EP2805633B1 - Trays made of conductive plastic and device and method for automatically unloading trays filled with rod-shaped articles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to trays for receiving rod-shaped products of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising an inclined body formed by a rear wall, two at least substantially parallel and spaced apart side walls and a bottom wall forming a forward and upwardly open receiving space for the products, wherein the tray may be formed as a shaft tray.

The invention further relates to a tray emptying device for automatically discharging sticks filled with rod-shaped products into a production or packaging machine of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising a feeder for feeding sticks filled with rod-shaped products, an emptying station with an emptying position for emptying the trays overhead A removal device for removing the emptied trays and a transfer device for transporting the trays within the tray emptying device during a discharge cycle, and a method for automatically emptying rod-shaped product filled trays, comprising the steps of feeding product-filled trays by means of a feeder, transporting the trays of the feeder in an emptying position of an emptying station by means of a transfer device, so that the Schragen overhead in the Entle erposition are, overhead emptying of the trays, transporting the empty trays by means of the transfer device from the emptying position on a Abtransporteinrichtung, and transporting the empty trays using the Abtransporteinrichtung.

The Schrage described are used in particular in the tobacco processing industry in the processing of rod-shaped products used. Tobacco sticks, cigarettes, filter rods and in particular filter rod segments or the like are stored in containers, the so-called Schragen, in particular for transport and storage. The containers may be designed as standard trays with a single receiving space for all products or as shaft trays in which the products are located in several separate shafts. For further processing the stored products are delivered to downstream devices, such as packing machines or the like or introduced into an existing mass flow.

Such skins today are usually made of plastic such as polystyrene (PS) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), since this material is stable and at the same time easy and inexpensive. Such Schragen are for example in DE-Gbm. 1 882 950.

A subordinate device in which trays are used is a tray emptying device by means of which rod-shaped articles, which are stored for different reasons in trays, are reintroduced into the production process. For this purpose, the tray emptying devices are combined with production machines to form a production arrangement for carrying out corresponding production methods, which include the cigarette production, the filter production and also the packaging thereof.

Known tray emptying devices have transfer devices for handling or handling the trays, which are designed as a pivoting mechanism. With the known pivot mechanism all Schragen, so the full trays and the Leerschragen, handled during the Entleerzyklus. An emptying cycle comprises removing the full trays from the feeder, emptying the full trays in the emptying station overhead and discharging the empty trays to the removal device.

Such tray emptying devices are for example in DE 10 2008 027 636 described.

In the known tray emptying devices, the problem arises that rod-shaped products remain in the tray during emptying, even though the tray in the tray emptying device should have been completely unloaded. At the bottom and / or wall of the tray stick rod-shaped products hang because an electrostatic field has formed in the Schragen, which prevents the rod-shaped products from falling out. Such an electrostatic field is due to the fact that the plastic trays are made of a dielectric material by friction. Friction occurs on one side when the rod-shaped Products are filled in the trays, rubbing against the walls and floor of the tray. It load Schragenwände or floor and rod-shaped products with different charges, resulting in the formation of an electrostatic field, which prevents the Schragen can be completely empty in the emptying, as actually desired. Another charge is made by the fact that the Schragen come into contact with other plastic objects on their transport. Thus, for example, the conveyor belts on the one hand the feeder, on the other hand, the removal device usually made of plastic. The friction between the carriage and the conveyor belt produces electrical charge. Particularly relevant occurs such a charge in the transfer of the tray of feed to emptying station when the Schrage is stopped by means of a stopper for the purpose of transfer to the emptying while the conveyor belt of the feeder continues under the Schragen. The drier the ambient air is, the greater the resulting electrostatic charge.

So far, this problem is taken into account, in which the empty trays controlled by a person and possibly remaining rod-shaped products are removed manually. However, with an increasing degree of automation in production, in particular with the aim of reducing costs, the whole process is increasingly lacking people who could exercise such a control function.

It is therefore desirable to ensure that, if possible, no rod-shaped products remain in the tray after the emptying process.

