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WO2008129086A1 - Machine for positioning light articles - Google Patents

Machine for positioning light articles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008129086A1
WO2008129086A1 PCT/ES2008/000132 ES2008000132W WO2008129086A1 WO 2008129086 A1 WO2008129086 A1 WO 2008129086A1 ES 2008000132 W ES2008000132 W ES 2008000132W WO 2008129086 A1 WO2008129086 A1 WO 2008129086A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
articles
article
machine
support
rotating structure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/ES2008/000132
Other languages
Spanish (es)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jaime Marti Sala
Alex Martí Mercadé
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO2008129086A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008129086A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/02—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors
    • B65G47/04—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
    • B65G47/12—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles
    • B65G47/14—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding
    • B65G47/1407—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl
    • B65G47/1442—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl by means of movement of the bottom or a part of the wall of the container
    • B65G47/1471—Movement in one direction, substantially outwards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/02—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors
    • B65G47/04—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
    • B65G47/12—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles
    • B65G47/14—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/02—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors
    • B65G47/04—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
    • B65G47/12—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles
    • B65G47/14—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding
    • B65G47/1407—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl
    • B65G47/1442—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl by means of movement of the bottom or a part of the wall of the container
    • B65G47/1457—Rotating movement in the plane of the rotating part
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/22—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
    • B65G47/24—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles
    • B65G47/256—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles removing incorrectly orientated articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/34—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor 
    • B65G47/46—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points
    • B65G47/51—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination
    • B65G47/5104—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination for articles
    • B65G47/5109—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination for articles first In - First Out systems: FIFO
    • B65G47/5145—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination for articles first In - First Out systems: FIFO with recirculation means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/52—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices
    • B65G47/525—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices using fluid jets

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a machine for positioning light items, and more particularly to a machine for standing up and aligning light items, such as empty plastic bottles or containers, supplied in bulk in a disorderly manner.
  • Patent EP1281643 describes a machine for positioning light articles such as empty plastic bottles or containers comprising a rotating structure arranged to rotate around a horizontal axis and supporting a plurality of radially arranged cavities, where each cavity has an access opening in The periphery of the rotating structure.
  • An input conveyor is arranged to insert an article into each cavity in a preset orientation.
  • the input conveyor is associated with detection means for detecting the position of the article on the conveyor and discrimination means for expelling from the transporter those articles located in an unwanted position from signals received from said detection means.
  • the rotating structure does not include alignment ducts and the articles fall on an evacuation conveyor through the same access opening of the corresponding cavity when the cavity is in a lower part of the turning path.
  • this construction is not suitable for small items and does not support very high operating speeds.
  • the present invention provides a machine for positioning light articles, of the type comprising a rotating structure arranged to rotate about an axis.
  • This rotating structure supports a plurality of alignment ducts related to an evacuation conveyor and a plurality of cavities, each of which has an open bottom arranged on an inlet of a corresponding alignment duct and an access opening in the periphery of The rotating structure to receive through it articles moving in a substantially radial direction or perpendicular to said axis.
  • Support and / or stop means are arranged to temporarily support an article in each cavity and then drop it conveniently oriented into the corresponding alignment duct, from where the items are delivered to said evacuation conveyor.
  • the articles are generally empty plastic bottles or containers of the type comprising an elongated body in a longitudinal direction, with a base at one end and a prominent or incoming configuration at the other end.
  • the machine further comprises a feeder device capable of successively inserting an article in each cavity through said access opening imparting to the article a movement in said radial direction or substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rotating structure, either with said base or said configuration prominent or incoming of the article at the front end, during the rotation of the rotating structure.
  • Said feeder device comprises an input conveyor, loading means for loading the items to said input conveyor and a clearance device configured and arranged to evacuate excess or misplaced items on the input conveyor and leave on the conveyor of Enter only one row of articles in a laid-out arrangement and with their longitudinal directions aligned, either with said base or said prominent or incoming configuration of each article at the front end.
  • the input conveyor has a delivery end facing the path of the access openings of the cavities during the rotation of the rotating structure.
  • the mentioned support and / or stop means include elements fixed inside the cavities and stationary elements r . and act in a conventional manner to conveniently orient the articles when they fall from the cavities into the corresponding alignment ducts.
  • the machine of the present invention includes different devices that allow the machine to be adjusted to articles of different sizes within a range.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a machine for positioning light articles according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the machine of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of the arrangement of the articles on an input conveyor that is part of the machine of Fig. 1;
  • Figs. 4 and 5 are partially sectioned front views schematically illustrating two different embodiments for a clearing device associated with the input conveyor;
  • Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively partially sectioned front and side views schematically illustrating an exemplary embodiment for a tensile improvement device associated with the input conveyor;
  • Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along an axial plane of a rotating structure that is part of the machine of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 9 is a top view of the rotating structure of Fig. 8 in relation to support and / or stop means and inlet and evacuation conveyors;
  • Fig. 10 is a top view of a star-shaped body that is part of the rotating structure
  • Figs. 11 and 12 are lower and upper isometric views, respectively, of a support and stop element that forms part of the support and / or stop means
  • Fig. 13 is an isometric partial view showing one of the support and stop elements of Figs. 11 and 12 coupled to the star-shaped body of Fig. 10
  • Figs. 14 and 15 are partial top views that schematically illustrate the rotating structure in positions of falling of the article when a prominent configuration of the article faces the center and the periphery of the rotating structure, respectively.
  • the articles 50 for which the machine is configured are of the type comprising an elongated body in a longitudinal direction, with a base 51 at one end and a prominent configuration 52 at the other end.
  • said articles 50 are empty plastic bottles, wherein said prominent or incoming configuration 52 is a prominent bottleneck in relation to the body of Ia bottle, although the machine of the present invention would also be applicable to other types of articles, such as, for example, tubular or cylindrical containers with a closed end forming a base and another open end forming an incoming configuration in relation to the container body .
  • said articles 50 are bottles that have a flattened body, although the machine of the present invention would be equally applicable to articles provided with a substantially cylindrical or prismatic substantially regular body.
  • the machine comprises a rotating structure 1 arranged to rotate about an axis 60, which is a substantially vertical axis, although it could admit a certain inclination provided that this does not affect actions that are carried out by gravity, such as will be explained below.
  • Said rotary structure 1 supports a plurality of cavities 2 and corresponding alignment conduits 3 spaced apart along its periphery, where each of said cavities 2 has an open bottom arranged on an upper inlet of its corresponding alignment conduit 3 and an access opening 2a on the periphery of the rotary structure 1 to receive through it articles 50 moving in a substantially radial direction or perpendicular to said axis 60.
  • Each of the cavities 2 is configured to house one of said articles 50 in a laid-out arrangement and with its longitudinal direction aligned with a substantially radial direction with respect to the rotating structure 1.
  • the machine further comprises a feeder device 30 capable of successively inserting an article 50 into each cavity 2 through said access opening 2a by a movement of article 50 in said substantially radial direction, either with said base 51 or said prominent configuration 52 of article 50 at the front end, during the rotation of the rotary structure 1.
  • the machine comprises support and / or stop means to temporarily support the article 50 in each cavity 2 along a first portion of the circular path that describes the rotary structure 1 and drop it then conveniently oriented inside the corresponding alignment conduit 3.
  • the alignment conduits ation 3 are related to an evacuation conveyor 8.
  • the said feeder device 30 comprises an input conveyor 31 configured to move the articles 50 in a row, in a laid-out arrangement and with their longitudinal directions aligned, either with said base 51 or said prominent configuration 52 of each article 50 at the front end (see also Fig. 3).
  • Said input conveyor 31 has a delivery end facing the path of the access openings 2a of the cavities 2 during the rotation of the rotary structure 1.
  • the feeder device 30 further comprises loading means for loading the articles 50 to said input conveyor 31 by allowing them to slide along an inclined plane 37 and a clearing device 38 configured and arranged to evacuate excess or misplaced items 50 on the input conveyor 31 and leave only said row of items 50 on the input conveyor 31.
  • the inlet conveyor 31 comprises a movable floor 32, such as a conveyor belt or the like, flanked by railing means 33 that restrict the movement capacity of the articles to keep them with their longitudinal directions mutually aligned, either with said base 51 or said prominent configuration 52 of each article 50 at the front end.
  • Those mentioned railing means 33 are configured to be held in different positions in relation to said mobile floor 32 to adapt the input conveyor 31 to articles 50 of different sizes.
  • the railing means 33 are formed by slats, preferably of a low friction coefficient plastic material, and comprise elongated holes 45 transverse to the direction of advancement of the moving floor 32.
  • the mentioned loading means comprise a hopper 35 arranged to receive items 50 disordered in bulk, which can be loaded continuously or in batches.
  • This hopper 35 has an open bottom on a lower end of a lifting conveyor 36, which has an upper end arranged to pour the raised articles 50 into a second hopper defining an inclined plane 37 on which the articles 50 slide up to an open enclosure on a rear section of said movable floor 32 of the input conveyor 31.
  • Said lifting conveyor 36 is capable of supplying articles 50 to the inclined plane 37 at a rate greater than the rate at which articles 50 are loaded by the inlet conveyor 31 to the cavities 2 of the rotary structure 1, so that in said enclosure on the rear section of the mobile floor 32 items 50 are accumulated that are dragged along the mobile floor 32 with an excess of poorly placed items 50 on the row of items 50 to be transported that are evacuated to the hopper 35 by said clearing device 38.
  • a first embodiment of the clearing device 38 which comprises a wheel provided with a plurality of flexible fingers 39 arranged to rotate driven by a motor 40 in a position such that said flexible fingers 39 sweep when turning an area of the input conveyor 31 just above the row of articles 50, evacuating any article 50 improperly placed on the row towards a ramp 47 (Fig. 2) through which they slide again towards the hopper 35.
  • Fig. 5 shows a second alternative embodiment for the clearing device 38, comprising a blow nozzle 48 arranged to project an air jet sweeping an area of the inlet conveyor 31 just above the row of articles 50 to evacuate the misplaced articles 50 towards said ramp 47 and towards the hopper 35.
  • the device feeder 30 optionally comprises a tensile improvement device 34 which acts by applying a normal force on said mobile floor 32 of said inlet conveyor 32 to increase the frictional force between the articles 50 and the mobile floor 32 in the vicinity of the rotating structure 1.
  • a tensile improvement device 34 which acts by applying a normal force on said mobile floor 32 of said inlet conveyor 32 to increase the frictional force between the articles 50 and the mobile floor 32 in the vicinity of the rotating structure 1. This is achieved, according to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, providing a blow nozzle 70 supported, for example, on the rail means 33 and positioned to direct an air jet against the articles 50 transported by the mobile floor 32 of the inlet conveyor 31 in the vicinity of the rotating structure 1 .
  • Fig. 8 the rotating structure 1 is shown, which comprises a central shaft 61 aligned with the axis 60 and arranged to rotate with respect to a support body 62 fixed to a stationary structure 4.
  • the said central shaft 61 has a fixed frame 63 on which a star-shaped body 15 defining the cavities 2 is supported, and which will be described in detail below in relation to Figs. 10 and 13.
  • the aforementioned star-shaped body 15 is fixed to the central shaft 61 by means of a threaded rod passed through a central hole 71 and associated with a knob 66 and joined in rotation with respect to the frame 63 by a pin 67 fixed to the frame 63 and inserted in a hole 68 formed in the star-shaped body 15.
  • the star-shaped body 15 is easily removable and replaceable by other star-shaped bodies 15 adapted to articles 50 of different sizes or Different ranges of sizes.
  • a circular plate 69 preferably of a transparent plastic material, which covers the upper side of the cavities 2.
  • the alignment ducts 3 are located, which are attached to the frame 63 by rods 64 inserted into the plug and secured by elastic clips, so that the alignment ducts 3 are easily replaceable by other alignment ducts 3 adapted to articles 50 of different sizes or different size ranges.
  • the star-shaped body 15 is formed from a plate of a low friction coefficient plastic material having a circular outer contour in which some recesses defining a plurality of radial arms 16 configured to define one of the cavities 2 between each of said radial arms 16.
  • a retaining surface 9 of a cylindrical portion is formed, and between each two of said retaining surfaces 9 is defined one of the access openings 2a to the cavities 2.
  • the retaining surfaces 9 located between the access openings 2a serve to retain said row of articles 50 on the inlet conveyor until an access opening 2a of a Cavity 2 substantially aligns with article 50 located in the first place of the row during the rotation of the rotating structure 1.
  • the s a retaining surface 9 of the star-shaped body 15 slides on the first article of row 50 while it is retained.
  • the support and / or stop means comprise a first support plane 5 fixed to the stationary structure 4 and arranged between said open bottoms of the cavities 2 and said upper entries of the alignment ducts 3 to temporarily support the articles 50 in the cavities 2 along the first portion of the circular path that describes the rotating structure 1 when turning.
  • the cavities 2 have lateral walls arranged to drag the articles 50 on said first support plane 5 along this first portion of the circular path.
  • the support and / or stop means further comprise a first support configuration 10 in each cavity 2 and a second support configuration 11 fixed to the stationary structure 4 at the end of said first portion circular path, that is, at the end of the first support plane 5, to temporarily support the prominent configuration 52 of article 50 when article 50 is arranged in cavity 2 with the prominent configuration 52 facing the center and the periphery of the structure rotating 1, respectively, in order to drop the article 50 with its base 51 in the lower part inside the corresponding alignment conduit 3 at the end of the first circular path portion.
  • article 50 always falls into the interior of the alignment conduit 3, regardless of the position of its prominent configuration 52 within the cavity 2.
  • the support and / or stop means further comprise a stop configuration 12 arranged substantially at the same radial level of said first support configuration 10, or more outwards, in each cavity 2 to provide a stop for the base 51 of article 50 when article 50 is arranged in cavity 2 with the prominent configuration 52 facing the periphery of the rotary structure 1.
  • the first support configuration 10 and the mentioned stop configuration 12 are grouped in a support and stop element 14 shown separately in Figs. 11 and 12.
  • This support and stop element 14 is composed of a support plate 17 from a lower face of which a pair of separate columns extending together constitute said stop configuration 12. A flat piece is joined to the free ends of said columns forming a bridge between them to constitute said first support configuration 10.
  • Said flat piece has a bevel 10a formed at its front edge to facilitate the introduction of the prominent configuration 52 of article 50 between the two columns and between The support plate 17 and the first support configuration 10 until shoulders of article 50 make contact with the two columns, that is, with the stop configuration 12.
  • each cavity 2 has a plurality of said pairs of holes 19 located at different radial distances from the center, so that the support and stop element 14 can be attached to the mobile structure 1 in several positions at different radial distances from the center to adapt cavities 2 to articles 50 of different lengths.
  • each cavity 2 of the star-shaped body 15 has a corresponding support and stop element 14 installed and said circular plate 69 (Fig. 8) is placed on all support and stop element 14 preventing them from being separate from the star-shaped body 15.
  • Fig. 14 a case is shown in which article 50 has been received inside the cavity 2 with the prominent configuration 52 facing the center of the rotating structure 1.
  • the prominent configuration 52 of article 50 is supported by the first support configuration 10 and the shoulders of article 50 make contact with the stop configuration 12.
  • the base 51 of article 50 is not supported and the fall of article 50 is initiated by its own weight into the alignment conduit 3 with the base 51 in front.
  • each alignment duct 3 has an upper inlet through which article 50 is received that falls by gravity from the corresponding cavity 2.
  • An upper section of the duct funnel-shaped alignment 3 serves for driving article 50 to a lower section configured to house article 50 standing on its base 51.
  • Each alignment duct 3 is formed by a rear wall and a pair of side walls, and during use it faces a peripheral wall 72 fixed to the stationary structure 4 that closes the front part of the alignment duct 3.
  • each of the alignment ducts 3 has an open bottom arranged on a second support plane 6 fixed to the stationary structure 4 to support the articles 50 standing on its base 51 along a second portion of the circular path of the rotating structure 1.
  • the side walls of the alignment ducts 3 are arranged to drag the articles 50 on said second support plane 6 along the length of said second circular path portion.
  • a diverter member 7 (Figs. 2 and 9) is arranged fixed to the stationary structure 4 and arranged to transfer the conveniently oriented articles 50, that is, standing on its base 51, from the ducts of alignment 3 to said evacuation conveyor 8.
  • the evacuation conveyor 8 preferably comprises a conveyor belt with multiple perforations and an aspiration drawer 73 disposed below a section of said perforated conveyor belt.
  • Said suction drawer 49 is connected by a conduit 74 to a suction apparatus 75 to create a suction force through the perforations of the conveyor belt of the evacuation conveyor 8.
  • the base 51 of items 50 temporarily adheres to evacuation conveyor 8 to help keep items 50 standing while being transported by evacuation conveyor 8.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)

