MOVEMENT UNIT FOR ARTICLES

Abstract

A movement unit for articles includes a first carousel device having a first transporter member and first gripping heads mounted thereon and provided to move the articles into a single-row configuration. The movement unit further includes a second carousel device to receive the articles from the first carousel device, having a second transporter member and second gripping heads mounted thereon. Each second gripping head is configured to receive the articles from a respective first gripping head and to move the articles into a multi-row configuration.

Claims

1.-17. (canceled)

18. A movement unit for articles, comprising: a first carousel device comprising: a first transporter member moveable along a first advance trajectory, and first gripping heads moveably mounted on said first transporter member, said first gripping heads configured to move said articles into a single-row configuration, in which said articles are aligned in a single row during movement of said articles along said first advance trajectory; and a second carousel device comprising: a second transporter member moveable along a second advance trajectory, and second gripping heads moveably mounted on said second transporter member, each second gripping head being configured to receive said articles from said first carousel device and to move said articles into a multiple-row configuration, in which said articles are aligned in a plurality of rows staggered relative to each other during movement of the articles along said second advance trajectory, wherein each second gripping head is configured to receive said articles from a respective first gripping head.

19. The movement unit according to claim 18, wherein said second gripping heads are configured to be moved on said second transporter member to define on said second carousel device a number of rows of articles equal to a number of articles received from each second gripping head.

20. The movement unit according to claim 19, wherein said second gripping heads are configured to be moved on said second transporter member in such a manner that, over at least a portion of said second carousel device, each row of said plurality of rows is substantially parallel with said second advance trajectory.

21. The movement unit according to claim 18, wherein: said first transporter member comprises a drum configured to rotate about a first main rotation axis, and said first advance trajectory defines a circumference.

22. The movement unit according to claim 21, wherein said first main rotation axis is substantially vertical.

23. The movement unit according to claim 18, wherein: said second transporter member comprises a drum configured to rotate about a second main rotation axis, and said second advance trajectory defines a circumference.

24. The movement unit according to claim 23, wherein said second main rotation axis is substantially vertical.

25. The movement unit according to claim 18, wherein each first gripping head comprises gripping elements, each configured to individually retain one of said articles.

26. The movement unit according to claim 25, wherein said gripping elements comprise: a central arm fixed to said first gripping head, and two lateral arms mounted on said first gripping head at an opposite side with respect to said central arm and articulated to pivot away from and towards said central arm in order to retain or release said articles.

27. The movement unit according to claim 18, wherein each said second gripping head comprises a tray-like element having a plurality of seats, each seat being configured to receive a single article from a corresponding first gripping head.

28. The movement unit according to claim 18, wherein said second carousel device comprises: a driving equipment of said second gripping heads, configured to pivot each second gripping head about a pivot axis in order to move said articles into said configuration with multiple rows.

29. The movement unit according to claim 28, wherein: each said second gripping head comprises a tray-like element having a plurality of seats, each seat being configured to receive a single article from a corresponding first gripping head; and said pivot axis is spaced apart from a straight line which joins said seats of said tray-like element.

30. A method for moving articles between carousel devices, comprising: providing a first carousel device comprising: a first transporter member moveable along a first advance trajectory, and first gripping heads moveably mounted on said first transporter member; providing a second carousel device comprising: a second transporter member moveable along a second advance trajectory, and second gripping heads moveably mounted on said second transporter member; moving, by said first carousel device, said articles retained by said first gripping heads into a configuration with a single row, in which said articles are aligned in a single row during movement of said articles along said first advance trajectory; transferring said articles from said first carousel device to said second carousel device by passing the articles from each first gripping head to a respective second gripping head; and moving, by said second carousel device, said articles received from said first gripping heads into a configuration with multiple rows, in which said articles are aligned in a plurality of rows staggered relative to each other during movement of the articles along said second advance trajectory.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said articles are passed two by two from said each first gripping head to said respective second gripping head.

