Patent Publication Number: US-2023151931-A1

Title: Safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure

Description:
The present invention relates to a safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure, the so-called “bottle pack”. 
     A bottle is a transportable container of a gas maintained under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The bottle is provided with pneumatic valve means that selectively intercept the flow of gas that can flow out of the bottle (during use) or that can flow into the bottle (during filling). The pneumatic valve means are conventionally arranged in an end area of the bottle and are configured to be connected in a sealed manner with respect to an appliance to be supplied with the gas under pressure contained in the bottle, or respectively with an appliance that dispenses gas under pressure to fill the bottle. The amount of gas contained in a bottle is limited by the capacity of said bottle. 
     Several bottles containing a gas under pressure can be used jointly to dispense a constant and continuous flow of gas, which cannot be obtained with the use of only one bottle. For this purpose, the plurality of bottles to be used jointly is conventionally combined in a metal cage containing structure, in which the bottles are arranged in juxtaposition to each other on vertical axes, or on horizontal axes, forming a so-called “bottle pack”, and are pneumatically connected by means of a sealed pneumatic circuit connecting the pneumatic valve means of all the bottles to each other in series and to a pneumatic connector provided for the connection of a flexible hose, which produces the pneumatic and mechanical connection with respect to an appliance that uses the gas of the bottle pack. 
     The metal cage structure comprises, in the lower part, a solid internal pallet, on which the bottles of the “bottle pack” rest and provided with a plurality of support feet with respect to the ground. 
     In the lower part of the bottle pack, the pallet and adjacent pairs of support feet of the pallet form between them, and with the ground, respective slots, having a height sufficient to allow passage of the forks of a fork lift truck for movement of the bottle pack. 
     Moreover, the pneumatic connector for connecting the hose for connection with respect to an external appliance is arranged at a higher level than the support pallet of the bottles. 
     Bottle packs of the type specified are periodically moved, for example, from the place in which the gas contained in the respective bottles is used to a plant for filling said bottles with gas, and vice versa. During movement of a bottle pack there is the danger of this pack being moved, by means of a fork lift truck, while the respective hose is still mechanically and pneumatically connected, with respect to an appliance that uses the gas of the bottle pack, or with respect to an appliance that carries out filling with gas of the bottles. This fact, caused by a human error, determines tearing of the hose, resulting in the undesirable violent escape of high pressure gas, often inert/asphyxiating and often combustive, but also flammable and, more rarely, toxic, and possible overturning of the bottle pack with respect to the forks of the fork lift truck moving it. 
     The documents EP 2 639 490 A2 and US 2018/017215 A1 disclose a safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles, which comprises the features of the pre-characterising part of claim  1 . 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure, the so-called “bottle pack”, which allow movement of the bottle pack to be prevented in a simple and safe manner, when the respective hose is still connected with respect to an appliance that uses the gas of the bottle pack or with respect to an appliance that carries out filling with gas of the bottles. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure, the so-called “bottle pack”, which allows the respective hose to be connected with respect to an appliance that uses the gas, or with respect to an appliance that carries out filling with gas of the bottles of the bottle pack in a simple and safe manner only when said pack cannot be moved by means of a fork lift truck. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure, the so-called “bottle pack”, which has a simple and reliable structure and a relatively low cost. 
     In view of these objects, the present invention provides a safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure, the so-called “bottle pack”, the essential features of which form the subject matter of claim  1 . 
     In particular, the present invention provides a safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure, the so-called “bottle pack”, comprising:
         an internal support structure, comprising a plurality of horizontal plates, superimposed vertically, respectively at different levels with respect to the ground, and stably connected to each other;   wherein said support structure supports a plurality of bottles, which contain a pressurised gas and are arranged in juxtaposition to each other on vertical axes, or on horizontal axes,   wherein each bottle in said plurality of bottles comprises respective pneumatic valve means to intercept the flow of gas, provided in the upper part thereof,   wherein a first plate, lower and close to the ground, is configured as a support pallet for said plurality of bottles and is raised above the ground by means of support feet,   wherein at least said first plate forms with at least one pair of said support feet and with the ground at least one slot, having a height sufficient to allow passage of the forks of a fork lift truck for movement of the apparatus;   wherein said pneumatic valve means of each bottle of said plurality of bottles are pneumatically connected by means of a sealed pneumatic circuit connecting the pneumatic valve means of all the bottles, to each other and to a pneumatic connector provided for removable connection of a flexible hose, which creates the pneumatic and mechanical connection with respect to an external appliance that uses the gas, or respectively carries out filling with gas, of said plurality of bottles;   an external cage structure, including a plurality of vertical uprights, arranged around said horizontal plates of said support structure and rigidly connected with respect to said support structure; characterised in that said apparatus comprises:   a vertical interspace, provided between said internal support structure and said external cage structure;   screening means, vertically mobile within said interspace and configured like a blind, that:   in a first lowered working position, closes said at least one slot between said first plate, said at least one pair of support feet and the ground, while it does not screen from the outside said connector of said pneumatic connection circuit and it is possible for an operator to make the removable connection between said hose and said pneumatic connector, and   in a second raised working position, screens from the outside said pneumatic connector of said pneumatic connection circuit and prevents an operator from making the removable connection between said hose and said pneumatic connector, while it does not close said at least one slot and it is possible to move the apparatus using a fork lift truck, the forks of which are inserted through said at least one slot,   and transfer command means, configured to selectively control the vertical movement of said mobile screening means, respectively into said first lowered working position and into said second raised working position.       