For this the beats WO2011 / 090395 two measures, firstly injecting ionized compressed air into the bottom of the trays to neutralize the charge, and secondly using a liner or insert of conductive material inside the tray to substantially prevent the occurrence of electrostatic charge.

The provision of a device for blowing ionized compressed air is structurally complex and associated with increased costs. Also, the provision of deposits or inserts is expensive, since in the production of the Schragen an additional step of inserting the insert is required, which in turn costs elevated. There is also the risk that the insert or insert will come off the tray, get into the machine and cause damage.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a Schragen available, the complete emptying can be ensured and at the same time is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

This object is achieved by a Schragen of the type mentioned, which is at least partially formed of electrically conductive plastic. By using electrically conductive plastic as Schragen material resulting charge can be derived immediately. No application of an additional layer, liner or the like is required. The Schragen can be made structurally very easy. An electrically conductive plastic according to the invention is a plastic which - unlike plastics usually, which are considered excellent insulators - has an electrical conductivity of at least 10 ^-10 S cm ^-1 . For the purposes of the invention, electrically conductive plastics are understood as meaning both the so-called intrinsically conductive polymers which have a conductivity per se, as well as those plastics which are given electrical conductivity by the addition of additives.

This is particularly well when the entire Schragen is formed of electrically conductive plastic. Advantageously, the Schragen is integrally formed and manufactured by injection molding. In this way, a very stable Schragen is obtained, which is also inexpensive to manufacture. Also existing forms for Schragenherstellung can be used because only the material changes while the Schragenform remains identical.

The tray according to the invention may also be a tray tray, i. a Schragen, in which the products lie in several mutually separated by partitions shafts. Advantageously, the intermediate walls also consist of electrically conductive plastic.

A particularly suitable group of electrically conductive plastics are polymers containing an electrically conductive additive. In this case, inorganic additives as well as organic additives can be used. Preferred inorganic additives are carbon fibers, conductivity black, graphite, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, silver and iron oxide. The metals may be added in the form of fibers, powders, flakes or particles. In this case, stainless steel is advantageously used in the form of fibers, copper, aluminum and iron oxide in the form of particles and silver in the form of powder.

Particularly preferred is the use of carbon fibers. Such so-called carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CRP = carbon fiber reinforced plastic) have in addition to the desired electrical conductivity strength and rigidity. Since electrical conductivity, strength and rigidity are imparted by the carbon fibers, these properties are dependent on the fiber direction. They are much higher in the fiber direction than perpendicular to it. This property can be used in the manufacture of the Schragen. Thus, it is possible, for example by production by injection molding, to choose the fiber arrangement so that a particularly favorable dissipation of the charge can take place, for example in the direction of the Schragen side walls or perpendicular to along the Schragenseitenwand. The orientation may be chosen, for example, depending on the diverters that divert the electrical charge from the tray on the machine. On the other hand, if desired, a chaotic arrangement of the fibers can also be achieved, for example by producing the casings in the pressing process.

In another preferred embodiment, the electrically conductive additive is an organic, electrostatic dissipative additive, in particular selected from at least one substance from the group consisting of polyanilines, polyurethanes, Polyethylendioxythiophenen and polyacrylates. Such organic additives are particularly suitable because can be realized by a suitable choice of the respective compound conductivities in a wide range. Also, such additives are miscible with other additives to adjust other properties of the Schragen.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the electrically conductive plastic is an intrinsically conductive polymer, in particular a doped intrinsically conductive polymer. Among the intrinsically conductive polymers are in particular the cis-polyactetylene (cis-PA), the trans-polyacetylene (trans-PA), poly (paraphenylene) (PPP), polythiophene, polypyrrole, poly (para-phenylene-vinylene) (PPV) and polyaniline (PANI). Particularly preferred, because having a conductivity of several orders of magnitude higher, are those polymers which are doped, ie in which a small amount of foreign atoms are incorporated.

The conductive plastic tray according to the invention has a greatly reduced adhesion of the articles to its inner walls. This has an advantageous effect on the filling and emptying operations, but this could potentially be detrimental to the safe transport of upright strands filled with rod-shaped articles, particularly during acceleration and / or deceleration operations.

