Station for trays filled with rod-like articles and apparatus for emptying of four-wall or five-wall tray filled with rod-like articles of the tobacco industry

{
  "publication_number": "US10271575B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Station for trays filled with rod-like articles and apparatus for emptying of four-wall or five-wall tray filled with rod-like articles of the tobacco industry",
  "abstract": "A station (2) for trays filled with rod-like articles (R), in a tobacco industry apparatus, provided with a receiving part (2 A) to receive filled trays (3, 13); and a storage and conveying unit (2 C) containing the filled trays (3, 13), provided with a conveyor (4) to convey the filled trays (3, 13) and a tray separation mechanism (4 A) to separate the first tray (3′, 13 ′) from other trays (3, 13) collected on bearing elements (4 D) of the conveyor (4), whereas the tray separation mechanism (4 A) is provided with lifting elements (51, 51′, 63, 63 ′) adapted to lift the trays (3, 13) from the bearing elements (4 D) of the conveyor (4); characterised in that further the station (2) is provided with lateral belts (56, 56 ′) adapted to support the sidewalls (3 L, 3 R, 13 L, 13 R) 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 (4 D) and putting the trays (3, 13) on the bearing elements (4 D). 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.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus (1) for emptying four-wall trays (3) or five-wall trays (13) filled with rod-like articles (R) of the tobacco industry, whereas the upper wall (13 T′) of the five-wall trays (13) is a swinging wall, said apparatus (1) provided with a filled tray station (2), a turning unit (10) to turn a filled tray (3, 13), a lifting unit (11) to lift the turning unit (10), a filled tray (3, 13) emptying station (23), and an empty tray station (25), characterised in that the filled tray station (2) is provided with lateral belts (56, 56 ′) adapted to support sidewalls (3 L, 3 R, 13 L, 13 R) of the trays (3, 13), whereas the lateral belts (56, 56 ′) are configured to make an up-and-down movement in synchronization with bearing elements (4 D) when lifting elements (51, 51 ′, 63, 63 ′) lift each of the filled trays (3, 13), except for a first filled tray (3, 13), from the bearing elements (4 D) of the filled tray station (2) and put, the same said trays (3, 13) back on the bearing elements (4 D).",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filled tray station (2) further comprises a receiving part (2 A) to receive the filled trays (3, 13); and a storage and conveying unit (2 C) containing the filled trays (3, 13), provided with a conveyor (4) to convey the filled trays (3, 13) and a tray separation mechanism (4 A) to separate the first tray filled (3 ′, 13 ′) from other trays filled (3, 13) collected on bearing elements (4 D) of the conveyor (4), whereas a tray separation mechanism (4 A) is provided with the lifting elements (51, 51 ′, 63, 63 ′) adapted to lift each of the filled trays (3, 13), except for the first filled tray (3, 13), from the bearing elements (4 D) of the conveyor (4).",
    "3. The apparatus (1) as in claim 2 characterised in that the lifting elements (51, 51 ′, 63, 63 ′) have the form of longitudinal bars or plates supporting bottom walls (3 B, 13 B) of the trays filled (3, 13).",
    "4. The apparatus (1) as in claim 3 characterised in that the lifting elements (51, 51 ′, 63, 63 ′) are adapted to make a swinging movement.",
    "5. The apparatus (1) as in claim 3 characterised in that the lifting elements (51, 51 ′, 63, 63 ′) are adapted to make a linear movement.",
    "6. The apparatus (1) as in claim 2 characterised in that the tray separation mechanism (4 A) is provided with a limiter (4 B) for filled trays (3, 13) collected in the filled tray station (2), being coupled with the movement of the lifting elements (51, 51 ′, 63, 63 ′).",
    "7. The apparatus (1) as in claim 6 characterised in that the limiter (4 B) is adapted to make a swinging movement.",
    "8. The apparatus (1) as in claim 6 characterised in that the limiter (4 B) is adapted to make a linear movement.",
    "9. The apparatus (1) as in claim 2 characterised in that the lateral belts (56, 56 ′) are positioned convergently.",
    "10. The apparatus (1) as in claim 2 characterised in that the lateral belts (56, 56 ′) are positioned parallel to each other.",
    "11. The apparatus (1) as in claim 2 characterised in that the conveyor (4) is a belt conveyor.",
    "12. The apparatus (1) as in claim 2 characterised in that the conveyor (4) is a chain conveyor.",
    "13. The apparatus (1) as in claim 2 characterised in that the speed of the lateral belts (56, 56 ′) is synchronised with the speed of the bearing elements (4 D) of the conveyor (4)."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The object of the invention is a station for trays filled with rod-like articles and an apparatus for emptying of a four-wall or five-wall tray filled with rod-like articles of the tobacco industry. Tobacco industry's factories manufacture various articles for smoking. Both finished and semi-finished products made at successive production stages may be jointly referred to as rod-like articles which may be transported on conveyors or in trays. Plastic trays which are used for all types of rod-like articles, among others for cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars and filter material rods, are commonly used in the tobacco industry. Plastic trays have the shape of a cuboid without two adjacent walls, i.e. these are trays having four walls. Plastic trays are rigid and are used for temporary storage and transport of rod-like articles on the premises of tobacco factories. Generally, cardboard trays designed as five-wall trays are commonly used for the transport of filter rods outside the factory premises. Cardboard trays have thinner walls, are less rigid and easily deformable, with one swinging wall. The filling of a five-wall tray takes place after opening of a tray i.e. after swinging the swinging wall. After the filling, the tray must be closed i.e. the swinging wall must be turned to its original position. The same swinging wall is swung in order to empty the tray. For the transport, the filled tray is covered with a lid in order to protect the rods collected inside.",
  "cpc": [
    "A24C 5/352",
    "A24C 5/356",
    "B65B 19/04",
    "B65B 35/10",
    "B65G 2201/0226",
    "B65G 2201/0258",
    "B65G 47/04",
    "B65G 65/23"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A24C 5/352",
    "A24C 5/356",
    "B65B 19/04",
    "B65B 35/10",
    "B65D 19/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "INT TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND SP ZOO"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "POZORSKI ROBERT"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-09-06",
  "publication_date": "2019-04-30",
  "grant_date": "2019-04-30",
  "priority_date": "2016-09-28",
  "application_number": "US-201715696917-A",
  "family_id": "57354073",
  "citations": [
    "DE68909656T2",
    "EP1086628A2",
    "EP1118543B1",
    "EP1656841A1",
    "EP2578092A2",
    "US2006120839A1",
    "US4541521A",
    "US4856958A",
    "US6517306B1",
    "WO2015033264A1"
  ]
}