Preform conveying system with rotator angle indexing device

Abstract

A conveying device for container preforms (2) comprises: a rack; a conveying chain (9) comprising a plurality of chain links (11), each chain link carrying at least one rotator (17), the rotator having: a spindle (18); a gear (19) connected to the spindle (18) for integral rotation, the gear and the rack meshing on a path working section; a rotator nose (20) detachably fixed to the spindle (18) by a bayonet; a cam follower (34) fixedly connected to the spindle (18); an angular indexing device (33) of the rotator (17), comprising a cam (33), the cam follower (34) cooperating with the cam in a path non-working section so as to place the spindle (18) in a predetermined fixed angular position so as to remove the rotator nose (20) by a tool (32) carried by an automated manipulator (31).

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application entitled "Preform conveying equipment equipped with a rotator angle indexing device", with an international application date of August 22, 2018, an international application number of PCT / EP2018 / 072681, and a national application number of 201880057864.3. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the conveying of container preforms, in particular of plastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The preforms generally comprise a cylindrical body terminating in a hemispherical bottom, an open neck which assumes its final shape and (usually) a hoop separating the neck from the body. Background Art

[0003] In container manufacturing equipment, unprocessed injection preforms are generally stored in bulk in a magazine. The preforms are first taken out of the magazine and then oriented and arranged in a row to be introduced into a heat conditioning unit (commonly called an "oven") equipped with infrared emitters. In the oven, the preforms are heated to a temperature above their glass transition temperature (about 80°C for PET).

[0004] The preforms heated in this way are then transferred to a forming unit equipped with a plurality of molds, in which the preforms are formed into a container mold cavity by blow molding or stretch blow molding.

[0005] In the oven, the preforms are conveyed successively by a conveyor chain comprising a plurality of links, each link carrying a support for the preforms. This support is slidably pivotably mounted relative to the links, and is generally called a "rotator".

[0006] The spinner generally comprises a spindle fixedly connected to a gear, the gear meshing with a rack, and a spinner nose mounted on the spindle. The spinner nose is used to fit into the neck of the preform.

[0007] In this way, the preform nested on the mandrel head is driven in the oven both in translation and in rotation so as to be fully exposed to the radiation of the infrared emitters.

[0008] The same equipment must be suitable for making different styles of containers, especially containers of different capacities. A given style of preform may be suitable for many styles of containers, but not all of them. The furnace must also be able to ensure the heating of preforms of different styles. Preforms are not distinguished only by their main shape (and size): they sometimes have necks of different diameters.

[0009] As can be easily understood, it is therefore necessary to replace each spinner nose with another spinner nose having a diameter adapted to the new type of preform to be heated.

[0010] The spinner nose is usually mounted on the spindle by means of a bayonet, which is in the form of a groove formed on the spindle, in which a pin connected to the spinner nose is engaged. Therefore, removing the spinner nose requires immobilizing the spindle and rotating the spinner nose (usually by an angle of between 10° and 20°) to disengage the pin from the bayonet. Conversely, installing a new spinner nose also requires immobilizing the spindle, orienting the spinner nose so that the pin is aligned with the bayonet, then introducing the pin into the bayonet and rotating the pin in order to lock it in the bayonet.

[0011] These operations are usually done manually, which explains why replacing all the spinner noses takes several hours, during which the entire line is at a standstill. As a modern production line produces approximately 40,000 containers per hour, it is understandable that minimizing the intervention time necessary to replace the spinner noses is crucial.

[0012] Methods for automating this intervention have been proposed: European patent application EP2976207 (SACMI) thus describes a multi-axis robot with a gripper that grips the spinner nose to disengage the pin from the bayonet and expose the spindle. The spinner nose thus removed is placed in a magazine from which the robot takes a new spinner nose and mounts it on the exposed spindle.

[0013] However, this solution still leaves room for improvement. On the one hand, there is no indication of how to fix the spindle in rotation so that it can be removed (or the spinner nose installed), which calls into question the practical nature of the proposed solution. In addition, since the angular position of the spindle may vary from one spinner to another, the robot has to fumble around to try to position the pin in alignment with the bayonet, which wastes time. Summary of the invention

[0014] An object is therefore to propose a practical solution which allows the automated replacement of spinner noses in a preform conveying device.

[0015] An inevitable goal is to minimize the time required for changeover in order to reduce production line downtime.

