A method and an apparatus for emptying various types of trays filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry, and converting unit designed to change tray's configuration

Abstract

An apparatus ( 1 ) for emptying of two types of trays with different configurations for rod like articles (R) of the tobacco industry while a five-wall tray being the tray of the first type ( 13 ) and a four-wall tray being the tray of the second type ( 3 ), the apparatus is provided with a filled tray station ( 2 ) of the first type or the second type, a turning unit ( 10 ) designed to turn the filled tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ), a lifting unit ( 11 ) designed to lift the turning unit ( 10 ), a station ( 23 ) for emptying of the filled tray of the first ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ), a station ( 25 ) for empty trays of the first or the second type, a control system ( 40 ) controlling the subassemblies of the apparatus. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to the invention is characterised by further comprising a converting unit ( 21, 35 ) being adapted to change the configuration of the tray of the first type ( 13 ) into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the second type ( 3 ). The converting unit ( 21, 35 ) is adapted to change the configuration of the tray of the first type ( 13 ) into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the tray of the second type ( 3 ) when the tray of the first type ( 13 ) is delivered for unloading, and to maintain the configuration of the tray of the second type ( 3 ) when the tray of the second type ( 3 ) is delivered for unloading the converting unit ( 21, 35 ) is further provided with a linearly operating lifting mechanism ( 32 ) designed to lift the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members ( 13 FL, 13 FR) and a linearly operating pressing mechanism ( 34 ) designed to press the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members ( 13 FL, 13 FR) to other walls of the tray ( 13 L, 13 R, 13 A). The object of the invention is also a converting unit ( 21, 35 ) and a tray emptying method using the apparatus ( 1 ) and the converting unit ( 21, 35 ).

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus ( 1 ) for emptying of two types of trays with different configurations for rod like articles (R) of the tobacco industry, while a five-wall tray being the tray of the first type ( 13 ) and a four-wall tray being the tray of the second type ( 3 )
 the apparatus is provided with   a filled tray station ( 2 ) of the first type or the second type,   a turning unit ( 10 ) designed to turn the filled tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ),   a lifting unit ( 11 ) designed to lift the turning unit ( 10 ),   a station ( 23 ) for emptying of the filled tray of the first ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ),   a station ( 25 ) for empty trays of the first or the second type,   a control system ( 40 ) controlling the subassemblies of the apparatus,   characterised in that   the apparatus is provided with   a converting unit ( 21 ,  35 ) being adapted to change the configuration of the tray of the first type ( 13 ) into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the second type ( 3 ), whereas   the converting unit ( 21 ,  35 ) is adapted to change the configuration of the tray of the first type ( 13 ) into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the tray of the second type ( 3 ) when the tray of the first type ( 13 ) is delivered for unloading, and to maintain the configuration of the tray of the second type ( 3 ) when the tray of the second type ( 3 ) is delivered for unloading,   the converting unit ( 21 ,  35 ) is further provided with a linearly operating lifting mechanism ( 32 ) designed to lift the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members ( 13 FL,  13 FR), and   a linearly operating pressing mechanism ( 34 ) designed to press the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members ( 13 FL,  13 FR) to other walls of the tray ( 13 L,  13 R,  13 A).   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as in  claim 15  characterised in that the turning unit ( 10 ) designed to turn the filled tray has a holding mechanism ( 10 A) provided with gripping members designed to hold the tray ( 3 ,  13 ) and adapted to move the tray ( 3 ,  13 ) transversely to the axis ( 12 A) of the shaft ( 12 ) of the turning unit ( 10 ). 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as in  claim 16  characterised in that the holding mechanism ( 10 A) is attached to a linear guide ( 10 B) designed to move the tray transversely to the axis ( 12 A) of the shaft ( 12 ) of the turning unit ( 10 ). 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as in  claim 16  characterised in that the gripping members comprise lateral grippers ( 16 L,  16 R), a bottom gripper ( 15 L,  15 R), and a sliding cover ( 18 ). 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as in  claim 15  characterised in that the apparatus ( 1 ) is provided with a lifting unit ( 6 ) designed to lift the filled tray ( 3 ,  13 ) from the filled tray station ( 2 ). 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as in  claim 15  characterised in that the converting unit ( 21 ,  35 ) is an opening unit designed to swing the hinged wall ( 13 T′) of the tray of the first type ( 13 ). 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as in  claim 20  characterised in that the opening unit ( 21 ,  35 ) designed to swing the hinged wall ( 13 T′) of the tray of the first type ( 13 ) is situated above the lifting unit ( 6 ) designed to lift the filled tray ( 3 ,  13 ). 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as in  claim 15  characterised in that the apparatus ( 1 ) is provided with a tray type detection unit ( 41 ). 
     
