Conveying of the plugging element

Abstract

Device (1) for conveying a stopper element (2) of the stopper type, wherein the stopper elements (2) are pushed aeratically, said device comprising, on the one hand, an elongated plenum (3) in which a gaseous fluid circulates, and, on the other hand, a channel (4) in which the stopper elements (2) circulate in a forward direction (6) and which has a front face (7), a rear face (8), and two slices (9). This device is characterized in that it comprises an air circuit (10) for bringing the gaseous fluid from the plenum (3) into the channel (4) to push the plugging elements (2), said channel (4), at the level of its rear face (8), being against the plenum (3), and, at the level of its front face (7), being closed at least partially by a counter plate (5) which comprises the device, preferably a removable counter plate (5), the air circuit (10) opening into the channel (4) at the level of at least one slice (9).Figure for the abridged version: Fig.1.

Description

Title of the invention: Conveying of a closure element

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of equipment and methods for packaging liquids within a production line. More particularly, in this type of line, which processes containers of the bottle, flask or other type, it is necessary to move the capping elements of said containers, in particular from a stock to the capping machine.

[0002] Thus, the capping elements, which are generally stoppers, lids or crowns, for example metal, are moved from equipment which has correctly oriented them from a bulk area in which the capping elements have an unknown orientation, and this to a capping machine sometimes integrated into the filler.

[0003] This movement is generally organized within a chute or channel whose cross-sectional dimensions are adapted to those of the plugging element by forming a template. The plugging elements are driven in such a channel, which maintains its orientation, that is to say it prevents the plugging element, which has been oriented with its disc-shaped bottom in a certain position, from pivoting until its bottom is on the other side. The drive can be done by injecting gaseous fluid, generally simply air, possibly cleaned or sanitized when the conditions of use require it. In such embodiments, air is injected into the channel for circulation of the plugging elements, this channel being almost closed to obtain a circulation of air within it, which will push the plugging elements. The air is blown into the channel, with a direction which makes the plugging elements advance one behind the other.

[0004] Thus, for example, publication US2009166153 is known, which discloses a way of driving plugging elements such as stoppers, or crowns. The device comprises an elongated plenum, which extends along the path that the stoppers must follow. Pumps supply this plenum with compressed air. A channel is arranged against the plenum, using walls through which the stopper can slide against the plenum. All along the path of movement, gills are provided in the surface of the plenum against which the stoppers circulate, so as to push the stoppers.

[0005] There is, however, a need to improve existing designs, particularly by making them more reliable and less energy-consuming. Indeed, in existing implementations, blockages can occur, with the plugging element buckling or getting stuck in the channel. Furthermore, advancing the plugging elements with successively positioned vents as known today requires a large source energy, since it is necessary to continuously supply the plenum with pressurized air.

[0006] The invention aims at this objective by injecting air towards the sides of the plugging element rather than against its bottom, in a channel which circulates against the plenum and to which the pressurized air is sent by an air circuit circulating between the plenum and the channel.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a device for conveying a plug-type closure element, where the closure elements are pushed aeraulically, said device comprising, on the one hand, an elongated plenum in which a gaseous fluid circulates, and, on the other hand, a channel in which the closure elements circulate in a direction of advance and which has a front face, a rear face, and two edges.

[0008] The device therefore has an elongated shape in a direction called the forward direction, which is the direction along which the plugging elements must be moved.

[0009] As will be further described, the closure elements are generally discs of low thickness, therefore of lower height than their diameter. The closure element may be a metal capsule, a plastic lid, a cap, screw-on, with a flap, etc. In certain cases, the closure element is therefore a relatively flat capsule, while in other cases, the height may be greater than the diameter, as in “sport” caps, with a nozzle for direct consumption, possibly also with a cap. It is understood that the closure element has a shape allowing it to cooperate for mounting on a bottle-type container, by tightening or screwing.

[0010] The movement in the device is carried out in such a way that the stopper elements are not one on top of the other, that is to say with their base discs generally superimposed, but one after the other, that is to say with their discs generally next to each other. The base discs of the stopper elements, from which they have a certain height, therefore extend generally in the same plane, so that the sequence of stopper elements, in the displacement configuration, has a height which corresponds approximately to the height of a single one of the stopper elements, perpendicular to its base disc, and a length which corresponds directly to the number of stopper elements following one another, and not a height which would correspond to the stopper elements superimposed, their respective discs following one another perpendicular to their plane.

