Patent ID: 12208971

With reference to the accompanying figures,1indicates overall a movement unit for articles2constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The movement unit1is inserted within an apparatus100for preparing and packaging capsules for infusion type beverages, in particular coffee, and is provided to continuously move a plurality of empty capsules, prior to the filling thereof with coffee powder.

In this embodiment example, therefore, the articles2are thus formed by capsules, also indicated below with the same numerical reference.

In general terms, the apparatus100comprises a first unit101in which the empty capsules2are fed, a second unit102in which the empty capsules2are coupled to a filter, a third unit103, comprising the movement unit1, in which the empty capsules2provided with a filter are filled with coffee powder, as well as a fourth unit104in which the coffee-filled capsules2are closed by a membrane.

The capsules2are formed by a rigid casing, with a truncated conical shape, comprising a bottom4from which a flared lateral wall3extends towards an opening5opposite the bottom4. The bottom4has a smaller cross-section than the mouth5and, overall, the capsules have a diameter of between 20 and 60 mm and a height of between 15 and 60 mm.

The movement unit1, in the most general components thereof, comprises a first carousel device10, configured to transport the capsules2into a single-row configuration, and a second carousel device20, which is provided to receive the capsules2from the first carousel device10and to transport them towards the subsequent processing unit in an arrangement with multiple rows, in particular a double row, as clearly visible inFIG.1.

The first carousel device10comprises a first transporter member11on which the first gripping heads12are mounted with an ability to move.

The first transporter member11comprises a drum11awhich is driven in rotation about a first main rotation axis X, which extends along a substantially vertical direction, so as to define a first advance trajectory A of the first transporter member11, which is substantially circular.

The first gripping heads12are mounted uniformly on an upper surface of the drum, at a radially outer circumferential region of the drum.

Preferably, the first gripping heads12are limitedly movable with respect to the first transporter member11, and, in particular, they can be pivoted about a substantially vertical axis thereof, parallel with the first main rotation axis X. Each first gripping head12comprises a pair of gripping elements13, each of which is provided to individually retain a capsule2.

In particular, the gripping elements13are of the pincer type and comprise a central arm14, which is mounted so as to be fixed to the first gripping head12, and a pair of lateral arms15and16, which are mounted on the first gripping head12at the opposite side with respect to the central arm14and are articulated so as to pivot away from and towards the central arm14in order to retain or release the capsules2.

The second carousel device20comprises a second transporter member21on which the second gripping heads22are mounted with an ability to move.

The second transporter member21comprises a drum21awhich is driven in rotation about a second main rotation axis Y, which extends along a substantially vertical direction, so as to define a second advance trajectory B of the second transporter member21, which is substantially circular.

The second gripping heads22are mounted uniformly on an upper surface of the drum, at a radially outer circumferential region of the drum.

Each second gripping head22further comprises a tray-like element23, in which a pair of seats24is formed, each provided to receive a single capsule2from a first gripping head12in a supporting manner.

The second gripping heads22are limitedly movable with respect to the second transporter member21, and, in particular, the second carousel device20comprises a driving equipment22aof the second gripping heads22which is provided to pivot each of them about a substantially vertical pivot axis Z, parallel with the second main rotation axis Y.

Preferably, the pivot axis Z is spaced apart from a straight line R which joins the seats24of the tray-like element23.

A filling device (not shown in the accompanying Figures) is also mounted on the second carousel device20, which is provided to fill the capsules2with coffee powder while they are moved along the second advance trajectory B. The movement unit1operates as follows.

The first carousel device10removes the capsules2from a wheel102aof the second unit102of the apparatus110, in which the capsules are joined to a filter.

In particular, the first carousel device10removes the capsules2at a removal zone30, in which the first advance trajectory A approaches or overlaps the trajectory of the wheel102a.

At the removal zone30, the first gripping heads12are rotated with respect to the transporter member11about their respective pivot axes, so as to bring the gripping elements13close to the capsules2and keep them facing them for a sufficient portion to allow the lateral arms15and16to approach the central arm14and to close around the capsules2to be removed (FIG.3). After the removal, the capsules2are moved in pairs from the first gripping heads12towards an exchange zone31, defined in a proximity region of the first transporter member11and of the second transporter member21, where they are delivered from the first carousel device10to the second carousel device20.

During the movement between the removal zone30and the exchange zone31, the position of the first gripping heads12is maintained in such a manner that the capsules2moved by the first transporter11assume a single-row configuration, substantially circular, parallel with the first advance trajectory A.

At the exchange zone31, the first gripping heads12and the second gripping heads22are pivoted about their respective pivot axes in such a manner that the tray-like elements23are positioned under the capsules2transported by the gripping elements13so as to be able to receive them in the seats24and allow the immediate disengagement of the gripping elements13which is carried out by moving the lateral arms15and16away from the central arm14(better visible inFIGS.4and5).

In particular, as better visible inFIG.2, the second gripping heads22while they are pivoting about the pivot axis Z, are also moved upwards, along the direction defined by such axis, so as to engage the bottom4of the capsules2in the seats24. Each pair of capsules2thus passes simultaneously from a first gripping head12to a second gripping head22.

The passage of the capsules2from the first carousel device10to the second carousel device20therefore takes place by successive passages of pairs of capsules2from a first gripping head12to a respective second gripping head22.

As the capsules2are released from the gripping elements13, the second gripping heads22are again lowered and rotated about the pivot axis Z to move the capsules2into a configuration with multiple rows, in this case a double row.

During the movement of the second transporter member21along the second trajectory B, the capsules2carried by the second gripping heads22are filled with coffee powder thanks to the action of the filling device provided on the second carousel device20.

In the final portion of the movement of the second transporter member21along the second trajectory B, the capsules2are finally moved by the second gripping heads22in such a manner that each pair of capsules carried by a second gripping head is aligned according to a radial direction of the transporter member21. In this way, on the final segment of the second carousel device20, two rows of capsules2remain defined substantially parallel with the second advance trajectory B (better visible inFIG.1).

The pairs of capsules2are then delivered by the second carousel device20to a subsequent transport device, for example an exchange wheel105at a release zone32.

Thanks to the features of the present invention, it is therefore possible to transfer the capsules2between the first carousel device10, where they are arranged in a single-row configuration, and the second carousel device20, where they are arranged in a multiple-row configuration, effectively and safely even at high production speeds, in particular even at speeds of about 1500 articles per minute.

It goes without saying that a person skilled in the art may, in order to meet specific and contingent application requirements, make further modifications and variants of the above-described invention within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.