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.

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.

A tray for containing products with reduced longitudinal dimensions, including a plurality of accumulation chambers, each of which is delimited by a rear wall, a base wall and two side walls for containing a layer of a plurality of the products stored according to an ordered orientation and covering an entire surface of the rear wall The accumulation chambers define modules whose respective rear walls are parallel to each other and a distance between two rear walls of two adjacent modules is substantially the same as reduced longitudinal dimensions of the products contained therein. Each tray includes a plurality of stackable modules which can be closed in a pack to define the thickness of the tray itself. A connecting and disconnecting mechanism is provided between each module and another so that the tray may be composed of a variable number of modules.

A tray for containing products with reduced longitudinal dimensions, including a plurality of accumulation chambers, each of which is delimited by a rear wall, a base wall and two side walls for containing a layer of a plurality of the products stored according to an ordered orientation and covering an entire surface of the rear wall The accumulation chambers define modules whose respective rear walls are parallel to each other and a distance between two rear walls of two adjacent modules is substantially the same as reduced longitudinal dimensions of the products contained therein. Each tray includes a plurality of stackable modules which can be closed in a pack to define the thickness of the tray itself. A connecting and disconnecting mechanism is provided between each module and another so that the tray may be composed of a variable number of modules.

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 carrier for a container for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, the carrier interior having a cuboid-like shape, the carrier having a bottom wall, a middle sidewall and two outer sidewalls=adjoining it, while from the side of the remaining walls of the abovementioned cuboid the carrier is open. An external movable element is attached to the carrier and extending along the middle sidewall. The height of the middle sidewall is lower than the height of the outer sidewalls, so that between the outer sidewalls and the upper edge of the middle sidewall there is a void space. The movable element is movable between a first position, in which it lies opposite to the middle sidewall, and a second position, in which it lies at least partially opposite to the void space or at least partially is situated within the void space above upper edge of the middle sidewall.

A carrier for a container for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, the carrier interior having a cuboid-like shape, the carrier having a bottom wall, a middle sidewall and two outer sidewalls=adjoining it, while from the side of the remaining walls of the abovementioned cuboid the carrier is open. An external movable element is attached to the carrier and extending along the middle sidewall. The height of the middle sidewall is lower than the height of the outer sidewalls, so that between the outer sidewalls and the upper edge of the middle sidewall there is a void space. The movable element is movable between a first position, in which it lies opposite to the middle sidewall, and a second position, in which it lies at least partially opposite to the void space or at least partially is situated within the void space above upper edge of the middle sidewall.

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.

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.