[0016] To this end, a conveying device for conveying container preforms is first proposed, each preform having a cylindrical body and an open neck, the conveying device comprising:

[0017] -rack;

[0018] - a conveyor chain moving along a path, the conveyor chain comprising a plurality of links articulated to one another, each link carrying at least one sheath fixed to each link and carrying a rotator having:

[0019] a spindle slidably pivotally mounted relative to the sheath;

[0020] A gear connected to the spindle for integral rotation, the gear meshing with the rack on the working section of the path;

[0021] a spinner nose removably secured to the spindle by a bayonet;

[0022] - indexing means for angularly indexing the rotators, the indexing means being opposite to the non-working path section where the gear is disengaged from the rack, the indexing means comprising a cam, each rotator having a cam follower fixedly connected to the spindle, the cam follower cooperating with the cam in the non-working path section in order to place the spindle in a predetermined fixed angular position in the non-working path section;

[0023] - a manipulator having a tool for disassembling the spinner nose, the tool being movable in a working zone extending at least partially just above the indexing device in order to ensure disassembly of the spinner nose while the spindle remains in its predetermined fixed angular position.

[0024] Thus, the spindle is temporarily fixed in a predetermined angular position, which facilitates and speeds up the operations of removing and installing the nose of the spinner by a robot. Various additional features can be considered, taken alone or in combination. Thus, for example:

[0025] -The cam follower is in the form of a roller;

[0026] - The cam follower is fixedly connected to the joint of the carrier gear;

[0027] - the cam comprises a plate having a groove;

[0028] - the groove is straight;

[0029] - the cam comprises, in the extension of the groove, a pair of guides with facing converging surfaces;

[0030] - The guide is hingedly mounted on the plate;

[0031] - The guides are connected via return springs;

[0032] - the bayonet is formed by a curved groove made at one end of the spindle, in which the pin carried by the nose of the spinner engages;

[0033] - The spinner nose has a flat surface for engagement of a complementary tool for disassembling the spinner nose.

[0034] Secondly, a method for disassembling the spinner nose from the spindle in an apparatus as described above is proposed, the method comprising the following operations:

[0035] - The spindle is kept at a predetermined fixed angular position by the cooperation of the cam follower and the cam;

[0036] - While the spindle remains in its predetermined fixed angular position, the spinner nose is removed by means of a tool.

[0037] Advantageously, the spinner nose is removed by, for example, rotation and then translation applied by a tool secured to it. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0039] Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a preform conveying device;

[0040] Figure 2 From another angle Figure 1 A partial perspective view of the device;

[0041] Figure 3 It is a partial perspective view of the detail of the device with the indexing device as the center;

[0042] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing some of the links of the chain and its revolver, and also showing the indexing device;

[0043] Figure 5 From another angle, Figure 4 A perspective view of the same components.

[0044] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 an enlarged view of a detail taken in circular portion VI of FIG.

[0045] Figure 7 is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the VII-VII plane;

[0046] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a single pair of rotators engaged in an indexing device cam and showing a rotator nose removed from one of the rotators;

[0047] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 Magnified view of a detail taken in circular portion IX of and centered on the spinner nose. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Shown is a conveying device 1 for conveying preforms 2 , based on which containers are to be formed (by blow moulding or stretch blow moulding).

[0049] Each preform 2 (in Figure 4 The preform 2 includes a cylindrical body 3, an open neck 4 extending from a first end of the body 3, and a hemispherical bottom extending from the other end of the body 3. In the example shown, the preform 2 includes a hoop 5 separating the neck 4 from the body 3.

[0050] Here, the device 1 is arranged to convey preforms 2 one after another in a heat conditioning unit 6, referred to as an oven, which is in the form of a tunnel, in which the preforms 2 should be heated to a temperature above their glass transition temperature in order to subsequently be formed into containers in a forming unit (not shown) equipped with a plurality of molds having cavities of containers of a given style.

[0051] First, the device 1 comprises a fixed frame 7 and a toothed rack 8 fixed to the frame 7. In the example shown, the toothed rack 8 comprises two superposed segments 8A, 8B. Each segment 8A, 8B is, for example, in the form of a chain or a belt, extending in a (non-closed, as will be seen) loop along a predetermined profile (in this case an ellipse).

