IT202200026283A1 - Transport unit for transporting caps, equipment for capping containers comprising such unit and method for transporting caps - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

annexed to a patent application for an industrial invention entitled:

TRANSPORT UNIT FOR TRANSPORTING CORKS, EQUIPMENT FOR CAPPING CONTAINERS INCLUDING SUCH UNIT AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING CORKS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a transport unit, an apparatus for capping containers comprising such a unit and a method for transporting caps. In particular, the present invention finds advantageous application in the sector of capping containers whether they are filled with a liquid substance, with a solid substance or empty.

It is emphasized that in the following reference will be made mainly to equipment for capping containers, without thereby limiting the invention to this type of application: the present invention can be applied to any equipment in which there is a cap transport unit to transport the caps from a loading station to a picking station, for example in machines for packaging caps. The presence of a cap transport unit in equipment for capping containers is particularly advantageous in terms of productivity. In fact, this unit allows the caps to be moved towards the capping station and to have the caps assume the correct orientation for the subsequent capping of the filled containers.

In general, caps are fed in a random manner. For example, caps may first be received and housed in a container from which they are then dropped onto a conveyor belt that feeds them to a loading station. As a result, when the caps arrive at the loading station, they have a random orientation. However, the relative positioning of the caps, i.e. the distance between the caps when they are in the capping station, and their orientation, are fundamental aspects for the capping of containers. Typically, in fact, the equipment comprises a plurality of capping heads, positioned at the capping station, which are spaced from each other following a regular pitch. In order for the equipment to function correctly, the caps must be fed in an orderly manner to the capping heads.

In accordance with a first known embodiment, the equipment comprises a device that is able to pick up the caps from the conveyor belt at the loading station, and to position and orient them in the correct way for the subsequent capping. For example, it is possible that the gripping device is substantially a robot that is mobile between a gripping position, in which it picks up a cap from the conveyor belt, and a release position, in which it positions the correctly oriented cap in the capping station, between a capping head and the container to be capped.

However, this type of equipment has significant drawbacks. In fact, positioning the caps is very time-consuming, resulting in a significant reduction in productivity. This is due in particular to the need to correctly position and orient one cap at a time. If there were multiple robots for positioning the caps, the times would be reduced compared to the case where there was only one robot, but the costs of the equipment and its maintenance would be much higher.

To overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, some equipment has been proposed that instead includes a cap transport unit that differs from each other in structure, components and operation. In general, such transport units include seats to house the caps that are movable between a loading station and a picking station. The known equipment equipped with transport units can be divided into two types: the equipment of the first type includes a transport unit that is configured to transport caps that are fed to the loading station in an orderly manner, while the equipment of the second type includes a transport unit that is configured to transport caps that are fed to the loading station in a disorderly manner.

In known equipment of the first type, such as the equipment described in JP 02191187 A, the cap transport unit may comprise a robotic arm and a mobile element. The robotic arm picks up rows of caps already arranged in an orderly fashion at the loading station, and places them on the mobile element. In particular, the robotic arm places the rows of caps in seats that are obtained in the mobile element. The mobile element is mobile between the loading station, in which it receives the caps (from the robotic arm), and the pick-up station which coincides with the capping station, in which the caps are transferred to the capping heads which will subsequently cap the containers below with such caps.

In known equipment of the second type, however, such as that described in EP 3626677 A1, the cap transport unit may comprise a conveyor on which transport elements are mounted that define seats to receive the caps. The transport elements are mobile, with the conveyor, from the loading station, in which the caps are positioned by a robot, one in each seat, to the collection station, in which the caps are taken from their respective seats and fed to the capping heads. Generally, these devices provide for step-by-step movement, to allow and facilitate both correct loading of the cap into the seat and, above all, to allow and facilitate correct removal of the cap from the respective seat.

The known equipment described above, however, has some drawbacks. In particular, the equipment of the first type cannot be used if the caps are fed in a random and disorderly manner. The equipment of the second type, on the other hand, has a relatively low productivity since it is necessary to stop the transport elements to load and remove each cap. In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to create a cap transport unit, an apparatus for capping containers comprising such a unit and a method for transporting caps that overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

? in particular, it is a technical task of the present invention to create a cap transport unit, an apparatus for capping containers comprising such a unit and a method for transporting caps which allow for greater productivity to be achieved compared to known solutions, or which at least allow for providing an alternative to the solutions present in the known art.

The technical task and the indicated purposes are substantially achieved by a cap transport unit, by an apparatus for capping containers comprising such a unit and by a method for transporting caps in accordance with what is described in the attached independent claims.

Particular embodiments of the present invention are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a transport unit for transporting caps, of an apparatus for capping containers comprising such a unit and of a method for transporting caps illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows, in an axonometric view, with some parts removed to better highlight others, an apparatus for capping containers made in accordance with the present invention, without caps; - figure 2 shows, in an axonometric view, a transport unit for transporting caps, part of the apparatus of figure 1 with a first housing device and a second housing device of a first type in a first configuration, while moving caps of a first type;

- figure 3 shows, in an axonometric view, the transport unit of figure 2 with the first housing device and the second housing device in a second configuration;

- Figures 4 and 5 show, in axonometric views from different points of view, a loading device, part of the equipment in Figure 1, while handling caps of a second type and with a first housing device and a second housing device of a second type;

- figure 6 shows, in an axonometric view, a movement device part of the equipment of figure 1, in a receiving position;

- figure 7 shows, in an axonometric view, the movement device of figure 6 in a capping position;

- figure 8 shows, in an axonometric view, a transfer unit, part of the equipment in figure 1, with a warehouse that is part of it also illustrated;

- figure 9 shows, in an axonometric view, a movable arm of a transfer device, part of the apparatus of figure 1, in a first removal position;

- figure 10 shows, in an axonometric view, the movable arm of figure 9 in a second storage position;

- figure 11 shows, in an axonometric view, the mobile arm of figure 10 in a first picking position;

- figure 12 shows, in an axonometric view, the movable arm of figure 11 in an intermediate position between the second storage position and a first assembly position;

- figure 13 shows, in an axonometric view, the movable arm of figure 12 in a first mounting position with a first active component, part of a first attachment system, mounted on the movable arm, in a first active configuration and with a second active component, part of a second attachment system, mounted on a first support element, in a second inactive configuration;

- figure 14 shows, in an axonometric view, the movable arm of figure 13 with the first active component in the first active configuration and with the second active component in a second active configuration;

- figure 15 shows, in a top view, the movable arm of figure 14; - figure 16 shows, in a top view, the movable arm of figure 15 with the first active component in a first inactive configuration and with the second active component in the second active configuration;

- figures 17 and 18 show respectively, enlarged, detail XVII of figure 13 and detail XVIII of figure 14; and

- figures 19 and 20 show respectively, enlarged, detail XIX of figure 15 and detail XX of figure 16.

It should be noted that the detailed description that follows concerns two distinct innovative aspects: on the one hand the unit for transporting caps from a loading station to a picking station which is the subject of the present invention, on the other hand a transfer unit for transferring caps from a picking station to a receiving station which is innovative and advantageous compared to what is present in the prior art. In an apparatus for capping containers, the transfer unit can find application for transferring the caps which have been transported to the picking station by the transport unit in accordance with the present invention. A synergistic effect can therefore be achieved between the transport unit and the transfer unit.

However, the transfer unit can also be applied independently of the transport unit which is the subject of the present invention, in particular not requiring the presence of the transport unit in the apparatus in which the transfer unit is mounted. For this reason, the transfer unit is the subject of a separate patent application. With reference to the attached figures, the transport unit has been globally indicated with the reference number 1, while the transfer unit has been globally indicated with the reference number 2.

