The object of the invention is a transport system for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry.

The invention is used in the tobacco industry for the transport of rod-like articles by means of transport trays and containers.

T ransport systems for the transport of rod-like articles by means of containers or trays are known in the prior art. These are usually single-chamber trays or multi-chamber trays, adapted for loading on a filler and for unloading on an unloader, whereas the tray is rotated at the time of unloading.

From the application EP16179251 A1 four-wall and five-wall trays for the intermediate storage of rod-like articles are known, each of them having an open lateral side and a perpendicular open upper side through which the trays are filled with and emptied of the rod-like articles. The filled tray is put on a filled tray station of the unloader. In order to allow emptying of the four-wall and five-wall trays on the same side on which they are filled, these trays require turning by means of a turning unit, before unloading at a filled tray emptying station.

From the application EP0668028 A1 a container with compartments for trays filled with rod-like articles, designed for the intermediate storage of such articles, is known. The container is provided with rails which together with the compartments determine tracks on which filled or empty trays are inserted into the container. The trays for the rod-like articles inserted into the container have an open front side and an open upper side allowing them to be filled and emptied.

The document EP3235389 A1 discloses a container for the storage of rod-like articles in the form of a cuboid completely or partially closed on five sides. The container disclosed in the European patent application is completely open from above so that it is possible to fill it, in addition, the side walls may be shifted relative to each other in order to adjust the container width.

From the document PL226406 B1 an apparatus, a station and a method for the filling of trays, which are open on the front and upper sides, with the articles of the tobacco industry are known. The apparatus disclosed in the Polish patent has a filling device changing, during operation, its configuration between closed and open configuration allowing the flow of the rod-like articles and is further adapted to a linear shift by means of alternate up and down strokes. The solution allows close packing of the rod-like articles in the unit of trays filled with such articles.

From the document W02008104403 A2 an apparatus for the filling of trays with the rod-like articles is known. The apparatus for the filling of trays disclosed in the international application comprises conveying means to feed the loading region with the mass flow formed by the rod-like articles and coupling means to couple the trays which are to be filled with the use of the conveying means. The solution allows uniform loading of the trays with the rod-like articles.

From the document EP16179248 A1 a method and an apparatus for emptying trays for rod-like articles are known. The apparatus disclosed in the European application is provided with a handling module adapted to turn the tray and to allow a gravitational discharge of the rod-like articles through the tray's open side also used for tray filling and positioned downwards in the course of the emptying process.

From the patent EP1118543 B1 a method for unloading of cardboard trays filled with rod-like articles is known wherein an open tray is lifted by means of a lift and then transferred to a rotating frame in which the tray is turned by about 180° in order to be emptied.

The object of the invention is a transport system for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry comprising: a transport container, a filler, an unloader, characterized in that the container is provided with openings in the bottom enabling insertion of support means for rod-like articles, the filler and the unloader are provided with support means inserted into the container from below through the openings in the bottom of the container, the container being adapted for loading from above and unloading to above.

A system according to the invention is characterized in that the devices comprised by the system are adapted for loading and unloading rod-like articles without having to rotate the transport container.

A system according to the invention is characterized in that the transport container comprises a chamber having vertical side walls and a substantially rectangular cross-section of a side a and side b, the chamber including the bottom and being adapted for loading of rod-like articles from above and unloading to above, and in that in the bottom of the container chamber there is a group of oblong openings.

A system according to the invention is characterized in that the transport container comprises chambers arranged in rows, each chamber having four walls being vertical side walls.

A system according to the invention is characterized in that the transport container comprises a chamber having three vertical side walls and a substantially rectangular cross-section of a side a and side b, the chamber comprises a bottom and is adapted for loading and unloading of rod-like articles from above, and in that in the bottom of the chamber of the container there is a group of oblong openings.

A system according to the invention is characterized in that the transport container comprises a row of chambers having at least two vertical side walls and a substantially rectangular cross-section of a side a and side b, the chamber comprises a bottom and is adapted to loading of rod-like articles from above and unloading to above, and in that in the bottom of the chamber of the container there is a group of oblong openings.