Abstract

The machine comprises a rotary structure (1) arranged to rotate around a shaft (60). The rotary structure (1) bears a plurality of alignment conduits (3) connected with an evacuation transporter and a plurality of cavities (2), each with an open bottom positioned over an intake of an alignment conduit (3) and an access aperture in the periphery of the rotary structure (1) in order to receive articles (50) therethrough in a substantially radial direction. Fastening and/or checking means are positioned to temporarily support an article (50) in each cavity and then drop it correctly positioned into the corresponding alignment conduit. The machine includes a feed device (30) for successively inserting an article (50) in each cavity (2) either with the base or a prominent configuration of the article at the front end, during the rotation of the rotary structure (1).

Description

MÁQUINA PARA POSICIONAR ARTÍCULOS LIGEROS MACHINE TO POSITION LIGHT ITEMS

Campo de Ia técnicaField of the technique

La presente invención concierne en general a una máquina para posicionar artículos ligeros, y más en particular a una máquina para poner de pie y alinear artículos ligeros, tales como botellas o envases de plástico vacíos, suministrados a granel en una forma desordenada.The present invention relates generally to a machine for positioning light items, and more particularly to a machine for standing up and aligning light items, such as empty plastic bottles or containers, supplied in bulk in a disorderly manner.

Antecedentes de Ia invención Son bien conocidas máquinas para posicionar artículos ligeros del tipo que comprenden una estructura rotativa dispuesta para girar alrededor de un eje, donde dicha estructura rotativa soporta una pluralidad de conductos de alineación asociados a un transportador de evacuación, y una pluralidad de cavidades, cada una de las cuales tiene un fondo abierto dispuesto sobre una entrada de uno de dichos conductos de alineación y una abertura de acceso para recibir artículos a su través. Unos medios de soporte y/o tope están dispuestos para soportar temporalmente un artículo en cada cavidad y dejarlo caer luego convenientemente orientado al interior del correspondiente conducto de alineación mientras Ia estructura rotativa gira. Los documentos de patente EP-A-0578602, EP-A-0856482, EP-A-BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Machines for positioning light articles of the type comprising a rotating structure arranged to rotate about an axis are well known, wherein said rotating structure supports a plurality of alignment ducts associated with an evacuation conveyor, and a plurality of cavities , each of which has an open bottom arranged on an inlet of one of said alignment ducts and an access opening for receiving articles therethrough. Support and / or stop means are arranged to temporarily support an article in each cavity and then drop it conveniently oriented into the corresponding alignment duct while the rotating structure rotates. Patent documents EP-A-0578602, EP-A-0856482, EP-A-

1016601 y WO 2007 028848 describen diferentes ejemplos de máquinas para posicionar artículos ligeros que responden al esquema básico arriba descrito, donde Ia estructura rotativa tiene una superficie superior que forma el fondo de una tolva donde se cargan los artículos desordenados a granel, y las cavidades tienen sus aberturas de acceso abiertas en dicha superficie superior, de manera que las aberturas de acceso están enfrentadas a los fondos abiertos de las cavidades y los artículos son insertados en las cavidades efectuando un movimiento en Ia dirección axial en relación con el eje de giro de Ia estructura rotativa. Esta disposición es apropiada para máquinas de grandes dimensiones destinadas a artículos de tamaños relativamente grandes, tales como, por ejemplo, botellas o envases de litro, litro y medio, dos litros, o más. Sin embargo, resulta poco apropiada para máquinas más pequeñas destinadas a botellas o envases de menor tamaño, como por ejemplo botellas o envases de menos de medio litro.1016601 and WO 2007 028848 describe different examples of machines for positioning light articles that respond to the basic scheme described above, where the rotating structure has an upper surface that forms the bottom of a hopper where the messy items are loaded in bulk, and the cavities have its open access openings in said upper surface, so that the openings face the open bottoms of the cavities and the articles are inserted into the cavities making a movement in the axial direction in relation to the axis of rotation of the Ia rotating structure This arrangement is suitable for large machines intended for articles of relatively large sizes, such as, for example, bottles or containers of liter, liter and a half, two liters, or more. However, it is not appropriate for smaller machines for bottles or smaller containers, such as bottles or containers of less than half a liter.

