EP3801074B1

EP3801074B1 - Filler of rod-like articles of the tobacco industry

Info

Publication number: EP3801074B1
Application number: EP19761943.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Radoslaw Owczarek; Piotr Cepinski; 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: 2024-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-05
Also published as: WO2019234643A1; EP3801074A1

Description

The object of the invention is a filler of a container for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry.
In the tobacco industry, fillers of containers (trays) designed to fill them with the 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 or until the moment of transport to an unloading station. The manufacturers expect that the fillers of containers for rod-like articles provide the possibility of fast loading of containers with a large volume, with the simultaneous most compact arrangement of the rod-like articles in the container without gaps among the articles, and the limitation of the risk of crosswise positioning of the said articles relative to one another.
From the document PL226406 B1 an apparatus, a station and a method for filling of trays, which are open to 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 shifting by means of alternate up and down strokes. The solution allows close packing of the rod-like articles in trays being filled with such articles.
From the document WO2008104403 A2 an apparatus for 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 to uniformly load trays with the rod-like articles.
FR 2 414 459 A1 discloses the transport system for cigarettes has first and second conveyors, each transporting the cigarettes sideways in stacks. They are delivered from the first conveyor via an outlet, and via an inlet to the second conveyor, the inlet and outlet being spaced apart. A mobile reservoir with a number of chambers, each with an inlet and outlet for the cigarettes, travels on a track, and can be positioned to receive cigarettes from the outlet, and also to discharge them to the inlet of the second conveyor.
WO 2016/200255 A1 discloses an unloading device for unloading the cigarette parts from the tray and the combination of a tray and an unloading device. The tray comprises a front wall, which is movable from a closed position to an open position in order to create an access opening for filling the tray with cigarette parts, and wherein the bottom wall is movable from a closed position to an open position in order to create a discharge opening for unloading the cigarette parts from the tray under the influence of gravity. The unloading device comprises a tray holder, a receiving opening, a reservoir and a discharge unit for discharging the cigarette parts from the reservoir.
FR 994 355 a discloses a system for loading rod-like articles according to pre-characterizing part of the claim 1.
The purpose of the invention is to make improvements in the filling of the containers with the rod-like articles.
The object of the invention is a filler of a container for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry for loading a container from above comprising: a hopper for containing rod-like articles, 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 loading the container with rod-like articles, a loading region for loading an empty container located below the filling unit, characterized in that the filler 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 chamber of the container through the oblong openings in the bottom of the chamber of the container.
A filler 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 of the container.
A filler according to the invention is characterized in that the support surface has the shape of a quadrilateral.
A filler according to the invention is characterized in that the support surface has the shape of a rectangle.
A filler according to the invention is characterized in that the support surface has the shape of a broken curve or a corrugated curve.
A filler according to the invention is characterized in that the support element having the support surface has the form of a flat cuboid.
A filler 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 a group of openings in the bottom of the chamber.
A filler 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.
A filler 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 of chambers.
A filler 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.
A filler according to the invention is characterized in that the chamber is provided with at least two walls.
A filler according to the invention is characterized in that the chamber is provided with three walls.
A filler according to the invention is characterized in that the chamber is provided with four walls having a substantially rectangular cross-section of a side a and side b.
A filler according to the invention is characterized in that a group of openings is arranged in a series in the bottom of the chamber of the container, extending in a direction k perpendicular to the side of the chamber.
A filler according to the invention is characterized in that it further comprises a conveyor for transporting empty and filled containers located below the loading region of the empty container.
The object of the invention is also a method of loading a container with rod-like articles of the tobacco industry from above, characterized in that a container is placed under a filling unit of a filler, the container comprising at least one chamber for loading rod-like articles and oblong openings in the bottom of the chamber of the container, inserting support surfaces of support means from below into the chambers of the container through the oblong openings in the bottom the chamber of the container, up to a height corresponding to the height of the chamber of the container, a closed configuration of the filling assembly is changed into an open configuration which enables the flow of rod-like articles into the chambers of the container, the position of the support means is lowered, at the same time the chambers of the container being loaded with rod-like articles, the support means being lowered until the support surfaces of the support means is displaced out of the openings in the bottom of the chambers of the container, the open configuration of the filling assembly is changed to the closed configuration in the flow of rod-like articles into the chambers of the container is blocked.
An advantage of the filler and the loading method according to the invention is the possibility of fast loading of the rod-like articles from above, at the same time into multiple chambers of the multi-chamber container while ensuring a compact arrangement of the said articles, without gaps among them, and the limitation of the risk of arrangement of the rod-like articles transversely relative to one another. Furthermore, an advantage of the filler according to the invention is a compact structure and the fact that overall dimensions of the filler units do not go beyond the path of movement of the containers being filled, in the top view. Additionally, the solution according to the invention allows eliminating the risk of occurrence of physical damage to the rod-like articles in the course of loading, with a simultaneous increase of the filling speed.
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 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 filler of the container in an isometric view;
Fig.6: shows the filler of the container in a top view;
Fig.7: shows the filler of the container in a vertical section A-A;
Fig.8: shows the filler of the container in a vertical section, in an open configuration of the filling unit;
Fig.9: shows the filler of the container in a vertical section, in a closed configuration of the filling unit after filling of the container;
Fig. 10: shows a preferred embodiment of the filler according to the invention adapted to loading of single-chamber containers;
Fig. 11: shows a preferred embodiment of the filler according to the invention adapted to loading of single-row multi-chamber containers;