In general, the transport unit 1 and the transfer unit 2 may be two separate units that are part of an apparatus 3 that handles caps 82. However, these units have been jointly designed in the context of an apparatus 3 for capping containers in which the caps 82, initially arranged in a random position and orientation, are fed to the capping devices 80, in the correct position and orientation. In this apparatus 3, the transport unit 1 has, as its main function, that of receiving the randomly positioned and oriented caps 82 and arranging them in an orderly fashion, while the transfer unit 2 has, as its main function, that of feeding the caps 82, previously positioned and correctly oriented, to the capping devices 80.

However, the two technical solutions are not dependent on each other as each could be applied in a device 3 regardless of the presence or absence of the other.

In light of the independence of the two technical solutions, the following will first describe in detail the transport unit 1, then the transfer unit 2 and finally the overall equipment 3 that includes both of them. Given the synergic nature of the two units in the context of the equipment 3 that includes both of them, in such embodiments (such as the one illustrated in the attached figures) some elements are part of both the transport unit 1 and the transfer unit 2. However, it is emphasized that some characteristics of the common elements that are necessary to implement one of the two innovative units may not be necessary for the other unit.

As regards the apparatus 3, in the preferred embodiment it has both the transport unit 1 and the transfer unit 2. However, since, as already mentioned, the presence of the transfer unit 2 is not necessary for the application of the transport unit 1 (and vice versa), the apparatus 3 comprising the transport unit 1 (but not the transfer unit 2) and the apparatus 3 comprising the transfer unit 2 (but not the transport unit 1) will be described first. To illustrate the connection between the various processing units of the apparatus 3 described, the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 3 will then be described, highlighting the interface elements between the various units: given the synergy between the units, some elements are part of more than one unit (in other words, the units have common elements).

Finally, the method for transporting caps 82 will be described, which can be advantageously implemented using the transport unit 1.

As regards the transport unit 1 for transporting caps 82 from a loading station 4 to a picking station 5 which is the subject of the present invention, it firstly comprises a support structure 6, a first housing device 7 and a second housing device 8, with the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 being mounted on the support structure 6. The transport unit 1 further comprises a loading device 9 positioned at the loading station 4 and a transfer device 10 positioned at the picking station 5.

With reference to the first housing device 7, it defines a plurality of first seats 11 each of which is configured to receive a cap 82. Furthermore, the first housing device 7 is movable with respect to the support structure 6 between a first loading position and a first withdrawal position. When the first housing device 7 is in the first loading position, the first seats 11 are in the loading station 4 (figure 2, in which the first seats 11 are empty). When the first housing device 7 is in the first withdrawal position, the first seats 11 are instead in the withdrawal station 5 (figure 3, in which there are caps 82 in the first seats 11). In use, the movement of the first housing device 7 from the first loading position to the first removal position advantageously occurs after the first seats 11 have been filled with the caps 82 via the loading device 9, while the reverse movement occurs after the first seats 11 have been emptied of the caps 82 via the transfer device 10.

With reference to the second housing device 8, it instead defines a plurality of second seats 12 each of which is configured to receive a cap 82. Furthermore, the second housing device 8 is movable with respect to the support structure 6 between a second loading position and a second withdrawal position. When the second housing device 8 is in the second loading position, the second seats 12 are in the loading station 4 (figure 3, in which the second seats 12 are empty). When the second housing device 8 is in the second withdrawal position, the second seats 12 are in the withdrawal station 5 (figure 2, in which there are caps 82 in the second seats 12). In use, the movement of the second housing device 8 from the second loading position to the second removal position advantageously occurs after the second seats 12 have been filled with the caps 82 via the loading device 9, while the reverse movement occurs after the second seats 12 have been emptied of the caps 82 via the transfer device 10.

The first housing device 7 defines a first number of first seats 11, the second housing device 8 defines a second number of second seats 12, and in the preferred embodiments the number of first seats 11 is equal to the number of second seats 12.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the first housing device 7 defines seven first seats 11 and the second housing device 8 defines seven second seats 12.

The loading device 9 is configured to load the caps 82 into the first seats 11, when the first housing device 7 is in the first loading position, or the caps 82 into the second seats 12, when the second housing device 8 is in the second loading position. The transfer device 10, instead, is configured to pick up the caps 82 present in the first seats 11, when the first housing device 7 is in the first pick-up position, or the caps 82 present in the second seats 12, when the second housing device 8 is in the second pick-up position. Furthermore, the transfer device 10 is configured to feed the caps 82 picked up from the first seats 11 or from the second seats 12 to a processing unit which, in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, is a capping unit 71.

Both the loading device 9 and the transfer device 10 will be described in more detail later.

In accordance with an innovative aspect of the transport unit, the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 are movable relative to each other between a first configuration and a second configuration. When the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 are in the first configuration, the first housing device 7 is in the first loading position while the second housing device 8 is in the second picking position (as shown in Fig. 2). When the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 are in the second configuration, the first housing device 7 is in the first picking position and the second housing device 8 is in the second loading position (as shown in Fig. 3).

In some embodiments, the movement of the first housing device 7 and the movement of the second housing device 8 are synchronized and simultaneous with each other. In particular, in this case, the first housing device 7 is moved from the first loading position to the first picking position when the second housing device 8 is moved from the second picking position to the second loading position, and vice versa (i.e., the second housing device 8 is moved from the second picking position to the second loading position when the first housing device 7 is moved from the first loading position to the first picking position). Furthermore, the first housing device 7 is moved from the first picking position to the first loading position when the second housing device 8 is moved from the second loading position to the second picking position, and vice versa (i.e., the second housing device 8 is moved from the second loading position to the second picking position when the first housing device 7 is moved from the first picking position to the first loading position).

However, further embodiments are possible in which the movements of the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 between the respective loading and removal positions are not simultaneous with each other.

In particular, in some embodiments, the first housing device 7 is moved from the first pick position to the first load position while the second housing device 8 is in the second load position, and the second housing device 8 is moved from the second pick position to the second load position while the first housing device 7 is in the first load position.

Advantageously, in these embodiments the second housing device 8 is moved from the second loading position to the second removal position when the first housing device 7 has already returned to the first loading position and the first housing device 7 is moved from the first loading position to the first removal position when the second housing device 8 has already returned to the second loading position, so that at the loading station 4 there is always at least one of the two housing devices 7, 8 with the respective seats 11, 12 not completely filled.

The mutual movement of the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8, starting from a condition in which the first housing device 7 is in the first pick-up position and the second housing device 8 is in the second loading position, can be described as follows.

The first housing device 7, from whose first seats 11 the transfer device 10 has picked up the caps 82, is moved from the first pick-up position to the first loading position while the second housing device 8 is kept in the second loading position. The loading device 9, both during the pick-up of the caps 82 present in the first seats 11, and during the movement of the first housing device 7 from the first pick-up position to the first loading position, loads the caps 82 into the second seats 12. After the first housing device 7 has reached the first loading position, the loading device 9 finishes loading the caps 82 into the second seats 12 having filled them all.

The loading device 9 continues its loading operation by starting to fill the first seats 11 of the first housing device 7 placed in the first loading position, and the second housing device 8, in whose second seats 12 the caps 82 are present, is moved from the second loading position to the second pick-up position. When the second housing device 8 reaches the second pick-up position, the transfer device 10 picks up the caps 82 present in the second seats 12, after which the second housing device 8 is moved again from the second pick-up position to the second loading position. Advantageously, the loading device 9 loads the caps 82 in the first seats 11, both during the movement of the second housing device 8 from the second loading position to the second pick-up position, and during the pick-up of the caps 82 present in the second seats 12, and during the movement of the second housing device 8 from the second pick-up position to the second loading position; during all this time the first housing device 7 is in fact maintained in the first loading position. After the second housing device 8 has reached the second loading position, the loading device 9 finishes loading the caps 82 into the first seats 11. At that point everything continues analogously to what has been described up to now, with the only difference that what was previously done for one housing device 7, 8 is now performed for the other.

