Patent ID: 6851918

Claim:
A handling apparatus for groups of thermoformed objects constantly held in a correct axial alignment, said groups of thermoformed objects being arranged in stacks, which apparatus includes at least one pick up and release head having as many receiving seats extending parallel to one another from said head as there are stacks to be handled, and a drive apparatus arranged to move a respective pick up and release head between a slack pick up station and a stack release station of one or more stacks of thermoformed objects and to position it correctly both at the said stack pick up station and at the said stack release station, and comprises at least one mobile pusher member arranged to be moved between, and parallel to, said receiving seats in order to engage a first end of each of said stacks thermoformed objects located in each receiving seat, and a control drive apparatus for each mobile pusher member, thereby following and holding each stack in said correct axial alignment as a second end of each stack is restrained while each stack is being released from its respective receiving seat.