Method and an apparatus for moving objects away from a mould

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one mould for forming an object;
• at least one removing element, movable along a path, for moving the object away from the mould;
• a guiding element, suitable for operating in conjunction with the removing element for guiding the object while the object is moved away from the mould;
• a positioning device for positioning the removing element at a distance from the guiding element which is variable along said path, the positioning device being so configured that the removing element is at a distance from the object, when the object is received between the removing element and the guiding element, the positioning device being further configured to move the removing element towards the guiding element, until the removing element makes contact with a lateral wall of the object,
• wherein the removing element has a recessed zone for housing a part of a projecting edge zone which projects outward from the lateral wall of the object, the recessed zone facing a supporting surface suitable for supporting the object while the object is moved by the removing element.

A method for conveying a concave object having a lateral wall away from a mould, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a removing element, movable along a path, and a guiding element;
• extracting the object from the mould and releasing the object onto a supporting surface in a position interposed between the removing element and the guiding element, while the removing element is at a distance from the object;
• displacing the removing element towards the object, so that the removing element makes contact with the lateral wall;
• moving the removing element along a portion of said path, to convey the object towards a delivery position,
• wherein the lateral wall of the object makes contact with the guiding element, which interacts with a region of the lateral wall opposite to a further region of the lateral wall which interacts with the removing element, so as to keep the object guided, and wherein the object comprises a projecting edge zone which projects outward from one end of the lateral wall, a part of the projecting edge zone being received in an indentation provided in the guiding element.

A method for conveying a concave object having a lateral wall away from a mould, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a removing element, movable along a path, and a guiding element;
• extracting the object from the mould and releasing the object onto a supporting surface in a position interposed between the removing element and the guiding element, while the removing element is at a distance from the object;
• displacing the removing element towards the object, so that the removing element makes contact with the lateral wall;
• moving the removing element along a portion of said path, to convey the object towards a delivery position,
• wherein the object is formed in an upside-down configuration, so that, during the extracting step, a concavity of the object is facing the supporting surface.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one mould for forming an object;
• at least one removing element, movable along a path, for moving the object away from the mould;
• a guiding element, suitable for operating in conjunction with the removing element for guiding the object while the object is moved away from the mould;
• a positioning device for positioning the removing element at a distance from the guiding element which is variable along said path, the positioning device being so configured that the removing element is at a distance from the object, when the object is received between the removing element and the guiding element, the positioning device being further configured to move the removing element towards the guiding element, until the removing element makes contact with a lateral wall of the object,
• wherein the mould comprises a male mould part and a female mould part, the female mould part being positioned above the male mould part.