Patent Description:
The lines for producing and/or filling and/or packaging containers comprise a series of belt conveyors that allow articles to pass from one work station to the other, i.e. from one machine to the next one where such machines (e.g. blower, filler, labeller, etc.) are arranged according to a sequence set by the production/filling/packaging process. During operation, said machines require stop times for reintegrating consumables, or for short maintenance operations; in order to prevent these stops from creating continued stops of the line, thus affecting the productivity thereof, it often becomes necessary to create article collection areas between one work station and the next that are capable of containing the articles processed by the machines upstream during the stop of machines downstream. Said collected articles are put back onto the line when the aforesaid machines downstream are restarted. Said collection systems generally are "FIFO" systems, i.e. First In First Out systems.

Various types of collectors are known comprising planar belt conveyors, among which a feeder conveyor, a collecting table and an output conveyor. The collecting table is of the multiple storage type, i.e. with several parallel conveyors. A first transfer device brings the products or articles from the feeder conveyor to the collecting table, and in particular in turn to one of the several parallel conveyors.

A second transfer device brings the products or articles from the collecting table, in particular in turn, from one of the several parallel conveyors, to the output conveyor.

Generally, the feeder conveyor and the output conveyor are positioned far from the collecting table.

Indeed, said distance is required to house means for handling the transfer device that are placed between the conveyors and the collecting table and below the work surface thereof. A stationary joining surface that acts as protection and connection between the feeder conveyor and the collecting table or between the collecting table and the output conveyor is placed above said transfer device handling means. The width of said stationary joining surface is to be sufficiently large to close the distance between conveyors and collecting table and allow the bottom of the articles to be supported during passing.

The problems that may result from said very wide stationary joining surface are mainly associated with the fact that the bottom of the article drags on said surface, generating:.

Since the width of the joining surface is much greater than the base of an individual article, the passing articles are to be pushed towards the collecting table or the output conveyor and cannot be simply guided. This does not allow making a transfer device of simple and affordable type in which the guide means are stationary, rather requires the presence of movable guides such as powered belts.

For example, the transfer devices are shaped so as to provide two opposite guide members, an outer one and an inner one, which guide surfaces come into contact with the articles. Said guide surfaces generally are belts that translate in the transfer direction of the product.

An example of solution for the aforesaid problems is described in document <CIT>, which discloses a collector according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, wherein the transfer device comprises guide surfaces shaped with special profiles of the flexible fin type adapted to lift the articles from the stationary joining surface to prevent them from being damaged by dragging on it.

Moreover, said fins also serve to prevent the article, being pushed on a larger stationary joining surface than the bottom itself of the article, from reducing the passing speed thereof due to the dragging friction on said surface, or from being destabilized after the release.

Therefore, the significant distance between feeder or output conveyor and collecting table required to house transfer device handling means imposes the use of a complex and costly transfer device that prevents or at least minimizes the dragging of the product on the surface of the joining surface in the gripping position.

Furthermore, said significant distance between feeder or output conveyor and collecting table results in the guide surfaces, or at least the one of the outer member, to be shaped so as to provide substantially rectilinear input and/or output profiles that are mutually joined by means of a curvilinear profile.

This becomes necessary to maintain contained overall dimensions of the transfer device.

Indeed, if the guide surfaces did not have rectilinear length, the curved profiles would be much larger due to the significant distance between conveyors and collecting table.

The forwarding speed of the belt of the inner guide element and the outer one are to be such as to ensure that the article in contact with both is forwarded without rotating about the axis of symmetry thereof. Indeed, the consequence of the rotation especially of non-circular, e.g. rectangular articles, such as cartons would be a messy collection of said articles on the conveyors of the collecting table.

The speeds of the inner guide element and the outer one should be equal in the rectilinear profile length, while they should be proportional to the radius of curvature in the curvilinear profile length so that the article that is passing in the transfer device is forwarded without rotating.

Therefore, given that several articles pass in the transfer device simultaneously that are simultaneously in contact both with the rectilinear and curvilinear profiles, it is apparent that the speed of the belts cannot vary between curvilinear profile length and rectilinear profile length. Therefore, there is a need to find a compromise between the two speeds. This results in the articles arriving on the collecting table or on the output conveyor partially rotated, reducing the collecting capacity of the belt and creating output alignment problems.

The technical problem at the basis of the present invention is the one of making available in the technique, a structurally and functionally improved collector conceived to overcome one or more of the above-disclosed limitations with reference to the mentioned known technique.

Within the scope of the aforesaid problem, it is a main object of the invention to develop a collector that allows ensuring the integrity and correct arrangement of the articles, in particular the articles that are not circular in shape.

It is also an object of the present invention to allow an easily accessible control and maintenance solution for the operator.

