Compactor

Abstract

Compactor (1) suitable to treat plastic material to be granulated having a softening temperature ranging from 70°C to 120°C; the compactor (1) comprising a frame (10) that supports a plastic material loading station (30) and an unloading station (40) arranged along a central axis (AX) and, between these, an operating station (50); said operating station (50) comprises a homogenization device (500) of the plastic material supported by the frame (10) and provided with a presser assembly (502) and with a drawing assembly (504) facing the unloading station (40) to treat the plastic material; the presser assembly (502) and the drawing assembly (504) being carried by the frame (10) in a rotatable manner relative to one another around the central axis (AX).

Description

[0001] COMPACTOR

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a compactor. In particular, the present invention refers to a compactor designed to process plastic materials. More specifically, the present invention refers to a compactor with limited overall dimensions and designed to process plastic materials continuously and to produce granulated bodies having high mechanical characteristics.

[0004] DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

[0005] Plastic is a material that is obtained mostly from hydrocarbons and due to its chemical and physical characteristics it is easily workable by applying moulding technologies that are different if the plastic to be used is in powder, granular or liquid form. The different moulding procedures have in common a first phase wherein the plastic is melted and then injected into a mould, extruded to pass through an opening of a given section, compressed inside a mould in several parts, blown inside a hollow mould to produce bottles or other hollow objects, cast in a rotating mould to produce large objects.

[0006] The limited costs of supply of the basic material and production, the greatest versatility of use of products made of plastic have facilitated the diffusion thereof in industrial and daily applications. However, the polymeric nature of plastic materials, and in particular the type of chemical bonds between the respective molecules of the covalent type give said materials a significant stability, accompanied by poor biodegradability, in some cases measurable in hundreds of years, unless they are exposed to particular conditions, such as strong radiation from solar rays as in the case of PVC. In the case in which plastics are disposed of by combustion, they release highly toxic gases for which it is well understood that to limit the negative impact thereof on the environment they should be recycled as much as possible and treated industrially considering their respective characteristics.

[0007] Therefore, to reduce the negative impact of plastic on the environment all the most advanced strategies start with the tracking and collecting of products made of plastic, starting from domestic, industrial and any other waste. Generally, the collected plastic is separated based on the type of material and colour. It is then shredded into small pieces and reduced to flakes. Subsequently, the shredded plastic is melted to obtain granules that can be used in the moulding of new products or components of new products. Here and in the following, the adjective "shredded" indicates plastic material subjected to shredding processes to produce granules or "pellets".

[0008] On the other hand, this operating method has some drawbacks: the melting of the plastic, in addition to requiring significant energy consumption, is accompanied by the production of toxic gases and following the melting and subsequent cooling, especially when this operating phase is performed quickly, the plastic material has lower quality characteristics due to the weakening of the bonds, the formation of crystalline agglomerates (spherulites), the presence of which can only be determined by "X" rays and can reach very high percentages of 75% - 80%. These grains have a softening temperature (commonly known as "glass transition temperature") comprised in the range (70-120°C). Processing the materials previously indicated above 120°C has some disadvantages: melting of the plastic material, degradation of some components, the mixtures especially in the presence of natural fibres, with consequent production of gas, thermal shock during the cooling phase following extrusion phases, high energy consumption, reduction of the formability thereof and suitability to assume complex geometries; reduction of the risk of deformations or fragile breakages; reduction of impact and cutting resistance.

[0009] Therefore, using plastic materials treated by melting makes them difficult to use in the production chain of origin.

[0010] It is well understood that the impact of these inconveniences is not negligible, also because the collecting itself has significant costs, also considering the logistics aspect.

[0011] The applicant has solved many of these drawbacks by means of the invention of a machine called "thermos-compactor" which is the subject of the respective European Patent application no. EP 3 463 782. The use of a thermos- compactor built according to the teachings of said application allows the production of plastic material with improved mechanical resistance to traction, avoiding appreciable gaseous formations, which appears in the form of granules / pellets that are shiny on the surface and substantially homogeneous, which can be used as a secondary raw material.

[0012] These grains have a melting temperature that is generally around 140°C. Processing plastic materials far from the melting temperature but close to the glass transition temperature as indicated above has some particularly significant advantages: low energy consumption, no gas emissions, no weakening of molecular bonds, preservation of the physical characteristics of the components, increased formability and suitability to assume complex geometries; improved dimensional stability of the finished product; reduced risk of deformations or breakage due to brittleness; increased impact and cutting resistance. However, the production cycle to which the material is subjected in the machine involves the execution of a succession of operational phases, each performed by a specific device, therefore, according to the invention of the EP '782 application, the use of a plurality of devices arranged in cascade is envisaged and, obviously, of the conveyor members necessary to synchronize the continuous operation of the thermo-compactor.

[0013] Without adding further details, it is possible to conclude that the machine according to the teachings of the EP '782 patent application, while allowing the above-mentioned drawbacks to be overcome, has a considerable number of structural components and, therefore, high purchase, set- up, maintenance, and management costs. The need to reduce and consolidate the number of production phases according to the EP '782 patent application provided the inspiration to design a machine to produce plastic material in pellet / granulate form comprising a limited number of structural components, capable of performing the entire production cycle with low energy and time impact and limited overall dimensions.

[0014] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015] The present invention relates to a compactor. In particular, the present invention refers to a compactor designed to treat materials of different nature, for example, but not limited to, plastic materials, animal feed, fertilizers, food products in general, wood flours, wood plastic composites, materials in general where temperature control during the manufacturing process is essential. More specifically, the present invention refers to a compactor with limited overall dimensions and designed to treat plastic materials continuously and to produce granulated bodies having high mechanical characteristics. The above-mentioned drawbacks are solved by the present invention according to at least one of the following claims.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a compactor suitable to treat plastic material to be granulated is implemented; said compactor comprising a frame that supports a plastic material loading station and an unloading station arranged along a central axis and, between the latter, an operating station; characterized in that said operating station comprises homogenization means of said plastic material carried by said frame and provided with a presser assembly and a drawing assembly facing said unloading station to treat said plastic material; said presser assembly and said drawing assembly being carried by said frame in a manner rotating relative to one another around said central axis.

[0017] According to an embodiment as described above, said unloading station comprises a cooling chamber carried by said frame for collecting said plastic material drawn from said drawing grill, a collection box and at least one discharge channel connecting said cooling chamber with said collection box.

[0018] According to an embodiment as described above, said drawing assembly comprises a disc carried by said frame and provided with a slot provided with a drawing grill.

[0019] According to an embodiment as described above, said loading station comprises a hopper carried by said frame and arranged to feed the plastic material at a temperature that is a default approximation of 40°C.

