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over guide rollers, is stored, and out of which that amount of strip which is required for continuous operation is withdrawn during the joining process.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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of explosive slurry composed of liquids containing fuels and oxidizing agent and under circumstances solid constituents and sensitizers, the state of aggregation of the slurry being controlled by the addition of thickening agents. The liquids are charge-wise mixed with the fuel and/or oxidizing agents, gelling agents and other constituents known in the art. From this batch or batches the product is then formed into a continuous, metered material flow into which a crosslinking agent is injected at a continuous and precisely controlled rate. Provision is also made for continuously and precisely injecting gassing and sensitizing agents. The crosslinking agent, and other agents if used, is/are uniformly distributed in a connecting, subsequent continuous mixing process before the stiffening material flow is fed to a continously operating cartridging machine after a thickening time which is controllable corresponding to the viscosity requirements of the cartridging process.