The reciprocal movement is then repeated cyclically in this way for the entire operation of transport unit 1.

Such non-simultaneous movement embodiments can find advantageous application in the case in which the loading device 9 takes a longer time to load the caps 82 into the seats 11, 12 located in the loading station 4 than the time taken by the transfer device 10 to collect the caps 82 into the seats 11, 12 located in the collection station 5.

Preferably, the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 are movable, respectively between the first loading position and the first removal position and between the second loading position and the second removal position, according to a translational motion along a direction of movement.

In the preferred embodiments, the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 are movable, relative to the support structure 6 and to each other, by sliding along guides 13 part of the support structure 6. In particular, the first housing device 7 comprises at least one first sliding component 14 and the second housing device 8 comprises at least one second sliding component 15, which are slidably mounted on the guides 13 (Figures 2 and 3). In particular, the first housing device 7 comprises a pair of first sliding components 14, while the second housing device 8 comprises a pair of second sliding components 15.

Preferably, the first housing device 7 comprises a plurality of first housing bodies 16 and the second housing device 8 comprises a plurality of second housing bodies 17. Each of the first housing bodies 16 defines a respective first seat 11, while each of the second housing bodies 17 defines a respective second seat 12. Advantageously, the first housing bodies 16 and the first seats 11 are equal in number to one another, and the second housing bodies 17 and the second seats 12 are equal in number to one another. In the preferred embodiments, in which the first seats 11 are equal in number to the second seats 12, the first housing bodies 16 are equal in number to the second housing bodies 17. In particular, in the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the first housing device 7 comprises seven first housing bodies 16 and the second housing device 8 comprises seven second housing bodies 17.

However, alternative embodiments, not illustrated, are possible, in which for example the first housing device 7 comprises a single first housing body 16 which defines all the first seats 11 and in which the second housing device 8 comprises a single second housing body 17 which defines all the second seats 12.

Advantageously, the first housing bodies 16 are arranged side by side along a first direction of juxtaposition which is rectilinear and the second housing bodies 17 are arranged side by side along a second direction of juxtaposition which is also rectilinear. The first direction of juxtaposition and the second direction of juxtaposition are preferably parallel to each other. In embodiments in which the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 are movable along the direction of movement, the direction of movement itself is perpendicular to both the first direction of juxtaposition and the second direction of juxtaposition.

In these embodiments, the first housing bodies 16 and the second housing bodies 17 are arranged alternately with each other along a reference direction that is parallel to both the first flanking direction and the second flanking direction. The expression "alternately" means that by projecting both the first housing bodies 16 and the second housing bodies 17 onto this reference direction, a second housing body 17 is present between a first housing body 16 and the other, just as a first housing body 16 is present between a second housing body 17 and the other. This feature is clearly visible in figure 1, in which the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 are both in their respective pick-up positions and the first flanking direction, the second flanking direction and the reference direction coincide. Advantageously, the movement direction is arranged horizontally. Furthermore, the first flanking direction and the second flanking direction are also advantageously arranged horizontally.

In accordance with a further innovative aspect of the transport unit, each first housing body 16 is fixed to a first structural element 20, part of the first housing device 7, while each second housing body 17 is fixed to a second structural element 21, part of the second housing device 8. The first structural element 20 mainly develops along a horizontally arranged development direction, while the second structural element 21 mainly develops along a second vertically arranged development direction.

Advantageously, the first structural members 20 are fixed to a first support body 22 (e.g., a horizontal crosspiece) which is advantageously fixed to the first sliding components 14. Similarly, the second structural members 21 are preferably fixed to a second support body 23 (e.g., a horizontal crosspiece) which is advantageously fixed to the second sliding components 15.

The loading device 9 is configured both to load the caps 82 into the first seats 11 when the first housing device 7 is in the first loading position, and to load the caps 82 into the second seats 12 when the second housing device 8 is in the second loading position.

In the preferred embodiments, the loading device 9 comprises at least one robot of the pick and place type 24, 25. In other embodiments, the loading device 9 comprises at least one robot of a different type than the pick and place type.

Advantageously, the loading device 9 comprises a plurality of robots operating in parallel. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the loading device 9 comprises a pair of robots of the pick and place type 24, 25, which are respectively a first pick and place robot 24 and a second pick and place robot 25. However, embodiments are possible in which the loading device 9 comprises a plurality of a different type with respect to the pick and place type.

It is emphasized that a robot of the pick and place type is a robot that is configured to pick up an object (in this case, a cap 82) from a first position and to place it in a second position. In particular, the robots of the pick and place type 24, 25 are preferably configured to pick up the caps 82 one by one from a conveyor belt 76 and to place them in the seats 11, 12 located in the loading station 4. The robots of the pick and place type 24, 25 are also advantageously configured to rotate the picked caps 82 in space and to place them in the seats 11, 12 with a predetermined orientation. In particular, in a manner known per se, they are configured to rotate the caps 82 according to any orientation.

As clearly visible in the figures, the caps 82 can be positioned on the conveyor belt 76 randomly and the pick and place robot 24, 25 picks up the cap 82 in the position in which it is placed on the conveyor belt 76 and changes its orientation (figure 5), if necessary, to allow the correct insertion of the cap 82 into the respective seat 11, 12. For example, it can be noted that between the picking up of the cap 82 (figure 4) and the approach of the pick and place robot 24, 25 to the respective seat 11, 12 (figure 5), the cap 82 has been rotated by 90° with respect to an axis perpendicular to the central axis of the cap 82 itself.

Advantageously, the loading device 9 comprises a movable gripping head 75 which is configured to pick up a cap 82 in a random orientation from a transport system 73, advantageously from the conveyor belt 76, and to place it, in a predefined orientation, in a first seat 11 or in a second seat 12. Preferably, the movable gripping head 75 is part of the pick and place type robot 24, 25.

It should be noted that the structure and general functioning of a pick and place robot are well known to an expert in the sector and are therefore not described in detail here.

As regards the transfer device 10, it is configured both to pick up the caps 82 present in the first seats 11, when the first housing device 7 is in the first picking position, and to pick up the caps 82 present in the second seats 12, when the second housing device 8 is in the second picking position, as well as to feed the picked caps 82 to the processing unit located downstream.

Preferably, the transfer device 10 comprises an anthropomorphic robot 26 or a robot of another type. Advantageously, as shown in the attached figures, the transfer device 10 further comprises a plurality of gripping members 27, each of which is configured to retain a respective cap 82. In these embodiments, the transfer device 10 is configured to pick up all the caps 82 from the seats 11, 12 at the same time and, advantageously, the gripping members 27 are equal in number to the first seats 11 and the second seats 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer device 10 comprises seven gripping members 27.

Preferably, the transfer device 10 is configured to rotate the caps 82 between the removal of the caps 82 from their respective seats 11, 12 and the feeding of the caps 82 to the next processing unit so as to correctly orient the caps 82 for the next stage such as, for example, the capping of containers.

Moving on to describe the transfer unit 2 for transferring caps 82 from the collection station 5 to an unloading station 28 which is the subject of the present invention, its embodiment, part of the apparatus 3 described, is shown in detail in figure 8.

