EP2108271B1 - Emptying cartridge and method for emptying shaft trays filled with rod-shaped products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an emptying magazine for a Schragenentleerstation for the serial emptying of shaft-shaped products filled shafts of a manhole, comprising a conveying element for transporting the products flowing from the shafts products, a connection means for coupling the emptying manhole to the conveyor element, wherein the connecting means for forming a Channel for the product flow is arranged substantially parallel spaced from the conveyor element and having a closing means to be closed and openable opening for the passage of the products from manhole into the channel, wherein in the region of the channel a transport of the products supporting element is arranged. The invention further relates to a method for the serial emptying of shafts of a shaft tray filled with rod-shaped products, comprising the steps of supplying a shaft to be emptied into the region of a channel formed by a conveyor element and a connection means, opening the overhead shaft and removing the shaft the shaft tray in the channel flowing products through the conveyor element.

Such emptying magazines and methods are used in particular in the tobacco processing industry in the processing of rod-shaped products, see, for example WO2008 / 020775 A1 , Cigarettes, filter rods or the like are stored for various reasons in containers, the so-called Schragen, for storage or storage. Preferably, the containers are designed as shaft trays, in which the products lie in several shafts separated by shaft walls. For further processing of the stored products, these are delivered to downstream devices, such as packaging machines or the like, or introduced into an existing mass flow. For the automated feeding of the Products from the shaft trays are usually available to emptying stations. The emptying stations have, in a known manner, a supply means for shaft cavities filled with products, an emptying magazine, a discharge means for the emptied shaft trays and a transfer device by means of which the full shaft trays are transported into the region of the emptying magazine and the emptied shaft trays are transported from the emptying hopper into the area of the discharging element become. The emptying magazine essentially comprises a conveying element for removing the products flowing out of the shaft trays and a connecting means for coupling the shaft trays to be emptied. The shaft trays are firmly connected during the emptying process with the connection means, such that the shaft trays stand still during emptying. The transfer device can be designed differently. Widening devices are pivoting devices which have a receptacle for one or more shaft trays and to which a movable closing element is assigned as part of the transfer device for the shaft openings open at the top. This closing element, which may also be associated with the shaft tray itself, is usually a so-called pull-tab, which in the closed state prevents the products from falling out during the rotation or during the overhead turning.

From the document DE 10 2007 006 133.3 Such a discharge magazine with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. As already mentioned, the connection means also serves, in particular, to couple the shaft trays to the conveying element. Coupling in this context means that the shaft trays are not moved during the emptying process but are stationary. In other words, there is no relative movement between the shaft tray and the connection means during the emptying process. The transport of the products flowing out of the shafts of the shaft of the shaft is assisted by the element located in the channel. This element is designed as a movable deflection element and ensures that each of a shaft currently flowing products in the transport direction T of the product stream are passed on the conveyor element. The deflection element has, starting from the opening of the connection means on a curvature, which leads to the products immediately after passing through the Be redirected opening. However, this leads to the fact that due to the inflowing products from the just to be emptied manhole can lead to a product backlog. Furthermore, the device described in the cited document is set up such that firstly a first shaft is almost completely emptied, while the other shafts and in particular also the adjacent shaft are still closed, so that in each case only a single shaft is currently emptied. However, this has the consequence that there is a risk of gap formation in the product flow. The formation of gaps, in turn, in addition to a discontinuous removal of the products to downstream devices, the problem of so-called cross-flyers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an emptying magazine with an improved flow behavior of the product stream. Furthermore, the object of the invention is to propose a corresponding method.

This object is achieved by an emptying magazine having the features of claim 1. This inventive design of the guide element, the drainage behavior is improved in a surprisingly simple and reliable manner. The fact that in the emptying process of a shaft always the adjacent shaft is at least partially emptied from the beginning, the gap formation can be effectively prevented in the product stream. At the same time, the gap-free product flow ensures that the so-called cross-planes can not arise at all.

An expedient development of the invention is characterized in that the guide element is designed as a movable carriage within the channel with at least one discharge hopper. Due to the movability of the carriage or the discharge hopper, the serial emptying is supported.

Advantageously, the opening of the guide element or the discharge hopper is about 1.5 times as large as the width of a shaft. In other words, the Input opening of the container-like guide element or the emptying hopper has a width which corresponds to 1.5 times the width of a shaft, so that a first shaft with full power and at the same time an adjacent shaft at half power can be emptied, resulting in a fast and a gapless Product flow forming emptying the shaft tray leads. The inventive construction further improves the flow behavior of the products or of the product stream formed from the products during a shaft change.

