Patent ID: 6981864

Claim:
A device for releasing and removing flexible synthetic material elements from a molding surface, comprising: a molding surface on which the flexible elements are arranged; a gripping unit for gripping said flexible elements, which is actuatable from a lower position, in which the unit is in contact with said flexible element, to an upper position, wherein said gripping unit comprises a tubular body that has a vertical axis and is provided, in a downward region, with an edge adapted to compress, in said lower position, a peripheral region of said element onto said molding surface, forming thereat a region that provides a seal with said surface; and blower means provided at said molding surface for conveying a stream of air under said flexible element in order to release the flexible element from said molding surface, said tubular body of said gripping unit further comprising internal suction means for actuating adhesion of the internal region of said element to said gripping unit in order to removing the flexible element from said molding surface, said suction means comprising a slider which has a suction channel and is slidingly engaged within said tubular body, said slider being actuatable from a position in which the slider is retracted within said tubular body to remove said element, to a position in which the slider protrudes downward from said tubular body for subsequent deposition of said element.