Abstract: An apparatus for conveying cigarette-filled trays from at least one tray-filling device to the hopper of at least one cigarette-packaging machine, and for returning the emptied trays to the tray-filling device. In order to deliver the filled tray system fully automatically by a simple transport system without operators, and with the opened top directed downwardly, to the hopper of the packaging machine, the guide rail system of a container-conveying system which is known per se and which has a plurality of the electrically driven travel mechanisms is disposed between a dispatch station which is associated with the tray-filling device, and a receiving station which is associated with the packaging machine. Each of the travel mechanisms carries a receiving container which is designed to receive at least one tray.

Abstract: A device, especially for cigarette-packaging machines, for joining the payed-out end of a strip, which had been wound into a reel, with the beginning of the strip of another reel. The device includes a buffer or storage device in which a certain length of the strip, which is conveyed over guide rollers, is stored, and out of which that amount of strip which is required for continuous operation is withdrawn during the joining process. The device is also provided with a separating and binding device. In order to provide for replacement of reels in a disturbance-free and semi- or fully-automatic manner at little structural expense, each reel is disposed in a cartridge on the wide sides of which the reel is mounted by means of a spindle which passes through the reel core and extends laterally out of the cartridge.