[0052] Secondly, the device 1 comprises a conveyor chain 9 which moves along a path. This path is predetermined and conforms at least partially to the contour of the rack 8. For this purpose, in particular in the drawings Figure 1 and Figure 2 Only a part of a chain 9 is shown, which chain 9 circulates on wheels 10, at least one of which is a motorized wheel. Figure 1 In FIG. 1 , the outline of such a wheel 10 is shown by dashed lines.

[0053] The chain 9 comprises a plurality of links 11 articulated to one another. To articulate two consecutive links 11 together, the chain 9 comprises a coupling 12 comprising a pair of columns 13 articulated in rotation to one another, each column being provided with an orifice 14.

[0054] Each link 11 carries at least one sheath 15, which is fixedly connected to each link (translationally and rotationally integrated at the same time). Figure 7 As shown, a sheath 15 passes through an orifice 14 of a column block 13 and is interposed with a liner 16 forming a smooth (possibly lubricated) bearing.

[0055] Each chain link 11 also carries a support 17 for the preforms 2. This support 17, hereinafter referred to as a rotator due to its rotating nature, has:

[0056] o a spindle 18 slidably pivotally mounted relative to the sheath 15;

[0057] o Gear 19 connected to the spindle 18 for integral rotation;

[0058] o A spinner nose 20 detachably fixed to the spindle 18 by means of a bayonet 21 .

[0059] A bayonet is any system for fastening a first part to a second part by engagement followed by rotation through a small angle (less than 360°, even less than 180°, most often even less than 120°).

[0060] The axis of rotation of the spindle 18 relative to the jacket 15 (and relative to the chain links 11 ) is referenced A.

[0061] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the rack 8 is not continuous but partially interrupted, which defines an operating section PA of the path in which the rack 8 extends and a local non-operating section PI in which the rack 8 is interrupted.

[0062] On the path working section PA, the gear 19 meshes with the rack 8. Therefore, the translation movement of the chain 9 relative to the rack 8 drives the gear 19 (together with the spindle 18 fixed to it and the rotator nose 20 fixed to the spindle 18) in rotation about the axis A.

[0063] When the preform 2 is mounted on the spinner nose 20 , it is driven in the same rotation so that the entire surface of its body 3 is exposed to the radiation of the oven 6 .

[0064] As shown in the figure, especially Figure 7 As shown, the gear 19 is formed in the form of a disk on a joint 22, which includes a cylinder 23 assembled on the spindle 18, and the gear 19 extends at one end thereof. The joint also includes a flange 24 with a diameter smaller than that of the gear 19, and the flange 24 is in the opposite direction of the gear 19.

[0065] In order to reduce the wheelbase between the preforms 2 and thus increase productivity, the chain 9 carries two types of rotators installed alternately:

[0066] Type I ( Figure 7 left side), in which the joint 22 is mounted so that the gear 19 extends at the end of the spindle 18 to engage the first segment 8A of the rack 8;

[0067] The second type ( Figure 7 On the right side), in which the joint 22 is mounted inversely with respect to the first type of joint 22, ie in which the flange 24 extends at the end of the spindle 18 and the gear 19 meshes with the second segment 8B of the rack 8.

[0068] according to Figures 4 to 7In the embodiment shown, each link 11 carries a pair of adjacent rotators 17 (one of each type).

[0069] For each rotator 17, each link 11 carries an ejector 25 fixed to the jacket 15. This ejector 25 is in the form of a perforated sleeve surrounding a portion of the spindle 18 and the rotator nose 20. The fixing of the ejector 25 to the jacket 15 is achieved by a tight press fit with the interposition of an O-ring J. However, it is possible to envisage another way of fixing it, for example by magnetization, by screwing, by bayonet or the like.

[0070] Each rotator 17 is mounted for translation relative to the sheath 15 (and therefore relative to the ejector 25) between a deployed position, in which the rotator nose 20 projects beyond the supporting end face 26 of the ejector 25, and a retracted position. Figure 7 ) in order to fit in the neck 4 of the preform 2 (the so-called set-on operation), in this retracted position the spinner nose 20 is housed in the ejector 25 to remove the neck 4 therefrom, while the neck 4 rests on the supporting end face 26 of the ejector 25 (the so-called stripping operation).

[0071] In a region of the device 1 that is not shown, a pusher engages in the joint 22 in order to translate the joint 22 (and together with the spindle 18 and the spinner nose 20) relative to the sheath 15 (and relative to the ejector 25) from its deployed position to a retracted position or vice versa, a return spring 27 being interposed between the sheath 15 and the spindle 18 in order to permanently push the spindle towards its deployed position ( Figure 7 ).

