GB2148853A

GB2148853A - Tray carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2148853A
Application number: GB08427412A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter David Loomes
Original assignee: Molins Ltd
Current assignee: Mpac Group PLC
Priority date: 1983-11-01
Filing date: 1984-10-30
Publication date: 1985-06-05
Also published as: GB8427412D0; GB8329097D0

Abstract

A tray carrier (10) for cardboard trays (30) containing filter rods of the tobacco industry includes a pivoted cross member (24) which may be latched into a retaining position (shown in carrier 10G) in which a tray is retained in the carrier and an opening flap (34) of the tray is also secured beneath the member. The use of a carrier allows use of cardboard trays in an automatic tray unloader for rod-like articles. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tray carrier This invention relates to a carrier for containers of rod-like articles, particularly for boxes of filter rods for the tobacco industry.

Cigarette filter rods are often loaded into containers after manufacture so that they may be subsequently stored and/or transported to the place at which they are eventually attached to tobacco lengths for production of filter cigarettes. One known form of container comprises a box, usually of cardboard, in whch several thousand filter rods are stored on end. Typically the box may be 120150 mm deep and is usually provided with a removable lid. One side wall of the box is also usually removable, often by folding back along an original fold line with the base of the box, so that the filter rods may be unloaded by hand. Subsequently the filter rods are usually put into trays adapted to be handled by automatic try unloading apparatus.The invention relates to an arrangement whereby containers such as cardboard boxes may be unloaded without separately unloading the filter rods from the containers into trays adapted to be handled by automatic unloading apparatus.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a tray carrier adapted to receive a temporary container for a stack of rod-like articles of the type having a displaceable side wall arranged substantially parallel to the articles, wherein the carrier has means for supporting the container in the carrier, and means for releasably retaining the side wall in its displaced position, so that the carrier and container may be handled by an automatic tray unloader. Preferably the retaining means comprises a movable member, which may have a first position providing ease of entry of the container into the carrier and a second, operative position in which the side wall is retained. Preferably the retaining means serves also, in its operative position, to partly retain the carrier in the container.

The retaining means may comprise a member arranged to hold a folded side of the container flat against a base of the container. Preferably the carrier is arranged with side walls between which side flaps attached to the folded side of the container may be located when the side is held by the retaining means. The retaining means may comprise a pair of arms pivoted to opposite side walls of the carrier and connected by a cross member. The cross member is preferably arranged parallel to a fold line of the displaceable side wall of the container, and preferably lies against the side wall to retain it against a base of the container. The pivoted arms may include latching means or the like for retaining the cross member in this position.

According to another aspect of the invention a method of handling rod-like articles in containers comprises loading a container with a stack of rodlike articles, introducing the container into a carrier, displacing a part of said container to provide access to the stack along one side, retaining said part substantially within the confines of the carrier by engagement with a part of said carrier, delivering said container and carrier to an automatic tray unloading apparatus and unloading the articles from the container, and subsequently releasing the empty container from the carrier.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, which illustrates a tray carrier together with a method of its use.

A tray carrier 10 comprising a number of plastics mouldings comprises a main portion having a back 12, base 14, and sides 16. The front face opposite the back 12, and the top, are open, with the exception that a relatively shallow heel bar 18 extends upwardly from the base 12 and between the sides 16. A series of strengthening ribs 20, parallel to the base, extend across the base and partly around the sides 16. A pair of arms 22 is pivotally connected near the top of each side 16 and a cross member 24 extends between the arms. Each arm 22 carries a slot 26. A short pin 28 extends from each side 16 for engagement with the slot 26, as will be explained below.

The tray 10 is shown in position to receive a cardboard box 30 which is full of filter plugs or rods 32. The box 30 is made from folded cardboard and is of a type commonly used to receive filter rods from a filter rod making machine (or a tray filler associated with the machine). The box is constructed so that at least one side 34 is foldable to provide an opening for access to the filter rods 32. The box 30 is usually provided with a removable lid 36.

The box 30 is conveniently placed on a ramp 40 or the like, so that the tray carrier 10 may be placed over it with the side 42 of the box located on the base 14 of the carrier between the heel bar 18 and the back 12. The lid 36 is removed and stored for subsequent re-use. The open top of the box 30 is placed against the back 12 so that when the box is in position in the carrier 10 the filter rods are completely enclosed.

The subsequent operations on the carrier 10 are illustrated by reference to carriers 10A to 101 in various stages. The carrier 10A is upright with the box 30 in position. The displaceable side wall 34 is at the top. In the carriers 10B to 10F the side 34 of the box 30 is progressively folded back alone its fold line 34A with the base of the box, and side flaps 34B, which previously interlocked the side 34 with the remainder of the box, are folded outwards and, in carrier 10F, are received between the sides 16 of the carrier and the adjacent sides of the box 26. In carrier 10G the flaps 34B are fully inserted and the side 34 is flat against the base of the box 30.In addition the cross member 24 and arms 22 have been pivoted so that the cross member lies against the side 34 and retains it and the side flaps 34B within the confines of the carrier 10. The slots 26 in the arms 22 are located over the corresponding pins 28 in the side walls 16 of the carrier 10G.

Resilient means or other devices intended to releaseably locate the cross member 24 in the position shown in the carrier 10G may be provided. For example the slot 26 may include a spring detent past which the pin 28 passes when the cross member 24 is moved into position. Alternatively, or in addition, means associated with the pivot of the arms 22 could be provided to retain the cross member 24 in position, both in the operative position of carrier 10G and in the position shown in the other carriers. In this latter position the cross member 24 may conveniently act as a handle for the carrier 10.

The placing of a box 30 within the carrier 10 and the operations on the box and carrier between the position of carrier 10 and that of carrier 10G are carried out by hand. It is possible that some or all of these operations could be automated.

The carrier 10G is passed to the position of carrier 10H on an input conveyor 50 of an automatic tray unloading machine 52. The machine 52 may be of the type manufactured by the applicants under the name TUDOR, and include means for inverting the carrier 10 and box 30 over a delivery conveyor 54 so that the contents of the box 30 are delivered to the conveyor by passing through the open top of the box previously covered by the side 34. Empty boxes and their carriers are delivered to the output conveyor 56 of the machine 52 and successive carriers 101 are removed from the conveyor 56, and the cross member 24 is pivoted back away from its operative position so that the empty box 30 can be removed for refilling at a filter rod production machine.

During handling by the machine 52 the carrier 10 protects and confines the box 30 as well as interfacing with various moving means of the machine, thereby allowing automatic handling and unloading of the box. The carrier 10 may be adapted for use with a specific machine.

Claims

1. A tray carrier adapted to receive a temporary container for a stack of rod-like articles of the type having a displaceable side wall arranged substantially parallel to the articles, wherein the carrier has means for supporting the container in the carrier, and means for releaseably retaining the side wall in its displaced position, so that the carrier and container may be handled by an automatic tray unloader.

2. A tray carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises a movable member having a first position providing ease of entry of the container into the carrier and a second position in which the side wall is retained.

3. A tray carrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the retaining means serves to partly retain the carrier in the container.

4. A tray carrier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the retaining means provides a carrying handle for the carrier when not retaining said side wall.

5. A method of handling rod-like articles in containers comprises loading a container with a stack of rod-like articles, introducing the container into a carrier, displacing a part of said container to provide access to the stack along one side, retaining said part substantially within the confines of the carrier by engagement with a pae container, and subsequently releasing the empty container from the carrier.