It is a further object of the invention to make available in the technique, a collector within the scope of a simple, rational and highly affordable solution.

These and other objects are reached by the collector of independent claim <NUM>. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.

According to the invention, a collector comprises a diverter apparatus <NUM> in which a transfer device <NUM> is adapted to divert a flow of articles from a belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> to a collecting table <NUM> to create a plurality of parallel rows <NUM>, or vice versa, said belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> being arranged orthogonal to the collecting table <NUM> so that said articles <NUM>, passing from the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> to the collecting table <NUM> and/or vice versa, are diverted by <NUM>°, wherein
said belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table <NUM> are arranged adjacent to one another.

Thanks to this solution, the bottom of the article remains more stable, is not damaged in the passage from belt conveyor to collecting table.

According to the invention, the belt conveyor comprises a forwarding chain which preferably extends along the entire width of the collecting table, which in turn provides storage conveyors comprising at least one collecting chain, preferably a plurality of parallel collecting chains; said forwarding chain and collecting chain are arranged orthogonal and adjacent to one another.

According to an embodiment of the invention, forwarding chain and collecting chain are arranged so that a distance between the forwarding chain and the first plane point of a winding portion of the collecting chain is minimal, and as a function of the winding radius of said collecting chain and/or the configuration of said collecting chain.

Therefore, the space in which the bottom of the article is not supported by moving chains is so small that it prevent slowdowns or erroneous arrangements of the article during the forwarding thereof.

In particular, to improve the aforesaid aspect, a possible embodiment provides for the distance to be smaller than the resting surface of the bottom of the article, preferably the smallest.

In this solution, it is possible to provide for a passage member, preferably of a stationary type, between the forwarding chain and the collecting chain, the passage member being configured to close said distance and support a portion of the resting surface of the bottom of the passing article by means of the transfer device.

In this way, the article remains stable because the bottom thereof is always resting also thanks to the fact that a preferred embodiment provides for the passage member to comprise at least one substantially planar surface adapted to create a support for the bottom of the article.

Furthermore, to allow the article to pass from the belt conveyor to the collecting table in an increasingly reliable manner, the invention provides for the transfer device to comprise guide means configured to engage with the articles by means of a transfer surface that comprises a circumferential portion.

The transfer surface preferably consists of a circumferential portion to further avoid the rotation of the articles, especially those with non-cylindrical shape.

In this way, the speed of the guide means of the transfer device may be regulated in an optimal manner.

To increasingly ensure this aspect, said guide means comprise outer guide means and preferably inner guide means in which the respective transfer surfaces contact each article in two points that are substantially diametrically opposite or on opposite faces of said article, and preferably said transfer surfaces are arranged concentrically with respect to one another.

Thanks to this solution, the circumferential portion of the transfer surface of the outer guide means comprises an input end that is tangent to an outer edge respectively of the forwarding chain and an outlet end that is tangent in turn to a forwarded edge of the collecting chain onto which it transfers the articles; therefore said transfer surface does not have rectilinear length in input or in output.

Preferably, the invention provides different configurations of the guide means.

For example, an embodiment provides for the transfer surface of the outer guide means and/or the transfer surface of the inner guide means to comprise a stationary guide.

Thanks to this solution, a transfer device is obtained that benefits the affordability of making the apparatus.

An alternative embodiment provides for the transfer surface of the outer guide means and/or the transfer surface of the inner guide means to comprise a movable guide that translates according to the forwarding direction of the article.

Thanks to this solution, a transfer device is obtained that benefits the transfer reliability of the articles.

Said objects and advantages are all achieved by the collector the object of the present invention, which is characterized by the provisions of the claims below.

These and other features will be more apparent from the following description of certain embodiments illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings.

With regards to the constructional characteristics of the collector, indicated as a whole by <NUM>, it comprises a diverter apparatus <NUM> configured to divert a flow of articles <NUM> from a belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> to a collecting table <NUM> of said articles <NUM>.

In particular, said articles <NUM> or containers such as, for example bottles, cans, jars, glasses, cartons, and generally containers, pass on conveyors belonging to lines adapted to produce and/or fill and/or package said articles <NUM>.

During operation, the machines of said production and/or filling and/or packaging lines require stop times for reintegrating consumables, or for short maintenance operations; in order to prevent these stops from creating continued stops of the line, thus affecting the productivity thereof, it often becomes necessary to create collection areas of the articles <NUM> between one work station and the next that are capable of containing the articles <NUM> processed by the machines upstream during the stop of machines downstream. Said collected articles <NUM> are put back onto the line when the aforesaid machines downstream are started again.

In particular, the diverter apparatus <NUM> diverts the flow of articles <NUM> onto said collecting table <NUM> when the machines upstream of the collecting table <NUM> are stopped.

