The object of the invention is an unloader of a container for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry.

In the tobacco industry, containers and trays for rod-like articles are commonly used for the purpose of intermediate storage of the said articles, e.g. in the case of a decrease in efficiency or a downtime of manufacturing machines. Unloaders are used to empty such type of containers (trays) for rodlike articles. In addition, the manufacturers expect that the unloaders will be able to empty containers with a large volume, regardless of the kind and the parameters of unloaded articles, with the simultaneous limitation of the risk of physical damage to the said articles in the course of pushing them out of the container.

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 EP1 1 18543 B1 a method for unloading of cardboard trays filled with rod-like articles is known wherein an open filled 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 purpose of the invention is to make improvements in the unloading of containers for rod-like articles and to eliminate the drawbacks of solutions known from the prior art associated with the need of turning of the container before emptying. The object of the invention is an unloader of a container for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry comprising: a movable intermediate storage hopper, an unloading region for unloading of the filled container located below the intermediate storage hopper, characterized in that movable support means, located below the unloading region of the filled container, is adapted to insert support surfaces for supporting rod-like articles (R) 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 a space beyond the unloading region, the intermediate storage hopper, having at least two vertical side walls, is adapted to be loaded with rod-like articles of the tobacco industry from below, further the intermediate storage hopper is provided with blocking means adapted to support the rod-like articles inside the intermediate storage hopper.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the support surface has the shape adapted to the oblong opening in the bottom of the chamber. An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the support surface has the shape of a quadrilateral.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the support surface has the shape of a rectangle.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the support surface has the shape of a broken curve or a corrugated curve.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the support element having a support surface has the form of a flat rectangular cuboid.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the support means is a group of support means adapted to insert the support surfaces into the chamber of the container through the group of the openings in the bottom of the chamber.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the support means is adapted to insert the support surfaces into the chambers of the container having a row of chambers.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the support means is adapted to insert the support surfaces into the chambers of the container having at least two rows chambers. An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the support means is adapted to simultaneously insert the support surfaces into all chambers in a row.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the chamber is provided with at least two walls. An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the chamber is provided with three walls.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the chamber is provided with four walls, the chamber having a substantially rectangular cross-section of a side a and side b.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the group of the openings is arranged in a row in the bottom of the chamber of the container, extending in a direction perpendicular to the side of the chamber.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the intermediate storage hopper comprises a set of movable side walls adapted to align the rod-like articles in the intermediate storage hopper. An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that the outermost support means in the group of support means are narrower than the other support means so as to provide space between the side walls of the chamber of the container parallel to side b and outermost support means.

An unloader according to the invention is characterized in that it further comprises a conveyor for transporting filled and empty containers located beneath the unloading region of the filled container. The object of the invention is also a method of unloading an unloader for rod-like articles for the tobacco industry characterized in that a container filled with rod-like articles is placed between an intermediate storage and support means in an unloading region for unloading of the filled container, support surfaces of the support means are inserted from below into the chamber of the container filled with rod-like articles (R) through the oblong openings in the bottom of the chamber of the container, the support means is lifted, at the same time the chamber of the container being emptied of the rod-like articles, at the same time rod-like articles being fed to the intermediate storage hopper, a set of blocking means is activated for supporting rod-like articles (R) inside the intermediate storage hopper of the unloader, the support means is removed downwards from the chambers of the container.

A method according to the invention is characterized in that after the insertion of the rod-like articles into the intermediate storage hopper, movable side walls are activated for aligning rod-like articles.

A method according to the invention is characterized in that the outermost support means of the support means are lowered, which enables inserting a set of blocking means to support the rodlike articles inside the unloader intermediate storage hopper of the unloader and the blocking means is inserted.

An advantage of the unloader and the unloading method according to the invention is the possibility of fast container emptying of rod-like articles to above, without the use of complicated container turning mechanisms. In addition, the solution according to the invention allows eliminating the risk of occurrence of physical damage to rod-like articles in the course of unloading and also of turning of the articles transversely to one another, and at the same time enables the rod-like articles to be aligned.