[0072] As already mentioned, the spinner nose 20 is fixed to the spindle 18 by means of the bayonet 21 .

[0073] according to Figure 8 and Fig. 9 In the embodiment shown, the bayonet 21 is formed by a curved groove formed at one end of the spindle 18 (opposite the gear 19). More specifically, the groove comprises: an axial portion 21A parallel to the axis of rotation A and extending to the end of the spindle 18; and a non-continuous transverse portion 21B (relative to the axis A) terminating in a notch 21C.

[0074] Accordingly, the rotator nose 20 carries a pin 28 which will engage in the bayonet 21. Figure 7 As shown, the pin 28 is elastically urged by the spring 29, thereby eliminating the axial clearance between the spinner nose 20 and the spindle 18. When the pin 28 is positioned in the recess 21C, the spinner nose 20 is fixed relative to the spindle 18 and does not translate or rotate ( Fig. 9 , right side).

[0075] To remove the spinner nose 20 from the spindle 18, the spindle is fixed so that it does not rotate and a rotational motion is applied to the spinner nose 20 (e.g. Fig. 9 left, as indicated by the upper curved arrow), and then a translational movement (also as Fig. 9 right arrow at the top).

[0076] The fixing of the spinner nose 20 on the spindle is performed in the reverse order.

[0077] According to a preferred embodiment, the bayonet 21 is double, ie the spindle 18 comprises a pair of identical grooves offset by an angle of 180°, and correspondingly the spinner nose 20 comprises two diametrically opposed pins 28 which may be formed by the same rod.

[0078] Third, if Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the device 1 includes a dividing device 30 for dividing the rotator 17 directly opposite the non-working section PI of the path, and the function of the dividing device is to temporarily maintain the spindle 18 at a predetermined constant angular orientation to allow an automated manipulator 31 equipped with an appropriate tool 32 to remove the rotator nose 20 from the spindle so as to replace the removed nose with another nose having a different diameter.

[0079] To this end, the indexing device 30 includes a cam 33, and each rotator 17 has a cam follower 34 fixedly connected to the spindle 18, which cooperates with the cam 33 in the non-working section PI of the path so as to place the spindle 18 (and therefore the rotator 17 as long as the rotator nose 20 is installed therein) in a predetermined fixed angular position (this position is the same for all rotators 17, with a module of 180°) in this non-working section PI.

[0080] The cam follower 34 is offset relative to the axis A of the spindle so as to generate a rotational torque of the spindle 18 when it cooperates with the cam 33 .

[0081] In the example shown, the cam follower 34 is fixedly connected to the joint 22. More specifically, when the rotator 17 is of the type in which the gear 19 extends at the end of the spindle 18 ( Figure 7 left side), the cam follower 34 is carried by the gear 19; when the rotator 17 is of the type where the flange 24 extends at the end of the spindle 18 ( Figure 7 On the right side, the cam follower 34 is carried by the flange 24.

[0082] According to the accompanying drawings, more specifically Figures 4 to 7 In the embodiment shown in, the cam follower 34 is in the form of a roller. This roller 34 is for example mounted on a stud bolt 35 that is tightened on the joint 22.

[0083] According to the accompanying drawings, more specifically Figure 4 and Figure 8 In the embodiment shown in , the cam 33 comprises a plate 36 (which may be made of metal or plastic, for example of polyoxymethylene or POM) having a groove 37. In the example where the path inactive section PI is located in a straight portion of the path, the groove 37 is straight.

[0084] In order to gradually guide the spindle 18 into the desired angular position and thus limit the impacts, the cam 33 comprises, in the extension of the groove 37 (and upstream of the groove in terms of the movement direction of the chain 9 ), a pair of guides 38 with facing converging surfaces 39 .

[0085] For example, each guide 38 is in the form of a bar with a rectangular or square section, made of the same material as the plate (for example, POM). The guides 38 are advantageously mounted in articulation on the plate 36 by means of a pivot 40 , for example in the form of a stud.

[0086] According to a preferred embodiment, each guide 38 is chamfered at the free end. Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 8 As shown, the guides 38 are advantageously connected by a return spring 41 (operating in traction mode in the example shown) which tends to return the guides towards each other when they are separated, for example when the roller 34 bears against one of them when a rotator 17 approaches. This spring 41 acts as a shock absorber, absorbing part of the shock of the roller 34 bearing against the guide 38.

