Apparatus For The Transport And Stocking Of Cigarettes

What is this patent about?

’104 is related to the field of high-performance cigarette packaging and logistics. In modern manufacturing, cigarette makers produce thousands of units per minute, creating a massive throughput that must be buffered before reaching the packaging stage. Traditional methods using open-sided trestles or simple vertical bins often struggle with the sheer volume and the need for smooth, damage-free transfer between production and final wrapping.

The underlying idea behind ’104 is a modular, multi-level storage system that treats groups of containers as synchronized units within a vertical magazine. Instead of handling individual bins, the invention organizes them into storage units that can be moved both vertically and horizontally. This allows for a continuous cycle where full units are swapped for empty ones, ensuring the high-speed production line never has to pause for container replacement.

The claims of ’104 focus on a container magazine architecture that utilizes vertical conveyors to manage stacked storage units. The system is designed around a stationary filling station where containers are processed sequentially. A key aspect of the claimed mechanism is the use of a cross-conveyor that shifts these multi-container units laterally, aligning each individual cell with a filling member to facilitate a seamless transition between storage and active transport.

In practice, the invention employs a specialized filling member that interfaces with the bottom of each container. To prevent tobacco damage and ensure an orderly stack, retractable guide members are inserted into the container during the filling process. These guides create a temporary internal funnel that narrows toward the bottom orifice, gradually withdrawing as the cigarette stack rises to maintain a perfectly aligned column without manual intervention.

This approach differs from prior solutions by integrating the closing mechanism directly into the flow path. The container’s closing flaps are designed to double as lateral guides for the cigarette stream when open, featuring a comb-like structure that intermeshes with the conveyor belts. By combining structural storage, automated vertical buffering, and active flow control, the system achieves a much higher density and reliability than traditional gravity-fed or manual trestle systems.