EP3269263A1 - Method and apparatus for emptying of a four-wall or five-wall tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for emptying of a four-wall or five-wall tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3269263A1 EP3269263A1 EP16179251.0A EP16179251A EP3269263A1 EP 3269263 A1 EP3269263 A1 EP 3269263A1 EP 16179251 A EP16179251 A EP 16179251A EP 3269263 A1 EP3269263 A1 EP 3269263A1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- tray
- wall
- filled
- trays
- unit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 13
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 47
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000019506 cigar Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000014509 gene expression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000012447 hatching Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011265 semifinished product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000391 smoking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
- A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
- A24C5/35—Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine
- A24C5/352—Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine using containers, i.e. boats
- A24C5/356—Emptying the boats into the hopper of the packaging machine
Definitions
- the object of the invention is a method and an apparatus for emptying of a four-wall and/or five-wall tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry.
- Plastic trays which are used for all types of rod like articles, among others for cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars and filter material rods, are commonly used in the tobacco industry. Plastic trays have the shape of a cuboid without two adjacent walls, i.e. these are trays having four walls. Plastic trays are rigid and are used for temporary storage and transport of rod like articles on the premises of tobacco factories. Generally, cardboard trays designed as five-wall trays are commonly used for the transport of filter rods outside the factory premises.
- Cardboard trays have thinner walls, are less rigid and easily deformable, with one swinging wall. Filling of a five-wall tray takes place after opening of a tray i.e. after swinging the swinging wall. After the filling, the tray must be closed i.e. the swinging wall must be turned to its original position. The same swinging wall is swung in order to empty the tray. In the transport time, the filled tray is covered with a lid in order to protect the rods collected inside.
- the apparatuses for unloading of four-wall and five-wall trays are essentially similarly built, however, the mechanisms of the apparatus must be differently adjusted for each kind of tray. Moreover, the kind and the physical parameters of unloaded articles also influence the unloading process.
- the object of the invention is a machine adapted to empty both four-wall and five wall trays used in the tobacco industry.
- the object of the invention is an apparatus for emptying of a four-wall tray and/or a five-wall tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry, whereas one wall of the five-wall tray is hinged, provided with a filled tray station, a turning unit for turning the filled tray, a lifting unit for lifting the turning unit, a filled tray emptying station, and an empty tray station, with the paths of movement, along which the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray are transported, being shaped so that the paths pass through the operating areas of machine units, and the mechanisms of machine units having adjustable or shiftable gripping or guiding members in order to adapt the mechanisms to both four-wall trays and five-wall trays.
- the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the paths of movement of the tray are traced by the mechanisms of the machine and are shaped so that the paths for the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray at least partially overlap.
- the apparatus according to the invention provides the possibility to unload both four-wall and five-wall trays.
- the apparatus provides the possibility to adapt the tray's path of movement for different kinds of trays and for rod like articles with different physical parameters.
- the apparatus according to the invention provides the possibility to flexibly adapt the apparatus to any tray and rod like article specification in keeping with minimum loads for rod like articles collected in the tray.
- the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the turning unit for turning the filled tray has a holding mechanism provided with gripping members designed to hold the tray and adapted to move the tray transversely to the axis of the shaft of the turning unit.
- the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the holding mechanism is attached to a linear guide for moving the tray transversely to the axis of the shaft of the turning unit.
- the apparatus according to the invention is provided with a turning unit which may be easily adapted to work with other units within the scope of receiving of trays and transferring of rod like articles.
- the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the gripping members comprise lateral grippers, a bottom gripper and a sliding cover.
- the apparatus according to the invention is characterised by being further provided with a lifting unit for lifting the filled tray from the filled tray station.
- the apparatus according to the invention is characterised by being further provided with an opening unit for swinging a hinged wall of the five-wall tray.
- the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the opening unit for swinging the hinged wall of the five-wall tray is situated above the lifting unit designed to lift the filled tray.
- the object of the invention is a method for emptying of a tray on an apparatus for emptying of the tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry adapted to empty the four-wall tray and/or five-wall tray, whereas one wall of the five-wall tray is hinged, wherein the filled tray is placed on the filled tray station, the filled tray is transported along the filled tray station, the filled tray is gripped by means of the turning unit, the filled tray is lifted, the filled tray is turned by means of the turning unit, the filled tray is placed in the filled tray emptying station, the empty tray is transported to the empty tray station, the empty tray is received from the empty tray station, with the paths, on which the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray are moved, being shaped in such a way that they pass through the working areas of machine units, and the mechanisms of the machine units having adjustable or shiftable gripping or guiding members to be adapted to both four-wall trays and five-wall trays.
- the method according to the invention is characterised in that the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray
- the method according to the invention is characterised in that during the turning of the filled tray the filled tray is turned over and/or turned and moved in the transverse direction to the axis of the shaft of the turning unit.
- the method according to the invention is characterised in that the tray is moved along a path comprising elliptical sections.
- the method according to the invention is characterised in that before the tray is gripped by the turning unit the filled tray is lifted on the lifting unit for lifting filled trays.
- the tray emptying apparatus makes it possible to modify the path of movement for the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray.
- the loads to which the trays, and above all the rod like articles in the trays, are subjected are associated with individual movements of the tray.
- the apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to modify the path of movement depending on the weight of the products and the tray itself, and in addition to adapt the accelerations to which the articles are subjected at individual stages of the path of movement. Through the invention the fluidity of movement of machine mechanisms and low loads of such mechanisms have been achieved.
- Both trays were shown as filled in upright position, i.e. in such position in which the filled trays are placed in the filled trays station of the filled tray emptying machine.
- the filled space of the trays was marked by hatching with lines, with only several example rod like articles R lying on the bottom of the tray.
- the filled trays are placed by the operator onto the filled trays station, whereas the operator holds the tray by the sidewalls in such a way that he can see the tray contents.
- the four-wall tray 3 has a bottom wall 3B on which its stands, a back wall 3A and two lateral walls, a left lateral wall 3L and a right lateral wall 3R, whereas the designation of the sides refers to the position in which the tray can be seen by the operator putting a filled tray onto the filled trays station, with the open front side 3G of the trays 3 being directed towards him. The filling and the emptying of the tray takes place through the open side 3T.
- Four-wall trays may be made of plastic or other suitable material ensuring an adequate rigidity and are usually designed for multiple uses.
- the five-wall tray 13 has a bottom wall 13B on which it stands, a back wall 13A and two lateral walls, a left lateral wall 13L and a right lateral wall 13R.
- the five-wall tray 13 has a hinged upper wall 13T' which is designated as self-aligning relative to the back wall 13A of the tray 13 with which it is connected along the edge 13E.
- the upper wall 13T' has two swinging lugs 13FL and 13FR which, during the transport, are inserted into a slot in the corresponding lateral walls 13L and 13R.
- FIGs. 2a and 2b show the five-wall tray 13 at a later stage the emptying cycle of the five-wall tray 13 in an open configuration identical with the configuration of the four-wall tray.
- the upper wall 13T' is swung so as to allow emptying the five-wall tray 13 through the upper open side 13T of the five-wall tray.
- the filling of the five-wall tray 13 also takes place through the upper side 13T. Similar to the four-wall tray 3, the operator puts the five-wall tray 13 onto the filled trays station while holding the five-wall tray 13 with the open side 13G directed towards him.
- Five-wall trays 13 may be made of cardboard or other cheap material, are usually softer than the four-wall trays and are usually designed for a single use.
- the tray 3, 13 emptying machine 1 described below being a tray unloader, is adapted to empty both rigid four-wall trays jest 3 and less rigid five-wall trays 13 without the necessity of changing the machine configuration.
- the units belonging to the tray emptying machine 1 according to the invention were shown in Fig. 3 in simplified terms without the drive mechanisms; the outer contour of the machine was shown with a dashed line.