[0011] The device therefore advances the plugging elements along a movement which is generally parallel to their disc. This movement is obtained aeraulically, that is to say that a gaseous fluid circulates within the device and, upon arriving at the plugging elements, pushes them and sets them in motion, for example especially when hitting the skirt, or the edge, of the plugging element.

[0012] This gaseous fluid can be filtered, to avoid adding dust to the plugging elements. It can simply be ambient air, pressurized by a suitable pump. Within the device, the gaseous fluid is sent into a plenum in which it circulates. This plenum generally has an elongated profile shape in the direction of advance with a generally rectangular section. This plenum extends over all or part of the path that the plugging elements must follow. Of course, as this plenum must allow the circulation of the gaseous fluid, it is not closed, but has outlets towards the plugging elements, as described below, preferably at the front face.

[0013] The plugging elements, for their part, circulate in another profile, generally against the plenum described above. The section of this profile, which is perpendicular to the direction in which it extends, namely the direction of advance, just like the plenum, is rectangular in shape and of dimensions adapted to the plugging element treated. In a plane perpendicular to the direction of advance, the channel has a rectangular section, with a large side and a small side.On the one hand, the dimension of the small side must be much smaller than the diameter of the plugging element, and preferably only slightly larger than the dimension of the plugging element perpendicular to the disc, i.e. its height, while, on the other hand, the dimension of the large side is at least equal to the largest dimension of the plugging element in the plane of the disc, so that the section forms a passage template for the plugging elements, but keeps them in position and prevents them from turning over in the heart of the channel. A section with such dimensions ensures that the plugging elements circulate with their discs one after the other in the direction of advance, without the possibility of pivoting or changing orientation within the channel.Indeed, with a channel of appropriate dimensions, the reduced mobility of the plugging element in the channel ensures that the plugging element cannot be located in the channel with its diameter in the direction of the height of the channel, which therefore ensures that the plugging element will not change orientation during its travel in the channel. In other words, the height of the channel essentially corresponds to the height of the plugging element, in order to allow its movement while preventing said plugging element from pivoting on itself. This characteristic makes it possible to avoid jamming or orientation problems of the plugging elements. Also, since the large dimension of the section corresponds approximately to the diameter of the plugging element, i.e. its largest dimension in the plane of the disc, the plugging elements are generally aligned in the direction of advance, i.e. the angle between, on the one hand, the direction of advance, and, . on the other hand, the axis between two successive plugging elements is small. It is avoided that the flow of plugging elements is significantly wider than the width of a plugging element.

[0014] It is understood from the above that both the plenum and the channel take a profile shape which extends in the direction of advance and which has a generally rectangular section. The channel extends against the plenum, that is to say that the channel is beyond one side of the plenum. The delimitation between the channel and the plenum is made at a bottom plane, the plenum being on one side of said bottom plane, while the channel is on the other side. The direction of advance is parallel to the bottom plane, and the section of the plenum as well as the section of the channel are perpendicular to the bottom plane. In an optimal configuration, the plugging elements circulate in the device while being oriented with their disc parallel to the bottom plane. The height of the plugging elements is therefore perpendicular to the bottom plane, which is located where the channel is against the plenum.

[0015] The channel has a rear face, which is that on the plenum side, therefore at the level of the bottom plane. Opposite and parallel to the rear face, the channel has a front face. The two other faces of the channel, parallel to each other, are two edges, which correspond, as has been explained, to the height of the plugging element.

[0016] The front face, the rear face, and the two slices are parallel to the direction of advance and are obtained by the extension, along this direction, of the rectangular section of the channel; of course, they do not form a hermetically sealed channel, since it is necessary to allow the circulation of the gaseous fluid which will drive the plugging elements.

[0017] According to the invention, the device comprises an air circuit for bringing the gaseous fluid from the plenum into the channel to push the plugging elements therein, the channel, at its rear face, being against the plenum, and, at its front face, being closed at least partially by a counter plate that the device comprises, preferably a removable counter plate, and the air circuit opening into the channel at at least one edge.