La patente EP1281643 describe una máquina para posicionar artículos ligeros tales como botellas o envases de plástico vacíos que comprende una estructura rotativa dispuesta para girar alrededor de un eje horizontal y que soporta una pluralidad de cavidades dispuestas radialmente, donde cada cavidad tiene una abertura de acceso en Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa. Un transportador de entrada está dispuesto para insertar un artículo en cada cavidad en una orientación preestablecida. Para ello, el transportador de entrada está asociado a unos medios de detección para detectar Ia posición del artículo sobre el transportador y unos medios de discriminación para expulsar del transportador aquellos artículos situados en una posición indeseada a partir de señales recibidas de dichos medios de detección. Aquí, Ia estructura rotativa no incluye conductos de alineación y los artículos caen sobre un transportador de evacuación a través de Ia misma abertura de acceso de Ia correspondiente cavidad cuando Ia cavidad está en una parte inferior de Ia trayectoria de giro. Sin embargo, esta construcción es poco apropiada para artículos de pequeño tamaño y no admite velocidades de funcionamiento muy elevadas.Patent EP1281643 describes a machine for positioning light articles such as empty plastic bottles or containers comprising a rotating structure arranged to rotate around a horizontal axis and supporting a plurality of radially arranged cavities, where each cavity has an access opening in The periphery of the rotating structure. An input conveyor is arranged to insert an article into each cavity in a preset orientation. For this, the input conveyor is associated with detection means for detecting the position of the article on the conveyor and discrimination means for expelling from the transporter those articles located in an unwanted position from signals received from said detection means. Here, the rotating structure does not include alignment ducts and the articles fall on an evacuation conveyor through the same access opening of the corresponding cavity when the cavity is in a lower part of the turning path. However, this construction is not suitable for small items and does not support very high operating speeds.

Exposición de Ia invenciónExhibition of the invention

La presente invención aporta una máquina para posicionar artículos ligeros, del tipo que comprende una estructura rotativa dispuesta para girar alrededor de un eje. Esta estructura rotativa soporta una pluralidad de conductos de alineación relacionados con un transportador de evacuación y una pluralidad de cavidades, cada una de las cuales tiene un fondo abierto dispuesto sobre una entrada de un correspondiente conducto de alineación y una abertura de acceso en Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa para recibir a su través artículos moviéndose en una dirección substancialmente radial o perpendicular a dicho eje. Unos medios de soporte y/o tope están dispuestos para soportar temporalmente un artículo en cada cavidad y dejarlo caer luego convenientemente orientado al interior del correspondiente conducto de alineación, desde donde los artículos sen entregados al mencionado transportador de evacuación. Los artículos son en general botellas o envases de plástico vacíos del tipo que comprenden un cuerpo alargado en una dirección longitudinal, con una base en un extremo y una configuración prominente o entrante en el otro extremo. La máquina comprende además un dispositivo alimentador capaz de insertar sucesivamente un artículo en cada cavidad a través de dicha abertura de acceso impartiendo al artículo un movimiento en dicha dirección radial o substancialmente perpendicular al eje de Ia estructura rotativa, ya sea con dicha base o dicha configuración prominente o entrante del artículo en el extremo delantero, durante el giro de Ia estructura rotativa. El mencionado dispositivo alimentador comprende un transportador de entrada, unos medios de carga para cargar los artículos a dicho transportador de entrada y un dispositivo despejador configurado y dispuesto para evacuar los artículos en exceso o mal colocados sobre el transportador de entrada y dejar sobre el transportador de entrada sólo una fila de artículos en una disposición tendida y con sus direcciones longitudinales alineadas, ya sea con dicha base o dicha configuración prominente o entrante de cada artículo en el extremo delantero. El transportador de entrada tiene un extremo de entrega enfrentado a Ia trayectoria de las aberturas de acceso de las cavidades durante el giro de Ia estructura rotativa.The present invention provides a machine for positioning light articles, of the type comprising a rotating structure arranged to rotate about an axis. This rotating structure supports a plurality of alignment ducts related to an evacuation conveyor and a plurality of cavities, each of which has an open bottom arranged on an inlet of a corresponding alignment duct and an access opening in the periphery of The rotating structure to receive through it articles moving in a substantially radial direction or perpendicular to said axis. Support and / or stop means are arranged to temporarily support an article in each cavity and then drop it conveniently oriented into the corresponding alignment duct, from where the items are delivered to said evacuation conveyor. The articles are generally empty plastic bottles or containers of the type comprising an elongated body in a longitudinal direction, with a base at one end and a prominent or incoming configuration at the other end. The machine further comprises a feeder device capable of successively inserting an article in each cavity through said access opening imparting to the article a movement in said radial direction or substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rotating structure, either with said base or said configuration prominent or incoming of the article at the front end, during the rotation of the rotating structure. Said feeder device comprises an input conveyor, loading means for loading the items to said input conveyor and a clearance device configured and arranged to evacuate excess or misplaced items on the input conveyor and leave on the conveyor of Enter only one row of articles in a laid-out arrangement and with their longitudinal directions aligned, either with said base or said prominent or incoming configuration of each article at the front end. The input conveyor has a delivery end facing the path of the access openings of the cavities during the rotation of the rotating structure.

En Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa están dispuestas unas superficies retenedoras situadas entre las aberturas de acceso de las cavidades. Estas superficies retenedoras sirven para retener Ia fila de artículos sobre el transportador de entrada hasta que la abertura de acceso de una de las cavidades se alinea substancialmente con el artículo situado en el primer lugar de Ia fila durante el giro de Ia estructura rotativa. Los citados medios de soporte y/o tope incluyen elementos fijados en el interior de las cavidades y elementos estacionariosr. y actúan de una manera convencional para, orientar convenientemente los artículos cuando los mismos caen desde las cavidades al interior de los correspondientes conductos de alineación.On the periphery of the rotating structure are retained surfaces located between the access openings of the cavities. These retaining surfaces serve to retain the row of articles on the input conveyor until the access opening of one of the cavities substantially aligns with the article located in the first place of the row during the rotation of the rotating structure. The mentioned support and / or stop means include elements fixed inside the cavities and stationary elements r . and act in a conventional manner to conveniently orient the articles when they fall from the cavities into the corresponding alignment ducts.

La máquina de Ia presente invención incluye diferentes dispositivos que permiten ajustar Ia máquina a artículos de diferentes tamaños dentro de un rango.The machine of the present invention includes different devices that allow the machine to be adjusted to articles of different sizes within a range.

Breve descripción de los dibujos Las anteriores y otras características y ventajas se comprenderán más plenamente a partir de Ia siguiente descripción detallada de unos ejemplos de realización con referencia a los dibujos adjuntos, en los que:Brief description of the drawings The foregoing and other features and advantages will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of some embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Ia Fig. 1 es una vista lateral esquemática de una máquina para posicionar artículos ligeros de acuerdo con un ejemplo de realización de Ia presente invención;Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a machine for positioning light articles according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Ia Fig. 2 es una vista en superior esquemática de Ia máquina de Ia Fig. 1;Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Ia Fig. 3 es una vista en superior esquemática de Ia disposición de los artículos sobre un transportador de entrada que forma parte de Ia máquina de Ia Fig. 1; las Figs. 4 y 5 son vistas frontales parcialmente seccionadas que ilustran esquemáticamente dos ejemplos de realización diferentes para un dispositivo despejador asociado al transportador de entrada; las Figs. 6 y 7 son respectivamente unas vistas frontal y lateral parcialmente seccionadas que ilustran esquemáticamente un ejemplo de realización para un dispositivo de mejora de Ia tracción asociado al transportador de entrada;Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of the arrangement of the articles on an input conveyor that is part of the machine of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are partially sectioned front views schematically illustrating two different embodiments for a clearing device associated with the input conveyor; Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively partially sectioned front and side views schematically illustrating an exemplary embodiment for a tensile improvement device associated with the input conveyor;

Ia Fig. 8 es una vista en sección transversal tomada por un plano axial de una estructura rotativa que forma parte de Ia máquina de Ia Fig. 1; Ia Fig. 9 es una vista superior de Ia estructura rotativa de Ia Fig. 8 en relación con unos medios de soporte y/o tope y unos transportadores de entrada y de evacuación;Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along an axial plane of a rotating structure that is part of the machine of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a top view of the rotating structure of Fig. 8 in relation to support and / or stop means and inlet and evacuation conveyors;

Ia Fig. 10 es una vista superior de un cuerpo en forma de estrella que forma parte de Ia estructura rotativa; las Figs. 11 y 12 son unas vistas isométricas inferior y superior, respectivamente, de un elemento de soporte y tope que forma parte de los medios de soporte y/o tope; la Fig. 13 es una vista parcial isométrica que muestra uno de los elementos de soporte y tope de las Figs. 11 y 12 acoplado al cuerpo en forma de estrella de Ia Fig. 10; y las Figs. 14 y 15 son unas vistas superiores parciales que ilustran esquemáticamente Ia estructura rotativa en unas posiciones de caída del artículo cuando una configuración prominente del artículo está enfrentada al centro y a Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa, respectivamente.Fig. 10 is a top view of a star-shaped body that is part of the rotating structure; Figs. 11 and 12 are lower and upper isometric views, respectively, of a support and stop element that forms part of the support and / or stop means; Fig. 13 is an isometric partial view showing one of the support and stop elements of Figs. 11 and 12 coupled to the star-shaped body of Fig. 10; and Figs. 14 and 15 are partial top views that schematically illustrate the rotating structure in positions of falling of the article when a prominent configuration of the article faces the center and the periphery of the rotating structure, respectively.