- the tray emptying machine 1 is provided with a filled trays station 2 onto which the filled four-wall trays 3 or five-wall trays 13 to be unloaded are placed by the operator.
- the filled trays station 2 may be designed as a conveyor 4 provided with two conveyor belts for the conveyance of trays 3, 13; the trays 3, 13 may also be conveyed by means of chains having links with a flat bearing surface. From the filled trays station 2, the trays 3, 13 are fed as first filled trays 3', 13' in order to deliver them for unloading, whereas a plurality of filled trays 3, 13 is collected on the filled trays station 2. The feeding of the first filled tray 3', 13' from all filled trays 3, 13 standing in the station 2 may take place after lifting of all filled trays 3, 13 from the conveyor 4 except for the first tray 3', 13' which is transported by the conveyor 4.
- the lifting of the trays 3, 13 may take place by means of a lifting device 4A with the movement of which the lowering of a locking device 4B is coupled, which allows the first filled tray 3', 13' transported by the conveyor 4 to pass through.
- the lifting device 4A is lowered, the trays 3, 13 lifted earlier by the lifting device 4A are put onto the conveyor 4, and the locking device 4B is lifted.
- the filled trays station 2 is provided with lateral guides 4C situated on two sides of the trays 3, 13 conveyed along the filled trays station 2.
- the lateral guides 4C are convergently positioned in the feeding direction i.e.
- the convergence of the lateral guides 4C may be adjusted depending on the kind of the tray 3, 13, for example on the rigidity of the tray 3, 13.
- the lateral guides 4C may be positioned at different heights also depending on the kind of the tray 3, 13, especially on the rigidity of lateral walls of the tray 3, 13 and on the shape of lateral walls of the trays 3, 13.
- the filled trays station 2 may be provided with an adjustable support element 5; the adjustment of position of the support element 5 is required to allow stopping the filled tray 3, 13 at a place from which it may be easily collected or lifted. Due to the difference in rigidity, the four-wall tray 3 and the five-wall tray 13 may require a different position of the adjustable support element 5.
- the filled tray 3, 13 is placed by the operator in the back part 2A of the filled trays station 2.
- a lifting unit 6 designed to lift the filled tray 3, 13 is situated in the front part 2B of the filled trays station 2.
- the lifting unit 6 may be embodied as a lift designed to lift filled trays from the conveyor 4 of the filled trays 3, 13 station 2, the mechanism of the lifting unit 6 being situated below the conveyor belts of the conveyor 4.
- the tray emptying machine 1 is provided with two opening units 21 L, 21 R ( Fig. 3 ) designed to open the upper wall 13T' of the five-wall tray 13.
- the opening units 21 L, 21 R have for example rotational working elements 22L and 22R ( Fig. 3a ) which swing the upper wall 13T'.
- the five-wall tray 13 shown in Fig. 2 has a configuration hereinafter referred to as the configuration of the first type while the four-wall tray 3 shown in Fig. 1 has a configuration hereinafter referred to as the configuration of the second type.
- the five-wall tray 13 may be gripped by the turning unit 10 only after the conversion of the five-wall tray to the configuration of the second type.
- the opening unit 21L and the opening unit 21R together constitute a converting unit which changes the tray configuration from the configuration of the first type (i.e. the tray with the fifth wall covering the inside of the tray) to a configuration corresponding to the tray configuration of the second type (i.e. the four-wall tray in which the inside of the tray is not covered by the fifth wall).
- the lifting unit 6 designed to lift the filled trays 3,13 is provided with brackets 7A, 7B and 7C shown in Fig. 3a .
- brackets 7A, 7B and 7C shown in Fig. 3a .
- 13 is supported at several points on interconnected brackets 7A, 7B and 7C which may be inclined towards the front part 1A of the tray emptying machine 1.
- the tray 3, 13 is held by movable lateral clamping members 8L and 8R which in case of five-wall trays 13 made of cardboard have the task of eliminating the risk of deformation of the five-wall trays 13 and displacement (falling down) of rod like articles R in the upper corners of the five-wall tray 13.
- the lateral clamping members 8L and 8R may be moved for example by pneumatic actuators 9, whereas the position of the clamping members 8L and 8R requires adjustment according to the rigidity and the overall dimensions of the trays 3,13 used. In case of four-wall trays 3 it is not necessary to exert pressure on the sidewalls 3L, 3R of the tray 3 and in this case the clamping members 8L and 8R constitute limiters of movement in the horizontal direction.
- the lifting of the tray 3, 13 by the lifting unit 6 may be accomplished by any linear movement mechanism with electric or pneumatic drive.
- the lifting unit 6 lifts the filled tray 3, 13 to a height at which the turning unit 10 may grip the filled tray 3, 13.
- the turning unit 10 is adapted to turn the filled tray 3, 13 before unloading it at the filled tray emptying station 23.
- the turning unit 10 may be designed as stationary at a specific height or may be moved in the vertical direction by the lifting unit 11. The lowering of the turning unit 10, and then the lifting of the filled tray 3, 13 by the turning unit directly from the filled trays 3, 13 station 2 is also possible, and it will be described in more detail below in this description.
- Figs. 3b, 3c , 3d, 3e show an alternative converting unit designed to open the five-wall tray.
- Fig. 3b shows the tray 13 which has been lifted by the lifting unit 6 in a view from the back of the machine.
- the converting unit 21 comprises actuators 31L and 31 R which are provided with pushing members 32L and 32R attached to piston rods of the actuators 31 L and 31 R.
- the pushing members 32L and 32R are used to swing the wall 13T' together with the lugs 13F in the axis passing through the edge 13E.
- the actuators 31 L and 31R are inclined relative to the walls 13L and 13R in order to enable the pushing members to act on the surface of the wall 13T'.
- the actuators 31 L and 31 R As a result of the action of the actuators 31 L and 31 R, the upper wall 13T' of the tray 13 in the configuration of the first type is swung as shown in Fig. 3c .
- the actuators 31 L and 31 R are in the pulled-out position, and the pushing members 32L and 32R abut against the wall 13T'.
- the task of the actuators 33L and 33R is to further bend the wall 13T' and the lugs 13FL and 13FR.
- the pushing members 34L and 34R are attached to piston rods of the actuators 33L and 33R, whereas Fig. 3d shows the position of the pushing members 34L and 34R before bending the wall 13T' and the lugs 13FL and 13FR, and Fig. 3e after bending thereof.
- the pushing member 34L is attached to the actuator 33L and is used to bend the wall 13T' so that it abuts against the wall 13A, and to bend the lug 13FL so that it abuts against the wall 13L.
- the pushing member 34R is attached to the actuator 33R and is used to bend the wall 13T' so that it abuts against the wall 13A, and to bend the lug 13FR so that it abuts against the wall 13R.
- the actuator 33L with the pressing member 34L and the actuator 33R with the pressing member 34R constitute a pressing mechanism 34 designed to press the self-aligning wall 13T' to the wall 13A and the connecting members in the form of the lugs 13FL and 13FR to the walls 13L and 13R of the tray 13.
- the lifting mechanism 32 and the pressing mechanism 34 constitute a converting unit 35 being at the same time an opening unit.
- the pushing members 34L and 34R may be attached to the turning unit 10, for example to the body 14, then the bending of the wall 13T' and the lugs 13FL and 13FR takes place during the lowering of the turning unit 10.
- the tray emptying machine 1 is provided with the filled tray emptying station 23 ( Fig. 4 ) in the front part 1A of the machine underneath which the conveyor 24 receiving the rod like articles R unloaded from the trays 3, 13 is situated.
- an empty trays station 25 is situated in the back part 1B of the tray emptying machine 1.
- the empty trays station 25 may be designed as a conveyor or an empty trays store.
- the empty trays station 25 is provided with a receiving unit 28 comprising a self-aligning shelf 26 with a support 27. On the shelf 26, which has been pulled out, the empty tray 3, 13 carried by the turning unit 10 after emptying at the filled tray emptying station 23 is placed.