[0020] According to an embodiment as described above, said disc is delimited on the side of said loading station by a first flat face having the shape of a circular crown orthogonal to said central axis interrupted by said radial slot; said first flat face being delimited peripherally by a first protrusion and a by second circular protrusion both raised relative to said first flat face.

[0021] According to an embodiment as described above, said frame comprises a respective central support and said presser assembly comprises a carousel which is coupled concentrically with said central support in a given manner and is provided with at least one axisymmetric body carried axially rotatable by said carousel around a pivot axis and peripherally having a generatrix parallel to said first flat face.

[0022] According to an embodiment as described above, each said axisymmetric body comprises a toothed wheel shaped so as to have a respective directrix parallel to said first flat face.

[0023] According to an embodiment as described above, each said wheel has a width which is a default approximation of a radial distance between said first protrusion and second protrusion .

[0024] According to an embodiment as described above, at least one first toothed wheel of said toothed wheels is conical and has a respective pivot axis inclined by a first angle relative to said central axis, said first angle having such a width that, in use, a tangential speed of each said wheel measured at said first protrusion and at said second protrusion are substantially identical.

[0025] According to an embodiment as described above, said frame has a base that separates said operating station from said unloading station and comprises a drive assembly suitable for rotating said disc and / or said carousel around said central axis. According to an embodiment as described above, said compactor comprises regulation means for the temperature of at least one said wheel and / or said disc to regulate the respective first given temperature and second given temperature .

[0026] According to an embodiment as described above, said regulation means comprise a regulation unit connected to at least one said wheel, to maintain the same at said first temperature, and to said disc, to maintain the same at said second given temperature.

[0027] According to an embodiment as described above, said temperature regulation means comprise a first pneumatic channel inside each said wheel and a second pneumatic channel inside said disc; said regulation unit comprising a pneumatic distributor arranged to supply said first and second channels with cold air at a given temperature.

[0028] According to an embodiment as described above, said distributor comprises a Vortex tube arranged to receive a flow of air through an inlet and to divide said flow of air into a cold air current that can be conveyed to said wheels and into a hot air current, where said cold air current can be at a temperature ranging from 0°C to - 40°C to maintain said wheels or disc at their respective said first and second temperatures.

[0029] According to an embodiment as described above, said first temperature is a default approximation of a temperature of 40°C while said second temperature is a default approximation of a softening temperature of said plastic material ranging from 70°C to 120°C.

[0030] According to an embodiment as described above, said central support is carried rigidly by said frame; a first drive assembly being carried by said frame to rotate said disc around said central axis; said first drive assembly comprising a first drive unit and a second transmission with axes parallel to the central axis where said second transmission comprises a first pulley connected to a drive shaft of said drive unit; said second transmission comprising a second pulley rigidly connected to a peripheral portion of said disc and a drive belt mechanically coupling said first and second pulleys allowing said disc to rotate relative to said frame. According to an embodiment as described above, said frame comprises a plurality of bars parallel to said central axis which extend upwards from said base, are arranged peripherally around said central support, peripherally delimit said operating station and are connected to one another by a plate, which delimits said operating station on the opposite side to said base.

[0031] According to an embodiment as described above, said frame carries in said operating station an elongated member above said disc to support a presser device of said plastic material against said first face.

[0032] According to an embodiment as described above, said presser device comprises an axisymmetric presser member which is carried by an end portion of said elongated member so as to rotate freely around a longitudinal axis thereof, a drive unit carried by said elongated member arranged to rotate said presser member.

[0033] According to an embodiment as described above, said presser member is delimited externally by a conical sleeve and engages the space between said first protrusion and said second protrusion and is positioned at a minimum distance from said first flat face, so that the respective said sleeve is almost tangent to the first flat face.

[0034] According to an embodiment as described above, said carousel is carried by said plate by means of at least one linear actuator to be movable in an axially sliding and angularly fixed manner relative to said central support and to regulate at will the axial distance of each said wheel of said carousel from said disc and, consequently, in said operating station away from and towards a position of tangency to said first flat face.

[0035] According to a possible constructive alternative of the present invention as described above, said disc is carried fixed by said frame; said central support being carried by said frame in a freely rotatable manner around said central axis; a second drive assembly being carried by said frame to move said central support in rotation around said central axis.

[0036] According to an embodiment as described above, said second drive assembly comprises a second drive unit and a third gear transmission comprising a drive wheel fitted onto a drive shaft of said second drive unit; said third transmission comprising a driven wheel fitted onto said central support and mechanically connected to said drive wheel to axially rotate said carousel together with said central support relative to said frame.

[0037] According to one embodiment as described above, said temperature regulation unit is supported by said frame by means of said central support in the engagement position of said loading station, so that, in use, said regulation unit rotates together with said carousel.

[0038] According to an embodiment as described above, said carousel has a radial hole for each said wheel formed in the body of said carousel; each said wheel being carried in a cantilever manner by said carousel by means of a respective axle provided with a shank that firmly engages said radial hole.

[0039] According to an embodiment as described above, at least one supply duct and at least one discharge duct pass longitudinally through each said axle.

[0040] According to an embodiment as described above, each said wheel is associated with a first cover carried by said wheel on the side of said shank and a second cover that couples with said wheel on the side of a free end of said axle to define a chamber inside said wheel that can be pneumatically supplied by said regulation unit through at least one said supply duct for conditioning the temperature of the wheel from the inside.

[0041] According to an embodiment as described above, said first cover has a circular hole concentric with said axle; axial sealing means and radial sealing means being associated with said circular hole to make said chamber together with said second cover tight.

[0042] According to any embodiment of the present invention as described above, said frame carries cutting means under said disc to separate granules of said softened material drawn by said drawing grill.

[0043] According to an embodiment as described above, said disc is delimited on the side of said unloading station by a second flat face and said cutting means comprise a plurality of radial blades carried by said frame so as to pivot relative to said disc to cyclically granulate portions of given extension of said plastic material drawn by said drawing grill.

[0044] According to an embodiment as described above, said drawing grill has a plurality of ducts having a constant transverse section oriented transversely to said first flat face and arranged in an array; each said duct having an input portion arranged on the side of said first flat face and having a section decreasing along a direction that stretches from said first flat face to said second flat face, to act, in use, as a guide for the input of said softened plastic material into the respective said duct. Possible further embodiments of the present invention are defined by the claims.