[0018] Thus, the device has an air circuit, which is located on the same side as the channel relative to the bottom plane, and which will conduct the gaseous fluid, in other words the air, located in the plenum, into the channel, where the blocking elements are located. Since the channel is not completely blocked at least at its ends along the direction of advance, or even not blocked at its front face, the air can flow beyond the channel and the flow can therefore be established. The air is therefore sent into the plenum, then into the air circuit, then into the channel, then out of the channel.

[0019] A counter plate closes the front face of the channel at least partially, this to prevent the blocking elements, in other words the plugs, from coming out of the channel. The counter plate can leave an outlet slot for the air which is sent into the channel, this slot possibly extending over the entire length of the channel.

[0020] In the device, the air circuit opens into the channel at one or both edges. Thus, the air circuit directs the air from one of the edges to the opposite one, and also in the forward direction, but avoids directing the air from the rear face to the front face, or from the front face to the rear face. The plugging element therefore receives the air delivered into the channel by the air circuit towards its side, rather than towards its disc.

[0021] In possible embodiments, the counter plate is removable and / or adjustable, so as to adjust the distance between the front face and the rear face, therefore the height of the acceptable blocking element, and / or to adjust the size of the day left open on the front face, for visibility and / or air outlet.

[0022] In certain embodiments of the device, it comprises at least one distributor, arranged against the plenum, the air circuit being arranged in said at least one distributor. As already mentioned, the device is in the form of a plenum against which there is a channel, each on a respective side of a bottom plane, and the air is sent, from the plenum, into the channel, via an air circuit which opens into one or more sections of the channel. It is then advantageous to produce the air circuit in a block which comes into the angle between the section of the channel and the plenum. This air circuit is arranged as a cavity dug from the face of the distributor which arrives against the plenum. The distributor organizes a redirection of the air flow from its passage between the plenum and the arrival in the distributor, generally perpendicular to the bottom plane, to its passage between the distributor and the channel, generally parallel to the bottom plane.

[0023] The creation of the air circuit in the form of a cavity dug into the surface of the distributor which comes against the plenum allows a particularly simple creation, as well as easy cleaning and good air circulation.

[0024] Thus, in possible embodiments, the air circuit arranged in the at least one distributor comprises, on the one hand, a cavity for receiving the gaseous fluid from the plenum, and, on the other hand, injectors in the form of grooves which extend from said cavity and open into the channel at a section, to send the gaseous fluid into said channel and thus push the plugging elements. The cavity has a generally elongated shape along the direction of advance, which facilitates its positioning and its mounting against the plenum, while ensuring that it ends at the right of air passage orifices, provided in the front wall of the plenum. for air circulation. This cavity may have a generally oblong shape, stretching in the direction of advance.

[0025] The second element of the air circuit within the distributor is a set of injectors which open into the channel, therefore at the level of the edge perpendicular to the bottom plane. These injectors are also possibly hollowed out from the face of the distributor, and take approximately the form of a groove between, on the one hand, the air receiving cavity in the distributor, and, on the other hand, the channel at the level of an edge. These injectors can be parallel to each other.

[0026] According to a possible additional characteristic, the injectors are oblique relative to the edge where they end, so that the flow they create has a component in the direction of advance to move the plugging elements. Thus, rather than being oriented exclusively from one edge towards the opposite edge, therefore perpendicular to the direction of advance, the injector is such that its orientation has a component along the direction of advance. The air flow created when it opens into the channel at the edge therefore does not only have a component perpendicular to said edge and towards the opposite edge, but also a component along the direction of advance. This promotes the movement of the plugging elements all in the same direction within the channel.Otherwise, if the air flow were sent by the injector directly to the opposite edge, the plugging element would risk tending to move in the wrong direction, and therefore reducing the speed of the succession of plugs in single file.

[0027] According to a possible additional feature, the at least one distributor is fixed to the plenum in a removable manner, for example by screwing. This makes it possible to opt, even temporarily, for distributors which generate less air flow at a certain location, and more air flow at another location, depending for example on the shape of the path to be traveled. It is understood that, in the invention, the device can have several distributors one after the other along the path, and these distributors can be the same or different.

