Patent ID: 9550626
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: B07C,B65G

Claim:
1. A machine for sorting objects, comprising: two flexible driving elements configured to move along two closed-loop paths in two parallel vertical planes, where each path comprises a top horizontal straight section, a bottom horizontal straight section and two curved connecting end sections which join together opposite ends of the straight sections; a plurality of carriages each having at least one horizontal support surface directed upwards, the carriages being fixed at a given interval (P) to both the flexible driving elements; two end assemblies arranged at the end sections of the paths, wherein each end assembly comprises two crown gears mounted rotatably in two parallel vertical planes, about a horizontal axis of rotation (x), and wherein each crown gear engages with one of the two flexible driving elements so as to drive it around said path; a plurality of mobile retaining units associated with each crown gear wherein: each plurality of retaining units being configured to circulate along a vertical closed-loop path which comprises a semicircular section, the retaining units of each plurality being spaced from each other by a given interval; each semicircular section of the closed-loop paths is displaced longitudinally with respect to a corresponding semicircular section of an outer periphery of the associated crown gear; and the mobile retaining units each have an engaging element for retaining a rigid element rigidly connected to the carriage along said semicircular section so that, along each of the end connecting sections, each carriage performs a rotary/translational movement with respect to the axis of rotation (x) of the pair of gear wheels of the associated end assembly, thus keeping the support surface horizontally oriented.