Apparatus for moving objects and relative movement method

A method for moving objects (2) comprising the steps of receiving at least one object (2) from an infeed station (3) and moving the object (2) towards an outfeed station (4), further comprising the steps of:

• preparing a movement surface (101) comprising a plurality of movement cells (102) positioned on it in a matrix or chequerboard fashion;
• controlling a direction of movement of each movement cell (102) independently relative to the other movement cells (102), and operating the movement cells (102) in conjunction for moving the object (2) in succession;
• defining a conveying trajectory in the movement surface (101) for conveying the object (2) from the infeed station (3) to the outfeed station (4);
• identifying, between the movement cells (102), trajectory cells (105) belonging to the conveying trajectory and directing a direction of movement (D) of each trajectory cell (105) in the movement surface (101) in such a way as to move the object (2) in the conveying trajectory;
• identifying, between the movement cells (102), convergence cells (106), defining at least one convergence zone (107) adjacent to the conveying trajectory and, for each convergence cell (106), directing the direction of movement (D) towards a central line (T) of the conveying trajectory to promote the maintaining of the object (2) inside the conveying trajectory;
• controlling a movement speed in the direction of movement of each movement cell (102) independently from the other movement cells (102);
• setting up, for each convergence cell (106), a respective longitudinal component of the movement speed, parallel to a respective longitudinal axis of extension (Y) of the movement surface (101), having a value less than, or equal to, a longitudinal component of a corresponding trajectory cell (105).