A system according to the invention is characterized in that the filler comprises a filling unit which changes, during operation, its configuration between a closed configuration in which the flow of rod-like articles is blocked and an open configuration which enables the flow of rod-like articles, for filling the container with rod-like articles, a loading region for loading an empty container located below the filling unit, and comprises movable support means, located below the loading region of an empty container, adapted to insert support surfaces for supporting rod-like articles from below into the container chamber through the oblong openings in the bottom of the chamber of the container. A system according to the invention is characterized in that the unloader comprises: a movable intermediate storage hopper, an unloading region for unloading a filled container located below the intermediate storage hopper, and movable support means located below the unloading region of the filled container, adapted to receive supporting surfaces for supporting rod-like articles from below into the chamber of the container through the oblong openings in the bottom of the chamber of the container, the intermediate storage hopper is movable in such a way that it moves from the space above the unloading region into the space beyond the unloading region, the intermediate storage hopper, having at least two vertical side walls, is adapted for loading rod-like articles from below, further the intermediate storage hopper is provided with blocking means adapted to support the rod-like articles inside the intermediate storage hopper.

The object of the invention is also a method for transporting rod-like articles of the tobacco industry in a transport system comprising a transport container, a filler, an unloader characterized in that for loading the container on the filler, the container being provided with openings in the bottom, the support means is inserted into the container from below through openings in the bottom of the container for supporting rod like articles and in that for unloading the said container on the unloader, the support means is inserted into the container from below through openings in the bottom of the container for supporting rod-like articles.

The object of the invention was shown in detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows a transport system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a container used in the system according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows the container used in the system according to the invention in a top view;

Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of a chamber of the container together with openings in the bottom of the chamber;

Fig. 5 shows a detailed view of the chamber of the container together with openings in the bottom of the chamber and a contour of supporting surfaces;

Fig. 6 shows a filler used in the system according to the invention; Fig. 7 shows, in a top view, the filler used in the system according to the invention;

Fig. 8 shows an unloader used in the system according to the invention;

Fig. 9 shows in a top view, the unloader used in the system according to the invention;

Fig. 10 diagrammatically shows the transport system according to the invention with a single-chamber container;

Fig. 11 diagrammatically shows the transport system according to the invention with a container provided with one row of chambers.

Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows a transport system according to the invention, the system comprising a container 1 , a filler 20, and an unloader 30. Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows spatial and functional relations among the elements of the system. Rod-like articles R transported in a mass flow formation get into the filler 20 from above. In the filler 20, the container 1 is filled, depending on the configuration, in rows or in whole in the case of a single-chamber container. Then the filled container 1 is transported to another place of operation of the manufacturing process where it is unloaded in the unloader 30 where a mass flow is formed which is carried by the mass flow transport line to another place in the production system. The substance of the system is that all its components i.e. the container 1 , the filler 20 and the unloader 30 are adapted for inserting rod-like articles R into the container from above and carrying the rod-like articles from the container in the upward direction without the need to rotate the container. It was achieved by designing openings in the bottom of the container which allow to insert support means for the rod-like articles and by providing the filler 20 and the unloader 30 with the support means inserted into the container from below through the openings in the bottom of the container 1 and adapting them for loading from above and emptying of the container to above.

Fig. 2 shows the container 1 used in the system according to the invention in the form of an exemplary multi chamber container presented in the first embodiment of the system. In the container shown, only one chamber is filled, whereas during the production and the storage of the articles all chambers of the container are filled. The multi-chamber container 1 is adapted to filling with the rod-like articles R on a filling station or a filler and to unloading of the rod-like articles R on an unloading station or an unloader.