A preferred development is characterized in that the guide element has a section running vertically to the conveyor element and a section running parallel to the conveyor element. As a result of the continuation of the shaft geometry in the guide element through the vertical section, the products are initially led away from the shaft tray, so that the actual removal of the product flow takes place at a distance from the shaft tray, which in turn has a positive effect on the flow behavior.

The emptying magazine is expediently assigned an element for monitoring the filling level of individual shafts of the shaft tray, wherein this element is preferably arranged on the movable carriage. This ensures the control of the closing means and / or the guide element in a simple manner and with little effort.

An expedient development of the invention is characterized in that the carriage comprises two discharge hoppers which are movable in opposite directions towards and away from each other, and that the conveying element comprises two conveyor belts, which for the removal of at least two shafts simultaneously flowing products in opposite set direction are drivable. With this embodiment according to the invention it is achieved that shaft trays can be emptied more quickly compared with the previously described embodiments without increasing the shaft-specific emptying speed. This leads to the fact that the shafts can be emptied despite the very rapid emptying of the entire shaft tray with an optimized flow behavior of the product flow or the product streams.

Particularly preferred is an inventive discharge magazine, which is characterized in that the two conveyor belts to form a passage opening to a running under the conveyor belts further downstream are arranged spaced from each other, wherein the conveyor belts for transporting the products in the direction of the passage opening in the opposite direction to each other are driven. With this embodiment it is achieved that the product (mass) stream can be emptied downwards, wherein a mass flow of the desired height can be formed by a further deflection. The arrangement ensures that the products flowing out of the shafts can be transported away quickly and in an orderly manner.

The object is also achieved by a method with the steps mentioned in claim 16. The resulting advantages have already been described in connection with the emptying magazine, which is why reference is made to the corresponding passages to avoid repetition.

Fig. 1

eine Vorderansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Entleermagazins,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Entleermagazins zu Beginn des Entleervorgangs,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung des Entleermagazins gemäß Figur 1 zum Ende des Entleervorgangs,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Entleermagazins,

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Entleermagazins zu Beginn des Entleervorgangs, und

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung des Entleermagazins gemäß Figur 5 zum Ende des Entleervorgangs.

Further expedient and / or advantageous features and further developments emerge from the subclaims and the description. A particularly preferred embodiment will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a front view of an emptying magazine according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of an emptying magazine at the beginning of the emptying process,

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of the emptying magazine according to FIG. 1 at the end of the emptying process,

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of another embodiment of an emptying magazine according to the invention,

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of another embodiment of an emptying magazine according to the invention at the beginning of the emptying process, and

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of the emptying magazine according to FIG. 5 at the end of the emptying process.

The emptying magazine shown in the drawing is used for emptying filled with rod-shaped products shaft trays.

In the Figures 2 and 3 or 4 to 6, an emptying magazine 10 is shown in different phases of emptying shaft tray 11. The emptying magazine 10, which is in the FIG. 1 is shown without shaft trays 11, is designed and arranged for emptying the shaft tray 11. The shaft tray 11 itself has side walls 12, parallel to the side walls 12 extending shaft walls 13, a rear wall 14 and a bottom wall 15. The side walls 12 and the shaft walls 13 serve to form shafts 16, in which the rod-shaped products 17 are arranged.

The emptying magazine 10 comprises a conveying element 18 for removing the products 17 flowing out of the shafts 16 and a connecting means 19 for coupling the shaft trays 11 to be emptied to the conveying element 18. Usually, the conveying element 18 is a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain which can be driven circumferentially in both directions. Other conventional conveying elements 18, for example, two separate conveyor belts with appropriate training (further below), however, are also used. The connection means 19 may be a carrier which has a cover plate 20 and a rear wall 21. In the cover plate 20, an opening 22 for the passage of the products 17 is provided. Of course, the connection means 19 may be formed in other conventional manner. The connecting means 19 and the conveying element 18 are arranged at a distance from one another in parallel so that a channel 23 for the product stream 24 is formed below the connecting means 19. So that From the shaft tray 11 flowing products 17 do not flow directly and disorderly into the channel 23, the opening 22 of the connecting means 19 are associated with closing means 25. These closing means 25 are designed and arranged for shaft-wise opening and closing of the opening 22. This means that the closing means 25 are formed in a segment-like manner, so that each shaft 16 is assigned a closure means 25, which can preferably be pushed on both sides. Other common designs of the closure means 25 are also possible. For actuation, the closing means 25 can optionally be in operative connection with an element 26 which is arranged within the channel 23 and supports the removal of the products 17 or the product stream 24 or opened by separate (not shown) actuators and closed again. Preferably, the (not shown) actuating element is a threading element or the like, which is arranged below the closing means 25 and formed and shaped on the upper side such that the closing means 25 apart in the transport direction T as well as against the transport direction T during the movement of the Fädelelementes is pressed. Between the actuation of the closing element 25 triggering, preferably arrow-shaped material increases, the threading element on a passage opening, the size of which will be described below. As an actuator, of course, other common elements come into question.