Descripción detallada de unos ejemplos de realización Haciendo referencia en primer lugar a las Figs. 1 y 2 se describe una máquina para posicionar artículos ligeros 50 de acuerdo con un ejemplo de realización de Ia presente invención. Los artículos 50 para los que Ia máquina está configurada son del tipo que comprenden un cuerpo alargado en una dirección longitudinal, con una base 51 en un extremo y una configuración prominente 52 en el otro extremo. En el ejemplo de realización ilustrado, tal como se muestra mejor en Ia Fig. 3, los mencionados artículos 50 son unas botellas de plástico vacías, donde Ia mencionada configuración prominente o entrante 52 es un cuello de botella prominente en relación con el cuerpo de Ia botella, aunque Ia máquina de Ia presente invención sería igualmente aplicable a otro tipo de artículos, tales como, por ejemplo, envases tubulares o cilindricos con un extremo cerrado formando una base y otro extremo abierto formando una configuración entrante en relación con el cuerpo del envase. Además, tal como se muestra mejor en las Figs. 4 a 6, en el ejemplo de realización ilustrado los mencionados artículos 50 son unas botellas que tienen un cuerpo aplanado, aunque Ia máquina de Ia presente invención seria igualmente aplicable a artículos provistos de un cuerpo substancialmente cilindrico o prismático más o menos regular.Detailed description of some exemplary embodiments Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 a machine for positioning light articles 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described. The articles 50 for which the machine is configured are of the type comprising an elongated body in a longitudinal direction, with a base 51 at one end and a prominent configuration 52 at the other end. In the illustrated embodiment, as best shown in Fig. 3, said articles 50 are empty plastic bottles, wherein said prominent or incoming configuration 52 is a prominent bottleneck in relation to the body of Ia bottle, although the machine of the present invention would also be applicable to other types of articles, such as, for example, tubular or cylindrical containers with a closed end forming a base and another open end forming an incoming configuration in relation to the container body . In addition, as best shown in Figs. 4 to 6, in the illustrated embodiment, said articles 50 are bottles that have a flattened body, although the machine of the present invention would be equally applicable to articles provided with a substantially cylindrical or prismatic substantially regular body.

Tal como se muestra en las Figs. 1 y 2, Ia máquina comprende una estructura rotativa 1 dispuesta para girar alrededor de un eje 60, el cual es un eje substancialmente vertical, aunque podría admitir una cierta inclinación siempre que ésta no afectara unas acciones que se llevan a cabo por gravedad, tal como se explicará más abajo. La mencionada estructura rotativa 1 soporta una pluralidad de cavidades 2 y correspondientes conductos de alineación 3 dispuestos espaciadamente a Io largo de su periferia, donde cada una de dichas cavidades 2 tiene un fondo abierto dispuesto sobre una entrada superior de su correspondiente conducto de alineación 3 y una abertura de acceso 2a en Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa 1 para recibir a su través artículos 50 moviéndose en una dirección substancialmente radial o perpendicular a dicho eje 60. Cada una de las cavidades 2 está configurada para alojar uno de dichos artículos 50 en una disposición tendida y con su dirección longitudinal alineada con una dirección substancialmente radial respecto a Ia estructura rotativa 1. La máquina comprende además un dispositivo alimentador 30 capaz de insertar sucesivamente un artículo 50 en cada cavidad 2 a través de dicha abertura de acceso 2a mediante un movimiento del artículo 50 en dicha dirección substancialmente radial, ya sea con dicha base 51 o dicha configuración prominente 52 del artículo 50 en el extremo delantero, durante el giro de Ia estructura rotativa 1. Asimismo, Ia máquina comprende unos medios de soporte y/o tope para soportar temporalmente el artículo 50 en cada cavidad 2 a Io largo de una primera porción de Ia trayectoria circular que describe Ia estructura rotativa 1 y dejarlo caer luego convenientemente orientado al interior del correspondiente conducto de alineación 3. Los conductos de alineación 3 están relacionados con un transportador de evacuación 8. El mencionado dispositivo alimentador 30 comprende un transportador de entrada 31 configurado para trasladar los artículos 50 en fila, en una disposición tendida y con sus direcciones longitudinales alineadas, ya sea con dicha base 51 o dicha configuración prominente 52 de cada artículo 50 en el extremo delantero (véase también Ia Fig. 3). Dicho transportador de entrada 31 tiene un extremo de entrega enfrentado a Ia trayectoria de las aberturas de acceso 2a de las cavidades 2 durante el giro de Ia estructura rotativa 1. El dispositivo alimentador 30 comprende además unos medios de carga para cargar los artículos 50 a dicho transportador de entrada 31 dejándolos resbalar por un plano inclinado 37 y un dispositivo despejador 38 configurado y dispuesto para evacuar los artículos 50 en exceso o mal colocados sobre el transportador de entrada 31 y dejar sobre el transportador de entrada 31 sólo dicha fila de artículos 50.As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the machine comprises a rotating structure 1 arranged to rotate about an axis 60, which is a substantially vertical axis, although it could admit a certain inclination provided that this does not affect actions that are carried out by gravity, such as will be explained below. Said rotary structure 1 supports a plurality of cavities 2 and corresponding alignment conduits 3 spaced apart along its periphery, where each of said cavities 2 has an open bottom arranged on an upper inlet of its corresponding alignment conduit 3 and an access opening 2a on the periphery of the rotary structure 1 to receive through it articles 50 moving in a substantially radial direction or perpendicular to said axis 60. Each of the cavities 2 is configured to house one of said articles 50 in a laid-out arrangement and with its longitudinal direction aligned with a substantially radial direction with respect to the rotating structure 1. The machine further comprises a feeder device 30 capable of successively inserting an article 50 into each cavity 2 through said access opening 2a by a movement of article 50 in said substantially radial direction, either with said base 51 or said prominent configuration 52 of article 50 at the front end, during the rotation of the rotary structure 1. Likewise, the machine comprises support and / or stop means to temporarily support the article 50 in each cavity 2 along a first portion of the circular path that describes the rotary structure 1 and drop it then conveniently oriented inside the corresponding alignment conduit 3. The alignment conduits ation 3 are related to an evacuation conveyor 8. The said feeder device 30 comprises an input conveyor 31 configured to move the articles 50 in a row, in a laid-out arrangement and with their longitudinal directions aligned, either with said base 51 or said prominent configuration 52 of each article 50 at the front end (see also Fig. 3). Said input conveyor 31 has a delivery end facing the path of the access openings 2a of the cavities 2 during the rotation of the rotary structure 1. The feeder device 30 further comprises loading means for loading the articles 50 to said input conveyor 31 by allowing them to slide along an inclined plane 37 and a clearing device 38 configured and arranged to evacuate excess or misplaced items 50 on the input conveyor 31 and leave only said row of items 50 on the input conveyor 31.

