Patent Description:
More precisely, the containers for animals in question are constituted by trays in plastic material shaped like a tray and suitable for containing, on a litter or bedding consisting of a suitable material, one or more laboratory animals such as small rodents, guinea pigs or similar, wherein each of said trays forms part of a cage possibly including further component parts such as the lid, the feed trough and similar parts.

It is well known that scientific experimentation carried out on laboratory animals requires that the environmental conditions of the enclosure are constantly controlled in order to ensure optimal health conditions and a high-quality standard of the living conditions of the animals. It is therefore clear from this point of view that the hygienic conditions of the housing trays for animals constitute an extremely important aspect not only for the living conditions of the animals but for the good quality of the scientific research itself.

The containment devices or trays (hereinafter the containers) of the laboratory animals are therefore periodically removed from the shelves, emptied of the animals contained therein and of the material constituting the litter or bedding, and carefully washed. Since washing must be extremely accurate and since the number of trays can be very high depending on the size of the animal enclosure, automatic tray washing systems have been developed and are now widely used, which systems offer the double advantage of optimizing the time required for washing and carrying out a very thorough cleaning of the trays.

In particular, since the part which needs to be washed more thoroughly is the tray, washing systems specifically designed to process trays are known. In particular, known washing stations are shaped like tunnels and comprise several modules arranged in succession along a predefined direction, wherein the use of said washing stations provides that the trays are placed, manually by the operator or by means of robotic systems, on a conveyor belt that carries the trays through different modules in which they are subjected to washing, rinsing, drying and sanitization, before being filled again with clean bedding and made available again for the animal enclosure. Before being placed on the belt of the washing tunnel, the trays are emptied of their contents by turning them upside down, and are positioned upside down on the conveyor belt, so that the tray cavity faces downwards. In this way it is avoided that during washing operations, when the trays are hit by jets of water, the liquid can accumulate inside the tray so as to cause various inconveniences, first of all the risk of blocking the plant due to a decrease in the level of the liquid in the washing tanks but also the reduction of the washing effect, as well as a useless accumulation of water which would therefore be subtracted from the washing plant, of course in addition to the need to empty one by one the trays leaving the washing tunnel.

Also in the known systems, at the end of the washing tunnel an operator is expected to take the trays from the conveyor belt, turn them over, and fill them again with clean material constituting the litter or bedding. Generally, the trays are filled by using a device called a dispenser, whereby the operator has to take care of overturning the trays and positioning them correctly under the dispenser. Furthermore, in order to speed up and optimize the washing operations, normally the known washing tunnels described herein provide that several trays can be placed on the conveyor belt at the same time, so that at the clean-side exit of the washing tunnel the operator has to manage (turn over and position) a plurality of trays which are pushed by the conveyor belt towards the station filling the clean bedding. Also in this case, in order to speed up the operations, dispensers capable of filling several trays at the same time are normally used, said dispensers being equipped with a plurality of nozzles arranged side by side for dispensing the bedding. The operator must therefore take care, once the trays have been overturned, to align them side by side to form a row generally of three or four trays side by side which are thus placed below the dispenser and eventually filled simultaneously.

Known washing stations are usually employed, in order to further optimize and automate the washing process, in combination with devices suitable for automatically overturning the trays leaving the washing tunnel, without requiring the intervention of the operator.

However, known solutions for overturning the trays have numerous drawbacks which the applicant has overcome by means of the solution according to the present invention.

A first drawback or defect relates to the fact that the overturning devices of the known type are not very reliable (subject to breakdowns or downtimes) and are not very flexible (they are only suitable to process a few types of substantially similar trays).

A solution known from the state of the art and widespread to obtain the overturning of the trays leaving the washing tunnel and their correct positioning under the dispenser, provides for the use of a roller table positioned at a lower height than the conveyor belt of the washing tunnel so that the trays leaving the tunnel fall by gravity onto the roller table, normally tipping over. Of course, this method has numerous drawbacks, first of all the fact that it is ineffective for a certain percentage of trays which, falling by gravity, do not tip over correctly, for example resting on their side. Moreover, a further drawback is given, for example, by the fact that, in order to obtain the overturning of the trays, a certain difference in height is necessary between the conveyor belt and the roller surface or table, wherein the trays thus impact with a certain force, often excessive, the table at the end of their fall, with the obvious risk of damaging the trays.