[0045] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0046] Further characteristics and advantages of the compactor according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, set out with reference to the attached figures which illustrate at least one non- limiting embodiment thereof, wherein identical, or corresponding parts of the same compactor are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular:

[0047] - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a compactor according to the present invention;

[0048] - Figure 2 is a side elevation and section view according to plane II of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale and with parts not shown for clarity;

[0049] - Figure 3 illustrates Figure 1 on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity from a second point of view, opposite to that of Figure 1;

[0050] - Figure 4 illustrates Figure 3 on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity;

[0051] - Figure 5 illustrates Figure 3 with parts removed for clarity from a third point of view;

[0052] - Figure 6a illustrates a detail extracted from Figure 5 on an enlarged scale;

[0053] - Figure 6b illustrates Figure 6a in transparency;

[0054] - Figure 6c illustrates a detail extracted from Figure 6a on an enlarged scale;

[0055] - Figure 6d is a view of a diametral section of a detail extracted from Figure 6c;

[0056] - Figure 7 is a three-dimensional schematic view on an enlarged scale and in transparency of a detail of Figure 2;

[0057] - Figure 8 is an axial longitudinal section of Figure 7;

[0058] - Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a compactor according to the present invention;

[0059] - Figure 10 illustrates Figure 9 rotated by an angle that approximates 180° with parts removed for clarity;

[0060] - Figure 11 is a view of Figure 10 on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity;

[0061] - Figure Ila is a three-dimensional schematic view of a portion of Figure 11 in an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity;

[0062] - Figure 12 is a view of Figure 11 in an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity;

[0063] - Figure 13 is a 180° rotated view of Figure 12 in an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity;

[0064] - Figure 14 is a schematic view of Figure 13 with parts in section and parts removed for clarity;

[0065] - Figure 15 is a bottom view of Figure 12;

[0066] - Figure 16 is a section view of Figure 10 rotated by 90° with parts removed for clarity;

[0067] - Figure 17 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 16 with parts removed for clarity;

[0068] - Figure 18 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 17 with parts removed for clarity;

[0069] - Figure 19 is an exploded view of a portion of Figure 17 in an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity;

[0070] - Figure 20 and Figure 21 are front views of a significant portion of Figure 16 with parts removed for clarity in two characteristic positions.

[0071] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0072] Before describing in detail the preferred embodiments of the present invention or particulars thereof, it is deemed advantageous to specify that the scope of protection thereof is not limited to the particular embodiments described hereinafter. The disclosure and description herein are illustrative and explanatory of one or more currently preferred embodiments and alternatives, and it will be apparent to the skilled in the art that various changes in design, organization, order of operation, means of operation, apparatus structures and location, methodology and use of mechanically equivalent elements can be made without thereby being external to the spirit of the invention.

[0073] Furthermore, it is to be understood that the attached figures are intended to clearly illustrate and disclose embodiments currently preferred to the skilled in the art, but are not drawings illustrating how said embodiments would be performed in reality or actual representations of final products; instead, said figures may comprise simplified conceptual views to aid in understanding or to provide an easier and quicker explanation. Furthermore, the relative dimensions and arrangement of components may differ from those shown and still function within the spirit of the invention.

[0074] On the other hand, it will be understood that various directions such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "back", etc. are only made relative to the explanation in conjunction with the drawings and that the components may be oriented differently, for example during transportation and production, as well as during operation. Since many different and distinct embodiments may be made within the scope of the concepts taught herein, and since there are many modifications that may be made to the embodiments described herein, it is to be understood that the details provided hereinafter are to be understood as illustrative and not limitative of the spirit of the invention.

[0075] In Figure 1, 1 denotes, as a whole, a compactor suitable for processing plastic material to be granulated having a softening temperature that is less than 120°C and normally falls within the range 70°C-120°C. With particular reference to Figure 2, said compactor comprises a frame 10 that supports a plastic material loading station 30 and an unloading station 40. With reference to Figure 2, said two stations are arranged along a central axis AX and, between these, the frame 10 supports an operating station 50. The frame 10 carries, furthermore, a cylindrical partition wall 100 that can be assembled around the loading stations 30 and the operating station 50, which is fully shown in Figure 1 and partially in Figure 2. Furthermore, the frame 10 has a base 16 that separates the operating station 50 from the unloading station 40.

[0076] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the frame 10 comprises a central support 12, which passes through the operating station 50, and a plurality of bars 14 parallel to the central axis AX, which extend upwards from the base 16, are arranged around the central support 12 to peripherally delimit the operating station 50 and are connected to one another by a plate 18 that delimits the upper part of the operating station 50. The loading station 30 comprises a hopper 32 ventilated in a known and not illustrated manner that is carried by the frame 10 and is designed to feed the operating station 50 with plastic material heated to a temperature that approximates 40°C to prepare it for a subsequent increase in temperature that provides for its respective softening in subsequent operating phases.

[0077] The plate 18 has through openings 180 shown in Figure 3 for the outlets of supply ducts 320 connected to the hopper 32.

[0078] Inside the operating station 50, the frame 10 supports homogenization members 500 of the plastic material wherein said homogenization members 500 comprise a presser assembly 502 and a drawing assembly 504 facing the unloading station 40 to treat the softened plastic material. The frame 10 carries the presser assembly 502 and the drawing assembly 504 so as to pivot relative to one another around the central axis AX, which means that in use one of the two is movable relative to the other, regardless of which of the two is fixed relative to the frame 10. In particular, as will be better specified in the following, the drawing assembly 504 is rotatable relative to the presser assembly 502, without thereby limiting the scope of the present invention. In this regard, with particular reference to Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6, the drawing assembly 504 comprises a disc 5040 which is carried rotating by the base 16 by the interposition of bearings (Figure 4) and is provided with a radial slot 5042 which is engaged by a drawing grill 5044.

[0079] With particular reference to Figure 5, the disc 5040 is delimited on the part of the loading station 30 by a first flat face 5045 having the shape of a circular crown that lies geometrically on a plane orthogonal to the central axis AX and is interrupted by the radial slot 5042. Said first flat face 5045 is delimited peripherally by a first external circular protrusion 5046 and by a second internal circular protrusion 5048, both concentric and raised relative to the first flat face 5045. The disc 5040 is delimited by a second flat face 5045' on the opposite side to the operating station 50, therefore facing the unloading station 40. The first and second protrusions 5046 and 5048 are mounted and connected to the disc 5040 with detachable screw-type connections, as shown in Figure 4, without limiting the scope of the present invention, but they could be connected by welding but the disc 5040 could carry them in one piece or in any other way.