The container 1 shown in Fig. 2 has four side walls, two side walls 2 having a first length and two side walls 3 with a second length as well as a bottom 4, the container 1 being open to above i.e. all chambers 5 being open to above, whereas the bottom 4 of the multi-chamber container 1 constitutes the bottom of each of the chambers 5. The container 1 comprises a row of chambers 5, each chamber 5 having four vertical side walls 6a and 6b and a substantially rectangular cross-section having sides a and b. The chamber 5 has two walls 6a having the width a and two walls 6b having the width b, and the walls 6a are substantially parallel to the walls 2 of the multi-chamber container 1 , whereas the walls 6b are substantially parallel to the walls 3 of the multi-chamber container 1. Preferably all chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 have the same dimensions. The side walls 6a and 6b are formed by the side walls 2 and 3 and the partitions 7 and 8 which run between the walls 2 and 3, in the embodiment shown, the container has two partitions 7 and three partitions 8. The partitions 7 and 8 may be connected with the walls 2 and 3, and the partitions 7 and 8 may have the form of a latticework connected with the walls 2 and 3. Flowever, a solution wherein the latticework has the form of an insert and may be removed from the container 1 is also possible. In the embodiment shown, the container 1 has three rows 9 of the chambers 5. An embodiment wherein the multi-chamber container 1 has one, two or three rows 9 of the chambers 5 is possible, any desired greater number of the rows 9 is also possible. The number of the chambers 5 in the row 9 may be freely chosen, whereas preferably one row 9 comprises at least two chambers 5, in particular preferably comprises four chambers. The walls 6a, 6b of the chambers 5, including the walls being the outer walls 2, 3 of the container 1 , may be designed as an openwork, for example they may have vertical oblong openings or have multiple openings having a small surface. As a result, the containers may have a reduced weight. Furthermore, the walls may be corrugated. The containers may be ribbed from outside for the purpose of stiffening of the container. As shown in Fig. 3, the chambers 5 of the container 1 are open to above, and the oblong openings 10 (invisible in Fig.2) in the bottom 4 of the container 1 allow to insert a unit of support means 24 into individual chambers 5 of the container 1 from below. Thus an advantageous technical effect was achieved, namely the container may be loaded from above. Fig. 2 shows only a fragment of the unit of support means 24 used in the filler and the unloader for multi-chamber containers, whereas the unit of support means 24 has support surfaces 11 , shown in Fig. 5, to support the rod-like articles R situated on support elements, the support elements form groups 25 of support elements, where the number of groups 25 of support elements corresponds to the number of the chambers 5 in a row. The unit of support means 24 makes a linear motion in the vertical direction, i.e. perpendicular to the bottom 4 of the container 1 , thus allowing the rod-like articles R to be inserted into the container 1 from above during the downward movement and the rod-like articles R to be pushed out of the filled chamber 5 or of the filled chambers 5 on the unloader with a similar structure during the upward movement. Adaptation of the oblong openings 10 for the insertion of the groups 25 of support elements of the unit of support means 24 allows to achieve an advantageous technical effect associated with the possibility of independent filling with and emptying of the rod-like articles R of individual chambers 5 of the container 1.

The chamber 5 in the cross-section (Fig. 4) parallel to the bottom of the container, is rectangular, whereas the rectangle formed in the cross-section of the chamber 5 has the dimensions a and b, the dimensions a and b constituting the widths of the walls 6a and 6b, which was shown in enlargement in Fig. 3. In the embodiment shown, the openings 10 are rectangular, and the openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the chamber 5 form a group G of the openings 10 running in the direction k perpendicular to the side a of the cross- section of the chamber of the multi-chamber container, thus the walls 6a and 6b are arranged in a series, with the direction k running perpendicular to the side a of the cross-section of the chamber 5. The axis m of the opening 10 is directed perpendicular to the wall 6b, i.e. perpendicular to the side b of the cross-section of the chamber 5. Fig. 2 and also further figures present an exemplary rod-like article R showing the position of the rod-like articles R in the chamber 5 relative to the oblong openings 10 and the walls 6a and 6b. The group G may have any configuration, and the openings may be arranged irregularly. Fig. 4shows, with broken lines, a contour of the support surfaces 11 which may be used to support the rod-like articles R. Thus the rod-like articles R in the lowermost layer in the chamber are supported at multiple points and, as a result, are not subject to deformation. The group G of the openings 10 should comprise at least three openings, whereas preferably the group comprises four, five or six oblong openings. In the case of a greater length of the rod-like articles R a greater number of the support surfaces is needed. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the opening 10 in the bottom 4 of the chamber is rectangular having the length c and the width d. The support surface 11 may have the form of a rectangle having the length e and the width f which are respectively smaller than the length c and the width d of the opening 10.

