Apparatus for conveying containers with non circular cross section

Abstract

The invention discloses an apparatus (1) for conveying containers (2) with non circular cross section, comprising at least two input conveyors (3a, 3b) through which at least two distinct conveyance flows reach the apparatus; a plurality of star-wheel (4a, 4b, 5, 6) for receiving the containers (2) from the input conveyors (3a, 3b) and release them on a single output conveyance flow, said plurality of star-wheel (4a, 4b, 5, 6) comprising at least a re-uniting star-wheel (5), on which the two distinct conveyance flows are re-united, and an auxiliary star-wheel (6) cooperating with said re-uniting star-wheel (5); guiding means for directing the containers (2) when they reach an area where multiple flows merge into a single conveyance flow, said merging area being located between said re-uniting star-wheel (5) and said auxiliary star-wheel (6). Said guiding means comprise first engaging means (50) mounted on the re-uniting star-wheel (5) and acting on containers housed in corresponding pits of the auxiliary star-wheel (6) to keep them correctly oriented into said pits before they are transferred on the re-uniting star-wheel (5); second engaging means (60) mounted on the auxiliary star-wheel (6) and acting on containers housed in corresponding pits of the re-uniting star-wheel (5) to keep them correctly oriented into said pits during the rotation of the re-uniting star-wheel (5). Said first and second engaging means (50, 60) are active when the containers (2) reach said merging area.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a device for transporting containers with a non-circular cross-section. In particular, the invention applies to bottling lines operating bottles with a generally square cross-section. The device has non-exclusive application also in input mechanisms of labeling machines. Background technique [0002] The existing multi-line conveyor is a conveyor with multiple container input lines. In any case, a single assembly line will eventually enter the machine and the container will be processed by the machine (such as a labeling machine), so it needs to occupy a very large space in the workshop. space in order to reduce multiple lines to a single line. [0003] Therefore, it is hoped to find a technical solution capable of merging pipelines in a smaller space. [0004] Another problem in the prior art is that when handling containers whose cross-section is not circular but, for example, square (i.e. the orientation and positioning o...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] If the star conveyors interact and counter-rotate to combine several lines into one line, a problem arises that the counter-rotation guides cannot be shaped so as not to obstruct the flow of containers from another star conveyor down to the star transporter protruding a lot

[0006] In this way, the container can only be partially guided, which is not acceptable when the container has a square cross-section and therefore must be positioned very precisely when labeling

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