# US 11,299,354 B2 · Orienting device and a method for orienting an object

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- Number: US 11,299,354 B2
- Document ID: US11299354B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/047,096
- Filed: 2019-04-02
- Published: 2021-05-20
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-13
- Assignees: Sidel
- Applicants: SIDEL S.p.A.
- Inventors: Mauro Lanzi; Andrea Frosi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299354B2

## CPC

- B65G 47/2445: {by means of at least two co-operating endless conveying elements}
- B65G 43/08: Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)}
- B65G 47/244: by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane
- B65G 2203/042: Sensors
- B65G 2207/14: Combination of conveyors
- 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

Disclosed is device for orienting at least one object, comprising: a fixed frame, conveying means defining a conveying surface to contact a bottom portion of object and convey object along a first direction; and rotating means selectively actuatable for creating on bottom portion a differential speed causing the rotation of object about a first axis transversal to first direction. The rotating means comprise a contact element that is fixed or movable along first direction with a differential speed relative to conveying means. The contact element is selectively movable with respect to conveying surface between: a first configuration, protruding from conveying surface along first axis, so as to contact bottom portion of object and to cause the rotation of object about first axis; and a second configuration, offset from conveying surface along first axis. The contact element is free to oscillate around a second axis parallel to first direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An orienting device (1) for orienting at least one object (2), comprising:
a fixed frame (5);
conveying means (8, 50, 51) defining a conveying surface (11, 52, 53) adapted to contact a bottom portion (12) of said object (2) and convey said object (2) along a first direction (X); and
rotating means (15) selectively actuatable for creating on said bottom portion (12) a differential speed causing the rotation of said object (2) about a first vertical axis (Z) transversal to said first direction (X);
said rotating means (15) comprising a contact element (16), which is either fixed or movable along said first direction (X) with a differential speed relative to said conveying means (8, 50, 51);
said contact element (16) being selectively movable with respect to said conveying surface (11) between:
a first configuration, in which it protrudes from said conveying surface (11) along said first axis (Z), so as to contact, in use, said bottom portion (12) of said object (2) and to cause the rotation of said object (2) about said first axis (Z); and
a second configuration, in which it is offset from said conveying surface (11) along said first axis (Z);
wherein said contact element (16) is free to oscillate around a second axis (A) parallel to said first direction (X),
wherein said contact element (16) is hinged to said frame (5) about at least one third axis (E, B), which is transversal to said first axis (Z) and to said second axis (A),
the orienting device further comprising a first lever (25) hinged to said frame (5) about a fourth axis (F) parallel to said third axis (E) and directly or indirectly hinged to said contact element (16) about said third axis (E).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The orienting device of claim 1, further comprising at least one first said joint (27) configured to allow oscillation of said contact element (16) around said second axis (A) wherein said joint (27) is directly or indirectly interposed between said first lever (25) and said contact element (16).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The orienting device of claim 1, wherein said contact element (16) comprises a first and a second portion (20, 21) sloped with respect to one another;
said first portion (20) being arranged upstream of said second portion (21) with reference to the advancing direction of said object (2) on said conveying surface (11).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The orienting device of claim 3, wherein said contact element (16) is set in said first configuration, said second portion (21) lies on a plane orthogonal to said first axis (Z) and said first portion lies (20) on an ascending plane, proceeding according the advancing direction of said conveying surface (11).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The orienting device of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one first motor (22), in particular an electric motor;
a third lever (23), which is directly or indirectly hinged to said contact element (16); and
a fourth lever (24), which is operatively connected to said first motor (22) and to said third lever (23).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The orienting device of claim 5, further comprising at least one second said joint (27) configured to allow oscillation of said contact element (16) around said second axis (A) wherein said joint (27) is directly or indirectly interposed between said third lever (23) and said contact element (16).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The orienting device of claim 1, wherein said conveying means (8, 50, 51) comprises:
a first conveyor (8);
at least one pair of second conveyors (50, 51), consecutive with one another parallel to said first direction (X), spaced with respect to one another parallel to said second axis (Y) and parallel to said first conveyor (8);
said contact element (16) being interposed between said second conveyors (50, 51) along said first direction (X).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The orienting device of claim 7, further comprising:
a second motor (60) which drives, in use, said first conveyor (16);
a first transmission group (61, 62) for operatively connecting said second motor (60) and one (51) of said second conveyors (50, 51), so as to drive said one (51) of said second conveyors (50, 51); and/or
a second transmission group (64) for operatively connecting said one (51) and said other one (50) of second conveyors (50, 51) with one another, so as to drive said second conveyors (50, 51) either with the same speed or with different speed from one another.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The orienting device of claim 1, further comprising:
sensing means (71) for sensing the orientation of said object (2) about said first axis (Z) when said object (2) contacts, in use, said contact element (16), and for generating a signal associated to the fact that said object (2) has been rotated about said first axis (Z) for a given rotation angle; and
a control unit (72) programmed for displacing said contact element (16) from said first configuration to said second configuration, on the basis of said signal generated by said sensing means (71).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method of orienting at least one object (2), with an orienting device as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
i) conveying said object (2) along a first direction (X) and with a bottom portion (12) lying on a conveying surface (11, 52, 53); and
ii) selectively creating on said bottom portion (12) a differential speed causing the rotation of said object (2) about a first axis (Z) transversal to said first direction (X);
said step ii) comprising the steps of:
iii) advancing said bottom portion (12) on a contact element (16), which is either fixed or movable along said first direction (X) with a differential speed relative to said conveying means (8, 50, 51);
iv) selectively moving said contact element (16) with respect to said conveying surface (11, 52, 53) between:
a first configuration, in which it protrudes from said conveying surface (11, 52, 53) along said first axis (Z), so as to contact, in use, said bottom portion (12) of said group (2) and to cause the rotation of said group (2) about said first axis (Z); and
a second configuration, in which it is offset from said conveying surface (11, 52, 53) along said first axis (Z);
v) leaving said contact element (16) free to oscillate about a second axis (A) parallel to said first direction (X), when said bottom portion (12) of said object (2) contacts said contact element (16).