The object of the invention was shown in detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which: Fig. 1 shows a container for rod-like articles in an isometric view;

Fig. 2 shows the container for rod-like articles in a top view;

Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of a chamber of the container together with openings in the bottom of the chamber;

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

Fig. 5 shows an unloader of the container in an isometric view;

Fig. 6 shows the unloader of the container in a top view;

Fig. 7 shows the unloader of the container in a vertical cross-section B-B; Fig. 8 shows the unloader of the container in the vertical cross-section B-B, after complete emptying of the multi-chamber container;

Fig. 9 shows the unloader of the container in the vertical cross-section B-B, after complete emptying of the multi-chamber container and aligning of the rod-like articles in an intermediate storage hopper;

Fig. 10 shows the unloader of the container in the cross-section B-B, provided with support elements with different widths;

Fig. 1 1 shows the unloader of the container in an isometric view, with a moved intermediate storage hopper; Fig. 12 shows the unloader of a single-chamber container in an isometric view;

Fig. 13 shows the unloader of a single-row multi-chamber container in an isometric view.

An unloader of a container according to this invention is adapted for emptying of a container having at least one chamber, which is why in the first place an embodiment of the container itself, and then an embodiment of the unloader of the container will be described.

The container is presented below in a preferred embodiment, in the multi-chamber form. Fig. 1 shows an example of the multi-chamber container in which only one chamber is filled, for the time of storage of the articles usually all chambers of the container are filled, whereas the container may have only one row of chambers or only some of the chambers in a row become filled.

The container 1 shown in Fig. 1 has four side walls, two side walls 2 having a first length and two side walls 3 having a second length as well as a bottom 4, whereas the container 1 is open from above i.e. all chambers 5 are open from above, while the bottom 4 of the multi-chamber container 1 constitutes the bottom of each of the chambers 5. The container 1 has multiple chambers 5, each chamber 5 having two walls 6a having a width a and two walls 6b having a width b. 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 are the same. 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 where 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 row 9 or two rows 9 of the chambers 5 is possible, any greater number of the rows 9 is also possible. The number of the chambers 5 in the row 9 may be freely chosen, however, preferably one row 9 comprises at least two chambers 5, and preferably it comprises four chambers.

Figs. 2 to 4 show views of the container 1 from above. The chamber 5 in the cross-section, i.e. parallel to the bottom of the container, is rectangular, whereas the rectangle formed in the cross- section 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. There are oblong openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the chamber 5, in the embodiment shown, the openings 10 are rectangular, and a group G of the openings 10 runs in the direction k perpendicular to the wall 6a forming a series of the openings 10, whereas the direction k runs in a direction 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 example of the 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 4 shows, with broken lines, a contour of the support surfaces 1 1 which may be used to support the rod-like articles R in the chamber 5. Preferably the support surfaces 1 1 are flat and parallel to the bottom 4 of the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1. Thus the rod-like articles R in the bottommost layer in the chamber are supported at multiple points and, as a result, are not deformed. 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 articles a greater number of the support surfaces 11 is needed. In the embodiment shown, the opening 10 in the bottom 4 of the chamber is rectangular with the length c and the width d. The support surface 1 1 may have the form of a rectangle with the length e and the width f which are respectively smaller than the length c and the width d of the opening 10. In addition, the group G of the openings 10 may have any configuration, taking into consideration an irregular arrangement of the group G of the openings 10, not shown in the attached figures. The unloader of the multi-chamber container comprises an intermediate storage hopper in which the rod-like articles are intermediately stored and a support means which is adapted for inserting from below into the chambers of the multi-chamber container. The unloader 30 of the multi-chamber container 1 shown in Fig. 5 is provided with the intermediate storage hopper 31. The unloader 30 has an unloading region 38 for unloading of the filled multichamber container 1 and a support means 24. The intermediate storage hopper 31 is designed as slidable and is adapted to intermediate unloading of the rod-like articles R into intermediate chambers 32 shown by broken lines, Fig. 10 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 filling containers 1 , whereas the direction of movement of the filled container 1 was shown with the arrows.

