Patent ID: 8388506
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: B31B,B65B,B65G

Abstract:
1. A sequencing unit operating along a feed path of a succession of opening devices for attachment to respective sealed packages of pourable food products comprising: push means positioned along opposite sides of said feed path to interact at a predetermined rate with said succession of opening devices for feeding the opening devices along said feed path; and locating means interacting with said opening devices and of variable configuration for maintaining the opening devices with different geometric characteristics in a predetermined position with respect to said push means, the locating means comprising a first pair of guides cooperating with the opening devices to position the opening devices with respect to the push means in a first direction crosswise to the feed path, the first pair of guides comprising spaced apart first and second guides between which the opening devices are fed by the push means, the first and second guides contacting oppositely facing surfaces of each opening device, the first guide being secured to a fixed portion of the unit so as to be fixed in position, and first elastic means urging the second guide towards the first guide and permitting the second guide to elastically move away from the first guide as each opening device is fed between the first and second guides to adapt to the geometric characteristics of each opening device, a distance between the first and second guides of the first pair of guides, measured parallel to the first direction, decreasing along the feed path.