A filler of a container according to this invention is adapted to 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 filler of the container will be described.
The container is presented below in a preferred embodiment in a multi-chamber form. Fig. 1 shows an example of the multi-chamber container in which only one chamber is filled, in the process of filling and storage of the articles usually all chambers of the container are filled, with the container being adapted to simultaneous filling of several chambers in a row, 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 to 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 comprises a row 9 of the 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 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, the partitions 7 and 8 may have the form of a latticework connected with the walls 2 and 3. However, 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, in particular preferably comprises four chambers.
As shown in Fig. 1, the chambers 5 of the container 1 are open to above, and oblong openings 10 (invisible in Fig.1) in the bottom 4 of the container 1 enable inserting of support means 24 into individual chambers 5 of the container 1 from below through a group G of the oblong openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the chambers 5. Thus an advantageous technical effect which allows loading the container from above was achieved. Fig. 1 shows only a fragment of the support means 24 used in the filler and the unloader of multi-chamber containers, the support means 24 having support surfaces 11 (shown in Fig. 4) for supporting rod-like articles R situated on support elements belonging to a group 25 of the support means, where the number of the groups 25 of the 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 and the rod-like articles R to be pushed out of the shown filled chamber 5 or of the filled chambers 5 on the unloader. An adaptation of the oblong openings 10 for the insertion of the groups 25 of the support means 24 allows achieving 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. It is also possible to adapt the support means 24 to a simultaneous insertion from below into all chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 for the rod-like articles R.
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 the dimensions a and b, with the dimensions a and b constituting the widths of the walls 6a and 6b, which was shown in magnification 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 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 5 of the multi-chamber container 1, thus the walls 6a and 6b are arranged in a series. 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. Fig 4 shows, 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 bottommost 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, the opening 10 in the bottom 4 of the chamber is rectangular with the length c and the width d. The support surface 11 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.
As shown in Fig. 5, the filler 20 of the multi-chamber container 1 comprises a hopper 21 in which the rod-like articles R are stored, a filling unit 23 for filling of the multi-chamber container 1, and the 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 feeding apparatus connected to the inlet 22 of the hopper 21. 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 the 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 of 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 was shown with the arrows. The successive containers 1 move on the path of movement L one after another as shown in Fig. 6. 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 support means 24. A movement of the container 1 along the path of movement L below the filling unit 23 is possible only for the closed configuration of this unit, for example in Fig. 7 a roller filling unit 23 in the closed configuration is shown. The support means 24 is situated below the path of movement L of the container 1. 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 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 27 of the support means 24 are thinner than the other support elements 27 so as to provide a space between the side walls 6a of the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 parallel to the side a and the outermost support elements . This embodiment allows achieving an advantageous technical effect associated with the elimination of a disadvantageous accumulation of the tobacco pouring 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. 5 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, i.e. in such a way that the rod-like articles R from the filling unit 23, after shifting it to the open configuration, will be able to flow to 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 is to 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 is to be noted that the multi-chamber containers 1 may be moved both before and after filling in the direction L as well as in a direction opposite to the direction marked in the drawing. 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. 5, the invisible row 9 below the filling unit 23 is empty, which was also shown in Fig. 7 where the support means 24 is situated below the multi-chamber container 1, below a receiving area 28, thus below the path of movement L. The support means 24 is lifted in such a way that the groups 25 of support means are inserted through the openings 10 in the groups G into the chambers 5, and the support surfaces 11 are placed just below the filling unit 23, after which the filling unit 23 is shifted from the closed configuration to the open configuration where the groups 25 of support means of the support means 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 support means 24 in order to displace the support means out of the chambers 5 through the openings 10 in the groups G is started. During the downward movement of the support means 24, the rod-like articles R are transferred from the hopper 21 through the filling unit 23 at the same time to all chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1, at the last stage of lowering of the support means 24, the filling unit 23 is shifted from the open configuration to the closed configuration, which was shown in Fig. 9.