- the backward movement of the shelf 26 with the support 27 towards the back part 1B of the machine 1 causes a displacement of all empty trays 3, 13 collected at the station 25.
- the tray emptying machine 1 of Fig. 4 comprises the converting unit 21 situated at such height above the conveyor 4 of the filled trays station 2 which makes it possible to change the configuration of the tray 13' being on the conveyor 4.
- the control system is adapted to activate the converting unit 21 when the machine is loaded with trays in the configuration of the first type. In case of feeding of the four-wall tray 3 onto the tray emptying machine 1 the converting unit remains in an inactive state. It is also possible to convert a tray of the first type to the configuration of a tray of the second type after the tray 13 has been lifted by the lifting unit 6.
- the tray emptying machine 1 is provided with a controller 40 shown in Fig. 3 connected with individual units of the machine 1.
- the machine 1 control system comprises a detection unit 41 designed to detect the type of tray placed on the filled trays station 2. Depending on the type of trays placed on the station 2, the activation of the converting unit 21, 35 may take place.
- the converting unit 21, 35 may be in an active state irrespective of the type of fed tray because its working elements act on the walls of the five-wall tray in the configuration of the first type, and do not act on the walls of the four-wall tray in the configuration of the second type.
- Fig. 5 shows the turning unit 10 which is attached to a rotating shaft 12 with the axis of rotation 12A on a slide 11A of the lifting unit 11.
- the turning unit 10 is provided with a main support element 14 on which the back wall 3A, 13A of the four-wall 3 or five-wall tray 13, respectively, is supported.
- the turning unit 10 is provided with gripping members designed to grip the tray 3, 13, namely at least one bottom gripper 15L, 15R to support the bottom wall 3B, 13B of the tray 3, 13, at least one pair of lateral grippers 16L, 16R to grip the lateral walls 3L, 3R, 13L, 13R of the tray 3, 13 and a damper 18 to cover the rod like articles R being in the tray, with the gripping members being attached to a holding mechanism 10A to hold the tray 3, 13 in the turning unit 10 during the handling of the tray 3, 13.
- the turning unit 10 and the lifting unit 11 constitute a handling unit 19.
- the handling of the tray 3, 13 is to be understood as the lifting of the tray 3, 13 by the lifting unit 11 and the turning of the tray 3, 13 by the turning unit 10 as well as the moving of the tray 3, 13 on the holding mechanism 10A away from the axis 12A of the shaft 12 of the turning unit 10.
- the tray 3, 13 emptying cycle it is possible to freely combine the functions of lifting, turning and moving tray 3, 13 away from the axis of rotation 12A.
- the embodiment in Fig. 3a shows a pair of self-aligning bottom grippers 15L, 15R adapted to support the bottom wall 3B, 13B of the tray 3, 13, respectively.
- a greater number of bottom grippers may be required for less rigid trays 3, 13 and in case of heavy rod like articles R.
- the embodiment shows lateral grippers 16L and 16R designed in the shape of longitudinal slats constituting clamping members.
- the shape of the lateral grippers 16L, 16R may depend on the shape of the surface of lateral walls of the tray 3, 13, with the five-wall trays 13 having smooth lateral walls, whereas the four-wall trays 3 are ribbed and may have additional protrusions.
- the lateral grippers 16L, 16R may be moved by means of pneumatic actuators 17 and may act on the tray 3, 13 as clamping members eliminating the deformation of lateral walls of the tray 3L and 3R, and 13L and 13R, respectively.
- the position of the clamping members 16L and 16R requires an adjustment of the tray 3, 13 holding position according to the rigidity and overall dimensions of the trays 3, 13 used.
- the damper 18 which is slidably fastened to the guide 18A of the holding mechanism 10A in the turning unit 10 and is moved by means of any not shown drive unit with linear motion, for example a pneumatic or electric drive unit, is used to cover the rod like articles R in the tray 3, 13.
- the holding mechanism 10A comprises the lateral grippers 16L, 16R, the self-aligning bottom grippers 15L, 15R, the damper 18 and their drive elements attached to the body 14, for example designed as a plate which constitutes the main support element for the tray.
- the holding mechanism 10A is attached to the linear guide 10B which is connected with the rotating shaft 12 with the axis of rotation 12A.
- the holding mechanism 10A may be moved along the guide 10B by means of any drive mechanism (not shown) so as to ensure the movement of the holding mechanism 10A transversely to the axis 12A of the shaft 12.
- the holding mechanism 10A is adapted to change the distance of the tray 3, 13 from the axis 12A of the rotating shaft 12.
- Fig. 6 shows the tray emptying machine 1 with its units in characteristic positions
- the lifting unit 6 was shown in the bottom position and marked with a solid line and in the upper position 6' marked with a dashed line.
- the turning unit 10 in the bottom position is shown with a solid line; in this position, the tray 3, 13 is transferred from the lifting unit 6.
- the turning unit 10 in the upper position 10' was shown with a dashed line.
- the rotational movement of the turning unit 10 may start in the upper position 10', it may also start before reaching the upper position 10' i.e. already during the lifting by the lifting unit 11.
- the turning unit 10 in the position just before the start of unloading of the tray 3, 13 was shown with a dashed line and marked as 10".
- the receiving unit 28 of the empty trays station 25 shown with a solid line is in a waiting position, i.e. in the retracted position in which it does not receive empty trays.
- the receiving unit 28 shown with a dashed line is in the tray receiving position and is marked as 28'.
- Fig. 7 shows the path of movement 70 of the four-wall tray 3, whereas the successive stages of tray movement were shown with reference to the point situated in the middle of the back wall of the tray.
- the path of movement 70 connecting successive characteristic points taken by the midpoints of the tray passing through the areas of operation of individual mechanisms was shown with a thick dashed line.
- the filled four-wall tray 3 passes through successive positions from point A to B.
- the filled four-wall tray 3 from the point B is moved to the position controlled by the support element 5 or the lifting unit 6 and stops at point C.
- the lifting unit 6 starts the upward movement and lifts the four-wall tray 3, and causes an inclination of the filled four-wall tray 3 by several degrees; the position of the four-wall tray 3 after the inclination is marked as C'. During the upward movement the tray 3 is held by the clamps 8L and 8R. The lifting unit 6 ends the upward movement when the four-wall tray 3 has reached point D.
- the turning unit 10 grips the four-wall tray 3 with the lateral grippers 15L and 16R and the self-aligning supports 15L and 15R, and the damper 18 covers the rod-like articles R collected in the tray.
- the lifting unit 6 is lowered. Then the turning unit 10 together with the gripped four-wall tray 3 is lifted by the lifting unit 11 i.e.
- the handling unit 19 so that the tray 3 reaches the point E. From the point E starts the rotational movement of the turning unit 10, whereas the turning unit 10 is shown with a broken line.
- the turning unit 10 After the start of rotational movement of the turning unit 10 starts the movement of the holding mechanism 10A together with the four-wall tray 3 in order to increase the distance of the tray from the axis of the shaft of the turning unit 10.
- the movement of the holding mechanism 10A takes place transversely to the axis 12A of the rotating shaft 12. Depending on the kind of tray and rod like articles, the movement of the holding mechanism 10A may be started at any phase of the rotational movement.
- the four-wall tray 3 will be moved from the point E to the point F on a nearly elliptical path or a path consisting of elliptical sections.
- the path of movement on which the filled four-wall tray 3 is moved may comprise circular sections and a plurality of elliptical sections, whereas the shape of the path of movement depends on physical parameters of rod like articles R, primarily on their weight.
- the four-wall tray 3 is swung by several degrees from the vertical direction before the beginning of unloading of the four-wall tray 3.
- the damper 18 is retracted and the unloading of the rod-like articles R from the four-wall tray 3 onto the conveyor 24 is started.
- the four-wall tray 3 may be received by the handling unit 19 because the four-wall tray 3 at that time remains gripped by the holding unit 10A of the turning unit 10.