Tal como se muestra mejor en las. Figs. 3 a 7, el transportador de entrada 31 comprende un piso móvil 32, tal como una cinta transportadora o similar, flanqueado por unos medios de barandilla 33 que restringen Ia capacidad de movimiento de los artículos para mantenerlos con sus direcciones longitudinales mutuamente alineadas, ya sea con dicha base 51 o dicha configuración prominente 52 de cada artículo 50 en el extremo delantero. Los mencionados medios de barandilla 33 están configurados para ser sujetados en diferentes posiciones en relación con dicho piso móvil 32 para adaptar el transportador de entrada 31 a artículos 50 de diferentes tamaños. En el ejemplo de realización ilustrado, los medios de barandilla 33 están formados por unos listones, preferiblemente de un material plástico de bajo coeficiente de fricción, y comprenden unos agujeros alargados 45 transversales a Ia dirección de avance del piso móvil 32. A través de dichos agujeros alargados 45 están instalados unos vastagos de fijación 46, tales como vastagos roscados o tronillos, que pueden ser aflojados para variar Ia posición de dichos listones. En el ejemplo de realización mostrado en las Fígs. 1 y 2, los mencionados medios de carga comprenden una tolva 35 dispuesta para recibir artículos 50 desordenados a granel, los cuales pueden ser cargados de manera continua o por lotes. Esta tolva 35 tiene un fondo abierto sobre un extremo inferior de un transportador elevador 36, el cual tiene un extremo superior dispuesto para verter los artículos 50 elevados al interior de una segunda tolva que define un plano inclinado 37 sobre el que los artículos 50 resbalan hasta un recinto abierto sobre un tramo trasero de dicho piso móvil 32 del transportador de entrada 31. El mencionado transportador elevador 36 es capaz de suministrar artículos 50 a al plano inclinado 37 a una tasa mayor que Ia tasa a Ia que los artículos 50 son cargados por el transportador de entrada 31 a las cavidades 2 de Ia estructura rotativa 1, de manera que en el mencionado recinto sobre el tramo trasero del piso móvil 32 se acumulan artículos 50 que son arrastrados por el piso móvil 32 con un exceso de artículos 50 mal colocados sobre Ia fila de artículos 50 a transportar que son evacuados hacia Ia tolva 35 por el mencionado dispositivo despejador 38.As best shown in the. Figs. 3 to 7, the inlet conveyor 31 comprises a movable floor 32, such as a conveyor belt or the like, flanked by railing means 33 that restrict the movement capacity of the articles to keep them with their longitudinal directions mutually aligned, either with said base 51 or said prominent configuration 52 of each article 50 at the front end. Those mentioned railing means 33 are configured to be held in different positions in relation to said mobile floor 32 to adapt the input conveyor 31 to articles 50 of different sizes. In the illustrated embodiment, the railing means 33 are formed by slats, preferably of a low friction coefficient plastic material, and comprise elongated holes 45 transverse to the direction of advancement of the moving floor 32. Through said elongated holes 45 are installed fixing rods 46, such as threaded rods or logs, which can be loosened to vary the position of said slats. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the mentioned loading means comprise a hopper 35 arranged to receive items 50 disordered in bulk, which can be loaded continuously or in batches. This hopper 35 has an open bottom on a lower end of a lifting conveyor 36, which has an upper end arranged to pour the raised articles 50 into a second hopper defining an inclined plane 37 on which the articles 50 slide up to an open enclosure on a rear section of said movable floor 32 of the input conveyor 31. Said lifting conveyor 36 is capable of supplying articles 50 to the inclined plane 37 at a rate greater than the rate at which articles 50 are loaded by the inlet conveyor 31 to the cavities 2 of the rotary structure 1, so that in said enclosure on the rear section of the mobile floor 32 items 50 are accumulated that are dragged along the mobile floor 32 with an excess of poorly placed items 50 on the row of items 50 to be transported that are evacuated to the hopper 35 by said clearing device 38.

En Ia Fig. 4 se muestra un primer ejemplo de realización del dispositivo despejador 38, el cual comprende una rueda provista de una pluralidad de dedos flexibles 39 dispuesta para girar accionada por un motor 40 en una posición tal que dichos dedos flexibles 39 barren al girar una zona del transportador de entrada 31 justo por encima de Ia fila de artículos 50, evacuando cualquier artículo 50 mal colocado sobre Ia fila hacia una rampa 47 (Fig. 2) por Ia cual resbalan de nuevo hacia Ia tolva 35. En Ia Fig. 5 se muestra un segundo ejemplo de realización alternativo para el dispositivo despejador 38, que comprende una boquilla de soplado 48 dispuesta para proyectar un chorro de aire barriendo una zona del transportador de entrada 31 justo por encima de Ia fila de artículos 50 para evacuar los artículos 50 mal colocados hacia dicha rampa 47 y hacia Ia tolva 35. El dispositivo alimentador 30 comprende opcionalmente un dispositivo de mejora de Ia tracción 34 que actúa aplicando sobre el artículo 50 una fuerza normal a dicho piso móvil 32 del transportador de entrada 31 para incrementar Ia fuerza de fricción entre los artículos 50 y el piso móvil 32 en Ia proximidad de Ia estructura rotativa 1. Esto se consigue, según un ejemplo de realización ilustrado en las Figs. 6 y 7, disponiendo una boquilla de soplado 70 soportada por ejemplo en los medios de barandilla 33 y situada para dirigir un chorro de aire contra los artículos 50 transportados por el piso móvil 32 del transportador de entrada 31 en Ia proximidad de Ia estructura rotativa 1.In Fig. 4 a first embodiment of the clearing device 38 is shown, which comprises a wheel provided with a plurality of flexible fingers 39 arranged to rotate driven by a motor 40 in a position such that said flexible fingers 39 sweep when turning an area of the input conveyor 31 just above the row of articles 50, evacuating any article 50 improperly placed on the row towards a ramp 47 (Fig. 2) through which they slide again towards the hopper 35. In Fig. 5 shows a second alternative embodiment for the clearing device 38, comprising a blow nozzle 48 arranged to project an air jet sweeping an area of the inlet conveyor 31 just above the row of articles 50 to evacuate the misplaced articles 50 towards said ramp 47 and towards the hopper 35. The device feeder 30 optionally comprises a tensile improvement device 34 which acts by applying a normal force on said mobile floor 32 of said inlet conveyor 32 to increase the frictional force between the articles 50 and the mobile floor 32 in the vicinity of the rotating structure 1. This is achieved, according to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, providing a blow nozzle 70 supported, for example, on the rail means 33 and positioned to direct an air jet against the articles 50 transported by the mobile floor 32 of the inlet conveyor 31 in the vicinity of the rotating structure 1 .

En Ia Fig. 8 se muestra Ia estructura rotativa 1 , Ia cual comprende un árbol central 61 alineado con el eje 60 y dispuesto para girar respecto a un cuerpo de soporte 62 fijado a una estructura estacionaria 4. El mencionado árbol central 61 lleva fijado un bastidor 63 sobre el cual está soportado un cuerpo en forma de estrella 15 que define las cavidades 2, y que será descrito en detalle más abajo en relación con las Figs. 10 y 13. El mencionado cuerpo en forma de estrella 15 está fijado al árbol central 61 por medio de un vastago roscado pasado a través de un agujero central 71 y asociado a un pomo 66 y solidarizado en giro respecto al bastidor 63 por un pasador 67 fijado al bastidor 63 e insertado en un agujero 68 formado en el cuerpo en forma de estrella 15. Así, el cuerpo en forma de estrella 15 es fácilmente desmontable y reemplazable por otros cuerpos en forma de estrella 15 adaptados a artículos 50 de diferentes tamaños o diferentes rangos de tamaños. Por encima de dicho cuerpo en forma de estrella 15 está colocada una placa circular 69, preferiblemente de un material plástico transparente, que cubre el lado superior de las cavidades 2. Por debajo de dicho cuerpo en forma de estrella 15, y en Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa 1 , están situados los conductos de alineación 3, los cuales están sujetados al bastidor 63 por unos vastagos 64 introducidos a enchufe y asegurados por unos clips elásticos, de manera que los conductos de alineación 3 son fácilmente reemplazables por otros conductos de alineación 3 adaptados a artículos 50 de diferentes tamaños o diferentes rangos de tamaños.In Fig. 8 the rotating structure 1 is shown, which comprises a central shaft 61 aligned with the axis 60 and arranged to rotate with respect to a support body 62 fixed to a stationary structure 4. The said central shaft 61 has a fixed frame 63 on which a star-shaped body 15 defining the cavities 2 is supported, and which will be described in detail below in relation to Figs. 10 and 13. The aforementioned star-shaped body 15 is fixed to the central shaft 61 by means of a threaded rod passed through a central hole 71 and associated with a knob 66 and joined in rotation with respect to the frame 63 by a pin 67 fixed to the frame 63 and inserted in a hole 68 formed in the star-shaped body 15. Thus, the star-shaped body 15 is easily removable and replaceable by other star-shaped bodies 15 adapted to articles 50 of different sizes or Different ranges of sizes. Above said star-shaped body 15 is placed a circular plate 69, preferably of a transparent plastic material, which covers the upper side of the cavities 2. Below said star-shaped body 15, and on the periphery of The rotating structure 1, the alignment ducts 3 are located, which are attached to the frame 63 by rods 64 inserted into the plug and secured by elastic clips, so that the alignment ducts 3 are easily replaceable by other alignment ducts 3 adapted to articles 50 of different sizes or different size ranges.

Haciendo ahora referencia a Ia Fig. 10, en el ejemplo de realización ilustrado el cuerpo en forma de estrella 15 está formado a partir de una placa de un material plástico de bajo coeficiente de fricción que tiene un contorno exterior circular en el que están formadas unas escotaduras que definen una pluralidad de brazos radiales 16 configurados para definir una de las cavidades 2 entre cada dos de dichos brazos radiales 16. En el extremo de cada brazo radial 16 está formada una superficie retenedora 9 de porción cilindrica, y entre cada dos de dichas superficies retenedoras 9 está definida una de las aberturas de acceso 2a a las cavidades 2. Las superficies retenedoras 9 situadas entre las aberturas de acceso 2a sirven para retener dicha fila de artículos 50 sobre el transportador de entrada hasta que una abertura de acceso 2a de una cavidad 2 se alinea substancialmente con el artículo 50 situado en el primer lugar de Ia fila durante el giro de Ia estructura rotativa 1. La superficie retenedora 9 del cuerpo en forma de estrella 15 resbala sobre el primer artículo de Ia fila 50 mientras ésta es retenida.Referring now to Fig. 10, in the illustrated embodiment, the star-shaped body 15 is formed from a plate of a low friction coefficient plastic material having a circular outer contour in which some recesses defining a plurality of radial arms 16 configured to define one of the cavities 2 between each of said radial arms 16. At the end of each radial arm 16 a retaining surface 9 of a cylindrical portion is formed, and between each two of said retaining surfaces 9 is defined one of the access openings 2a to the cavities 2. The retaining surfaces 9 located between the access openings 2a serve to retain said row of articles 50 on the inlet conveyor until an access opening 2a of a Cavity 2 substantially aligns with article 50 located in the first place of the row during the rotation of the rotating structure 1. The s a retaining surface 9 of the star-shaped body 15 slides on the first article of row 50 while it is retained.

