Apparatus for conveying cigarette-filled trays to a cigarette-packaging machine

US4565203A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Maschinenfabrik Fr. Niepmann GmbH & Co.

Inventors

• Iain G. H. Stewart · Ennepetal, DE
• Hans P. Pitz · Gevelsberg, DE
• Alfred Brinker · Gevelsberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 10, 1983
• Grant date: Jan 21, 1986
• Expiry date: Nov 10, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A24C5/352
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

An apparatus for conveying cigarette-filled trays from at least one tray-filling device to the hopper of at least one cigarette-packaging machine, and for returning the emptied trays to the tray-filling device. In order to deliver the filled tray system fully automatically by a simple transport system without operators, and with the opened top directed downwardly, to the hopper of the packaging machine, the guide rail system of a container-conveying system which is known per se and which has a plurality of the electrically driven travel mechanisms is disposed between a dispatch station which is associated with the tray-filling device, and a receiving station which is associated with the packaging machine. Each of the travel mechanisms carries a receiving container which is designed to receive at least one tray. In the dispatch station, the filled trays are supplied to the receiving container in the normal position and in a horizontal direction; in the receiving station, the filled trays are withdrawn from the receiving container in a position which is rotated relative to the normal position by 180.degree. about a horizontal axis, and in which the open top is directed downwardly.