Method and machine to carry out a control on a group of objects

A machine (67;

• 71;
• 74-79) to carry out a control on a group of articles (100;
• 102) consisting of a plurality of identical articles (100;
• 102) each of which is identical to the others, and comprising:
• an initial conveyor (83), which is configured to move the articles (100;
• 102) along an initial path (P2) that starts in an input station (S20);
• a final conveyor (84), which is separated from the control unit (85), is different from the initial conveyor (83), and is configured to move the articles (100;
• 102) along a final path (P3) that is parallel and next to the initial path (P2) and ends in an output station (S21) keeping the articles (100;
• 102) separated and spaced apart from one another;
• a control unit (85), which is separated from the initial conveyor (83) and is configured to carry out a simultaneous control on all articles (100;
• 102) of the group of articles (100;
• 102) to check for the presence of defective articles (100;
• 102) and keeping the articles (100;
• 102) separated and spaced apart from one another;
• a first transferring device (86), which is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles (100;
• 102) to be controlled from the initial conveyor (83) to the control unit (85) keeping the articles (100;
• 102) separate and spaced apart from one another;
• and
• a second transferring device (86), which is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles (100;
• 102) controlled by the control unit (85) to the final conveyor (84),
• wherein the control unit (85) comprises a plurality of housings, each physically separated from the next housings and confirmed to receive and house one single article (100;
• 102), and
• wherein each transferring device (86) comprises a plurality of holding suction heads, each designed to engage and hold one single article (100;
• 102), a common support body on which all the holding suction heads are mounted, and an actuator that moves the common support body.

A method to carry out a control on a group of articles (100;

• 102) consisting of a plurality of articles (100;
• 102) and comprising the steps of:
• moving, by means of an initial conveyor (83), a plurality of articles (100;
• 102) along an initial path (P2) which starts in an input station (S20);
• simultaneously transferring, by means of a first transferring device (86), the whole group of articles (100;
• 102) to be controlled from the initial conveyor (83) to a control unit (85) keeping the articles (100;
• 102) separated and spaced apart from one another;
• carrying out, in the control unit (85) the simultaneous control on all articles (100;
• 102) Of the group of articles (100;
• 102) to check for the possible presence of defective articles (100;
• 102) and keeping the articles (100;
• 102) separated and spaced apart from one another;
• simultaneously transferring, by means of a second transferring device (86), the whole group of articles (100;
• 102) controlled by the control unit (85) to a final conveyor (84) keeping the articles (100;
• 102) separated and spaced apart from one another;
• moving the articles (100;
• 102), by means of the final conveyor (84), along a final path (P3), which is parallel and next to the initial path (P2) and ends in an output station (S21);
• moving, by means of a main conveyor (70), a plurality of articles (100) along a main path which is perpendicular to the initial path (P2) and to the final path (P3);
• transferring, in the input station (S20) arranged along the main path, the articles (100) from the main conveyor (70) to the initial conveyor (83) until the group of articles (100) consisting of a given number of articles (100) is formed in the initial conveyor;
• and
• transferring, in the output station (S21) arranged along the main path downstream of the input station (S20), the articles (100) from the final conveyor (84) to the main conveyor (70).

A machine (67;

• 71;
• 74-79) to carry out a control on a group of articles (100;
• 102) and comprising:
• an initial conveyor (83), which is configured to move the articles (100;
• 102) along an initial path (P2) that starts in an input station (S20);
• a final conveyor (84), which is configured to move the articles (100;
• 102) along a final path (P3) that is parallel and next to the initial path (P2) and ends in an output station (S21) keeping the articles (100;
• 102) separated and spaced apart from one another;
• a control unit (85), which is configured to carry out a simultaneous control on all articles (100;
• 102) of the group of articles (100;
• 102) to check for the presence of defective articles (100;
• 102) and keeping the articles (100;
• 102) separated and spaced apart from one another;
• a first transferring device (86), which is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles (100;
• 102) to be controlled from the initial conveyor (83) to the control unit (85) keeping the articles (100;
• 102) separate and spaced apart from one another;
• a second transferring device (86), which is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles (100;
• 102) controlled by the control unit (85) to the final conveyor (84);
• a main conveyor (70), which is configured to move a plurality of articles (100) along a main path which is perpendicular to the initial path (P2) and to the final path (P3);
• a third transferring device (48), which is configured to transfer, in the input station (S20) arranged along the main path, the articles (100) from the main conveyor (70) to the initial conveyor (83) until the group of articles (100) consisting of a given number of articles (100) is formed in the initial conveyor;
• and
• a fourth transferring device, which is configured to transfer, in the output station (S21) arranged along the main path downstream of the input station (S20), the articles (100) from the final conveyor (84) to the main conveyor (70).