- the four-wall tray 3 may remain at the point G in the unloading position until it has been completely emptied.
- the tray 3 When receiving the empty tray 3, first the tray 3 moves in the vertical direction in the section G-H and then in the section of the path H-J and it is delivered to the receiving unit 28 of the empty trays station 25.
- the section H-J runs above the section E-F because when receiving the tray after partial unloading of the tray the section G-H must be rectilinear and vertical.
- the section H-J of the path of movement may be similar to the path section E-F or overlap it (when receiving the tray after it has been completely emptied).
- the movement of the tray 3 on the section H-J may be accomplished by another unit other than the turning unit 10 of the handling unit 19.
- the empty four-wall tray 3 is moved to the point K by the receiving unit 28 and further along the empty trays station 25 to the point L from where it is collected by the operator.
- the displacement of empty trays from the point K to L is forced by the movement of the receiving unit 28 related to received successive empty trays.
- the transported rod like articles R require gentle treatment and the lowest possible mechanical loads. Due to different weight of rod like articles, the tray unloader mechanisms are subjected to various loads. The loads affect in particular the mechanisms of the turning unit 10. During the handling of the tray 3, 13 the rod like articles R contained in it may move to a certain degree relative to the tray 3, 13. The movement of the rod like articles R relative to the tray 3,13 should be eliminated or at least limited because it may result in the damaged ends of rod like articles R. Tests have proven that an optimal distribution of accelerations to which the rod like articles R are subjected and of loads on mechanisms of the turning unit 10 may be achieved by starting the rotational movement of the turning unit 10 around the axis 12A before the end of lifting by the lifting unit 11.
- Fig. 8 shows a modified path of movement 80 of the four-wall tray 3 wherein the rotational movement of the turning unit 10 starts at the point M, where the moving of the four-wall tray 3 away from the axis of rotation 12A by moving the mechanisms holding the four-wall tray 3 starts at a point on the section E-N, whereas the moving of the tray 3 may start on the section M-N.
- Independent mechanisms of rotational movement of the turning unit 10 and linear movement of the mechanism 10A holding the tray make it possible to freely shape the course of the path of movement of the four-wall tray 3.
- Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show a path of movement 90, 100 of the five-wall tray 13, whereas, similarly as in case of the four-wall tray 3, the successive stages of tray movement were shown with reference to a point being the midpoint of the back wall of the tray 13.
- the machine operator preliminarily swings the upper wall 13T'.
- the path of movement connecting successive characteristic points taken by the midpoint of back wall of the five-wall tray 13 was shown with a thick dashed line.
- the passage from the point A to C is accomplished in the same way as in case of the four-wall tray 3.
- the lifting unit 6 lifts the five-wall tray 13 to the point D.
- the converting unit swings the wall 13T' in order to make the subsequent unloading of the five-wall tray 13 possible.
- the turning unit 10 grips the five-wall tray 13 with the lateral clamps 16L and 16R and the self-aligning supports 15L and 15R, and the damper 18 covers the rod like articles R collected in the five-wall tray 13.
- the further part of the path of movement of the five-wall tray 13 i.e. a tray in the configuration of the first type
- runs similarly as in case of the four-wall tray 3 i.e. a tray of the second type).
- FIG. 10 shows the modified path of movement 100 of the five-wall tray 13 wherein the rotational movement of the turning unit 10 starts at the point P, where the moving of the tray 3 away from the axis of rotation 12A by moving the holding mechanism 10A starts at a point on the section E-S, whereas the moving of the tray 13 may start on the section P-S.
- the path of movement 100 of the tray may be modified by initial lifting of the tray 13 on the section H-U, and then gentle lowering of the tray on the section U-J, with the lifting of the empty tray 13 being steeper than in case of the four-wall tray 3.
- Such path of movement of the five-wall tray 13 proved to be more favourable because five-wall trays 13 made of cardboard without rod like articles R inside are more prone to deformations caused by the pressure exerted by the lateral clamping members.
- Figures 11 to 14 show successive phases of rotation of the turning unit 10 during which the tray 3, 13 is moved away from the axis 12A of the shaft 12 of the turning unit 10, whereas the distance d1-4 between the back wall of the tray and the axis 12A of the shaft 12 gradually increases from d1 to d4.
- the distance d1-4 is increased by moving the holding mechanism 10A on the guide 10B.
- the initial minimum distance between the back wall of the tray and the axis 12A of the shaft 12 shown in Fig. 11 is defined as d1.
- the final maximum distance between the back wall of the tray and the axis 12A of the shaft 12 is defined as d4, whereas d1 ⁇ d2 ⁇ d3 ⁇ d4 where d2 and d3 are successive intermediate distances between the back wall of the tray 3, 13 and the axis 12A.
Landscapes
- Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The object of the invention is a method and an apparatus for emptying of a four-wall and/or five-wall tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry.
- Tobacco industry's factories manufacture various articles for smoking. Both finished and semi-finished products made at successive production stages may be jointly referred to as rod like articles which may be transported on conveyors or in trays. Plastic trays which are used for all types of rod like articles, among others for cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars and filter material rods, are commonly used in the tobacco industry. Plastic trays have the shape of a cuboid without two adjacent walls, i.e. these are trays having four walls. Plastic trays are rigid and are used for temporary storage and transport of rod like articles on the premises of tobacco factories. Generally, cardboard trays designed as five-wall trays are commonly used for the transport of filter rods outside the factory premises. Cardboard trays have thinner walls, are less rigid and easily deformable, with one swinging wall. Filling of a five-wall tray takes place after opening of a tray i.e. after swinging the swinging wall. After the filling, the tray must be closed i.e. the swinging wall must be turned to its original position. The same swinging wall is swung in order to empty the tray. In the transport time, the filled tray is covered with a lid in order to protect the rods collected inside. The apparatuses for unloading of four-wall and five-wall trays are essentially similarly built, however, the mechanisms of the apparatus must be differently adjusted for each kind of tray. Moreover, the kind and the physical parameters of unloaded articles also influence the unloading process. The object of the invention is a machine adapted to empty both four-wall and five wall trays used in the tobacco industry.
- An apparatus for emptying of five-wall cardboard trays is known from the patent
EP1118543B1 . A differently built apparatus for emptying of five-wall cardboard trays is known from the publicationWO2015033264A1 Apparatus for emptying of four-wall trays are known from the documentsGB2043603A EP1086628B1 ,US3759408A ,EP1656841A1 , andUS3298549 . Prior art does not reveal any apparatus adapted to unloading of both five-wall trays and four-wall trays. - The object of the invention is an apparatus for emptying of a four-wall tray and/or a five-wall tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry, whereas one wall of the five-wall tray is hinged, provided with a filled tray station, a turning unit for turning the filled tray, a lifting unit for lifting the turning unit, a filled tray emptying station, and an empty tray station, with the paths of movement, along which the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray are transported, being shaped so that the paths pass through the operating areas of machine units, and the mechanisms of machine units having adjustable or shiftable gripping or guiding members in order to adapt the mechanisms to both four-wall trays and five-wall trays. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the paths of movement of the tray are traced by the mechanisms of the machine and are shaped so that the paths for the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray at least partially overlap.
- The apparatus according to the invention provides the possibility to unload both four-wall and five-wall trays. The apparatus provides the possibility to adapt the tray's path of movement for different kinds of trays and for rod like articles with different physical parameters. The apparatus according to the invention provides the possibility to flexibly adapt the apparatus to any tray and rod like article specification in keeping with minimum loads for rod like articles collected in the tray.
- The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the turning unit for turning the filled tray has a holding mechanism provided with gripping members designed to hold the tray and adapted to move the tray transversely to the axis of the shaft of the turning unit.
- The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the holding mechanism is attached to a linear guide for moving the tray transversely to the axis of the shaft of the turning unit.
- The apparatus according to the invention is provided with a turning unit which may be easily adapted to work with other units within the scope of receiving of trays and transferring of rod like articles.