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said contact element (16) comprises a first and a second portion (20, 21) sloped with respect to one another;
said first portion (20) being arranged downstream of said second portion (21) with reference to the advancing direction of said object (2) on said conveying surface (11, 50, 51);
said step iv) consisting of setting said first portion (20) and second portion (21) in a position in which they protrude from said conveying surface (11, 50, 51), so as to contact said bottom portion (12) of said object (2), when said contact element (16) is in said first configuration; said second portion (21) lying on a plane orthogonal to said first axis (Z) and said first portion (20) lying on an ascending plane, proceeding according the advancing direction of said conveying surface (11, 50, 51);
said contact element (16) being set in said first configuration during said step ii).

### Claim 12

A method of orienting at least one object (2), comprising the steps of:
i) conveying said object (2) along a first direction (X) and with a bottom portion lying on a conveying surface (11, 50, 51); and
ii) selectively creating on said bottom portion (12) a differential speed causing the rotation of said object (2) about a first axis (Z) transversal to said first direction (X);
said step ii) comprising the steps of:
iii) advancing said bottom portion (12) on a contact element (16), which is either fixed or movable along said first direction (X) with a differential speed relative to said conveying means (8, 50, 51);
iv) selectively moving said contact element (16) with respect to said conveying surface (11, 52, 53) between:
a first configuration, in which it protrudes from said conveying surface (11, 52, 53) along said first axis (Z), so as to contact, in use, said bottom portion (12) of said group (2) and to cause the rotation of said group (2) about said first axis (Z); and
a second configuration, in which it is offset from said conveying surface (11, 52, 53) along said first axis (Z);
v) sensing the orientation of said object (2) with reference to said first axis (Z), when said object (2) contacts said contact element (16); and
vi) displacing said contact element (16) from said first configuration to said second configuration, on the basis of the sensed orientation of said object (2) with reference to said first axis (Z).