Apparatus for transporting receptacles for cigarettes or the like

Claim 2

In an apparatus for transporting receptacles for cigarettes or like commodities, a combination comprising conveyor means having travelling carriages arranged to support detachable receptacles for travel along a predetermined path; at least one receptacle-receiving station and at least one receptacledischarging station adjacent to said predetermined path; and a transfer unit for transferring receptacles between at least one of said stations and said carriages, comprising carrier means having a portion arranged to support receptacles during transfer between said one station and said carriages, means for moving said carrier means along an arcuate path, and means for changing the orientation of said portion of said carrier means.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said arcuate path is a closed path.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said arcuate path is disposed in a predetermined single plane.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said arcuate path is a circular path.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said predetermined plane is substantially vertical.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said predetermined plane is substantially horizontal.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for changing the orientation of said portion of said carrier means includes means for tilting said portion. 8, A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer unit further comprises a parallel mechanism for maintaining said portion of said carrier means in a predetermined position of inclination during movement of said carrier means along said arcuate path.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer unit further comprises lifter means for moving said carrier means up and down along a substantially vertical path.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said carrier meAns along said arcuate path comprises rotator means for rotating said carrier means about a substantially vertical axis.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer means further comprises a support for said carrier unit and drive means for moving said support back and forth along a horizontal path.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said receptacles is dimensioned to accommodate at least one smaller receptacle.

Claim 13

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said carriages comprises means for indicating the presence and absence of receptacles thereon as well as the type of commodities in such receptacles.

Claim 14

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said one station is provided with detector means and each of said carriages is provided with an index which can engage said detector means to thus indicate the approach of a carriage into the range of said transfer means.

Claim 15

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said carriages is provided with a marker means for indicating the absence of a receptacle thereon.

Claim 16

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said carriages comprises means for indicating the type of commodities in the respective receptacles.

Claim 17

In as apparatus for transporting commodities, particularly for transporting receptacles for cigarettes or the like, a combination comprising an endless transporting overhead conveyor having travelling portions for transport of commodities along a predetermined path; at least one commodity-receiving station adjacent to said path; at least one commodity-discharging station adjacent to said path; and a power-operated transfer unit for transferring commodities between said travelling portions of said conveyor and at least one of said stations, comprising a substantially upright support, a rotator directly carried by said support, said rotator including carrier means rotatable with reference to said support and arranged to transfer commodities between said travelling portions of said conveyor and said one station, means for rotating said carrier means with reference to said support, and a lifter arranged to move said rotator with said carrier up and down along said support.

Claim 18

In as apparatus for transporting commodities, particularly for transporting receptacles for cigarettes or the like, a combination comprising an endless transporting overhead conveyor having travelling portions for transport of commodities along a predetermined path; at least one commodity-receiving station adjacent to said path; at least one commodity-discharging station adjacent to said path; and a power-operated transfer unit for transferring commodities between said travelling portions of said conveyor and at least one of said stations, comprising a substantially upright support, a rotator directly carried by said support, said rotator including carrier means rotatable with reference to said support and arranged to transfer commodities between said travelling portions of said conveyor and said one station, means for rotating said carrier means with reference to said support, and a lifter arranged to move said rotator with said carrier up and down along said support.

Claim 19

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said carrier means comprises a portion for support of commodities and means for holding such portion of said carrier means in a predetermined position of inclination while the carrier means moves relative to said support.

Claim 20

A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said means for holding comprises a parallel mechanism.

Claim 21

A combination as defined in claim 17, further comprising means for rotating said carrier means about the axis of said support.

Claim 22

A combination as defined in claim 17, further comprising means for moving said support back and forth along a substantially horizontal path.

Claim 23

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said carrier means comprises a portion for support of commodities and further comprising means for changing the orientation of said portion of said carrier means including means for rotating said portion of said carrier means about a substantially horizontal axis.