1. An apparatus for providing rods formed from a continuous supply of filter material for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements, each rod having individual objects placed at predetermined spaced intervals along the length thereof, the apparatus comprising:
a first hopper configured to provide a reservoir for objects;
a second hopper positioned to receive objects from the first hopper; and
an object insertion unit in operable communication with the second hopper and configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the continuous supply of filter material,
wherein the object insertion unit comprises a rotatable insertion wheel having a peripheral face, the peripheral face defining a plurality of spaced pockets for receiving individual objects therein; and a vacuum system disposed in operable communication with the insertion wheel and configured to apply a vacuum to at least a portion of the pockets to maintain the individual objects within the pockets during rotation of the insertion wheel,
wherein the upper hopper has an upper region that is adapted to contain and permit passage of objects and has a relatively high cross-sectional area relative to a lower region of the upper hopper, and
wherein the lower hopper is adapted to contain objects so that those objects are arranged in a vertical plane.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first hopper is an upper hopper and the second hopper is a lower hopper, and wherein the upper hopper is adapted to feed objects to the lower hopper by way of gravity feed.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the upper hopper has a generally wedge-shaped portion.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lower hopper is shaped so that objects are stacked therein.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bottom of lower hopper is shaped so as to cooperate with the rotatable insertion wheel.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a positive air supply in communication with the rotatable insertion wheel and configured to aid ejection of the objects from the pockets and into the continuous supply of filter material.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein those objects are aligned into a single vertically arranged layer in the lower hopper.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each individual pocket is adapted to retain a single object during delivery of the objects to the location where the objects are to be introduced into the filter material.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each individual pocket is connected at its bottom to a channel extending radially inwardly to the vacuum system for applying vacuum to the individual pockets.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each individual pocket is chamfered at a transition to the peripheral face of the rotatable insertion wheel.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. In a body for refuse or recyclables, the body having a compaction chamber, a compaction blade, a storage compartment, and a tailgate selectively enclosing a rear opening of the storage compartment, the improvement comprising
an ejector panel disposed within the storage compartment,
the ejector panel comprising an aperture therethrough,
the ejector panel selectively movable from a retracted position to any position throughout the storage compartment to a rear position at the rear opening of the storage compartment,
the compaction blade selectively moveable from a retracted position to an extended position extending through the aperture of the ejector panel, when the ejector panel is in its retracted position,
the extended position of the compaction blade disposed a limited distance into the storage compartment,
whereby the compaction blade may urge refuse or recyclables within the compaction chamber through the aperture of the panel into the storage compartment.
2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein
the storage compartment has a stationary front wall,
the retracted position of the ejector panel being adjacent the stationary front wall,
the front wall having an opening therethrough in registry with the aperture in the ejector panel,
the compaction blade selectively moveable through the opening in the front wall and through the aperture in the ejector panel.
3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein
the ejector panel is moved by a first hydraulic ram,
the compaction blade moveable by a driving member other than the first hydraulic ram.
4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein
the ejector panel is moved by a first driving member,
the compaction blade moveable by a second driving member.
5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein
the storage compartment comprising at least two independent storage compartment units,
the ejector panel moveable within a one of the at least two independent storage compartment units.
6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein
the ejector panel comprises a front side and a rear side,
a tray member extending from the front side of the ejector panel,
the tray member receivable within the compaction chamber,
the compaction blade receivable within the tray member.
7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein
the tray member comprises sidewalls and a floor interconnecting the sidewalls,
the sidewalls extending above the floor less than the height of the aperture of the ejector panel.
8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein
the ejector panel further comprises a guide and stabilizing means to provide the ejector panel structural stability as it moves within the storage compartment from the retracted position to the rear position.
