[cewrightiii]

I would say the caps are filter caps and the resistors are load resistors...so its a Capacitor Input Filter Smooth out ripple to produce less "noise". That's my best guess on what I remember from college!!

"To smooth the output of the rectifier a reservoir capacitor is used - placed across the output of the reciter and in parallel with the load.. This capacitor charges up when the voltage from the rectifier rises above that of the capacitor and then as the rectifier voltage falls, the capacitor provides the required current from its stored charge.
It should be remembered that the only way discharge path for the capacitor, apart from internal leakage is through the load to the rectifier / smoothing system."