A handling module (19) designed to handle a tray (3, 13) filled with rod like articles (R) of the tobacco industry, comprising a turning unit (10) designed to turn the tray (3, 13), and a lifting unit (11) designed to lift and to lower the turning unit (10), the turning unit (10) is adapted to turn the tray (3, 13) during the movement of the lifting unit (11) characterized in that the turning unit (10) is further adapted to add to the rotation of the tray (3, 13) a translation transversely to the axis (12A) of the rotation shaft (12), and in a direction with a tangential component to the rotation. The objects of the application are also the method and the apparatus (1) for emptying of the tray filled with rod like articles (R) of the tobacco industry, using the handling module (19) according to the invention.

An apparatus (1) for emptying of two types of trays with different configurations for rod like articles (R) of the tobacco industry while a five-wall tray being the tray of the first type (13) and a four-wall tray being the tray of the second type (3), the apparatus is provided with a filled tray station (2) of the first type or the second type, a turning unit (10) designed to turn the filled tray of the first type (13) or the second type (3), a lifting unit (11) designed to lift the turning unit (10), a station (23) for emptying of the filled tray of the first (13) or the second type (3), a station (25) for empty trays of the first or the second type, a control system (40) controlling the subassemblies of the apparatus. The apparatus (1) according to the invention is characterised by further comprising a converting unit (21, 35) being adapted to change the configuration of the tray of the first type (13) into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the second type (3). The converting unit (21, 35) is adapted to change the configuration of the tray of the first type (13) into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the tray of the second type (3) when the tray of the first type (13) is delivered for unloading, and to maintain the configuration of the tray of the second type (3) when the tray of the second type (3) is delivered for unloading the converting unit (21, 35) is further provided with a linearly operating lifting mechanism (32) designed to lift the hinged wall (13T) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR) and a linearly operating pressing mechanism (34) designed to press the hinged wall (13T) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR) to other walls of the tray (13L, 13R, 13A). The object of the invention is also a converting unit (21, 35) and a tray emptying method using the apparatus (1) and the converting unit (21, 35).

An apparatus (1) for emptying of two types of trays with different configurations for rod like articles (R) of the tobacco industry while a five-wall tray being the tray of the first type (13) and a four-wall tray being the tray of the second type (3), the apparatus is provided with a filled tray station (2) of the first type or the second type, a turning unit (10) designed to turn the filled tray of the first type (13) or the second type (3), a lifting unit (11) designed to lift the turning unit (10), a station (23) for emptying of the filled tray of the first (13) or the second type (3), a station (25) for empty trays of the first or the second type, a control system (40) controlling the subassemblies of the apparatus. The apparatus (1) according to the invention is characterised by further comprising a converting unit (21, 35) being adapted to change the configuration of the tray of the first type (13) into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the second type (3). The converting unit (21, 35) is adapted to change the configuration of the tray of the first type (13) into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the tray of the second type (3) when the tray of the first type (13) is delivered for unloading, and to maintain the configuration of the tray of the second type (3) when the tray of the second type (3) is delivered for unloading the converting unit (21, 35) is further provided with a linearly operating lifting mechanism (32) designed to lift the hinged wall (13T) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR) and a linearly operating pressing mechanism (34) designed to press the hinged wall (13T) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR) to other walls of the tray (13L, 13R, 13A). The object of the invention is also a converting unit (21, 35) and a tray emptying method using the apparatus (1) and the converting unit (21, 35).

A station (2) for trays filled with rod-like articles (R), in a tobacco industry apparatus, provided with a receiving part (2A) to receive filled trays (3, 13); and a storage and conveying unit (2C) containing the filled trays (3, 13), provided with a conveyor (4) to convey the filled trays (3, 13) and a tray separation mechanism (4A) to separate the first tray (3, 13) from other trays (3, 13) collected on bearing elements (4D) of the conveyor (4), whereas the tray separation mechanism (4A) is provided with lifting elements (51, 51, 63, 63) adapted to lift the trays (3, 13) from the bearing elements (4D) of the conveyor (4); characterised in that further the station (2) is provided with lateral belts (56, 56) adapted to support the sidewalls (3L, 3R, 13L, 13R) of the tray (3, 13), whereas the lateral belts (56, 56) are adapted to perform a movement corresponding to the movement of the lifting elements (51, 51, 63, 63) when lifting the trays (3, 13) from the bearing elements (4D) and putting the trays (3, 13) on the bearing elements (4D). The object of the application is also an apparatus for emptying of a four-wall or five-wall tray filled with the rod-like articles.

A station (2) for trays filled with rod-like articles (R), in a tobacco industry apparatus, provided with a receiving part (2A) to receive filled trays (3, 13); and a storage and conveying unit (2C) containing the filled trays (3, 13), provided with a conveyor (4) to convey the filled trays (3, 13) and a tray separation mechanism (4A) to separate the first tray (3, 13) from other trays (3, 13) collected on bearing elements (4D) of the conveyor (4), whereas the tray separation mechanism (4A) is provided with lifting elements (51, 51, 63, 63) adapted to lift the trays (3, 13) from the bearing elements (4D) of the conveyor (4); characterised in that further the station (2) is provided with lateral belts (56, 56) adapted to support the sidewalls (3L, 3R, 13L, 13R) of the tray (3, 13), whereas the lateral belts (56, 56) are adapted to perform a movement corresponding to the movement of the lifting elements (51, 51, 63, 63) when lifting the trays (3, 13) from the bearing elements (4D) and putting the trays (3, 13) on the bearing elements (4D). The object of the application is also an apparatus for emptying of a four-wall or five-wall tray filled with the rod-like articles.