The element 26 located in the channel 23 is a guide element receiving the products 17. This means that the products 17 can flow into the guide element and can flow out of it again. This container-like and a funnel having guide element has a shaft tray 11 facing the inlet opening 27 and an outlet opening 28. The inlet opening 27 is larger than the width of a shaft 16, so that the inlet opening 27 extends in width over more than one slot 16. Preferably, the inlet opening 27 has a width 1.5 times greater than a shaft 16. However, the width of the inlet opening 27 may vary in a width which is greater than 1 times the width of a shaft 16 and at most 2 times the width a shaft 16 has. With the width of the measure is defined that extends in the figures in the image plane parallel to the transport direction T. The length / depth of the inlet opening 27 into the image plane of the figures, ie transversely to the transport direction T, corresponds to the length / depth of the Shafts 16. The preferably rectangular passage opening of the threading element corresponds in its width (viewed in the transport direction T) to the size of the inlet opening 27 of the guide element.

The guide element is designed as a movable carriage 23 within the channel. The carriage may comprise at least one discharge hopper 40 (see FIGS. 1 to 3 ). For example, a linear drive 29 can serve as a drive for the slide. Of course, other drive units are also used. The guide element or the emptying funnel 40 has a section 30 extending vertically to the conveying element 18. Starting from the opening 22 of the connection means 19 or the inlet opening 27 of the guide element, this vertical section 30 initially extends vertically downwards in the direction of the conveying element 18 only in the extension of the shafts 16. Approximately halfway between the inlet opening 27 and the conveying element 18 the guide on a bottleneck 31. In the region of this constriction 31, a side wall 32 of the guide element is funnel-shaped bevelled or aligned, while the inclined side wall 32 opposite wall 33 is deflected to form a wiper edge 34 by 90 °. In the region of the constriction 31, the distance between the side wall 32 and the wall 33 and the stripping edge 34 corresponds approximately to the width of a shaft 16. In continuation of the vertical portion 30 and the constriction 31, the guide element has a horizontal portion 35 which is parallel to Conveying element 18 extends. Like from the Figures 2 and 3 shows, the inclined portion of the side wall 32 ends approximately at the level of the scraper edge 34. Above and below the oblique portion of the side wall 32 extends vertically. The inclination and the position of the inclined portion of the side wall 32 may of course vary (see, eg FIG. 1 ). The threading element can be driven or moved in different ways. The coordination of the movements of the threading element on the one hand and the carriage on the other hand by means of a controller.

The emptying magazine 10 is assigned to monitor the level of the individual shafts 16 of the shaft tray 11, an element 36. The element 36 may be associated with each individual slot 16. Preferably, however, a single element 36 is arranged on the carriage, so that the element 36 running with the carriage is formed or arranged. The element 36 may be, for example, a light sensor with background suppression. Other common measuring or monitoring elements are also used. Alternatively or cumulatively, the emptying magazine 10 may also be associated with a distance measuring element 37. The distance measuring element 37 is arranged on one of the two sides of the shaft shaft 11 to be coupled such that a fill level determination can be carried out by means of corresponding openings in the side walls 12 or shaft walls 13 of the shaft tray 11. With the help of the knowledge obtained by the element 36 and / or the distance measuring element 37, both the carriage and the threading element are controlled.