[0028] As will be further described, the device may have the superposition of a distributor fixed between, on the one hand, a plate at the junction between the plenum and the channel, and, on the other hand, the counter plate.

[0029] According to a possible additional characteristic of the device, it comprises two distributors, each at the level of a slice, the air circuit extending in each of the two distributors so that the gaseous fluid arrives at the level of the two slices of the channel, preferably symmetrically. Thus, the device has two distributors each arranged at the level of a slice of the channel. Preferably, the distributors face each other, namely that the injectors arranged on one of them are opposite those arranged on the other, relative to the direction of advance.

[0030] It is understood that the airflow circuit presented by the device is in such a case arranged on both one of the distributors and the other; in other words, the air circulates from the plenum into the channel, crossing, for one path, one of the distributors, and, for another path, the other distributor. The airflow circuit, which brings the air from the plenum to the channel, therefore extends over the two distributors. It is understood that such an arrangement is possible with more than two distributors, for example distributors which follow one another in the direction of advance, with, opposite, at least one other distributor. Such a combination makes it possible, for example, to have an airflow circuit which passes through a single distributor, therefore which ends on a single section, for a portion of the path, then, on a portion requiring more thrust, for example an ascent, which passes through two distributors, therefore which ends on the two sections of the channel.

[0031] According to another possible additional characteristic of the device, it comprises a front wall delimiting the plenum on the channel side and having at least one orifice allowing the circulation of the gaseous fluid from the plenum into the air circuit, said at least one orifice being located in particular opposite the cavity of the air circuit, where appropriate. The at least one distributor is, for example, mounted on the front wall, where appropriate.

[0032] According to another possible additional characteristic, the at least one counter plate is mounted removably, in particular on the distributor or one of them. It is thus possible to have a single removable counter plate, removably fixed to one of the distributors, and which covers a part of the channel towards the other distributor, without however reaching it so as to leave a window for the passage of air. The counter plate must make it possible to prevent the expulsion of the blocking elements, but must also allow visual control and / or evacuation of the air, which facilitates its circulation.It is understood that this can be achieved by not completely closing the space between the two distributors parallel to the bottom plane, for example with a plate fixed to one distributor but which does not reach the other, two plates, each fixed to one of the two distributors which face each other, but these being mounted with a gap between them, or even one or more plates which are not completely closed, but have orifices, openings, vents, passages, windows, or the like.

[0033] Thus, in certain embodiments of the device, it comprises two plates on the front face, in the extension of one another, their possible spacing leaving a slot in the front face of the channel, for example to allow the gaseous fluid to escape from said channel.

[0034] The invention also relates to a method for implementing such a device, namely a method for aeraulically moving plug-type plugging elements within an elongated channel, generally rectilinear along a direction advance and rectangular section, and which has a front face, a rear face and two edges, the plugging element having a disc which circulates against the front face or against the rear face, process in which a gaseous fluid is sent into the channel so as to push the plugging elements there and move them along a direction of advance.

[0035] Preferably, the plugs circulate with the disc against the rear face, which results from a prior orientation in an orientation equipment. Of course, the reverse orientation can be chosen without this disturbing the system; the plugging elements are nevertheless all oriented in the same way in the channel, where they circulate one after the other.

[0036] In the method, the plugging elements are pushed one after the other, and each is pushed by the previous one as well as by the air flow whose circulation is arranged in the channel. The circulation is linear at least partially, in the sense that in at least part of the path, the movement is along a straight line, that is to say the direction of advance.

[0037] According to the invention, the gaseous fluid is sent into the channel from at least one of the edges. In other words, when it arrives in the channel, the air circulates generally parallel to the disc of the plugging element. It therefore acts on the plug by pushing on the edge, or edge, of the plugging element, either from the outside or from the inside. By exiting through an edge, the sent air opens into the channel approximately parallel to the front face and / or the rear face, and therefore circulates between them. It is preferable to avoid sending the air towards one of these two faces, the air being sent from one edge, or both, between each of the two faces. Of course, a slight inclination can be given to the air flow towards one or other of the faces, without this being as intense as if the flow is sent from one of the two faces, expelled towards the other.