9. A collection body for refuse or recyclables comprising
a storage compartment having a front end and an opposing open rear end, the open rear end selectively covered by a tailgate,
a compaction compartment comprising a compaction blade therein and comprising a front end and an opposing rear end, the rear end adjacent the front end of the storage compartment,
the compaction blade moveable from a first position at the front end of the compaction compartment to a second position,
an ejector assembly selectively moveable within the storage compartment from a first position adjacent the front end of the storage compartment to a second position at the rear end of the storage compartment,
the ejector assembly comprising an upright panel having an aperture therethrough through which the compaction blade may move, the aperture substantially smaller than the upright panel,
the compaction blade urging refuse or recyclables into the storage compartment through the aperture in the upright panel.
10. The collection body of claim 9 wherein
the storage compartment has a front end wall at the front end thereof,
the front end wall having an opening therein,
the opening of the front end wall in substantial registry with the aperture of the upright panel,
the compaction blade receivable within the opening of the front end wall when the compaction blade is in its second position.
11. The collection body of claim 9 wherein
the ejector assembly is moved within the storage compartment by a hydraulic ram,
the hydraulic ram interconnecting the ejector panel and a stationary part of the compaction body.
12. The collection body of claim 11 wherein
the hydraulic ram is mounted to the ejector assembly,
the hydraulic ram comprising an extendible rod,
the rod fixed at a distal end thereof to the a part of the compaction body,
whereby the ejector assembly may be moved toward the open rear end by extension of the rod of the hydraulic ram.
13. The collection body of claim 9 wherein
the upright panel comprising a front side and a rear side,
a tray member extending from the front side of the ejector panel,
the tray member receivable within the compaction chamber,
the compaction blade receivable within the tray member.
14. A collection body for refuse and recyclables comprising
a storage body having an open rear end and an opposing front end, the open rear end selectively covered by a tailgate,
the storage body including at least two storage subcompartments,
each subcompartment having a front end and an open rear end,
a compaction chamber adjacent a front end of each subcompartment,
each compaction chamber comprising a compaction blade selectively moveable therethrough from a retracted position to an extended position,
the compaction blade of a first of the compaction chambers extendible at least to the front end of the subcompartment adjacent the first of the compaction chambers,
the subcompartment adjacent the first of the compaction chambers comprising an ejector assembly selectively moveable from a first position adjacent a front end of the subcompartment to a second position spaced apart from the first position,
the ejector assembly comprising an upright panel having an aperture therethrough,
the aperture of the panel of the ejector assembly in registry with the compaction blade of the first of the compaction chambers.
15. A collection body for refuse and recyclables comprising
a storage body having an open rear end and a front end, the open rear end selectively covered by a tailgate,
the storage body including a first storage subcompartment and a second storage subcompartment,
the subcompartments separated by a divider,
a compaction body adjacent the front end of the storage body,
the compaction body comprising a first compaction chamber and a second compaction chamber,
the first compaction chamber adjacent the first subcompartment,
the second compaction chamber adjacent the second subcompartment,
each of the compaction chambers comprising a compaction blade moveable therethrough from a retracted position to an extended position,
the extended position of the compaction blade of the first compaction chamber within the first subcompartment,
the extended position of the compaction blade of the second compaction chamber within the second subcompartment,
each subcompartment comprising an ejector assembly selectively moveable from a first position adjacent a front end of the subcompartment to a second position spaced apart from the first position,
each of the ejector assemblies comprising an upright panel having an aperture therethrough,
the aperture of the panel of the ejector assembly of the first subcompartment in registry with the compaction blade of the first compaction chamber,
the aperture of the panel of the ejector assembly of the second subcompartment in registry with the compaction blade of the second compaction chamber.
16. The collection body for refuse and recyclables of claim 15 wherein
a rear bulkhead is disposed in at least a first of the subcompartments,
the rear bulkhead selectively fixed in an upright orientation,
the rear bulkhead spaced apart from the front end of the at least a first of the subcompartments.
