CONTAINER-ORIENTING DEVICE AND POSITIONING MACHINE SUPPORTING SAME

Abstract

The invention relates to a container-positioning device and a positioning machine supporting same. The device can be used with containers that have a neck and a mouth. It comprises a funnel (4) whose edges are made up of: A first curved, stationary plate (5), the center of which is oriented towards the inside of the funnel (4). A second plate (6), opposite the former and movable in the horizontal direction, and which has an upper section (61), with a retractable orienting device (11). The upper section (61) is movable relative to a lower section (62), between: a first end at which it is aligned with the lower section (62) or closer to the first plate (5) than the lower section (62); and a second end at which the upper section (61) is farther from the first plate (5); a third flat plate (9) movable in a direction perpendicular to the opening (1).

Claims

1. A container-positioning device of the type having a neck and a mouth, having an inlet opening (1) into an upper receptacle (3) and a funnel (4), arranged below the upper receptacle (3), having a tapering adjustable section, characterized in that the funnel (4) has edges made up of: a first curved, stationary plate (5), arranged on a smaller side of the opening (1), the center of which is oriented towards the inside of the funnel (4), and the lower area of which is approximately vertical; a second plate (6), opposite the first plate (5) and movable in the horizontal direction, and which has an upper section (61) that is movable relative to an approximately vertical lower section (62) of the second plate (6), between: a first end at which it is aligned with the lower section (62) or closer to the first plate (5) than the lower section (62); and a second end at which the upper section (61) is tilted and farther from the first plate (5) than the lower section (62); a third approximately vertical, flat plate (9), parallel to a larger side of the opening (1), movable in a direction perpendicular to the opening (1); a fourth stationary edge, opposite the third plate (9); and wherein the upper section (61) of the second plate (6) has an orienting device (11) with a first position in which it protrudes towards the first plate (5) and a second position in which it is integrated in the upper section (61).

2. The container-positioning device according to claim 1, the orienting device (11) of which is arranged below the upper receptacle (3).

3. The container-positioning device according to claim 1, the orienting device (11) of which is an oscillating element.

4. The container-positioning device according to claim 1, the movable parts of which have electromechanical actuators (7, 8, 10, 12).

5. The container-positioning device according to claim 4, the actuators (7, 8, 10, 12) of which are controlled by a controller.

6. The container-positioning device according to claim 1, the upper receptacle (3) of which has a movable edge (13), moved by an actuator of the receptacle (14), in a direction parallel to the third plate (9).

7. A container-positioning machine, comprising a rotating plane, under a bulk container-feeding device or chamber, with at least one perimetral opening (1) where a container-orienting device is arranged, characterized in that it comprises at least one orienting device according to any of claims 1 to 6.

8. The container-positioning machine according to claim 7, having two or more container-orienting devices according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plates (5, 6, 9) of each funnel (4) can be adjusted independently of the plates (5, 6, 9) of the other funnels (4).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] To better understand the invention, the following figures are included.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the device.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the preceding example of application.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the example of FIG. 1

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the funnel with the upper section of the second plate in two end position examples.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the position of the devices of the invention, according to the embodiment, in a positioning machine.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0033] An embodiment of the invention is very briefly described below as an illustrative, non-limiting example thereof.

[0034] The positioning device shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises a through opening (1) where containers (2) enter an upper receptacle (3), and a funnel (4) arranged below the upper receptacle (3). The section of the funnel (4) and of the upper receptacle (3) will usually be rectangular or square, and the dimensions thereof can be adjusted. In any case, a larger side will be defined as the side which may be longer, and a smaller side defined as one perpendicular to the former.

[0035] The upper receptacle (3) generally has a parallelepipedic shape, whereas the funnel (4) has at least two edges converging towards the lower part.

[0036] The funnel (4) has a series of plates defining its section. A first curved plate (5) is stationary and defines a minimal narrowing for the funnel (4). The center of the first plate (5) is oriented towards the inside of the funnel (4), whereas the lower area is approximately vertical. On the opposite side there is arranged a second plate (6), which is movable by an opening actuator (7), which varies the maximum opening of the funnel (4), tilting an upper section (61) of the second plate (6), such that the second plate (6) may be in a straight or even concave position (FIG. 4, left side), where the narrowing corresponds to that marked by the first plate (5), and a tilted position in which the second plate (6) is in a convex position (FIG. 4, right side), with the upper section (61) farther from the first plate (5) than a lower section (62).

[0037] A width actuator (8) varies the separation between the first plate (5) and the second plate (6) so as to be adapted to the width of the container. By adjusting the actuators of the second plate (6), the height to width ratio of the container to be positioned may be varied. Moreover, the mouth and the lower part of the funnel (4) are independent and can be individually adjusted as a result of the second plate (6) being separated in two sections.

[0038] A third edge of the funnel (4) is defined by a third, usually vertical and flat plate (9), which is movable by a depth actuator (10) which, like the width actuator (8), will be associated with the section of the container. This third plate will be parallel to the opening (1), usually below same, although it may be on the edge facing the opening (1).

[0039] The fourth edge of the funnel (4) will also be stationary and has been eliminated in the figures to enable seeing the rest of the device. In any case it will be substantially parallel to the third plate (9) so as not to modify the through section of the funnel (4).

[0040] Lastly, a retractable orienting device (11) is arranged in the upper section (61) and moved by an orientation actuator (12) which causes the orienting device (11) to protrude towards the inside of the funnel (4) or to retract into the second plate (6). The orienting device (11) will be in the funnel (4), below the upper receptacle (3) where the containers enter after passing the opening (1). That is, it will be located below the rotating plane of the rotating positioning machine. The risk of jamming in the device is thereby reduced, since the container has a clear entry at all times. The device will have its own sensor (not depicted) or a connection to an external sensor in order to know if the vessel has entered the upper receptacle (3) in one direction or the other. These sensors can be optical, physical (the position of a flexible rod, etc.) and will not be described as they are known in the state of the art.

[0041] If the container falls with the mouth directed towards the second plate (6) (FIG. 1), the orienting device (11) will protrude to stop the mouth of the container and cause the container to turn over. Otherwise, it will be the curvature of the first plate (5) which causes it to turn over in the opposite direction.

[0042] In turn, the upper receptacle (3) may also have a movable edge (13), moved by an actuator of the receptacle (14), in a direction parallel to the third plate (9) to adjust the width of the vessel. The length of the upper receptacle (3) can also be adjusted, although it may be sufficient to simply place a passage-reducing element instead of a movable element.

[0043] The actuators (7, 8, 10, 12, 14) may be pneumatic, hydraulic, electromechanical, etc., although electromechanical actuators are preferred to make it easier to replace them in case of malfunction. They will preferably be controlled by a controller (not shown) to make it easier to adjust the dimensions.

[0044] The positioning machine will usually comprise several similar devices on the periphery of the rotating plane for discharging containers. Each of these devices will be independent, although the controller (not depicted) may be common to all of them.