[0080] With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, the presser assembly 502 comprises a carousel 5020 coupled with the frame 10 in a longitudinally sliding manner to the central support 12 and to the bars 14. The carousel 5020 is provided with at least one axisymmetric body 5022 which is carried rotating axially by the carousel 5020 by means of a cylindrical axle 50220 (Figure 4) that is freely rotatably carried by the plate 18 by two brackets 50221 (Figure 4). The axle 50220 extends along a pivot axis 5024 inclined relative to the central axis AX of the central support 12 by a given angle. Each axisymmetric body 5022 has a peripheral generatrix parallel to the first flat face 5045 of the disc 5040. In particular, each axisymmetric body 5022 is formed by a toothed wheel 5022 that has a width, in the direction of the width of each respective tooth, which approximates a radial distance between the internal side of the first protrusion 5046 and the external side of the second protrusion 5048, so that each wheel 5022 can rotate relative to its own pivot axis 5024 and to the disc 5040 within the space radially delimited by the first and second protrusions 5046 and 5048. In particular, but without limiting the scope of the present invention, in this embodiment the pivot axis 5024 of each wheel 5022 is inclined by a first angle a of a given amplitude relative to the central axis AX, each wheel 5022 is conical and the respective primitive cone has a semi-opening angle between the respective pivot axis 5024 and the first flat face 5045 that approximates the first angle a. Furthermore, the first angle a has an amplitude sized so that, in use, a tangential speed of each wheel 5022 measured in the vicinity of the first protrusion 5046 and a tangential speed of each wheel 5022 measured in the vicinity of the second protrusion 5048 are substantially identical; the purpose is to avoid radial movement of the material, and therefore friction, which could cause relative overheating and unwanted melting.

[0081] As described above, in use, the carousel 5020 with the respective wheels 5022 and the disc 5040 are designed so as to be operable in relative rotational motion around the axis AX and each wheel 5022 is carried in a rotating manner around the respective axis 5024.

[0082] It may be advantageous to specify that in the attached figures the carousel 5020 carries three wheels 5022 but, given the relative rotation of the wheels relative to the disc 5040, the carousel 5020 could carry a smaller or larger number based on the design requirements without limiting the scope of the present invention.

[0083] With particular reference to Figure 3, the compactor 1 comprises a movement device 60 arranged to regulate a distance measured along the central axis AX between the disc 5040 and each wheel 5022 in the operating station 50 to and from a position in which at least one wheel 5022 is tangent to the first flat face 5045. In this regard, the movement device 60 comprises at least one linear actuator 62 (two in Figure 3 without thereby limiting the scope of the present invention) arranged between the carousel 5020 and the base 16 to regulate at will the axial distance of the carousel 5020 from the base 16 and, therefore, of the toothed wheels 5022 from the disc 5040 to and from a position of almost mutual tangency.

[0084] With particular reference to Figure 4, the compactor 1 comprises a regulation assembly 20 carried by the frame in a known manner that will be better described in the following. Said regulation assembly 20 is fluid- dynamically connected to each wheel 5022 and / or to the disc 5040 to regulate their respective first given temperature and second given temperature. For this purpose, the temperature regulation assembly 20 is connected to each wheel 5022 by means of a first pneumatic circuit 22 to maintain the same at the first temperature, and to the disc 5040 by means at of a second pneumatic circuit 23 to maintain the same the second given temperature. Still with reference to Figure 4, it may be advantageous to specify that the regulation assembly 20 comprises a pneumatic distributor 28 arranged to supply the first and second circuits 22 and 23 of each wheel 5022, respectively. For clarity in the illustration, only one distributor 28 has been illustrated in schematised fashion even if, based on the type of distributor 28 chosen, it is possible to provide the compactor 1 with a distributor for each wheel 5022 and one for the disc 5040 or only one for all the wheels 5022 and the disc 5040 of the compactor 1 or according to a different choice without thereby changing the scope of the present invention.

[0085] In particular, but without limiting the scope of the present invention, the first temperature is a default approximation of a temperature of 40°C while the second temperature is a default approximation of a specific softening temperature of the plastic material to be treated in use.

[0086] In some embodiments, if deemed favourable, the control unit 20 may be arranged to maintain the first temperature and the second temperature substantially identical and to approximate a softening temperature of said plastic material, without thereby modifying the scope of the present invention.

[0087] With particular reference to Figures 6b, 7 and 8, the first pneumatic circuit 22 comprises a first pneumatic channel 24 inside the wheel 5022 and the second pneumatic circuit 23 comprises a second pneumatic channel 26 inside the disc 5040 which is better shown in Figure 6e. It is opportune to note that, for conditioning the temperature of the respective toothed portion, the first channel 24 of each wheel 5022 comprises a plurality of internal rectilinear sections 240 parallel to the teeth of the wheel 5022 itself; each section 240 is connected to the adjacent section 240 by a circumferential / peripheral groove 242 obtained in the head of the wheel 5022 and / or to the respective base, a groove which is transformed into a communication channel between two adjacent sections 240 by means of a known and not illustrated annular cover. Naturally, this is true for both the wheel head 5022 and the respective base by means of known and not illustrated screws. In addition, always with reference to Figures 7 and 8, the first channel comprises a supply ring 243 and a discharge ring 244 connected to a first radial input section 241 and to a second output section, respectively, structured in an identical manner to the first radial section 241 and not illustrated for the economy of the illustration. The first radial section 241 connects the supply ring 243 to an input section 240 and a second known and not illustrated radial section connects the discharge ring 244 to a discharge section 240 which is also not illustrated as it is drawn similarly to the input section 240 shown in Figure 8. Naturally, the axle 50220 has a dedicated channel to interface the supply ring 243 and the discharge ring 244 with the distributor 28 so that it will be better described with reference to Figures 17-19 for the economy of the text and the figures, given the identity of the solutions with reference to this specific aspect. The second pneumatic channel 26 inside the disc 5040 has been designed in a substantially identical manner, which means it has two internal loading and unloading supply rings connected to one another by a circuit comprising a plurality of radial sections connected in pairs by peripheral grooves closed by ducts parallel to the axis of the disc 5040.

[0088] With particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, the compactor 1 comprises, in the operating station 50, an elongated member 11, similar to a rectangular section profile, carried by the frame 10, and in particular by the plate 18 between two bars 14, in a position above the disc 5040, the purpose of which is to support a presser device 80 facing the disc 5040. In particular, the presser device 80 comprises an axisymmetric presser member 82 having a truncated conical shape carried freely rotatable around its longitudinal axis by an end portion of the elongated member 11, a drive unit 84 always carried by the elongated member 11 externally from the area facing the disc 5040 in a position above the presser member 82, and a first transmission 86 with parallel axes that mechanically connects the presser member 82 with the drive unit 84 to selectively rotate the presser member 82. In particular, as is better shown in Figure 4, the presser member 82 is delimited externally by a conical sleeve 82' that engages the space between the first and second protrusions 5046 and 5048 with the portion facing the disc 5040 and is arranged at a minimum distance from the first flat face 5045, so that the respective sleeve 82' hovers at a minimum distance and without touching the first flat face 5045, therefore it is almost tangent to the latter.