Fig. 6 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 support means are situated directly below the chambers 5 directly opposite the openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the multi-chamber container 1.
The groups 25 of support means of the support means 24 are adapted for inserting the rod-like articles R delivered by the open configuration of the filling unit 23 into the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1. In the course of filling of the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 with the rod-like articles R, the position of the support means 24 is lowered until the moment of complete displacement of the groups 25 of support means out of the openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the chambers 5 as shown in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the support elements 27 have the form of flat oblong elements, i.e. the support element 27 is a cuboid whose one dimension is distinctly smaller than the other dimensions. The dimensions of the support elements 27 are adapted to the dimension s of the chamber 5 and the openings 10 in the bottom 4 of the chamber 5. According to this embodiment, the support element 27 is rectangular in the cross-section and has the dimensions e and f as shown in Fig. 4. The height h of the support element 27 (lengthwise dimension of the support element 27 parallel to the direction of movement of the element 27) is greater than the height H of the chambers 5, whereas the width e of the support elements 27 is smaller than the width E of the chambers 5 and smaller than the length c of the oblong openings 10. The number of individual support elements 27 in the group 25 of support means corresponds to the number of the openings 10 in the group G in the bottom of the chamber 5, whereas the number of the groups 25 of support means corresponds to the number of the chambers 5 of the container 1.
In addition, the groups 25 of support means may have a common drive, or each group 25 of support means may have a separate drive.
Furthermore, the group 25 of support means may comprise oblong support elements 27 with any desired cross-sections and additionally may be configured so that during the filling 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.
In addition, any desired shape of the cross-section of the support element 27 of the support means 24 and shape of the support surface 11 are possible. Preferably the individual support elements 27 of the support means 24 may have the form of movable oblong supports whose lengthwise dimension is parallel to the direction of movement of individual support elements 27 of the support means 24. In addition, the supports may have a rectangular cross-section, a cross-section in the shape of a broken curve or in the shape of a corrugated curve.
Fig. 8 shows the filler in the open configuration of the filling unit 23 enabling the flow of the rod-like articles to the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1. As shown in Fig. 8, the groups 25 of support means of the support means 24 is inserted into the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1, up to a height corresponding to the height of the chamber 5. The position of the groups 25 of the support means is gradually lowered with the filling of the chambers 5 of the multi-chamber container 1 until the position shown in Fig. 9 is achieved.
Fig. 9 shows the filler 20 after filling the row 9 of the chambers 5 and displacing the groups 25 of the support means 24 downwards. After filling the chambers 5 in one row 9, the multi-chamber container 1 is moved in the direction L so that the next row 9 of empty chambers 5 is situated below the hopper 21 and the filling unit 23, and in such position the filling of another row 9 of the chambers 5 may be started.
Fig. 10 shows the filler 40 for the filling of the container 41 having one chamber 42, with the chamber having three walls, a back wall 43 and two side walls 44 and 45. The bottom 46 is provided with multiple oblong openings 47, the openings 47 are arranged in rows and are displaced relative to adjoining openings. A support means 48 comprises multiple support elements 49 having support surfaces 11. In addition, it is possible to use the filler 40 for a container having a chamber with two walls, i.e. the container 41 without the back wall 43. At the bottom of the chamber 42 there are situated several examples of the rod-like articles R; after the filling of the container 41, the entire chamber 42 will be filled with the articles R, whereas the rod-like articles situated in the bottommost layer will be supported at multiple points and, as a result, will not be exposed to deformation. Similar to the first embodiment, empty and filled containers are conveyed in the direction L. The filling process runs in a similar way as in the first embodiment, with the filling unit having one section for the feeding of the rod-like articles throughout the width of the chamber 42.
Fig. 11 shows the filler 50 for the filling of the container 51 having multiple chambers 52 in a row; in the embodiment shown, the container has four chambers 52 arranged in the 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 a 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, after the filling of the container 51, the entire chamber 52 will be filled with the articles R. Similar to the first embodiment, empty and filled containers are conveyed in the direction L on a conveyor C shown as an example and drawn as a broken line. The conveyor C may also be used in the previous embodiments. The filling process runs in a similar way as in the previous embodiment, with the filling unit having several sections for the feeding of the rod-like articles to the individual chambers 52. The chambers 52 may be filled simultaneously or sequentially.

