Abstract: A device for unloading compartment trays holding rod shaped elements, for use in the tobacco industry, is disclosed. The device includes an inlet conveyor for full trays, an unloading conveyor for unloading rod shaped elements into a throat, a conveyor for out-feeding stacks of rod shaped elements that have been unloaded into the throat, and an outlet conveyor for empty trays. A linear transporter for the trays has a gripping unit that grips the full trays and moves the full trays for unloading into the throat, and a second gripping unit that grips the empty trays and moves the empty trays for cleaning in a cleaning mechanism.

Abstract: The object of the application is a modular multi-segment tray (101) for use in the tobacco industry for conveying rod-shaped articles, characterized in that it comprises a carrying element (102), a multi-segment insert (103) and fastening means (112, 113, 114) adapted to join the carrying element (102) and the multi-segment insert (103), as well as a multi-segment insert and a carrying element for such tray.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling under gravity from a hopper (9), a storage device (2) for articles that has the form of a columnar cavity between opposed side walls with a mass flow of mutually parallel rod-shaped articles descending from the hopper, a cavity-filling device (12) that alternates in use between a closed configuration that blocks a downward flow of the said articles through the device and an open configuration that allows flow of the articles through the device, the device being movable in translation, in alternate upward and downward strokes within the cavity, being in the closed configuration on the downward stroke and in the open configuration on the upward stroke.

Abstract: System having a transitory store (S), in the inlet zone (5) of which, there are disposed fillers (4) for compartment trays, to which rod shaped elements are delivered by in-feed conveyors (3) in form of mass flow from making machines (1), and each machine is assigned with a separate filler (4). In the outlet zone (9) of the store (S) there are disposed unloaders (8) for said trays, and rod shaped elements are delivered by out-feed conveyors (10) in form of mass flow to processing machines (2), and each machine (2) is assigned with a separate unloader (8). On the trajectory of each out-feed conveyor (10) there is situated an emptying hopper (11) co-operating with a mobile filler (12) for compartment trays. Moreover in the inlet zone (5) of the store (S) there is situated a filler (4?) for compartment trays, connected to an unloader (6) for one chamber trays with an in-feed conveyor (3?), and an in-feed conveyor (14), and in the outlet zone (9) there is situated an out-feed conveyor (15).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling under gravity from a hopper, a storage device for articles that has the form of a columnar cavity between opposed side walls with a mass flow of mutually parallel rod-shaped articles descending from the hopper, a cavity-filling device that alternates in use between a closed configuration that blocks a downward flow of the said articles through the device and an open configuration that allows flow of the articles through the device, the device being movable in translation, in alternate upward and downward strokes within the cavity, being in the closed configuration on the downward stroke and in the open configuration on the upward stroke.

Abstract: A device having a variable-capacity store (3) formed with the aid of conveyors on two neighboring levels having one input channel (1), formed by a lower conveyor (4) and an upper conveyor (5), and one output channel (2), formed by an upper conveyor (6) and a lower conveyor (7), having a back plate (12), which is coupled with a slide (16) separating the levels of the store (3), equipped with a separating conveyor (17) so that they jointly effect to and fro motion, parallel to the horizontal conveyors, with the surface of the back plate (12), concave on the side of the store (3), is formed a the chain conveyor (13), characterized by the fact that the upper input conveyor (5) has at the end an arched part (8) pointing upwards, and the lower output conveyor (7) has at the beginning an arched part (9) pointing downwards, so that the two conveyors (5 and 7) approach each other with the arched parts (8 and 9).

Abstract: A method, where a verification of positioning of articles (3) is effected by means of sensors (14), and an improvement of positioning is effected by aligning a plane of end faces of the articles (3), consists in that the verification and improvement of positioning of rod-like articles (3) is effected simultaneously by means of an aligning device (1) provided with sensors (14), where the sensors (14) detect correct filling and/or arrangement of the articles (3), and the aligning device (1) aligns the plane of end faces of the articles (3) correctly filling the inside of a tray (6, 6?) or an intermediate store (7,7?), and in the event of detection of incorrect filling and/or arrangement the aligning device (1) is switched off and the operation of the entire unit is interrupted.

Abstract: Assembly having a plurality of conveyors (7, 8, 11, 23, 25, 29) and a variable capacity store (2) with one inlet (3) and one outlet (4) formed on two neighboring levels, a lower one (5) and an upper one (6), closed with a common back plate (9), fixed to a slide (13) making reciprocating movements, the concave surface (10) of which, on the interior side of the store (2) constitutes a conveyor (11), provided with a rotary arm, fixed to a slide (13), the axis of rotation of which is coaxial with a center of curvature of the surface (10) of the back plate (9), and at the inlet (3) there is a swing mounted valve element (18) and a swing limiter (26) for displacing rod shaped elements (1), whereas at the outlet (4) there is swing mounted valve element (20). Moreover the invention presents a method of controlling mass flow of rod shaped elements in the store (2) and self-filling and self-emptying of the store (2) constituting a part of the assembly disposed in a production line of products of tobacco industry.