In a further development of the invention Schragen is therefore provided that the rear wall of the tray is inclined on its inner side by at least 1 degree from the vertical relative to the vertical outside, the wall thickness of the rear wall increases from top to bottom to the bottom wall.

Due to the tapering towards the open top rear wall also benefits in the production of the plastic tray, there is hereby created a so-called Entformungsschräge.

In a further development of the invention Schrägens is further provided that the bottom wall of the tray is inclined on its inside by at least 1 degree from the horizontal relative to the horizontal outside, the wall thickness of the bottom wall decreases from front to back to the rear wall.

Preferably, the inner sides of the rear wall and the bottom wall are inclined by approximately the same angular amount, so that the included angle is about 90 degrees.

The above-described developments now secure transport of the article in upright Schragen is possible without the funding, especially for the transport of solid trays are carried out as usual in Schragenfülleinrichtungen and Schragenentleereinrichtungen inclined. In order to ensure a safe filling or emptying of the trays in the Schragenfülleinrichtungen or in Schragenentleereinrichtungen the trays for filling or emptying by means of a pivoting device are inclined so that the inside of the rear wall of the tray is in the same, preferably vertical plane as the upstream or downstream rear wall of the intermediate or buffer memory of the Schragenfülleinrichtung or the Schragenentleereinrichtung.

The object is also achieved by a tray emptying device of the type mentioned, in which at least one device, selected from feeder, emptying, Abtransporteinrichtung and transfer device, at least one charge dissipating element is provided, which is designed and adapted to make contact between the Schragen and to produce the grounded machine base frame.

As stated above, it is very advantageous if the trays are made of electrically conductive plastic, since thus a derivative of the resulting charge by friction is possible. In order to achieve the desired effect, it is necessary that the charge is discharged from the tray. Conventional machines and equipment in the tobacco processing industry have a machine base on which the individual components and parts are mounted. This machine base is always earthed. It is therefore ideally suited to dissipate the resulting charge. For this purpose, it is necessary to establish a conductive connection between the load-bearing Schragen and the machine base frame. According to the invention, this is provided by at least one charge-discharging element, which is attached either to the feed device, to the emptying station, to the removal device or to the transfer device. The charge-removing element or the charge-dissipating elements may in particular be designed as contact surfaces made of metal. It is particularly suitable as metals silver, copper and iron, which are good electrical conductors.

In a preferred embodiment of the tray emptying device, the transfer device thereof has a swivel mechanism which executes a swivel movement limited to 180 ° with a swiveling cassette pivotable about a stationary swiveling axis S, which is designed and arranged for fixing, pivoting and releasing the chutes, wherein the swiveling axis is the charge-removing element is. A particularly good dissipation is ensured if the swivel mechanism is additionally provided with a copper braid. Since the pivoting movement of the cassette is limited to 180 °, problems are excluded by a possible twisting of the braid.

It is particularly advantageous if as little electrostatic charge as possible is generated in the entire process. According to an advantageous embodiment, it is therefore provided that feed and / or Abtransporteinrichtung is designed as a conveyor belt or are, wherein the conveyor belt consists of an electrically conductive plastic. In this way, even the charge that results from the friction between the tray and conveyor belt, as far as possible avoided.

Finally, the object is also achieved by a method of the type mentioned, in which as the Schragen the struts of the present invention are used and in which takes place in at least one of the method steps, a charge removal. With such a method, the static charge in the tray is reduced so much that a sticking of rod-shaped products in the tray after the emptying process should be substantially excluded. The method is particularly effective and at the same time simple, since no expensive additional devices have to be provided, for example for deionization.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen als Schachtschragen ausgebildeten Schragens,

Fig. 2

eine Ausführungsform des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Schragens mit Veranschaulichung der Ausrichtung der Kohlenstofffasern parallel zur Längsrichtung der Schragenwand,

Fig. 3

eine weitere Ausführungsform des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Schragens mit Veranschaulichung der Ausrichtung der Kohlenstofffasern parallel zur Längsrichtung des Schragenbodens,

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Entleereinrichtung mit einem auf der Zuführeinrichtung befindlichen Schragen in der Abholposition,

Fig. 5

die Entleereinrichtung gemäß Figur 4 mit dem in eine Kassette aufgenommenen Schragen während der vertikalen Aufwärtsbewegung und

Fig. 6

die Entleereinrichtung gemäß Figur 4 mit einer in die Entleerposition geschwenkten Kassette.