The main drawback of this solution however remains the randomness of the overturning operation, so that the operator often has to intervene to straighten and order the trays on the roller table. Furthermore, the height difference between the conveyor belt and the receiving roller table is generally fixed, and therefore the percentage of success in overturning varies as the type of trays varies. A further drawback of this known system consists of the lack of ergonomics for the operator: the roller table, being at a lower height than the conveyor belt, in fact forces the operator called to pick up the trays to assume a very uncomfortable and unnatural position.

Another known system, currently used to overturn the trays exiting the washing tunnel and to correct their positioning at the nozzles of the bedding dispenser, has a higher degree of automation and provides for ordering the trays at the exit of the washing tunnel by aligning them, by means of a special alignment device, side by side to form rows of three or more trays placed side by side in a transversal direction to the feed direction of the conveyor belt, transport them up to a overturning device with a clamp which grabs them and flips them by <NUM>°. However, this system is not very versatile since the conveyor system at the exit of the washing tunnel tolerates only modest dimensional variations of the trays, providing that special gripping teeth are inserted into the trays to push them in the feed direction, wherein moreover the overturning system cannot be associated with existing washing tunnels without requiring substantial structural modifications. Furthermore, the overturning system as a whole is very cumbersome.

A further solution of the known type for overturning the trays is shown in <FIG> and described and claimed in patent <CIT> owned by the applicant.

In <FIG>, references <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> respectively indicate an overturning device, a dispenser of bedding material and the outlet module of a washing station (represented only partially).

Still as shown, the trays V exit the washing station with the cavity facing downwards and are advanced along the direction A by means of rotating rollers <NUM> until they enter an overturning cage <NUM> in which they are stopped by a front bar transversal, wherein the trays V are then blocked by means of a gripper system, with the lowering of the upper bars <NUM> and the raising of the lower bars <NUM> of cage <NUM>.

The overturning of the trays V therefore provides for the cage <NUM> to be raised, subsequently rotated by <NUM>°, then lowered until the trays V are arranged again on the rollers <NUM>, wherein the bars <NUM> and <NUM> of the cage <NUM> are eventually opened, freeing the trays V which are then advanced again until they reach the dispenser <NUM>.

With regard to further details of the device of <FIG>, in particular to the relevant means for aligning and compacting the trays V, reference is made to patent <CIT>.

Document <CIT> discloses a system for overturning wooden blocks, which comprises first and second transport means formed by roller tables, so that this known system has substantially the same problems as the system of document <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a system according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The specific aim of the present invention is therefore to provide an automated system for overturning the trays leaving a washing tunnel and for positioning them correctly at the subsequent station for filling the trays with new clean bedding which allows to overcome at least in part the problems described above and left unsolved by the known systems.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device suitable for being installed in small spaces and for being combined with any tunnel-type washing machine.

Not least object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of processing trays having different shapes and/or dimensions without the need for adaptations, so as to be more versatile than the known systems.

Further, object of the present invention is to provide a device for overturning and positioning the trays at the dispensing device, which device is capable of automatically orienting each tray parallel to the feed direction of the conveyor belt and of arranging several trays parallel in rows transversal to the feed direction in order to optimize the positioning of the trays in the filling phase by means of the dispenser.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automated system or device which, in the event of breakdowns or maintenance needs, can be easily stopped by creating, in a simple and rapid way, the space for the operator for manually carrying out the unloading operations of the tunnel line.

Further objects of the present invention comprise:.

According to the present invention the set objects are at least partially achieved and the drawbacks of the known state of the art at least partially overcome by means of an automated system and a station according to the independent claims, as well as by means of the embodiments of said system and said station, respectively, according to the dependent claims.

According to the invention, an automated system according to claim <NUM> is provided.

According to an embodiment, said axis of rotation of said first conveyor belt is positioned in proximity to the end portion of said second conveyor belt adjacent to said first conveyor belt.

According to an embodiment, in said second position, said first transport surface of said first conveyor belt is rotated with respect to said first position by an angle greater than <NUM>° so that the projection of said first conveyor belt in a vertical direction with respect to said second transport surface of said second conveyor belt at least partially overlaps said second conveyor belt.

According to an embodiment, said first stop means comprise a stop bar substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said first conveyor belt.

