Method for providing a predetermined number of contiguous stored elements forming a line, device for carrying out said method, and a combination weighing machine comprising said device

A device capable of providing a predetermined number of stored elements forming a line and touching each other, comprising:

• a supply chute along which the line may advance, said elements being essentially spheroidal;
• retention means, capable to be actuated by a motor, adapted to retaining a first element in the line and preventing the line from sliding and advancing, and to stop retaining the first element in the line, allowing the line to advance along the chute;
• and
• a light emitter and detector that emits a steady beam of light aimed at the chute, adapted to count signal variations produced in said beam by the advance of the line, specifically by the passage of the spaces between two consecutive elements in the line through the detection beam, the beam being aimed at the gaps that necessarily will be formed in the line between two consecutive elements even if they are in contact with each other, due to the effect of said elements being spheroidal, and adapted to actuating the retention means to stop retaining the first element in the line, and actuating again the retention means to retain a next element in the line when the signal variations reach a number equal to the predetermined number of elements;
• and
• wherein the retention means comprises a flexible gripper configured to adapt to a contour of the first element in the line, wherein the gripper is mounted on an end of a pivoting support that is actuated by a connecting rod and crank mechanism, the crank being articulated at one end to the pivoting support at a point near to the gripper and at the other end to the connecting rod, and said connecting rod being actuated by the motor, such that rotations of the motor in one direction raises the gripper, allowing the line of elements to advance along the chute, and rotation of the motor in the opposite direction descends the gripper until contacting the first element in the line to retain the first element in the line in the chute.