Patent ID: 7971413

Claim:
An automatic system ( 1 ) for orderly packaging of plastic preforms ( 2 ) in carton boxes, comprising: a manipulator unit ( 6 ) consisting of a vertically extending arm ( 20 ) in which at a lower end of the arm ( 20 ) is a vacuum gripping head ( 23 ), said vacuum gripping head ( 23 ) having a plurality of compartments ( 30 ) conforming to a shape of the preform ( 2 ) to be gripped; one or more units ( 10 ), each of the units ( 10 ) adapted for handling and inserting separators ( 12 ) in the carton box ( 13 ) to be filled, each separator ( 12 ) having a plurality of partitions ( 12 a ) parallel to one side of the separator and equally spaced at a distance at least corresponding to a length of the preform ( 2 ), wherein said vacuum gripping head ( 23 ) is hinged at corresponding hinge points ( 24 ) located in the lower end of the arm ( 20 ) so that the vacuum gripping head ( 23 ) can rotate about the hinge points ( 24 ) at angles of ±90° with respect to a vertical defined by the extension of the arm ( 20 ) in order to pick up the preform ( 2 ) in a vertical position and to orient the preform ( 2 ) horizontally, ready to be inserted between two partitions ( 12 a ), and the control arm ( 20 ) has an independent motor drive unit ( 21 ) which allows the control arm ( 20 ) to rotate about a longitudinal axis of said control arm ( 20 ).