According to an embodiment, said stop bar can be translated along a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport surface of said first conveyor belt, and therefore the distance of said stop bar from said transport surface of said first conveyor belt is adjustable according to the dimensions of said containers and/or said other component parts.

According to one embodiment, said system comprises a cylindrical brush suitable to be positioned at the outlet of said treatment station, in particular washing station, wherein said cylindrical brush can rotate around an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to said feed and transport directions, wherein therefore the rotation of said cylindrical brush facilitates the repositioning of said containers and/or other component parts from said outlet module of said treatment station, in particular washing station, on said first transport surface of said first conveyor belt.

According to an embodiment, said system comprises means for compacting and aligning said containers on said second conveyor belt suitable for aligning a plurality of containers along a direction substantially perpendicular to said transport direction. According to an embodiment, said compacting and aligning means comprise second stop means suitable for stopping said containers in a predefined position on said second conveyor belt, wherein in said predefined position at least two containers are arranged one adjacent to the other along a direction substantially perpendicular to their transport direction on said second conveyor belt, and wherein said compacting and aligning means comprise means adapted to put said at least two containers in reciprocal contact.

According to an embodiment, said alignment means comprise thrust means suitable for exerting a thrust on one of at least two containers along a direction perpendicular to said transport direction so as to put it in contact with said at least one second container.

According to one embodiment, a station is proposed for arranging litter or bedding material inside cage trays for housing laboratory animals, wherein said station comprises a dispenser for said bedding material, and wherein said station comprises an automated system according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

According to an embodiment, said dispenser comprises a plurality of nozzles each adapted to introduce a portion of said bedding material into a respective tray of a respective plurality of trays aligned and compacted by compacting and aligning means of said automated system.

The present invention will be further disclosed by means of the following detailed description of the embodiments represented in the drawings, wherein in the drawings:.

In <FIG> the automated overturning system is identified by the reference <NUM> and is arranged between the outlet module <NUM> of a washing station for containers (represented only in part), in particular for trays of cages for laboratory animals enclosures, and a dispenser <NUM> (not the subject of the following invention) for bedding material, wherein the system <NUM> and the dispenser <NUM> can be considered as a unit suitable for overturning the containers C coming out of the module <NUM> and for dispensing inside them a predefined amount of bedding material.

Still as shown, the system <NUM> comprises a first conveyor belt <NUM> and a second conveyor belt <NUM> which define a first transport surface <NUM> and a second transport surface <NUM>, respectively, the surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> being placed on different planes, the second surface <NUM>, according to the invention, being arranged below the first surface <NUM>, the first conveyor belt <NUM> and the second conveyor belt <NUM> being capable of advancing the containers C exiting the module <NUM> along a transport direction T substantially parallel to the direction A along which the containers C exit the module <NUM>. For this purpose, each of said first conveyor belt <NUM> and second conveyor belt <NUM> is controlled by a respective motorized roller, the first conveyor belt <NUM> being in particular controlled by a first motorized roller <NUM> (<FIG>), the second by a motorized roller <NUM>.

However, it should be noted that, according to the present invention, it is possible to envisage the use of means of transport equivalent to said first conveyor belt <NUM> and second conveyor belt <NUM>. For example, it is possible to use transport means by which the feed of the containers C along the direction T is obtained by vibration.

Again as shown (<FIG> and <FIG>), the first conveyor belt <NUM> (or equivalent conveying and/or feed means) is switchable by rotation with respect to a fixed axis of rotation R and positioned in proximity to the end portion <NUM> of said second conveyor belt <NUM> adjacent to said first conveyor belt <NUM>, wherein the rotation axis R coincides with the rotation axis of the first motorized roller <NUM>, the rotation of the first conveyor belt <NUM> being obtained by means of a gearmotor (not shown) at variable speed, higher at the beginning of the rotation (from the position of <FIG> and <FIG>), lower at the second position of <FIG> and <FIG>. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a first conveyor belt (or equivalent transport or feed means) which can be switched by rototranslation, namely by rotation around an axis of rotation R which can be translated in this case.