[0089] With particular reference to Figures 3 and 4, the compactor 1 comprises a drive assembly 70 carried by the base 16 whose specific function is to rotate the disc 5040 or the carousel 5020 around the central axis AX. The drive assembly 70 comprises a drive unit 72 and a second transmission 74 with axes parallel to the central axis AX where the second transmission 74 comprises a first pulley 76 connected to the drive shaft (known and not illustrated for the economy of the illustration) of the drive unit and a second pulley 78 which is rigidly connected to a peripheral portion of the disc 5040, and a drive belt 79, which mechanically couples the first and second pulleys 76 and 78 allowing the disc 5040 to rotate relative to the frame 10 according to a transmission ratio given by the ratio between the diameters of the first and second pulleys 76 and 78.

[0090] The unloading station 40 comprises a thermostatically controlled cooling chamber 42 delimited above by the base 16 (or by the lower face 5045' of the disc 5040 opposite the first flat face 5045 based on the way in which the disc 5040 is carried by the base 16 to receive the plastic material drawn from the drawing grill 5044 and at least one discharge channel 420 that connects the cooling chamber 42 with a collection box 422.

[0091] With particular reference to Figure 5, the frame 10 carries a cutting member 190 illustrated in a simplified manner underneath the disc 5040. Said cutting member 190 is provided with a plurality of radial blades 192 that are carried fixed relative to the base 16 or, more generally, to the frame 10 and distributed at a constant angular pitch underneath the second flat face 5045' to cyclically cut portions of a given extension of the plastic material drawn from the drawing grill 5044 so as to produce granules.

[0092] With particular reference to Figures 6c and 6d, the grill 5044 has a plurality of ducts 5044' having a constant transverse section oriented transversely to the first flat face 5045, arranged side by side according to an array arrangement; each duct 5044' has an input portion 5044'’ arranged on the side of the first flat face 5045 which has, respectively, a decreasing transverse section according to a direction that stretches from the first flat face 5045 to the second flat face 5045', to act, in use, as a guide for the input of said softened plastic material into the respective said duct 5044'.

[0093] The use of the compactor 1 is easily understandable from what has been described above and does not require further explanations. On the other hand, to understand the operation of the compactor 1 in a unique way it is useful to specify the following to understand which phases of operations are performed on the plastic material in the path that develops between the hopper 32 and the collection box 422. The plastic material in the form of small pieces, flakes, granules or other is fed to the hopper 32 which, being ventilated, brings the same to a temperature that is a default approximation of 40°C. From the hopper 32 the material thus heated is fed to the first flat face 5045 of the disc 5040 and the disc 5040 is set into rotation relative to the base 16 by the drive unit 72 by means of the second transmission 74. The disc 5040, heated pneumatically by the regulation assembly 20 through the second channel 26, gradually increases the temperature of the plastic material received from the hopper 32 to around 40°C and at the same time the carousel 5020 is moved along the central support 12 towards the first flat face 5045 by means of the linear actuators 62 and, once the wheels 5022, heated pneumatically by the regulation assembly 20, each through the respective first channel 24, at a temperature that is a default approximation of 40°C, have come into contact with the plastic material collected on the first flat face 5044 of the disc 5040, the wheels 5022 will begin to compress the same downwards by cooperating with the same first flat face 5045 of the disc 5040. At the same time, the plastic material is compressed and homogenized on the flat face 5045 under the combined action of the pressure that occurs under the teeth of the wheels 5022 heated by the progressive lowering of the carousel 5020 and under the conical sleeve 82' of the presser member 82, as well as a consequence of the friction that occurs between the flakes, granules, and small pieces of plastic material when it is compressed and crushed by the teeth of the same wheels 5022. At the same time, the temperature of the plastic material is increased to the softening temperature by the combined action of the homogenization compression and the consequent progressive thinning of the thickness of the plastic material given by the wheels 5022 and by the presser member 82, a circumstance that facilitates the homogenization of the temperature of the plastic material to that of the disc 5040 at each revolution around the central axis AX on the face 5045 of the disc 5040. On the other hand, at each passage of the drawing grill 5044 under the presser member 82 the now softened plastic material is forced to engage the input portions 5044'’ of the ducts 5044' of the drawing grill 5044. The progressive increase in the engagement of the ducts 5044'’ leads to the output of the plastic material under the second flat face 5045' of the disc 5040. The action of the radial blades 192 causes the separation of granules from the drawn plastic material, granules that fall inside the cooling chamber 42 where the respective temperature is decreased and gradually brought to room temperature, a chamber from which they are fed to the collection box 422 through the at least one discharge channel 420.

[0094] In addition, it is considered appropriate to add that the circumstances illustrated above occur on the first flat face 5045 of the disc 5040 at each radius comprised between those of the first external protrusion 5046 and of the second internal protrusion 5048, so that the temperature and pressing conditions are substantially identical for the material supplied to the ducts 5044' of the drawing grill 5044, to the advantage of the degree of homogeneity of the plastic material granules received from the collection box 422.

[0095] Finally, it is clear that modifications and alternatives can be made to the compactor 1 described and illustrated herein without departing from the protective scope of the present invention. In particular, in Figures 7-21 of the compactor 1 an alternative is provided marked with the reference number 1' comprised in the scope of protection of the present invention in which the disc 5040' is carried by the frame 10' in an angularly and longitudinally fixed manner to the frame 10' and the carousel 5020' is coupled with the central support 12' in a longitudinally movable and rotatable manner relative to the central axis AX so that the distance between the respective wheels 5022' and the disc 5040' is regulable between a raised position and a lowered position of minimum distance relative to the first flat face 5045' of the disc 5040'.

[0096] In the figures illustrating this embodiment, the compactor 1' develops vertically also in this case but with reduced peripheral dimensions; in Figures 9 and 10 of the loading station 30' only a cup-shaped lid 34' is shown and not the conical hopper 32 carried above for the economy of the illustration .

[0097] The compactor 1' has a cup-shaped container 421' which delimits the respective unloading station 40' at the bottom and has a discharge mouth 423' (Figures 9 and 10). With particular reference to Figure 16, the central support 12' has a base end 120' carried by the frame 10' by means of the interposition of a rolling bearing 120'’ according to a known mechanical scheme to be freely rotatable around the central axis AX' and axially fixed. With particular reference to Figures 11, 12 and 15, the disc 5040' is substantially identical to the disc 5040 and is carried axially fixed by the frame 10' above the base end 120' at a given height relative to the base 16'.

[0098] Figure 12 shows that each wheel 5022' is carried in a cantilever manner by the carousel 5020' by means of a respective axle 50220' provided with a shank 50222', shown in Figures 17 and 18, which firmly engages a radial hole 50200' obtained in the body of the carousel 5020'. Each wheel 5022' corresponds to a radial hole 50200' and the radial holes 50200' are uniformly distributed around the central axis AX', and so are the wheels 5022' which, for this reason, are suitable to operate in the same conditions and in the same manner.