     
         23 . A method for emptying two types of trays with different configurations, for rod like articles (R) of the tobacco industry, while a five-wall tray being the tray of the first type ( 13 ) and a four-wall tray being the tray of the second type ( 3 )
 wherein   the filled tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ) is placed on the filled tray station ( 2 ),   the filled tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ) is conveyed along the filled tray station ( 2 ),   the filled tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ) is gripped by means of the turning unit ( 10 ),   the filled tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ) is lifted,   the filled tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ) is turned by means of the turning unit ( 10 ),   the filled tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ) is placed in the filled tray emptying station ( 23 ),   the empty tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ) is conveyed to the empty tray station ( 25 ),   the empty tray of the first type ( 13 ) or the second type ( 3 ) is received from the empty tray station ( 25 ), characterised in that   after the delivery of the filled tray of the first type ( 13 ) the converting unit ( 21 ,  35 ) is activated,   the configuration of the tray of the first type ( 13 ) is converted to a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the tray of the second type ( 3 ), whereas   the configuration of the tray of the first type ( 13 ) is changed into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the tray of the second type ( 3 ) when the tray of the first type ( 13 ) is delivered for unloading, and the configuration of the tray of the second type ( 3 ) is maintained when the tray of the second type ( 3 ) is delivered for unloading,   moreover the configuration of the tray is changed with a linearly operating lifting mechanism ( 32 ) designed to lift the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members ( 13 FL,  13 FR), and   a linearly operating pressing mechanism ( 34 ) designed to press the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members ( 13 FL,  13 FR) to other walls of the tray ( 13 L,  13 R,  13 A).   
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 23  characterised in that during the turning of the filled tray, the filled tray ( 3 ,  13 ) is moved away transversely to the axis ( 12 A) of the shaft ( 12 ) of the turning unit ( 10 ). 
     
     
         25 . The method as in  claim 23  characterised in that before the tray ( 3 ,  13 ) is gripped by the turning unit ( 10 ), the filled tray ( 3 ,  13 ) is lifted on the lifting unit ( 6 ) for lifting filled trays. 
     
     
         26 . A converting unit ( 21 ,  35 ) designed to change the configuration of the tray of the first type ( 13 ) having at least one hinged wall ( 13 T′) provided with connecting members ( 13 FL,  13 FR) designed to connect the hinged wall with other walls ( 13 L,  13 R) of the tray ( 13 ) into a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the tray of the second type ( 3 ) not having a hinged wall,
 provided with 
 pushing members ( 22 L,  22 R,  32 L,  32 R) designed to lift the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members ( 13 FL,  13 FR), and 
 pressing members ( 22 L,  22 R,  34 L,  34 R) designed to press the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members to other walls ( 13 L,  13 R,  13 A) of the tray ( 13 ), 
 characterised in that 
 the unit ( 21 ,  35 ) is further provided with a linearly operating lifting mechanism ( 32 ) designed to lift the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members ( 13 FL,  13 FR), and 
 a linearly operating pressing mechanism ( 34 ) designed to press the hinged wall ( 13 T′) and the connecting members ( 13 FL,  13 FR) to other walls of the tray ( 13 L,  13 R,  13 A). 
 
     
     
         27 . The unit as in  claim 26  characterised in that the lifting mechanism ( 32 ) comprises at least two actuators ( 31 L,  31 R) provided with the pushing members ( 32 L,  32 R). 
     
     
         28 . The unit as in  claim 26  characterised in that the pressing mechanism ( 34 ) comprises at least two actuators ( 33 L,  33 R) provided with the pressing members ( 34 L,  34 R).