- The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the gripping members comprise lateral grippers, a bottom gripper and a sliding cover.
- The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by being further provided with a lifting unit for lifting the filled tray from the filled tray station.
- The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by being further provided with an opening unit for swinging a hinged wall of the five-wall tray.
- The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the opening unit for swinging the hinged wall of the five-wall tray is situated above the lifting unit designed to lift the filled tray.
- Moreover, the object of the invention is a method for emptying of a tray on an apparatus for emptying of the tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry adapted to empty the four-wall tray and/or five-wall tray, whereas one wall of the five-wall tray is hinged, wherein the filled tray is placed on the filled tray station, the filled tray is transported along the filled tray station, the filled tray is gripped by means of the turning unit, the filled tray is lifted, the filled tray is turned by means of the turning unit, the filled tray is placed in the filled tray emptying station, the empty tray is transported to the empty tray station, the empty tray is received from the empty tray station, with the paths, on which the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray are moved, being shaped in such a way that they pass through the working areas of machine units, and the mechanisms of the machine units having adjustable or shiftable gripping or guiding members to be adapted to both four-wall trays and five-wall trays. The method according to the invention is characterised in that the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray are transported on paths being adapted in such a way that they at least partially overlap.
- The method according to the invention is characterised in that during the turning of the filled tray the filled tray is turned over and/or turned and moved in the transverse direction to the axis of the shaft of the turning unit.
- The method according to the invention is characterised in that the tray is moved along a path comprising elliptical sections.
- The method according to the invention is characterised in that before the tray is gripped by the turning unit the filled tray is lifted on the lifting unit for lifting filled trays.
- The tray emptying apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to modify the path of movement for the four-wall tray and the five-wall tray. The loads to which the trays, and above all the rod like articles in the trays, are subjected are associated with individual movements of the tray. The apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to modify the path of movement depending on the weight of the products and the tray itself, and in addition to adapt the accelerations to which the articles are subjected at individual stages of the path of movement. Through the invention the fluidity of movement of machine mechanisms and low loads of such mechanisms have been achieved.
- The object of the invention was shown in detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which:
- Fig. 1
- shows a filled four-wall tray (of the second type) in a perspective view, the front side of the tray being visible,
- Fig. 2
- shows the filled five-wall tray (of the first type) in a configuration of the tray of the second type in a perspective view, the front side of the tray being visible,
- Fig. 2a
- shows the filled five-wall tray (of the first type) in a configuration of the tray of the second type in a perspective view, the back side of the tray being visible,
- Fig. 2b
- shows the filled five-wall tray (of the first type) in a configuration of the tray of the second type in a perspective view, the front side of the tray being visible,
- Fig. 3
- shows a tray emptying machine in a side view,
- Fig. 3a
- shows a turning unit and a tray lifting unit in a view from the back of the machine,
- Fig. 3b
- shows a converting unit and the tray of the first type in a view from the back of the machine,
- Fig. 3c
- shows the converting unit and the tray of the first type in a side view,
- Fig. 3d
- shows pressing members of the converting unit and a tray of the first type in a top view,
- Fig. 3e
- shows the pressing members of the converting unit and the tray of the first type in a top view,
- Fig. 4
- shows the tray emptying machine in a side view,
- Fig. 5
- shows a handling module in a side view,
- Fig. 6
- shows the tray emptying machine in a side view, with the turning unit being shown in several working positions,
- Fig. 7
- shows the paths of movement of the four-wall tray - of the second type,
- Fig. 8
- shows the paths of movement of the four-wall tray - of the second type,
- Fig. 9
- shows the paths of movement of the five-wall tray - of the first type,
- Fig. 10
- shows the paths of movement of the five-wall tray - of the first type,
- Fig. 11, 12, 13 and 14
- show successive phases of movement of the turning unit.
- In this description, the invention will be described with reference to a four-
wall tray 3 shown in a simplified way inFig. 1 and to a five-wall tray 13 shown inFig. 2 . Both trays were shown as filled in upright position, i.e. in such position in which the filled trays are placed in the filled trays station of the filled tray emptying machine. The filled space of the trays was marked by hatching with lines, with only several example rod like articles R lying on the bottom of the tray. In such upright position, the filled trays are placed by the operator onto the filled trays station, whereas the operator holds the tray by the sidewalls in such a way that he can see the tray contents. Such expressions as upper, bottom, lateral and back will refer to the position of the trays shown inFigs. 1 and 2 , with the front side, left lateral side and upper side of each tray being visible therein. The four-wall tray 3 has abottom wall 3B on which its stands, aback wall 3A and two lateral walls, a leftlateral wall 3L and a rightlateral wall 3R, whereas the designation of the sides refers to the position in which the tray can be seen by the operator putting a filled tray onto the filled trays station, with the openfront side 3G of thetrays 3 being directed towards him. The filling and the emptying of the tray takes place through theopen side 3T. - Four-wall trays may be made of plastic or other suitable material ensuring an adequate rigidity and are usually designed for multiple uses.
- The five-
wall tray 13 has abottom wall 13B on which it stands, aback wall 13A and two lateral walls, a leftlateral wall 13L and a rightlateral wall 13R. The five-wall tray 13 has a hingedupper wall 13T' which is designated as self-aligning relative to theback wall 13A of thetray 13 with which it is connected along theedge 13E. Theupper wall 13T' has two swinging lugs 13FL and 13FR which, during the transport, are inserted into a slot in the correspondinglateral walls wall tray 13 onto the filled trays station, the operator lifts theupper wall 13T' so that the swinging lugs 13FL and 13FR pull out of thewalls lateral walls Figs. 2a and 2b show the five-wall tray 13 at a later stage the emptying cycle of the five-wall tray 13 in an open configuration identical with the configuration of the four-wall tray. Theupper wall 13T' is swung so as to allow emptying the five-wall tray 13 through the upperopen side 13T of the five-wall tray. The filling of the five-wall tray 13 also takes place through theupper side 13T. Similar to the four-wall tray 3, the operator puts the five-wall tray 13 onto the filled trays station while holding the five-wall tray 13 with theopen side 13G directed towards him. - Five-
wall trays 13 may be made of cardboard or other cheap material, are usually softer than the four-wall trays and are usually designed for a single use. - The
tray machine 1 described below, being a tray unloader, is adapted to empty both rigid four-wall trays jest 3 and less rigid five-wall trays 13 without the necessity of changing the machine configuration. For the sake of simplicity, the units belonging to thetray emptying machine 1 according to the invention were shown inFig. 3 in simplified terms without the drive mechanisms; the outer contour of the machine was shown with a dashed line. Thetray emptying machine 1 is provided with a filledtrays station 2 onto which the filled four-wall trays 3 or five-wall trays 13 to be unloaded are placed by the operator. The filledtrays station 2 may be designed as aconveyor 4 provided with two conveyor belts for the conveyance oftrays trays trays station 2, thetrays trays trays station 2. The feeding of the first filled tray 3', 13' from all filledtrays station 2 may take place after lifting of all filledtrays conveyor 4 except for the first tray 3', 13' which is transported by theconveyor 4. The lifting of thetrays lifting device 4A with the movement of which the lowering of alocking device 4B is coupled, which allows the first filled tray 3', 13' transported by theconveyor 4 to pass through. After the feeding of the first filled tray 3', 13', thelifting device 4A is lowered, thetrays lifting device 4A are put onto theconveyor 4, and thelocking device 4B is lifted. The filledtrays station 2 is provided withlateral guides 4C situated on two sides of thetrays trays station 2. The lateral guides 4C are convergently positioned in the feeding direction i.e. from theback part 2A to thefront part 2B of the filledtrays station 2, whereas the convergence of the lateral guides 4C may be adjusted depending on the kind of thetray tray tray tray trays trays station 2 may be provided with anadjustable support element 5; the adjustment of position of thesupport element 5 is required to allow stopping the filledtray wall tray 3 and the five-wall tray 13 may require a different position of theadjustable support element 5. The filledtray back part 2A of the filledtrays station 2. In thefront part 2B of the filledtrays station 2, alifting unit 6 designed to lift the filledtray lifting unit 6 may be embodied as a lift designed to lift filled trays from theconveyor 4 of the filledtrays station 2, the mechanism of thelifting unit 6 being situated below the conveyor belts of theconveyor 4. - The
