Apparatus for singularizing trays for cigarettes or the like

Apparatus for singularizing trays which form a row of trays for stacks of cigarettes or the like, comprising conveyor means arranged to support the row of trays and to advance successive foremost trays of the row along a predetermined path and in a predetermined direction away from the remaining trays of the row;

• means for blocking the movement of the next-to-the-foremost tray of the row with the foremost tray;
• means for moving said blocking means substantially transversely of said path between an operative position in which said blocking means prevents advancement of the next-to-the-foremost tray in said direction by lifting the trays thereon to a level above said path and out of contact with said conveyor means and an inoperative position in which said blocking means is disengaged from the trays in said path so that the conveyor means is free to advance the trays of said row in said direction;
• means for receiving successive trays from said conveyor means, said receiving means being movable to and from a tray-accepting position;
• means for monitoring said receiving means and for generating first signals in the accepting position of said receiving means;
• first detector means adjacent to said path ahead of said blocking means, as considered in said direction, and arranged to generate second signals in response to detection of advancement of the foremost tray away from the remainder of the row in said path;
• means for activating said moving means in response to said first and second signals so as to move said blocking means from the operative to the inoperative position;
• drive means activatable to set said conveyor means in motion;
• second detector means for monitoring the position of said blocking means and for generating third signals when said blocking means assumes said operative position;
• an arresting device movable by said moving means between a first position in which said arresting device extends into said path in front of the foremost tray of the row of trays in said path and said blocking means assumes said inoperative position and a second position in which said arresting device is outside of said path and permits the foremost tray to advance along said path under the action of said conveyor means while said blocking means assumes said operative position;
• and means for activating said drive means in response to said third signals for intervals of time which are required to advance the foremost tray of the row into engagement with said receiving device, and when the foremost article is conveyed past said arresting device said first detector means causes said moving means to move said arresting device to the first position and said blocking means to the inoperative position so that the row of articles is advanced by said conveyor means into engagement with said arresting device before said drive means for said conveyor is stopped.