En Ia Fig. 9 se puede observar Ia disposición de las cavidades 2 en Ia estructura rotativa en relación con los mencionados medios de soporte y/o tope. Los medios de soporte y/o tope comprenden un primer plano de soporte 5 fijado a Ia estructura estacionaria 4 y dispuesto entre los mencionados fondos abiertos de las cavidades 2 y dichas entradas superiores de los conductos de alineación 3 para soportar temporalmente los artículos 50 en las cavidades 2 a Io largo de una primera porción de Ia trayectoria circular que describe Ia estructura rotativa 1 al girar. Las cavidades 2 tienen unas paredes laterales dispuestas para arrastrar los artículos 50 sobre dicho primer plano de soporte 5 a Io largo de esta primera porción de trayectoria circular. Cuando uno de los artículos 50 arrastrado por una cavidad 2 supera el final del primer plano de soporte 5, entonces, al faltarle el soporte inferior, cae por gravedad al interior del correspondiente conducto de alineación 3.In Fig. 9, the arrangement of the cavities 2 in the rotating structure can be observed in relation to said support and / or stop means. The support and / or stop means comprise a first support plane 5 fixed to the stationary structure 4 and arranged between said open bottoms of the cavities 2 and said upper entries of the alignment ducts 3 to temporarily support the articles 50 in the cavities 2 along the first portion of the circular path that describes the rotating structure 1 when turning. The cavities 2 have lateral walls arranged to drag the articles 50 on said first support plane 5 along this first portion of the circular path. When one of the articles 50 dragged through a cavity 2 exceeds the end of the first support plane 5, then, when the lower support is missing, it falls by gravity into the corresponding alignment conduit 3.

Los medios de soporte y/o tope comprenden además una primera configuración de soporte 10 en cada cavidad 2 y una segunda configuración de soporte 11 fijada a Ia estructura estacionaria 4 al final de dicha primera porción de trayectoria circular, es decir, al final del primer plano de soporte 5, para soportar temporalmente Ia configuración prominente 52 del artículo 50 cuando el artículo 50 está dispuesto en Ia cavidad 2 con Ia configuración prominente 52 enfrentada al centro y a Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa 1 , respectivamente, con el fin de dejar caer el artículo 50 con su base 51 en Ia parte inferior al interior del correspondiente conducto de alineación 3 al final de Ia primera porción de trayectoria circular. Así, el artículo 50 siempre cae de pie al interior del conducto de alineación 3 fuera cual fuera Ia posición de su configuración prominente 52 dentro de Ia cavidad 2. Los medios de soporte y/o tope comprenden además una configuración de tope 12 dispuesta substancialmente al mismo nivel radial de dicha primera configuración de soporte 10, o más hacia fuera, en cada cavidad 2 para proporcionar un tope para Ia base 51 del artículo 50 cuando el artículo 50 está dispuesto en Ia cavidad 2 con Ia configuración prominente 52 enfrentada a Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa 1. En el ejemplo de realización ilustrado, para cada cavidad 2 de Ia estructura móvil 1 , Ia primera configuración de soporte 10 y Ia mencionada configuración de tope 12 están agrupadas en un elemento de soporte y tope 14 mostrado por separado en las Figs. 11 y 12. Este elemento de soporte y tope 14 está compuesto por una placa de soporte 17 desde una cara inferior de Ia cual se extienden un par de columnas separadas que constituyen conjuntamente Ia mencionada configuración de tope 12. Una pieza plana está unida a los extremos libres de dichas columnas formando un puente entre ellas para constituir Ia mencionada primera configuración de soporte 10. Dicha pieza plana tiene formado un bisel 10a en su borde delantero para facilitar Ia introducción de Ia configuración prominente 52 del artículo 50 entre las dos columnas y entre Ia placa de soporte 17 y Ia primera configuración de soporte 10 hasta que unos hombros del artículo 50 hacen contacto con las dos columnas, es decir, con Ia configuración de tope 12.The support and / or stop means further comprise a first support configuration 10 in each cavity 2 and a second support configuration 11 fixed to the stationary structure 4 at the end of said first portion circular path, that is, at the end of the first support plane 5, to temporarily support the prominent configuration 52 of article 50 when article 50 is arranged in cavity 2 with the prominent configuration 52 facing the center and the periphery of the structure rotating 1, respectively, in order to drop the article 50 with its base 51 in the lower part inside the corresponding alignment conduit 3 at the end of the first circular path portion. Thus, article 50 always falls into the interior of the alignment conduit 3, regardless of the position of its prominent configuration 52 within the cavity 2. The support and / or stop means further comprise a stop configuration 12 arranged substantially at the same radial level of said first support configuration 10, or more outwards, in each cavity 2 to provide a stop for the base 51 of article 50 when article 50 is arranged in cavity 2 with the prominent configuration 52 facing the periphery of the rotary structure 1. In the illustrated embodiment, for each cavity 2 of the mobile structure 1, the first support configuration 10 and the mentioned stop configuration 12 are grouped in a support and stop element 14 shown separately in Figs. 11 and 12. This support and stop element 14 is composed of a support plate 17 from a lower face of which a pair of separate columns extending together constitute said stop configuration 12. A flat piece is joined to the free ends of said columns forming a bridge between them to constitute said first support configuration 10. Said flat piece has a bevel 10a formed at its front edge to facilitate the introduction of the prominent configuration 52 of article 50 between the two columns and between The support plate 17 and the first support configuration 10 until shoulders of article 50 make contact with the two columns, that is, with the stop configuration 12.

Desde Ia placa de soporte 17 también sobresalen hacia abajo un par de vastagos 18 configurados para insertarse en un correspondiente par de agujeros 19 formados en el cuerpo en forma de estrella 15 y asociados con cada cavidad 2. Cuando los mencionados vastagos 18 de uno de los elementos de soporte y tope 14 están insertados en su correspondiente par de agujeros 19 del cuerpo en forma de estrella 15, Ia primera configuración de soporte 10 y Ia configuración de tope 12 quedan situados en el interior de Ia cavidad 2 en una posición operativa, tal como se muestra en Ia Fig. 13. Ventajosamente, en el cuerpo en forma de estrella 15, cada cavidad 2 tiene una pluralidad de dichos pares de agujeros 19 situados a diferentes distancias radiales del centro, de manera que el elemento de soporte y tope 14 puede ser sujetado a Ia estructura móvil 1 en varias posiciones a diferentes distancias radiales del centro para adaptar las cavidades 2 a artículos 50 de diferentes longitudes. Durante el uso, cada cavidad 2 del cuerpo en forma de estrella 15 tiene instalado un correspondiente elemento de soporte y tope 14 y Ia mencionada placa circular 69 (Fig. 8) está colocada sobre todos los elemento de soporte y tope 14 impidiendo que éstos se separen del cuerpo en forma de estrella 15.From the support plate 17, a pair of rods 18 configured to be inserted in a corresponding pair of holes 19 formed in the star-shaped body 15 and associated with each cavity 2 also protrude. When said rods 18 of one of the support and stopper elements 14 are inserted in their corresponding pair of holes 19 of the body in the form of a star 15, the first support configuration 10 and the stop configuration 12 are located inside the cavity 2 in an operative position, as shown in Fig. 13. Advantageously, in the body in the form of Star 15, each cavity 2 has a plurality of said pairs of holes 19 located at different radial distances from the center, so that the support and stop element 14 can be attached to the mobile structure 1 in several positions at different radial distances from the center to adapt cavities 2 to articles 50 of different lengths. During use, each cavity 2 of the star-shaped body 15 has a corresponding support and stop element 14 installed and said circular plate 69 (Fig. 8) is placed on all support and stop element 14 preventing them from being separate from the star-shaped body 15.

En Ia Fig. 14 se muestra un caso en el que el artículo 50 ha sido recibido al interior de Ia cavidad 2 con Ia configuración prominente 52 enfrentada al centro de Ia estructura rotativa 1. En este caso, Ia configuración prominente 52 del artículo 50 está soportada por Ia primera configuración de soporte 10 y los hombros del artículo 50 hacen contacto con Ia configuración de tope 12. En esta posición, cuando Ia cavidad 2 llega al final del primer plano de soporte 5, Ia base 51 del artículo 50 no está soportada y se inicia Ia caída del artículo 50 por su propio peso al interior del conducto de alineación 3 con Ia base 51 por delante.In Fig. 14 a case is shown in which article 50 has been received inside the cavity 2 with the prominent configuration 52 facing the center of the rotating structure 1. In this case, the prominent configuration 52 of article 50 is supported by the first support configuration 10 and the shoulders of article 50 make contact with the stop configuration 12. In this position, when the cavity 2 reaches the end of the first support plane 5, the base 51 of article 50 is not supported and the fall of article 50 is initiated by its own weight into the alignment conduit 3 with the base 51 in front.

