Method and apparatus for moving an object away from a mold - Patents.com

Abstract

To provide a method and an apparatus for transporting an object that must be moved away from a molding apparatus, particularly an object to be produced by compression molding.SOLUTION: There is provided a method for conveying a concave object 2 having a lateral wall away from a mold, the method comprises: a step of providing a removing element 19 that is movable along a path and a guiding element 26; a step of extracting the object from the mold and releasing the object onto a supporting surface in a position interposed between the removing element and the guiding element, while the removing element is at a distance from the object; a step of displacing the removing element towards the object, so that the removing element makes contact with the lateral wall; a step of moving the removing element along a portion of the path to convey the object towards a delivery position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for moving an object away from a mold, for example contained in a compression molding apparatus, intended to form an object by molding a dose of polymeric material. The molding apparatus can be in the form of, for example, a molding carousel.

[0002] More specifically, the method and the device according to the invention make it possible to transport the objects produced in the mold by moving them away from the mold, for example by handing them over to an outfeed conveyor.

[0003] The method and the device according to the invention are particularly suitable for conveying objects having a protruding edge band, for example in the form of a flange, and / or objects bounded by flared side walls, i.e. having side walls that gradually widen towards the opening of the object. Examples of such objects are capsules intended to contain a powdered or granular substance, such as coffee, to be placed for preparing a beverage or other edible fluid, or certain types of preforms intended to be subjected to a blow moulding or stretch blow moulding process to form a container or a receptacle, such as a cup, a jar or a bowl.

[0004] However, the method and device according to the invention can also be used to transport other types of objects, such as caps. [Background technology]

[0005] Apparatuses are known whose task is to produce objects by compression moulding of polymeric material doses. The prior art apparatus comprises a number of moulds, each of which comprises a male part with a punch and a female part with a cavity. The moulds are located in the peripheral area of ​​a moulding carousel which is rotatable about a vertical axis. The prior art apparatus also comprises a transfer carousel provided with a number of transfer elements, each suitable for receiving a moulded object that has just been extracted from the mould, for transporting the objects away from the moulding carousel, for example to a delivery conveyor.

[0006] Each transfer element may have a C-shaped conveying portion with a base on which the conveyed object can be received and two lateral projections separating the base. A fixed guide is further provided, which operates in conjunction with the transfer element and keeps guiding the object during transport towards the outfeed conveyor. In particular, while conveying the object towards the outfeed conveyor, each object is in contact with the transfer element in its lateral region. Each object is further in contact with the guide in a further lateral region of the object diametrically opposite to the aforementioned lateral region.

[0007] The objects are usually delivered to the transfer element from above downwards, because they are detached from the part of the mould which is in contact with the formed object, said part of the mould being located above the support disc of the transfer device. The objects are then released on the support disc. The objects are thus inserted between the conveying part of the transfer element and the fixed guide and are then transported towards the outfeed conveyor.

[0008] The above-mentioned type of transport carousel offers good performance when the objects to be transported are bounded by a substantially cylindrical lateral surface, as occurs in the case of caps. However, when the objects to be transported have a protruding edge band, for example in the form of a flange projecting from the side wall of the object, or when the objects to be transported have a frustoconical or more general side wall widening towards the end, as occurs in the case of capsules of coffee or similar products, there is a possibility of mechanical interference between the objects to be transported and the transport elements and / or between the objects to be transported and the fixed guides. This has the disadvantage that the objects are positioned incorrectly on the transport device, which makes it impossible to transport the objects accurately and, in the worst case, even leads to jams that stop the device.

[0009] Examples of prior art devices are disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,399,623 and US Pat. No. 5,499,623. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 171319 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 201920 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and device for transporting objects which have to be moved away from a molding device, in particular objects which are produced by compression molding.

[0012] A further object is to provide a method and apparatus for moving an object away from a mould, thereby reducing the risk of the object being inaccurately positioned when it is released from the mould.

[0013] Another object is to provide a method and apparatus that can be used to successfully move objects with protruding edge bands, even objects with flange-like shapes, away from a mold.

[0014] Another object is to provide a method and apparatus that can be used to successfully move objects away from a mold, even objects having sidewalls that gradually widen towards the ends of the object, for example frusto-conical sidewalls. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for transporting a concave object having a sidewall away from a mould, the method comprising the steps of: Providing a transport element and a guide element movable along a path. While the transfer element is spaced from the object, the object is extracted from the mould and released onto a support surface in a position sandwiched between the transfer element and the guide element. The transfer element is displaced towards the object so that the transfer element contacts the side wall. A transfer element moves along a portion of said path to convey the object towards a delivery location.

