Patent ID: 6779533
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: B65G,B67C

Abstract:
A method of on-line treating and/or processing containers, the method comprising the steps of feeding at least one container (2) along a production line (45) comprising a conveying drum (3) rotating about a vertical axis (4) to define an annular path (P) extending through a loading station (43) and an unloading station (41) for containers (2); loading the container (2), at said loading station (43) and in a substantially radial direction with respect to said conveying drum (3), into a respective processing cell (17) positioned substantially radially with respect to said axis (4) and movable with said conveying drum (3) along said path (P); subjecting the container (2) to a treatment and/or processing operation inside said cell (17) and as the cell (17) is fed from said loading station (43; 55) to said unloading station (41; 55); and unloading the container (2) radially from the cell (17) at the unloading station (41; 55); the method being characterized in that the conveying drum (3) comprises a first number of rings (11) of cells (17) superimposed along said axis (4), and each ring (11) comprises a same number of cells (17) equally spaced about said axis (4); said loading step comprising loading a first number of containers (2) simultaneously into respective said cells (17) arranged in a column along said conveying drum (3); and said unloading step comprising unloading a first number of containers (2) simultaneously radially from the respective cells (17) arranged in a column along said conveying drum (3).