Further expedient and / or advantageous features and embodiments emerge from the subclaims and the description. A particularly preferred embodiment and the method principle are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a tray according to the invention designed as a shaft tray,

Fig. 2

an embodiment of the in Fig. 1 with an illustration of the orientation of the carbon fibers parallel to the longitudinal direction of the slash wall,

Fig. 3

another embodiment of the in Fig. 1 with an illustration of the orientation of the carbon fibers parallel to the longitudinal direction of the slate floor,

Fig. 4

a side view of the emptying device according to the invention with an on the feeder Schrägen in the pick-up position,

Fig. 5

the emptying device according to FIG. 4 with the recorded in a cassette Schragen during the vertical upward movement and

Fig. 6

the emptying device according to FIG. 4 with a cassette pivoted into the emptying position.

The in the FIGS. 1 to 3 Schragen exemplified occurs in the tobacco processing industry in particular for the transport and storage of rod-shaped products such as cigarettes, filter rods or the like. for use. The in the FIGS. 4 to 6 emptying device exemplified serves for the successive emptying of containers filled with rod-shaped products in an emptying magazine or the like. However, it is pointed out that the features and feature combinations described below can also be realized in combinations other than those shown.

The FIGS. 1 to 3 show a shaft tray 1, which has two side walls 3 and 4, a bottom wall 5 and a rear wall 6 to form an inclined body 2. The side walls 3, 4 are arranged substantially parallel spaced (may not be seen from the figures have Entformungsschrägen) and limit a defined by the Schragenkörper 2 receiving space 7 side. The bottom wall 5 limits the receiving space 7 down. Usually, the shaft trays 1 are formed open to the front and top. Of course, front walls and cover elements can be provided. The tray body 2 may be formed in one piece or in several parts. The receiving space 7 itself is subdivided. Preferably, a plurality of shaft walls 8 for dividing the receiving space 7 in a plurality of wells 9 with the tray body 2 detachably or firmly connected. The shaft walls 8 can also be formed integrally with the tray body 2. The shaft walls 8 run parallel and spaced from each other or to the side walls 3, 4th

The tray 1 can also be formed without shaft walls 8 as standard trays.

The Schragen is made of electrically conductive plastic. This may be either a so-called intrinsically conductive polymer which has a conductivity per se, as well as a plastic, which is given an electrical conductivity by the addition of additives.

The in the Figures 2 and 3 shown Schragen is made of a plastic with the addition of additives. As an additive, fibers of an inorganic substance are included. Such fibers may in particular be stainless steel fibers or carbon fibers. The conductivity in the fiber direction is much higher than perpendicular to it. At the in Fig. 2 shown strands, the fibers are substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the Schragenseiten- and dividing walls 3, 8 is formed. At the in Fig. 3 As shown, the fibers extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the sloping floor 5.

The in the FIGS. 4 to 6 Emptying device 10 shown comprises a feed device 11, a removal device 12, a discharge station 32 and a transfer device 13. The feeder 11 is used for feeding and storing products filled (full) slants 14 of electrically conductive material. The feed device 11 is arranged above the removal device 12 and, like the removal device 12, runs substantially horizontally. Substantially horizontal also expressly includes a slight inclination with an angle greater than 0 ° and less than 5 ° with respect to a horizontal plane, such that the feeder 11 drops slightly in the direction of the transfer device 13, so that the containers 14 with respect to a vertical orientation about the corresponding angle α inclined on the feeder 11 stand. Preferably, an inclination of 3 ° is selected from the vertical. As a result, the products inside the tray 14 rest securely on the rear wall 6 of the tray 14. By means of the transfer device 13, the full trays 14 can be transported from a pick-up position 17 into the region of an emptying magazine 18 and back into a dispensing position 19. The emptying magazine 18 may be part of the emptying station 32 or arranged as a separate part under the emptying position. In the region of the pick-up position 17 is a stopper 15 which holds the tray in the pick-up position 17 until it is received by the transfer device. Meanwhile, the feeder 11 continues to run below the tray 14, which in conventional devices builds up electrostatic charge in the tray. To prevent such electrostatic charging, the feed device 11 is designed as a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt consists of a conductive plastic.

