MXPA00000726A - Adjustable machine for the vertical orientation and alignment of empty containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Controllable machine for the vertical orientation and alignment of empty containers, comprising a plurality of compartments (6) linked to a first rotary structure (7) to receive the containers (A) in a flat position, said compartments (6) having an open bottom delimited by bearing configurations (11 and 12) for the open extremity (A1) of the container (A), adjacent to the front and rear parts, a plurality of chute conducts (8) associated to said structure (7), underneath each compartment (6), to receive the falling containers (A) and to transfer them in a vertical position and aligned to another equipment and fixed support plane (9) arranged between said compartments (6) and said conducts (8);a discharge interruption (10) is provided of which the support configuration for the open extremity (A1) of the container (A) adjacent to said front part of the compartment (6) comprises an elongate element (11) which can move inside the compartment so as to adapt its position to the size of the container;all these elements (11) are associated to a second structure (15) which is displaced in association with said first structure (7), the relative position of the second structure (14) with respect to the first structure (7) being adjustable.

Description

MACHINE FOR THE VERTICAL ORIENTATION AND ALIGNMENT OF EMPTY CONTAINERS. ADJUSTABLE The present invention concerns a machine for the vertical orientation and alignment of empty containers, adjustable, especially for the feeding of packaging lines with light containers. The function of this type of machines is to take containers from a location in which said containers are grouped and randomly oriented to deliver them, one by one and oriented vertically, (that is, supported on the ground by their base and with neck up) at another location, for example, over a conveyor or a bottling line. Various machines are known in the state of the art, comprising means for taking containers from a place where said containers are stacked and randomly oriented and depositing them, individually and in a lying position, in a plurality of cavities or receptacles without bottom located in a structure that runs through a closed circuit above a fixed plane of sustentation. In this way, the containers are pushed by the walls of the receptacles or flanks of the cavities and supported by the fixed plane, sliding on it. Said fixed plane has, at a point of discharge, an interruption whereby said containers are transferred by gravity from said receptacles or cavities to drop conduits. There is a dropping conduit associated with each of the receptacles, and each of the receptacles has means for holding the neck of the container independently of the orientation of the container inside the receptacle, so that, at the time of the fall, it is always the base of the container that starts the descent, resulting in the placement of the container standing up, with the neck facing upwards. In the European Patent EP-A-0 065 86 ^, a machine of this type is described with a rotating disc provided with peripheral openings defining cavities, for receiving containers, delimited by radial appendages. In this machine, said means for supporting the neck of the container, whatever its orientation within the peripheral cavities, consist of supports defined in said two appendices, located one at each end of the corresponding cavity that they delimit, designed with a specific configuration depending on the direction of movement thereof and the length of the container, since, due to inertia and frictional forces, the container always tends to lean against the rear wall of the receptacle, in relation to the direction of March. For this reason, the appendix corresponding to the front wall in the forward direction comprises a simple support for the neck of the container while the appendix corresponding to the rear wall integrates, in addition to a support for the neck, a stop configuration for the base or bottom of said container to prevent this base from being available on said support. In this way, if the container is housed in the cavity with the neck facing the rear, said container, due to the effect of movement, bears against said rear part, with its neck located on the corresponding support, leaving the base of the container freely supported, and sliding, on the fixed plane, since the support of the front wall is located at a predetermined distance, according to the length of the container, so that it does not interfere with the base thereof. In case the container is introduced into the receptacle with the neck facing the front, the base of said container, due to the movement, will rest against the stop configuration of the posterior appendix, and not on the posterior payole. supported by gravity, and sliding, on the fixed plane, while the neck of the container, due to the top of the posterior appendix, will be placed on the corresponding support of the appendix of the front part. With this arrangement, both in one case and another, when the fixed plane of support is interrupted, the container that is in the receptacle will always start the descent into the corresponding duct with its bottom or base in front.

This structure, while effective, has the drawback of requiring a precise width of the receptacle and a very accurate positioning of said front and rear appendages therein, suited to the shape and dimensions of each type of container. This means that, in order to adapt a machine as described in the aforementioned European Patent EP-A-0 065 866 to a different type of container, it is necessary to manually adjust the position of said appendices, one by one, in a laborious, delicate and long operation that entails a high economic cost. In the U.S. patent No. 4,681,209 of the same applicant of this invention describes a machine of this type in which there are radial pieces having on one side a front appendix and on the other hand a posterior appendix, the cavities being formed between two of said parts, being said parts capable of being fixed to the plug on the mobile structure of the machine, so that they can be replaced in an extraordinarily easy and fast manner. Likewise, in said machine, the drop conduits are provided with quick fixing means, so that they are also easily replaceable.