Preferably, said collecting table <NUM> is configured to arrange and transfer the articles <NUM> according to a plurality of parallel rows <NUM>.

One or more embodiments of a collecting table <NUM> are described in detail by non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in <FIG>, the collecting table <NUM> may comprise several storage conveyors <NUM> arranged parallel to one another.

<FIG> shows a certain number of storage conveyors <NUM>, although any other quantity is conceivable, this depending on the buffer capacity required by the line.

Said storage conveyors <NUM> preferably are forwarded independently of one another so that each of them may receive and eject a single row <NUM> of articles <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, said belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> is arranged orthogonal to the collecting table <NUM>, and therefore to each storage conveyor <NUM>.

The term belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> means both the belt conveyor <NUM> in input for feeding the articles <NUM> to the collecting table <NUM> and the belt conveyor <NUM> in output for ejecting the articles <NUM> from the collecting table <NUM>.

Said articles <NUM>, passing from the belt conveyor <NUM> in input to the collecting table <NUM> or from the collecting table <NUM> to the belt conveyor <NUM> in output, are diverted by <NUM>°. Indeed, the diverter apparatus <NUM> comprises a transfer device <NUM> that is movable along the belt conveyor <NUM> or <NUM> so that it may transfer such articles <NUM> between the belt conveyor <NUM> or <NUM> and any one of the plurality of rows <NUM> provided on the collecting table <NUM>.

An embodiment depicted in <FIG> and <FIG> relates to an above-mentioned belt conveyor <NUM> in input provided with a separating device <NUM> upstream of the transfer device <NUM>; said separating device <NUM> serves to increase the distance between the consecutive articles <NUM> on the belt conveyor <NUM> in input so that the increased distance allows the transfer device <NUM> to move the release position of the articles <NUM> from a first storage conveyor <NUM> to a second storage conveyor <NUM> of the collecting table <NUM>.

The transfer device <NUM> could require frequent moving between the adjacent conveyors <NUM>, especially on the collecting tables <NUM> with several parallel storage conveyors <NUM>, especially when a sudden buffering or collection of articles <NUM> is required.

By adjusting the upstream feeding distance of the articles <NUM> by means of the separating device <NUM>, the transfer device <NUM> is granted sufficient time to pass to another storage conveyor <NUM>.

The separating device <NUM> may, for example comprise belts <NUM> arranged at the opposite sides of the input conveyor <NUM>, in which the belts <NUM> move in a direction that is similar to the forwarding direction of the feeder conveyor <NUM> but at a slower speed, thus engaging against the passing articles <NUM> and slowing down the speed thereof so as to increase the spacing of said articles <NUM>.

According to the invention, the belt conveyor <NUM> and/or <NUM> comprises a forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> of the type known to a person skilled in the art; preferably said forwarding chain <NUM> and/or <NUM> extends along the entire width of the collecting table <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

A possible embodiment shown in <FIG> provides for the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> to comprise a forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> that extends along the entire width of the collecting table <NUM>, but in variable manner, i.e. configured so as to be capable of altering the length of that path of flow of articles <NUM> independently of any movement of the transfer device <NUM>.

This allows the transfer device <NUM> to pick the articles <NUM> from the moving conveyor <NUM>, thus altering, controlling or absorbing the flow of articles <NUM>. Therefore, the variation of the length of the feeding conveyor <NUM> adjacent to the collecting table <NUM> during the loading of articles <NUM> occurs in incremental manner in the direction of the flow of articles <NUM>; this prevents the compression of the articles <NUM> that would occur when the transfer device <NUM> returns, for example directly from the last conveyor <NUM> to the first one.

In other words, to prevent a significant compression of the articles <NUM>, the transfer device <NUM> travelling against the flow of the articles <NUM> is helped by the incremental variation of the length of the belt conveyor <NUM> when it returns directly from the last conveyor <NUM> to the first one.

This cancels the compression problems of the articles <NUM>, which is particularly problematic because it may cause damage to the article <NUM> itself. The same applies to the output belt conveyor <NUM>, but in inverse direction.

<FIG> shows a plan view of a collector <NUM> with collecting table <NUM>, input belt conveyor <NUM> and output belt conveyor <NUM> on which a diverter apparatus <NUM> both in input and in output is installed.

When the diverter apparatus <NUM> is discussed below, reference is indistinctly made both to the one of the input belt conveyor <NUM> and of the output belt conveyor <NUM>, they being structurally identical, also if mirror-like or simply rotated by <NUM>°.

Said diverter apparatus <NUM> is configured to divert the articles <NUM> by <NUM>°, passing from the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> to the collecting table <NUM> and vice versa, by means of a transfer device <NUM> that is movable along the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM>.