[0087] Fourthly, to remove the rotator nose 20 when the rotator is located in the path inoperative section PI, the device 1 is equipped with an automated manipulator 31 which is located near the path inoperative section PI.

[0088] The manipulator 31 is articulated at least in vertical translation and in rotation about a vertical axis. However, according to the embodiment shown in the figures, the manipulator 31 is a multi-axis manipulator.

[0089] The manipulator 31 has a fixed base 42 (e.g. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, mounted on a frame 7), and a hinged bracket 43.

[0090] One end of the support 43 is provided with a tool 32 designed to ensure the removal of the rotator nose 20 by rotation and translation, by disengaging the nose from the bayonet 21 .

[0091] For this purpose, the tool 32 moves in a working zone ZT which extends at least partially directly above the indexing device 30. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4, the working zone ZT is schematically shown in the form of a dashed rectangle. It will be understood that this shape does not limit the exact contours of the working zone ZT (which in fact depends on the degrees of freedom of the tool 32), but is only intended to represent the working zone relative to the more general environment of the device 1.

[0092] In the example shown, the spinner nose 20 has a flat face 44 (the shape and size of the flat face are constant for all versions of the spinner nose 20). For the tool 32, it advantageously includes a rotating chuck 45 carrying a pair of main clamps 46, which are slidably mounted between a separated position allowing the tool 32 to be placed above the spinner nose 20 and a close position, in which the clamps 46 clamp the flat face 44 so that the tool is fixedly connected to the spinner nose 20 for rotation ( Fig. 9 ).

[0093] Preferably, the manipulator 31 is also designed (and programmed) to ensure the early evacuation of the ejector 25. To this end, in the example shown, the tool 32 has a pair of auxiliary clamps 47 (with a gutter profile) that are slidably mounted on the chuck 45 between a separation position and a close position, the separation position allowing the tool 32 to be placed above the ejector 25, and in the close position, the clamps 47 clamp the ejector 25, ensuring the ejector evacuation by axial traction, under which the O-ring J is radially compressed until the ejector 25 is released from the sheath 15.

[0094] According to a particular embodiment, the ejector 25 may be rotationally secured to the spinner nose 20 during its evacuation, so as to act as a tool allowing the nose to be disassembled.

[0095] The operation is as follows.

[0096] As long as the rotator 17 is coupled to the rack 8 via its gear wheel 19 in the path section PA, the rotator is driven in rotation by the translation of the conveyor chain 9 .

[0097] Once the rotator 17 reaches the inoperative path section PI, its gear 19 disengages from the rack 8, leaving the rotator 17 temporarily free to rotate. However, when the gear 19 disengages from the rack 8, the cam follower 34 oriented in any direction engages the cam 33, which exerts a reaction force on the cam follower that generates a rotational torque of the spindle 18 about its axis A.

[0098] Once the cam follower 34 engages in the groove 37, and as long as the cam follower 34 is not disengaged from the groove, the angular orientation of the mandrel 18 is a fixed orientation. Therefore, the tool 32 of the manipulator 31 first grasps the ejector 25 by means of the secondary clamp 47 to remove it from the sheath 15 by axial traction.

[0099] The ejector 25 is placed by the manipulator 31 in a magazine, preferably adjacent to the device 1 .

[0100] Then, in a second step, the manipulator tool 32 grasps the rotator nose 20 by means of the main clamp 46 in order to impart a rotational movement thereto ( Fig. 9 The curved part of the arrow in the middle) followed by translational motion ( Fig. 9 The straight part of the arrow in the middle) is used to disengage the pin 28 from the bayonet 21, thereby disengaging the rotator nose 20 from the spindle 18. During these operations, the spindle 18 remains fixed and does not rotate.

[0101] When the mandrel 18 remains fixed, the angle of rotation that the tool 32 of the robot 31 must apply to the spinner nose 20 is constant (and small) from one spinner 17 to another, which facilitates the disassembly of the spinner nose 20 .

[0102] After the spinner nose 20 has been removed, it is deposited in a magazine by the manipulator 31 .

[0103] The new spinner nose 20 is then removed from the magazine by the manipulator 31 and mounted on the spindle 18 (previously exposed) by a mounting sequence that is the reverse of the above-described disassembly sequence.

[0104] Since the angular position of the spindle 18 has not changed (the spindle is still in the non-working section PI of the path, and the cam follower 34 is still engaged with the cam 33), the positioning of the bayonet 21 is known, and the manipulator 31 can directly engage the pin 28 of the new rotator nose 20 into the bayonet without having to grope and try, which again facilitates quick installation.