Fig. 6 shows a filler used in the system according to the invention. As shown in Fig. 6, the filler 20 of the multi-chamber container 1 comprises a hopper 21 in which rod-like articles R are stored, a filling unit 23 for filling of the multi-chamber container 1 , and a unit of support means 24 which is adapted to inserting from below into the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1. The hopper 21 of the filler 20 may be connected to any apparatus which feeds rod-like articles to the inlet 22. In the hopper 21 , several rod-like articles R are shown, whereas during operation the hopper 21 is completely filled with the rod-like articles R. Below the hopper 21 , there is a filling unit 23 (for reasons of simplification shown in the form of a cuboid) which is adapted to simultaneous feeding of multiple rod-like articles R. The filling unit 23 may be provided with filling sections for the filling individual chambers 5 of the container 1. The filling unit 23 is adapted to change, during operation of the filler, its configuration between a closed configuration in which the flow of the rod like articles R is blocked and an open configuration which enables the flow of the rod-like articles R downwards to the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1. Below the filling unit 23, there is the path of movement L of the multi-chamber containers 1 , whereas the direction of movement of the containers is shown with the arrows. The successive containers 1 move along the path of movement L one after another as shown in Fig. 7. The path of movement L comprises a region 28 for receiving an empty multi-chamber container 1 which is situated between the filling unit 23 and the unit of support means 24. A movement of the container 1 on the path of movement L below the filling unit 23 is possible only for the closed configuration of this unit. Below the path of movement L of the container 1 , the unit of support means 24 is situated. The unit of support means 24 comprises the groups 25 of supporting means connected by a carrying element 26 which is attached to a not shown typical drive system . For example, the drive system may be a system provided with a slide and a linear drive element. The groups 25 of supporting means comprise support elements 27 which are inserted into the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 through the groups G of the openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the multi-chamber container 1 in the direction from below. Also possible is an embodiment wherein outermost support elements in the unit of support means 24 are thinner than the other support means 24 so as to provide a space between the side walls 6a, 6b of the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 parallel to the side b and the outermost supporting means. This embodiment allows to achieve an advantageous technical effect associated with the elimination of a disadvantageous accumulation of the tobacco falling out of the rod-like articles R which then forms deposits in the corners of the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1.

Fig. 6 further shows the position of the multi-chamber container 1 relative to the filling unit 23 for which the process of filling of the chambers of the multi-chamber container 1 may begin, i.e. such position at which a row 9 of empty chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 is situated directly below the filling unit 23, the relative position is such that the rod-like articles R, in the open configuration of the filling unit 23, may flow directly into the chambers 5. During the delivery of the multi-chamber container 1 in the path of movement L, the filling unit 23 is shifted to the closed configuration. It should be noted that it is possible to deliver the container 1 in a direction perpendicular to the direction L, whereas a change of position of the container 1 between the stages of filling of successive rows 9 of the chambers 5 will take place in the direction L. It should be noted that the multi-chamber containers 1 may be moved in the direction L as well as in the opposite direction. The process of filling of the row 9 of chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 may begin at the moment when the row 9 of empty chambers 5 of the container 1 is situated directly below the filling unit 23. At the position shown in Fig. 6, the invisible row 9 below the filling unit 23 is empty. The unit 24 of supporting means is lifted in such a way that the groups 25 of supporting means are inserted through the openings 10 in the groups G into the chambers 5, and the support surfaces 1 1 are placed just below the filling unit 23, then the filling unit 23 is shifted from the closed configuration to the open configuration where the groups 25 of support elements of the unit of support means 24 are inserted into the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 , up to a height corresponding to the height of the chamber 5 as shown in Fig. 8. After shifting the filling unit 23 to the open configuration, a downward movement of the unit of support means 24 in order to displace the support elements out of the chambers 5 through the openings 10 in the groups G is started. During the downward movement of the unit of support means 24, the rod-like articles R are transferred from the hopper 21 through the filling unit 23 to all chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 at the same time, at the last stage of lowering of the unit of support means24, the filling unit 23 is shifted from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

Fig. 7 shows a top view of the filler 20 of the container 1 and of the path of movement L of the containers 1. The container 1 is empty, the container 1 ' is being filled, and the container 1” is filled with the rod-like articles. The groups 25 of supporting means are situated directly below the chambers 5 directly opposite the openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the multi-chamber container 1.