The transfer device <NUM> preferably is configured to transfer such articles <NUM> between the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and any one of the plurality of rows <NUM> provided on the collecting table <NUM>.

According to the invention, said belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table <NUM> are arranged adjacent to one another.

Therefore, the collector <NUM> comprises a diverter apparatus <NUM> in which a transfer device <NUM> is adapted to divert a flow of articles <NUM> from a belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> to a collecting table <NUM> to create a plurality of parallel rows <NUM>, or vice versa, said belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> being arranged orthogonal to the collecting table <NUM> so that said articles <NUM>, passing from the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> to the collecting table <NUM> and/or vice versa, are diverted by <NUM>°, wherein said belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table <NUM> are arranged adjacent to one another.

This means that they are not separate from other devices and there are no mutual overall dimensions forcing them to be kept spaced apart. Therefore, they are placed in close position to one another.

Indeed, as described in the known art, solutions exist in which there are means between the belt conveyor and the collecting table that are adapted to handle the transfer device <NUM>.

The collecting table <NUM> comprises storage conveyors <NUM> comprising at least one collecting chain <NUM> and preferably a plurality of parallel collecting chains <NUM>.

The forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the collecting chains <NUM> are arranged orthogonal and adjacent to one another.

As is known to a person skilled in the art, the term adjacent means that the chains are arranged as close as possible to one another, compatibly with the support structure and with the overall dimensions of the chain itself.

Being arranged adjacent serves to facilitate the passage of the article <NUM> passing between belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table <NUM> while ensuring that the bottom of the article <NUM> is possibly always resting on the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the collecting chains <NUM>.

A preferred embodiment provides for said forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting chain <NUM> to be arranged so that a distance D defined between the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the first resting plane point <NUM> of a winding portion <NUM> of the collecting chain <NUM> is minimal; said distance D is a function of the winding radius of said collecting chain <NUM>.

Indeed, as is known to a person skilled in the art, in general the chain of a belt conveyor of articles <NUM> winds, for the handling thereof, for example about a pinion <NUM> with which it meshes, as shown in <FIG>. As is known to a person skilled in the art, said pinion <NUM> may be, for example a driven pinion that drags the collecting chain <NUM> or an idler bevel pinion for said collecting chain <NUM>.

The term winding portion <NUM> of the collecting chain <NUM> means the part of the chain that meshes with the pinion <NUM> and that surrounds it. Said winding portion <NUM> ends with the first plane point <NUM> in which the chain leaves the pinion <NUM> to continue plane, generally on sliding guides.

By way of better explanation, it may be said that the first plane point <NUM> generally coincides with the vertical axis passing through the centre of the pinion <NUM>.

The winding portion <NUM> has a radius that is variable as a function of the dimension of the pinion <NUM>, which generally is selected as a function of the speed that the collecting table <NUM> is to have. Therefore, the distance D between the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the first plane point <NUM> of the winding portion <NUM> of the collecting chain <NUM> may be minimized, bringing said winding portion <NUM>, and therefore the pinion <NUM>, next to the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM>; the maximum approach possible mainly depends on the winding radius of said collecting chain <NUM> on the pinion <NUM>, and preferably also on the type of chain used, and specifically on the configuration of the links thereof.

According to a further alternative solution, as is known to a person skilled in the art, the chain of a belt conveyor of articles <NUM> may be wound about a roller <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In this case, said roller <NUM> acts as return for said collecting chain <NUM>.

In this case, the term winding portion <NUM> of the collecting chain <NUM> means the part of the chain that winds about the roller <NUM>. Said winding portion <NUM> ends with the first plane point <NUM> in which the chain leaves the roller <NUM> to continue plane, generally on sliding guides.

By way of better explanation, it may be said that the first plane point <NUM> generally coincides with the vertical axis passing through the centre of the roller <NUM>.

The winding portion <NUM> has a variable radius as a function of the dimension of the roller <NUM> that generally is selected as a function of the minimum winding radius of said collecting chain <NUM>, which depends on the type of chain <NUM> used and specifically, on the configuration of the links thereof. Therefore, the roller <NUM> may have a much smaller radius with respect to the pinion <NUM>.

Thanks to this aspect, said solution allows the distance D to be further reduced with respect to the solution with pinion <NUM>.

Here also, the distance D between the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the first plane point <NUM> of the winding portion <NUM> of the collecting chain <NUM> is further minimized, bringing said winding portion <NUM>, and therefore the roller <NUM>, next to the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM>; the maximum approach possible mainly depends on the winding radius of said collecting chain <NUM> on the roller <NUM>.