[0099] Always with reference to Figures 17, 18 and 19, each wheel 5022' is coupled with the respective axle 50220' by means of the interposition of known bearings mounted in an "0" shape without this detail being a constraint on the implementation of the present invention. Each wheel 5022' is associated with two axisymmetric sealing members, in particular a first cover 21' carried by the wheel 5022' coupled peripherally in a rigid manner with a lateral surface of the wheel 5022' on the side of the shank 50222', and therefore having a circular hole, the diameter of which approximates by excess the diameter of the axle 50220', and a second cover 23' coupled peripherally in a rigid manner with an external lateral surface of the wheel 5022' on the side of the free end of the axle 50220' to define a chamber 5023' internally to the same wheel 5022' which can be pneumatically supplied by the regulation assembly 20' through at least one of the ducts 25', 25'' and 25''' in order to condition the temperature of the wheel 5022' from the inside.

[0100] In particular, the circular hole of the first cover 21' is concentric with the axle 50220' and approximates by excess an external diameter of the same axle 50220'. To determine the watertightness of the chamber 5023', the first cover 21' has a first cylindrical recess 50224' that is concentric with the axle 50220', faces the carousel 5020' at the base of the shank 50222' and is engaged by a first lip seal 50225' which sets upon the carousel 5020' around the radial hole 50200' so as to determine a frontal / axial fluid seal; furthermore, the first cover 21' has a second stepped cylindrical recess 50226' which is obtained internally to the circular hole to be radially facing an external cylindrical sleeve of the axle 50220' and longitudinally to a side of an internal ring of one of the two bearings of the "0" shaped assembly of the wheel 5022' on the axle 50220'; said second cylindrical recess 50226' is engaged by a second lip seal 50227' which laps said cylindrical sleeve so as to determine radial fluid-tight sealing.

[0101] From what is described herein it is possible to state that the first seal 50225' and the second seal 50227' of the first cover 21' are sealing devices associated with the cylindrical hole designed to make the chamber 5023' axially and radially watertight together with the second cover 23'.

[0102] With particular reference to Figures 20 and 21, the carousel 5020' is coupled with the central support 12' above the disc 5040' by means of a grooved coupling of a known type and not illustrated so that relative to the frame 10' and to the central support 12' the carousel 5020' is longitudinally movable and is rotatably movable relative to the frame 10' so that the distance between the respective wheels 5022' and the first flat face 5045' of the disc 5040' is regulable between a raised position and a lowered position of minimum contact distance relative to the first flat face 5045' of the disc 5040'. In addition, the central support 12' carries above an axial movement hydraulic device 12'’ comprising an internally hollow cylindrical head 121' that couples concentrically and stably with the upper end portion 120'’ of the central support 12'. The head 121' has above a hollow cylindrical portion 1210' of larger diameter and at the bottom a cylindrical portion / shank 1212' of smaller diameter that carries the carousel 5020' rigidly at its bottom. The hydraulic device 12'’ comprises, furthermore an axisymmetric body 123' coupled with an external sleeve of the shank 1212' in a freely axially sliding and angularly fixed manner to define a hydraulic cylinder of total longitudinal extension expandable by hydraulic action.

[0103] Always with particular reference to Figures 20 and 21, the cylindrical portion 1210' and the axisymmetric body 123' are axially facing one another by their respective third lower faces 12100' and a fourth upper face 1230' normally in axial contact (Figure 20) and the distance can be regulate at will hydraulically (Figure 21), between which a hydraulically sealed gap 124' is obtained that can be hydraulically supplied with pressurized grease to adapt the total extension of the hydraulic device 12'’ to the current operating needs, therefore to contain the thickness of the gap 124' that is generated in use between the lower directions of the wheels 5022' and the disc 5040', in order to control the actual thickness of the softened plastic material to be drawn on the first flat face 5045'.

[0104] The head 121' rigidly carries at least one distributor 140' provided with an upper portion 1400' designed to supply air to the wheels 5022' and the disc 5040', and a lower portion 1402' which exchanges oil or grease under pressure with the gap 124', on which the longitudinal movement of the carousel 5020' between the raised and lowered positions of Figures 20 and 21 depends. In particular, without thereby limiting the scope of the present invention, in Figures 20 and 21 a single distributor 140' is carried centrally by the head 121', and the upper portion 1400' of the distributor 140' comprises at least one so-called "Vortex" tube which is well known being a commercial component and, consequently, illustrated only schematically. Each Vortex tube used is fluid-dynamically connected to at least one of the wheels 5022' to maintain the same at the first given temperature through a circuit similar to the first pneumatic circuit 22 of Figure 4, which we preferred not to show for the economy of the illustration, and / or is connected to the disc 5040' to maintain the same at the second given temperature through a circuit similar to the second pneumatic circuit 23, also not shown for the economy of the illustration. A particular feature of each Vortex tube is to comprise an inlet designed to receive, in use, a flow of air supplied, for example but not limited to, through a known and not illustrated compressor, and to divide said air flow into a cold air current and a hot air current, each at a given temperature, therefore suitable for specific uses. In the compactor 1' the cold air current can be supplied to any of the wheels 5022' or to the disc 5040' at a temperature that will be chosen based on the design requirements in the range 0°C - 40°C. The hot air can be used upstream of the loading station 30 to contain the humidity rate of the plastic material to be treated with the compactor 1' to a value less than or equal to 20%.

[0105] In this embodiment of the compactor, the toothed wheels 5022' are cylindrical and, as described above, are rigidly mobile in a rotatable manner together with the carousel 5020' around the central axis AX, and therefore relative to the disc 5040', in addition to being freely rotatable around the respective fulcrum axes 5024'. The internal pneumatic circuitry of the wheels 5020' is substantially identical to that of the wheels 5020, which is assumed to have already been described for the sake of brevity. On the other hand, some additional information is advantageous to better illustrate how the air is supplied from the upper portion 1400' to the axles 50220' and from these to the wheels 5020'.

[0106] In particular, as described above and with reference to Figures 13, 14, 16-19, each axle 50220' has internally three parallel axial ducts 25', 25'', 25''' and the carousel 5020', in the section located above the shank 50222' of each axle 50220', has internally three vertical ducts 29', 29'' and 29''', connected respectively in a fluid-tight manner with the parallel ducts 25', 25'' and 25''', where the duct 25'' is coaxial with the pivot axis 5024' of the respective wheel 5022' and is connected to the lower portion 1402' of the distributor 140' to supply grease or lubricant to the respective bearings mounted in an "0" shape internally and therefore to the chamber 5023'. The duct 25'’ is closed at the end by a cap 250'’. The two remaining ducts 25' and 25'’’ are part of the first pneumatic circuit 22 pneumatically supplied with cold air, as described above, by the upper portion 1400' of the distributor 140' and are supply and discharge ducts, respectively, for the air that must pass and has passed through the wheels 5022'. In particular, the duct 25', closed at the end position by a cap 250', is connected to the ring 243 through a radial section 290', while the duct 25''', closed at the end position by a cap 250''', is connected to the ring 244 through a radial section 290'’’. The two vertical ducts 29' and 29'’’ are also part of the first pneumatic circuit 22 and, as described above, the first is pneumatically supplied with fresh air received directly from the upper portion 1400' of the distributor 140' through the duct 25'’ while the second receives the internally heated air from the respective wheel 502' through the duct 25'’’.

