Patent ID: 8899245

Claim:
A machine suitable for treating containers ( 12 ) of liquids disposed according to an order inside relative baskets ( 23 ) provided with a plurality of cells ( 25 ) having an ordered disposition in rows or columns and conformed to house and hold said containers ( 12 ), the machine comprising: a loading station ( 15 ) suitable for loading containers ( 12 ) to be treated, all containers ( 12 ) being disposed according to a determinate first orientation inside the plurality of cells ( 25 ) of said baskets ( 23 ); a washing station ( 17 ) suitable for subjecting at least to washing the containers ( 12 ) disposed in a second orientation able to promote a fall due to gravity of dirt or washing liquid present in the containers ( 12 ); first movement means ( 21 ) able to transport the containers ( 12 ) at least from an exit of said washing station ( 17 ); second movement means ( 22 ) disposed in succession to the first movement means ( 21 ) and able to transport the containers ( 12 ) toward operating stations ( 19 ); and a manipulator device ( 41 ) downstream of the washing station ( 17 ) and outside thereof, the manipulator device ( 41 ) comprising gripping means having at least a pair of gripping pincers ( 47 ) able both to pick up the containers ( 12 ) from said first movement means ( 21 ) and also to automatically rotate the containers ( 12 ) to reposition the containers ( 12 ) according to said determinate first orientation in coordination with said operating stations ( 19 ), and also to position the containers ( 12 ) on said second movement means ( 22 ), wherein the manipulator device ( 41 ) is able to determine a first approach and positioning/gripping movement of the gripping pincers ( 47 ) with respect to the baskets ( 23 ), a second movement of automatic rotation of the baskets ( 23 ) and a third movement of forward translation of the rotated baskets ( 23 ), from the first movement means ( 21 ) toward the second movement means ( 22 ), wherein said manipulator device ( 41 ) comprises a support plate ( 43 ) with a substantially vertical extension slidingly mounted to promote the first movement of approach and positioning/gripping of the gripping pincers ( 47 ), a slider ( 46 ) slidingly mounted along a transverse plate ( 45 ) attached above the support plate ( 43 ) to promote said third movement of forward translation, and an attachment flange ( 52 ) rotatably constrained to the slider ( 46 ) to allow said second rotation movement.