Machine and method for arranging objects in an alternate manner along single file rows
AssigneeAroma System SRL
InventorsGino RAPPARINI, Maurizio Generali
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine and method for arranging objects comprising a first end with a protruding edge and a second end, on the opposite side of the protruding edge, in an alternate manner along single file rows. A guide guides objects in a single file row to a separator for receiving and separating the objects into a first and a second group and for alternately feeding the first and the second group to a collector and dropping device configured for rotating the objects of the first group and the second group according to a predetermined orientation and for stacking the objects one above the other in an alternate manner along single file rows.
Claims18
A machine for arranging objects comprising a first end with a protruding edge and a second end, in an alternate manner along single file rows, comprising:
- guiding means configured to guide said objects along at least one single file row, in such a way that said objects lay on one of said first end and said second end;
- separating means suitable for separating said object into a first group and a second group;
- collecting and dropping means suitable for receiving said objects of said first group and said objects of said second group and for dropping them along the same direction, said collecting and dropping means comprising first rotation means suitable for rotating said objects of said first group in a clockwise direction along a first arc of circumference during a fall so that, at the end of rotation, said objects no longer lay on either said first or second end, and second rotation means suitable for rotating said objects of said second group in a counterclockwise direction along a second arc of circumference during a fall, wherein at the end of rotation, said objects no longer lay on either said first or second end, said first arc of circumference and said second arc of circumference being defined on a plane parallel to said direction, so as to stack said objects one above the other in an alternate manner along single file rows;
- and
- wherein, said separating means are suitable for receiving said objects from said at least one single file row and subsequently separating them into said first group and said second group and said separating means are configured to alternately transport said objects respectively towards said first rotation means and towards said second rotation means.
A method for arranging objects, comprising a first end with a protruding edge and a second end, in an alternate manner along single file rows, comprising the following steps:
- a) guiding said objects along at least one row so that they lay on one of said first end and said second end;
- b) separating said objects into a first group and a second group of objects;
- c) dropping said objects belonging to said first group and said objects belonging to said second group, in an alternate manner, along the same direction;
- d) rotating, during said step of dropping, said objects belonging to said first group in a clockwise direction along a first arc of circumference in such a way that, at the end of said rotation, said objects do not lay any longer on said end, and rotating, during said step of dropping, said objects belonging to said second group in a counterclockwise direction along a second arc of circumference in such a way that, at the end of said rotation, said objects no longer lay on said end, said first arc of circumference and said second arc of circumference being defined on a plane parallel to said direction, so as to stack said objects one on top of each other in an alternate manner along single file rows,
- wherein, said step b) is carried out by alternately transporting said objects respectively towards a first direction in order to feed said first group and towards a second direction in order to feed said second group.
A machine for arranging objects having an orientation in an alternate manner along single file rows comprising:
- a guide configured to transport objects having a common orientation;
- a separator positioned to receive the objects from said guide, said separator configured to rotate alternately in a first direction and a second direction, whereby the objects are alternately transported to a first location in the first direction and to a second location in the second direction;
- a first arc surface having a first entrance end and a first exit end, the first entrance end placed adjacent the first location receiving the objects from said separator, whereby the orientation of the objects are rotated from the first entrance end to the first exit end of said first arc surface;
- a second arc surface having a second entrance end and a second exit end placed adjacent the second location receiving said objects from said separator, whereby the orientation of the objects are rotated from the second entrance end to the second exit end of said second arc surface;
- wherein the first exit end of the first arc surface and the second exit end of the second arc surface are located at a common location;
- and
- an exit guide positioned at the common location receiving the objects from said first arc surface and said second arc surface,
- whereby the objects are arranged with the orientation alternating in the single file rows.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.