Patent ID: 7762043

Claim:
A unit for applying opening devices to packages of pourable food products, comprising: first conveying means for feeding said opening devices successively along a first path; second conveying means for feeding said packages successively along a second path; and transfer means for transferring said opening devices from a pickup station located along said first path, to an application station for applying the opening devices to respective said packages and located along said second path; said transfer means comprising a wheel rotating about an axis, and at least one gripping member carried by said wheel and for receiving one opening device at a time from said first conveying means, and transferring it to said second path by rotation of said wheel; said transfer means also comprising connecting means for connecting said gripping member movably to said wheel; and guide means for altering the position of said gripping member with respect to said wheel as the wheel rotates; said connecting means comprise guide and slide means interposed between said wheel and said gripping member; said guide and slide means comprise at least one guide member fixed to said wheel radially with respect to said axis; and at least one slide member fitted in sliding manner to said guide member; said connecting means comprise articulating means between said gripping member and said slide member to permit oscillation of said gripping member about a hinge axis incident with and crosswise to a radial direction of movement of said slide member; and said gripping member is connected to said component part of said articulating means by a supporting frame; and said supporting frame comprises a first portion fixed to said component part, and a second portion fixed to said gripping member and movable with respect to said first portion to increase or reduce a distance between the gripping member and said axis of said wheel in relation to a specific position occupied by said slide member along said guide member.