Therefore, compatibly with the aforesaid aspects, the invention provides obtaining the positioning between the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the winding portion <NUM> of the collecting chain <NUM> so that they are at a minimum distance D, i.e. without the presence of mutual overall dimensions that are not functional to the simple handling of the respective chains.

According to a preferred embodiment, said distance D between the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the first plane point <NUM> of the winding portion <NUM> is less than the resting surface of the bottom of the article <NUM>, preferably of the smallest.

Thanks to this characteristic, the article is transferred between belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table <NUM> in an increasingly stable and controlled manner because a part of the resting surface of the bottom is always in contact with one of the two chains, either the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> or the collecting chain <NUM>.

In a possible embodiment, the diverter apparatus <NUM> further comprises a passage member <NUM>, preferably of a stationary type, configured to close said distance D and support a portion of the resting surface of the bottom of the passing article <NUM>, by means of the transfer device <NUM>, between the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the collecting chain <NUM>.

The passage member <NUM> comprises at least one substantially planar surface <NUM> adapted to create a support for the bottom of the article <NUM>.

In this way, the bottom of the article <NUM> always remains resting either on the surface <NUM> and/or on the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and/or on the collecting chain <NUM>. Thanks to this, the forwarding of the article <NUM> is stabilized and it is prevented from losing its balance.

Moreover, since the passage member <NUM> has a reduced measurement because it closes the distance D, which is minimal and preferably less than the dimension of the resting surface of the bottom of the article <NUM>, as described above, the following problems typical of the prior art are solved: damage to the bottom of the articles;.

This solution is made possible given that the transfer device <NUM>, which is described below, is handled along the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> by means of translation means <NUM> placed above the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the collecting chain <NUM>, contrarily to what occurs in the prior art described above.

Therefore, overall dimensions for handling said transfer device <NUM> that hinder the adjacent positioning between the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the collecting chain <NUM>, are not provided.

Indeed, <FIG> and <FIG> show an example of the translation means <NUM> of the transfer device <NUM>. Said translation means <NUM> comprise at least one motor or gear motor <NUM> that transmits the motion to a system of pulleys and respective belt; the transfer device <NUM> is kept in guide during the translation thereof preferably by linear guides <NUM>. The guides <NUM>, just like the translation means <NUM>, are integral with at least one cross-beam <NUM> configured to support them and placed above the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and that extends above and preferably along the length of the portion of belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> on which the transfer device <NUM> is to translate.

Thanks to this solution, the translation means <NUM> of the transfer device <NUM> are easily accessible for maintenance, cleaning or format change.

A preferred embodiment provides for said cross-beam <NUM> to be installable on a frame <NUM> placed straddling the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and which preferably is configured to also support the portion of belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> on which the transfer device <NUM> is operational.

It in any case is intended for that described above to be given by way of non-limiting example; indeed a person skilled in the art may identify several existing alternative solutions for handling, keeping in guide and supporting the transfer device <NUM> in position above the belt conveyors <NUM>, <NUM>.

Therefore, detail variants that may be required for technical and/or functional reasons are possible within the scope of protection of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the transfer device <NUM> comprises guide means <NUM>, <NUM> configured to engage with the articles <NUM> by means of a transfer surface <NUM>, <NUM> that comprises a circumferential portion 311a, 321a.

A preferred embodiment provides for said transfer surface <NUM>, <NUM> to consist of a circumferential portion 311a, 321a.

This characteristic is made possible thanks to the distance being minimal between belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table <NUM>, i.e. between forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting chain <NUM>.

Indeed, this allows making the transfer surface <NUM>, <NUM> as a circumferential portion 311a, 321a while maintaining the contained overall dimensions of the transfer device <NUM>.

Moreover, there is no need for the transfer surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> to provide substantially rectilinear input and/or output profiles joined to each other by a curvilinear profile for the transfer at <NUM> degrees.

This allows a reliable transfer of the article <NUM> while minimizing the dragging against long transfer surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>.

Indeed, in the known case in which the distance between forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting chain <NUM> is increased, the guide surfaces are to provide rectilinear length in order not to obtain curvilinear profiles that would be very large due to said significant distance.

According to a preferred aspect, the guide means <NUM>, <NUM> comprise outer guide means <NUM> and preferably inner guide means <NUM> in which the respective transfer surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> contact on each article <NUM> in two points that are substantially diametrically opposite or on opposite faces of said article <NUM>.

Preferably, said transfer surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged concentrically to one another.

Thanks to this solution, each article <NUM> is guided on two sides during the passing between belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table <NUM>, thus ensuring the correct positioning thereof on the collecting chain <NUM>.

