Method of emptying trays filled with rod-shaped articles of the tobacco industry

A method of emptying trays filled with rod-shaped articles of a tobacco industry, the method comprising the following steps:

• conveying trays designated for emptying to an input area of a hopper containing adjacent channels separated by dividers;
• transferring rod-shaped articles from the trays to the channels of the hopper using support plates;
• filling the channels of the hopper with the rod-shaped articles;
• retracting the support plates from the channels of the hopper;
• emptying successively the channels of the hopper into a chute adapted to move between channel outlets of the hopper;
• transferring the rod-shaped articles from the channels of the hopper and through the chute onto a discharge conveyor moving towards a receiving device;
• characterized in that
• during emptying at least one channel (7) of the hopper (2), the hopper (2) moves linearly in a direction (S2) opposite to a direction (T) in which the rod-shaped articles are transported by the discharge conveyor (19);
• and after the channel (7) has been completely emptied,
• the hopper (2) moves in the direction (S1) concurrent with the direction (T) in which the rod-shaped articles are transported by the discharge conveyor (19), until the hopper (2) achieves a position in which the outlet of a next channel (7) filled with rod-shaped articles (R) is aligned with an inlet (21) of the chute (20),
• whereas the hopper (2) moves at a variable velocity while moving in the direction (S1) concurrent with the direction (T) in which the rod-shaped articles are transported by the discharge conveyor, and
• the chute (20), in order to empty the rod-shaped articles from at least one channel (7) of the hopper (2), moves linearly in the direction (G2) opposite to the direction (T) in which the rod-shaped articles are transported by the discharge conveyor (19), until all the rod-shaped articles (R) have been emptied from the channel (7),
• further characterized in that
• while the hopper (2) is moving in the direction (S1) concurrent with the direction (T) in which the rod-shaped articles are transported by the discharge conveyor (19), the hopper (2) moves at a first velocity, and as a result of receiving a signal from an accumulation sensor (27) that rod-shaped articles have accumulated near the inlet (21) of the chute (20), the hopper (2) moves at at least one second velocity, whereas the second velocity is lower than the first velocity, before the hopper (2) achieves a position in which the outlet of the next channel filled with rod-shaped articles (R) is aligned with the inlet (21) of the chute (20).