En Ia Fig. 15 se muestra el caso inverso en el que el artículo 50 ha sido recibido al interior de Ia cavidad 2 con Ia configuración prominente 52 enfrentada a Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa 1. En este caso, Ia base 51 del artículo 50 hace contacto con Ia configuración de tope 12 dentro de Ia cavidad y Ia configuración prominente 52, cuando Ia cavidad 2 llega al final del primer plano de soporte 5, es soportada por Ia segunda configuración de soporte 11 fijada a Ia estructura estacionaria 4. Así, Ia caída del artículo 50 por su propio peso al interior del conducto de alineación 3 se inicia asimismo por Ia base 51 , Ia cual no está soportada. De una manera convencional, tal como se muestra en Ia Fig. 8, cada conducto de alineación 3 tiene una entrada superior a través de Ia cual es recibido el artículo 50 que cae por gravedad desde Ia correspondiente cavidad 2. Una sección superior del conducto de alineación 3 en forma de embudo sirve para conducir el artículo 50 a una sección inferior configurada para alojar el artículo 50 de pie sobre su base 51. Cada conducto de alineación 3 está formado por una pared trasera y un par de paredes laterales, y durante el uso está enfrentado a una pared periférica 72 fijada a Ia estructura estacionaria 4 que cierra Ia parte frontal del conducto de alineación 3. Además, cada uno de los conductos de alineación 3 tiene un fondo abierto dispuesto sobre un segundo plano de soporte 6 fijado a Ia estructura estacionaria 4 para soportar los artículos 50 de pie sobre su base 51 a Io largo de una segunda porción de Ia trayectoria circular de Ia estructura rotativa 1. Las paredes laterales de los conductos de alineación 3 están dispuestas para arrastrar los artículos 50 sobre dicho segundo plano de soporte 6 a Io largo de dicha segunda porción de trayectoria circular. Al final del segundo plano de soporte 6 está dispuesto un miembro desviador 7 (Figs. 2 y 9) fijado a Ia estructura estacionaria 4 y dispuesto para transferir los artículos 50 convenientemente orientados, es decir, de pie sobre su base 51, desde los conductos de alineación 3 al mencionado transportador de evacuación 8.In Fig. 15 the reverse case is shown in which article 50 has been received inside the cavity 2 with the prominent configuration 52 facing the periphery of the rotating structure 1. In this case, the base 51 of article 50 it makes contact with the stop configuration 12 within the cavity and the prominent configuration 52, when the cavity 2 reaches the end of the first support plane 5, it is supported by the second support configuration 11 fixed to the stationary structure 4. Thus, The fall of article 50 by its own weight into the alignment conduit 3 is also initiated by the base 51, which is not supported. In a conventional manner, as shown in Fig. 8, each alignment duct 3 has an upper inlet through which article 50 is received that falls by gravity from the corresponding cavity 2. An upper section of the duct funnel-shaped alignment 3 serves for driving article 50 to a lower section configured to house article 50 standing on its base 51. Each alignment duct 3 is formed by a rear wall and a pair of side walls, and during use it faces a peripheral wall 72 fixed to the stationary structure 4 that closes the front part of the alignment duct 3. In addition, each of the alignment ducts 3 has an open bottom arranged on a second support plane 6 fixed to the stationary structure 4 to support the articles 50 standing on its base 51 along a second portion of the circular path of the rotating structure 1. The side walls of the alignment ducts 3 are arranged to drag the articles 50 on said second support plane 6 along the length of said second circular path portion. At the end of the second support plane 6, a diverter member 7 (Figs. 2 and 9) is arranged fixed to the stationary structure 4 and arranged to transfer the conveniently oriented articles 50, that is, standing on its base 51, from the ducts of alignment 3 to said evacuation conveyor 8.

Según se muestra en las Figs. 1 y 2, el transportador de evacuación 8 comprende preferiblemente una cinta transportadora con múltiples perforaciones y un cajón de aspiración 73 dispuesto debajo de un tramo de dicha cinta transportadora perforada. El mencionado cajón de aspiración 49 está conectado por un conducto 74 a un aparato de aspiración 75 para crear una fuerza de succión a través de las perforaciones de Ia cinta transportadora del transportador de evacuación 8. En virtud de dicha fuerza de succión, Ia base 51 de los artículos 50 se adhiere temporalmente al transportador de evacuación 8 para ayudar a mantener los artículos 50 en pie mientras son transportados por el transportador de evacuación 8.As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the evacuation conveyor 8 preferably comprises a conveyor belt with multiple perforations and an aspiration drawer 73 disposed below a section of said perforated conveyor belt. Said suction drawer 49 is connected by a conduit 74 to a suction apparatus 75 to create a suction force through the perforations of the conveyor belt of the evacuation conveyor 8. By virtue of said suction force, the base 51 of items 50 temporarily adheres to evacuation conveyor 8 to help keep items 50 standing while being transported by evacuation conveyor 8.

Un experto en Ia técnica será capaz de efectuar modificaciones y variaciones a partir de los ejemplos de realización mostrados y descritos sin salirse del alcance de Ia presente invención según está definido en las reivindicaciones adjuntas. One skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and variations from the examples of embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

