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

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 (13T′) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR), and
• a linearly operating pressing mechanism (34) designed to press the hinged wall (13T′) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR) to other walls of the tray (13L, 13R, 13A).

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 (13T′) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR), and
• a linearly operating pressing mechanism (34) designed to press the hinged wall (13T′) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR) to other walls of the tray (13L, 13R, 13A).

A converting unit (21, 35) designed to change the configuration of the tray of the first type (13) having at least one hinged wall (13T′) provided with connecting members (13FL, 13FR) designed to connect the hinged wall with other walls (13L, 13R) 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 (22L, 22R, 32L, 32R) designed to lift the hinged wall (13T′) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR), and
• pressing members (22L, 22R, 34L, 34R) designed to press the hinged wall (13T′) and the connecting members to other walls (13L, 13R, 13A) 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 (13T′) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR), and
• a linearly operating pressing mechanism (34) designed to press the hinged wall (13T′) and the connecting members (13FL, 13FR) to other walls of the tray (13L, 13R, 13A).