[0038] According to a possible additional feature, the gaseous fluid is sent into the channel with an orientation having a component along the direction of advance. Thus, rather than sending the air flow from one slice entirely towards the other slice, which would amount to having an air flow generally perpendicular to the slice projected along the direction of advance, it is preferable that the flow when sent into the channel, has a movement which has a component along the direction of advance, in other words along the axis in which the channel extends. Thus, the plug is not simply pushed against the opposite slice, but it is actually pushed into the channel, along the direction of advance.

[0039] According to another possible additional feature, the gaseous fluid is sent into the channel symmetrically, each time from one of the slices to the other and partially along the direction of advance. In such a case, the gaseous fluid, air or other, is sent from each of the slices, therefore in two flows partially towards each other. As each of the flows has a component along the direction of advance, and in the same direction, the thrust force exerted against the plugging element is doubled. In addition, the advance of each of the two flows towards the opposite slice being countered by that coming from said opposite slice, the flow will be deflected further along the direction of advance, which further significantly increases the thrust force exerted on the plugging elements along the direction of advance.

[0040] Brief description of the figures: The invention will be better understood thanks to the description below, which is based on possible embodiments, explained in an illustrative and in no way limiting manner, with reference to the appended figures, in which:

[0041] - [Fig.l] schematically represents a device according to the invention; and

[0042] - [Fig.2] shows in particular the distributors placed on the plenum.

[0043] Detailed description: In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions will be designated by the same reference.

[0044] Thus, this invention can more particularly be implemented in the following form.

[0045] The device 1 therefore serves to move stoppers 2, which may be made of plastic or metal. Generally, the stopper 2 has a circular disc 17, and an edge which extends from this disc. This edge may be generally perpendicular to the disc 17, as in the case of a simple plastic capsule, or be slightly flared, as is sometimes the case with metal crowns before they are tightened onto the neck of a bottle. The stopper element 2 therefore has a diameter which corresponds generally to the diameter of the disc 17, the possible flare adding only little. The stopper element, or stopper 2 also has a height, which is its dimension in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the disc 17 is located, this direction being that of its axis of symmetry.

[0046] In such a device 1, the stoppers 2 are moved one after the other, therefore in a column of a single stopper 2 wide. Their relative position is such that the discs 17 are in the same plane, and the movement is in a direction parallel to this plane, therefore parallel to the radii of the circle formed by the disc 17. The stoppering elements 2 are thus conveyed flat, and in a column, which helps to prevent, for example, two stoppers 2 from fitting together.

[0047] The plugs 2 are moved by means of an air flow, in the manner which will be described.

[0048] The device 1 comprises a plenum 3, which, for the whole, is a pipe elongated in a certain direction, which becomes the direction of advance 6. The plenum 3 therefore has a section which extends in this direction, so as to create a volume hollow into which pressurized air can be sent. The section of the plenum 3 is generally rectangular, and the plugs 2 are moved with their disc 17 parallel to the trace of an edge of said rectangle, along the direction of advance. This plenum 3 is open so as to create an air circulation favorable to the thrust of the plugging elements 2, as will be described. The pressurized air sent into the plenum 3, comes out thanks to openings created to bring the air against the plugging elements 2 and push them into their own circulation channel 4.

[0049] Indeed, the device 1 further has a channel 4, also generally in the form of a rectangular section which extends in the direction of advance 6, and this channel makes it possible to contain the plugs 2 during the movement created by the circulation of the air initially sent into the plenum 3.

[0050] In essence, channel 4 is against plenum 3. The generally linear and rectangular section profiles that they form are against each other. As will be further described later, the same plate forms a wall of plenum 3 and a wall of channel 4. Since channel 4 has a smaller section than plenum 3, the profile that it presents does not entirely cover the profile that plenum 3 presents.

[0051] The section of the channel 4 is adapted to the type of plug 2 being processed, and, more precisely, to its dimensions. Indeed, and as has already been mentioned, the plugging element 2 is conveyed with its disc 17 parallel to the direction of advance 6, which is the one in which both the plenum 3 and the channel 4 extend. The section of the channel 4 is generally rectangular in shape, with two edges with dimensions corresponding to the diameter of the disc 17, or a little larger in the case of a flared plug 2 or at least to avoid jamming, and with two other edges whose dimensions correspond to the height of the plug 2.

