Transfer wheel and method for transferring objects
AssigneePhilip Morris Products S.A.
InventorsMassimiliano BERTOLDO, Nicolò TONEGUTTI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Transfer wheel (1) for transferring objects (40, 41) comprises at least a seat module (3). The seat module comprises a seat (2) located at the peripheral face of the transfer wheel and adapted for accommodating an object on the seat. The at least one seat module is a resilient seat module, wherein a position of the seat of the seat module is adaptable in radial direction of the transfer wheel. Also provided is a method for transferring objects.
Claims14
1-14. (canceled)
A method for transferring objects comprising an in-line adaption of a radial position of an object in a seat of a transfer wheel, comprising:
- providing a transfer wheel comprising a seat for receiving and accommodating an object;
- receiving a first object on the seat in a receiving location, the first object having a first size;
- transferring the first object to a transfer location and releasing the first object at the transfer location;
- receiving a second object on the seat in the receiving location, the second object having a second size, the second size being different to the first size;
- and
- adapting the radial position of the seat such that a maximum radial extension of the transfer wheel defined by an outermost extension of the object on the seat is the same for each of the first or second object accommodated on the seat in at least one of the receiving location or the transfer location;
- therein adapting the position of the seat by compressing or expanding a resilient seat module comprising the seat, thereby compressing the seat module itself or pushing back the seat module by compressing a module support.
The method according to claim 1, comprising:
- compressing the resilient seat module by pushing the first or second object into the direction of the seat.
The method according to claim 1, comprising:
- compressing the resilient seat module with a force smaller than a crushing force of the first object and of the second object.
The method according to claim 1, comprising:
- compressing the resilient seat module with a force between 1 Newton and 10 Newton.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first object and the second object have a spherical, ellipsoidal, or lentil shape.
The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second object is a capsule containing a liquid.
The transfer wheel for transferring objects according to the method of claim 1, the transfer wheel comprising at least a seat module, the seat module comprising a seat located at the peripheral face of the transfer wheel and adapted for accommodating an object on the seat, wherein the at least one seat module is an elastically mounted resilient seat module or an elastically compressible resilient seat module, wherein a position of the seat of the seat module is adaptable in radial direction of the transfer wheel, and wherein the seat is a cup-shaped recess in the seat module.
An apparatus for transferring objects according to the method of claim 1, the apparatus comprising a transfer wheel comprising at least a seat module, the seat module comprising a seat located at the peripheral face of the transfer wheel and adapted for accommodating an object on the seat, wherein the at least one seat module is an elastically mounted resilient seat module or an elastically compressible resilient seat module, wherein a position of the seat of the seat module is adaptable in radial direction of the transfer wheel, and wherein the seat is a cup-shaped recess in the seat module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.