Operating station for a machine for filling and capping cartridges for electronic cigarettes

An operating station for a machine for filling and capping cartridges for electronic cigarettes, the machine comprising:

• a conveying line for transporting cartridges, wherein the cartridges are fed one after another along a longitudinally extending linear feeding path;
• a dispensing station for dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid into the cartridges;
• a capping station for applying at least one cap on each cartridge filled with liquid, for closing the cartridge so as to impede the liquid from flowing out;
• said operating station being arranged along the feeding path and comprising:
• an operating device comprising a number of operative positions for operating on the cartridges, which are arranged in series along a longitudinal direction of the machine and parallel to the linear feeding path;
• a support frame positioned above the conveying line and having a member extending along a direction perpendicular to the conveying line;
• and
• a transferring device for transferring cartridges, the transfer device being suspended on the support frame member and including:
• a first and a second series of pick-up members, each series having a number of pick-up members corresponding to the number of the operative positions of the operating device;
• a connecting shaft for mounting the transferring device so that the transferring device rotates about a vertical axis of rotation, and at least one cross-member, which is centrally fixed directly to the connecting shaft for common movement therewith, and which carries by direct attachment thereto the first and the second series of pick-up members, on respective first and second sides thereof in opposite positions with respect to the vertical axis of rotation such that the first series of pick-up members are directly mounted to and carried by the first side of the at least one cross member and the second series of pick-up members are directly mounted to and carried by the second side of the at least one cross member;
• wherein each number of pick-up members includes a plurality of pick-up members arranged in linear succession along the longitudinal direction of the machine when in an loading/unloading position and a working position such that the first and second series of pick-up members are parallel to each other and the longitudinally extending linear feeding path when in the loading/unloading position and the working position;
• wherein the first and second series of pick-up members are actuatable according to a movement of rotation about the vertical axis, for selectively interchanging positions of the first and the second series of pick-up members with each other, between:
• i) the loading/unloading position at the longitudinally extending linear feeding path of the conveying line in the operating station, wherein the pick-up members pick up or release the cartridges from/into the conveying line via vertical movement, and
• ii) the working position at the plurality of operative positions of the operating device, wherein the pick-up members pick up or release the cartridges from/into the plurality of operative positions, which are arranged in series along the longitudinal direction of the machine and parallel to the feeding path, or keep the cartridges in position at the operative positions.