EP3801073A1

EP3801073A1 - Container for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry

Info

Publication number: EP3801073A1
Application number: EP19761942.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Piotr Cepinski; Radoslaw Owczarek; Robert Zadecki; Grzegorz Ugrewicz; Marcin Michal JAROSZEK; Herbert Heil; Shivendra Sathvik RENUKA PRASAD
Original assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
Current assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
Priority date: 2018-06-05
Filing date: 2019-06-05
Publication date: 2021-04-14
Also published as: WO2019234642A1

Abstract

The object of the invention is a container (1, 41, 51) for rod-like articles (R) of the tobacco industry, characterized in that the container comprises a chamber (5, 42, 52), having vertical side walls (6a, 6b, 43, 44, 45, 53, 54, 55) and a substantially rectangular cross-section of side (a) and side (b), the chamber (5, 42, 52) comprises a bottom (4, 46, 56) and is adapted for loading and unloading of rod-like articles (R) of the tobacco industry from above, and in that there is a group (G) of oblong openings (10, 47, 57) in the bottom (4, 46, 56) of the chamber of the container (1, 41, 51).

Description

CONTAINER FOR ROD-LIKE ARTICLES OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY

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

Containers for rod-like articles are used in the tobacco industry for intermediate storage of the said articles and their transport from a loading station or a loader to a store or from a store to an unloading station or an unloader, whereas the store may be situated both at the place of manufacture of finished products and outside such place, i.e. they may be adapted to the transport between a supplier of semi-finished products and a manufacturer of finished products. Such containers may be also adapted to transportation of rod-like articles among machines in the manufacturing process. The most compact arrangement of rod-like articles in the container is expected by the manufacturers, without gaps among the articles, with a simultaneous facilitation of fast filling and emptying of the container and the limitation of risk of crosswise positioning of articles relative to one another.

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 placed on a filled tray station of the unloader. In order to allow to empty 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 to 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 .

Transport systems known from the prior art require the containers containing a large quantity of rod-like articles, for example several thousand of articles, to be turned, whereas the articles turned in a big mass are exposed to damage. The problem to be solved by this invention is to provide a container for rod-like articles which will allow to store a large number of articles in the most compact way, with a simultaneous adaptation of the container for fast filling and emptying, without the need of complicated turning with the use of additional unloading devices.

The object of the invention is a container for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, characterized in that the container comprises a chamber, having 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 of rod-like articles from above and unloading to above, and in that there is a group of oblong openings in the bottom of the chamber of the container.

A container according to the invention is characterized in that the group of the oblong openings is arranged in a row in the bottom of the chamber of the container, and the row extends in a direction perpendicular to the side a of the cross-section of the chamber of the container.

A container according to the invention is characterized in that the container comprises at least one row of chambers, preferably two parallel rows of chambers having four side walls, preferably three rows of chambers. A container according to the invention is characterized in that the group of the oblong openings comprises at least three oblong openings, and preferably four, five or six oblong openings.

A container according to the invention is characterized in that the group of the longitudinal openings comprises the outermost oblong openings in the bottom of the chamber which are arranged so that they adjoin the side a of the cross section of the chamber of the container. A container according to the invention is characterized in that the oblong openings in cross-section of the chamber of the container, extend over the entire width between the sides b of the cross- section.

A container according to the invention is characterized in that the oblong openings are adapted to receive groups of support means for supporting rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, into the chamber of the container from below.

A container according to the invention is characterized in that the lengths of the sides a, b of the cross-section of the chamber are different.

A container according to the invention is characterized in that the lengths of the sides a, b of the cross-section of the chamber are equal.

A container according to the invention is characterized in that the oblong openings in the adjacent chambers are connected to each other.

A container according to the invention is characterized in that the walls of the chambers are connected to each other and form an insert adapted for placing in the container. The multi-chamber container according to the invention allows to store multiple rod-like articles in multiple separate chambers in a very compact way, i.e. a very small space is used to store a specific number of rod-like articles.

