Patent ID: 6158194
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: A24C

Abstract:
An apparatus for manipulating rod-shaped articles for tobacco processing produced by producing machines, utilizing trays for temporarily storing the articles and containers for holding a plurality of the trays, to deliver the articles to processing machines, comprising:means for delivering at least partially filled trays from the producing machines into containers, thereby making containers of at least partially filled trays;means for evacuating the at least partially filled trays from the containers of at least partially filled trays, for delivery of the items to the processing machines, whereby the trays are emptied and for returning empty trays to the containers;at least one magazine having means for temporarily storing (a) containers of at least partially filled trays and (b) containers of empty trays; andtransfer means for delivering, along a route which bypasses said at least one magazine, at least one of (a) containers of at least partially filled trays from the producing machines to the processing machines and (b) containers of empty trays from the processing machines to the producing machines.