Patent ID: 6978877
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. An automatic machine ( 1 ) for processing articles ( 4 ), and comprising a conveyor ( 12 ; 31 ) which feeds the articles ( 4 ) along a path (P 1 ; P 2 ) in a given feed direction and has at least one movable member ( 13 ; 35 ); and a reading device ( 40 ; 38 ) for determining the position of the movable member ( 13 ; 35 ) along the path (P 1 ; P 2 ); the machine ( 1 ) being characterized in that the reading device ( 40 ; 38 ) cooperates with a magnet ( 42 ; 36 ) housed inside the movable member ( 13 ; 35 ) and positioned with its polar axis perpendicular to the feed direction, and comprises two linear Hall-effect sensors ( 44 ), arranged side by side parallel to the feed direction so as to have zero sensitivity in a direction parallel to the feed direction, and maximum sensitivity in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction; and a control unit ( 45 ) which detects the instant in which the movable member ( 13 ; 35 ) is in a definite detection position ( 41 ; 33 ) with respect to the reading device ( 40 ; 38 ) by determining the instant in which the output signal ( 46 ) of one of the Hall-effect sensors ( 44 ) inverts, and by using the output signal ( 46 ) of the other Hall-effect sensor ( 44 ) to enable detection of the instant in which the movable member ( 13 ; 35 ) is in the detection position ( 41 ; 33 ).