tray emptying machine 1 is provided with two openingunits Fig. 3 ) designed to open theupper wall 13T' of the five-wall tray 13. The openingunits elements Fig. 3a ) which swing theupper wall 13T'. The five-wall tray 13 shown inFig. 2 has a configuration hereinafter referred to as the configuration of the first type while the four-wall tray 3 shown inFig. 1 has a configuration hereinafter referred to as the configuration of the second type. It is possible to convert the five-wall tray 13 from the configuration of the first type to the configuration of the second type by swinging thewall 13T' and pressing the same to thewall 13A, and then pressing the lugs 13FL and 13FR to thelateral walls wall tray 13 may be gripped by the turningunit 10 only after the conversion of the five-wall tray to the configuration of the second type. Theopening unit 21L and theopening unit 21R together constitute a converting unit which changes the tray configuration from the configuration of the first type (i.e. the tray with the fifth wall covering the inside of the tray) to a configuration corresponding to the tray configuration of the second type (i.e. the four-wall tray in which the inside of the tray is not covered by the fifth wall). - The
lifting unit 6 designed to lift the filledtrays brackets Fig. 3a . In order to avoid the tray deformation, at the time of lifting the filledtray interconnected brackets front part 1A of thetray emptying machine 1. At the time of lifting by thelifting unit 6, thetray lateral clamping members wall trays 13 made of cardboard have the task of eliminating the risk of deformation of the five-wall trays 13 and displacement (falling down) of rod like articles R in the upper corners of the five-wall tray 13. Thelateral clamping members pneumatic actuators 9, whereas the position of theclamping members trays wall trays 3 it is not necessary to exert pressure on thesidewalls tray 3 and in this case the clampingmembers tray lifting unit 6 may be accomplished by any linear movement mechanism with electric or pneumatic drive. Thelifting unit 6 lifts the filledtray turning unit 10 may grip the filledtray unit 10 is adapted to turn the filledtray tray emptying station 23. The turningunit 10 may be designed as stationary at a specific height or may be moved in the vertical direction by the liftingunit 11. The lowering of the turningunit 10, and then the lifting of the filledtray trays station 2 is also possible, and it will be described in more detail below in this description. -
Figs. 3b, 3c ,3d, 3e show an alternative converting unit designed to open the five-wall tray.Fig. 3b shows thetray 13 which has been lifted by thelifting unit 6 in a view from the back of the machine. The convertingunit 21 comprisesactuators members actuators members
to swing thewall 13T' together with the lugs 13F in the axis passing through theedge 13E. Theactuators walls wall 13T'. As a result of the action of theactuators upper wall 13T' of thetray 13 in the configuration of the first type is swung as shown inFig. 3c . Theactuators members wall 13T'. The task of theactuators wall 13T' and the lugs 13FL and 13FR. The pushingmembers actuators Fig. 3d shows the position of the pushingmembers wall 13T' and the lugs 13FL and 13FR, andFig. 3e after bending thereof. The pushingmember 34L is attached to theactuator 33L and is used to bend thewall 13T' so that it abuts against thewall 13A, and to bend the lug 13FL so that it abuts against thewall 13L. The pushingmember 34R is attached to theactuator 33R and is used to bend thewall 13T' so that it abuts against thewall 13A, and to bend the lug 13FR so that it abuts against thewall 13R. Theactuator 33L with thepressing member 34L and theactuator 33R with thepressing member 34R constitute a pressing mechanism 34 designed to press the self-aligningwall 13T' to thewall 13A and the connecting members in the form of the lugs 13FL and 13FR to thewalls tray 13. The lifting mechanism 32 and the pressing mechanism 34 constitute a convertingunit 35 being at the same time an opening unit. In another embodiment, the pushingmembers turning unit 10, for example to thebody 14, then the bending of thewall 13T' and the lugs 13FL and 13FR takes place during the lowering of the turningunit 10. - The
tray emptying machine 1 is provided with the filled tray emptying station 23 (Fig. 4 ) in thefront part 1A of the machine underneath which theconveyor 24 receiving the rod like articles R unloaded from thetrays back part 1B of thetray emptying machine 1, anempty trays station 25 is situated. Theempty trays station 25 may be designed as a conveyor or an empty trays store. Theempty trays station 25 is provided with a receivingunit 28 comprising a self-aligningshelf 26 with asupport 27. On theshelf 26, which has been pulled out, theempty tray unit 10 after emptying at the filledtray emptying station 23 is placed. The backward movement of theshelf 26 with thesupport 27 towards theback part 1B of themachine 1 causes a displacement of allempty trays station 25. - The
tray emptying machine 1 ofFig. 4 comprises the convertingunit 21 situated at such height above theconveyor 4 of the filledtrays station 2 which makes it possible to change the configuration of the tray 13' being on theconveyor 4. For such embodiment of the machine, after feeding the filledtray 13 in the configuration of the first type, its configuration is converted to the configuration of the second type, and then thetray 13 is lifted by thelifting unit 6 or is taken by the lowered turningunit 10. The control system is adapted to activate the convertingunit 21 when the machine is loaded with trays in the configuration of the first type. In case of feeding of the four-wall tray 3 onto thetray emptying machine 1 the converting unit remains in an inactive state. It is also possible to convert a tray of the first type to the configuration of a tray of the second type after thetray 13 has been lifted by thelifting unit 6. - The
tray emptying machine 1 is provided with acontroller 40 shown inFig. 3 connected with individual units of themachine 1. Themachine 1 control system comprises adetection unit 41 designed to detect the type of tray placed on the filledtrays station 2. Depending on the type of trays placed on thestation 2, the activation of the convertingunit unit -
Fig. 5 shows the turningunit 10 which is attached to arotating shaft 12 with the axis ofrotation 12A on aslide 11A of the liftingunit 11. The turningunit 10 is provided with amain support element 14 on which theback wall wall 3 or five-wall tray 13, respectively, is supported. The turningunit 10 is provided with gripping members designed to grip thetray bottom gripper bottom wall tray lateral walls tray damper 18 to cover the rod like articles R being in the tray, with the gripping members being attached to aholding mechanism 10A to hold thetray turning unit 10 during the handling of thetray unit 10 and thelifting unit 11 constitute ahandling unit 19. The handling of thetray tray unit 11 and the turning of thetray unit 10 as well as the moving of thetray holding mechanism 10A away from theaxis 12A of theshaft 12 of the turningunit 10. In addition, during the execution of thetray tray rotation 12A. - The embodiment in
Fig. 3a shows a pair of self-aligningbottom grippers bottom wall tray rigid trays lateral grippers lateral grippers tray wall trays 13 having smooth lateral walls, whereas the four-wall trays 3 are ribbed and may have additional protrusions. Thelateral grippers pneumatic actuators 17 and may act on thetray tray clamping members tray trays damper 18 which is slidably fastened to theguide 18A of theholding mechanism 10A in theturning unit 10 and is moved by means of any not shown drive unit with linear motion, for example a pneumatic or electric drive unit, is used to cover the rod like articles R in thetray holding mechanism 10A comprises thelateral grippers bottom grippers damper 18 and their drive elements attached to thebody 14, for example designed as a plate which constitutes the main support element for the tray. Theholding mechanism 10A is attached to thelinear guide 10B which is connected with the rotatingshaft 12 with the axis ofrotation 12A. Theholding mechanism 10A may be moved along theguide 10B by means of any drive mechanism (not shown) so as to ensure the movement of theholding mechanism 10A transversely to theaxis 12A of theshaft 12. Theholding mechanism 10A is adapted to change the distance of thetray axis 12A of therotating shaft 12. The combination of rotational movement of thetray tray tray station 23. In addition, it is possible to start the rotational movement of the turningunit 10 in any phase of lifting movement of the liftingunit 11. -