[0052] The device 1 has a bottom plane 18, to which the direction of advance 6 is parallel. The plenum 3 is located on one side of this bottom plane 18 and the channel 4 is located on the other side. In other words, the channel 4 rests against the plenum 3, and their common side is located at the bottom plane 18.

[0053] Preferably, the channel 4 is such that the disc 17 of the stopper 2 which circulates therein is parallel to the bottom plane 18. Thus, the large dimension of the section of the channel 4, which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the disc 17 of the stopper element to be conveyed, is parallel to the bottom plane 18, and the small dimension of the section of the channel 4 is perpendicular to the bottom plane 18.

[0054] At the level of the bottom plane 18, the device 1 has a flat plate, or front plate 12, possibly removable, which contributes, on one side, to defining the plenum 3, and, on the other side, to defining the channel 4. As will be described, this front plate 12, which therefore also forms the rear face 8 of the channel 4, has at least one orifice 13 to let the air out of the plenum 3 and bring it up against the plugs 2, more precisely against the edges of the plugs 2.

[0055] A particularity of the invention is that the blown air, sent into the plenum 3, arrives in the channel 4 at the edges of its section which have the small dimension, that is to say the edges provided to receive the height of the plug 2.

[0056] More precisely, the device 1 comprises, to bring the air flow into the channel 4 at the level of the small side, at least one distributor 11.

[0057] The distributor 11, preferably in the form of a block which also extends in the direction of advance 6, is possibly placed against the front plate 12. The distributor 11 rests against the front plate 12 with one of its sides, while another of its sides forms an edge of the section of the channel 4. The distributor 11 is provided with an air circuit 10 which makes it possible to direct the air received from the plenum 3 into the channel 4. In fact, the distributor 11 covers the orifice 13 in the front wall 12 of the plenum; in other words, it is fixed at the level of the at least one orifice 13 in the front plate 10 of the plenum 3.

[0058] The orifice 13 in the front plate 10 takes the form of an elongated hole in the direction of advance 6, or even of several such oblong-shaped holes.

[0059] The distributor 11 has a cavity 14, in its face which arrives against the plenum 3. The distributor 11 is positioned so that this cavity 14, which forms a part of the air circuit 10, arrives at least in part at the level of the orifice 13 provided in the front wall 12 of the plenum 3 or one of them, so as to allow the air flow created in the plenum 3 to exit the plenum 3 at the level of the orifice 13, and arrive in the air circuit 10, more precisely at the level of the cavity 14 with which the distributor 11 is provided.

[0060] The distributor 11 has a front and a bottom, parallel to the bottom plane 18, the bottom resting against the front wall 12 of the plenum 3. The cavity 14 is therefore provided at the bottom of the distributor 11. The air circuit 10 also has, downstream of the cavity 14, injectors 15 for bringing the air flow from the cavity 14 into the channel 4, and this, as has been said, for blowing on the plugging elements against their side. In the same way as the cavity 14, these injectors 15 are preferably arranged in the bottom of the distributor 11. In a simple embodiment, the air circuit 10 is therefore simply hollowed out in the bottom of the distributor 11, that is to say that the cavity 14 and the injectors 15 which follow it open onto the bottom of the distributor 11, which allows for example to have access to it after dismantling the distributor 11, to clean the air circuit, entirely accessible from the bottom of the distributor 11.

[0061] It is advantageous to have the distributor 11 in the form of a removable part, and therefore the device as at least partially removable. Indeed, as the thickness of the distributor 11 defines at least partially the maximum acceptable height of the plugging elements, therefore their dimension perpendicular to their disc, since the distributor 11 carries the slice 9 projected in the direction of advance 6 and thus contributes to defining an edge of the channel 4, its possibly removable character makes it possible to use a distributor 11 corresponding to the plugging element to be circulated in the channel 4. If the plug is high, it will therefore be necessary to choose a thick distributor 11, and vice versa. It is in fact more relevant to use a distributor 11 whose thickness is close to the height of the plugging element to be treated, and therefore to arrange such a channel 4, this to avoid excessive movements of the plugging element which are unnecessary and energy-consuming within the channel 4, between the rear face 8 and the front face 7, possibly incessant partial rotations or vibrations.