The transfer device 13 comprises a cassette 21, which is designed to be vertically movable up and down and pivotable. The vertical and pivotal movements are direct or indirectly through the cassette 21 executable. Further, the cassette 21 for holding a tray 14, 16 is formed and set up during the entire unloading operation. This means that the cassette has means for holding and / or gripping the casings 14, 16, by means of which the casings 14, 16 are fixed in a defined position, which may also be inclined to the vertical, within the cassette 21. Preferably, pneumatic gripping elements are provided. The holding of the casings 14, 16 itself can be realized, for example, by metallic spring elements or the like. Of course, all other conventional holding and / or gripping mechanisms are used, which consist of conductive material. For picking up or picking up the full tray 14 from the feeder 11, the cassette 21 is optionally associated with a pick-up element 22. The pick-up element 22 is further adapted and adapted to position the full tray 14 within the cassette 21 so that it is fixable in the "center-product" position. The "center-product" position, which is also known by the term "constant edge", is advantageous for handling different product lengths in the course of a format changeover. The pick-up element 22 can furthermore also have a push-off element (not shown) by means of which the ejection of the emptied tray 16 from the cassette 21 is assisted. The Abschiebelement can also be provided as a separate device.

To exercise the vertical movements of the pick-up position 17 in the transfer position 20 in the region of the pivoting device 27 and back to the dispensing position 19, the emptying device 10 preferably has a lifting device 23 as part of the transfer device 13. The lifting device 23 comprises vertically extending guide rails 24 or the like, on which or in which a lift fork 25 or the like is guided and a drive unit 26. Furthermore, the transfer device 13 comprises a pivoting device 27. The pivoting device 27 is between the transfer position 20 and the emptying position arranged and executed to perform an over-head pivotal movement of the full tray 14 holding cassette 21 via the discharge magazine 18 and the then emptied tray 16 holding cassette 21 back and formed. The pivoting device 27 is arranged at the upper end of the guide rails 24 and forms a pivoting head. The pivoting device 27 has a latching device 28 and a rotatable and stationary shaft 29, wherein the latching device 28 is mounted on the shaft 29. The shaft 29 itself is fixed to a frame or the like but rotatably mounted. The shaft 29 together with the cassette 21 forms the charge-removing element, by means of which the charge present in the carriage can be discharged via the base frame 33 of the emptying device 10. In addition, in the region of the shaft 29, a copper braid (not shown) may be provided, which supports the charge dissipation.

The latching device 28 comprises a plurality of latching bolts (not shown), e.g. by means of (also not shown) pneumatic cylinders or the like can be actuated. This means that the movably mounted locking bolts from a retracted waiting position in which the cassette 21 in the transfer of the lifting device 23 to the pivoting device 27 and back on or is coupled out, in a locking position in which the cassette 21 fixed to the pivoting device 27 is connected, and are movable back. In other words, the cassette 21 is detachable from the lifting device 23 and can be connected to the pivoting device 27 and vice versa. Of course, the locking of the cassette 21 on the pivoting device 27 and the corresponding unlocking can be done in other usual ways, provided that the conductive connection between the pivoting device 27, cassette 21 and tray 14 is made. The distance between the axis of rotation D of the shaft 29 and the means of the latching device 28 on the shaft 29 rotatably or pivotally mounted cassette 21 is made small. This means that the locking device 28 is designed to be very short with respect to the design, so that the cassette 21 during the pivoting movement describes a very narrow envelope with a small radius. Ideally, the cassette 21 is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the shaft 29 or directly thereon. A drive 30 for carrying out the pivoting movement is associated with the transfer device 13 and arranged in extension of the shaft 29.