Fig. 6 shows thetray emptying machine 1 with its units in characteristic positions, thelifting unit 6 was shown in the bottom position and marked with a solid line and in the upper position 6' marked with a dashed line. The turningunit 10 in the bottom position is shown with a solid line; in this position, thetray lifting unit 6. The turningunit 10 in the upper position 10' was shown with a dashed line. The rotational movement of the turningunit 10 may start in the upper position 10', it may also start before reaching the upper position 10' i.e. already during the lifting by the liftingunit 11. The turningunit 10 in the position just before the start of unloading of thetray unit 28 of theempty trays station 25 shown with a solid line is in a waiting position, i.e. in the retracted position in which it does not receive empty trays. The receivingunit 28 shown with a dashed line is in the tray receiving position and is marked as 28'. -
Fig. 7 shows the path ofmovement 70 of the four-wall tray 3, whereas the successive stages of tray movement were shown with reference to the point situated in the middle of the back wall of the tray. The path ofmovement 70 connecting successive characteristic points taken by the midpoints of the tray passing through the areas of operation of individual mechanisms was shown with a thick dashed line. At the filledtrays station 2, the filled four-wall tray 3 passes through successive positions from point A to B. The filled four-wall tray 3 from the point B is moved to the position controlled by thesupport element 5 or thelifting unit 6 and stops at point C. Thelifting unit 6 starts the upward movement and lifts the four-wall tray 3, and causes an inclination of the filled four-wall tray 3 by several degrees; the position of the four-wall tray 3 after the inclination is marked as C'. During the upward movement thetray 3 is held by theclamps lifting unit 6 ends the upward movement when the four-wall tray 3 has reached point D. The turningunit 10 grips the four-wall tray 3 with thelateral grippers supports damper 18 covers the rod-like articles R collected in the tray. Thelifting unit 6 is lowered. Then the turningunit 10 together with the gripped four-wall tray 3 is lifted by the liftingunit 11 i.e. by thehandling unit 19 so that thetray 3 reaches the point E. From the point E starts the rotational movement of the turningunit 10, whereas theturning unit 10 is shown with a broken line. After the start of rotational movement of the turningunit 10 starts the movement of theholding mechanism 10A together with the four-wall tray 3 in order to increase the distance of the tray from the axis of the shaft of the turningunit 10. The movement of theholding mechanism 10A takes place transversely to theaxis 12A of therotating shaft 12. Depending on the kind of tray and rod like articles, the movement of theholding mechanism 10A may be started at any phase of the rotational movement. As a result of combination of the rotational movement of the turningunit 10 and the movement of theholding mechanism 10A, the four-wall tray 3 will be moved from the point E to the point F on a nearly elliptical path or a path consisting of elliptical sections. The path of movement on which the filled four-wall tray 3 is moved may comprise circular sections and a plurality of elliptical sections, whereas the shape of the path of movement depends on physical parameters of rod like articles R, primarily on their weight. At the point F, the four-wall tray 3 is swung by several degrees from the vertical direction before the beginning of unloading of the four-wall tray 3. During the transport of the tray from the point F to G, at the filledtray emptying station 23 thedamper 18 is retracted and the unloading of the rod-like articles R from the four-wall tray 3 onto theconveyor 24 is started. After the partial unloading of the rod-like articles R from the four-wall tray 3, the four-wall tray 3 may be received by thehandling unit 19 because the four-wall tray 3 at that time remains gripped by the holdingunit 10A of the turningunit 10. Alternatively, the four-wall tray 3 may remain at the point G in the unloading position until it has been completely emptied. When receiving theempty tray 3, first thetray 3 moves in the vertical direction in the section G-H and then in the section of the path H-J and it is delivered to the receivingunit 28 of theempty trays station 25. The section H-J runs above the section E-F because when receiving the tray after partial unloading of the tray the section G-H must be rectilinear and vertical. The section H-J of the path of movement may be similar to the path section E-F or overlap it (when receiving the tray after it has been completely emptied). The movement of thetray 3 on the section H-J may be accomplished by another unit other than the turningunit 10 of thehandling unit 19. Further the empty four-wall tray 3 is moved to the point K by the receivingunit 28 and further along theempty trays station 25 to the point L from where it is collected by the operator. The displacement of empty trays from the point K to L is forced by the movement of the receivingunit 28 related to received successive empty trays. - The transported rod like articles R require gentle treatment and the lowest possible mechanical loads. Due to different weight of rod like articles, the tray unloader mechanisms are subjected to various loads. The loads affect in particular the mechanisms of the turning
unit 10. During the handling of thetray tray 3, 13.The movement of the rod like articles R relative to thetray unit 10 may be achieved by starting the rotational movement of the turningunit 10 around theaxis 12A before the end of lifting by the liftingunit 11. -
Fig. 8 shows a modified path ofmovement 80 of the four-wall tray 3 wherein the rotational movement of the turningunit 10 starts at the point M, where the moving of the four-wall tray 3 away from the axis ofrotation 12A by moving the mechanisms holding the four-wall tray 3 starts at a point on the section E-N, whereas the moving of thetray 3 may start on the section M-N. Independent mechanisms of rotational movement of the turningunit 10 and linear movement of themechanism 10A holding the tray make it possible to freely shape the course of the path of movement of the four-wall tray 3. -
Fig. 9 andFig. 10 show a path ofmovement wall tray 13, whereas, similarly as in case of the four-wall tray 3, the successive stages of tray movement were shown with reference to a point being the midpoint of the back wall of thetray 13. After putting the five-wall tray 13 on the filledtrays station 2, the machine operator preliminarily swings theupper wall 13T'. The path of movement connecting successive characteristic points taken by the midpoint of back wall of the five-wall tray 13 was shown with a thick dashed line. The passage from the point A to C is accomplished in the same way as in case of the four-wall tray 3. Thelifting unit 6 lifts the five-wall tray 13 to the point D. In this position, the converting unit (for example 21L and 21 R) swings thewall 13T' in order to make the subsequent unloading of the five-wall tray 13 possible. The turningunit 10 grips the five-wall tray 13 with the lateral clamps 16L and 16R and the self-aligningsupports damper 18 covers the rod like articles R collected in the five-wall tray 13. The further part of the path of movement of the five-wall tray 13 (i.e. a tray in the configuration of the first type) runs similarly as in case of the four-wall tray 3 (i.e. a tray of the second type). - Tests have shown that an optimal distribution of accelerations to which the rod like articles R are subjected and of loads on mechanisms of the turning
unit 10 may be achieved by starting the rotational movement around theaxis 12A before reaching the point E.Fig. 10 shows the modified path ofmovement 100 of the five-wall tray 13 wherein the rotational movement of the turningunit 10 starts at the point P, where the moving of thetray 3 away from the axis ofrotation 12A by moving theholding mechanism 10A starts at a point on the section E-S, whereas the moving of thetray 13 may start on the section P-S. In case of five-wall trays 13 the path ofmovement 100 of the tray may be modified by initial lifting of thetray 13 on the section H-U, and then gentle lowering of the tray on the section U-J, with the lifting of theempty tray 13 being steeper than in case of the four-wall tray 3. Such path of movement of the five-wall tray 13 proved to be more favourable because five-wall trays 13 made of cardboard without rod like articles R inside are more prone to deformations caused by the pressure exerted by the lateral clamping members. -
Figures 11 to 14 show successive phases of rotation of the turningunit 10 during which thetray axis 12A of theshaft 12 of the turningunit 10, whereas the distance d1-4 between the back wall of the tray and theaxis 12A of theshaft 12 gradually increases from d1 to d4. The distance d1-4 is increased by moving theholding mechanism 10A on theguide 10B. The initial minimum distance between the back wall of the tray and theaxis 12A of theshaft 12 shown inFig. 11 is defined as d1. The final maximum distance between the back wall of the tray and theaxis 12A of theshaft 12 is defined as d4, whereas d1 < d2 < d3 < d4 where d2 and d3 are successive intermediate distances between the back wall of thetray axis 12A.