32. An apparatus for producing capsules for infusion type beverages, comprising at least one movement unit according to claim 18 for said capsules.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein: said at least one movement unit is configured to transport empty capsules from said first carousel device to said second carousel device, and said second carousel device comprises at least one device for filling said empty capsules with a powdered product.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said at least one filling device is mounted on said second transporter member to fill said empty capsules during movement of said second transporter member along said second advance trajectory.

Description

[0081] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of an embodiment example illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

[0082] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view from above of a movement unit for articles constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0083] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the movement unit in FIG. 1,

[0084] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view from above of a detail on an enlarged scale of the movement unit in FIG. 1,

[0085] FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic plan views from above of a detail on an enlarged scale of the movement unit in FIG. 1 in subsequent operating positions,

[0086] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view from above of an apparatus for producing capsules for infusion type beverages comprising the movement unit for articles of FIG. 1.

[0087] With reference to the accompanying figures, 1 indicates overall a movement unit for articles 2 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0088] The movement unit 1 is inserted within an apparatus 100 for preparing and packaging capsules for infusion type beverages, in particular coffee, and is provided to continuously move a plurality of empty capsules, prior to the filling thereof with coffee powder.

[0089] In this embodiment example, therefore, the articles 2 are thus formed by capsules, also indicated below with the same numerical reference.

[0090] In general terms, the apparatus 100 comprises a first unit 101 in which the empty capsules 2 are fed, a second unit 102 in which the empty capsules 2 are coupled to a filter, a third unit 103, comprising the movement unit 1, in which the empty capsules 2 provided with a filter are filled with coffee powder, as well as a fourth unit 104 in which the coffee-filled capsules 2 are closed by a membrane.

[0091] The capsules 2 are formed by a rigid casing, with a truncated conical shape, comprising a bottom 4 from which a flared lateral wall 3 extends towards an opening 5 opposite the bottom 4. The bottom 4 has a smaller cross-section than the mouth 5 and, overall, the capsules have a diameter of between 20 and 60 mm and a height of between 15 and 60 mm.

[0092] The movement unit 1, in the most general components thereof, comprises a first carousel device 10, configured to transport the capsules 2 into a single-row configuration, and a second carousel device 20, which is provided to receive the capsules 2 from the first carousel device 10 and to transport them towards the subsequent processing unit in an arrangement with multiple rows, in particular a double row, as clearly visible in FIG. 1.

[0093] The first carousel device 10 comprises a first transporter member 11 on which the first gripping heads 12 are mounted with an ability to move.

[0094] The first transporter member 11 comprises a drum which is driven in rotation about a first main rotation axis X, which extends along a substantially vertical direction, so as to define a first advance trajectory A of the first transporter member 11, which is substantially circular.

[0095] The first gripping heads 12 are mounted uniformly on an upper surface of the drum, at a radially outer circumferential region of the drum.

[0096] Preferably, the first gripping heads 12 are limitedly movable with respect to the first transporter member 11, and, in particular, they can be pivoted about a substantially vertical axis thereof, parallel with the first main rotation axis X. Each first gripping head 12 comprises a pair of gripping elements 13, each of which is provided to individually retain a capsule 2.

[0097] In particular, the gripping elements 13 are of the pincer type and comprise a central arm 14, which is mounted so as to be fixed to the first gripping head 12, and a pair of lateral arms 15 and 16, which are mounted on the first gripping head 12 at the opposite side with respect to the central arm 14 and are articulated so as to pivot away from and towards the central arm 14 in order to retain or release the capsules 2.

[0098] The second carousel device 20 comprises a second transporter member 21 on which the second gripping heads 22 are mounted with an ability to move.

[0099] The second transporter member 21 comprises a drum which is driven in rotation about a second main rotation axis Y, which extends along a substantially vertical direction, so as to define a second advance trajectory B of the second transporter member 21, which is substantially circular.

[0100] The second gripping heads 22 are mounted uniformly on an upper surface of the drum, at a radially outer circumferential region of the drum.

[0101] Each second gripping head 22 further comprises a tray-like element 23, in which a pair of seats 24 is formed, each provided to receive a single capsule 2 from a first gripping head 12 in a supporting manner.