An intermediate hopper (30) in a tobacco industry apparatus (1) for vertical conveying of a mass-flow of rod-like articles (R) comprising sidewalls (31, 32) and multiple partitions (34) partitioning the intermediate hopper (30) into vertical channels (35, 36) which are adapted to receive the rod-like articles (R) from above, whereas the intermediate hopper (30) is provided with a movable transferring element (37) being slidable relative to the partitions (34) of the intermediate hopper (30), in addition, the transferring element (37) is built of supporting plates (35A, 36A) which support the mass-flow of the rod-like articles (R) in the vertical channels (35, 36) of the intermediate hopper (30) above the supporting plates (35A, 36A), whereas the supporting plates (35A, 36A) are adapted to move downwards (A) within the vertical channels (35, 36) and to move upwards (C) outside the vertical channels (35, 36), in addition, the supporting plates (35A, 36A) are adapted to be inserted (D) into the channels (35, 36) in the area of the channel inlets (35C, 36C) and to be pulled out (B) of the vertical channels (35, 36) in the area of the channel outlets (35E, 36E), characterized in that at least the outermost supporting plate (35A) of the transferring element (37) is adapted to make a movement in the transverse direction to the direction of movement of the other supporting plates (36A). The object of the application is also a feeding apparatus for the feeding with the rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, and an apparatus for emptying of a tray filled with the tobacco industry articles.

An intermediate hopper (30) in a tobacco industry apparatus (1) for vertical conveying of a mass-flow of rod-like articles (R) comprising sidewalls (31, 32) and multiple partitions (34) partitioning the intermediate hopper (30) into vertical channels (35, 36) which are adapted to receive the rod-like articles (R) from above, whereas the intermediate hopper (30) is provided with a movable transferring element (37) being slidable relative to the partitions (34) of the intermediate hopper (30), in addition, the transferring element (37) is built of supporting plates (35A, 36A) which support the mass-flow of the rod-like articles (R) in the vertical channels (35, 36) of the intermediate hopper (30) above the supporting plates (35A, 36A), whereas the supporting plates (35A, 36A) are adapted to move downwards (A) within the vertical channels (35, 36) and to move upwards (C) outside the vertical channels (35, 36), in addition, the supporting plates (35A, 36A) are adapted to be inserted (D) into the channels (35, 36) in the area of the channel inlets (35C, 36C) and to be pulled out (B) of the vertical channels (35, 36) in the area of the channel outlets (35E, 36E), characterized in that at least the outermost supporting plate (35A) of the transferring element (37) is adapted to make a movement in the transverse direction to the direction of movement of the other supporting plates (36A). The object of the application is also a feeding apparatus for the feeding with the rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, and an apparatus for emptying of a tray filled with the tobacco industry articles.

Method of emptying a container filled with rod-like articles manufactured in the tobacco industry comprising the following stages: the container to be emptied is delivered to the entrance area of an intermediate store comprising adjacent channels separated from one another by walls; by means of supporting plates the rod-like articles are transferred from the container to the channels of the intermediate store; the channels of the intermediate store are filled with the rod-like articles; characterised in that during the transfer of the rod-like articles (R) from the container (5) to the channels (7) of the intermediate store (2) the intermediate store (2) makes a reciprocating motion in the horizontal direction, transversely to the axis of the rod-like articles.

Method of emptying a container filled with rod-like articles manufactured in the tobacco industry comprising the following stages: the container to be emptied is delivered to the entrance area of an intermediate store comprising adjacent channels separated from one another by walls; by means of supporting plates the rod-like articles are transferred from the container to the channels of the intermediate store; the channels of the intermediate store are filled with the rod-like articles; characterised in that during the transfer of the rod-like articles (R) from the container (5) to the channels (7) of the intermediate store (2) the intermediate store (2) makes a reciprocating motion in the horizontal direction, transversely to the axis of the rod-like articles.

A method of emptying trays filled with rod-shaped articles produced in the tobacco industry, which consist of the following stages: the trays designated for emptying are conveyed to the input area of a hopper containing adjacent channels separated by dividers; the rod-shaped articles are transferred from the tray to the channels of the hopper using support plates; the channels of the hopper are filled with the rod-shaped articles; the support plates are retracted from the channels of the hopper; the channels of the hopper are successively emptied into a chute adapted to move between channel outlets of the hopper; finally, the rod-shaped articles are transferred from the channels of the hopper and through the chute to the discharge conveyor moving towards the receiving device. The method is further characterized in that during emptying at least one channel (7) of the hopper (2), the hopper (2) moves linearly in the direction (S2) opposite to the direction (T) in which the rod-shaped articles are transported by the discharge conveyor (19); and after the channel (7) has been completely emptied, the hopper (2) moves in the direction (S1) concurrent with the direction (T) in which the rod-shaped articles are transported by the discharge conveyor (19), until it achieves a position in which the outlet of the next channel filled with rod-shaped articles is aligned with the inlet (21) of the chute (20), whereas the hopper (2) moves at a variable velocity when moving in the direction (S1) concurrent with the direction (T) in which the rod-shaped articles are transported by the conveyor.