To optimize the aforesaid positioning of the article <NUM>, a possible embodiment provides for the circumferential portion 311a of the transfer surface <NUM> of the outer guide means <NUM> to comprise an input end 311b that is tangent to an outer edge <NUM>, <NUM> respectively of the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and an outlet end 311c that is tangent in turn to a forwarded edge <NUM> of the collecting chain <NUM> onto which it transfers the articles <NUM>.

In this way, said transfer surface <NUM> does not require, and therefore may not have, rectilinear length in input or in output.

The article <NUM> therefore is not centred on the forwarding chains <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting chains <NUM>, rather is guided flush with the forwarding chains <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting chains <NUM>.

This solution allows keeping the position of the outer guide means <NUM> stationary, independently of the format, i.e. independently of the dimension of the article <NUM>.

Instead, only the position of the inner guide means <NUM> is adjusted to adapt to the diameter or the width of said articles <NUM>.

In this way, the format change, which involves only the inner guide means <NUM>, is simplified.

In particular, the radius of the circumferential portion 321a of the transfer surface <NUM> of the inner guide means <NUM> is a function of the dimension of the article <NUM>.

In particular, the radius is equal to the radius of the transfer surface <NUM> of the outer guide means <NUM>, from which the diameter or the width of the container <NUM> is subtracted.

Said measurement is clearly a measurement which tolerance is known to a person skilled in the art. The suitable measurement for correctly transferring an article <NUM> may indeed vary as a function of the compression to which the article <NUM> is to be subjected, which is different for the different types of articles <NUM> and which is assessed each time based on the experience of a person skilled in the art.

In this way, the container is in contact with the transfer surface <NUM>, <NUM> in two diametrically opposite points if the article <NUM> is cylindrical in shape, or in at least two points of two opposite faces if the article <NUM> is different in shape, for example parallelepiped.

Thus, the container is always perfectly guided.

As the dimension or the type of the container varies, it may be necessary to replace the inner guide means <NUM> with inner guide means <NUM> having different transfer surface <NUM>, i.e. with a circumferential portion 321a having different radius. The replacement of said inner guide means <NUM> is facilitated by means of sliding and connecting systems that allow a quick and safe replacement.

In particular, a preferred embodiment of the inner guide means <NUM> suitable for the format change is shown in <FIG> and is described in detail below.

With regards to the configuration of the outer guide means <NUM> and of the inner guide means <NUM>, different preferred embodiments are defined, in particular:.

Therefore, a simpler and more affordable solution is provided in which the transfer surface <NUM> and/or <NUM> is made by means of a stationary guide <NUM>, <NUM>. The term stationary guide <NUM>, <NUM> means that the transfer surface <NUM> and/or <NUM>, being comprised in the transfer device <NUM>, translates along the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM>, but does not accompany the articles <NUM> during the transfer at <NUM>° thereof, i.e. the articles <NUM> drag against the stationary guide <NUM>, <NUM> during the transfer between belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table <NUM>.

Alternatively, a more complex but also more reliable solution is provided in which the transfer surface <NUM> and <NUM> is made by means of a movable guide <NUM>, <NUM> which translates according to the forwarding direction of the article <NUM>. In this case, the term movable <NUM>, <NUM> means that the transfer surface <NUM> and/or <NUM>, being comprised in the transfer device <NUM>, translates along the belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and additionally accompanies the articles <NUM> during the transfer at <NUM>° thereof, i.e. the articles <NUM> do not drag against the stationary guide <NUM>, <NUM> during the transfer between belt conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table <NUM> because said movable guide <NUM>, <NUM> moves integral with said articles <NUM>, thus accompanying them during said transfer.

The preferred embodiment among these possible embodiments is, for example the one in which the transfer surface <NUM> is made by means of an outer movable guide <NUM> and the transfer surface <NUM> is made by means of a stationary guide <NUM>.

The solution that provides increased operating reliability, that is that involves fewer risks of damaging the articles <NUM> and that arranges them in repetitive and correct manner on the collecting table <NUM>, is the one that provides having both the transfer surface <NUM> and <NUM> obtained by means of a movable guide <NUM>, <NUM>.

In this case, a preferred embodiment provides for the movable guide <NUM>, <NUM> of the outer guide means <NUM> and/or of the inner guide means <NUM>, respectively, to comprise a flexible member <NUM>, <NUM> having preferably a contact surface <NUM>, <NUM> of deformable type.

In an embodiment shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the flexible member <NUM>, <NUM> is a chain <NUM>, <NUM>, preferably with rubberized contact surface <NUM>, <NUM>; alternatively, a solution with, for example preferably rubberized belt, or several overlapping belts or elastic cables or smooth and rubberized conveyors, nets, tyres covered with elastic mousse, or what is known to a person skilled in the art, falls within the scope of protection of the invention. The flexible member <NUM>, <NUM> most suitable mainly depends on the type of articles <NUM> to be transferred.