REIVINDICACIONES 1.- Máquina para posicionar artículos ligeros, del tipo que comprende una estructura rotativa (1) dispuesta para girar alrededor de un eje (60), soportando dicha estructura rotativa (1) una pluralidad de conductos de alineación (3) relacionados con un transportador de evacuación, caracterizada porque dicha estructura rotativa soporta además una pluralidad de cavidades (2), cada una de las cuales tiene un fondo abierto dispuesto sobre una entrada de un correspondiente conducto de alineación (3) y una abertura de acceso (2a) en Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa (1) para recibir a su través artículos (50) moviéndose en una dirección substancialmente radial o perpendicular a dicho eje (60), estando dispuestos unos medios de soporte y/o tope para soportar temporalmente un artículo (50) en cada cavidad (2) y dejarlo caer luego convenientemente orientado al interior del correspondiente conducto de alineación (3).1.- Machine for positioning light articles, of the type comprising a rotating structure (1) arranged to rotate about an axis (60), said rotating structure (1) supporting a plurality of alignment ducts (3) related to a conveyor of evacuation, characterized in that said rotating structure also supports a plurality of cavities (2), each of which has an open bottom arranged on an inlet of a corresponding alignment conduit (3) and an access opening (2a) in Ia periphery of the rotary structure (1) to receive through it articles (50) moving in a substantially radial direction or perpendicular to said axis (60), support and / or stop means being arranged to temporarily support an article (50) into each cavity (2) and then drop it conveniently oriented into the corresponding alignment duct (3). 2.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 1 , caracterizada porque los artículos (50) son del tipo que comprenden un cuerpo alargado en una dirección longitudinal, con una base (51) en un extremo y una configuración prominente o entrante (52) en el otro extremo, y Ia máquina comprende además un dispositivo alimentador (30) capaz de insertar sucesivamente un artículo (50) en cada cavidad (2) a través de dicha abertura de acceso (2a) impartiendo al artículo (50) un movimiento en dicha dirección radial o substancialmente perpendicular al eje (60), ya sea con dicha base (51) o dicha configuración prominente o entrante (52) del artículo (50) en el extremo delantero, durante el giro de Ia estructura rotativa (1).2. Machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the articles (50) are of the type comprising an elongated body in a longitudinal direction, with a base (51) at one end and a prominent or incoming configuration (52) at the other end, and the machine further comprises a feeder device (30) capable of successively inserting an article (50) into each cavity (2) through said access opening (2a) imparting to the article (50) a movement in said radial direction or substantially perpendicular to the axis (60), either with said base (51) or said prominent or incoming configuration (52) of the article (50) at the front end, during the rotation of the rotating structure (1). 3.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 2, caracterizada porque dicho dispositivo alimentador (30) comprende: un transportador de entrada (31) configurado para trasladar los artículos (50) en fila, en una disposición tendida y con sus direcciones longitudinales alineadas, ya sea con dicha base (51) o dicha configuración prominente o entrante (52) de cada artículo (50) en el extremo delantero, estando un extremo de entrega de dicho transportador de entrada (31) enfrentado a Ia trayectoria de dichas aberturas de acceso (2a) de las cavidades (2) durante el giro de Ia estructura rotativa (1); unos medios de carga para cargar los artículos (50) a dicho transportador de entrada (31) dejándolos resbalar por un plano inclinado (37); y un dispositivo despejador (38) configurado y dispuesto para evacuar los artículos (50) en exceso o mal colocados sobre el transportador de entrada (31) y dejar sobre el transportador de entrada (31) sólo dicha fila de artículos (50).3. Machine, according to claim 2, characterized in that said feeder device (30) comprises: an input conveyor (31) configured to move the articles (50) in a row, in a laid out arrangement and with their longitudinal directions aligned , either with said base (51) or said prominent or incoming configuration (52) of each article (50) at the front end, a delivery end of said input conveyor (31) facing the trajectory of said access openings (2a) of the cavities (2) during the rotation of the rotating structure (1); loading means for loading the articles (50) to said inlet conveyor (31) by allowing them to slide along an inclined plane (37); and a clearing device (38) configured and arranged to evacuate the items (50) in excess or improperly placed on the inlet conveyor (31) and leave only said row of items (50) on the inlet conveyor (31). 4.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 3, caracterizada porque Ia estructura rotativa (1) soporta en su periferia unas superficies retenedoras (9) situadas entre las aberturas de acceso (2a) de las cavidades (2) para retener dicha fila de artículos (50) hasta que una abertura de acceso (2a) de una cavidad (2) se alinea substancialmente con el artículo (50) situado en el primer lugar de Ia fila durante el giro de Ia estructura rotativa (1).4. Machine, according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotating structure (1) supports on its periphery retaining surfaces (9) located between the access openings (2a) of the cavities (2) to retain said row of articles (50) until an access opening (2a) of a cavity (2) substantially aligns with the article (50) located in the first place of the row during the rotation of the rotating structure (1). 5.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 4, caracterizada porque las cavidades (2) están formadas al menos en parte por un cuerpo en forma de estrella (15) provisto de una pluralidad de brazos radiales (16), cada uno de los cuales tiene una superficie extrema que define una de dichas superficies retenedoras (9), estando dichos brazos radiales (16) configurados para definir una de las cavidades (2) entre cada dos de dichos brazos radiales (16) y una de las aberturas de acceso (2a) entre cada dos de dichas superficies extremas de los brazos radiales (16).5. Machine, according to claim 4, characterized in that the cavities (2) are formed at least in part by a star-shaped body (15) provided with a plurality of radial arms (16), each of the which has an extreme surface that defines one of said retaining surfaces (9), said radial arms (16) being configured to define one of the cavities (2) between each two of said radial arms (16) and one of the access openings (2a) between each of said end surfaces of the radial arms (16). 6.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 5, caracterizada porque dicho cuerpo en forma de estrella (15) está sujetado a Ia estructura móvil (1) por unos medios de fijación desmontables, siendo el cuerpo en forma de estrella (15) fácilmente reemplazable por otros cuerpos en forma de estrella (15) adaptados a artículos (50) de diferentes tamaños o diferentes rangos de tamaños.6. Machine, according to claim 5, characterized in that said star-shaped body (15) is attached to the mobile structure (1) by removable fixing means, the star-shaped body (15) being easily Replaceable with other star-shaped bodies (15) adapted to articles (50) of different sizes or different size ranges. 7.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 1, caracterizada porque dichos medios de soporte y/o tope comprenden un plano de soporte (5) estacionario dispuesto entre los mencionados fondos abiertos de las cavidades (2) y dichas entradas superiores de los conductos de alineación (3) para soportar temporalmente los artículos (50) en las cavidades (2) a Io largo de una porción de Ia trayectoria circular de Ia estructura rotativa (1), estando las cavidades (2) dispuestas para arrastrar los artículos (50) sobre dicho plano de soporte (5) a lo largo de dicha porción de trayectoria circular.7. Machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said support and / or stop means comprise a stationary support plane (5) disposed between said open bottoms of the cavities (2) and said upper entries of the ducts of alignment (3) to temporarily support the articles (50) in the cavities (2) along a portion of the circular path of the rotating structure (1), the cavities (2) arranged to drag the articles (50) on said support plane (5) along said circular path portion. 8.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 7, caracterizada porque dichos medios de soporte y/o tope comprenden además una primera configuración de soporte (10) en cada cavidad (2) y una segunda configuración de soporte (11) estacionaria al final de dicha porción de trayectoria circular para soportar temporalmente Ia configuración prominente o entrante (52) del artículo8. Machine, according to claim 7, characterized in that said support and / or stop means further comprise a first support configuration (10) in each cavity (2) and a second support configuration (11) stationary at the end of said circular path portion to temporarily support the prominent or incoming configuration (52) of the article (50) cuando Ia misma está enfrentada al centro y a Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa (1), respectivamente, con el fin de dejar caer el artículo (50) con su base (51) en Ia parte inferior al interior del correspondiente conducto de alineación (3) al final de dicho plano de soporte (5).(50) when it is facing the center and the periphery of the rotating structure (1), respectively, in order to drop the article (50) with its base (51) in the lower part inside the corresponding conduit of alignment (3) at the end of said support plane (5). 9.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 8, caracterizada porque dichos medios de soporte y/o tope comprenden además una primera configuración de tope (12) adyacente a dicha primera configuración de soporte (10) en cada cavidad (2) para proporcionar un tope para Ia base (51) del artículo (50) cuando Ia configuración prominente o entrante (52) del artículo (50) está enfrentada a Ia periferia de Ia estructura rotativa (1).9. Machine, according to claim 8, characterized in that said support and / or stop means further comprise a first stop configuration (12) adjacent to said first support configuration (10) in each cavity (2) to provide a stop for the base (51) of the article (50) when the prominent or incoming configuration (52) of the article (50) is facing the periphery of the rotating structure (1). 10.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 9, caracterizada porque, para cada cavidad (2) de Ia estructura móvil (1), Ia primera configuración de soporte (10) y dicha primera configuración de tope (12) están agrupadas en un elemento de soporte y tope (14) que puede ser sujetado a Ia estructura móvil (1) en varias posiciones a diferentes distancias radiales del centro de Ia misma para adaptar las cavidades (2) a artículos (50) de diferentes longitudes.10. Machine, according to claim 9, characterized in that, for each cavity (2) of the mobile structure (1), the first support configuration (10) and said first stop configuration (12) are grouped into a support and stop element (14) that can be attached to the mobile structure (1) in several positions at different radial distances from the center thereof to adapt the cavities (2) to articles (50) of different lengths. 11.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 1, caracterizada porque los conductos de alineación (3) están sujetados a Ia estructura giratoria (1) por unos medios de sujeción por deformación elástica a presión y son fácilmente reemplazables por otros conductos de alineación (3) adaptados a artículos (50) de diferentes tamaños.11. Machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the alignment ducts (3) are attached to the rotating structure (1) by means of clamping by elastic pressure deformation and are easily replaceable by other alignment ducts ( 3) adapted to articles (50) of different sizes. 12.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 3, caracterizada porque el transportador de entrada (31) comprende un piso móvil (32) flanqueado por unos medios de barandilla (33) configurados para ser fijados en diferentes posiciones en relación con dicho piso móvil (32) para adaptar el transportador de entrada12. Machine, according to claim 3, characterized in that the input conveyor (31) comprises a mobile floor (32) flanked by railing means (33) configured to be fixed in different positions in relation to said mobile floor (32) to adapt the input conveyor (31) a artículos (50) de diferentes tamaños. (31) to items (50) of different sizes. 13.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 12, caracterizada porque dicho dispositivo alimentador (30) comprende un dispositivo de mejora de Ia tracción (34) capaz de aplicar una fuerza sobre el artículo (50) normal a dicho piso móvil (32) del transportador de entrada (31) para incrementar Ia fuerza de fricción entre los artículos (50) y el piso móvil (32) en la proximidad de Ia estructura rotativa (1).13. Machine, according to claim 12, characterized in that said feeding device (30) comprises a device for improving traction (34) capable of applying a force on the article (50) normal to said mobile floor (32) of the input conveyor (31) to increase the frictional force between the articles (50) and the mobile floor (32) in the vicinity of the rotating structure (1). 14.- Máquina, de acuerdo con Ia reivindicación 3, caracterizada porque dicho dispositivo despejador (38) está seleccionado de un grupo que comprende una rueda provista de unos dedos expulsores (39) dispuesta para girar accionada por un motor (40) en una posición tal que dichos dedos expulsores (39) barren al girar una zona del transportador de entrada (31) justo por encima de Ia fila de artículos (50); y una boquilla de soplado (48) dispuesta para proyectar un chorro de aire barriendo una zona del transportador de entrada (31) justo por encima de Ia fila de artículos (50). 14. Machine, according to claim 3, characterized in that said clearing device (38) is selected from a group comprising a wheel provided with ejector fingers (39) arranged to rotate driven by a motor (40) in a position such that said ejector fingers (39) sweep when turning an area of the input conveyor (31) just above the row of articles (50); and a blow nozzle (48) arranged to project an air jet sweeping an area of the inlet conveyor (31) just above the row of articles (50).
PCT/ES2008/000132 2007-04-23 2008-03-12 Machine for positioning light articles Ceased WO2008129086A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES200701081A ES2323621B1 (en) 2007-04-23 2007-04-23 MACHINE TO POSITION LIGHT ARTICLES.
ESP200701081 2007-04-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008129086A1 true WO2008129086A1 (en) 2008-10-30

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ID=39875116

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/ES2008/000132 Ceased WO2008129086A1 (en) 2007-04-23 2008-03-12 Machine for positioning light articles

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ES (1) ES2323621B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2008129086A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITPR20100085A1 (en) * 2010-11-24 2012-05-25 Lanfranchi Srl PLASTIC CONTAINER REINFORCER WITH ONE OR MORE DEVICES FOR CONTAINER OVERLAPPED ON THE MEDIA
FR3087193A1 (en) * 2018-10-16 2020-04-17 Sidel Participations PREFORM CONVEYOR DEVICE
US20230150772A1 (en) * 2021-11-17 2023-05-18 HTI Automation GmbH Separating device

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US4865181A (en) * 1988-05-11 1989-09-12 John R. Nalbach Engineering Co., Inc. Article orienting apparatus
FR2655631A1 (en) * 1989-12-08 1991-06-14 Jaime Marti Sala Automatic machine for uprighting and aligning containers with removal of the poorly positioned containers
FR2693430A1 (en) * 1992-07-07 1994-01-14 Marti Sala Jaime Handling equipment to align miscellaneous objects - has removable interchangeable monobloc cases arranged in peripheral openings of rotating disc dimensioned to suit objects being handled
EP1650143A1 (en) * 2004-10-25 2006-04-26 Jaime Marti Sala Article positioning machine
WO2006076939A1 (en) * 2005-01-21 2006-07-27 Lanfranchi S.R.L. Apparatus and process for unscrambling and aligning bulk plastic containers

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EP0065866A1 (en) * 1981-05-18 1982-12-01 Aylesbury Automation Limited Apparatus for orientating articles such as bottles, and orientating means therefor
US4865181A (en) * 1988-05-11 1989-09-12 John R. Nalbach Engineering Co., Inc. Article orienting apparatus
FR2655631A1 (en) * 1989-12-08 1991-06-14 Jaime Marti Sala Automatic machine for uprighting and aligning containers with removal of the poorly positioned containers
FR2693430A1 (en) * 1992-07-07 1994-01-14 Marti Sala Jaime Handling equipment to align miscellaneous objects - has removable interchangeable monobloc cases arranged in peripheral openings of rotating disc dimensioned to suit objects being handled
EP1650143A1 (en) * 2004-10-25 2006-04-26 Jaime Marti Sala Article positioning machine
WO2006076939A1 (en) * 2005-01-21 2006-07-27 Lanfranchi S.R.L. Apparatus and process for unscrambling and aligning bulk plastic containers

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITPR20100085A1 (en) * 2010-11-24 2012-05-25 Lanfranchi Srl PLASTIC CONTAINER REINFORCER WITH ONE OR MORE DEVICES FOR CONTAINER OVERLAPPED ON THE MEDIA
EP2457853A1 (en) * 2010-11-24 2012-05-30 Lanfranchi S.R.L. Device for arranging containers with one or more blowing devices
FR3087193A1 (en) * 2018-10-16 2020-04-17 Sidel Participations PREFORM CONVEYOR DEVICE
WO2020079362A1 (en) * 2018-10-16 2020-04-23 Sidel Participations Device for conveying preforms upwards
US20230150772A1 (en) * 2021-11-17 2023-05-18 HTI Automation GmbH Separating device
US12466662B2 (en) * 2021-11-17 2025-11-11 HTI Automation GmbH Separating device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2323621A1 (en) 2009-07-21
ES2323621B1 (en) 2010-03-26

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