Apparatus for filling containers with rod-shaped articles

Abstract

An apparatus for filling containers with rod-shaped articles includes extractor elements for removing in succession layers of articles from a dispensing mouth and inserting them inside containers, the extractor elements including: a supporting element positioned below the dispensing mouth and designed to receive from above and to hold a layer of articles, being equipped with a motor for moving the supporting element away from the unloading zone after receiving one layer of articles; and a pick-up element designed to pick up from above and to hold a layer of articles supported by a supporting element moved away from the unloading zone, having an actuating device for moving the pick-up element above a container carried by a conveyor, with subsequent release of the relative layer of articles inside the container.

1 . An apparatus for filling containers with rod-shaped articles, comprising a hopper for feeding the articles, having at least one mouth for dispensing the articles through a respective lower end, conveyor means located in the vicinity of the at least one dispensing mouth and supporting a plurality of containers designed to receive inside the superposed layers of articles, extractor means for removing in succession the layers of articles from an unloading zone of each dispensing mouth and inserting them inside containers carried by the conveyor means, characterized in that the extractor means comprise, for each dispensing mouth, a supporting element positioned below the unloading zone of the dispensing mouth and designed to receive from above and to hold a layer of articles, being equipped with motor means for moving the supporting element away from the unloading zone after receiving one layer of articles; and the extractor means also comprising, for each dispensing mouth, a pick-up element designed to pick up from above and to hold a layer of articles supported by a supporting element moved away from the unloading zone, being provided with an actuating device for moving the pick-up element above a container carried by the conveyor means, with subsequent release of the relative layer of articles inside the container. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each dispensing mouth of the hopper is subdivided by a plurality of walls substantially vertical and parallel to each other in substantially vertical channels positioned side by side horizontally, each of which is designed to accommodate internally a stack of articles reciprocally superposed. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each supporting element comprises a horizontal supporting plate having a length, measured parallel to the axes of the articles contained in the hopper, exceeding twice the length of an article, and a width, measured horizontally according to a direction horizontal and perpendicular to the axes of the articles, substantially equal to that of the lower portion of the dispensing mouth adjacent to it; the upper surface of each supporting plate defining a plurality of horizontal grooves, parallel to the axes of the articles contained in the hopper, positioned below the lower ends of respective channels of the overlying dispensing mouth, and having substantially in section a substantially semi-circular shape with concavity facing upwards and diameter substantially equal to that of an article, and the upper surface of each groove being equipped with a plurality of holes which can be placed in communication with a suction source; each supporting plate, in use, being movable, under the action of the motor means associated with it, with alternating horizontal movement according to a direction parallel to the axes of the articles. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each supporting plate is movable, with alternating horizontal movement according to a direction parallel to the axes of the articles, between two limit stop positions; in a first of these positions each supporting plate having a respective portion closest to the conveyor means positioned below the unloading zone of the dispensing mouth, and in a second of these positions each supporting plate having the respective portion located between the unloading zone and the conveyor means. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the grooves of each supporting plate extend substantially along the entire length of the supporting plate, in such a way as to affect both their parts located below the unloading zone of the relative dispensing mouth and their parts outside this zone. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each pick-up element comprises a horizontal pick-up plate having a length, measured parallel to the axes of the articles contained in the hopper, substantially equal to the length of an article, and a width, measured according to a direction horizontal and perpendicular to the axes of the articles, substantially equal to that of a supporting plate; the lower surface of each pick-up plate defining a plurality of horizontal grooves, parallel to the axes of the articles contained in the hopper, and having substantially in section a substantially semi-circular shape with concavity facing downwards and diameter substantially equal to that of an article, and the lower surface of each groove of the pick-up plates being equipped with a plurality of holes which can be placed in communication with a suction source; each pick-up plate being able to position itself, in use and under the action of the actuating device above a corresponding supporting plate with perfect vertical alignment between the respective grooves and in that arrangement the communication being interrupted with a suction source of the holes of the grooves of each supporting plate and the communication being activated with a suction source of the holes of the grooves of each pick-up plate. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pick-up plates are connected to the actuating device using at least one articulated arm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor means comprise a belt conveyor designed to support with a respective upper transport branch the containers with equidistant positioning.