting bands or other discrete articles from a first onto a second conveyor has a first suction generating device which communicates with suction ports in the periphery of the cylindrical rotor of the first conveyor while such ports advance along a first portion of a first endless path, and a discrete second suction generating device which can be activated to draw air from the ports in a second portion of the first path adjacent to a portion of a second endless path defined by the second conveyor. When the second suction generating device is activated, the articles which reach the second portion of the first path are not transferred onto the second conveyor. The second suction generating device can constitute an injector which can be activated or deactivated by a valve within a few milliseconds. Such injector can receive compressed gas from a source which is further connected with a pipe admitting compressed gas into the ports of the second conveyor during travel of such ports past the transfer station between the two conveyors and while the second suction generating device is activated. The ports in the first portion are sealed from the ports in the second portion of the first path by a stationary valve member.