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.

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), characterised 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.

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 system for portioning a beaded substrate in a rod. The system includes a suction conveyor belt. The suction conveyor belt includes a belt suction chamber, a first belt end, and a second belt end, the second belt end opposite and downstream of the first belt end. The system also includes a metering device configured to provide the beaded substrate to the suction conveyor belt, and more specifically to the first belt end. The metering device includes a reach and a hopper. The metering device may provide the beaded substrate to the first belt end prior to the suction conveyor belt biasing a filler material onto the first belt end. The system may further includes a cutting mechanism that cooperates with the metering device to position the beaded substrate a first distance away from a first cut end.

A feeder device of products with reduced longitudinal dimensions in machines for the tobacco industry comprises a main feeder roller which rotates continuously and which has a plurality of active peripheral flutes acting to hold a respective product; the main roller is designed to pass the products on to respective flutes on corresponding handling rollers of a main line of feed of the products in the machine the device is associated with; the device comprises means for continuously filling the peripheral flutes of the main roller, the filling means comprising a plurality of feeding and passing-on means, in particular at least first means and second means for feeding and passing on corresponding groups of the products to corresponding groups of flutes located one after the other on the main roller.

A feeder device of products with reduced longitudinal dimensions in machines for the tobacco industry comprises a main feeder roller which rotates continuously and which has a plurality of active peripheral flutes acting to hold a respective product; the main roller is designed to pass the products on to respective flutes on corresponding handling rollers of a main line of feed of the products in the machine the device is associated with; the device comprises means for continuously filling the peripheral flutes of the main roller, the filling means comprising a plurality of feeding and passing-on means, in particular at least first means and second means for feeding and passing on corresponding groups of the products to corresponding groups of flutes located one after the other on the main roller.