# US 10,308,443 B2 · Apparatus for the movement of containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,443 B2 - Document ID: US10308443B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/748,954 - Filed: 2016-07-29 - Published: 2019-01-03 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-31 - Assignees: Ave Technologies S.R.L. - Applicants: Ave Technologies S.R.L. - Inventors: Gabriele Stocchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308443B2 ## CPC - B65G 47/847: {the article-engaging elements being grippers} - B65G 47/84: Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements - B65G 2201/0244: Bottles - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract An apparatus for the movement of bottles in bottling plants includes a frame and a star-shaped structure adapted to rotate on a vertical axis through first moving unit and including at least a side edge, the side edge being adapted to abut on a bottle so as to move it, wherein a scoop is pivoted and placed adjacent on the at least a portion of end of the side edge and adapted to abut on the bottle, so that the side face and the side edge create a continuous supporting profile for the first bottle, the scoop being coupled to a moving mechanism adapted to make the scoop rotate, so as to vary the angle between the side face and the side edge; wherein the moving mechanism includes a cam guide fixed to the frame, a first and second levers coupled to the scoop. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus (10) for the movement of bottles in bottling plants, comprising a frame and a star-shaped structure (12) adapted to rotate on a vertical axis relative to the frame through first moving means and comprising at least a portion of an end (14) with a side edge (15), said side edge (15) being adapted to abut on a first bottle so as to move it, wherein a scoop (16) is pivoted on the at least a portion of said end (14) and has a side face placed adjacent to the side edge (15) and adapted to abut on the first bottle, so that the side face and the side edge (15) create a continuous supporting profile for the first bottle, said scoop (16) being coupled to a moving mechanism adapted to make the scoop (16) rotate with respect to the at least a portion of said end (14), so as to vary the angle comprised between the side face and the side edge (15); wherein the moving mechanism comprises: a guide (34) fixed to the frame, a first lever (22) coupled to the scoop (16) in correspondence of a first end and comprising a roller (32) on a second end, opposite to the first end, the roller (32) being adapted to slide on said guide (34); wherein the first end of the first lever (22) is connected rotatably to the scoop (16) and the moving mechanism comprises a second lever (28) comprising a first end connected rotatably to the star-shaped structure (12) and a second end, opposite to the first end, connected rotatably to the second end of the first lever (22). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the guide (34) has, in a first portion, a regular, circular development coinciding with the center of rotation of the rotating structure and, in a second portion, a curvilinear development so as to make the position of the scoop (16) vary relative to the respective portion of said end (14) according to the position of the roller (32) on the guide (34). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein the guide (34) is rotatable relative to the frame through second moving means, so as to adjust the different positions of the scoop (16) relative to the respective portion of said end (14) according to the position of the guide (34) with respect to the frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the position of the star-shaped structure (12) relative to the frame is adjustable through second moving means, so as to set up the apparatus according to the diameter of the bottles to be moved. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the side edge (15) of the portion of said end (14) and the side face of the scoop (16) fixed to the portion of said end (14) show together, substantially, a V-shape self-centering of the container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the side edge (15) of the portion of said end (14) is curved and concave. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the side face of the scoop (16) has a curved, concave development. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the scoop (16) is coupled with a shaft (18) to a top supporting structure (20) which is integral to the rotating star-shaped structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein a base (38) is comprised for the support of bottles. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein a wall (40) is comprised which delimits at least a portion of the path followed by the bottles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) Apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein the position of the star-shaped structure (12) relative to the frame is adjustable through second moving means, so as to set up the apparatus according to the diameter of the bottles to be moved. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) Apparatus (10) according to claim 3, wherein the position of the star-shaped structure (12) relative to the frame is adjustable through second moving means, so as to set up the apparatus according to the diameter of the bottles to be moved. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) Apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein the side edge (15) of the portion of said end (14) and the side face of the scoop (16) fixed to the portion of said end (14) show together, substantially, a V-shape self-centering of the container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) Apparatus (10) according to claim 3, wherein the side edge (15) of the portion of said end (14) and the side face of the scoop (16) fixed to the portion of said end (14) show together, substantially, a V-shape self-centering of the container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) Apparatus (10) according to claim 4, wherein the side edge (15) of the portion of said end (14) and the side face of the scoop (16) fixed to the portion of said end (14) show together, substantially, a V-shape self-centering of the container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) Apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein the side edge (15) of the portion of said end (14) is curved and concave. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) Apparatus (10) according to claim 3, wherein the side edge (15) of the portion of said end (14) is curved and concave. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) Apparatus (10) according to claim 4, wherein the side edge (15) of the portion of said end (14) is curved and concave. ### Claim 19 (depends on 5) Apparatus (10) according to claim 5, wherein the side edge (15) of the portion of said end (14) is curved and concave. ### Claim 20 (depends on 2) Apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein the side face of the scoop (16) has a curved, concave development.