This arrangement achieves a better adaptation to the dimensions of different types of packaging in a fast operation, but has the disadvantage of not having transverse regulation in the cavities, having to have, in addition, a set of radial pieces and conduits of fall appropriate to each type of container, with the consequent economic cost that this entails, in addition to the problem of specifying a storage space. In the French patent application FR-A-91 12 375 of the same applicant of this invention, a positioning machine of this type is described, with peripheral cavities, delimited by radial appendixes in which all the front appendixes of the compartments are fixed on a first structure, while all the rear appendages are fixed on a second structure, the second structure being capable of relative movement with respect to the first, so that, by regulating the longitudinal distance between the front and rear appendixes in a compartment, an identical structure is obtained separation in all remaining compartments: For drop conduits, said French patent application FR-A-91 12 375, adopts a similar solution. This solution represents a substantial improvement over the Patent EP-A-065866, however it still does not solve the problem of the regulation of the transverse amplitude of both the compartments and the drop conduits. Furthermore, in said patent, bellows-like parts join the adjacent radial parts so that if the cavity is reduced in length there remains a large inoperative circumferential zone. Another drawback, common to all the machines described in the patents cited so far, is the non-existence of an exterior wall in the cavities, so that the containers move sliding in contact with a fixed external wall, integral with a housing , being impelled against it by the centrifugal force when describing a circumferential trajectory. For its part, in the patent application EP-0 578 602-B1, of the same applicant of the present invention, a machine of this type is described in which the cavities are formed by a series of individual compartments, in a manner analogous to the drop conduits, being the ones and others susceptible of fixing to plug in the periphery of said rotating structure, so that both the compartments and the conduits of fall are of very easy and rapid substitution, without need of tools, disposing of a set, both compartments and drop pipes, for each type of container. The solution of the replacement of compartments and conduits of fall has the advantage of providing, in an easy and fast operation, an optimal adaptation to each type of container, in the three dimensions of the space, avoiding, in addition, thanks to the outer wall of each compartment, that the containers move against a fixed external wall. However, this system requires again the manufacture and storage of a set of said compartments and / or drop conduits for each different type of container, which entails a consequent economic cost. Everything described above shows that there is a need, in this industrial sector of handling of light containers, to have a machine for vertical orientation and alignment of empty containers that has a means for adapting said machine to different types of containers, both longitudinally and transversally, so that said adaptation is carried out by means of a quick and economical operation, and that does not require availability of space for storage of replacement parts. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a machine of the above-mentioned type provided with compartments, with means for adjusting both the width and the longitudinal and transverse position of the support for the neck of the container in the front of the compartments, without the need to replace parts. Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the aforementioned type provided with means for the regulation, both longitudinal and transverse, of the drop conduits, without the need for their replacement. Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the referred type in which each of said regulations is adjusted simultaneously in all the compartments, either by manually acting on a single compartment in particular, or by mechanical means , automated or not. A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the aforementioned type in which compartments susceptible to regulation can be combined with drop conduits susceptible of substitution. These objectives are achieved, in a machine according to the invention, by arranging all the compartments on a first structure capable of moving following a closed circuit. Each of the compartments is provided, in an area close to its front wall, with an elongated transverse element, such as a rod or rod, constituting the front support for the neck of the container, capable of longitudinally and transversely moving inside the container. said compartment, and one of the walls mounted with the ability to move transversely inside said compartment. Both said elongate element and said movable wall are capable of being fixed in a desired position, whereby an adaptation of said compartment to the height and width of a given container is obtained. Each and every one of said elongated rods or bars are associated with a second structure provided with relative movement with respect to the first and capable of being fixed in a desired position, thereby obtaining, simultaneously, an identical transverse location of the elongated elements in all compartments. For its part, the transverse position of each and every one of the elongated elements and / or of each and every one of the movable side walls can be adjusted and fixed jointly and simultaneously by, for example, a manually operated cam device, or by any other mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic means. The drop conduits are formed by a front wall, a side wall and a rear wall, leaving an open face that is bounded by the wall of a fixed housing. Each and every one of the rear walls of said drop conduits are linked to said first structure, while each and every one of the front walls are linked to a third structure, movable with respect to the first, the relative position between the first and third structures being capable of being fixed in a desired position, with which a simultaneous adaptation of all the ducts to the width of a certain type of container is obtained. On the other hand, each movable side wall of said drop conduits is provided with transverse movement, its relative position with respect to the fixed wall of the casing being able to be regulated and fixed in a desired position. By means of a system of manually operated cams, or by pneumatic or hydraulic means, said regulation is achieved jointly and simultaneously in all the ducts of fall for its adaptation to the width of a certain type of container. In one of the embodiments of a machine according to the invention, each of the movable side walls of the compartments and each of the movable side walls of the fall pipes are integrated by a single piece equipped with transverse movement, all of which are and each of said parts capable of being displaced and fixed in a desired position in a joint and simultaneous manner, thereby achieving in a single operation an adaptation of all the compartments and of all the conduits of fall to the width of a certain type of packaging. Below, for a better understanding of the invention, a detailed description thereof is made with reference to the attached drawings, the purpose of said drawings being merely illustrative of one embodiment of the present invention, so they should not be interpreted with a limiting character of it. In said drawings: Fig. 1 is a partial view, in perspective, in which, for greater clarity, only one compartment with its corresponding appendices and a drop conduit is illustrated, together with the set of supporting structures; Fig. 2 is a schematic view, in cross section, of the drop compartment and conduit of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections corresponding to an embodiment of the invention in which the support plane is not fixed, but is formed by a mobile plane associated with each compartment; Fig. 5 is a plan illustration of a possible manually operated cam system for joint and simultaneous regulation of the transverse displacement of all the elongated support elements of the container neck; Figs. 6 and 7 are longitudinal sections in elevation of a compartment illustrating the longitudinal adaptation thereof to containers of different height, showing the two possible positions of the container within the compartment; Figs. 8 to 11 are longitudinal sections in plan of a compartment illustrating two examples of adaptation, both transverse and longitudinal, thereof to two different types of packaging, in the two possible positions of the container within the compartment; and Figs. 12 to 14 are cross sections illustrating a drop conduit in three examples of dimensional adaptation to three different types of packages. Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, with the number 6 denotes a compartment for a container A, whose compartment is integral with the periphery of an upper portion of a first rotating circular structure. It should be noted that in reality there are a plurality of compartments 6, adjacent, arranged along the entire periphery of the structure 7, although for clarity in the drawing only one has been represented. In said Fig. 1, an arrow indicates the direction of the rotary movement of the structure 7. Each compartment 6 is located on top of a drop conduit 8, leaving a space between them, whose fall conduit is of substantially rectangular cross section, decreasing from top to bottom, and is formed by a front wall 8a, a rear wall 8b and a side wall, which leave an open face, which is delimited by a fixed wall 16 of a wraparound casing. Said drop conduit moves together with the corresponding compartment 6, which has the bottom open, said bottom being immediately above a fixed plane 9 of support, of annular configuration, provided with an interruption 10 to allow the passage by gravity of a container A inside a compartment 6 inside a falling pipe 8. In this embodiment, a side wall of the compartment 6 and the side wall of the falling pipe 8 are formed by a single piece 17, of bent sheet , susceptible to transverse displacement, supported, guided and driven by its upper and lower ends by means of fluid-dynamic drive assemblies 21 integral with the first structure 7. Said part 17 forms an incoming recess 17b in correspondence with the fixed plane 9 so as not to interfere with said plane 9 in the course of its transverse displacement. Within the compartment 6, and in a front area thereof, is an elongated element 11, such as a transverse rod or rod intended to constitute a front support of the neck Al of the container A, whose element 11 passes through an elongated hole 17a of piece 17, while fixed to the rear wall of said compartment is a configuration 12 of back support of the neck Al of said container A. Solidarity to the rear area of the part of the piece 17 that is inside the compartment 6 is find a stop configuration 20 for the base A2 or bottom of the container A to prevent access to the support 12. The elongate element 11 is capable of moving both transversely and longitudinally inside the compartment 6 to adapt it to containers of different lengths. For the regulation of the longitudinal displacement, each and every one of the elongated elements 11 are associated with a second structure 14 which moves together with the first structure 7, the relative longitudinal position of the second structure 14 being with respect to the first structure 7 can be adjusted, so that an identical longitudinal positioning of the elongated elements 11 is obtained jointly and simultaneously in all the compartments 6. On the other hand, for the regulation of the transverse displacement, each and every one of the elongated elements 11 are mounted radially sliding in supports 23 of the second structure 14 (see Fig. 5) and provided with springs 26 that keep them with their inner ends in contact with cams 24 arranged on the periphery of a disk 25 capable of concentrically rotating with respect to the second structure 14, and of being fixed on it in a desired position, whereby an identical transverse positioning of the elongated elements 11 is obtained jointly and simultaneously in all the compartments 6. For their part, each and every one of them of the front walls 8a of the drop conduits 8 are linked to a third structure 19 which moves with together with said first structure 7, the relative longitudinal position of the second structure 19 being with respect to the first structure 7 susceptible of regulation, whereby an identical positioning of the walls 8a is obtained jointly and simultaneously in all the drop conduits 8. In an example of embodiment that presents a variant of the present invention, there is no fixed support plane 9, but each compartment 6 has a bottom plane 27 articulated by its interior side to said compartment 6, whose bottom plane 27 it is provided with an appendix on which is mounted a wheel 28 that runs along a fixed track 29, keeping said bottom plane 27 closed (Fig. 3). The fixed track 29 has an interruption in a portion of the path, which causes the wheel 28 to lose support allowing the bottom plane 27 to open by gravity by dropping the container A into the drop conduit 8 (Fig. 4) . In a variant not shown, regardless of whether there is a fixed bottom plane 9 or an articulated base plane 27, each compartment 6 has a mobile, adjustable side wall 6a and an elongate front support element 11 of the neck Al of the container A also mobile and adjustable in a manner analogous to that described above, while each drop conduit 8 associated with each compartment 6 is integral, easily removable and interchangeable, so that the existence of adjustable compartments with replaceable drop conduits are combined. In figures 6 and 7 it is seen, in section, a compartment 6 that moves in the direction of the arrows, above the fixed plane 9 of support. Inside the compartment 6 there is, next to the rear wall, the back support configuration 12 of the neck Al of the container A, and the stop configuration 20 for the base A2 of the container. At the front of the compartment 6, the elongate element 11 of the neck Al of the container A is arranged through the slit hole 17a, in the continuous line, a container of the maximum permissible length is shown with the elongated element 11. in its maximum separation position. In a dashed line, a container of the minimum admissible length is shown, with the elongate element 11 in the minimum separation position. In both cases, it can be seen that when the container A is located with its neck Al facing the direction of travel, indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, the stop configuration 20 prevents the base A2 of the container A mounted on the rear support configuration 12, so that the neck Al is located on the elongate element 11, which has been properly positioned according to the length of the container A, while the body of the container A is it supports on the fixed plane 9, sliding on it. In case the container A is located with its bottom next to the front of the compartment with respect to the direction of travel, indicated by the arrow, (Fig. 7), said neck When mounting above the rear support configuration since it does not interfere with the stop configuration 20 due to its smaller thickness, so that the base A2 of the container A remains behind the elongate element 11 and the container body A rests on the fixed plane 9, sliding on it. As it can be appreciated, in all cases, when the interruption 10 of the fixed plane 9 occurs, the container A would initiate the descent by the part of the base A2 since the neck Al would always be supported. In the following Figs. 8 and 9, a section 6 is shown in plan view, a compartment 6 provided with the elongated support element 11 located in the minimum distance position and a mobile side wall 6a located in a position of minimum width, containing an example of container of minimum allowable size for compartment 6. In Figs. 10 and 11 the same compartment of Figs. 8 and 9 but with the elongate support element 11 located in a maximum distance position and the movable side wall 6a located in a position of maximum width, to fit a container A of maximum allowable size. In Figs. 8 and 10 the containers A are located with the neck Al facing the front with respect to the direction of travel indicated by the arrows while in Figs. 9 and 11 the containers A are located with the neck Al on the back in the direction of travel indicated by the arrows. It is clear that between the maximum length and width positions and the minimum length and width can accommodate many different combinations to suit a varied range of different types of packaging. Finally, in Figs. 12 to 14 a dropping conduit 8 is shown in cross section, formed by a front wall 8a, a rear wall 8b and a side wall 8c, the open face being delimited by the fixed wall 16 of a housing. In said Figs. 12 to 14 there are represented three examples of different configurations that said drop conduit 8 can adopt to adapt to three different types of packages. In them, the rear wall 8a is fixed to the first carrier structure 7 of the compartments 6; the side wall 8c is also linked to said first structure 7, but is capable of transverse displacement, being supported, guided and driven by fluidomechanical actuator assemblies 21; and the front wall 8a is linked to a third structure 19 which moves together with said first structure 7, the relative longitudinal position of the second structure 19 being with respect to the first structure 7 susceptible of regulation, whereby combining said regulations can be obtain an infinity of configurations for the adaptation of the drop conduit 8 to different container types. Although mechanical pusher assemblies are preferred for the regulation and positioning between the different relatively mobile structures, it is feasible that said regulation is obtained by manual action, means of locking and unlocking said structures having been provided.