The collection position 17 for the full trays 14 and the discharge position 19 for the empty containers 16 may be at different positions. Preferably, however, the pickup position 17 corresponds to the dispensing position 19. Thus, the picking up of a full tray 14 from the feeder 11 into the cassette 21 and the dispensing of a deflated container 16 from the cassette 21 can take place simultaneously. In the preferred embodiment, both the pickup position 17 and the dispensing position 19 are at the same level, namely at the level of the feed device 11. To transport the emptied tray 16 pushed or ejected from the cassette 21 into the area of the removal device 12 In the area of the lower removal device 12, a lifting device 31 is arranged. The lift device 31 for transporting the empty containers 16 from the discharge position 19 on the Abtransporteinrichtung is formed separately to the lifting device 23 for transporting the full tray 14 from the pickup position 17 in the emptying position and back to the dispensing position 19. However, it is also possible to provide for the entire transport of the casings 14, 16 a single lift device.

The following is the principle of the method on the basis of FIGS. 4 to 6 The description is only a particularly preferred variant and other procedures fall naturally within the scope of the claims:

At least one full tray 14, but preferably several full trays 14 are arranged or stored on the feeder 11. The trays 14 stand with a narrow side on the slightly sloping in the direction of the transfer device 13 feeder 11, so that the trays 14 are inclined by the angle α to the vertical in the direction of the transfer device 13 in the pickup position 17. The Schragen 14 can of course be transported without inclination. In each case a full tray 14 is transported from the pick-up position 17 to the emptying position in the region of the emptying magazine 18. The transport preferably takes place in that the full tray 14 is pulled by the pick-up element 22 into the cassette 21 and positioned there. After the tray 14 has been fixed in the cassette 21, either the tray 14 itself or the cassette 21 is pivoted at an angle to the vertical which is greater than the angle α. With this overall inclination by the angle β to the vertical, the cassette 21 with the tray 14 is moved by means of the lifting device 23 vertically upwards into the region of the emptying magazine 18.

In the region of the transfer position 20, the cassette 21 is released from the lifting device 23 and connected to the pivoting device 27. For this purpose, latching pins of the latching device 28 are moved from a waiting position into the latching position, so that the cassette 21 is fixedly connected to the shaft 29 of the pivoting device 27. The shaft 29 is simultaneously connected to the machine base frame 33, so that a charge dissipation takes place possibly in the tray 14 existing electrostatic charge. By a rotation of the shaft 29, the pivoting device 27 performs a pivoting movement, so that the tray 14 is above the discharge hopper 18. The closing element of the tray 14 is opened so that the products fall down from the container 14 into the discharge tray 18. Because the electrostatic Charge is recently discharged via the shaft 29 and the machine base 33, there is no longer attraction between product and tray 14, so that the tray 14 is completely emptied and no products remain on the bottom 5 or on the walls 3, 4, 6 of the tray , After completely emptying the tray 14, the cassette 21 pivots back with the emptied tray 16. The cassette 21 with the emptied tray 16 is released from the pivoting device 27 and reconnected to the lifting device 23. The lifting device 23 transports the emptied tray 16 down to the dispensing position 19. During the entire emptying process from the picking position 17 to the area of the emptying magazine 18 and back to the dispensing position 19, the tray 14, 16 in the up and down movable and pivotable cassette 21 held.

Once the cassette 21, after emptying a tray 14, 16 is again in the dispensing position 19 corresponding to the pickup position 17, a new full tray 14 is picked up by the feeder 11 and positioned in the cassette 21, while at the same time in the cassette 21 located emptied tray 16 is pushed or pushed out of the cassette 21. The ejection or ejection can be done by the full tray 14 and / or by a Abschiebelement. The emptied tray 16 is pushed out of the cassette 21 onto the lifting device 31, by means of which the emptied tray 16 is transported from the level of the feed device 11 downwards into the area of the removal device 12 and delivered to it.