Claims

A filler (20, 40, 50) of a container (1, 41, 51) for rod-like articles (R) of the tobacco industry for loading a container from above comprising:
a hopper (21) for containing rod-like articles (R),

a filling unit (23) which changes, during operation, its configuration between a closed configuration, in which the flow of rod-like articles (R) is blocked and an open configuration which enables the flow of rod-like articles (R), for loading the container (1, 41, 51) with rod-like articles (R),

a loading region (28) for loading an empty container (1, 41, 51) located below the filling unit (23),
characterized in that

the filler comprises movable support means (24, 48, 58), located below the loading region (28) of an empty container (1, 41, 51), adapted to insert support surfaces (11) for supporting rod-like articles (R) from below into the chamber (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51) through the oblong openings (10, 47, 57) in the bottom (4, 46, 56) of the chamber (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51).
The filler (20, 40, 50) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support surface (11) has the shape adapted to the oblong opening in the bottom (4, 46, 56) of the chamber (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51).
The filler (20, 40, 50) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support surface (11) has the shape of a quadrilateral.
The filler (20, 40, 50) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support surface (11) has the shape of a rectangle.
The filler (20, 40, 50) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support surface (11) has the shape of a broken curve or a corrugated curve.
The filler (20, 40, 50) according to claim 4, characterized in that the support element (27) having the support surface (11) has the form of a flat cuboid.
The filler (20, 40, 50) according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that the support means (24) is a group (25) of support means adapted to insert the support surfaces into the chamber (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51) through a group (G) of openings (10, 47, 57) in the bottom (4, 46, 56) of the chamber (5, 42, 52).
The filler (20, 50) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support means (24, 58) is adapted to insert the support surfaces (11) into the chambers (5, 52) of the container (1, 51) having a row (9) of chambers (5, 52).
The filler (20) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support means (24) is adapted to insert the support surfaces (11) into the chambers (5) of the container (1) having at least two rows (9) of chambers (5).
The filler (20, 50) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the support means (24) is adapted to simultaneously insert the support surfaces (11) into all chambers (5, 52) in a row (9).
The filler (40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chamber (42) is provided with at least two walls (44, 45).
The filler (40, 50) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the chamber (42, 52) is provided with three walls (43, 44, 45, 53, 54, 55).
The filler (20) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the chamber (5) is provided with four walls (6a, 6b) having a substantially rectangular cross-section of a side (a) and side (b).
The filler (20, 50) according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that a group of openings (10, 57) is arranged in a series in the bottom (4, 56) of the chamber (5, 52) of the container (1, 51), extending in a direction (k) perpendicular to the side of the chamber (5, 52).
The filler (20, 40, 50) according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a conveyor (C) for transporting empty and filled containers (1, 41, 51) located below the loading region (28) of the empty container (1, 41, 51).
A method of loading a container (1, 41, 51) with rod-like articles (R) of the tobacco industry from above, characterized in that
a container (1, 41, 51) is placed under a filling unit (23) of a filler (20, 40, 50), the container comprising
at least one chamber (5, 42, 52) for loading rod-like articles (R) and

oblong openings (10, 47, 57) in the bottom (4, 46, 56) of the chamber (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51),

inserting support surfaces (11) of support means (24, 48, 58) from below into the chambers (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51) through the oblong openings (10) in the bottom (4, 46, 56) the chamber (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51), up to a height corresponding to the height of the chamber (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51),

a closed configuration of the filling assembly (23) is changed into an open configuration which enables the flow of rod-like articles (R) into the chambers (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51),

the position of the support means (24, 48, 58) is lowered, at the same time the chambers (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51) being loaded with rod-like articles (R), the support means (24, 48, 58) being lowered until the support surfaces (11) of the support means (24, 48, 58) is displaced out of the openings (10, 47, 57) in the bottom (4, 46, 56) of the chambers (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51),

the open configuration of the filling assembly (23) is changed to the closed configuration in which the flow of rod-like articles (R) into the chambers (5, 42, 52) of the container (1, 41, 51) is blocked.