In general terms, the transfer unit 2 comprises a support structure 6, a magazine 29, which is mounted on the support structure 6 and which defines a plurality of housings, a housing device 7, 8, a handling device 30 and a transfer device 10, which are mounted on the support structure 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support structure 6 coincides with that of the transport unit 1 (and, more generally, with a support frame 69 of the apparatus 3), the transfer device 10 with that of the transport unit 1, and the housing device 7, 8 with each of those of the transport unit 1. However, although the previously described transport unit 1 comprised two housing devices 7, 8, this is not necessary for the more general embodiments of the transfer unit 2. In fact, it requires the presence of at least one housing device 7, 8, which will therefore be referred to generically in the following with the expression "housing device 7, 8". Furthermore, for the present invention it is not even necessary for the housing device 7, 8 to be movable with respect to the support structure 6: in the preferred embodiments, the housing device 7, 8 is movable with respect to the support structure 6, but in other embodiments the housing device 7, 8 may be stationary with respect to the support structure 6.

It is emphasized that, for greater clarity of exposition, the characteristics of the housing device 7, 8, which are necessary for the transfer unit 2 in accordance with the innovative aspect of the present invention, will be recalled in the following description even if they have already been previously introduced for the transport unit 1.

The housing device 7, 8 is mounted on the support structure 6 and comprises a first support element 31, which is advantageously movable with respect to the support structure 6, a first receiving element of a first type 32, which defines a first plurality of seats 11, 12, and a first receiving element of a second type 33, which defines a second plurality of seats 11, 12. Each of the seats 11, 12 defined by the first receiving element of the first type 32 (first plurality of seats 11, 12) is configured to receive a cap 82 of a first type, while each of the seats 11, 12 defined by the first receiving element of the second type 33 (second plurality of seats 11, 12) is configured to receive a cap 82 of a second type. For example, a cap 82 of the first type may be be a cap 82 with a dispenser, while a cap 82 of the second type can be a screw cap 82; in the case illustrated for example in figures 9 to 11, however, the caps 82 of both types are caps 82 with a dispenser but of different dimensions.

Although reference is made below to the case of only two different types of first receiving elements 32, 33 and caps 82, what has been described can be applied, with the necessary adjustments, even in the case in which further types of first receiving elements and caps 82 are present; in more complex embodiments, in fact, the transfer unit 2 can comprise three or more first receiving elements, each of a different type.

The first receiving element of the first typology 32 and the first receiving element of the second typology 33 can be mounted alternatively, and in a removable manner, on the first support element 31 and are interchangeable with each other.

As regards the handling device 30, it is mounted on the support structure 6 at the unloading station 28. The handling device 30 comprises a second support element 36, movable with respect to the support structure 6, a second receiving element of a first type 37, which defines a first plurality of housing spaces 38, and a second receiving element of a second type 39, which defines a second plurality of housing spaces 40. Each of the housing spaces 38 defined by the second receiving element of the first type 37 (first plurality of housing spaces 38) is configured to receive a cap 82 of the first type, while each of the housing spaces 40 defined by the second receiving element of the second type 39 (second plurality of housing spaces 40) is configured to receive a cap 82 of the second type. Advantageously, the number of housing compartments 38, 40 is equal to the number of seats 11, 12 defined by the housing device 7, 8.

The second receiving element of the first type 37 and the second receiving element of the second type 39 can be mounted alternatively, and in a removable manner, on the second support element 36 and are interchangeable with each other.

In the event that the transfer unit 2 comprises three or more first receiving elements, each of a different type, the handling device 30 also comprises the same number of second receiving elements configured for similar types of caps 82.

As regards the transfer device 10, it is mounted on the support structure 6 and is operational between the pick-up station 5 and the unload station 28.

The transfer device 10 includes a movable arm 41, and at least one gripping member 42, 43, which is configured to hold a plurality of caps 82.

In the preferred embodiments, the transfer device 10 comprises a first type gripping element 42, which is configured to hold a plurality of first type caps 82, and a second type gripping element 43, which is configured to hold a plurality of second type caps 82. The first type gripping element 42 and the second type gripping element 43 are alternatively mountable, and removably, on the movable arm 41 and are interchangeable with each other.

Each gripping element 42, 43 comprises respective gripping members 27, each of which is configured to retain a respective cap 82 of the type provided. Advantageously, the gripping members 27 are in a number equal to the seats 11, 12 defined by the housing device 7, 8 and the housing spaces 38, 40.

In the case where the transfer unit 2 comprises three or more first receiving elements, each of a different type, the transfer device 10 can also advantageously comprise the same number of gripping elements configured to retain the corresponding types of caps 82.

In accordance with an innovative aspect of the present invention, the movable arm 41 can also be removably coupled to both the first receiving elements 32, 33 and the second receiving elements 37, 39.

Advantageously, the movable arm 41 comprises an anthropomorphic robot 26 or a robot of another type.

In accordance with a further innovative aspect of the present invention, the transfer unit 2 is switchable between a working configuration and a format change configuration.

In the working configuration, the housing device 7, 8 is in the pick-up station 5, a first receiving element 32, 33 is associated with the first support element 31 and the other (or the others if more than one) first receiving element 33, 32 is housed in a respective first housing 44, while a second receiving element 37, 39 is associated with the second support element 36 and the other (or the others if more than one) second receiving element 39, 37 is housed in another respective second housing 45. If there are more than one gripping elements, furthermore, a gripping element 42, 43 is associated with the movable arm 41 and the other (or the others if more than one) gripping element 43, 42 is housed in a respective second housing 45. housed in a respective third housing 46. The first receiving element 32, 33 associated with the first support element 31, the second receiving element 37, 39 associated with the second support element 36 and the gripping element 42, 43 associated with the movable arm 41 are all configured for caps 82 of the same type. For example, if the first receiving element of the first type 32 is associated with the first support element 31, while the first receiving element of the second type 33 is housed in the respective first housing 44, the second receiving element of the first type 37 is associated with the second support element 36, while the second receiving element of the second type 39 is housed in the other respective second housing 45 and the gripping element of the first type 42 is associated with the movable arm 41, while the gripping element of the second type 43 is housed in the other respective third housing 46.

When the transfer unit 2 is in the working configuration, the transfer device 10 operates in a transfer mode, while when the transfer unit 2 is in the format change configuration, the transfer device 10 operates in a format change mode.

In the transfer mode, the transfer device 10 is moved to pick up the caps 82 from the seats 11, 12 of the first receiving element 32, 33 associated with the first support element 31 and to position such caps 82 in the housing spaces 38, 40 of the second receiving element 37, 39 associated with the second support element 36.

Advantageously, during the transfer, the transfer device 10 changes the spatial orientation of the caps 82 as described above in relation to the transport unit 1.

In the format change mode, starting from a working configuration, the movable arm 41 is moved to exchange between them the first receiving element 32, 33 associated with the first support element 31 and a first receiving element 33, 32 placed in the respective first housing 44, and to exchange between them the second receiving element 37, 39 associated with the second support element 36 and a second receiving element 39, 37 placed in the respective second housing 45. If there are more gripping elements, furthermore, the movable arm 41 can be moved to exchange between them the gripping element 42, 43 associated with the movable arm 41 and a gripping element 43, 42 placed in the respective third housing 46.

In the following, as regards the description of some aspects related to the format change method, reference will be made mainly to the example cited above in which the first reception element 32, 33 associated with the first support element 31, the second reception element 37, 39 associated with the second support element 36 and the gripping element 42, 43 associated with the mobile arm 41 are all elements of the first typology 32, 37, 42.

In the preferred embodiments, when the transfer device 10 operates in the format change mode, the movable arm 41 moves between a plurality of positions. Advantageously, the movable arm 41 moves between such positions to respectively exchange with each other the first receiving elements 32, 33, the second receiving elements 37, 39 and, if provided, the gripping elements 42, 43, as described in detail below.