     Other advantageous features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims. 
     Further features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description of an example of embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures of the drawing, which shows important details for the invention, and from the claims. The features illustrated herein are not necessarily to scale and are represented so that the particular features according to the invention are clearly highlighted. The different features can be implemented individually or in any combination which one another as variants of the invention. 
    
    
     
       In the accompanying drawing: 
         FIG.  1    is a front elevation view of the safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure, the so-called “bottle pack”, according to a first example of embodiment of the present invention, wherein said safety apparatus is illustrated in an arrangement that allows an operator to connect the bottle pack with respect to an appliance that uses the gas, or respectively an appliance that carries out filling with gas, of the respective bottles, but not to move said bottle pack; 
         FIG.  2    is a top plan view in the direction of the arrow II of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view along the line VII-VII of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view along the line IX-IX of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a view similar to that of  FIG.  9   , but in which said safety apparatus is illustrated in the arrangement that allows an operator, after having removed the connection of the hose with respect to an appliance that uses the gas, or respectively an appliance that carries out filling with gas, of the respective bottles, to move the bottle pack, but not to carry out connection of said hose with respect to any appliance; 
         FIG.  11    is a top plan view of the safety apparatus of  FIG.  10   ; 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic perspective top view of the safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure, according to a second example of embodiment of the present invention, in which said safety apparatus is illustrated in an arrangement that allows an operator to connect the bottle pack with respect to an appliance that uses the gas, or respectively an apparatus that carries out filling with gas, of the respective bottles, but not to move said bottle pack; 
         FIG.  13    is a detail view in an enlarged scale of the detail A of  FIG.  12   ; 
         FIG.  14    is a detail view in an enlarged scale of the detail B of  FIG.  12   ; 
         FIG.  15    is a view similar to that of  FIG.  12   , but wherein an external rigid metal cage structure and a top cover plate are removed for clarity of illustration; 
         FIG.  16    is an elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIG.  17    is a detail view in an enlarged scale of the detail C of  FIG.  15   . 
     
    
    
