TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a packing machine and a method for continuous automatic packing. More particularly the invention relates to an apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin on high speed packing machine and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND AND THE PRIOR ART

In a packaging machine when a running bobbin is exhausted, the machine is stopped. Operator removes the trailing end of exhausted bobbin and manually route the new bobbin till the knife roller. The leading edge of the standby bobbin is prepared and engaged with the knife roller and restarts the machine. This change over of bobbins leads to stoppage of machine for about a minute thereby resulting in loss of productivity.

Auto bobbin change apparatus provides for automatic change of bobbins without stopping the packaging machine. Some of the prior arts in the present field of invention are as follows:

US 5518202 provides an apparatus having a connecting assembly for connecting webs of packaging material, namely connecting a web beginning of a new web , wound as a new bobbin, to a web end of a runoff web, running off from another runoff bobbin, in the connecting assembly, said apparatus comprising: a) a drawing-off member comprising retaining means for gripping the web beginning of the new web on a circumference of the new bobbin and for drawing-off the new web from the new bobbin in a continuous conveying cycle; b) means for moving the web beginning and an adjoining web portion of the new web, while being drawn off from the new bobbin in said continuous conveying cycle, into said connecting assembly and beyond, said connecting assembly comprising an upper pressure member and a lower pressure piece; c) means, including said drawing-off member, for retaining the web beginning and the adjoining web portion of the new web in a resting position until the new web is connected to the runoff web; d) means for moving the drawing-off member, along with the web beginning and the web portion, along an underside of said pressure member of the connecting assembly such that the web portion rests, in an end position, on said pressure member; e) means for causing the pressure piece to press the runoff web, in said connecting assembly, against the web portion and against said pressure member; f) a severing knife for commonly severing the web portion and the runoff web, the web end of the runoff web being fixed on the pressure member by the pressure piece, and the web beginning of the new web being fixed on the pressure member by suction air; and g) strip-applying means for pressing a connecting strip against the web end and the web beginning on said pressure member to connect together the web end and the web beginning.

GB 2256180 provides an apparatus for supporting and transporting reels of web-like packaging material in conjunction with a packaging machine, in which apparatus a-stock of reels rests side-by-side in the axial direction on at least two elongate supporting rollers which are rotatably mounted, such that the reels which rest on the supporting rollers with their peripheral surfaces are conveyable in the longitudinal direction of the supporting rollers by a rotary movement as a result of a diverging arrangement of the supporting rollers, wherein the supporting rollers are arranged in vertically offset planes, such that the rear supporting roller which is rearward with respect to the direction of rotation of the reels is mounted in a significantly higher plane than the front supporting roller, i.e. the supporting roller which follows in the direction of rotation.

US 5316230 provides a method of joining a trailing, running-off end of a running-off web of packaging material to a leading, connecting end of a connecting web of packaging material, in which, during a phase of a temporary standstill of the running-off web, the running-off web is severed and the resulting running-off end of the running-off web is joined to the connecting end of the connecting web, characterized in that: the position of the running-off web is scanned, by means of markings which are arranged on the running-off web at equal distances, to cause the running-off web to be stopped; a severing cut is subsequently applied in a given position relative to a marking; and finally the connecting end of the connecting web is joined to the trailing end of the running-off web in a required position; wherein the length of the running-off web, which is conveyed after identification of a marking of the running-off web and until the standstill for applying the severing cut, is measured by a revolution indicator of a rotating means, in the form of a deflecting roller of the running-off web, located in the region of a severing and connecting unit.

US 5135103 provides a packaging machine for producing packs from web-like packaging material which is drawn from reels, with a stock of reels being held ready, comprising the following features: the reel stock comprises a substantially horizontal supporting frame in which only two elongated, horizontally-spaced supporting rollers are rotatingly mounted and extend horizontally in a conveying direction of the reels; each reel rests with a peripheral surface thereof on an upper surface of two supporting rollers; means for rotatingly driving the supporting rollers such that the reels rotate in a direction, with their peripheral surfaces on the two rotating supporting rollers; the reels are conveyable in said conveying direction by means of the rotating movement of the supporting elongated rollers; the supporting rollers are arranged in vertically offset planes, such that the rearward supporting roller, which is trailing with respect to the rotating direction of the reels, is mounted in a significantly higher plane than that of the front supporting roller which is following in the direction of rotation; and the supporting rollers are mounted so that their longitudinal axes diverge in the conveying direction of the reels.