[0105] Finally, the manipulator 31 takes out the ejector 25 from the magazine and installs the ejector on the sheath 15 in the reverse order of the removal order of the ejector 25 described above.

[0106] In the embodiment variant in which the ejector 25 can be rotationally fixed to the rotator nose 20 when being evacuated as described above, the ejector 25 and the rotator nose 20 are replaced simultaneously. In this case, the tool 32 of the manipulator 31 grasps the ejector 25 to remove it from the sheath 15 until the ejector engages the rotator nose 20, and then the movement (rotation, translation) required for removing the nose is applied to the rotator nose 20 by means of the ejector 25 used as a tool. Then, the manipulator 31 places a pair of ejector 25-rotator noses 20 in the storage box, and then replaces them with another pair of ejector 25-rotator noses 20 taken out of the storage box.

[0107] In order to improve the accuracy of the angular indexing of the rotator 17, it is possible to consider setting an adjustment for the position of the cam 33. Figure 3In the example shown, the indexing device 30 has a cam 33 adjustment system comprising, for example, a longitudinal slide 48 (in the direction of movement of the rotator 17 ) and a transverse slide 49 (perpendicular to the direction of movement of the rotator 17 ).

[0108] Furthermore, the guides 38 can be held at a minimum angular separation by means of positioning pins 50 which, under the urging of the springs 41 , abut against stops 51 formed on the plate 36 .

Claims

1. A conveying device (1) for conveying preforms (2) for containers, each preform (2) having a cylindrical body (3) and an open neck (4), the conveying device (1) comprising: - fixed frame (7); A conveyor chain (9) moving along a path, the conveyor chain comprising a plurality of chain links (11) articulated to one another, each chain link (11) carrying at least one sheath (15) fixedly connected to each chain link and carrying a rotator (17), the rotator having: Mandrel (18); Gear (19); a spinner nose (20) removably secured to the spindle (18); - a rack (8) in the form of a chain or a belt, the rack at least partially conforming to the path, the path comprising: a local non-working section PI in which the gear (19) is disengaged from the rack (8), and a working section PA in which the gear (19) and the rack (8) are meshed to drive the rotator nose (20) to rotate around the axis A of the spindle (18); - a manipulator (31) having a tool (32) for disassembling the spinner nose (20); - indexing means (30) for indexing the rotators (17) directly in the non-working section PI, the indexing means comprising a cam (33), and each rotator (17) having a cam follower (34) fixedly connected to the spindle (18), the cam follower cooperating with the cam (33) in the non-working section PI of the path so as to place the spindle (18) in a predetermined fixed angular position in the non-working section PI of the path, The conveying device (1) is characterized in that the manipulator (31) is an automated manipulator and is located near the non-working section PI of the path.

2. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The manipulator (31) has a fixed base (42) mounted on the frame (7).

3. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The manipulator (31) has an articulated support (43).

4. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The manipulator (31) is articulated at least in a vertical translation and in a rotation about a vertical axis.

5. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The manipulator (31) is a multi-axis manipulator.

6. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The spinner nose (20) has a flat surface (44).

7. The conveying device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The tool (32) includes a rotating chuck (45) which carries a pair of main clamps (46) which are slidably mounted between a separated position allowing the tool (32) to be placed above the rotator nose (20) and an approach position. In the approach position, the main clamps (46) clamp the flat surface (44) so ​​that the tool is fixedly connected to the rotator nose (20) for rotation.

8. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that For each rotator (17), each chain link (11) carries an ejector (25) fixed to the jacket (15).

9. The conveying device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that The ejector (25) is in the form of a perforated sleeve surrounding a portion of the spindle (18) and the spinner nose (20).

10. The conveying device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The ejector (25) is fixed to the sleeve (15) by a tight fit and an O-ring (J) is inserted between the ejector and the sleeve.

11. The conveying device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The manipulator (31) of the carrier tool (32) has means for ensuring the removal of the ejector (25).

12. The conveying device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that The tool (32) has a pair of auxiliary clamps (47) which are slidably mounted on a rotary chuck (45) between a separated position allowing the tool (32) to be placed above the ejector (25) and an approached position in which the auxiliary clamps (47) clamp the ejector (25), wherein the ejector is withdrawn by axial traction.

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