Claims (24)

1. - Machine for vertical orientation and alignment of empty containers, adjustable, especially for light containers, of the type comprising: a receptacle (1) suitable for bulk loading of said containers (A) with a bottom (2) on the that the containers are accumulated, the bottom of which has a peripheral portion (3) spaced from the side wall (4) of the receptacle defining a space (5) through which the containers (A) can pass; a plurality of compartments (6), adjacent to said peripheral portion (3), associated with a first structure (7) that moves them in a closed circuit, each compartment (6) being designed to receive a single receptacle (A) in a lying position, oriented with its open end (Al) next to the front or back, with respect to the direction of the advance, of the compartments, which have an open bottom delimited by support configurations (11 and 12) for the end open (Al) of the container (A) next to said front and rear, respectively, being in the latter, a stop configuration for the bottom of the container; a plurality of drop conduits (8) associated to said structure (7), each drop conduit (8) being disposed below each compartment (6), moving therewith, to receive the containers (A) positioned in fall and to transfer said containers. standing and aligned, to a further equipment; and a fixed plane (9) of support interposed between the open bottom of said compartments (6) and said drop conduits (8), provided with an interruption (10) to propitiate the falling of the containers: characterized in that each support configuration for the open end (Al) of the container (A) next to said front part of the compartment (6) is formed by an elongated element (11), capable of moving inside the compartment to adapt its position to the size of the container, and because all the elongated elements (11) are associated with a second structure (14) that moves together with said first structure (7), the relative position of the second structure (14) being with respect to the first structure (7) susceptible to regulation, with which an identical positioning of the elongated elements (11) is obtained simultaneously in all the compartments (6).

