Patent ID: 7491054

Claim:
Transfer device ( 10 ), particularly for transferring preforms for the manufacture of receptacles by blow-moulding, comprising a series of plates ( 12 A, 12 B) to which are attached means ( 14 ) of supporting preforms, the plates ( 12 A, 12 B) being coupled one after the other in an endless movable curvilinear chain by means of articulations ( 16 ) capable of allowing the curvilinearity of the movable chain and simultaneously the rotation of the plates ( 12 A, 12 B) about a horizontal axis (A 1 ) to allow the preforms to be turned upside down and/or set upright, characterized in that each plate ( 12 A, 12 B) is made in a single piece by moulding, in that each plate ( 12 A, 12 B) generally has the shape of a chain link and comprises a top horizontal plate ( 18 ) and a bottom horizontal plate ( 20 ) that are connected by at least one substantially vertical upright ( 22 ), in that the means of support ( 14 ) comprise, for each plate ( 12 A, 12 B), two tubular bodies ( 38 ) that are attached to the plate ( 12 A, 12 B), either side of the upright ( 22 ), and that extend vertically through associated holes ( 34 , 36 ) formed in the two horizontal plates ( 18 , 20 ), each tubular body ( 38 ) being designed to receive internally a vertical rod ( 40 ) for supporting a preform, and in that each plate ( 12 A, 12 B) , called the first plate ( 12 A), is connected to an adjacent plate, called the second plate (l 2 B), via an articulation ( 16 ) comprising a first socket ( 44 ) mounted so as to rotate about a tubular body ( 38 ) of the first plate ( 12 A) and a second socket ( 46 ) mounted so as to rotate about a tubular body ( 38 ) of the second plate ( 12 B), the two sockets ( 44 , 46 ) being mounted so as to pivot one relative to the other about a substantially horizontal pivot axis (A 1 ).