Method of and apparatus for manipulating containers for cigarette trays

Abstract

Containers for temporary confinement of empty and filled trays serving for temporary storage of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are advanced, one after the other, first at an upper level to a first station for evacuation of empty trays, thereupon downwardly to, along and beyond a second station for introduction of filled trays at a lower level, and then to the upper level for withdrawal from the apparatus. Empty trays are filled with rod-shaped articles during downward movement from the first station to the second station. One or more pneumatically operated devices can be employed to expel or otherwise remove empty trays from the container at the first station, and one or more similar devices can be used for reintroduction of filled trays into the container at the second station. The unit for lowering empty containers from the first station to the second station can utilize plural grippers having rotary supports which bear against the containers from below during advancement past the first station and during downward movement to the second station.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.