     FIRST EXAMPLE OF EMBODIMENT (FIGS.  1  to  11 ) 
     With reference to the drawing, a safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles under pressure, the so-called “bottle pack”, according to an example of embodiment of the present invention, is indicated as a whole with  10  ( FIG.  1   ). 
     Said apparatus  10  comprises:
         an internal rigid metal support structure  11 , comprising a plurality of horizontal quadrangular metal plates, from P 1  to P 4 , superimposed vertically, respectively at different levels with respect to the ground, and stably connected to each other by means of a plurality of threaded metal columns  11 . 1 , arranged passing through bores in the respective corner areas of said plates;   wherein said support structure  11  supports a plurality of bottles B, which contain a gas under pressure and are, in this example of embodiment, side by side with one another in a vertical arrangement,   wherein each bottle B in said plurality of bottles comprises respective pneumatic valve means V to intercept the flow of gas, provided in the upper part thereof,   wherein a first plate P 1 , lower and close to the ground, is configured as sturdy support pallet of the base of the bottles B of said plurality of bottles and is raised above the ground by means of fixed support feet P 11  provided in correspondence with its respective corner areas, and   wherein said pneumatic valve means V of each bottle B of said plurality of bottles are pneumatically connected by means of a sealed pneumatic circuit C connecting in series the pneumatic valve means V of all the bottles B, to each other and to a pneumatic connector R provided for removable connection of a flexible hose (known per se and not illustrated), which produces the pneumatic and mechanical connection with respect to an external appliance (not illustrated) that uses the gas, or respectively an appliance that carries out filling with gas, of said plurality of bottles B;   an external rigid metal cage structure  12 , including four metal profiles configured as vertical uprights  12 . 11 , having an L-shaped cross section, each arranged in front of a respective corner area of said horizontal plates, from P 1  to P 4 , of said support structure  11 , and three series of horizontal metal cross members  12 . 12 , welded to the external face of said vertical uprights  12 . 11  (it can be noted that the support feet P 11  of the first plate P 1  are formed by the respective lower ends of said uprights  12 . 11 ),   wherein said series of cross members  12 . 12  are arranged at different levels with respect to the ground;   wherein the cross members  12 . 12  of a lower series, close to the ground, form with said first plate P 1 , with pairs of said adjacent support feet P 11  and with the ground, respective slots, having a height sufficient to allow passage of the forks of a fork lift truck for movement of the apparatus  10 ;   wherein said pneumatic connector R of said pneumatic circuit C is arranged at a higher level than that of said first plate P 1 ;   a vertical interspace I, provided between said internal support structure  11  and said external cage structure  12 ;   screening means  13 , vertically mobile within said interspace I and configured like a blind, that,   in a first lowered working position, close said slots between said lower series of cross members  12 . 12 , said first plate P 1 , said pairs of adjacent support feet P 11  and the ground, while it does not screen from the outside said connector R of said pneumatic connection circuit C and it is possible for an operator to make the removable connection between said hose and said pneumatic connector R, and   in a second raised working position, screens from the outside said pneumatic connector R of said pneumatic connection circuit C and prevents an operator from making the removable connection between said hose and said pneumatic connector R, while it does not close said slots and it is possible to move the apparatus  10  using a fork lift truck (not illustrated), the forks of which are inserted under the bottle pack through one of said slots, and   transfer command means  14 , configured to selectively control the vertical movement of said mobile screening means  13 , respectively into said first lowered working position and into said second raised working position.       

     It can be noted that said sealed pneumatic circuit C and said pneumatic connector R are contained within the footprint of said plates from P 1  to P 4 . In particular, said sealed pneumatic circuit C and said pneumatic connector R are arranged over a third plate P 3  ( FIG.  3   ). 
     It can also be noted that said first plate P 1  is rigidly connected, in correspondence with its four corner areas, with said vertical uprights  12 . 11  by means of respective metal spacer elements D, configured to determine a mutual distance between said first plate P 1  and said uprights  12 . 11  corresponding to the width of said interspace I ( FIG.  5   ). The same distance is also maintained between the other horizontal plates, from P 2  to P 4 , and said vertical uprights  12 . 11  ( FIGS.  2 ,  3 ,  4   ). 
     Moreover, a second plate P 2  ( FIG.  4   ) is provided for retaining the bottles of said plurality of bottles B, is superimposed close to said first plate P 1  and has an orderly arrangement O of through bores, having a diameter slightly larger than the external diameter of each bottle of the plurality of bottles B, which pass through said orderly arrangement O of bores of the second plate P 2  and are retained in an orderly fashion. 
     Moreover, a third plate P 3  and a further plate P 4  ( FIG.  3 ,  2   ) are superimposed at a distance with respect to said second plate P 2  for retaining bottles and are aligned vertically with said plates P 1  and P 2 . Said two plates P 3 , P 4  have the respective corner areas bevelled, so as to provide, in correspondence with each vertical upright  12 . 11 , a free passage I. 1 . 
     In particular, said third plate P 3  is arranged at a level immediately under the pneumatic valve means V, the corresponding pneumatic circuit C and the respective pneumatic connector R of said plurality of bottles B ( FIGS.  1 ,  3   ). Moreover, said further plate P 4  is arranged close to the top of said internal support structure  11 , above the pneumatic valve means V, the corresponding pneumatic circuit C and the respective pneumatic connectors V of said plurality of bottles B, and said pneumatic connector R for the flexible hose ( FIGS.  1 ,  2   ). 
     Said screening means  13  configured like a blind comprise a box element  13 . 1  ( FIG.  3   ), for example made of sheet metal, without base and without cover, having four vertical side walls  13 . 2  and which is housed in said interspace I, between horizontal plates from P 1  to P 4  and vertical uprights  12 . 11 , in a vertically mobile manner. 
     In particular, the side walls  13 . 2  of the box element  13 . 1  are lightened by means of a large opening and each have:
         a first vertical bottom flange  13 . 21  ( FIGS.  1 ,  9 ,  10   ), which in said first lowered working position of said screening means  13 , closes a respective slot between said lower series of cross members  12 . 12 , said first plate P 1 , said pairs of adjacent support feet P 11  and the ground, and   a second vertical top flange  13 . 22  ( FIG.  10   ), which in said second raised working position of the said screening means  13 , screens from the outside said pneumatic connector R of said pneumatic connection circuit C and prevents an operator from making the removable connection between said hose and said pneumatic connector R.       