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. 1 a shows a preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention;

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

Fig. 5 shows a detailed view of a chamber of the container in a second embodiment, together with openings in the bottom of the chamber; Fig. 6 shows a detailed view of a chamber of the container in a third embodiment, together with openings in the bottom of the chamber;

Fig. 7 shows a detailed view of a chamber of the container in a fourth embodiment, together with openings in the bottom of the chamber; Fig. 8 shows a detailed view of a chamber of the container in a fifth embodiment, together with openings in the bottom of the chamber;

Fig. 9 shows a detailed view of a chamber of the container in a sixth embodiment, together with the openings in the bottom of the chamber;

Fig. 10 shows another embodiment of the invention in a single-chamber form;

Fig. 1 1 shows another embodiment of the invention in a one-row multi-chamber form.

The container according to the invention is adapted to loading of rod-like articles to multiple chambers on a loading station or a loader from above and the storage of the rod-like articles in chambers. The container is presented below in a preferred embodiment, in a multi-chamber form.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a multi-chamber container wherein only one chamber is filled, whereas during the production and storage of the articles all chambers of the container are filled. Furthermore, the container is adapted to unloading of the rod-like articles on an unloading station or an unloader.

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 to above i.e. all chambers 5 are open from 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 the 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. However, a solution wherein the latticework has the form of an insert and may be removed from the container 1 is 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 may have vertical oblong openings or have multiple openings of 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. 1 , the chambers 5 of the container 1 are open to above, and the oblong openings 10 (invisible in Fig.1 ) in the bottom 4 of the container 1 allow to insert a support means 24 into the individual chambers 5 of the container 1 from below. Thus an advantageous technical effect was achieved, namely the container may be loaded from above and emptied in the upward direction without turning of the container. Fig. 1 shows only a fragment of the support means 24 used in the filler and the unloader for multi-chamber containers, whereas the support means 24 has support surfaces 1 1 (shown in Fig. 4) to support the rod-like articles R situated on support elements of groups 25 of support means, where the number of groups 25 of support elements corresponds to the number of the chambers 5 in a row. The 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 means 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.

Fig. 1 a shows a preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention wherein the partitions 7, 8 form an insert 1 B placed in an outer container 1 A. The outer container 1 A comprises outer walls 2, 3 combined with the bottom 4 (invisible in fig. 1 a). The application of the replaceable insert 1 B allows to use the same outer container 1 A for different rod-like articles R. A change in the rod-like article specification involves only an exchange of the container insert. Fig. 2 shows a view 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 of the chamber 5 has 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 oblong, 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 row, whereas the direction k runs 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 is shown in the chamber 5 in a position relative to the oblong openings 10 and the walls 6a and 6b. The group G may have any configuration, the openings may be arranged irregularly. Fig 4 shows, with broken lines, a contour of the support surfaces 11 which may be used to support rod-like articles R. Thus the rod-like articles R in the lowermost layer in the chamber are supported at multiple points and, due to which they 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 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 a length c and a width d. The support surface 1 1 may have the form of a rectangle having a length e and a width f which are respectively smaller than the length c and the width d of the opening 10.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment wherein individual openings 10 of the group G of openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the chamber 5, similar to the embodiment described above, have the form of a rectangle, whereas the outermost openings 10’ and 10” adjoin the walls 6a, i.e. adjoin the side a of the cross-section of the chamber 5 of the container 1.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the openings 10 of the group G of openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the chamber 5 have the form of a rectangle and run through the entire width of the chamber between the walls 6b, i.e. in the cross-section they run throughout the entire width a between the sides b of the cross-section. Furthermore, the oblong openings 10 and 10’ may be connected with each other underneath the compartment 8 in the adjoining chambers 5, which allows to connect the support surfaces. The dimensions a and b may be selected according to the manufacturing conditions, especially to the specification of the rod-like articles R. In the preferred solution, the width of the wall b is greater than the width of the wall a, whereas maintaining such proportions eliminates a transverse arrangement of the rod-like articles R relative to one another. However, solutions wherein the widths a and b are equal to each other or the width a is greater than the width b are also possible.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment wherein the group G’ of the openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the chamber 5 comprises rectangular openings 10 with various dimensions. An advantageous technical effect achieved due to such configuration of the openings is providing an adequately greater support of the rod-like articles R in the central part of the chamber 5. Fig. 8 shows an embodiment wherein the openings 10 are designed as oblong and their sides have the form of broken lines. The configuration of the openings 10 in this embodiment of the container 1 increases the support of the rod-like articles R in the individual chambers 5.