These positions are assumed starting from a first storage position, which the movable arm 41 assumes first and in which the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release the gripping element 42, 43 associated with the movable arm 41 into a first free housing 47, to end with a gripping position, which the movable arm 41 assumes last and in which the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to couple with a gripping element 42, 43 (43, 42) and to remove such gripping element 42, 43 (43, 42) from a respective housing.

The gripping element 42, 43 (43, 42) to which the movable arm 41 couples in the gripping position can be either the same gripping element 42, 43 previously deposited in the first free housing 47, or a different gripping element 43, 42 housed in the respective third housing 46. For example, in the first deposit position the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release the gripping element of the first type 42 into the first free housing 47, while in the gripping position the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to couple with the gripping element of the second type 43 and to pick it up from the respective third housing 46.

In other words, in the format change mode, first of all the movable arm 41 is freed from the gripping element 42, 43 so that it can be used to replace the other parts with each other, and only once the replacements have been completed is it equipped again with a suitable gripping element 42, 43 (43, 42).

Advantageously, to exchange the first receiving elements 32, 33 with each other, the movable arm 41, without gripping element 42, 43, moves from a first removal position, to a second storage position, to a first removal position and to a first assembly position (in this order). In the first removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the housing device 7, 8 to couple with the first receiving element 32, 33 associated with the first support element 31 and to remove this first receiving element 32, 33 from the first support element 31, while in the second storage position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release the first receiving element 32, 33, removed from the first support element 31, into a second free housing 48. In the first removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release the first receiving element 32, 33, removed from the first support element 31, into a second free housing 48. associated with the magazine 29 to couple with the other first receiving element 33, 32 to pick up the other first receiving element 33, 32 from the respective first housing 44, while in the first assembly position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the first support element 31 to mount on the first support element 31 the other first receiving element 33, 32 picked up from the respective first housing 44.

For example, in the first removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the housing device 7, 8 to couple with the first receiving element of the first type 32 and to remove it from the first support element 31, while, in the second storage position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release the first receiving element of the first type 32 into the second free housing 48. In the first withdrawal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to couple with the first receiving element of the second type 33 to remove it from the respective first housing 44, while, in the first assembly position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the first support element 31 to mount on it the first receiving element of the second type 33.

Advantageously and similarly, to exchange the second receiving elements 37, 39 with each other, the movable arm 41 moves from a second removal position, to a third storage position, to a second removal position and to a first second assembly position (in this order). In the second removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the handling device 30 to couple with the second receiving element 37, 39 associated with the second support element 36 and to remove this second receiving element 37, 39 from the second support element 36, while in the third storage position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release the second receiving element 37, 39 removed from the second support element 36 into a third free housing 49. In the second removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release the second receiving element 37, 39 removed from the second support element 36 into a third free housing 49. associated with the magazine 29 to couple with the other second receiving element 39, 37 to remove the other second receiving element 39, 37 from the respective second housing 45, while in the second mounting position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the second support element 36 to mount on the second support element 36 the other second receiving element 39, 37 removed from the respective second housing 45.

For example, in the second removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the handling device 30 to couple with the second receiving element of the first type 37 and to remove it from the second support element 36, while, in the third storage position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release the second receiving element of the first type 37 into the third free housing 49. In the second removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to couple with the second receiving element of the second type 39 to remove it from the respective second housing 45, while, in the second assembly position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the second support element 36 to mount the second receiving element of the second type 39 on it.

In the preferred embodiments, the transfer unit 2 further comprises a further housing device 8, 7 which is mounted on the support structure 6. In these embodiments, as described for the transport unit 1, the housing device 7, 8 and the further housing device 8, 7 are advantageously movable both relative to the support structure 6 and relative to each other. As described with reference to the transport unit 1, the housing device 7, 8 and the further housing device 8, 7 are movable relative to each other between a first operating configuration and a second operating configuration. In the first operating configuration, the housing device 7, 8 is in the pick-up station 5 and the further housing device 8, 7 is spaced from the pick-up station 5 (and advantageously located in a loading station 4 where it receives the caps 82). In the second operating configuration, the additional housing device 8, 7 is in the pick-up station 5 and the housing device 7, 8 is spaced from the pick-up station 5 (and advantageously is located in the loading station 4). With reference to the embodiment described and illustrated here, the housing device 7, 8 and the additional housing device 8, 7 of the transfer device 10 coincide with the first housing device 7 and the second housing device 8 of the transport unit 1. In general, the housing device 7, 8 and the additional housing device 8, 7 alternately feed the caps 82 to the pick-up station 5. Preferably, the additional housing device 8, 7 comprises a third support element 50, advantageously movable with respect to the support structure 6, a third receiving element of a first type 51, which defines a third plurality of caps 82, and a third receiving element of a first type 52, which defines a third plurality of caps 82. of seats 12, 11, and a third receiving element of a second typology 52 that defines a fourth plurality of seats 12, 11. Each of the seats 12, 11 defined by the third receiving element of the first typology 51 (third plurality of seats 12, 11) is configured to receive a cap 82 of the first type, while each of the seats 12, 11 defined by the third receiving element of the second typology 52 (fourth plurality of seats 12, 11) is configured to receive a cap 82 of the second type.

Advantageously, the third receiving element of the first type 51 and the third receiving element of the second type 52 can be mounted alternatively, and in a removable manner, on the third support element 50 and are interchangeable with each other.

Furthermore, the movable arm 41 can also be coupled to the third receiving elements 51, 52.

Preferably, in the working configuration of the transfer unit 2, a third receiving element 51, 52 is associated with the third support element 50 and the other third receiving element 52, 51 is housed in a respective fourth housing 53, with the third receiving element 51, 52 associated with the third support element 50 which is configured for caps 82 of the same type as the first receiving element 32, 33 associated with the first support element 31. For example, the third receiving element of the first type 51 is associated with the third support element 50, while the third receiving element of the second type 52 is housed in the respective fourth housing 53.

Advantageously, when the transfer device 10 operates in the transfer mode, the transfer device 10 is moved to pick up the caps 82 from the seats 11, 12 of the first receiving element 32, 33 associated with the first support element 31, when the housing device 7, 8 and the further housing device 8, 7 are in the first operating configuration, and from the seats 12, 11 of the third receiving element 51, 52 associated with the third support element 50, when the housing device 7, 8 and the further housing device 8, 7 are in the second operating configuration. Furthermore, the transfer device 10 is moved to pick up the caps 82 from the seats 11, 12 of the first receiving element 32, 33 associated with the first support element 31, when the housing device 7, 8 and the further housing device 8, 7 are in the second operating configuration. moved to position the caps 82, taken from the first receiving element 32, 33 or from the third receiving element 51, 52, in the housing spaces 38, 40 of the second receiving element 37, 39 associated with the second support element 36.

When the transfer device 10 operates in the format change mode, the movable arm 41 is also moved to exchange the third receiving element 51, 52 associated with the third support element 50 with the third receiving element 52, 51 placed in the respective fourth housing 53.

Advantageously, when the transfer device 10 operates in the format change mode, the movable arm 41 also assumes further positions, after the first deposit position and before the pick-up position, to exchange the third receiving elements 51, 52 with each other. The movable arm 41 in fact moves, in order, from a third removal position, to a fourth deposit position, to a third pick-up position and to a third assembly position. In the third removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the further housing device 8, 7 to couple with the third receiving element 51, 52 associated with the third support element 50 and to remove this third receiving element 51, 52 from the third support element 50, while in the fourth deposit position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release, in a fourth free housing 54, the third receiving element 51, 52 removed from the third support element 50. In the third removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to couple with the other third receiving element 52, 51 to remove the other third receiving element 52, 51 from the respective fourth housing 53, while in the third assembly position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the third support element 50 to mount on the third support element 50 the other third receiving element 52, 51 removed from the respective fourth housing 53.

