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.

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 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.