Method and apparatus for unloading rod-like articles from containers

• US 4,303,366 A
• Filed: 11/29/1977
• Issued: 12/01/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Molins PLC
• Original Assignee: Molins PLC
• Inventors: Hinchcliffe, Dennis, Leigh, George C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rishell, Jr., Edmond G.
• Application Number:
  US05/855,775
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 214/302, 214/307, 214/312, 214/314, 198/347, 198/547, 198/557, 198/616, 414/414, 414/404, 414/405, 414/419, 414/421, 53/475
• US Class Current: 414/419
• CPC Class Codes: A24C 5/356 Emptying the boats into the hopper of the packaging machine hopper construction B65B19/04

Abstract

Trays containing parallel rod-like articles are unloaded by rotation until the trays are at least partially inverted, the rotation being about an axis parallel to the articles. In one arrangement a pair of tray carriers is rotatable to successively invert a full tray over delivery conveyors and to return an empty tray. One of the conveyors is also rotatable about the same axis. A removable slat retains the articles in the full tray until it is completely inverted. In another arrangement a full tray is received in a bracket in which it is moved to a tilted position for unloading. A pivoted closure member is provided for the open top of the tray and this also serves as a barrier for the unloading articles.

Claims

1. Apparatus for unloading trays of rod-like articles, comprising a tray carrier for receiving a tray which is capable of holding at least one stack of rod-like articles arranged with their lengths parallel;

the tray carrier being rotatable, about an axis parallel to the lengths of the rod-like articles in a tray supported by the carrier, between a first position at which the tray carrier can receive a tray in a substantially upright position and a second position at which a tray held by the carrier is at least partially inverted; and

delivery means for moving away rod-like articles unloaded from a tray when the carrier is in the second position, the delivery means including means rotatable with the carrier from said first position towards said second position and subsequently revolvable relative to said carrier to direct articles from said tray towards an opening which is at least partly defined by said means rotatable with the carrier and which is at least approximately centrally disposed relative to the stack of articles unloading from said tray, wherein the means rotatable with the carrier and subsequently rotatable relative to the carrier includes an endless conveyor band.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delivery means includes at least one endless band conveyor for moving rod-like articles away from an unloading tray in the form of a stack.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the delivery means includes a stack elevator.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tray carrier is arranged to be rotated through about 180°

between said first and second positions.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, including a pair of tray carriers mounted in 180°

rotational symmetry relative to said axis.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including conveyor means for delivering full trays to the tray carrier and for removing empty trays from the tray carrier, the conveyor means extending generally in a direction parallel to said axis.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said conveyor means including a tray delivery conveyor and a tray removal conveyor located at different levels, and a tray elevator for moving trays between said levels.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, including a path for full trays and a path for empty trays conveyed by said conveyor means, said paths being substantially in alignment.

9. Apparatus for unloading trays of rod-like articles comprising a tray carrier for receiving a tray which is capable of holding at least one stack of rod-like articles arranged with their lengths parallel, the tray carrier being rotatable, about an axis parallel to the lengths of the rod-like articles in a tray supported by the carrier, between a first position at which the tray carrier can receive a tray in a substantially upright position and a second position at which a tray held by the carrier is at least partially inverted;

delivery means for moving away rod-like articles unloaded from a tray when the carrier is in the second position, the delivery means including means rotatable with the carrier for directing articles from said tray towards an opening which is at least partly defined by said means rotatable with the carrier and which is at least approximately centrally disposed relative to the stack of articles unloading from said tray, and removable closure means for retaining rod-like articles in the tray as the carrier is rotated until said second position is reached.

10. Apparatus for unloading trays of rod-like articles comprising a tray carrier for receiving a tray which is capable of holding at least one stack of rod-like articles arranged with their lengths parallel, the tray carrier being rotatable, about an axis parallel to the lengths of the rod-like articles in a tray supported by the carrier, between a first position at which the tray carrier can receive a tray in a substantially upright position and a second position at which a tray held by the carrier is at least partially inverted;

and delivery means for moving away rod-like articles unloaded from a tray when the carrier is in the second position, the delivery means including a pair of band conveyors positioned beneath a tray in said second position, said conveyors being arranged to be driven towards each other to deliver the unloading rod-like articles between confronting ends of the conveyors and a stack delivery conveyor for conveying away articles delivered downwards between said pair of band conveyors.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of said pair of band conveyors is mounted for rotation with said carrier about said axis.

12. Apparatus for unloading trays of rod-like articles comprising a pair of tray carriers for receiving respective trays which are capable of holding at least one stack of rod-like articles arranged with their lengths parallel, each of the tray carriers being rotatable, about an axis parallel to the lengths of the rod-like articles in a tray supported by the carrier through about 180°

between a first position at which the tray carrier can receive a tray in a substantially upright position and a second position at which a tray held by the carrier is at least partially inverted, and said carriers being mounted in 180°

rotational symmetry relative to said axis; and

delivery means for moving away rod-like articles unloaded from a tray when the carrier is in the second position, the delivery means including means rotatable with the carrier for directing articles from said tray towards an opening which is at least partly defined by said means rotatable with the carrier and which is at least approximately centrally disposed relative to the stack of articles unloading from said tray, each tray carrier being movable in a direction parallel to said axis so that said carriers may be rotated in different axially-spaced parallel planes during movement from said first to said second and from said second to said first positions respectively.

13. Apparatus for unloading trays of rod-like articles comprising a tray carrier for receiving a tray which is capable of holding at least one stack of rod-like articles arranged with their lengths parallel, the tray carrier being rotatable, about an axis parallel to the lengths of the rod-like articles in a tray supported by the carrier, between a first position at which the tray carrier can receive a tray in a substantially upright position and a second position at which a tray held by the carrier is at least partially inverted;

and delivery means for moving away rod-like articles unloaded from a tray when the carrier is in the second position, the delivery means including means rotatable with the carrier for directing articles from said tray towards an opening which is at least partly defined by said means rotatable with the carrier and which is at least approximately centrally disposed relative to the stack of articles unloading from said tray and a pair of band conveyors positioned beneath a tray in said second position and having confronting ends defining said opening, said means rotatable with the carrier including at least one of said band conveyors which is mounted for rotation about said axis.