For those in the FIGS. 4 to 6 In the embodiments shown, the above description is made with reference to FIGS FIGS. 1 to 3 substantially the same, so that the same reference numeral is used for the same parts. The differences of the other embodiments will be described in more detail below. The in the FIGS. 4 to 6 described embodiments show a carriage with two discharge hoppers 40. The two discharge hoppers 40 are formed separately from each other. In other words, the two emptying funnels 40 are designed in the opposite direction to one another and movable away from one another. Optionally, the two discharge hoppers 40 can be in operative connection with each other. However, the emptying funnels 40 are preferably individually and independently controllable. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4 The emptying funnels 40 each have a preferably rectilinear side wall 32, which extends from the connection means 19 to the conveyor belt 18. Each emptying funnel 40 has, on the side opposite the side wall 32, a wall 33 which, starting from the connecting means 19, initially runs in the shape of a trolley in the direction of the side wall 32, then parallel to the side wall 32 and then at an angle of approximately 90 ° to the side wall 32. The last section of the wall 33 extending perpendicularly to the side wall 32 extends approximately parallel to the conveying element 18, but at a distance from the conveying element 18. The discharge hoppers 40 according to FIG Figures 5 and 6 have a side wall 32, which extends from the connection means 19 in the direction of the conveying element 18, wherein the side wall 32 terminates at a distance from the conveying element 18. The side walls 33 are formed comparable, but lacks the parallel to the conveying element 18 extending section. Instead, the vertical and vertical stretches parallel to the side wall 32 extending portion of the wall 33 to the conveyor element 18th

All embodiments of the FIGS. 4 to 6 have a conveying element 18 which comprises two conveyor belts 41, 42, which are preferably drivable in the opposite direction for the removal of the products 17 flowing from at least two ducts 16. A rectified drive is also possible. The two conveyor belts 41, 42 can be synchronized. Preferably, however, the two conveyor belts 41, 42 are independently drivable or controllable. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4 the two conveyor belts 41, 42 driven away from each other and arranged closely next to each other or in the drive direction one behind the other. In other words, the two conveyor belts 41, 42 are arranged one behind the other without gaps, so that products 17 falling from the discharge hoppers 40 necessarily hit the conveyor belts 41, 42 in every position of the discharge hoppers 40. Possible design-related distances between the two conveyor belts 40 may be bridged, for example, by a metal sheet, a guide element or in another conventional manner. In the execution according to the Figures 5 and 6 are conveyor belts 41, 42 arranged to form a passage opening 43 to a below the conveyor belts 41, 42 extending further downstream channel 44 spaced from each other. In this case, the conveyor belts 41, 42 are driven toward one another in the direction of the passage opening 43 in the opposite direction for transporting the products 17. The downstream channel 44 is bounded above by the conveyor belts 41, 42 and down by another conveyor belt 45.

The embodiment according to the FIGS. 1 to 3 serves in particular for the removal of products 17 to a further processing machine with an average power. The embodiment according to the FIG. 4 is preferably used to transport the products 17 to at least one, but preferably two further processing machines with low power. More specifically, a conveyor belt 41 feeds the products 17 to a first low-power finishing machine and the other conveyor 42 feeds the products 17 to a second low-power finishing machine. In particular, in the embodiment according to FIG. 4 For example, two shaft trays 11 at the same time be adapted to the connection means 19, so that each shaft tray 11 is associated with a discharge hopper 40 of the carriage. The embodiment according to the Figures 5 and 6 is preferably used to transport the products 17 to a high-performance finishing machine. This assignment is only an example and can of course be done in other ways.

The following is the principle of the method on the basis of FIGS. 2 to 6 A full shaft tray 11 is coupled via the head to the connection means 19, so that the shaft tray 11 is firmly connected to the connection means 19 during the following emptying process. First, the opening 22 of the connection means 19 is completely blocked by the closing means 25, so that the products 17 flow out of the shafts 16 or lie on the closing means 25 after opening of the closing element associated with the shaft tray 11 or the transfer device. The threading element is then moved from a position next to or in front of the connection means 19 from right to left into the region of the first shafts 16 so that the closing means 25 of the first shaft 16 and the adjacent shaft 16 are opened. At this time, the guide element is completely below the first shaft 16 and partially below the adjacent shaft. In other words, the guide element, namely the carriage or the emptying funnel 40, is positioned within the channel 23 so that the inlet opening 27 completely covers the first shaft 16 and the adjacent shaft 16 partially, so that the products 17 from the first shaft 16 in the full width of the shaft 16 flow, while the products 17 from the adjacent shaft 16 flow only over part of the width of the shaft 16. The products 17 flowing out of the shafts 16 are guided by the guide element or the discharge hopper 40 onto the conveying element 18 and conveyed away from it continuously in the transport direction T.