For example, in the third removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the additional housing device 8, 7 to couple with the third receiving element of the first type 51 and to remove it from the third support element 50, while, in the fourth storage position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to release, into the fourth free housing 54, the third receiving element of the first type 51. In the third removal position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the magazine 29 to couple with the third receiving element of the second type 52 to remove it from the respective fourth housing 53, while in the third assembly position, the movable arm 41 is associated with the third support element 50 to mount on it the third receiving element of the second type 52.

In the preferred embodiments, the transfer unit 2 further comprises a first coupling system 55 comprising a first active component 56, mounted on the movable arm 41, and a plurality of first passive components 57. On each receiving element (first receiving elements 32, 33 and second receiving elements 37, 39 and, advantageously, third receiving elements 51, 52) and on each gripping element 42, 43 is mounted one of the first passive components 57.

Advantageously, the first active component 56 is switchable between a first inactive configuration and a first active configuration. In the first inactive configuration, the first active component 56 can be associated with (and disassociated from) each first passive component 57. In the first active configuration, if the first active component 56 is associated with a first passive component 57, the same first active component 56 is fixed to such first passive component 57 to make the respective element (on which the first passive component 57 is mounted) integral with the movable arm 41.

In other words, switching between the first active configuration and the first inactive configuration, and vice versa, allows the movable arm 41 to couple to, and decouple from, the respective receiving elements and gripping elements.

The first active component 56 and the first passive components 57 may be of any type. Preferably, however, the first active component 56 comprises an electromechanical, pneumatic or electropneumatic coupling member.

For example, in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the first active component 56 comprises two first active elements 34, each of which comprises an electromechanical, pneumatic or electropneumatic coupling member. In particular, each first active element 34 comprises a piston, a support body 59 coupled to one end of the piston, and a protruding element 60 mounted on the support body 59. Each first passive component 57 instead comprises two first passive elements 35 in each of which a recess 61 is obtained. When the first active component 56 is in the first active configuration, each piston assumes an extracted configuration and the relative protruding element 60 is inserted inside the recess 61 of one of the first passive elements 35 (figures 17 to 19). When the first active component 56 is in the first inactive configuration, each piston assumes a retracted configuration and the relative protruding element 60 is inserted inside the recess 61 of one of the first passive elements 35 (figures 17 to 19). placed outside the recess 61 (figure 20). Advantageously, each first active element 34 comprises a piston which comprises a plurality of rods 58 (three rods 58 in the accompanying figures) and a plurality of protruding elements 60 (for example, two protruding elements 60), while in each first passive element 35 there is obtained a plurality of recesses 61 (for example, two recesses 61) preferably in a number equal to the protruding elements 60. As can be seen in the accompanying figures, the pistons of the two first active elements 34 are mounted so as to move in opposite directions, so that when they are in the first active configuration they prevent the disengagement of the first passive component 57 from the first active component 56.

The embodiment of the first components described above is not to be construed as limiting, as it is only an example of possible embodiments.

Advantageously, the housing device 7, 8 comprises a second coupling system 62 comprising a second active component 63, mounted on the first support element 31, and a pair of second passive components 64, each of which is mounted on a respective first receiving element (one on the first receiving element of the first type 32 and the other on that of the second type 33). In such embodiments, the second active component 63 is switchable between a second inactive configuration and a second active configuration. In the second inactive configuration, the second active component 63 can be associated with (and disassociated from) each second passive component 64. In the second active configuration, however, the second active component 63, if it is associated with a second passive component 64, is fixed to such second passive component 64 to make the respective first receiving element 32, 33 (the first receiving element 32, 33 on which such second passive component 64 is mounted) integral with the first supporting element 31.

Preferably, furthermore, the handling device 30 comprises a third coupling system 65 comprising a third active component 66, mounted on the second support element 36, and a pair of third passive components 67, each of which is mounted on a respective second receiving element (one on the second receiving element of the first type 37 and the other on that of the second type 39). Advantageously, the third active component 66 is switchable between a third inactive configuration and a third active configuration. In the third inactive configuration, the third active component 66 can be associated with (and disassociated from) each third passive component 67. In the third active configuration, however, the third active component 66, if it is associated with a third passive component 67, is fixed to such third passive component 67 to make the respective second receiving element 37, 39 (the second receiving element 37, 39 on which such third passive component 67 is mounted) integral with the second supporting element 36.

Similarly to what is described for the first attachment system 55, the second attachment system 62 and the third attachment system 65 can also be of any type.

In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the second active component 63 and the third active component 66 have a structure similar to the first active component 56, while the second passive component 64 and the third passive component 67 have a structure similar to the first passive component 57. For this reason, the second attachment system 62 and the third attachment system 65 will not be described in further detail. It is emphasized that the embodiment illustrated is only one of the possible embodiments.

Furthermore, the additional housing device 8, 7, when present, also comprises a fourth hooking system 68 which is of the same type as the second hooking system 62. For this reason, it will not be described in detail (with the necessary adjustments - within the reach of the person skilled in the field).

Advantageously, the housing device 7, 8, the handling device 30 and the further housing device 8, 7 respectively comprise a pair of second active elements 34, a pair of third active elements and a pair of fourth active elements. Each of them further comprises a pair of respective passive components. Advantageously, the second active components 63, the third active components 66 and the fourth active components are mounted respectively on the first support element 31, on the second support element 36 and on the third support element 50, while the second, third and fourth passive components are mounted respectively on the first receiving element 32, 33, on the second receiving element 37, 39 and on the third receiving element 51, 52.

Preferably, the second active component 63, the third active component 66 and the fourth active component (if present) also comprise an electromechanical, pneumatic or electropneumatic coupling member.

In preferred embodiments, when the transfer device 10 is operating in the format change mode, switching between the first active configuration and the first inactive configuration, and vice versa, allows the movable arm 41 to disengage from, and couple with, the respective receiving members and the respective gripping members, respectively. For example, the first active component 56 switches its configuration from the first active configuration to the inactive one when the movable arm 41 is in the first deposit position to release the gripping member 42, 43 into the first free slot 47, and switches its configuration from the first inactive configuration to the active one when the movable arm 41 is in the first removal position to couple with the first receiving member 32, 33 associated with the first support member 31 to remove it. To allow removal, the second active component 63 mounted on the first support member 31 switches from the second active configuration to the second inactive configuration. Subsequently, the first active component 56 switches its configuration again from the first active configuration to the inactive one when the movable arm 41 is in the second storage position to release into the second free housing 48 the first receiving element 32, 33 removed from the first support element 31.

What has been described above with reference to the first receiving elements 32, 33, can also be advantageously applied, with the necessary adjustments, in the case of the second receiving elements 37, 39 and, if present, of the third receiving elements 51, 52.

In the attached figures, a switching from the first active configuration to the first inactive configuration is visible by comparing figures 19 and 20, while a switching from the second active configuration to the second inactive configuration is visible by comparing figures 17 and 18. These figures show what happens when the movable arm 41 is in the first mounting position: with the first receiving element 33, 32 fixed to the movable arm 41 via the first attachment system 55, the second active component 63 switches from the second inactive configuration (figure 17) to the second active configuration (figure 18), making the first receiving element 33, 32 also integral with the first support element 31; subsequently the first active component 56 switches from the first active configuration (figure 19) to the first inactive configuration (figure 20), and the movable arm 41 disengages from the first receiving element 33, 32. When the transfer device 10 operates in the of transfer, all active components are in their respective active configuration. In fact, each active component is fixed to a respective passive component to make the element on which the passive component is mounted, integral with the element on which the active component is mounted.

We now move on to describe in general terms an apparatus 3 for capping containers which comprises the transport unit 1 in accordance with the present invention.