[0102] The second gripping heads 22 are limitedly movable with respect to the second transporter member 21, and, in particular, the second carousel device 20 comprises a driving equipment of the second gripping heads 22 which is provided to pivot each of them about a substantially vertical pivot axis Z, parallel with the second main rotation axis Y.

[0103] Preferably, the pivot axis Z is spaced apart from a straight line R which joins the seats 24 of the tray-like element 23.

[0104] A filling device (not shown in the accompanying Figures) is also mounted on the second carousel device 20, which is provided to fill the capsules 2 with coffee powder while they are moved along the second advance trajectory B. The movement unit 1 operates as follows.

[0105] The first carousel device 10 removes the capsules 2 from a wheel 102a of the second unit 102 of the apparatus 110, in which the capsules are joined to a filter.

[0106] In particular, the first carousel device 10 removes the capsules 2 at a removal zone 30, in which the first advance trajectory A approaches or overlaps the trajectory of the wheel 102a.

[0107] At the removal zone 30, the first gripping heads 12 are rotated with respect to the transporter member 11 about their respective pivot axes, so as to bring the gripping elements 13 close to the capsules 2 and keep them facing them for a sufficient portion to allow the lateral arms 15 and 16 to approach the central arm 14 and to close around the capsules 2 to be removed (FIG. 3). After the removal, the capsules 2 are moved in pairs from the first gripping heads 12 towards an exchange zone 31, defined in a proximity region of the first transporter member 11 and of the second transporter member 21, where they are delivered from the first carousel device 10 to the second carousel device 20.

[0108] During the movement between the removal zone 30 and the exchange zone 31, the position of the first gripping heads 12 is maintained in such a manner that the capsules 2 moved by the first transporter 11 assume a single-row configuration, substantially circular, parallel with the first advance trajectory A.

[0109] At the exchange zone 31, the first gripping heads 12 and the second gripping heads 22 are pivoted about their respective pivot axes in such a manner that the tray-like elements 23 are positioned under the capsules 2 transported by the gripping elements 13 so as to be able to receive them in the seats 24 and allow the immediate disengagement of the gripping elements 13 which is carried out by moving the lateral arms 15 and 16 away from the central arm 14 (better visible in FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0110] In particular, as better visible in FIG. 2, the second gripping heads 22 while they are pivoting about the pivot axis Z, are also moved upwards, along the direction defined by such axis, so as to engage the bottom 4 of the capsules 2 in the seats 24. Each pair of capsules 2 thus passes simultaneously from a first gripping head 12 to a second gripping head 22.

[0111] The passage of the capsules 2 from the first carousel device 10 to the second carousel device 20 therefore takes place by successive passages of pairs of capsules 2 from a first gripping head 12 to a respective second gripping head 22.

[0112] As the capsules 2 are released from the gripping elements 13, the second gripping heads 22 are again lowered and rotated about the pivot axis Z to move the capsules 2 into a configuration with multiple rows, in this case a double row.

[0113] During the movement of the second transporter member 21 along the second trajectory B, the capsules 2 carried by the second gripping heads 22 are filled with coffee powder thanks to the action of the filling device provided on the second carousel device 20.

[0114] In the final portion of the movement of the second transporter member 21 along the second trajectory B, the capsules 2 are finally moved by the second gripping heads 22 in such a manner that each pair of capsules carried by a second gripping head is aligned according to a radial direction of the transporter member 21. In this way, on the final segment of the second carousel device 20, two rows of capsules 2 remain defined substantially parallel with the second advance trajectory B (better visible in FIG. 1).

[0115] The pairs of capsules 2 are then delivered by the second carousel device 20 to a subsequent transport device, for example an exchange wheel 105 at a release zone 32.

[0116] Thanks to the features of the present invention, it is therefore possible to transfer the capsules 2 between the first carousel device 10, where they are arranged in a single-row configuration, and the second carousel device 20, where they are arranged in a multiple-row configuration, effectively and safely even at high production speeds, in particular even at speeds of about 1500 articles per minute.

[0117] It goes without saying that a person skilled in the art may, in order to meet specific and contingent application requirements, make further modifications and variants of the above-described invention within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.