Movement unit for articles
AssigneeG.D S.p.A.
InventorsAndrea Biondi, Luca Cavazza, Umberto Zanetti, Enrico Campagnoli, Antonio Gigante, Giacomo Noferini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A movement unit for articles includes a first carousel device having a first transporter member and first gripping heads mounted thereon and provided to move the articles into a single-row configuration. The movement unit further includes a second carousel device to receive the articles from the first carousel device, having a second transporter member and second gripping heads mounted thereon. Each second gripping head is configured to receive the articles from a respective first gripping head and to move the articles into a multi-row configuration.
Claims16
A movement unit for articles, comprising:
- a first carousel device comprising:
- a first transporter member moveable along a first advance trajectory, and
- first gripping heads comprising gripping elements, said gripping elements comprising
- a central arm connected to each one of said first gripping heads and
- two lateral arms mounted on each one of said first gripping heads at an opposite side with respect to said central arm and articulated to pivot away from and towards said central arm in order to retain or release said articles,
- said first gripping heads moveably mounted on said first transporter member, said first gripping heads configured to move said articles into a single-row configuration, in which said articles are aligned in a single row during movement of said articles along said first advance trajectory;
- and
- a second carousel device comprising:
- a second transporter member moveable along a second advance trajectory, and
- second gripping heads moveably mounted on said second transporter member, each second gripping head being configured to receive said articles from said first carousel device and to move said articles into a multiple-row configuration, in which said articles are aligned in a plurality of rows staggered relative to each other during movement of the articles along said second advance trajectory,
- wherein:
- each lateral arm, when pivoted toward the central arm, is configured to retain one article between each lateral arm and the central arm, and
- each second gripping head is configured to receive said articles from a respective first gripping head.
A method for moving articles between carousel devices, comprising:
- providing a first carousel device comprising:
- a first transporter member moveable along a first advance trajectory, and first gripping heads moveably mounted on said first transporter member;
- providing a second carousel device comprising:
- a second transporter member moveable along a second advance trajectory, and second gripping heads moveably mounted on said second transporter member;
- moving, by said first carousel device, said articles retained by said first gripping heads into a configuration with a single row, in which said articles are aligned in a single row during movement of said articles along said first advance trajectory;
- transferring said articles from said first carousel device to said second carousel device by passing the articles from each first gripping head to a respective second gripping head;
- moving, by said second carousel device, said articles received from said first gripping heads into a configuration with multiple rows, in which said articles are aligned in a plurality of rows staggered relative to each other during movement of the articles along said second advance trajectory;
- and
- filling said articles during movement of the articles along the second advance trajectory.
An apparatus for producing capsules for infusion type beverages, the apparatus comprising a unit comprising at least one movement unit, the at least one movement unit comprising:
- a first carousel device comprising:
- a first transporter member moveable along a first advance trajectory, and
- first gripping heads moveably mounted on said first transporter member, said first gripping heads configured to move said articles into a single-row configuration, in which said articles are aligned in a single row during movement of said articles along said first advance trajectory;
- and
- a second carousel device comprising:
- a second transporter member moveable along a second advance trajectory, and
- second gripping heads moveably mounted on said second transporter member, each second gripping head being configured to receive said articles from said first carousel device and to move said articles into a multiple-row configuration, in which said articles are aligned in a plurality of rows staggered relative to each other during movement of the articles along said second advance trajectory,
- wherein:
- each second gripping head is configured to receive said articles from a respective first gripping head,
- said at least one movement unit is configured to transport empty capsules from said first carousel device to said second carousel device, and
- in said unit, said empty capsules are configured to be filled with a powdered product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.