US 5203953 provides a process for conveying blanks to be transferred to packs, said blanks being successively severed from a continuous web of material and being conveyed into a position ready for being received by the packs, characterized in that: the blanks, after being severed from the web of material, are individually conveyed in succession into a chute-like magazine and are extracted there from for being transferred to the packs; and the blanks, severed from the web of material and fed into the magazine transverse to their longitudinal extensions, are turned during a downward movement in the magazine, such that each blank is extractable at a bottom side of the magazine with its longitudinal extension pointing in the conveying direction.

In normal practice as provided in above mentioned prior art, adhesive tapes are used to join stand-by bobbin with the running bobbin. Also machine speed is reduced during auto bobbin change over which ultimately affects the speed of packing operation. Further changing mechanism is complex. Due to the use of adhesive tapes many times material gets blocked between the rollers leading to operation failure. Further the efficiency of system is reduced due to the reduced speed.

Thus there is a need to provide an apparatus and method of auto change over which is simple, eliminating the use of adhesive and facilitating change over at full operating speed. The present invention therefore provides an apparatus wherein the changeover takes place at full speed of the machine. Also in the present invention use of glue is eliminated. The present invention therefore provides an apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin on high speed packing machine that eliminates the major disadvantages of prior arts. Also the present invention provides a simple apparatus for change over as traditionally three valves are required to operate three actuators if there is a sequential actuation. Here in the present invention two directional control valves operate three pneumatic cylinders meeting the required sequence.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A basic object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages/drawbacks of the known art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin on high speed packing machine.

Another object of the present invention is to facilitate changeover at operating speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple a simple method for auto changeover.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

There is provided an apparatus for auto changeover of bobbins in a high speed packaging machine.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin on high speed packing machine, said apparatus comprising a sensor means detecting end of running bobbin, said sensor means actuating a plurality of pneumatic elements to cut trailing end of exhausted bobbin; a dual knife arrangement actuated by a pneumatic actuator cutting off trailing end of bobbin; a drive tapped from a knife roller shaft feeding leading edge of standby bobbin to a knife roller; a pneumatic circuit comprising a triplet of actuating cylinders and a pair of direction control valves controlled through a PLC, said direction control valves operating said cylinders; said drive momentarily engaged to a standby bobbin using a linkage mechanism actuated by a high speed pneumatic cylinder and pressure roller; a plurality of guide means guiding leading edge of standby bobbin to a cutter; an automatic rejection means rejecting a product formed by cut edges of material; a double sided timer belt facilitating connection of said drive to drive shafts; a drive engaging mechanism having a pair of cylinders mounted back to back, one end of said mechanism pivoted to base and other end pivoted to drive engaging link.

Other embodiment of the present invention provides a method apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin on high speed cigarette packing machine, said method comprising the steps of detecting the end of running bobbin through a sensor means; said sensor means actuating a plurality of pneumatic elements for cutting trailing end of exhausted bobbin; cutting off trailing end of bobbin through a dual knife arrangement actuated by a single pneumatic actuator; feeding leading edge of standby bobbin to a knife roller through a drive tapped from a knife roller shaft; momentarily engaging said drive to a standby bobbin using a linkage mechanism actuated by a high speed pneumatic cylinder and pressure roller; guiding leading edge of standby bobbin to said cutter using a plurality of guide means; rejecting a product formed by cut edges of material through an automatic rejection system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

So that those having ordinary skill in the art will more readily understand how to construct an apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin on high speed packing machine in accordance with the present disclosure, exemplary embodiments are described in details herein below with reference the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig 1 illustrates the different elements of the apparatus.

Fig 2 illustrates the three different positions of drive engaging roller.

Fig 3 illustrates the arrangement for double sided timer belt facilitating connection of different drives to a drive shaft.

Fig 4 illustrates the conventional arrangement involving three valves operating three actuators for a sequential actuation.

Fig 5 illustrates the arrangement involving two directional control valves operating three pneumatic cylinders meeting the required sequence.