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said closed circuit follows a circular path, the structure (7) consisting of a rotating circular formation with the compartments (6) and drop conduits (8) distributed on its periphery, being the relative movement between the two angular structures (7, 14) and the displacement of the longitudinal elongate elements (11) to the compartments (6).

3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the elongated elements (11) is also susceptible to regulation in extension, transversely to the compartment (6).

4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that each and every one of said elongated elements (11), capable of regulation in transverse extension, are jointly and simultaneously in a single operation by a system of cams (24, 25) pushers .

5. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a side wall (6a) of each of the compartments (6) is movable, the relative position of said side wall (6a) being opposite to its opposite in the compartment capable of regulation , with which an adaptation of the width of the compartment (6) corresponding to the span of the container (A) is obtained.

6. - Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the relative position of all lateral mobile walls (6a) with respect to their opposite in the compartment is capable of joint and simultaneous regulation in a single operation, through pusher means such as a system of cams

7. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each drop conduit (8) is of decreasing cross-section from top to bottom, and is formed by a front wall (8a), a rear wall (8b) and an interior side wall (8c) that leave a face open bounded by a fixed wall (16) of a wraparound casing, the relative position of the inner side wall (8c) being relative to the fixed wall (16) susceptible to adjustment to adapt the drop conduit (8) to the span of the container (A).

8. Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the relative position of all the inner side walls (8c) with respect to the fixed wall (16) is capable of joint and simultaneous regulation in a single operation, through pusher means such as a system of cams.

9. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the side wall (6a) of each compartment (6) and the inner side wall (8c) of each corresponding drop conduit (8) are made in a single piece (17) mobile , whose relative position with respect to its opposite wall is susceptible to regulation, for the adaptation of the compartment (6) and the drop conduit (8) to the span of the container (A).

10. Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the relative position of all the parts (17) with respect to their opposite walls is capable of joint and simultaneous regulation in a single operation, through pusher means such as a cam system.

11. Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the front wall (8a) of each drop conduit (8) is movable, its relative position being with respect to the rear wall (8b) susceptible to regulation, for the adaptation of the conduit drop (8) to the span of the container (A).

12. Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that all the front walls (8a) are linked to a third structure (19) that moves together with said structure (7), the relative position of the second structure (19) being to the structure (7) susceptible to regulation, whereby an identical positioning of the front walls (8a) is obtained simultaneously in all the drop conduits (8).

13. - Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that all said simultaneous control movements comprise manually operated means for unlocking, moving and re-blocking a structure (14, 19, 25) with respect to another structure (7, 14) of base.

14. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it includes mechanical means for performing all the mentioned simultaneous adjustment movements.

15. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it includes removable and interchangeable drop conduits 8.

16. Machine for vertical orientation and alignment of empty containers, adjustable, of the type comprising: a receptacle (1) suitable for bulk loading of said containers (A) provided with a bottom surface (2) on which the containers are accumulated at random, whose bottom has a peripheral portion (3) spaced from the side wall (4) of the receptacle in order to define a space (5) through which the containers (A) can pass; a plurality of compartments (6), adjacent to said peripheral portion (3), associated with a structure (7) that moves them in a closed circuit, each compartment (6) being designed to receive a single container (A) in position extended, oriented with its open end (Al) next to the front or back, with respect to the direction of advance, of the compartments, which have an open bottom delimited by support configurations (11 and 12) for the open end (Al) of the container (A) next to said front and rear parts, respectively, being in the latter, a stop configuration for the bottom of the container; a plurality of drop conduits (8) associated with said structure (7), each drop conduit (8) being disposed below each compartment (6), moving along it, to receive the containers (A) positioned in fall and to transfer said containers, standing and aligned, to a further equipment; and a support plane (27) associated with each compartment (6) capable of closing its open bottom to hold a container (A) and to selectively open to drop said container (A) into its corresponding drop conduit (8). ), characterized in that each support configuration for the open end (Al) of the container (A) next to said front part of the compartment (6) is formed by an elongated element (11) capable of moving inside the compartment to adapt its position to the size of the container, and in that all the elongated elements (11) are associated to a second structure (14) that moves together with said structure (7), the relative position of the second structure (14) being relative to the structure (7). ) susceptible to regulation, whereby identical positioning of the elongated elements (11) is obtained simultaneously in all the compartments (6).

17. Machine according to claim 16, characterized in that said closed circuit follows a circular path, the structure (7) consisting of a rotating circular formation with the compartments (6) and drop conduits (8) distributed on its periphery, the relative movement between the two angular structures (7, 14) and the displacement of the longitudinal elongate elements (11) to the compartments (6).

18. Machine according to claim 17, characterized in that each of the elongated elements (11) is also susceptible to an extension regulation, transversely to the compartment (6), and because each and every one of said elongated elements (11), susceptible to regulation in extension, they are jointly and simultaneously in a single operation by means of a system of cams (24, 25) pushers.

19. Machine according to claim 16, characterized in that a side wall (6a) of each of the compartments (6) is mobile, the relative position of said side wall (6a) with respect to its opposite being susceptible to regulation, whereby an adaptation of the width of the compartment (6) corresponding to the span of the container (A) is obtained, and because the relative position of all the lateral mobile walls (6a) with respect to their opposite sides is capable of joint and simultaneous regulation in a single operation, through pusher means such as a cam system.

20. Machine according to claim 16, characterized in that each drop conduit (8), is of decreasing cross-section from top to bottom, and is formed by a front wall (8a), a rear wall (8b) and a side wall (8c) that leave an open face delimited by a fixed wall (16) of a wraparound casing, the relative position of the side wall (8c) being inside with respect to the fixed wall (16) susceptible of regulation to adapt the conduit of drop (8) to the span of the container (A), and because the relative position of all the side walls (8c) with respect to the fixed wall (16) is capable of joint and simultaneous regulation in a single operation, through means pushers such as a cam system.

21. Machine according to claim 20, characterized in that the front wall (8a) of each drop conduit (8) is movable, its relative position being with respect to the rear wall (8b) susceptible to regulation, for the adaptation of the conduit of drop (8) to the span of the container (A), and because all the front walls (8a) are linked to a third structure (19) that moves together with said structure (7), the relative position of the second structure being (19) with respect to the structure (7) susceptible to regulation, whereby an identical positioning of the front walls (8a) is obtained simultaneously in all the drop conduits (8).

22. Machine according to any one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that all the mentioned simultaneous adjustment movements comprise manually operated means for unlocking, moving and re-blocking a structure (14, 19, 25) on another structure (7). , 14) base.

23. Machine according to any one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that it includes mechanical means for performing all the mentioned simultaneous adjustment movements.

24. Machine according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that it includes removable and interchangeable drop conduits 8.