Fig. 6 shows a top view of the unloader 30 and the path of movement M of the containers 1. The path of movement M comprises the unloading region 38 for unloading of the filled multi-chamber container 1 which is situated between the intermediate storage hopper 31 and the support means 24. The 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 support means 24. The support means 24 comprises groups 25 of support 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 support means comprise support elements 27 which are adapted to be 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 downward direction. The groups 25 of support means during the insertion into the chambers 5 and the upward movement within the chambers 5 are adapted for pushing out of the rod-like articles R stored in the chambers 5 of the container 1 into the intermediate chambers 32 of the intermediate storage hopper 31. Also possible is such embodiment of the unloader wherein the groups 25 of support means of the support means move independently of one another as well as such embodiment wherein the support means 24 is adapted for simultaneous inserting from below, into all the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1.

Fig. 7 shows, in the cross-section B-B of Fig. 1 1 , the position of the support elements 27 directly below the chamber 5, and each of the support elements 27 is situated directly below the opening 10. Preferably the dimensions and the number of individual support elements 27 of the support means 24 corresponds to the dimensions and the number of oblong openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1. Fig. 8 shows the position of the group 25 of support means after the rod-like articles R have been completely pushed out of the chamber 5. The intermediate chamber 32 of the intermediate storage hopper 31 may be provided with movable side walls 33, 33’ which are designed to align the rodlike articles R after feeding the rod-like articles R to the chamber 32. The movable side walls 33, 33’ are driven for example by actuators 34, 34’ or other drive elements. The intermediate storage hopper 31 is provided with blocking means 35, 35’ running through the width of the intermediate chamber 32 designed to support the rod-like articles R inside the intermediate storage hopper 31 , i.e. in the intermediate chambers 32. The blocking means 35, 35’ may have the form of slats or angle sections and are driven for example by means of actuators 36, 36’ or other drive elements, with each intermediate chamber 32 having separate blocking means 35, 35’.

Fig. 9 shows the intermediate chamber 32 in which the movable side walls 33, 33’ have aligned the rod-like articles R, and in addition the blocking means 35, 35’ supporting the rod-like articles R in the intermediate chambers 32 have been moved.

Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of the groups 25’ of support means provided with support elements 27’, 27” of different thicknesses, namely the outermost support elements 27’ have a smaller thickness, whereas the inner support elements 27” have a greater thickness. Such a solution allows keeping the space for the blocking means 35, 35’ below a pile of the rod-like articles R stored in the intermediate chamber 32. A solution wherein the outermost support elements 27’ have separate drives and are lowered before moving the blocking means 35, 35’ is also possible. Fig. 1 1 shows the position of the intermediate storage hopper 31 with the filled intermediate chambers 32 after it has been moved above a receiving conveyor 80. The intermediate storage hopper 31 is shown without drive elements of the blocking means 35, 35’ and the movable side walls 33, 33’. The receiving conveyor 80 is provided with a channel 81 whose task is to receive the rod-like articles R from the individual intermediate chambers 32, whereas the intermediate storage hopper 31 is moved so that it can take successive positions in such a way that the successive intermediate chambers 32 are stopped above the channel 81 in order to unload the successive intermediate chambers 32, whereas a situation where the channel 81 is moving all the time, and the rod-like articles are conveyed to the channel 81 during the movement of the channel 81 and the conveyor 80 is also possible. The multi-chamber container 1 unloading process begins with placing the filled container 1 in the unloading region 38 for unloading of the filled container. After moving the intermediate storage hopper 31 to a region above the region 38, the intermediate chambers 32 are situated directly above the chambers 5 of the container 1 , with the chambers being situated in one row 9. Then an upward movement of the support means 24 takes place during which the support elements 27 in the groups 25 are pushed by the groups G of the openings 10 in the bottoms 4 of the individual chambers 5 into the chambers 5. The support surfaces 1 1 of the support elements 27 come into contact with the rod-like articles R and begin to push the piles of the rod-like articles R out of the individual chambers 5 towards the intermediate chambers 32 of the intermediate storage hopper 31. After conveying the piles of the rod-like articles R to the intermediate chambers 32, the rod-like articles R are aligned by means of the movable walls 33, 33’, after which the blocking means 35, 35’ are moved so that they support the piles of the rod-like articles R in the intermediate chambers 32. The alignment of the rod-like articles may be omitted in the unloading process. After blocking the piles of the rod-like articles R, the intermediate storage hopper 31 is moved above the conveyor 80 in the direction N, whereas the successive piles of the rod-like articles R are released to the channel 81 by withdrawing the blocking means 35, 35’. In addition, the channel 81 may be provided with own blocking means. The intermediate storage hopper 31 makes successive movements in the direction N so as to unload the successive intermediate chambers 32, whereas it is essential to maintain the continuity of the mass flow on the conveyor 80. After unloading all intermediate chambers 32, the intermediate storage hopper 31 is moved to a position above the region 38 for unloading of the multi-chamber containers 1 and the cycle of unloading another row 9 of the chambers 5 may be repeated after moving another row 9 of the filled chambers 5 below the intermediate storage hopper 31.