In the example shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the flexible member <NUM>, <NUM> forms a closed perimeter that surrounds toothed pinions <NUM>, <NUM>, at least one of which is driven and the others are idler.

In particular, the preferably rubberized chain <NUM> of the outer guide means <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG> provides <NUM> pinions <NUM>, one of which is driven; said pinions <NUM> preferably are arranged so that the entire, preferably rubberized, chain <NUM> comprises an operating portion 317a coinciding with the transfer surface <NUM> that comprises, preferably consists of, a circumferential portion 311a adapted to engage with the articles <NUM>.

In particular, two pinions <NUM> are placed at the two ends 311b and 311c of said circumferential portion 311a.

Furthermore, preferably the preferably rubberized chain <NUM> comprises two substantially rectilinear and mutually perpendicular return portions 317b, 317c, in particular said portions 317a, 317b, 317c being adapted to form a closed path.

Furthermore, the preferably rubberized chain <NUM> of the inner guide means <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG> provides <NUM> pinions <NUM>, one of which driven; said pinions <NUM> preferably are arranged so that the entire preferably rubberized chain <NUM> comprises an operating portion 327a coinciding with the transfer surface <NUM> that comprises, preferably consists of, a circumferential portion 321a adapted to engage with the articles <NUM>. In particular, two pinions <NUM> are placed at the two ends of said circumferential portion 321a.

Furthermore, preferably the preferably rubberized chain <NUM> comprises two return portions 327b, 327c, one of which rectilinear and one with suitable tensioning system, in particular said portions 327a, 327b, 327c being adapted to form a closed path.

It should be noted that this is only a non-limiting embodiment, but also alternative systems in which the paths 317a, 317b, 317c and 327a, 327b, 317c are shaped differently fall within the scope of protection of the invention. A further embodiment of the invention provides for the flexible member <NUM> of the outer guide means <NUM> and/or the flexible member <NUM> of the inner guide means <NUM> to be handled by means of actuating means <NUM> arranged above the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the collecting chain <NUM>. Furthermore, preferably said actuating means <NUM> are arranged above the flexible member <NUM> of the outer guide means <NUM> and/or the flexible member <NUM> of the inner guide means <NUM>.

Thanks to this solution, all the overall dimensions of the transfer device <NUM> are easily accessible for maintenance or the format change and do not create overall dimensions between belt conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> and collecting table that hinder the adjacent positioning between the forwarding chain <NUM>, <NUM> and the collecting chain <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the format change provides for the inner guide means <NUM> to be replaced as the dimension of the container <NUM> varies.

In particular, during the format change, which involves replacing said inner guide means <NUM>, the actuating means <NUM> remain in the position thereof without therefore requiring to be electrically disconnected, something that would make the format change complex and lengthy.

An embodiment is shown in <FIG>, in which the actuating means <NUM> comprise a motor or gear motor 350a directly associated with one of the pinions <NUM> to handle the flexible member <NUM> of the outer guide means <NUM>, and a motor or gear motor 350b directly associated with one of the pinions <NUM> to handle the flexible member <NUM> of the inner guide means <NUM>. The term directly associated means that there are no intermediate drive systems such as gears or pulleys etc. In any case, it should be noted that what is shown in the drawing is a preferred embodiment that is more affordable and simpler to assemble, therefore also systems in which the motor or gear motor 350a, 350b is not directly associated with one of the pinions <NUM>, <NUM> fall within the scope of protection of the invention.

As mentioned above, as the dimension or the type of the article <NUM> varies, it may be necessary to replace the inner guide means <NUM> with inner guide means <NUM> having different transfer surface <NUM>, in particular with a circumferential portion 321a having different radius. The replacement of said inner guide means <NUM> is facilitated by means of sliding and interlocking systems that allow a quick and safe replacement.

In particular, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the motor or gear motor 350b directly associated with one of the pinions <NUM> to handle the flexible member <NUM> of the inner guide means <NUM> comprises a rotatable shaft 351b configured to be mechanically connected with a pin 326a of a pinion <NUM>. Preferably, said connection occurs by means of a connecting member <NUM>, preferably a hollow sleeve configured so as to receive the rotatable shaft 351b on one side and the pin 326a on the other.

The motion is transmitted, by means of locking systems known to a person skilled in the art, such as spanners or couplings, etc., from the rotatable shaft 351b to the pin 326a, they being made integral by means of the connecting member <NUM>.

It should be noted, as shown in <FIG>, that to facilitate the format change, the pinions <NUM> and the flexible member <NUM> are mechanically associated with a frame <NUM> that allows the disassembly of the inner guide means <NUM> in a single step, without the need to separately disassemble the flexible member <NUM> of the individual pinions <NUM>.

