Method of and apparatus for counteracting the lack of balance of parts in a cuttoff for cigarettes and the like

Abstract

Lack of balance of a crank mechanism, which reciprocates a ledger having one or more guides for one or more cigarette rods or filter rods each issuing from a maker and being subdivided into a row of cigarettes or filter mouthpieces, is at least partially counteracted by at least two counterpoises one of which orbits about the axis of the crank mechanism in a first direction and the other of which orbits, in a second direction counter to the first direction, about a second axis laterally offset relative to the axis of the crank mechanism. A third counterpoise can be mounted for orbital movement about the axis of the crank mechanism and, if utilized, is angularly offset relative to the first counterpoise. The prime mover for the crank mechanism orbits the first and third counterpoises in the first direction, and the second counterpoise in the second direction.

1 . A method of counteracting the lack of balance of a rotary drive for a reciprocable ledger guiding at least one continuous rod which advances lengthwise in a predetermined direction, at a predetermined speed and along a predetermined path and is repeatedly severed by an implement moving cyclically in and counter to said direction and arranged to sever the rod while advancing along a portion of said path, at said speed and in said direction, comprising the steps of: 
 orbiting a ledger-reciprocating component of the drive and a first counterpoise for the drive about a first axis; and    orbiting a second counterpoise for the drive in synchronism with the first counterpoise about a second axis remote from the first axis.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drive includes a crank mechanism.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of establishing a torque-transmitting connection between the drive and at least one further counterpoise and orbiting the at least one further counterpoise in synchronism with the first counterpoise.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said orbiting steps include orbiting the first, second and further counterpoises about at least substantially parallel axes.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of orbiting the at least one further counterpoise includes orbiting the at least one further counterpoise about the first axis.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second axes are parallel to each other.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of orbiting the second counterpoise includes transmitting torque from the drive to the second counterpoise.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said orbiting steps include causing one of the counterpoises to orbit about the respective axis in a clockwise direction and causing the other counterpoise to orbit about the respective axis in a counterclockwise direction.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is selected from the group consisting of tubes, rods containing filter material for tobacco smoke and rods containing smokable material.  
   
   
       10 - 28 . (canceled)