The angle of rotation (clockwise with respect to the figures) of the first conveyor belt <NUM> from the first end position (<FIG> and <FIG>) to the second end position (<FIG> and <FIG>) depends on the inclination of the belt <NUM> in the said first end position, in particular of the surface <NUM> with respect to a horizontal reference plane and can be for example greater than <NUM>° (in the case of a horizontal surface <NUM>), wherein therefore, in the second end position the projection P of the first conveyor belt <NUM> (see dashed line) perpendicularly to the surface <NUM> of the second conveyor belt <NUM> falls at least partially onto the second conveyor belt <NUM>, the angle of rotation being adjustable according to the geometry of the center of gravity of the containers C.

In the figures, the reference <NUM> identifies a stopper, in particular a bar arranged transversely to the transport direction T, the height of which with respect to the surface <NUM> is adjustable by means suitable for the purpose, for example pneumatic and/or hydraulic and/or mechanical or the like, wherein for the overturning of the containers C the bar <NUM> is positioned at a height from the surface <NUM> lower than the height of the containers C so as to intercept and stop the containers C during their feed along the direction T, leaving on the contrary free the other lower components, for example component parts of cages such as their lids, troughs and similar components.

It should also be considered that although in the embodiment shown in the figures said first transport surface <NUM> and second transport surface <NUM> are substantially parallel and horizontal, embodiments are possible in which, for example, in order to minimize the impact of the containers C on the surface <NUM>, said first surface <NUM> and second surface <NUM> can be inclined with respect to a horizontal reference plane, for example with the first surface <NUM> inclined downwards towards the stopper <NUM>, and the second surface <NUM> also inclined towards the stopper <NUM>, precisely for the purpose of reducing the impact force during the overturning of the container C.

If the surface <NUM> performs a large rotation, for example by <NUM>°, the stopper <NUM> can swing freely so as not to impact or interfere with the surface <NUM>.

The methods of overturning the containers C by means of the system shown in the figures can be summarized as follows.

With the first conveyor belt in the first position (substantially horizontal) and arranged to interface the module <NUM>, the containers C leaving the module <NUM> (arranged with the cavity facing downwards), are received by the first conveyor belt <NUM> and fed along the direction T.

When the containers C reach the stop bar <NUM>, a first sensor (not shown) detects their position and starts the rotation of the first belt <NUM> from the first position towards the second position.

The rotation of the first belt <NUM> from the first end position is facilitated by a counterweight <NUM> comprising an arm <NUM> of which a first end is integral with the frame of the first belt <NUM> while the second end of the arm <NUM> opposite to said first end carries a weight <NUM>. The arm <NUM> is then cantilevered fixed to the bearing shoulder of the first belt <NUM>, whereas with the first belt <NUM> in the first end position the counterweight <NUM> is positioned laterally with respect to the second belt <NUM> (according to a top view), with the arm <NUM> lying on a surface parallel to said first surface <NUM> (of the first belt <NUM>) and second surface <NUM> (of the second belt <NUM>). The counterweight <NUM> also cooperates with a second position sensor <NUM> and a third position sensor <NUM>, wherein the second position sensor <NUM>, during the rotation of the first belt <NUM> from the first position to the second position, detects the counterweight <NUM> upon reaching the second position by the first belt <NUM> causing the first belt <NUM> to stop in said second position, while the third position sensor <NUM>, during the rotation of the first belt <NUM> from the second position to the first position, detects the counterweight <NUM> upon reaching the first position by the first belt <NUM> causing the first belt <NUM> to stop in said first position.

With the belt <NUM> in a substantially vertical position, the stop bar <NUM>, which in the meantime has rotated together with the first belt <NUM>, is positioned above the surface (conveyor plane) <NUM> of the second conveyor belt <NUM>, wherein the containers C, no longer held, are overturned by the effect of gravity on the second conveyor belt <NUM> without any impediment and are then repositioned on the surface <NUM> of the second belt <NUM> with the cavity facing upwards.

Furthermore, when the first belt <NUM> arrives in a substantially vertical position, the second sensor <NUM> detects this position and stops the transport function of the belt <NUM> itself, where the transport function of the belt <NUM> is reactivated (by reactivating the rotation of the roller <NUM>) with the return of belt <NUM> to the first position. The containers C which in the meantime have fallen onto the second belt <NUM> are overturned by <NUM>° (correct position for receiving the bedding) with respect to the position they had both at the exit from the module <NUM> and on the first conveyor belt <NUM>.

