Patent ID: 7374032

Claim:
Machine for righting and aligning articles using drop chutes comprising multiple compartments, said articles (A) being of the type having a differentiated configuration (A 1 ) at one end and a base (A 2 ) at the other end, and said machine being of the type comprising: at least one drop chute ( 1 ) arranged under a housing ( 2 ) designed to receive from loading means an article (A) in a flat position, pre-orientated in the longitudinal direction and let it fall in this position into said drop chute ( 1 ): end stop and support elements ( 3 ) associated with said housing ( 2 ) to support said differentiated configuration (A 1 ) of the article (A) as it falls so that it is introduced in the upright position in the drop chute ( 1 ), in other words, with said base (A 2 ) at the lowest level; a partition wall ( 4 ) that divides a lower part of the drop chute ( 1 ) into two compartments ( 5 ), and a first diverter plate ( 6 ), arranged in a hinged fashion on an upper end of said partition wall ( 4 ) and actuated by actuating means to change position in order to direct the articles (A) that fall towards one and the other of said compartments ( 5 ), in an alternating manner; and transfer means to transfer the articles (A) from said compartments ( 5 ) to exit transport means ( 7 ) in an aligned fashion; characterised in that it comprises a pair of additional partition walls ( 8 ), each one arranged in the lower part of one of the compartments ( 5 ) dividing it into two subcompartments ( 5 a ) that are substantially equal, each one capable of housing an article (A) in the upright position, and a pair of second diverter plates ( 9 ), each one arranged in a hinged fashion on an upper end of one of said additional partition walls ( 8 ) and actuated by actuating means to change position in order to direct the articles (A) that fall towards one and the other of said subcompartments ( 5 a ), in an alternating manner, whereby the drop chute ( 1 ) comprises four of said subcompartments ( 5 a ).