[0107] Figure 12 show tubes 27 leading to the three ducts 29', 29'’ and 29'’’, of which only the central one 29'’ is visible in Figures 17 and 18, and connect them with the distributor 140' of the regulation assembly 20' in a known manner and illustrated only partially for the economy of the illustration.

[0108] The disc 5040' is provided with an internal channel identical to that of the disc 5040 (Figure 6b) described above and is also pneumatically supplied by a distributor similar to the distributor 140' carried by the frame 10' in a preferably fixed position in a known manner and therefore not illustrated based on specific design characteristics without thereby limiting the scope of the present invention. For the economy of the illustration, only one distributor 140' has been illustrated and with a schematic conformation for the economy of the illustration even if, based on the type of distributor 140' chosen, it is possible to provide the compactor 1 with a distributor for each wheel 5022' and one for the disc 5040' or one only for all the wheels 5022' and the disc 5040' of the compactor 1' or according to a different choice without thereby varying the scope of the present invention.

[0109] As can be seen better in Figure Ila, also in this version the drive assembly 70' is carried by the base 16' of the frame 10' and the respective second drive unit 72' is mechanically connected to the central support 12 for the respective axial rotation by means of a third transmission 74'. Said transmission 74' is organised in two stages arranged in cascade, a first stage 700' having horizontal parallel axes and a second stage 702' having toothed wheels, where the first stage 700' comprises a primary drive shaft 704' of the second drive unit 72’ and the second stage 702 comprises a secondary drive shaft 704'’ carried in a known manner by the frame 10' with a respective horizontal longitudinal axis. The primary drive shaft 704' carries a fitted-on first pulley 700’ and the secondary drive shaft 704' carries a fitted-on second pulley 708' facing the first pulley 700’ where said pulleys are mechanically connected in a synchronous manner by means of a toothed belt 710'. The secondary drive shaft 704' also axially carries a cylindrical toothed wheel 712' which is part of the second stage 702’ and is mechanically coupled with a driven wheel 714' fitted onto the support 12' between the disc 5040' and the base end 120' of the support 12' in a known manner and only schematized in Figure Ila to simplify the illustration, this detail being irrelevant to implement the invention.

[0110] The cutting member 190' comprises a circular member 191' which is fitted onto the central support 12' below the disc 5040' and has a plurality of blades 192' arranged radially in pitch around the central support 12' with their sharpened portion in a position to slightly touch the second lower flat face 5045' of the disc 5040' from the circular member 191' by means of a plurality of vertical arms 194' to separate portions of softened extruded material through the ducts 5044' already shown in Figure 6d.

[0111] Figures 11 and 15 show that the temperature regulation assembly 20' engages the loading station 30' and is carried by the frame 10 by means of the central support 12' so that, in use, it is able to rotate together with the carousel 5020' relative to the frame 10'.

[0112] In the claims, any reference code put in parentheses shall not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps in addition to those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the terms "one" or "a / an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. Furthermore, the use of introductory phrases such as "at least one" and "one or more" in the claims shall not be interpreted as meaning that the introduction of another claim element identified by the use of the indefinite articles "one" or "a / an" limits any particular claim in which said claim element appears alone, even when the same claim comprises introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "one" or "a / an". The same applies to the use of definite articles. Unless otherwise stated, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to arbitrarily distinguish the elements that said terms describe. Therefore, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate the temporal or other priority of said elements. The mere fact that some measures are set forth in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A compactor (1) suitable to treat plastic material to be granulated; said compactor (1) comprising a frame (10) that supports a plastic material loading station (30) and an unloading station (40) arranged along a central axis (AX) and, between these, an operating station (50); characterized in that said operating station (50) comprises homogenization means (500) of said plastic material supported by said frame (10) and provided with a presser assembly (502) and with a drawing assembly (504) facing said unloading station (40) to treat said plastic material; said presser assembly (502) and said drawing assembly (504) being carried by said frame (10) in a manner rotating relative to one another around said central axis (AX).

2. The compactor according to claim 1, characterized in that said unloading station (40) comprises a cooling chamber (42) carried by said frame for collecting said plastic material drawn by said drawing grill (5044), a collection box (422) and at least one discharge channel (420) that connects said cooling chamber (42) with said collection box (422).

3. The compactor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said drawing assembly (504) comprises a disc (5040) carried by said frame (10) and provided with a slot (5042) provided with a drawing grill (5044).

4. The compactor according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that said loading station (30) comprises a hopper (32) carried by said frame (10) and arranged to feed the plastic material at a temperature that is a default approximation of 40°C.

5. The compactor according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that said disc (5040) is delimited on the side of said loading station (30) by a first flat face(5045) in the shape of circular crown orthogonal to said central axis (AX) interrupted by said radial slot (5042); said first flat face (5045) being peripherally delimited by a first circular protrusion (5046) and by a second circular protrusion (5048) raised relative to said first flat face (5045).

6. The compactor according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that said frame (10) comprises a respective central support (12) and in that said presser assembly (502) comprises a carousel (5020) that is coupled concentrically to said central support (12) in a given way and is provided with at least one axisymmetric body (5022) carried rotating axially by said carousel (5020) around a pivot axis (5024) and peripherally having a generatrix parallel to said first flat face (5045).

7. The compactor according to claim 6, characterized in that each said axisymmetric body (5022) comprises a toothed wheel (5022) shaped in such a way as to have a respective directrix parallel to said first flat face (5045).

8. The compactor according to claim 7, characterized in that each said wheel (5022) has a width that is a default approximation of a radial distance between said first protrusion (5046) and second protrusion (5048).

9. The compactor according to any one of claims 7-8, characterized in that at least a first toothed wheel (5022) of said toothed wheels (5022) is conical and has a respective pivot axis inclined by a first angle (a) relative to said central axis (AX), said first angle (a) having an amplitude such that, in use, a tangential velocity of each said wheel (5022) measured at said first protrusion (5046) and at said second protrusion (5048) are substantially identical.