Fig 6 illustrates the logic flow chart for left hand to right hand splicing.

Fig 7 illustrates the logic flow chart for right hand to left hand splicing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The following drawings are illustrative of particular examples for enabling methods of the present invention, are descriptive of some of the methods, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.

Reference is first invited to Fig 1 where the different elements used in the present apparatus are shown. It shows bobbin arrangement, cutter knife, drives, drive engaging rollers etc.

Fig 2 shows different position of drive engaging roller. It shows the engagement of drive engaging roller with left hand drive shaft, right hand drive shaft and neutral position.

Fig 3 shows the arrangement of double sided belt tapped through a cutting shaft and rotating different drives.

Fig 4 shows the conventional arrangement involving three valves operating three actuators for a sequential actuation.

Fig 5 shows the arrangement involving two directional control valves operating three pneumatic cylinders meeting the required sequence in accordance with present invention.

Fig 6 shows the logic flow chart for left hand to right hand splicing.

Fig 7 shows the logic flow chart for right hand to left hand splicing.

The invention therefore provides an apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin on high speed packing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly in the present invention a sensor detects the end of running bobbin and triggers a signal to actuate a set of pneumatic elements to cut off the trailing end of exhausted bobbin and feed the leading edge of standby bobbin to the cutter. This change over happens without the need to stop or slow down the machine speed. The operator loads and prepares the standby bobbin for change over when the main bobbin is running. Hence there is no stoppage for changeover of material. Automatic feeding of the standby bobbin when running bobbin exhausts, without stopping the machine.

Dual knife arrangement actuated by a single pneumatic actuator to cut-off tail end of bobbin loaded in two different stations. Drive is tapped from knife roller shaft to feed the standby bobbin to engage with the knife roller during change over. A unique pneumatic circuit containing three actuating cylinders and two direction control valves is designed. These are controlled by the machine PLC to cut the exhausted bobbin and engage the drive to standby bobbin without stopping the machine.

In any bobbin feed mechanism, the material is pulled by a pressure roller to unwind and consume the bobbin by the machine. When a bobbin exhausts, the continuity of material feed between running bobbin and the standby bobbin is conventionally achieved by sticking the trailing end of running bobbin with the leading edge of standby bobbin through a self adhesive tape or glue. This can be done manually by stopping the machine or by means of an automatic device. With this joining arrangement, material from standby bobbin will be pulled by the machine and the bobbin change over takes place.

In the present invention, whenever running bobbin exhausts, its end is sensed with an electronic sensing mechanism and automatically cut. The drive tapped from main cutter knife is momentarily engaged to the standby bobbin with the help of a linkage mechanism actuated by high speed pneumatic cylinder and pressure roller. This drive unwinds the standby bobbin to have uninterrupted paper feed to the cutter. Suitable guides are provided to guide the leading end of standby bobbin till it reaches the cutter. Once the leading edge of standby bobbin engages with the cutter, the external drive to the standby bobbin is removed and hence changeover is complete. There is no physical joint between exhausted bobbin and standby bobbin. However, the physical joining is required only to transfer the drive whenever changeover is done from running bobbin to standby bobbin for changeover purpose. In present invention, the timing of cutting the exhausted bobbin and engaging drive to standby bobbin is arranged in such a way that we get a slight gap(about2-3mm) between tail end of cut bobbin and leading end of standby bobbin. The corresponding product formed by this cut edges of material will be rejected by the machine by automatic rejection station. The rejection process is same as in the case of joints formed by adhesive tape or glued joint.

Kinematics of the Invention:

The Algorithm in Fig shows a condition of machine which has two bobbin mounting arrangement out of which R.H bobbin is in operation and L.H bobbin is prepared and kept ready for changeover. The drive is tapped from cutter shaft to R.H & L.H drive shaft using double sided timer belt. The belt routing is designed in such a way that when Drive engaging roller is engaged, the material under the corresponding roller is fed towards cutter and is guider by fixed guides.