[0062] As shown in [Fig. 2], the injectors 15 take the form of linear grooves in the bottom of the distributor 11. These grooves open, at one end, into the cavity 14, and, at the other end, into the face of the distributor 11 which contributes to defining the channel 4, at the level of the small length of its section.

[0063] The air blown into the plenum 3 therefore leaves through at least one orifice 13 in the front wall 12, arrives in the air circuit 10 at the cavity 14, then continues in the injectors 15, until it arrives in the channel 4. The air is sent into the channel 4 substantially parallel to the bottom plane 18. In other words, the air arrives in the channel 4 from the distributor 11 which defines at least one of the sides perpendicular to the bottom plane 18, therefore arrives in the channel 4 from one of these sides. Thanks to this arrangement, the air arrives in the channel 4 not from one of its faces parallel to the disc 17 of the plug 2 and therefore to the bottom plane 18, but from at least one of its two other faces, which are perpendicular to it.

[0064] Furthermore, it is advantageous for the injectors 15 to send the air into the channel 4 not perpendicularly to the surface where they open. Indeed, an air flow perpendicular to the edge of the channel 4 would have the effect of pressing the plug 2 against the opposite side, with little guarantee of making it advance in the direction of advance 6 and in the desired direction. Preferably, the injectors 15 are therefore oriented with a component in the direction of advance 6, so that the air flow that they bring creates a force on the plug 2 along the direction of advance 6. In other words, the grooves that form the injectors 15 are therefore at an angle, and extend with a component in the direction of advance 6, from the cavity 14 to the face of the distributor 11 which contributes to defining the channel 4, and this in the desired direction for the movement of the plugs 2.

[0065] In certain advantageous embodiments, the device 1 has two distributors 11 which face each other, each of them defining one of the sides of the channel 4 which are perpendicular to the front wall 12 and therefore to the bottom plane 18. It is then it is possible that the injectors 15 of the two distributors 11 are oblique, namely symmetrical with respect to the channel 4. The angle can be between 20 and 70 degrees, preferably between 35 and 55 degrees.

[0066] To facilitate the circulation of air in the channel 4 and, consequently, the movement of the plugs 2, the channel 4 is not entirely closed at its front face 7. To do this, the device 1 has at least one counter-plate 5, arranged parallel to the bottom plane 18. This counter-plate 5 covers only a part of the space between the two edges of the channel 4, these edges preferably being carried by the distributors 11, as described above. Preferably, this counter-plate 5 is fixed but adjustable in position, so as to adjust the space left open in the front face 7 of the channel 4. In advantageous embodiments, the device 1 has two such counter-plates 5, and at least one of them is adjustable in position towards the other, to easily adjust the slot 16 between them.

[0067] It is understood from the above that the device has the mounting, one on the other, of a counter-plate 5, mounted on a distributor 11, itself mounted on the front wall 12 of the plenum 3, itself for example mounted on a U-shaped or C-shaped profile to close it by creating said plenum 3.

[0068] In certain embodiments mentioned, the air circuit 10 opens onto the surface of the distributor 11, more precisely onto the surface which comes to the level of the bottom plane 18. In other embodiments, the air circuit 10, in the distributor, extends at a distance from the two surfaces of the distributor 11, one coming against the plenum 3 and the other being parallel to it at a distance. In other words, the air circuit 10 circulates at least partly at the heart of the distributor and not on its surface. This is particularly the case for the injectors 15, the cavity 14 which feeds them being able to be dug from the surface of the distributor 11 and therefore accessible from it. The injectors 15 then open at the level of the slice 9 not at the level of the front face 7 or rear face 8 of the channel, but open into the channel 4 at the level of the slice 9, between these two faces.The air flow thus obtained is sent against the plugging elements not from the angle between a slice 9 and the rear face 8, but from an area of ​​the slice 9 which is located at a distance both from the front face 7, in the extension of one of the front surfaces of the distributor 11, and from the rear face 8, in the extension of the other front surface of said distributor 11. This prevents in particular that the air flow, when it emerges from a mouth of the injectors 15 at the angle of the slice and the front face, pushes the plugging element in the direction of the rear face, or conversely from the rear face towards the front face, thus reinforcing the friction. When the air is sent from an area at a distance from the front and rear faces of the channel, part of the friction is avoided. This has in particular as . advantage of reducing the energy required to move the corks, in particular by limiting friction, jamming or poor orientation of the corks.