[0016] According to a first aspect of the invention, an object extracted from a mould can be transported towards a transfer position without unnecessary interference between the object and the transfer element and / or between the object and the guide element. This interference can prevent the object from being positioned correctly between the transfer element and the guide element, which can make it difficult to transport the object towards the transfer position. When the object is positioned between the transfer element and the guide element, the transfer element is actually in a more recessed position in distance from the guide element such that there is a gap between the transfer element and the object and / or between the object and the guide element, as compared to the prior art. The object can thus be positioned between the transfer element and the guide element without interference with the transfer element and / or the guide element. This reduces the risk that the object is positioned incorrectly between the transfer element and the guide element.

[0017] In one embodiment, during the step of extracting the object from the mold, the extraction element passes the object between the transfer element and the guide element to bring the object into contact with the support surface.

[0018] In addition to transferring the object from the mold, the extraction element accompanies the object as it moves away from the mold until the moment the object contacts the support surface. The extraction element thus controls the position of the object as it moves toward the support surface, thereby preventing the object from free falling onto the support surface, which could adversely affect the accuracy of the object's positioning on the support surface.

[0019] In one embodiment, the transfer element holds the object while the extraction element moves away from the support surface.

[0020] The transfer element therefore performs a further function in addition to transporting the objects towards the transfer position: it helps to precisely separate the objects from the extraction element.

[0021] In one embodiment, the article includes a protruding edge band that protrudes outwardly from one end of the side wall.

[0022] During the step of displacing the transfer element towards the object, a portion of the protruding edge band is received in a recessed band provided on the transfer element.

[0023] In this way, the transfer element can abut the sidewall of the object without interfering with the protruding edge band, which allows the sidewall of the object to be used to center the object relative to the transfer element, allowing for increased accuracy in positioning the object.

[0024] In one embodiment, the transfer element acts on the protruding edge band to hold the object and prevent it from moving away from the support surface.

[0025] This is an effective way to ensure that the object is detached from the extraction element.

[0026] In one embodiment, a sidewall of the object contacts the guide element such that the object continues to be guided between the transfer element and the guide element while being transported towards the transfer position.

[0027] This prevents unwanted movement of the object.

[0028] In one embodiment, a portion of the protruding edge band is received in a recess provided in the guide element.

[0029] This may further aid in detaching the object from the extraction element.

[0030] In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising: At least one mold for forming the object. At least one transfer element movable along a path to move the object away from the mold. A guide element intended to operate in conjunction with the transfer element to continue guiding the object as it moves away from the mold. A positioning device for positioning a transfer element at a variable distance along the path from a guide element, the positioning device being configured such that the transfer element is spaced away from the object when the object is received between the transfer element and the guide element, and further configured to move the transfer element towards the guide element such that the transfer element contacts a sidewall of the object.

[0031] The apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention makes it possible to obtain the above-mentioned advantages with reference to the method according to the first aspect of the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for producing an object by compression molding. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the transfer device of the apparatus of FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a plan view of a cam included in the transfer device of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a detail of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a position to extract an object from a mold. [Diagram 5] 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but for a subsequent position in which the object is about to be released on the support surface of the transfer device. [Figure 6] 5A is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a narrower portion of the transfer device for a subsequent position of FIG. 5, in which the object is at rest on the support surface. [Figure 7] 7 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing an object at rest on a support surface at a moment after FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the position shown in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The invention can be better understood and practiced with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for producing objects made from polymeric materials by compression molding.

[0035] In the illustrated example, the device 1 is configured to produce capsule-like shaped objects 2 of granular or powdered coffee or other substances, including foodstuffs, intended to be extracted by a fluid. As shown in Fig. 5, the objects 2 have side walls 3 extending about an axis Y and lateral walls 4 extending laterally, in particular perpendicularly to the axis Y. Each object 2 further comprises a protruding edge band 5 protruding outwards at the end of the side wall 3. The protruding edge band 5 may be shaped like a flange, to which a sealing film may be applied, for example by gluing or sealing.

[0036] The lateral wall 4 is located at and closes the further end of the side wall 3 opposite the end having the protruding edge band 5. The side wall 3 may be frusto-conical in shape and have a lateral dimension, for example increasing in diameter from the lateral wall 4 towards the protruding edge band 5.

[0037] The device 1 can also be used to manufacture objects different from the capsules shown in the drawings, but equally having a protruding edge band, such as containers, for example jars, cups or bowls, or certain types of preforms, or the device 1 can be used to manufacture other objects, in particular concave objects, for example caps.

[0038] The apparatus 1 comprises a dispensing device 6, shown in Figure 2, for dispensing at least one polymeric material. The dispensing device 6 may comprise a co-extrusion device for dispensing a continuous extrudate comprising layers of different polymeric materials. Alternatively, the dispensing device 6 may comprise an extrusion device arranged to extrude a continuous single-material extrudate, i.e. an extrudate made from a single polymeric material instead of different polymeric materials.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2, the dispensing device 6 has an outlet opening 7 having a rectangular or square shape and is capable of dispensing a continuous extrudate shaped as a strip having a rectangular or square cross section. If the cross section of the strip is rectangular, the base of the rectangle may be much larger than the height of the rectangle, although this condition is not necessary.

