Apparatus for filling and emptying trays for rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry

US5106254A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Korber AG · DE

Inventors

• Gerhard Tolasch · Bargteheide, DE
• Horst Base · Hamburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 16, 1990
• Grant date: Apr 21, 1992
• Expiry date: Jul 16, 2010

Classification

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

Abstract

Apparatus for removing filter cigarettes from a mass flow between one or more producing machines and one or more processing machines when the output of the producing machines exceeds the requirements of the processing machines, and for returning filter cigarettes into the mass flow when the requirements of the processing machines exceed the output of the producing machines, has a filling unit which withdraws cigarettes from the mass flow and introduces them into successive empty chargers or trays, and an emptying unit which dumps the contents of filled trays into a receptacle for reintroduction into the mass flow. The emptying unit is located at a level above the filling unit, and each of these units cooperates with two magazines, one for empty trays and the other for filled trays. The four magazines are adjacent and parallel to each other, the magazines for empty trays are disposed at a first level above the respective magazines for filled trays, the magazines for filled trays are disposed at a common second level, and the magazines which supply trays to and receive trays from the filling unit are immediately adjacent such unit. The apparatus further employs two linear conveyors o…