This apparatus 3 comprises a support frame 69 (which comprises the support structure 6 of the transport unit 1), on which are mounted in succession (with respect to a cap handling path 82) a feeding unit 70, the transport unit 1 and a capping unit 71. As regards the feeding unit 70, it defines a feeding station for caps 82, and is associated with the transport unit 1 to feed the caps 82 to the loading device 9.

In preferred embodiments, such as that shown in the accompanying figures, the feed unit 70 comprises a hopper 72, for housing the caps 82, and a transport system 73.

Advantageously, the hopper 72 has a lower opening 74 to allow the exit of the caps 82. The exit of the caps 82 can be regulated, for example, by varying the size of the lower opening 74.

Preferably, however, the transport system 73 is associated with the lower opening 74 of the hopper 72 to receive the caps 82 that protrude from it and to feed such caps 82 to the loading device 9 of the transport unit 1. In particular, the transport system 73 comprises at least one conveyor belt 76. Advantageously, such conveyor belt 76 extends at least as far as the loading station 4 where the loading device 9 operates.

Preferably, the apparatus 3 further comprises an electronic cap observation system 82, which is configured to observe the caps 82 positioned on the conveyor belt 76 and to determine the position and orientation of such cap 82 (initial orientation). The cap observation system 82, which may be part of an electronic control unit of the entire apparatus 3, generates the information necessary for the loading device 9 to correctly pick up the cap 82 from the conveyor belt 76 and to rotate it as necessary to obtain the predefined orientation in the first seats 11 or in the second seats 12. Preferably, the cap observation system 82 comprises a vision device, such as a camera, and an electronic processing unit. In this case, the camera is configured to detect the image of the cap 82, while the electronic processing unit is configured to receive the image from the vision device and to process it to determine the necessary information.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the transport system 73 comprises a plurality of conveyors. In particular, a lifter 78 is associated with the opening of the hopper 72 to receive the caps 82, lift them along an inclined path and drop them onto an intermediate belt 77 which then feeds them by gravity to the conveyor belt 76 associated with the loading station 4.

Preferably, the feeding unit 70 comprises two hoppers 72 positioned side by side and two conveyor systems 73 which are spaced laterally from each other and which are configured to each feed the caps 82 to one of the pick and place robots 24, 25. Advantageously, the apparatus 3 further comprises a recirculation conveyor belt 79 which is positioned between the two conveyor systems 73 and which is associated with the hopper 72. The recirculation conveyor belt 79 is configured to receive the caps 82 which have fallen onto it from the other conveyor belts (as they have reached the loading station 4 without having been picked up by the loading device 9) and to feed them again to the hopper 72.

It is emphasized that what has been described with reference to the transport system 73 is not to be considered as limiting for the present invention. It is in fact possible that the caps 82 are fed to the loading device 9 according to other methods than that described and shown in figure 1.

Downstream of the transport unit 1, the apparatus 3 comprises the capping unit 71 which defines the capping station for the containers and which is associated with the transport unit 1 to receive the caps 82 from the transfer device 10 (which is part of the transport unit 1) and to cap the containers with such caps 82.

Advantageously, in the illustrated embodiment, the capping unit 71 comprises the movement device 30 and a plurality of capping devices 80.

Preferably, the handling device 30 is movable (in the illustrated embodiment by the movement of the second support element 36) relative to the support frame 69 between a receiving position and a capping position. When the handling device 30 is in the receiving position (figure 6), the handling device 30 is associated with the transfer device 10 to receive the caps 82. When the handling device 30 is in the capping position (figure 7), however, the handling device 30 is positioned in the capping station.

The capping devices 80 are advantageously positioned at the capping station and are configured to cap the containers with the caps 82. Furthermore, the capping devices 80 are associated with the handling device 30 when the handling device 30 is in the capping position.

Advantageously, the capping unit 71 comprises a number of capping devices 80 that is equal to the number of first seats 11 and the number of second seats 12 and, preferably, to the number of housing compartments 38, 40 of the handling device 30.

In the preferred embodiments, each capping device 80 comprises a capping head 83 as visible in figures 6 and 7. Such capping heads 83 are advantageously positioned above the handling device 30 when the handling device 30 itself is in the capping position and are configured to pick up the caps 82 from the handling device 30 and to apply them to the containers (in particular after the handling device 30 has moved away from the capping position).

We now move on to describe in general terms an apparatus 3 for capping containers comprising the transfer unit 2.

This apparatus 3 comprises a support frame 69 (which comprises the support structure 6 of the transfer unit 2), on which are mounted in succession (with respect to a cap handling path 82), a cap preparation unit 82 and a plurality of capping devices 80. The cap preparation unit 82 is coupled to the support frame 69 and is configured to load the caps 82 into the seats 11, 12 of the housing device 7, 8 (or housing devices) of the transfer unit 2. The capping devices 80 are positioned at a capping station, are configured to cap the containers with the caps 82, and are associated with the handling device 30 to receive the caps 82 from the handling device 30.

A possible embodiment of the cap preparation unit 82 comprises the feed unit 70 of the type described above and the loading device 9 (regardless of whether the seats 11, 12 loaded by it are then movable or not).

Advantageously, furthermore, the handling device 30 is movable with respect to the support frame 69 between the receiving position (figure 6) and the capping position (figure 7), according to the modalities described above, in which the handling device 30 is associated with the capping devices 80 to feed the caps 82 to the capping devices 80. The capping devices 80 are also advantageously made as described above.

As already anticipated above, what has been described so far in relation to each of the two embodiments of the apparatus 3 for capping containers which refer to the two main innovative aspects of the present invention, finds a simultaneous implementation in the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures.

In this embodiment, the apparatus 3 for capping containers advantageously comprises, in succession, the feeding unit 70, the transport unit 1, the transfer unit 2 and the capping devices 80 positioned in correspondence with the capping station, as visible in figure 1.

In these embodiments, the transport unit 1 and the transfer unit 2 are closely linked to each other by the presence of shared elements that act as an interface. For example, both the housing devices 7, 8 and the transfer device 10 are part of both the transport unit 1 and the transfer unit 2.

Finally, the present invention concerns a method for transporting caps which finds advantageous implementation in the operation of the transport unit 1 described above.

This method comprises a plurality of phases repeated cyclically. The method initially comprises a first positioning phase, in which a first group of caps 82 is positioned inside first seats 11 which are located in correspondence with a loading station 4. The positioning is carried out by inserting each cap 82 of the first group into a respective first seat 11. Furthermore, the method comprises a first movement phase performed after the first positioning phase, in which the first seats 11 are moved from the loading station 4 to a collection station 5, and a second movement phase, in which second seats 12 are moved from the collection station 5 to the loading station 4.

In accordance with an innovative aspect of the method, it comprises a second positioning phase performed after the first positioning phase and after the second handling phase, and a first picking phase performed during the second positioning phase. In the second positioning phase, a second group of caps 82 is positioned inside the second seats 12 located at the loading station 4. This positioning is carried out by inserting each cap 82 of the second group into a respective second seat 12. In the first picking phase, however, the caps 82 of the first group are picked from the first seats 11, located at the picking station 5, to feed them to a processing unit located downstream, such as a capping unit 71.

The method also includes a third movement phase performed after the second positioning phase, a fourth movement phase performed after the first picking phase, and a second picking phase, performed during a subsequent execution of the first positioning phase. In the third movement phase, the second seats 12 are moved from the loading station 4 to the picking station 5, and in the fourth movement phase, the first seats 11 are moved from the picking station 5 to the loading station 4. Finally, in the second picking phase, the caps 82 of the second group are picked from the second seats 12 located in the picking station 5 to feed them to the processing unit.