The element 36 and / or the distance measuring element 37 determine the level in the emptied over the full width shaft 16. Once a defined filling level is exceeded, both the threading element and the guide element against the transport direction T of the product stream 24 are further moved until the previously only one part of the width emptied shaft 16 is now emptied over the full width, while the adjacent third shaft 16 is emptied only over part of the width.

In other words, the shaft 16, which completely covers the guide element with its inlet opening 27, is emptied at a higher speed than the shaft 16, which the guide element covers only partially with the inlet opening 27. This shallow emptying continues until the in FIG. 3 situation occurs. After emptying the last shaft 16, the threading element moves back to the starting position. The same applies to the guide element. Behind the threading element close the closing means 25 again, so that a change of tray can be performed as soon as the last closing means 25 is closed again. During the movement of the guide element from the in FIG. 3 shown end position in the in FIG. 2 shown starting position of the emptied shaft tray 11 is replaced with a full shaft tray 11. The uniform outflow of the products 17 thus results in a gap-free product flow 24 on the conveying element 18.

After a similar principle, the method with the emptying magazines 10 according to the FIGS. 4 to 6 executed. However, the emptying of the shaft tray 11 by the parallelization, ie the doubling of the discharge hopper 40 can be increased. In the method with an emptying magazine 10 according to the FIG. 4 For example, a shaft tray 11 or two shaft trays 11 can be fastened to the connection means 19. The example is explained with reference to a shaft tray 11. In the starting position, that is, a shaft tray 11 filled with products 17 is adapted to the connection means 19, the two discharge hoppers 40 are located in the center of the tray 11 (see FIG FIG. 4 ). First, the two middle shafts 16 are emptied, wherein the inlet opening 27, which extends over more than one shaft 16, allows the respectively adjacent, further outward shaft 16 to be emptied over part of the width. The two conveyor belts 41, 42 convey the mass flow 24 away from each other in the opposite direction. As soon as the two middle shafts 16 are emptied, the emptying funnels 40 are moved outward by one shaft width and the emptying process is continued accordingly. The products 17 are thereby continuously transported to two sides, preferably to two further processing machines. After emptying the outermost shafts 16, the two emptying funnels 40 are again moved inwards to the starting position.

In the method with the emptying magazine 10 according to the Figures 5 and 6 are the two discharge hoppers 40 in the middle of the shaft tray 11 in the start position (see FIG. 5 ). Again, the two middle shafts 16 are emptied, each one adjacent shaft 16 is partially emptied. The conveyor belts 41, 42 move towards each other, so that the products 17 are transported into the region of the passage opening 43. The products 17 flow continuously down through the passage opening 43 in the discharge channel 44, from where they are transported away from the discharge magazine 10. After the complete emptying of the middle shafts 16, the two discharge hoppers 40 are each moved outward by one shaft width and the emptying process is continued. After emptying the two outermost shafts 16, the reservoir lying on the conveyor belts 41, 42 is available for an imminent tray change (see FIG. 6 ). During the Schragenwechseles promote the conveyor belts 41, 42, the reservoir located in the channel 23 continuously to the passage opening 43, through which the products 17 flow. The two emptying funnels 40 are thereby moved back into the middle (start position), to carry out a subsequent emptying cycle.

The method has been described in terms of a serial emptying of shaft slots 11 with an even number of shafts 16. Of course, there is also the possibility of emptying an odd number of wells 16 by the side on which the larger number of wells 16 is correspondingly emptied faster, so that both emptying hopper 40 arrive at the same time at the last slot 16.

Claims (20)