Differently from the sequence of operations just described, if different components are loaded onto the first conveyor belt <NUM>, such as for example lids and/or troughs of cages for animal enclosures, these components, due to their reduced height, are not intercepted by said first sensor (fixed laterally on the supporting shoulder of the conveyor belt <NUM>, at a suitable and adjustable height, and placed immediately before the stop bar <NUM> with respect to the transport direction T), wherein therefore the rotation of the conveyor belt <NUM> from the first position is not enabled in the second position, and wherein therefore said components of reduced height can transit without being intercepted up to the end of the line.

In order to make the passage of the containers C from the belt of the module <NUM> to the first conveyor belt <NUM> flexible and reliable, the overturning system can be combined with a cylindrical brush <NUM>, for example with bristles in synthetic material, arranged at the outlet of the belt of the module <NUM>, the brush <NUM> being adapted to be rotated (around an axis transverse to the directions A and T and clockwise with respect to the figures, see the arrow in <FIG>), by means of an independently controlled gearmotor. The peripheral speed of the brush <NUM> is considerably higher than the speed of the belt of the module <NUM>, the brush <NUM> essentially having the fundamental function of "accompanying", by rotating, containers C and/or components such as lids and troughs, in the passage from the belt of the module <NUM> to the first conveyor belt <NUM>, wherein in the absence of the brush <NUM> the risk of jamming of the cages, lids and troughs would be very high with consequent risks of mechanical breakage and machine downtime.

In a continuous industrialized plant, the motor-brush <NUM> can be coupled (fixed) to the first conveyor belt <NUM> of the system <NUM> or alternatively to the output module <NUM> according to simple and substantially known methods and therefore not described in detail.

In order to each receive a dose of bedding material by means of a dispenser with a plurality of nozzles, the containers C, once overturned according to the previously described ways, must be compacted on one side of the second conveyor belt <NUM> to ensure that each comes to be under a respective dispensing nozzle of the bedding material.

For this purpose, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a stopper <NUM> made of a sheet metal (or alternatively constituted by a plurality of parallel bars) is also arranged above the second conveyor belt <NUM>, the stopper <NUM> precisely having the function of stopping the containers C in transit on the second belt <NUM>.

The structure carrying the stopper <NUM> can slide vertically from the "low" blocking position (of the containers C in transit) represented in <FIG> and <FIG>, to a higher position (with respect to the surface <NUM> of the second conveyor belt <NUM>) which allows the also transit of containers C of maximum height for which the plant or system <NUM> has been designed. The "low" blocking position and consequently the highest position can be adjusted according to the need to best adapt the plant depending on the height of the containers C to be processed.

The vertical translation (from bottom to top and vice versa) of the structure of the stopper <NUM> is obtained through the use of one or more pneumatic cylinders <NUM>, wherein the compacting of the containers C is carried out by a rodless pneumatic cylinder <NUM> and can be summarized as follows.

With the containers C (one or more) abutting the stopper <NUM>, the rodless pneumatic cylinder <NUM> is activated by a sensor (which detects the presence of one or more containers C abutting the stopper <NUM>) causing an equipment <NUM> to translate by pneumatic action along the structure carrying the stopper, the mobile equipment <NUM> being equipped with a magnet <NUM>. During its translational motion transversely to the transport direction T, the equipment <NUM> encounters and drags a sled <NUM> by means of magnetic coupling, the sled <NUM> being made of aluminum but equipped with a plate in ferrous material <NUM>; <FIG> shows the magnet <NUM> and the plate <NUM> in the condition of mutual magnetic coupling. The slide <NUM> slides on transversal bars <NUM> and carries a pusher <NUM> which can be made in the form of a blade, for example of a metal sheet, or alternatively comprise, as shown, a plurality of steel rods, wherein the steel rods allow to better follow the geometry of the side surfaces of the containers C, so as to avoid jamming and movements that can create a wrong compaction.

The pusher <NUM> therefore exerts a transverse thrust on the one or more containers C stopped against the stopper <NUM>, in particular on the container positioned more externally (further to the left in the figures with respect to the direction T). In particular, in the case of a single container C stopped against the stopper <NUM>, said single container C is pushed to the right until it occupies the rightmost position; in the case instead of several containers C stopped against the stopper <NUM>, the leftmost container C is pushed against the second to the right of the first), as well as pushing the second against the third (to the right of the second), the third against the fourth (to the right of the third) and so on, thus arranging the containers C according to a transversal row (with respect to the direction of transport T) including a plurality of containers C in mutual contact.