     Said transfer command means  14  comprise ( FIGS.  2 ,  6  to  8  and  11   ) a rotating body  14 . 1 , with the conformation of a circular disc, mounted above the further plate P 4 , coaxial and rotating freely with respect to a shaft  14 . 11  with a vertical axis, which is fixed at the centre of said further plate P 4  (in the ideal point of intersection between the geometrical diagonals of said further plate P 4 ). Said rotating body  14 . 1  carries, inferiorly, a pinion  14 . 2 , rotating integrally therewith, coaxial with respect to said vertical shaft  14 . 11  and resting on a plate made of low friction material fixed to said further plate P 4 . Rack means  14 . 3  are kinematically engaged with said pinion  14 . 2  and comprise a slider  14 . 31 , resting on said low friction plate and guided by means of a pair of rectilinear guides  14 . 4  fixed to the upper face of said further plate P 4 . Said slider  14 . 31  has the conformation of a fork, wherein a first straight branch  14 . 32  has an internal rack toothing, engaging with said pinion  14 . 2 , and a second straight branch  14 . 33 , parallel to the first branch  14 . 32 , has a flat internal vertical face arranged in sliding contact with said pinion  14 . 2 . One end of said slider  14 . 31  has an integral vertical flange  14 . 33 . A lead screw  14 . 34 , configured as threaded nut, is provided integral with respect to said vertical flange  14 . 33  of said slider  14 . 31  and has a threaded through bore the axis of which intersects the axis of said shaft  14 . 11 . A corresponding screw  14 . 5  with a horizontal axis is kinematically coupled with respect to said threaded bore of said lead screw  14 . 34  with a threaded end part thereof, while the opposite end of said screw  14 . 5  has a smooth surface and is supported in a freely rotating manner by means of a corresponding bearing fixed with respect to a support  14 . 6 , fixed to the upper face of said further plate P 4 , close to a perimeter edge of said plate. A manually operated crank  14 . 7  is connected with respect to said opposite end part of said screw  14 . 5  and is configured to selective take a first working position, in which it is in an arrangement coaxial to the screw  14 . 5  and on the outside of said further plate P 4  and can rotate integrally with the screw  14 . 5  around the axis of the screw, and a second working position, rotated through  90 ° with respect to said first working position, in which it is within the footprint of said further plate P 4  and is prevented from rotating. 
     Moreover, said rotating disc  14 . 1  supports four vertical fixed pins  14 . 8 , extending upward and arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of the shaft  14 . 11  on two vertical planes at right angles to each other passing through said axis. 
     Furthermore, four idle transfer pulleys  14 . 9  are provided on the upper face of said further plate P 4 , each one in correspondence with a respective bevelled corner area of said further plate P 4 . The axes of two pulleys  14 . 9  symmetrically opposite to each other with respect to the axis of said shaft  14 . 11  are at right angles to a respective one of said two vertical planes of symmetry. Four flexible linear elements  14 . 10  are also provided, each configured as a metal rope. Each linear flexible element  14 . 10  is fixed, at one end, to a corresponding pin  14 . 8  of the rotating disc  14 . 1  and, at the other end, to a corresponding socket  14 . 12  ( FIGS.  9 ,  10   ) provided in a respective upper corner area of said box element  13 . 1  of the screening means  13 . By means of said arrangement, said box element  13 . 1  of the screening means  13  is suspended with respect to said four pins  14 . 8  integral with the rotating disc  14 . 1  and is vertically mobile in said interspace I. In particular, said box element  13 . 