Belt transfer means for cigarettes or the like
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to transfer means for transferring tubular articles from one rotating conveying unit to a second rotating conveying unit. In particular, it relates to a flexible belt transfer member effecting a transfer of cylindrical articles, such as cigarettes, from a first rotating drum unit to a second rotating drum unit. 
     In mechanized handling or manufacture of cigarettes, the need commonly arises for an efficient method of transferring cigarettes being transported on the surface of one conveying unit to the surface of a second conveying unit. A standard mode of transfer that has been developed in the art provides a transferee conveying unit with suction apparatus, so that cigarettes can be drawn onto the transporting surface of this transferee unit from a transferor conveyor. A typical example of such prior art apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,234 issued to A. Hinzmann. However, in certain types of handling operations, use of such suction transfer is not feasible. For example, in a standard cigarette air or vacuum-testing device, the utilization of vacuum as the testing criteria precludes the use of vacuum apparatus on the conveying unit. 
     Current transfer apparatus incorporates a finely machined and calibrated metal arm to perform the operation of intercepting and picking off cigarettes from a transferor conveyor to a transferee conveyor. Unfortunately, slight misalignment of this intercepting arm results in inefficiency. Additionally, wearing of these arms necessitates replacement of this component relatively frequently; and such regular replacements create cost factors. 
     Hence, a mechanical transfer means is needed which affords efficient transfer of tubular articles from one conveying unit to a second conveying unit. Whereupon, it is an object of this invention to provide a transfer means which efficiently effects the transfer of tubular articles such as cigarettes from one conveying unit to another conveying unit. 
     It is further an object of this invention to provide a transfer means comprising economical replacement components. 
     It is another object to provide a transfer means allowing a mechanical transfer of cylindrical objects from one conveying unit to a second conveying unit without the use of suction apparatus. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an efficient and economical transfer means which is readily adaptable to existing cigarette handling apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with principles of this invention, the objects as set forth are attained by providing a flexible belt member extending partially around the circumference of a rotating conveying drum, and continuing to extend, in reverse wind, around a central axle portion of a second oppositely rotating conveying drum unit. One end of this flexible belt member is fastened to a guiding bracket, while its opposite end is fastened to a spring biasing member. The transfer operation is accomplished by the removal of the conveyed cigarettes from a transferor unit to a transferee drum. The belt serves to pick off cigarettes from the transferor unit as the cigarettes approach the surface of the transferee drum. The belt, held under tension by the spring biasing member, then serves to retain the cigarettes on the transporting surface of the transferee drum, as it transports the cigarettes towards an air or suction testing station. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on illustrating principles of the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a transfer means according to the invention, as a transfer component in a cigarette handling machine. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the interaction of the belt and drum surfaces. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the elements of the invention as embodied in the drawings, numeral 11 generally represents a transfer means which comprises a flexible belt member 13 and a guide bracket 15. One end of the belt is fastened to the bracket by fastening screws 19, while the opposite end of the belt is connected by a spring biasing member 17 to a tension adjustment nut 21, also connected to a guide arm extension 16 of guide bracket 15. 
     Transfer means 11 is a transfer component of an overall device adapted to the handling of tubular articles, such as cigarettes. The particular device illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings depicts the use of my invention in conjunction with a cigarette air or suction testing apparatus. Basically, this machine includes a rotating selector drum 23 whose conveying surfaces are notched with article transport grooves 31. Articles carried on the selector drum are transferred to a rotating test drum 25, which also is fitted with article transport grooves 29. These two respective drums are rotating in opposite directions, as indicated by the directional arrows in the drawing. In order to eliminate cigarettes with torn or shreaded casings, rotating test drum 25 transports the cigarettes into passing contact with a rotating drum having suction slots 27. Unsuitable, damaged cigarettes on the air or suction drum are subsequently removed from the packing procedures, and only perfect cigarettes pass inspection and are carried off by the vacuum slots 27 for further packing. 
     My invention is directed to a transfer means for accomplishing the transferring of cigarettes being transported on rotating selector drum 23 to rotating test drum 25. Belt member 13 is made of flexible material, such as Mylar or some other suitable plastic material. The belt is fastened at one end to curved guide bracket 15 and extends around about 90° or so of the circumferential conveying surface of test drum 25. The belt also passes in reverse winding direction around about 90°-180° or so of central axle portion 24 of the adjoining transferor conveying unit 23. Its end is then attached through a spring biasing member 17 to tension adjustment nut 21, which in turn is connected, for example, to guide arm extension 16. Manipulation of adjustment nut 21 permits fine adjustment of the tension of the transfer belt member. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, selector drum 23 has a spool-like configuration. Cylindrical articles are supported by grooves 31 notched in the ridge portions 22 of the spool. The transfer belt accordingly extends out of contact with, and beneath transported cylindrical articles, until the articles reach the tangential transfer point 35. At the point of transfer, cigarettes 33 are guided by the belt member from the transferor drum unit 23 to the transferee drum unit 25. Drum 25 also is fitted with article transport grooves 29 which receive the transferred cigarettes. The belt member, biased by spring 17, is held in gentle selected tension against the surface of the drum 25. The cigarettes pass over the inner surface of the flexible belt, and accordingly are held in place by the tension of the belt against the drum. The cigarettes remain in their transport grooves of the test drum until they come into contact with suction slots 27 which selectively remove properly formed cigarettes. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various alterations in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the transfer belt itself could be composed of various materials, such as leather or other plastics. The circumferential extent to which the belt is wrapped around the respective conveying drums also could be altered without substantially effecting performance. Furthermore, the particular design and arrangement of the guide bracket was chosen to accommodate adaptability of my invention to current cigarette handling machine structures, and could be altered to suit other particular purposes.