Once the pusher <NUM> has compacted the containers C as described, the thrust by the pusher <NUM> overcomes the magnetic resistance between the magnet <NUM> and the plate <NUM>, where the equipment <NUM> disengages from the slide <NUM> and continues until it reaches the end position and no longer transmitting any thrust force to the containers C on the second belt <NUM>, thus avoiding damage or misalignment. Indeed, the magnetic coupling is dimensioned by suitably choosing the attraction force between the magnet <NUM> and the plate <NUM> to guarantee the transversal movement of the containers C on the second belt but without creating excessive stresses on the containers C themselves.

A sensor <NUM> placed on the slide <NUM> detects the uncoupling between the magnet <NUM> and the plate <NUM> and reverses the stroke of the rodless cylinder <NUM>, wherein the equipment <NUM> is returned to the starting position together with the slide <NUM> which is magnetically recoupled during the return journey.

Once compacting has taken place, the second conveyor belt <NUM> is stopped, and the whole structure carrying the stopper <NUM> is moved vertically, thereby freeing the containers C which are then free to transit towards the dispenser <NUM>.

At this point, the movement of the second conveyor belt <NUM> resumes (by activation of the relevant drive roller) bringing the containers C into a position suitable for receiving the bedding material.

A sensor (not shown), placed at the end of the belt of the module <NUM> has the safety function; in fact, if the presence of objects at the exit of the module <NUM> were to be detected but at the same time the overturning phase was not yet completed or the presence of containers C against the stop bar <NUM> of the first conveyor belt <NUM> was detected, the belt of the module <NUM> would be arrested.

Finally, it should be specified that on the line of the continuous tunnel-shaped washing station it is also possible to process the baskets containing the bottles for watering the animals.

These objects must not and cannot pass from the belt of the washing station (from the relative module <NUM>) to the first conveyor belt <NUM> but must be discharged directly from the outlet module <NUM> of the washing line.

Using the operator interface and the PLC that governs these lines, it is possible to program the washing cycle dedicating it to washing bottle baskets, wherein in this case the first conveyor belt <NUM> automatically sets itself vertically (in the second end position), and wherein the sensor located at the exit of the belt of the washing station is enabled and the operator can get ready to manually unload the bottle baskets from module <NUM>.

It has thus been demonstrated by means of the previous detailed description of the embodiments of the automated system according to the present invention represented in the drawings that the system according to the present invention allows to obtain the desired results and to overcome the drawbacks encountered in the systems according to the prior art, and in particular allows:.

Although the automated system according to the present invention has been clarified by means of the previous detailed description of the embodiments represented in the drawings, numerous modifications may be made by the skilled in the art to the embodiments described and represented in the drawings without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claim 1:
Automated system (<NUM>) for handling containers (C) and/or component parts, which automated system (<NUM>) comprises first transport means (<NUM>) suitable to receive said containers (C) and/or said component parts and second transport means (<NUM>) arranged in succession to the first transport means (<NUM>) so as to define a transport direction (T) of said containers (C) and/or component parts from the first transport means (<NUM>) to the second transport means (<NUM>), wherein said first transport means (<NUM>) and second transport means (<NUM>) define a first transport surface (<NUM>) and a second transport surface (<NUM>), respectively, of said containers (C) and/or component parts, wherein said first transport means (<NUM>) are switchable between a first position and a second position, wherein with said containers (C) in said predefined position the switching of said first transport means (<NUM>) from said first position to said second position results in the fall of said containers (C) on the second transport surface (<NUM>) of said second transport means (<NUM>) in an overturned position with respect to the position on the first transport surface (<NUM>) of said first transport means (<NUM>), wherein said first transport means (<NUM>) and second transport means (<NUM>) comprise a first conveyor belt (<NUM>) and a second conveyor belt (<NUM>), respectively, wherein said first conveyor belt (<NUM>) is switchable between said first position and second position by rotation or rototranslation around an axis of rotation (R) respectively fixed or mobile, which is substantially transversal to said transport direction (T), characterized in that said first transport means (<NUM>) are equipped with first stop means (<NUM>) suitable for stopping said containers (C) in a predefined position, and in that said second transport surface (<NUM>) is arranged below said first transport surface (<NUM>).