Patent ID: 7191893

Claim:
A unit ( 1 ) for transferring articles ( 1 ) from a machine (MI) for producing these articles to a packaging machine (MA), the unit including: a plurality of means ( 4 a ) for receiving said articles ( 1 a ), said receiving means ( 4 a ) being situated between an outlet station ( 3 ) of said producing machine (MI) and an inlet station ( 6 ) of said packaging machine (MA); said receiving means ( 4 a ) being arranged at a variable distance from one another and moving alternatively between a first working configuration (A), in which the receiving means ( 4 a ) are moved closer to each other, in order to be situated in the region of, and in registry with, said outlet station ( 3 ) of the producing machine (MI), so as to receive said articles ( 1 a ), and a second working configuration (B), in which the receiving means ( 4 a ) are moved far from each other, in order to be situated in the region of, and in registry with, said inlet station ( 6 ) of the packaging machine (MA), so as to transfer the articles ( 1 a ) to the inlet station ( 6 ); the unit being characterized in that said receiving means ( 4 a ) include a plurality of hoppers ( 4 a ) equipped with bottoms ( 4 b ), which can be opened; said hoppers ( 4 a ), being movable to said first working configuration (A), where they take positions corresponding and in registry with respective stationary hoppers ( 3 a ) placed at fixed mutual distances at said outlet station ( 3 ), and movable to said second working configuration (B), where they take positions corresponding and in registry with respective stationary hoppers ( 5 a ) placed at fixed mutual distances and belonging to an operative terminal line ( 5 ); said terminal line ( 5 ) being situated between said receiving means and said inlet station ( 6 ) and the relevant hoppers ( 5 a ) are so located to match corresponding box-compartments ( 6 a ) of a box-conveyor ( 6 ) of said inlet station.