The duel knife arrangement has two channels which separates L.H & R.H bobbin as shown in the fig. This knife bracket has two positions which are governed by cutting cylinder operated pneumatically. i.e., when the cylinder moves from extended position to retracted position, the material inside L.H channel is cut with the help of counter knife& duel knife arrangement and the channel for L.H bobbin is blocked and channel to R.H bobbin is opened for material feed from R.H bobbin. The operator prepares the L.H bobbin by manually winding the leading edge till the edge buts the blocked channel in L.H channel. By this preparation operation for L.H bobbin is complete.

Similarly, when the cutting cylinder moves from retracted pos. to extended pos. the material inside this channel is cut and R.H bobbin channel is blocked and channel for L.H bobbin is opened to feed the L.H bobbin. The Drive engaging mechanism is built by 2 cylinders mounted back to back. One end of this cylinder arrangement is pivoted to the base and the other end is pivoted to drive engaging link. With this we will have 3 positions. When both the cylinders are extended, the drive engaging roller is engaged to drive roller to R.H bobbin. When one cylinder is in extended position and the other is in retracted position the drive engaging roller is in neutral position. When both the cylinders are in retracted position, the drive engaging roller engages drive roller to L.H bobbin.

Change over sequence – R.H bobbin exhausts and L.H Bobbin is fed: The position of duel knife arrangement is such that the channel for R.H bobbin is open and the bobbin is fed to the machine through this channel. In this position, the channel for L.H bobbin is blocked and the operator prepares the standby L.H bobbin as the R.H bobbin is running by winding the leading end of L.H bobbin till it is blocked by the channel. When R.H bobbin is exhausted, the end is sensed by sensor and triggers the cutting cylinder to move from retracted position to extended position. This movement results in cutting the tail end of running R.H bobbin. Sequentially the back to back cylinder arrangement is triggered by PLC to a position such that drive to L.H standby bobbin is engaged till the leading edge of standby bobbin engages the cutter. After this the drive is disengaged and the machine continues to run on L.H Bobbin.

When R.H bobbin is exhausted, the end is sensed by sensor and triggers the cutting cylinder to move from retracted position to extended position. This movement results in cutting the tail end of running L.H bobbin. Sequentially the back to back cylinder arrangement is triggered by PLC to a position such that drive to R.H standby bobbin is engaged till the leading edge of standby bobbin engages the cutter. After this the drive is disengaged and the machine continues to run on R.H Bobbin

For the changeover process as we know we need to cut trailing end of exhausted bobbin of either L.H bobbin or R.H bobbin. This is performed by a Cutting cylinder One end of the cylinder is pivoted on the base and the other end is pivoted on to the duel knife arrangement mounting block. When the cylinder extends, the knife rotates partially in counter clockwise direction resulting in cutting of trailing end of R.H bobbin and blocking the channel of R.H bobbin for standby bobbin preparation. When the cylinder retracts, the knife rotates partially in clockwise direction resulting in cutting of trailing end of L.H bobbin and blocking the channel of L.H bobbin for standby bobbin preparation. Drive to L.H / R.H bobbin is transmitted from drive rollers by engaging Drive engaging roller which is nothing but a pressure roller correspondingly to either L.H or R.H drive roller. Normally when there is no changeover taking place, this roller is in neutral position. Hence we require 3 position (L.H engaged, R.H engaged & Neutral position) This is achieved by adapting a standard method commonly used by mounting the cylinder back to back as shown in fig. one end of the assembly is pivoted on a fixed base and other end is pivoted on drive engaging arm. By this, when both cylinder are extended, the pressure roller gives drive to L.H bobbin. When both cylinders are retracted the pressure roller engages R.H bobbin and if one cylinder is extended and the other retracted, the pressure roller remains in neutral position.
Sequence logic:

Let us consider R.H bobbin is running and L.H bobbin is prepared by the operator and kept ready for changeover. When R.H bobbin exhausts, it is sensed by a sensor and a signal is given to PLC. This input from sensor is considered as a trigger by PLC and first it gives output to operate cutting cylinder and the output is retained until trigger for changeover from L.H bobbin to R.H bobbin is got. By this the tail end of R.H exhausted bobbin is cut. After some time delay, an output is given to retract both cylinders resulting in engagement of pressure roller to drive the L.H standby bobbin. This output is retained until the standby bobbin is fed to the cutting knife after which the output to pressure roller is switched off to bring back the pressure roller to neutral position.