Fig. 8 shows an unloader used in the system according to the invention. The unloader 30 of the multi chamber container 1 shown in Fig. 8 is provided with an intermediate storage hopper 31. The unloader 30 has an unloading region 38 for unloading of the filled multi-chamber container 1 and a unit of support means 24. The intermediate storage hopper 31 is designed as slidably movable and is adapted to intermediate unloading of the rod-like articles R into intermediate chambers 32 shown with broken lines. Fig. 5 does not show the equipment of the intermediate storage hopper 31 , it will be discussed below. The intermediate storage hopper 31 makes reversing linear movements in the direction N, whereas for the sake of simplification a drive unit was not shown. Below the intermediate storage hopper 31 there is situated the path of movement M of the filled containers 1 , whereas the direction of movement of the filled container 1 is shown with the arrows.

Fig. 9 shows a top view of the unloader 30 and the path of movement M of the containers 1. The path of movement M comprises an unloading region 38 for unloading of the filled multi-chamber container 1 which is situated between the intermediate storage hopper 31 and the unit of support means 24. Successive filled containers 1 move along the path of movement M one after another. Below the unloading region 38 for unloading of the filled container 1 there is situated the unit of support means 24. The unit of support means 24 comprises groups 25 of support elements connected by a carrying element 26 which is attached to a typical drive system (not shown). For example, the drive system may be a system provided with a slide and a linear drive element. The groups 25 of support elements comprise support elements 27 which are adapted to inserting into the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 through the groups G of the openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the multi-chamber container 1 in the direction from below. The groups 25 of supporting means during the insertion into the chambers 5 and the upward movement within the chambers 5 are adapted for pushing out the rod-like articles R stored in the chambers 5 out of the container 1 into the intermediate chambers 32 of the intermediate storage hopper 31. It is also possible that all the groups 25 of supporting means of the unit 24 of supporting means move independently on one another and that the one unit of support means 24 is adapted for simultaneous inserting from below, into all chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1.

Fig. 10 diagrammatically shows an embodiment of transport system which comprises a container 41 , a filler 40, and an unloader 60, the container 41 being a single-chamber container. The container 41 has a chamber

42 formed by three walls, a back wall 43 and two side walls 44 and 45. The container has a bottom 46 provided with openings 47, the openings 47 being arranged in rows. Through the openings 47 in the bottom 46 of the container 41 , there are inserted supporting means 48. Similar to the first embodiment, Fig. 10 diagrammatically shows spatial and functional relations among the elements of the system. The rod-like articles R transported in the form of a mass flow are fed into the filler 40 from above. In the filler 40, the single chamber container 41 is filled over the entire width of the container 41. Then the filled container 41 is transported to another place of operation in the manufacturing process where it is unloaded in the unloader 60 to form of a mass flow which is carried by a mass flow transport line to another place of operation in the production system. The component parts of the system i.e. the container 41 , the filler 40 and the unloader 60 are adapted for inserting of the rod-like articles R into the container from above and carrying the rod-like articles from the container in the upward direction without the need to rotate the container.

Fig. 11 diagrammatically shows an embodiment of transport system which comprises a container 51 , a filler 50, and an unloader 70, the container 51 being a container provided with a row of chambers. The container 51 has chambers 52, each chamber being formed by three walls, a back wall 53 and two side walls 54 and 55. The chamber 52 may be formed by only two side walls 54 and 55. Each chamber has a bottom 56 provided with a group of openings 57. Through the openings 57 in the bottom 56 of the container 51 there are inserted support means 58. Fig. 11 diagrammatically shows spatial and functional relations among the elements of the system, similar to the previous embodiments. The rod-like articles R transported in the form of a mass flow get into the filler 50 from above. In the filler 50, all chambers in the container 51 are filled at the same time. Then the filled container 51 is transported to another place of the manufacturing process where it is unloaded in the unloader 70 to form of a mass flow which is carried by a mass flow transport line to another place of operation in the production system. The components of the system i.e. the container 51 , the filler 50 and the unloader 70 are adapted for inserting of the rod-like articles R into the container from above and carrying the rod-like articles from the container in the upward direction without the need to rotate the container.