Fig. 3 shows an example configuration of the openings in the bottom 4 of the chamber 5 to which the support means are adapted. The group 25 of support means may be configured so that during the unloading of the chambers 5 the support elements 27 are situated just next to the walls 6a when the sides of the openings 10 overlap the walls 6a. Furthermore, the support elements 27 in the group 25 of support means may have such width e that the support elements 27 take almost the entire width a between the walls 6b.

Preferably the support elements 27 of the support means 24 have the form of movable oblong supports, and the lengthwise dimension of the support elements 27 is parallel to the direction of movement of the support means 24. Any desired shape of the cross-section of the support element 27 and shape of the support surface 1 1 are also possible. The shape of a broken or corrugated curve is also possible. Fig. 12 shows an unloader 60 for unloading of a container 41 having one chamber 42, with the chamber 42 having three walls, a back wall 43 and two side walls 44 and 45. The bottom 46 is provided with a group of oblong openings 47. The oblong openings 47 are arranged in rows and are displaced relative to adjoining openings 47. A support means 48 comprises multiple support elements 49 having support surfaces 1 1. In addition, it is possible to use the unloader 60 for a container having a chamber with two walls, i.e. the container 41 without the back wall 43. At the bottom 46 of the chamber 42 there are situated several examples of the rod-like articles R. Similar to the first embodiment, empty and filled containers are conveyed in the direction M along the path of movement of the containers, whereas the containers may move on a conveyor C shown by a broken line. The container 41 unloading process runs in a similar way as in the first embodiment, with the intermediate storage hopper 3T having one intermediate chamber 32’ for unloading of the rod-like articles R pushed out of the chamber 42. After moving the intermediate storage hopper 3T in the direction N beyond the unloading region 38 and above the conveyor 80, the rod-like articles R are transferred onto the conveyor 80 through the channel 81 , whereas the rod-like articles are released from the chamber 32’ after putting aside the blocking means built in a similar way as in the previous embodiment for the multi-chamber container.

Fig. 13 shows an unloader 70 for unloading of a container 51 having multiple chambers 52 in a row, whereas in the embodiment shown the container 51 has four chambers 52 arranged in a row 9. The chamber 52 has three walls, a back wall 53 and two side walls 54 and 55. The bottom 56 of the chamber 52 is provided with a group of oblong openings 57, with the openings 57 being arranged in series whose axis runs perpendicular to the back wall 53. A support means 58 comprises multiple support elements 59 having support surfaces 11. At the bottom of the chamber 52 there are situated several examples of the rod-like articles R. Similar to the previous embodiments, filled and empty containers are conveyed in the direction M on an example conveyor C drawn with a broken line. The conveyor C may be also used in other embodiments. The unloading process runs in a similar way as in the first embodiment.