Method and installation for changing the pitch of discrete entities conveyed in succession

An installation for changing the pitch between discrete entities conveyed in succession between a device for feeding said entities at an initial spacing pitch provided between two entities fed in succession and a device for receiving said entities at a final pitch substantially greater than the initial pitch, wherein it comprises:

• a feed screw device with a variable pitch between said initial pitch and an intermediate pitch configured to receive in a peripheral groove said entities downstream of said feed device, in which said entities are at least partially housed;
• a wheel for changing the pitch capable of gripping, by means of transfer arms, said entities gripped at said intermediate pitch, and transferring said entities into said receiving stations of the receiving device at said final pitch.

An apparatus that changes a pitch between discrete entities conveyed in succession between a first device and a second device, comprising:

• a feed screw having a first end and a second end and comprising a peripheral groove, wherein the entities are received at the first end and wherein the feed screw changes the pitch between entities from an initial pitch to an intermediate pitch as the entities travel from the first end to the second end;
• and
• a wheel configured to receive the entities from the second end of the feed screw, the wheel being further configured to change the pitch between the entities from the intermediate pitch to a final pitch and to transfer the entities to the second device at the final pitch.