Fig. 9 shows another embodiment wherein the openings 10 are designed as quadrangles, whereas a part of the openings 10 has edges situated nonparallel to the sides a and b. An advantageous technical effect achieved due to such configuration of the openings 10 in this embodiment of the container 1 is an increased stiffness of the bottom 4 of the container 1.

Fig. 10 shows a container 41 having one chamber 42 which in a cross-section in the horizontal plane, parallel to the bottom 46, has a rectangular shape with the sides a and b. The chamber 42 has a back wall 43 and two side walls 44 and 45. There are oblong openings 47 in the bottom of the chamber 42, whereas the group G of the openings 47 comprises several rows of the openings 47 whose longer dimensions are parallel to the side a. The oblong openings 47 may be arranged in any way, but a multipoint support for the rod-like articles is to be provided. On the bottom 46, examples of rod-like articles are shown, whereas after a complete filling of the chamber 42 the rodlike articles lying in the bottommost layer are supported at several points and consequently are not deformed.

Fig. 1 1 shows a container 51 having a row 9 of chambers 52, whereas the chamber 52 in a cross- section in the horizontal plane, parallel to the bottom 56 has a rectangular shape with the sides a and b. The chamber 52 has a back wall 53 and two side walls 54 and 55. There are oblong openings 57 in the bottom of the chamber 52, whereas the group G of the openings 57 comprises the openings 57 arranged in a row which runs in the direction k perpendicular to the side a.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A container (1 , 41 , 51 ) for rod-like articles (R) of the tobacco industry,

characterized in that

the container comprises a chamber (5, 42, 52), having vertical side walls (6a, 6b, 43, 44, 45, 53, 54, 55) and a substantially rectangular cross-section of a side (a) and side (b), the chamber (5, 42, 52) comprises a bottom (4, 46, 56) and is adapted for loading of rod-like articles (R) from above and unloading to above, and in that there is a group (G) of oblong openings (10, 47, 57) in the bottom (4, 46, 56) of the chamber (5, 42, 52) of the container (1 , 41 , 51 )

2. The container (1 , 41 , 51 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the group (G) of the oblong openings (10, 47, 57) is arranged in a row in the bottom (4, 56) of the chamber (5, 52) of the container (1 , 41 , 51 ), and the row extends in a direction perpendicular to the side (a) of the cross-section of the chamber (5, 42, 52) of the container (1 , 41 , 51 ).

3. The container (1 , 51 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container (1 , 51 ) comprises at least one row (9) of chambers (5, 52), preferably two parallel rows (9) of chambers (5) having four side walls (6a, 6b), preferably three rows (9) of chambers (5).

4. The container (1 , 51 ) according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the group (G) of the oblong openings (10, 57) comprises at least three oblong openings, and preferably four, five or six oblong openings.

5. The container according to any of claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that the group (G) of the longitudinal openings (10) comprises the outermost oblong openings (1 O', 10") in the bottom (4) of the chamber (5), which are arranged so that they adjoin the side (a) of the cross section of the chamber (5) of the container (1).

6. The container (1 ) according to any of claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that the oblong openings (10) in cross-section of the container (1 ) chamber (5), extend over the entire width between the sides (b) of the cross-section.

7. The container (1 ) according to any of claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that the oblong openings (10) are adapted to receive groups (25) of support means from a set of support means (24) for supporting rod-like articles (R) of the tobacco industry, into the chamber (5) of the container from below.

8. The container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lengths of the sides (a, b) of the cross-section of the chamber (5, 52) are different.

9. The container (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lengths of the sides (a, b) of the cross-section of the chamber (5, 52) are equal.

10. The container (1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the oblong openings (10) in adjacent chambers (5, 52) are connected to each other.

1 1. The container (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the walls of the chambers (5, 52) are connected to each other and form an insert (1 B) adapted for placing in the container (1 ).