From the second sampling phase, the phases described above are repeated cyclically. As mentioned, in fact, the second sampling phase is carried out during a new execution of the first positioning phase.

It is emphasized that in the preferred embodiments, the method is implemented by performing the steps described in order. However, it is possible that the steps are performed in an order that is partly different from that described above, for example in accordance with the different operating variants described above in relation to the transport unit 1.

The present invention achieves important advantages.

Thanks to the present invention, in fact, it has been possible to create a transport unit 1 for caps 82 and an apparatus 3 comprising such a unit and to develop a method for transporting caps 82 that allows for greater productivity to be obtained with respect to known solutions, or that at least allows for providing an alternative to the solutions present in the known art. Finally, it should be noted that the present invention is relatively easy to implement and that the cost associated with its implementation is not very high.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept that characterizes it.

All the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones and the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, can be any according to the needs.

Claims (16)

1. Transport unit for transporting caps (82) from a loading station (4) to a picking station (5), the transport unit (1) comprising: a support structure (6); a first housing device (7) mounted on the support structure (6) defining a plurality of first seats (11) each of which is configured to receive in use a cap (82), the first housing device (7) being movable relative to the support structure (6) between a first loading position, wherein the first seats (11) are in the loading station (4), and a first withdrawal position, wherein the first seats (11) are in the withdrawal station (5); and a second housing device (8) mounted on the support structure (6) defining a plurality of second seats (12) each of which is configured to receive in use a plug (82), the second housing device (8) being movable relative to the support structure (6) between a second loading position, wherein the second seats (12) are in the loading station (4), and a second withdrawal position, wherein the second seats (12) are in the withdrawal station (5); wherein the first housing device (7) and the second housing device (8) are further movable relative to each other between a first configuration, wherein the first housing device (7) is in the first loading position and the second housing device (8) is in the second retrieval position, and a second configuration, wherein the first housing device (7) is in the first retrieval position and the second housing device (8) is in the second loading position; and wherein the transport unit (1) further comprises: a loading device (9) positioned at the loading station (4), which is configured to load in use either the caps (82) in the first seats (11) when the first housing device (7) is in the first loading position, or the caps (82) in the second seats (12) when the second housing device (8) is in the second loading position; and a transfer device (10) positioned at the picking station (5), which is configured to pick in use either the caps (82) present in the first seats (11) when the first housing device (7) is in the first picking position, or the caps (82) present in the second seats (12) when the second housing device (8) is in the second picking position, and to feed the picked caps (82) in use to a processing unit. 2. Transport unit according to claim 1, wherein the first housing device (7) is moved from the first loading position to the first retrieval position when the second housing device (8) is moved from the second retrieval position to the second loading position, and vice versa, and wherein the first housing device (7) is moved from the first retrieval position to the first loading position when the second housing device (8) is moved from the second loading position to the second retrieval position, and vice versa. 3. Transport unit according to claim 1, wherein the first housing device (7) is moved from the first pick-up position to the first load position when the second housing device (8) is in the second load position, and wherein the second housing device (8) is moved from the second pick-up position to the second load position when the first housing device (7) is in the first load position. 4. A transport unit according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first housing device (7) and the second housing device (8) are movable according to a translational motion along a direction of movement. 5. A transport unit according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first housing device (7) defines a first number of first seats (11), and wherein the second housing device (8) defines a second number of second seats (12), the first number being equal to the second number. 6. A transport unit according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first housing device (7) comprises a plurality of first housing bodies (16) each of which defines a respective first seat (11) of said plurality of first seats (11), and wherein the second housing device (8) comprises a plurality of second housing bodies (17) each of which defines a respective second seat (12) of said plurality of second seats (12). 7. A transport unit according to claim 6, wherein the first housing bodies (16) are arranged next to each other along a first direction of arrangement which is rectilinear, and wherein the second housing bodies (17) are arranged next to each other along a second direction of arrangement which is rectilinear, the first direction of arrangement and the second direction of arrangement being parallel to each other. 8. Transport unit according to claim 7, wherein the first housing bodies (16) and the second housing bodies (17) are arranged alternately with respect to each other along a direction parallel to the first flanking direction and the second flanking direction. 9. Transport unit according to claim 7 or 8 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the direction of movement is perpendicular to the first traversing direction and to the second traversing direction. 10. A transport unit according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein each first housing body (16) of said plurality of first housing bodies (16) is fixed to a first structural element (20) of the first housing device (7), which extends mainly along a development direction which is arranged horizontally, and wherein each second housing body (17) of said plurality of second housing bodies (17) is fixed to a second structural element (21) of the second housing device (8), which extends mainly along a second development direction which is arranged vertically. 11. Transport unit according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said loading device (9) comprises at least one robot of the pick and place type (24), (25) or of another type, and/or wherein said transfer device (10) comprises an anthropomorphic robot (26) or of another type. 12. Apparatus for capping containers, comprising: a support frame (69); a transport unit (1) according to any of claims 1 to 11, said support frame (69) comprising the support structure (6) of the transport unit (1); a feeding unit (70) which is coupled to the support frame (69) and which defines a feeding station for caps (82), the feeding unit (70) being associated with the transport unit (1) to feed, in use, the caps (82) to the loading device (9); and a capping unit (71) which is coupled to the support frame (69) and which defines a capping station for the containers, the capping unit (71) being associated with the transport unit (1) to receive, in use, said caps (82) from the transfer device (10) and to cap in use the containers with said caps (82). 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the capping unit (71) comprises: a handling device (30), which is movable relative to the support frame (69) between a receiving position, in which the handling device (30) is associated with the transfer device (10) to receive said caps (82) into use, and a capping position, in which the handling device (30) is positioned in the capping station; and a plurality of capping devices (80) positioned at the capping station, which are configured to cap, in use, the containers with said caps (82), the capping devices (80) being associated with the handling device (30) when the handling device (30) is in the capping position. 14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the power supply unit (70) comprises: a hopper (72) to house the caps (82) in use and which has a lower opening (74) to allow the caps (82) to come out in use; and a transport system (73), which is associated with the lower opening (74) of the hopper (72) to receive from it in use the caps (82) that come out and to feed them in use to the loading device (9) of the transport unit (1). 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the loading device (9) comprises a movable gripping head (75) configured to pick up a cap (82) with a random orientation from the transport system (73) and to position it in a first seat (11) or in a second seat (12) with a predefined orientation. 16. Method for transporting corks (82), comprising the following phases repeated cyclically: a first positioning phase, in which a first group of caps (82) is positioned inside a plurality of first seats (11) located in correspondence with a loading station (4), inserting each cap (82) of the first group of caps (82) into a respective first seat (11) of said plurality of first seats (11); a first movement phase performed after the first positioning phase, in which the plurality of first seats (11) are moved from the loading station (4) to a collection station (5); a second movement phase, in which a plurality of second locations (12) are moved from the collection station (5) to the loading station (4); a second positioning phase performed after the first positioning phase and after the second movement phase, in which a second group of caps (82) is positioned inside the second seats (12) located in correspondence with the loading station (4), inserting each cap (82) of the second group of caps (82) into a respective second seat (12) of said plurality of second seats (12); a first picking phase, carried out during the second positioning phase, in which the caps (82) of the first group of caps (82) are picked from the first seats (11) located in the picking station (5) to feed them to a processing unit; a third movement phase performed after the second positioning phase in which the plurality of second seats (12) are moved from the loading station (4) to the collection station (5); a fourth movement phase performed after the first collection phase, in which the plurality of first locations (11) are moved from the collection station (5) to the loading station (4); and a second picking phase, carried out during a subsequent execution of the first positioning phase, in which the caps (82) of the second group of caps (82) are picked up from the second seats (12) located in the picking station (5) to feed them to the processing unit.