17. The collection body for refuse and recyclables of claim 16 wherein
the rear bulkhead is hinged to a wall of the at least a first of the subcompartments,
the rear bulkhead selectively mounted at a free edge thereof to the divider,
whereby the bulkhead may be selectively rotated toward the rear end of the storage compartment.
18. The collection body for refuse and recyclables of claim 15 wherein
the panel of the ejector assembly of the first subcompartment comprises a tray extending toward the front end of the storage compartment,
the tray disposed below the aperture of the panel,
the compaction blade of the first compaction chamber moveable over the tray when the ejector assembly is in its first position.
19. The collection body for refuse and recyclables of claim 18 wherein
the panel of the ejector assembly of the second subcompartment comprises a tray disposed below the aperture of the panel,
the tray extending toward the front end of the storage compartment,
the compaction blade of the second compaction chamber moveable over the tray of the panel of the ejector assembly of the second subcompartment when the ejector assembly of the second subcompartment is in its first position.
20. A commodity collection body comprising
a storage compartment having a front end and an opposing open rear end,
a tailgate selectively enclosing the open rear end,
a compaction body mounted at the front end of the storage compartment and having a compaction blade therein,
the compaction blade moveable from a first position to a second position to compact commodity in the compaction body,
the front end of the storage compartment having an opening therein,
the compaction blade extending through the opening when the compaction blade is in its second position,
an ejector assembly selectively moveable within the storage compartment from a first position adjacent the front end of the storage compartment to a second position substantially spaced apart from the first position,
the ejector assembly comprising an upright panel,
the panel having an aperture therethrough in registry with the compaction blade,
the compaction blade urging commodity into the storage compartment through the opening in the front end and through the aperture of the panel.
21. The commodity collection body of claim 20 wherein
the ejector assembly comprises a tray member extending toward the front end of the storage compartment,
the tray member disposed below the aperture of the upright panel,
whereby commodity passing through the aperture toward the compaction body is collected on the tray member.
22. The commodity collection body of claim 20 wherein
the storage compartment comprises a front end wall at the front end thereof,
an opening in the front end wall in registry with the aperture of the panel of the ejector assembly.
23. The commodity collection body of claim 20 wherein
the ejector assembly further comprises a hydraulic ram mounted to the upright panel,
the hydraulic ram having an extendible rod,
the rod fixed at a distal end thereof to the front end of the storage compartment,
whereby the upright panel may be moved toward the open rear end by extension of the rod of the hydraulic ram.
24. The commodity collection body of claim 20 wherein
the ejector assembly further comprises at least one leg extending toward the compaction chamber.
25. The commodity collection body of claim 20 wherein
guide means is provided in the storage compartment to engage the ejector assembly as it moves from its first position to its second position.
26. The commodity collection body of claim 20 wherein
the ejector assembly further comprises a pair of spaced apart parallel legs extending at a perpendicular from the panel of the ejector assembly.
27. The commodity collection body of claim 26 wherein
each of the legs includes at least one wear pad thereon,
the at least one wear pad of one of the legs opposes the at least one wear pad on the other of the legs,
a rail is mounted longitudinally within the storage compartment,
the wear pads engage the rail.
28. An ejector for a commodity collection body having a front end and an open rear end, the collection body loadable other than at its rear end, comprising
an upright panel having a first position adjacent the front end and a second position substantially spaced away from the first position thereof,
the panel including an aperture therethrough in registry with a compaction blade of a compaction chamber,
the panel having a hydraulic cylinder mounted generally centrally thereto,
the hydraulic cylinder having an extendible rod,
the rod extendible at a substantial perpendicular to the panel,
the rod having a distal end mounted to the front end of the commodity collection body,
whereby extension and retraction of the rod urges the panel to move between its first position and its second position.
29. The ejector of claim 28 wherein
the cylinder extends from the panel toward the open rear end of the commodity collection body,
the cylinder coaxial with the extendible rod,
the rod of the cylinder may be selectively retracted into the cylinder such that the panel may be positioned in its first position immediately adjacent the front end wall.