Centrifugal device for supplying preforms which are horizontally-laid and aligned in succession

A centrifugal device for supplying thermoplastic preforms, which are horizontally-laid and aligned, from preforms received in bulk, the device comprising:

• a substantially horizontal transport ring rotating about an axis,
• a central rotary disc rotating in the same direction as the transport ring and having an axis inclined relative to that of the transport ring,
• the rotary disc and the transport ring being at a distance from one another in one zone for loading the preforms in bulk onto the rotary disc and being substantially tangent in another zone for transferring the preforms from the rotary disc onto the transport ring located at a higher level than that of the loading zone,
• a lateral guide peripherally surrounding the transport ring for retaining the preforms transferred onto the transport ring,
• an outlet channel open into the lateral guide and extending substantially tangentially to the transport ring for the removal of the preforms which are horizontally-laid and aligned in succession,
• an ejection mechanism mounted on the lateral guide downstream, when observed in the direction of rotation of the transport ring, of the transfer zone and upstream of the opening of the outlet channel and adapted for occupying a resting position in which the ejection mechanism does not affect the displacement of the preforms driven by the transport ring and an operational position in which the preforms are forced to leave the transport ring,
• actuating means, operationally associated with the ejection mechanism, for actuating the ejection mechanism, to cause a selective displacement of the ejection mechanism between the resting and operational positions, and
• detection means located upstream of the ejection mechanism and adapted for detecting an undesirable preform present on the transport ring, the detection means being operatively connected to the means for actuating the ejection mechanism to force the ejection mechanism into the operational position for the ejection of the undesirable preform, when an undesirable preform is detected,
• wherein the ejection mechanism comprises a mobile trap adapted for closing an opening made in the lateral guide,
• the actuating means is adapted for displacing said mobile trap by controlling the detection means and opening said opening of the lateral guide so that the detected undesirable preform is ejected through the opening as a result of the centrifugal force,
• the ejection mechanism further comprises a mobile finger arranged downstream of the transfer zone and adapted for occupying, in relation to the actuating means, a retracted position in which the mobile finger is not in the trajectory of the preforms on the transport ring and an ejection position in which the mobile finger is in the trajectory of the preforms on the transport ring and rejects the preforms towards the inside onto the rotary disc, and
• the mobile finger is embodied in the mobile trap which is arranged to be displaced on both sides from the resting position to assume the function of the mobile finger,
• whereby the user has the choice between the removal of the undesirable preforms towards the outside through the opening of the lateral guide or towards the inside onto the rotary disc.

A centrifugal device for supplying thermoplastic preforms, which are horizontally-laid and aligned, from preforms received in bulk, the device comprising:

• a substantially horizontal transport ring rotating about an axis;
• a central rotary disc rotating in the same direction as the transport ring and having an axis inclined relative to that of the transport ring, the rotary disc and the transport ring being at a distance from one another in one zone for loading the preforms in bulk onto the rotary disc and being substantially tangent in another zone for transferring the preforms from the rotary disc onto the transport ring located at a higher level than that of the loading zone;
• a lateral guide peripherally surrounding the transport ring for retaining the preforms transferred onto the transport ring;
• an outlet channel open into the lateral guide and extending substantially tangentially to the transport ring for the removal of the preforms which are horizontally-laid and aligned in succession;
• an ejection mechanism mounted on the lateral guide downstream, when observed in the direction of rotation of the transport ring, of the transfer zone and upstream of the opening of the outlet channel and adapted for occupying a resting position in which the ejection mechanism does not affect the displacement of the preforms driven by the transport ring and an operational position in which the preforms are forced to leave the transport ring;
• an actuator, operationally associated with the ejection mechanism, which actuates the ejection mechanism, to cause a selective displacement of the ejection mechanism between the resting and operational positions;
• and
• a detector located upstream of the ejection mechanism and adapted to detect an undesirable preform present on the transport ring, the detector being operatively connected to the actuator to force the ejection mechanism into the operational position for the ejection of the undesirable preform, when an undesirable preform is detected,
• wherein the ejection mechanism comprises a mobile trap adapted for closing an opening made in the lateral guide,
• the actuator is adapted to displace the mobile trap by controlling the detector and opening the opening of the lateral guide so that the detected undesirable preform is ejected through the opening as a result of centrifugal force, and
• the mobile trap is displaceable and pivotable towards the outside of the lateral guide.