Claims (11)
- An apparatus (1) for emptying of a four-wall tray (3) and/or a five-wall tray (13) filled with rod like articles (R) of the tobacco industry, whereas one wall (13T') of the five-wall tray (13) is hinged, provided witha filled tray station (2),a turning unit (10) for turning the filled tray (3, 13),a lifting unit (11) for lifting the turning unit (10),a filled tray (3, 13) emptying station (23), andan empty tray station (25),with the paths of movement, along which the four-wall tray (3) and the five-wall tray (13) are transported, being shaped so that the paths pass through the operating areas of the units of the apparatus (1), and the mechanisms of the units of the apparatus (1) having adjustable or shiftable gripping or guiding members in order to adapt the mechanisms to both four-wall trays (3) and five-wall trays (13),
characterised in that
the paths of movement of the tray (3, 13) are traced by the mechanisms of the apparatus and are shaped so that the paths for the four-wall tray (3) and the five-wall tray (13) at least partially overlap. - The apparatus as in claim 1 characterised in that the turning unit (10) for turning the filled tray (3, 13) has a holding mechanism (10A) provided with gripping members for holding the tray (3, 13) adapted to move the tray (3, 13) transversely to the axis (12A) of the shaft (12) of the turning unit (10).
- The apparatus as in claim 2 characterised in that the holding mechanism (10A) is attached to a linear guide (10B) for moving the tray (3, 13) transversely to the axis (12A) of the shaft (12) of the turning unit (10).
- Apparatus as in any of the claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the gripping members comprise lateral grippers (16L, 16R), a bottom gripper (15L, 15R), and a sliding cover (18).
- The apparatus as in any of the claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the apparatus (1) is further provided with a lifting unit (6) for lifting the filled tray (3, 13) from the filled tray station (2).
- The apparatus as in any of the claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the apparatus (1) is further provided with an opening unit (21, 35) for swinging a hinged wall (13T') of the five-wall tray (13).
- The apparatus as in any of the claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the opening unit (21, 35) for swinging the hinged wall (13T') of the five-wall tray (13) is situated above the lifting unit (6) designed for lifting the filled tray (13).
- A method for emptying of a tray (3, 13) on an apparatus (1) for emptying of the tray (3, 13) filled with rod like articles (R) of the tobacco industry adapted to empty a four-wall tray (3) and/or a five-wall tray (13), whereas one wall (13T') of the five-wall tray (3) is hinged, whereinthe filled tray (3, 13) is placed on the filled tray station (2),the filled tray (3, 13) is transported along the filled tray station (2),the filled tray (3, 13) is gripped by means of the turning unit (10),the filled tray (3, 13) is lifted by means of the lifting unit (11),the filled tray (3, 13) is turned by means of the turning unit (10),the filled tray (3, 13) is placed in the filled tray emptying station (23),the empty tray (3, 13) is transported to the empty tray station (25),the empty tray (3, 13) is received from the empty tray station (25), withthe paths, on which the four-wall tray (3) and the five-wall tray (13) are moved, being shaped so that the paths pass through the working areas of the units of the apparatus (1), and the mechanisms of the units of the apparatus (1) having adjustable or shiftable gripping or guiding members to be adapted to both four-wall trays (3) and five-wall trays (13),characterised in that
the four-wall tray (3) and the five-wall tray (13) are transported on paths being adapted in such a way that they at least partially overlap. - The method as in claim 8 characterised in that during the turning of the filled tray (3, 13) the filled tray (3, 13) is turned over and/or turned and moved in the transverse direction to the axis (12A) of the shaft (12) of the turning unit (10).
- The method as in claim 9 characterised in that the tray (3, 13) is moved along a path comprising elliptical sections.
- The method as in claim 6 or 7 characterised in that before the tray (3, 13) is gripped by the turning unit (10) the filled tray (3, 13) is lifted on the lifting unit (6) for lifting filled trays (3, 13).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP16179251.0A EP3269263B1 (en) | 2016-07-13 | 2016-07-13 | Method and apparatus for emptying of a four-wall or five-wall tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP16179251.0A EP3269263B1 (en) | 2016-07-13 | 2016-07-13 | Method and apparatus for emptying of a four-wall or five-wall tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3269263A1 true EP3269263A1 (en) | 2018-01-17 |
EP3269263B1 EP3269263B1 (en) | 2020-09-02 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP16179251.0A Active EP3269263B1 (en) | 2016-07-13 | 2016-07-13 | Method and apparatus for emptying of a four-wall or five-wall tray filled with rod like articles of the tobacco industry |
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EP (1) | EP3269263B1 (en) |
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US3298549A (en) | 1964-08-19 | 1967-01-17 | Schmermund Alfred | Apparatus for automatically charging a container with rod-like objects |
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GB2043603A (en) | 1979-02-28 | 1980-10-08 | Gd Spa | Cigarette feeding apparatus of the magazine-type for a cigarette packing machine |
GB2148853A (en) * | 1983-11-01 | 1985-06-05 | Molins Plc | Tray carrier |
EP1086628A2 (en) * | 1999-09-24 | 2001-03-28 | Hauni Maschinenbau AG | Method and apparatus for successively unloading containers |
EP1118543A1 (en) * | 2000-01-19 | 2001-07-25 | Hauni Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft | Method and apparatus for automatically opening and emptying closed cartons for rod-like articles from the tabacco processing industry |
EP1656841A1 (en) | 2004-11-12 | 2006-05-17 | Hauni Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft | Device and method for continuously emptying containers filled with articles |
DE102007047562A1 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2009-04-02 | Hauni Maschinenbau Ag | Tray handling device for tobacco processing industry, has movement apparatus including two independently working robot units that are designed and provided for simultaneous execution of complete tray discharge cycles |
WO2015033264A1 (en) | 2013-09-05 | 2015-03-12 | G. D S.P.A. | Machine and method for emptying trays containing cylindrical articles in the tobacco industry |
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2016
- 2016-07-13 EP EP16179251.0A patent/EP3269263B1/en active Active
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US3298549A (en) | 1964-08-19 | 1967-01-17 | Schmermund Alfred | Apparatus for automatically charging a container with rod-like objects |
US3759408A (en) | 1969-11-26 | 1973-09-18 | Molins Machine Co Ltd | Apparatus for handling rod-like articles |
GB2043603A (en) | 1979-02-28 | 1980-10-08 | Gd Spa | Cigarette feeding apparatus of the magazine-type for a cigarette packing machine |
GB2148853A (en) * | 1983-11-01 | 1985-06-05 | Molins Plc | Tray carrier |
EP1086628A2 (en) * | 1999-09-24 | 2001-03-28 | Hauni Maschinenbau AG | Method and apparatus for successively unloading containers |
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EP1118543B1 (en) | 2000-01-19 | 2003-06-11 | HAUNI Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft | Method and apparatus for automatically opening and emptying closed cartons for rod-like articles from the tabacco processing industry |
EP1656841A1 (en) | 2004-11-12 | 2006-05-17 | Hauni Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft | Device and method for continuously emptying containers filled with articles |
DE102007047562A1 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2009-04-02 | Hauni Maschinenbau Ag | Tray handling device for tobacco processing industry, has movement apparatus including two independently working robot units that are designed and provided for simultaneous execution of complete tray discharge cycles |
WO2015033264A1 (en) | 2013-09-05 | 2015-03-12 | G. D S.P.A. | Machine and method for emptying trays containing cylindrical articles in the tobacco industry |
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