[0040] In the example shown, the apparatus 1 further comprises a moulding device in the form of a moulding carousel 8 as shown in Fig. 1. In the example shown, the moulding carousels 8 are rotatable about respective axes which lie vertically. The moulding carousel 8 is provided in its peripheral area with a number of moulds 9. Each mould 9 is adapted to mould a dose of polymeric material obtained by cutting the continuous extrudate emerging from the dispensing device 6 so as to obtain the object 2 by compression moulding. The moulds 9 are distributed, for example at equal angular distances, along the entire circumference of the moulding carousel 8.

[0041] 1, the die 9 moves along a trajectory PS, which in the illustrated example forms a closed-path shape, for example a circular path centered on an axis A.

[0042] As shown in Figure 8, each mould 9 comprises a male part 10 and a female part 11 aligned with each other along a moulding axis S, which is vertical in the example shown. Although in the example shown the male part 10 is located below the female part 11, this condition is not necessary. Other mutual arrangements of the male part 10 and the female part 11 are possible.

[0043] The male part 10 and the female part 11 of each mold 9 are relatively movable between a position of maximum opening PA shown in Fig. 8 and a molding position not shown. At the position of maximum opening PA, the male part 10 and the female part 11 are separated from each other and have a maximum mutual distance. At the molding position, the male part 10 and the female part 11 are close to each other, and it is possible to define between the male part 10 and the female part 11 a molding chamber having a shape corresponding to the shape of the object 2 to be molded.

[0044] The apparatus 1 comprises a drive for moving the male part 10 and the female part 11 between a position of maximum opening PA and a moulding position. In the example shown, the drive is associated with the male part 10 such that the male part 10 moves along a corresponding moulding axis S, whilst the female part 11 remains in a fixed position along the moulding axis S. However, in alternative embodiments it is also possible for only the female part 11 to move along the moulding axis S, or for both the female part 11 and the male part 10 to move along the moulding axis S.

[0045] The drive may be hydraulic, for example, or mechanical, such as a cam. The drive comprises a rod 12, shown in Figure 8. At the upper end of the rod 12 is a male part 10.

[0046] Between the dispensing device 6 and the moulding carousel 8 a transport device 13 is located. The transport device 13, which is partially visible in Fig. 1, is in the form of a transport carousel in the illustrated example. The transport device 13 comprises a number of transport elements 14. Each of the transport elements 14 is arranged to transport a polymeric material dose to be separated from the polymeric material emerging from the dispensing device 6 towards the moulding carousel 8.

[0047] The apparatus 1 further comprises a transfer device 15 configured to move the freshly formed object 2 from the mold 9 after compression moulding the dose.

[0048] 2 and 8, the transfer device 15 comprises a central body 16 rotatable about an axis Z, shown in Fig. 1. This central body 16 is vertical in the example shown and axis Z can be parallel to axis A of the forming carousel 8.

[0049] The transfer device 15 further comprises a support disc 17 fixed relative to the central body 16. The support disc 17 is therefore rotatable together with the central body 16 about the axis Z. The support disc 17 is delimited by a support surface 18 and is suitable for stationary reception of the objects 2 which have to be moved away from the forming carousel 8.

[0050] The transfer device 15 further comprises a number of transfer elements 19, each of which is suitable for collecting the objects 2 extracted from the corresponding mould 9 and for conveying the objects 2 away from the moulding carousel 8. In particular, the outfeed conveyor 20 may be provided, for example in the form of a belt conveyor. The outfeed conveyor 20 is located downstream of the transfer device 15, receives the corresponding objects 2 from the transfer elements 19 and conveys the objects 2 away from the device 1. The outfeed conveyors 20, which are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, may extend along a respective outfeed axis U.

[0051] Between the transfer device 15 and the outfeed conveyor 20 an intermediate support 21 is provided, which is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2. The intermediate support 21 is suitable for temporarily supporting the object 2 while the transfer element 19 displaces the object 2, which was previously at rest on the support disc 17, towards the outfeed conveyor 20.

[0052] Each transfer element 19 comprises a conveying portion 22 suitable for engaging with the objects 2, which conveys the objects from the mould 9 towards the outfeed conveyor 20. The conveying portion 22 may be C-shaped and has a base portion 23 capable of receiving the objects 2. The base portion 23 is separated by two lateral projections 24.

[0053] Each transfer element 19 also has an extension 25 that projects from the conveying portion 22 towards the axis Z. The extension 25 may be disposed generally radially with respect to the axis Z.

[0054] The transfer elements 19 are located above the support disc 17. As shown in FIG. 4, the transfer elements 19 are spaced apart from the support disc 17 at least near their respective conveying portions 22.