In particular, the motor or gear motor 350b is not involved in the format change and remains in its position.

Said motor or gear motor 350b is preferably installed integral with a support structure <NUM> that is configured to also support the outer guide means <NUM>, and in particular, at least the motor or gear motor 350a, the pinions <NUM> and the flexible member <NUM>.

Equally, the frame <NUM> is removably connected to the support structure <NUM>. It is necessary to replace, at the time of the format change, the inner guide means <NUM> to ensure the circumferential portion 321a has correct radius for the article <NUM> to be handled.

Therefore, the inner guide means <NUM> are disconnected from the motor or gear motor 350b by sliding the connecting member <NUM> toward the motor or gear motor 350b up to completely freeing the pin 326a of the pinion <NUM> from the connecting member <NUM>, which instead remains integral with the rotatable shaft 351b.

The sliding of the connecting member <NUM> toward the motor or gear motor 350b preferably occurs in vertical direction, the motor or gear motor 350b being arranged with the rotatable shaft 351b vertical and facing downward.

At this point, once the pin 326a of the pinion <NUM> is freed from the connecting member <NUM>, the entire frame <NUM> may be moved away from the support structure <NUM>, preferably by sliding along guide members <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Said sliding preferably occurs in horizontal direction so as to avoid the surrounding overall dimensions and thus facilitating the intervention by the operator.

It in any case is intended for that described above to be given by way of non-limiting example; indeed a person skilled in the art may identify several existing alternative solutions for connecting the various components and performing an easy and quick format change.

The outer movable guide <NUM> of the outer guide means <NUM> and the inner movable guide <NUM> of the inner guide means <NUM> have different forwarding speeds in order to allow the correct positioning of the articles <NUM> on the collecting chain <NUM> or on the forwarding chain <NUM>.

Said difference is such as to ensure that article <NUM> is forwarded in the transfer device <NUM> without rotating about an axis of symmetry X thereof.

This is even more important when the articles <NUM> are not cylindrical containers, but parallelepipeds that could therefore be arranged with the faces oblique to the forwarding direction. Indeed, the rotation especially of articles <NUM> with non-circular, e.g. rectangular base, such as cartons, consequently, would have a messy collection of said articles <NUM> on the collecting chain <NUM> or on the forwarding chain <NUM>.

In addition to the correct proportion between the speeds of the outer movable guide <NUM> with respect to the inner movable guide <NUM>, the correct positioning of the articles <NUM> is also made possible by the fact that preferably the guide means <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to be engaged with the articles <NUM> by means of a transfer surface <NUM>, <NUM> that consists of a circumferential portion 311a, 321a and there is no rectilinear length.

Indeed, if there were also a rectilinear length, the forwarding speeds of the outer movable guide <NUM> and of the inner movable guide <NUM> should be equal in the rectilinear profile length, while they should be proportional to the radius of curvature in the curvilinear profile length so that the article <NUM> passing in the transfer device <NUM> is forwarded without rotating.

Therefore, the speed could not be correctly managed given that several articles pass in the transfer device <NUM> simultaneously that would simultaneously be in contact both with the rectilinear and curvilinear profiles. Therefore, the advantage of having the outer movable guide <NUM> and the inner movable guide <NUM> in which the transfer surface <NUM>, <NUM> consists of a circumferential portion 311a, 321a allows the correct management of the speed and a correct and accurate forwarding of the articles <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A collector (<NUM>) comprising a diverter apparatus (<NUM>), wherein a transfer device (<NUM>) is adapted to divert a flow of articles (<NUM>) from a belt conveyor (<NUM>, <NUM>) to a collecting table (<NUM>) to create a plurality of rows (<NUM>) that are mutually parallel, or vice versa, said belt conveyor (<NUM>, <NUM>) being arranged orthogonal to the collecting table (<NUM>), so that said articles (<NUM>), passing from the belt conveyor (<NUM>, <NUM>) to the collecting table (<NUM>) and/or vice versa, are diverted defining an angle of <NUM>°, wherein said belt conveyor (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a forwarding chain (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the collecting table (<NUM>) comprises storage conveyors (<NUM>) comprising at least one collecting chain (<NUM>), preferably a plurality of parallel collecting chains (<NUM>) said forwarding chain (<NUM>, <NUM>) and collecting chain (<NUM>) being arranged orthogonal to one another, and wherein the transfer device (<NUM>) is mobile along the belt conveyor (<NUM>, <NUM>) by translation means (<NUM>), characterized in that the translation means (<NUM>) is arranged above the forwarding chain (<NUM><NUM>) and/or the collecting chain (<NUM>) and said forwarding chain (<NUM>, <NUM>) and collecting chain (<NUM>) are arranged adjacent to one another.