Orientation device for orienting loose products for a packaging manufacturing line and method for orienting loose products in a packaging manufacturing line

An orientation device for orientating loose products for a packaging manufacturing line, comprising:

• a conveyor belt movable at a transport speed along an advancement direction between an entry station and an exit station;
• a plurality of gripping equipment wherein each gripping equipment comprises a support body and a gripping head mechanically connected to the support body;
• a transport track to which the support bodies of the plurality of gripping equipment are connected, wherein the transport track is supported by a frame and wherein the transport track comprises an active branch extending parallel to the conveyor belt, spaced from the conveyor belt and completely contained between the entry station and the exit station of the conveyor belt;
• wherein each gripping head is rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the conveyor belt and is configured to pick up and hold a product transported by the conveyor belt;
• wherein each support body is movable parallel to the rotation axis of the respective gripping head between an approached condition to the conveyor belt and a distanced condition from the conveyor belt;
• and
• wherein each support body moves along the active branch of the transport track with a speed equal to the transport speed of the conveyor belt;
• the orientation device further comprising an orientation detector operatively active on the conveyor belt configured to generate at least a first orientation signal representative of an incorrect orientation of a product transported on the conveyor belt.