After changeover, the operator removes the core of R.H bobbin and reloads new bobbin and prepares R.H bobbin as standby. Subsequently, when L.H bobbin is exhausted, the output to cutting cylinder is switched off and hence the cylinder retracts. This result in cutting the tail end of L.H bobbin and after a time delay, output to engaging cylinder is given to extend both cylinders. This will result in driving R.H bobbin. This output is again retained till the leading edge of R.H bobbin engages with cutter knife after which the output is switched off by PLC to put back the drive engaging pressure roller to neutral position. A time delay between cutting of tail ends and engaging the drive to standby bobbin is given to positively ensure that there is no overlap between the tail end of exhausted bobbin and leading end of new bobbin.

The pneumatic circuit above shows a conventional method of actuating 3 cylinders with 3 valves to perform the sequence required as per our invention. Valve-A operates the cutting knife, i.e., when valve-A is off, cutting cylinder is in retracted position and L.H bobbin tail end is cut. When valve-A is ON, the cutting cylinder is extended and hence the R.H bobbin tail end is cut. Valve-B and valve-C in combination decides the position of pressure roller i.e., when both valves are off, the pneumatic routing is done in such a way that one cylinder is extended and other is in retracted pos. this state will keep the pressure roller in neutral pos. when Valve B is on, Roller cylinder-2 is retracted hence both cyl are in retracted position. This state will make the pressure roller to drive L.H standby bobbin. When valve B is off and C is on, both Roller cylinder-1 & 2 is in extended position. This state will make the pressure roller to engage drive to R.H standby bobbin.

Based on the L.H or R.H bobbin end signal, PLC logic is programmed to use the above setup to perform the automatic bobbin changeover by sequentially operating valve A, B & C. The pneumatic circuit above shows a conventional method of actuating 3 cylinders with 3 valves to perform the sequence required as per our invention. Valve-A operates the cutting knife, i.e., when valve-A is off, cutting cylinder is in retracted position and L.H bobbin tail end is cut. When valve-A is ON, the cutting cylinder is extended and hence the R.H bobbin tail end is cut. Valve-B and valve-C in combination decides the position of pressure roller i.e., when both valves are off, the pneumatic routing is done in such a way that one cylinder is extended and other is in retracted position. This state will keep the pressure roller in neutral pos. when Valve B is on, Roller cylinder-2 is retracted hence both cyl are in retracted position. This state will make the pressure roller to drive L.H standby bobbin. When valve B is off and C is on, both Roller cylinder-1 & 2 is in extended position. This state will make the pressure roller to engage drive to R.H standby bobbin. Based on the L.H or R.H bobbin end signal, PLC logic is programmed to use the above setup to perform the automatic bobbin changeover by sequence ally operating valve A, B & C.

The same sequence for operating 3 cylinders in a sequence can be achieved with 2 valves by using the above pneumatic circuit. Like in first case Valve-A operates cutting knife cylinder. As shown in the circuit. A parallel tapping is taken from output of valve A and is connected to roller engaging cylinder-2. Valve-B is directly connected to roller engaging cylinder-1. With this set up, when valve-A is on, this will result in cutting of running R.H bobbin. It also leads in retracting of roller engaging cylinder-2. This leads to engaging of pressure roller to L.H standby bobbin. But the sequence demands the neutral position of pressure roller for a short time. Hence to achieve this during PLC gives a parallel signal to both valve A & B. By this, cutting knife cylinder cuts the running R.H bobbin, since roller engaging cylinder-2 extends due to valve-A and roller engaging cylinder-1 retracts due to valve –B, the roller remains in neutral position ( because, the effect of Cylinder-1 extended & cylinder-2 retracted = Cylinder-1 retracted & cylinder-2 extended when the stroke length of back to back mounted cylinder are same). After giving the time delay, valve B is switched off. This results in engaging the pressure roller to drive L.H bobbin. When the leading edge of L.H bobbin reaches the cutter, again valve B is switched on making the pressure roller to come back to neutral position.