1  of the screening means  13  carries out a straight vertical upward movement between said first lowered working position ( FIGS.  1 ,  2   ) and said second raised working position ( FIGS.  11 ,  10   ) by means of a rotation of said rotating disc  14 . 1  around the shaft  14 . 11  comprised between 60° and 90°, in counter-clockwise direction in  FIGS.  2  and  11   . Inversely, said box element  13 . 1  of the screening means  13  carries out a straight vertical downward movement between said second raised working position and said first lowered working position by means of a rotation of said rotating disc  14 . 1  around the shaft  14 . 11  comprised between 60° and 90°, in clockwise direction in  FIGS.  2  and  11   . 
     As can be understood from the above, the rotation of said rotating disc  14 . 1  around the shaft  14 . 11  is controlled by an operator who manually rotates the crank  14 . 7 , arranged in said first working position, and with it the screw  14 . 5 , which commands transfer of the slider  14 . 31  and of the rack  14 . 32 , which rotates the pinion  14 . 2  integral with said rotating disc  14 . 1 . 
     With particular reference to  FIG.  6   , it can be noted that the lead screw  14 . 34  is provided with a threaded through bore, radial with respect to the axis of the screw  14 . 5 . A pressure screw  14 . 341  is engaged in said bore and is manually taken to engage said lock screw of the screw  14 . 5 , with a locking function, when said box element  13 . 1  of the screening means  13  is arranged in said second raised working position ( FIGS.  11 ,  10   ). 
     SECOND EXAMPLE OF EMBODIMENT (FIGS.  12  to  17 ) 
     In this second example of embodiment, the safety apparatus for the movement of a plurality of pneumatically interconnected gas bottles B′ under pressure, the so-called “bottle pack”, is indicated as a whole with  20 . 
     Similarly to the safety apparatus  10  described above, which should be referred to for the parts not described in detail below, said safety apparatus  20  comprises:
         an internal support structure  21 , comprising a plurality of horizontal plates, superimposed vertically, respectively at different levels with respect to the ground, and stably connected to each other,   wherein said support structure  21  supports said plurality of bottles B′, which contain a gas under pressure and are arranged in juxtaposition to each other on vertical axes,   wherein each bottle B′ in said plurality of bottles comprises respective pneumatic valve means to intercept the flow of gas,   wherein a first plate P 21 , lower and close to the ground, is configured as a support pallet for said plurality of bottles B′ and is raised above the ground by means of the support feet P 211 ,   wherein said pneumatic valve means of each bottle B′ of said plurality of bottles are pneumatically connected by means of a sealed pneumatic circuit connecting the pneumatic valve means of all the bottles B′, to each other and to a pneumatic connector (not illustrated) provided for removable connection of a flexible hose (not illustrated), which creates the pneumatic and mechanical connection with respect to an external appliance that uses the gas, or respectively carries out filling with gas of the bottles of said plurality of bottles B′;   an external cage structure  22 , including a plurality of vertical uprights  22 . 11 , arranged around said horizontal plates of said support structure  21  and rigidly connected with respect to said internal support structure  21 ;   wherein said pneumatic connector of said pneumatic circuit is arranged at a higher level than that of said first plate P 21 , in particular under a top cover plate PC, fixed in the upper end area of said external cage structure  22  with respect to said uprights  22 . 11 ;   wherein at least said first plate P 21  forms with at least one pair of said support feet P 211  and with the ground at least one slot, having a height sufficient to allow passage of the forks of a fork lift truck for movement of the apparatus  20 .       