[0069] Although the invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, their constituent features, in whole or in part, may be freely combined in the form of other embodiments.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for conveying a plug-type plugging element (2), where the plugging elements (2) are pushed aeraulically, said device (1) comprising, on the one hand, an elongated plenum (3) in which a gaseous fluid circulates, and, on the other hand, a channel (4) in which the plugging elements (2) circulate in a direction of advance (6) and which has a front face (7), a rear face (8), and two edges (9) characterized in that the device (1) comprises an aeraulic circuit (10) for bringing the gaseous fluid from the plenum (3) into the channel (4) to push the plugging elements therein, said channel (4), at its rear face (8), being against the plenum (3), and, at its front face (7), being closed at least partially by a counter-plate (5) which the device comprises, the aeraulic circuit (10) opening into the channel (4) at the level of at least one slice (9).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one distributor (11), arranged against the plenum (3), the air circuit (10) being arranged in said at least one distributor (11).

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the air circuit (10) arranged in the at least one distributor (11) comprises, on the one hand, a cavity (14) for receiving the gaseous fluid from the plenum (3), and, on the other hand, injectors (15) in the form of grooves which extend from said cavity (14) and open into the channel (4) at the level of at least one section (9), to send the gaseous fluid into said channel (4) and thus push the plugging elements (2).

4. Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the injectors (15) are oblique with respect to the slice (9) where they end, so that the flow which they create has a component in the direction of advance (6) to move the plugging elements (2).

5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the at least one distributor (11) is fixed to the plenum (3) in a removable manner.

6. Device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises two distributors (11), each at the level of a section (9), the air circuit (10) extending in each of the two distributors (11) so that the gaseous fluid arrives at the level of the two sections (9) of the channel, preferably symmetrically.

7. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a front wall (12) delimiting the plenum (3) on the side of the channel (4) and having at least one orifice (13) allowing the circulation of the gaseous fluid from the plenum (3) into the air circuit (10).

8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one counterplate (5) is removably mounted, in particular on the distributor (11) or one of them.

9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one plate (5) is mounted in an adjustable manner, in particular so as to adjust the width of a slot (16) at the front face (7).

10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two plates (5) on the front face (7), in the extension of one another.

11. Distributor (11) for a device (1) for conveying a plug element (2) of the plug type where the plug elements (2) are pushed aeraulically according to any one of claims 2 to 6, said conveying device (1) comprising, on the one hand, an elongated plenum (3) in which a gaseous fluid circulates, and, on the other hand, a channel (4) in which the plug elements (2) circulate in a direction of advance (6) and which has a front face (7), a rear face (8), and two edges (9), an aeraulic circuit (10) for bringing the gaseous fluid from the plenum (3) into the channel (4) to push the plug elements therein, said channel (4), at its rear face (8), being against the plenum (3), and, at its front face (7), being closed at least partially by a counter plate (5) which the device includes,and said air circuit (10) opening into the channel (4) at the level of at least one section (9) and said device being arranged against the plenum (3), the air circuit (10) being arranged in said distributor (11).,

12. Method for aeraulic displacement of plug-type plugging elements (2) within an elongated channel (4), generally rectilinear along a direction of advance (6) and of rectangular section, and which has a front face (7), a rear face (8) and two edges (9), method in which a gaseous fluid is sent into the channel (4) so ​​as to push the plugging elements (2) located there and move them along a direction of advance (6), method characterized in that the gaseous fluid is sent into the channel (4) from at least one of the edges (9).

13. Method according to claim 12, in which the gaseous fluid is sent into the channel (4) from each of the two slices (9) facing each other.

14. A method according to any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the gaseous fluid is sent into the channel (4) with an orientation having a component along the direction of advance (6).

15. Method according to claim 13 and according to claim 14, in which the gaseous fluid is sent into the channel (4) symmetrically, each time from one of the slices (9) towards the other and partially along the direction of advance (6).

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