Container unloading apparatus

Apparatus for unloading containers for rod-like articles, comprising:

• a carrier for receiving a full container in a receiving position in a first orientation;
• and
• carrier moving means for moving the carrier to an unloading position at which the carrier is in a second orientation, the carrier moving means including means for translating the carrier and means for rotating the carrier, wherein the translating means and rotating means are independently controlled and are adapted to operate concurrently, said carrier moving means being configured such that said articles are unloaded through an open end of said container;
• and
• conveying means for conveying unloaded articles away from the unloading position along a path, wherein the conveying means extend substantially across said open end at said unloading position except at said path, wherein the conveying means is driven at a first relatively high speed during a first phase during which a first, major part of the contents of the container is unloaded and at a second, lower speed during a second phase during which the remainder of the contents of the container is unloaded.

Apparatus for unloading open-top containers of rod-like articles, said apparatus composing:

• a plurality of slideways comprising linear actuators;
• a tray carriage supported on said slideways, such that said tray carriage is capable of sliding linearly relative to said slideways between a pick-up position and an unloading position;
• a first servo drive motor adapted for driving said linear actuators;
• a tray carrier which is adapted to receive an open-top container of rod-like articles, said tray carrier being supported on said tray carriage, and being pivotable relative to said tray carriage through about 180° between a first position in which it can receive an upright container at said pick-up position, and a second position in which it maintains an inverted carrier at said unloading position, said tray carrier comprising a plurality of clamps which are selectively operable for clamping a container in place on the tray carrier, and a retractable release plate that can be arranged for covering an open top of a container on the tray carrier;
• a second servo drive motor for rotating said tray carrier between said first and second positions;
• wherein said first and second servo drive motors are adapted to provide simultaneous, independent control of the linear movement of the tray carriage and rotational movement of the tray carrier, and to allow the relative rates and positions at which said linear and rotational movements take place to be varied in accordance with parameters associated with the articles in the containers.