1. Device for serially discharging shafts (16) of a shaft tray (11) filled with rod-shaped products, comprising a discharge hopper (10) for a tray discharge station, a conveying element (18) for carrying away products (17) flowing out of the shafts (16), a shaft tray (11), a connecting means (19) for coupling the shaft trays (11) to be emptied to the conveying element (18), wherein the connecting means (19) is disposed substantially parallel, spaced apart from the conveying element (18), for forming a channel (23) for the product flow (24), and has an opening (22) for the passage of the products (17) from the shaft tray (11) into the channel (23), to be opened and closed on a shaft-wise basis with closure means (25), wherein an element (26) supporting the removal of the products (17) is disposed in the region of the channel (23),
   characterized in that the element (26) disposed in the region of the channel (23) is formed as a container-like guide element receiving the products (17), the inlet opening (27) of which facing toward the shaft tray (11) is greater than the width of one shaft (16) of the shaft tray (11), such that for emptying the shaft tray (11) one after the other, in each case, simultaneously a first shaft (16) can be emptied across the entire width thereof, and an adjacent shaft (16) can be emptied across at least a portion of the width thereof, into the channel (23), wherein the inlet opening (27) of the guide element, or respectively the or each discharge funnel (40) is at most twice as large as the width of one shaft (16).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide element is constructed as a slide movable within the channel (23) with at least one discharge funnel (40).
3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the slide comprises two discharge funnels (40) that are movable in opposing directions towards and away from each other, and that the conveying element (18) comprises two conveyor belts (41, 42) that can be driven in opposing directions for removing the products (17) flowing simultaneously out of at least two shafts (16).
4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the inlet opening (27) of the guide element, or respectively of the or each discharge funnel (40), is approximately 1.5 times as large as the width of a shaft (16).
5. Device according to one of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the guide element, or respectively the or each discharge funnel (40), has a section (30) running vertical to the conveying element (18), and a section (35) running parallel to the conveying element (18).
6. Device according to one of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the guide element, or respectively the or each discharge funnel (40), is aligned starting from the inlet opening (27) facing toward the shaft tray (11) initially exclusively vertically in the direction of the conveying element (18), and then horizontally forming a scraper edge (34).
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the constriction (31) of the guide element formed by the scraper edge (34) and the opposing side wall (32) corresponds in width approximately to the width of a shaft (16).
8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the side wall (32) lying opposite to the scraper edge (34) is formed at least partly funnel-shaped sloped.
9. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an element (36) for monitoring the fill level of individual shafts (16) of a shaft tray (11) is assigned to the discharge hopper (10).
10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the element (36) for monitoring is disposed on the movable slide.
11. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the element (36) for monitoring is a photosensor with background suppression.
12. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a distance measuring element (37) is assigned to the discharge hopper (10) that detects the filling level through openings in the side walls (12), or the shaft walls (13) of the shaft tray (11), respectively.
13. Device according to one of the claims 3 to 12, characterized in that both the two discharge funnels (40) with respect to each other as well as the conveyor belts (41, 42) with respect to each other are controllable independently from each other.
14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the two conveyor belts (41, 42) are disposed distanced from each other for forming a through-opening (43) to a further outlet channel (44) running below the conveyor belts (41, 42), wherein the conveyor belts (41, 42) are driven in opposing directions towards each other for transporting the products (17) in the direction of the through-opening (43).
15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the outflow channel (44) is limited upwards by the conveyor belts (41, 42) and downwards by a further conveyor belt (45).
16. Method for serially discharging shafts (26) of a shaft tray (11), filled with rod-shaped products (17), with the steps:

    - supplying a shaft tray (11) to be emptied into the region of a channel (23) formed by a conveying element (18) and a connecting means (19),

    - opening the shaft tray (11) standing upside down, and removing the products (17) flowing out of the shaft tray (11) into the channel (23) by the conveying element (18),

    characterized in that for emptying the shaft tray (11) one after the other, in each case, simultaneously a first shaft (16) is emptied across the entire width thereof and an adjacent shaft (16) is emptied across a portion of the width thereof, into the channel (23), wherein the products (17) fall out of the shafts (16) into a container-like guide element receiving the products (17), and therefrom are guided initially exclusively vertically and then horizontally from the shaft tray (11).
17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that one shaft (16) is emptied at maximum emptying speed, while the adjacent shaft (16) is emptied simultaneously at reduced speed.
18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the products flowing in the guide element are redirected in the region of a scraper edge (34).
19. Method according to one of the claims 16 to 18, characterized in that two shafts (16) are emptied simultaneously, independently of each other, across the full width and one adjacent shaft (16) each is emptied across a portion of the width thereof, into the channel (23), and the products (17) flowing out of the two shafts (16) emptied across the full width are removed by two conveyor belts (41, 42) in opposing directions.
20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the products (17) from the two shafts (16) emptied across the full width, fall into separate discharge funnels (40) of the guide element, and are then guided together to a reservoir (46), wherein the reservoir (46) is transported by means of the conveyor belts (41, 42) in the region of a through-opening (43) and is removed by a conveyor belt (45) located below the conveyor belts (41, 42).

Images