After this, Valve A & B continue to be in on condition until next changeover. When L.H bobbin end signal is detected, Valve A and B both are switched off at the same time. This leads to cutting of running L.H bobbin and retraction of pressure roller engaging cyl-1 and extension of engaging roller cyl-2. (Net effect being L.H running bobbin cut and pressure roller remaining in neutral pos.) as per the required sequence, after some time delay, valve-B is switched on resulting in engaging the drive to R.H bobbin till the leading edge of R.H bobbin engages with cutter. After this the valve-B is switched off this brings the pressure roller back to neutral pos. and hence both valve remains in off pos. until next change-over.

The above pneumatic Circuit, design can be used for any applications which requires similar sequence. Depending on required sequence, Combination of more than 3 cylinders and 2 valves can also be designed with same concept.

Different elements used with corresponding reference numerals are as follows: Counter knife (1); belt means (2); Drive roller (3); a drive engaging mechanism (4); Drive engaging roller (5); Cutting cylinder (6); Dual knife arrangement (7); Cutter shaft (8); Drive engaging cylinders (9); Bobbin (10); Knife cutting cylinder (11); Drive means (12); Roller engaging cylinder (13); and Roller engaging valve (14).
Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.

WE CLAIM

1. An apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin (10) on high speed packing machine, said apparatus comprising:
a sensor means detecting end of running bobbin, said sensor means actuating a plurality of pneumatic elements to cut trailing end of an exhausted bobbin;
a dual knife arrangement (7) actuated by a pneumatic actuator cutting off trailing end of bobbin;
a drive means (12) feeding leading edge of standby bobbin to a counter knife (1);
a pneumatic circuit comprising at least one actuating cylinder (13) and at least a pair of direction control valves (14) controlled through a PLC, said direction control valves operating said cylinders; said drive means (12) momentarily engaged to a standby bobbin using a linkage mechanism actuated by a high speed pneumatic cylinder and pressure roller;
a plurality of guide means guiding leading edge of standby bobbin to a cutter;
an automatic rejection means rejecting a product formed by cut edges of material;
a belt means (2) facilitating connection of said drive to drive shafts;
a drive engaging mechanism (4) having a pair of cylinders mounted back to back, one end of said mechanism pivoted to base and other end pivoted to drive engaging link.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt means (2) is a double sided timer belt.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dual knife arrangement (7) further comprising a pair of channels separating said bobbins.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein position of said dual knife arrangement (7) governed by said cutting cylinder (11) pneumatically.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a counter knife (1) coupled to said dual knife arrangement (7) for cutting trailing bobbin.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein cylinders of said drive engaging mechanism (4) is adapted to engage drive roller (3) to different position with said bobbin (10) as well as neutral position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein said double sided timer belt is adapted to rotate drive shafts tapped through a cutting shaft (8).

8. Apparatus as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein said double sided timer belt is routed to feed material from corresponding drive roller (3) towards said cutter shaft (8).

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuating cylinder is present in triplet.

10. A method apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin (10) on high speed cigarette packing machine, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting the end of running bobbin through a sensor means; said sensor means actuating a plurality of pneumatic elements for cutting trailing end of exhausted bobbin; cutting off trailing end of bobbin through a dual knife arrangement (7) actuated by a single pneumatic actuator; feeding leading edge of standby bobbin to a counter knife (1) using a drive means (12); momentarily engaging said drive to a standby bobbin using a linkage mechanism actuated by a high speed pneumatic cylinder and pressure roller; guiding leading edge of standby bobbin to said cutter using a plurality of guide means; rejecting a product formed by cut edges of material through an automatic rejection system.

11. An apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin on high speed cigarette packing machine as herein described and illustrated with reference to accompanying drawings.

12. A method for automatic changeover of bobbin on high speed cigarette packing machine as herein described and illustrated with reference to accompanying drawings.

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to a packing machine. More particularly the present invention relates to an apparatus for automatic changeover of bobbin (10) on high speed packing machine. Said apparatus comprising a sensor means detecting end of running bobbin, said sensor means actuating a plurality of pneumatic elements to cut trailing end of exhausted bobbin; a dual knife arrangement (7) actuated by a pneumatic actuator cutting off trailing end of bobbin; a drive tapped from a knife roller shaft feeding leading edge of standby bobbin to a knife roller; a pneumatic circuit comprising a triplet of actuating cylinders and a pair of direction control valves controlled through a PLC etc. the present invention has more efficiency as changeover occurs at full operating speed.