Abstract: A method of removing electrostatic charges from the tray (1, 1?) consists in supplying pressurized ionized air, first along the bottom (12, 12?) of the already turned over tray (1, 1?), and then, when unloading the tray (1, 1?), along its side walls (15, 15?) or the inner walls (14) of a compartment (13). The tray (1, 1?), made of dielectric material, protected against negative action of the electrostatic field, is provided inside with an insert (22, 22?) of conducting material, whereas the insert (22, 22?) may have different shapes. The device for unloading compartment trays (1) made of dielectric material is provided with an ionizer (10) disposed horizontally along the linear transporter (5), in the zone of feeding of the trays (1), whereas its nozzles (11) are turned in the direction of the inside of the bottom (12).

Abstract: A device having a variable-capacity store (3) formed with the aid of conveyors on two neighboring levels having one input channel (1), formed by a lower conveyor (4) and an upper conveyor (5), and one output channel (2), formed by an upper conveyor (6) and a lower conveyor (7), having a back plate (12), which is coupled with a slide (16) separating the levels of the store (3), equipped with a separating conveyor (17) so that they jointly effect to and fro motion, parallel to the horizontal conveyors, with the surface of the back plate (12), concave on the side of the store (3), is formed a the chain conveyor (13), characterized by the fact that the upper input conveyor (5) has at the end an arched part (8) pointing upwards, and the lower output conveyor (7) has at the beginning an arched part (9) pointing downwards, so that the two conveyors (5 and 7) approach each other with the arched parts (8 and 9), and between the arched part (8) of the upper input conveyor (5) and the arched part (9) of the lower output

Abstract: Assembly having a plurality of conveyors (7, 8, 11, 23, 25, 29) and a variable capacity store (2) with one inlet (3) and one outlet (4) formed on two neighboring levels, a lower one (5) and an upper one (6), closed with a common back plate (9), fixed to a slide (13) making reciprocating movements, the concave surface (10) of which, on the interior side of the store (2) constitutes a conveyor (11), provided with a rotary arm, fixed to a slide (13), the axis of rotation of which is coaxial with a centre of curvature of the surface (10) of the back plate (9), and at the inlet (3) there is a swing mounted valve element (18) and a swing limiter (26) for displacing rod shaped elements (1), whereas at the outlet (4) there is swing mounted valve element (20). Moreover the invention presents a method of controlling mass flow of rod shaped elements in the store (2) and self-filling and self-emptying of the store (2) constituting a part of the assembly disposed in a production line of products of tobacco industry.

Abstract: System having a transitory store (S), in the inlet zone (5) of which, there are disposed fillers (4) for compartment trays, to which rod shaped elements are delivered by in-feed conveyors (3) in form of mass flow from making machines (1), and each machine is assigned with a separate filler (4). In the outlet zone (9) of the store (S) there are disposed unloaders (8) for said trays, and rod shaped elements are delivered by out-feed conveyors (10) in form of mass flow to processing machines (2), and each machine (2) is assigned with a separate unloader (8). On the trajectory of each out-feed conveyor (10) there is situated an emptying hopper (11) co-operating with a mobile filler (12) for compartment trays. Moreover in the inlet zone (5) of the store (S) there is situated a filler (4?) for compartment trays, connected to an unloader (6) for one chamber trays with an in-feed conveyor (3?), and an in-feed conveyor (14), and in the outlet zone (9) there is situated an out-feed conveyor (15).

Abstract: Device provided for unloading compartment trays (2), filled with rod shaped elements (25), having an inlet conveyor (1) for full trays (2) and an outlet conveyors (3) for empty trays (2?) arranged parallel in one plane, and having a turning unit (4) for trays (2), provided with a supporting plate (6) and a turning unit (12) for trays (2?). It is provided with a linear transporter (14) for trays (2, T) situated in a plane perpendicular to the plane of conveyors (1, 3), provided with a movable arranged gripping unit (16) for trays (2) and a gripping unit (17) for trays (2?). Below a transporter (14) in the zone of operating of the gripping unit (16) there is situated an unloading conveyor (24) the end of which is situated at the inlet of an immovable throat (27).

Abstract: A method and device is provided that separates non-parallel streams of displacing multi-layered stacks of rod-like elements which fill a horizontal conveyor (wherein the elements are displaced by force) and a channel positioned at an angle (wherein the elements are displaced by gravity.) The inside dimensions of the cross sections of the conveyor and the channel allow an equal flow of the elements. To separate the streams, the elements are removed from the adjoining area of the conveyor and the channel, wherein the stack of the elements is a passive stream, to the area of the conveyor or the channel, wherein the stack is an active stream. The space that is taken up by the removed elements equals the space of one quarter of the radius of the cylinder, wherein the walls of the cylinder that are parallel to the axis of the cylinder, separate multi-layered non-parallel streams of the elements.

Abstract: In order to separate streams of multi-layered stacks of rodlike elements the rodlike elements are removed from the adjoining area of a horizontal conveyor (3) or a channel positioned at an angle (1), in which the stack of rodlike elements becomes a passive stream to the area of the channel (1) or the horizontal conveyor (3), in which the stack becomes an active stream, and the space taken up by the removed elements is equal to the volume of the appropriate sector of a cylinder of radius (r) corresponding to with (P) of the horizontal conveyor (3) and/or width (K) of the channel (1), whereas the walls of the cylinder which are parallel to the axis of the cylinder separate the non-parallel streams.