As already mentioned, not all steps mentioned for the preferred execution of the method are necessary. It is crucial for a simple and reliable method that the tray 14, 16 is held permanently in the cassette 21 during the entire emptying process, ie during transport and emptying. In addition, it is necessary for a complete emptying that a derivation of the electrostatic charge generated in the process on the tray 14, 16 takes place.

Claims (12)

1. Tray (1) for receiving rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising a tray body (2) formed by a rear wall (6), two side walls (3, 4) arranged at least substantially parallel and spaced-apart from each other and a bottom wall (5) providing a receiving space (7) for the products which is designed to be open to the front and above, wherein the tray (1) may be designed as a shaft tray, characterised in that the tray (1) is at least partially constructed of electrically conductive plastic material.
2. Tray (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the entire tray (1) is constructed of electrically conductive plastic material.
3. Tray (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it is constructed in one piece and is manufactured by injection moulding.
4. Tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the electrically conductive plastic material is a polymer containing an electrically conductive additive.
5. Tray (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the electrically conductive additive is an inorganic additive, selected in particular from at least one substance of the group comprising carbon fibres, stainless steel fibres, conductive carbon black, copper, aluminium and graphite, wherein carbon fibres are particularly preferred.
6. Tray (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the electrically conductive additive is an organic electrostatically dissipative additive, selected in particular from at least one substance of the group comprising polyanilines, polyurethanes, polyethylene dioxythiophenes and polyacrylates.
7. Tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the electrically conductive plastic material is an intrinsically conductive polymer, in particular a doped intrinsically conductive polymer.
8. Tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the rear wall (6) of the tray (1) is inclined on its inside by at least 1 degree from the perpendicular with respect to the vertical outer side, wherein the wall thickness of the rear wall (6) increases from top to bottom towards the bottom wall (5) and/or that the bottom wall (5) of the tray (1) is inclined on its inside by at least 1 degree from the horizontal with respect to the horizontal outer side, wherein the wall thickness of the bottom wall (5) decreases from front to rear towards the back wall (6).
9. Tray discharging device (10) for automatically discharging trays (1, 14) filled with rod-shaped articles, in particular according to any one of claims 1 to 7, into a production or packaging machine of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising
   a feed device (11) for feeding in trays (14) filled with rod-shaped articles,
   a discharge station (32) with a discharge position for overhead emptying of the trays (14),
   a removal device (12) for transporting away the emptied trays (16) and
   a transfer unit (13) for transporting the trays (14, 16) within the tray discharging device (10) during a discharge cycle,
   characterised in that on at least one device, selected from feed device (11), discharge station (32), removal device (12) and transfer unit (13), at least one charge discharging element is provided, which is configured and adapted to establish a contact between the tray (1) and the earthed machine base frame (33).
10. Tray discharging device (10) according to claim 9, characterised in that the transfer device (13) has a pivoting mechanism executing a pivoting movement limited to 180° with a pivot cassette (21) pivotable about a fixed pivot axis S which is configured and adapted for fixing, pivoting and releasing the trays (14, 16), wherein the pivot axis S is the charge discharging element.
11. Tray discharging device (10), according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that at least one of a feed device (11) and removal device (12) is configured as a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt consists of an electrically conductive plastic material.
12. Method for automatically discharging trays (14) filled with rod-shaped articles, comprising the steps

    - feeding in trays (14) filled with rod-shaped articles by means of a feed device (11),

    - transporting the trays (14) from the feed device (11) into a discharge position of a discharge station (32) by means of a transfer unit (13), so that the trays are overhead in the discharge position, overhead emptying of the trays,

    - transporting the empty trays (16) by means of the transfer unit (13) from the discharge station (32) onto a removal device (12), and

    - transporting away the empty trays (16) by means of the removal device (12),

    characterised in that the trays (14, 16) are trays according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and that charge discharging takes place in at least one of the method steps.

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