     According to the invention, said apparatus  20  comprises:
         a vertical interspace I′ ( FIGS.  12 ,  13   ), provided between said internal support structure  21  and said external cage structure  22 ;   screening means  23 , vertically mobile within said interspace I′ and configured like a blind, that:   in a first lowered working position, closes said at least one slot between said first plate P 21 , said at least one pair of support feet P 211  and the ground, while it does not screen from the outside said connector of said pneumatic connection circuit and it is possible for an operator to make the removable connection between said pneumatic connector and said hose, and   in a second raised working position, screens from the outside said pneumatic connector of said pneumatic connection circuit and prevents an operator from making the removable connection between said pneumatic connector and said hose, while it does not close said at least one slot and it is possible to move the apparatus using a fork lift truck, the forks of which are inserted through said at least one slot,   and transfer command means  24 , configured to selectively control the vertical movement of said mobile screening means  23 , respectively into said first lowered working position and into said second raised working position.       

     In a similar manner to the first embodiment described above, said screening means  23  configured like a blind comprise a box element, for example made of sheet metal, without base and without cover, having four vertical side walls  23 . 1  and which is housed in said interspace I′, in a vertically mobile manner between said horizontal plates and said vertical uprights  22 . 11 . 
     In particular, the side walls  23 . 1  of the box element  23  are lightened by means of a respective large opening and two opposite walls  23 . 1  each have:
         a first vertical bottom flange,  23 . 21  that, in said first lowered working position of the said screening means  23 , closes a respective slot between said first plate P 21 , said pairs of adjacent support feet P 211  and the ground, and   a second vertical top flange  23 . 22  that, in said second raised working position of said screening means  23 , screens from the outside said pneumatic connector of said pneumatic connection circuit and prevents an operator from making the removable connection between said hose and said pneumatic connector.       

     In particular, four threaded nuts  23 . 23  are fixed, respectively in pairs, with respect to said second integral top flanges  23 . 22  of two opposite walls  23 . 1 , close to said uprights  22 . 11 . Said four threaded nuts  23 . 23  are configured as lead screws and are engaged, by means of helical coupling, with four respective threaded rods  23 . 24  having a vertical axis, stably supported, capable of rotating around the respective axis, between said first plate P 21  and said top cover plate PC. In particular, said threaded rods  23 . 24  can be stably supported, capable of rotating around the respective axis, with respect to said internal support structure  21  and/or with respect said external cage structure  22 . 
     Each vertical threaded rod  23 . 24  supports, in the top part and under the cover plate PC, a respective driven toothed wheel  23 . 25 , fixed coaxially. The four driven toothed wheels  23 . 25  have the same toothing and lie in a same horizontal plane under said cover plate PC. A toothed belt  23 . 26  is configured to run between said driven toothed wheels  23 . 25 , when driven by means of a driving toothed wheel  23 . 251 , which is engaged with respect to said toothed belt  23 . 26  and is supported with respect to said internal support structure  21  and/or with respect to said external cage structure  22 , in a freely rotating manner around a vertical axis. In particular, said driving toothed wheel  23 . 251  is supported with respect to said cover plate PC, in a freely rotating manner around a vertical axis. 
     Said driving toothed wheel  23 . 251  is integral with respect to rotation means, which comprise a coaxial head (for example a hexagonal nut), configured for detachable connection with respect to a rigid drive arm AR, arranged in a plane orthogonal to the axis of said driving toothed wheel  23 . 251  and that, by means of manual rotation around the axis of said driving toothed wheel  23 . 251 , integral with said same toothed wheel  23 . 251 , allows said first lowered working position or said second raised working position of said screening means  23  to be achieved, respectively. It can be noted that in  FIG.  15   , for explanatory reasons, said arm AR is illustrated in two distinct positions rotated around the axis of said same toothed wheel  23 . 251 . 
     It can be noted that the amplitude of the rotation angle of said arm AR is chosen so that, rotating said arm by this angular amplitude, said belt  23 . 26  is made to run correspondingly between said driven toothed wheels  23 . 25 , determining a corresponding vertical movement of the threaded nuts  23 . 23  along the respective threaded rods  23 . 24 , such as to take one of the flanges  23 . 21  or  23 . 22  of two opposite vertical walls  23 . 1  of the cage  23  into the respective working position, according to the direction of rotation. 
     Variants of Embodiment 
     It can be noted that, in a variant, in the case in which the apparatus according to the invention has a single slot for its movement, the screening means can be in the form of a simple plate configured like a blind, provided mobile with respect to said single slot for insertion of the forks of a fork lift truck. 
     Moreover, the transfer command means can be configured differently with respect to what has been described and illustrated, and may also be provided with electric gearmotor means, in order to perform the function explained above. 
     Although the description above refers to an example of embodiment in which the bottles of the bottle pack have respective vertical axes, the present invention can also be implemented, as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art, in the case of a bottle pack in which the bottles are arranged with respective horizontal axes. 
     In fact, as can be seen from the above, it is sufficient for the pneumatic connector of the pneumatic connection circuit of the bottles to be arranged at a higher level than that of the pallet on which the bottles of the bottle pack rest. 
     As can be seen from the above, with the present invention it is possible to achieve, in a simple, safe and effective manner, the objects set out in the introduction to the present description.