Transferring unit for transferring caps and apparatus for capping containers comprising that unit

A transferring unit for transferring caps from a pick-up station to an unloading station, comprising:

• a supporting structure;
• a magazine which defines a plurality of housings, mounted on the supporting structure;
• a housing device, mounted on the supporting structure, which comprises:
• a first supporting element;
• a first receiving element of a first typology, which defines a first plurality of seats, each of which is configured to house in use a cap of a first type;
• a first receiving element of a second typology, which defines a second plurality of seats, each of which is configured to house in use a cap of a second type;
• wherein the first receiving element of the first typology and the first receiving element of the second typology are alternatively removably mountable on the first supporting element and are interchangeable;
• a movement device mounted on the supporting structure at the unloading station, which comprises:
• a second supporting element, movable relative to the supporting structure;
• a second receiving element of a first typology, which defines a first plurality of housing compartments each of which is configured to receive in use the cap of the first type;
• a second receiving element of a second typology, which defines a second plurality of housing compartments each of which is configured to receive in use the cap of the second type;
• wherein the second receiving element of the first typology and the second receiving element of the second typology are alternatively removably mountable on the second supporting element and are interchangeable;
• and
• a transferring device mounted on the supporting structure and operating between the pick-up station and the unloading station, comprising:
• a movable arm, movable relative to the supporting structure, the movable arm moreover being removably couplable both to the first receiving element of the first typology and the first receiving element of the second typology, and to the second receiving element of the first typology and the second receiving element of the second typology;
• and
• a gripping element, configured to retain in use a plurality of caps;
• wherein the transferring unit is switchable between a working configuration and a format change-over configuration, in the working configuration the housing device, being placed in the pick-up station, one of the first receiving element of the first typology, and the first receiving element of the second typology being associated with the first supporting element and the other one of the first receiving element of the first typology and the first receiving element of the second typology, being housed in a respective first housing, and one of the second receiving element of the first typology, and the second receiving element of the second typology being associated with the second supporting element and the other one of the second receiving element of the first typology and the second receiving element of the second typology, being housed in a respective second housing;
• wherein the one of the first receiving element of the first typology, and the first receiving element of the second typology which is associated with the first supporting element, the one of the second receiving element of the first typology, and the second receiving element of the second typology which is associated with the second supporting element and the gripping element, which is associated with the movable arm all being configured for caps of the same type;
• and wherein:
• when the transferring unit is in the working configuration, the transferring device in use operates according to a transferring mode in which the transferring device is moved for picking up the caps from, respectively, the first plurality of seats, or the second plurality of seats of said one of the first receiving element of the first typology, and the first receiving element of the second typology which is associated with the first supporting element and for positioning in use said caps in, respectively, the first plurality of housing compartments, or the second plurality of housing compartments of the one of the second receiving element of the first typology, and the second receiving element of the second typology which is associated with the second supporting element;
• and
• when the transferring unit is in the format change-over configuration, the transferring device in use operates according to a format change-over mode in which the movable arm is moved for swapping over the one of the first receiving element of the first typology, and the first receiving element of the second typology which is associated with the first supporting element and the one of the first receiving element of the first typology and the first receiving element of the second typology, which is placed in the respective first housing, and for swapping over the one of the second receiving element of the first typology, and the second receiving element of the second typology which is associated with the second supporting element and the one of the second receiving element of the first typology, and the second receiving element of the second typology which is placed in the respective second housing.