10. The compactor according to any one of claims 6-9,characterized in that said frame (10) has a base (16) that separates said operating station (50) from said unloading station (40) and supports a drive assembly (70) suitable to rotate said disc (5040) and / or said carousel (5020) around said central axis (AX).

11. The compactor according to claim 10, characterized by comprising regulation means (20) of the temperature of at least one said wheel (5022) and / or of said disc (5040) to regulate the respective first given temperature and second given temperature thereof.

12. The compactor according to claim 11, characterized in that said regulation means (20)(20') comprise a regulation unit (20)(20') connected to at least one said wheel (5022), to maintain it at said first temperature, and to said disc (5040), to maintain it at said second given temperature.

13. The compactor according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said regulation means (20)(20') of the temperature have a first pneumatic channel (24) inside each said wheel (5022) and a second pneumatic channel (26) inside said disc (5040); said regulation unit (20)(20') comprising a pneumatic distributor (28)(140’) arranged to supply said first and second channel (24, 26) with cold air at a given temperature.

14. The compactor according to claim 13, characterized in that said distributor (28)(140’) comprises a Vortex tube arranged to receive air flow through an inlet and to divided said air flow into a cold air current that can be conveyed to said wheels (5022)(5022') and into a hot air current, where said cold air current can be at a temperature ranging from 0°C to - 40°C to maintain said wheels (5022') or the disc (5040’) at the respective said first and second temperatures.

15. The compactor according to any one of claims 12-14,characterized in that said first temperature is a default approximation of a temperature of 40°C while said second temperature is a default approximation of a softening temperature of said plastic material ranging from 70°C to 120°C.

16. The compactor according to claim 10, characterized in that said central support (12) is carried rigidly by said frame (10); a first drive assembly (70) being carried by said frame (10) to rotate said disc (5040) around said central axis (AX); said first drive assembly (70) comprising a first drive unit (72) and a second transmission (74) with axes parallel to the central axis (AX) where said second transmission (74) comprises a first pulley (76) connected to a drive shaft of said drive unit (72); said second transmission (74) comprising a second pulley (78) connected rigidly to a peripheral portion of said disc (5040) and a drive belt (79) that mechanically couples said first and second pulleys (76, 78) allowing said disc (5040) to be rotated relative to said frame (10).

17. The compactor according to any one of claims 1-16, characterized in that said frame (10) comprises a plurality of bars (14) parallel to said central axis (AX) that extend upwards from said base (16), are arranged peripherally around said central support (12), peripherally delimit said operating station (50) and are connected to one another by a plate (18), which delimits said operating station (50) on the opposite side to said base (16).

18. The compactor according to any one of claims 3-17, characterized in that said frame (10) carries in said operating station (50) an elongated member (11) above said disc (5040) to support a presser device (80) of said plastic material against said first face (5045).

19. The compactor according to claim 18, characterized inthat said presser device (80) comprises an axisymmetric presser member (82) that is carried by an end portion of said elongated member (11) in a manner rotating freely around a longitudinal axis thereof, a drive unit (84) carried by said elongated member (11) arranged to drive in rotation said presser member (82).

20. The compactor according to claim 19, characterized in that said presser member (82) is delimited externally by a conical sleeve (82') and engages the space between said first protrusion (5046) and said second protrusion (5048) and is positioned at a minimum distance from said first flat face (5045), in such a manner that the respective said sleeve (82') is almost tangent to the first flat face (5045).

21. The compactor according to any one of claims 17-20, characterized in that said carousel (5020) is carried by said plate (18) through at least one linear actuator (62) to be movable in an axially sliding and angularly fixed manner relative to said central support (12) and regulate at will an axial distance of each said wheel (5022) of said carousel (5020) from said disc (5040) and, consequently, in said operating station (50) away from and towards a position of tangency to said first flat face (5045).

22. The compactor according to claim 15, characterized in that said disc (5040) is carried fixed by said frame (10); said central support (12) being carried by said frame (10) in a manner rotating freely around said central axis (AX); a second drive assembly (70') being carried by said frame (10) to rotate said central support (12) around said central axis (AX).

23. The compactor according to claim 22, characterized in that said second drive assembly (70') comprises a second drive unit (72') and a third geared transmission (74')comprising a drive wheel (76') fitted on a drive shaft of said second drive unit (72'); said third transmission (74') comprising a driven wheel (78') fitted onto said central support (12) and mechanically connected to said drive wheel (76') to axially rotate said carousel together with said central support (12) relative to said frame (10).

24. The compactor according to any one of claims 22-23, characterized in that said regulation unit (20’) of the temperature is supported by said frame (10) through said central support (12') in the position to engage said loading station (30’), in such a manner that, in use, said regulation unit (20’) rotates together with said carousel (5020').

25. The compactor according to claim 24, characterized in that said carousel (5020') has a radial hole (50200') for each said wheel (5022') produced in the body of said carousel (5020'); each said wheel (5022') being carried in a cantilever fashion by said carousel (5020') through a respective axle (50220') provided with a shank (50222') that firmly engages a said radial hole (50200').

26. The compactor according to claim 25, characterized in that at least one supply duct (25', 25'' and 25'') and at least one discharge duct (25', 25'' and 25'') pass longitudinally through each said axle (50220').

27. The compactor according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that each said wheel (5022') is associated with a first cover (21') carried by said wheel (5022') on the side of said shank (50222') and a second cover (23') that couples with said wheel (5022') on the side of a free end of said axle (50220') to define a chamber (5023') inside said wheel (5022') that can be supplied pneumatically by said regulation unit (20') through at least one said supply duct (25', 25'' and 25'') in order to condition thetemperature of the wheel (5022') from the inside.

28. The compactor according to claim 27, characterized in that said first cover (21') has a circular hole concentric with said axle (50220'); axial sealing means (50225') and radial sealing means (50227') being associated with said circular hole to make said chamber (5023') together with said second cover (23') tight.

29. The compactor according to any one of claims 3-28, characterized in that said frame (10) carries cutting means (190) under said disc (5040) to separate granules from said softened material drawn by said drawing grill (5044).

30. The compactor according to claim 29, characterized in that said disc (5040) is delimited on the side of said unloading station (40) by a second flat face (5045') and in that said cutting means (190) comprise a plurality of radial blades (192) carried by said frame (10) so as to pivot relative to said disc (5040) to cyclically granulate portions of given extension of said plastic material drawn by said drawing grill (5044).

31. The compactor according to claim 30, characterized in that said drawing grill (5044) has a plurality of ducts (5044') with a constant transverse section oriented transversely to said first flat face (5045) and arranged in an array; each said duct (5044') having an input portion (5044'') arranged on the side of said first flat face (5045) and having a section decreasing along a direction that stretches from said first flat face (5045) to said second flat face (5045'), to act, in use, as a guide for the input of said softened plastic material into the respective said duct (5044').

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