[0055] The device 1 further comprises a guiding element 26, which is suitable for interacting with the object 2, in particular with the side wall 3 of the object 2, so as to guide the object 2 while it is conveyed by the transfer element 19 towards the outfeed conveyor 20. The guiding element 26 may be arch-shaped and is located outside the conveying section 22, i.e. at the furthest position from the axis Z with respect to the conveying section 22.

[0056] The inductive element 26 is mounted in a fixed position on the device 1 .

[0057] The transport device 15 further comprises a positioning device, which positions the transport element 19 at a variable distance from the axis Z depending on the angular position of the transport element 19 about the axis Z. The positioning device may for example comprise a cam element 27 arranged at a fixed position on the device 1. In the example shown, the cam element 27 is located above the support disc 17 and the transport element 19. The cam element 27 has a cam track 28. The cam track 28 extends along a centre line LC shown in Fig. 3. The centre line LC is a closed loop line extending around the axis Z. The points of the centre line LC are at different distances from the axis Z.

[0058] The center line LC lies in a plane that is transverse to, and in particular perpendicular to, the axis Z.

[0059] The cam element 27 shown in Figure 3 is not identical to the cam element 27 shown in Figure 2. The two cam elements differ in that the center line LC has a slightly different shape, but they operate according to the same principles.

[0060] The cam track 28 may be shaped like a groove. In the illustrated example, the cam track 28 faces downwards, facing the transfer element 19, as shown in FIG.

[0061] The positioning device further comprises a cam follower 29 arranged for each transport element 19 to engage the cam track 28. Each cam follower 29 may be shaped like a roller freely rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis Z and is suitable to be received in the cam track 28. Each cam follower 29 is mounted on the corresponding transport element 19 and may for example be provided on an upper surface of the transport element 19, i.e. on the surface of the transport element 19 located opposite the support disc 17.

[0062] The transfer elements 19 are supported by the support disc 17 so as to be slidable relative to it and are adapted to move towards the axis Z or, alternatively, away from it. In particular, the transfer elements 19 are slidable relative to the support disc 17 along the respective radial direction. To enable the transfer elements 19 to slide on the support disc 17, sliding guides 30 can be provided. The sliding guides 30 are, for example, shaped like grooves in which corresponding projections of the transfer elements 19 engage.

[0063] Each transfer element 19 is movable along a closed path P shown in Figure 1. In particular, path P is the path of the centre point of the base 23.

[0064] Each transport element 19 is provided with a concave band 34, shown in Figures 4 to 7, which is arranged to receive a portion of the protruding edge band 5 when the object 2 is at rest on the support surface 18. The concave band 34 is made on the surface of the transport element 19 facing the support disc 17, in the example shown formed on the underside of the transport element 19. The concave band 34 is delimited transversely to the axis Z, facing the support surface 18 of the support disc 17, by a stop surface 36. The stop surface 36 can be, for example, a flat surface lying perpendicular to the axis Z.

[0065] The guide element 26 is delimited, in plan view, by an inner contour that may have a lead-in extension 38. Along the lead-in extension 38 the distance between the guide element 26 and the axis Z gradually decreases. The lead-in extension 38 allows the object 2 to gradually start to interact with the guide element 26. Downstream of the lead-in extension 38 the inner contour of the guide element 26 substantially copies the path P of the transport element 19 and is offset with respect to the path P by a substantially constant amount.

[0066] A recess 35 is provided on the guide element 26. The recess 35 is, for example, shaped like a step and is arranged to receive a further portion of the protruding edge band 5 diametrically opposite the portion of the protruding edge band 5 received in the concave band 34. The recess 35 is also provided on the surface of the guide element 26 facing the support disc 17, i.e. on the underside of the guide element 26.

[0067] The recess 35 is bounded by an abutment surface 37, which lies transversely to the axis Z and faces downwards, i.e. towards the support disc 17. The abutment surface 37 may be flat and may lie, for example, perpendicular to the axis Z.

[0068] In operation, the central body 16 and, with it, the support disc 17 rotate continuously about the axis Z. The transfer elements 19 supported on the support disc 17 also rotate about the axis Z. The cam followers 29 associated with the transfer elements 19 move along the cam tracks 28 of the cam elements 27. As the cam followers 29 move along the cam tracks 28, the distance of each cam follower 29 from the axis Z changes. The transfer elements 19, guided by the sliding guides 30, therefore move, for example, radially relative to the support disc 17.

[0069] In this way, each transport element 19 moves along a closed path P, which is shown diagrammatically in FIG.

[0070] The mould 9 moves along a trajectory PS whilst the transfer element moves along a closed path P. When the object 2 compression moulded in the mould 9 has cooled in the mould 9 to a temperature sufficient to handle the object 2 without damaging it, the mould 9 is brought to a position of maximum opening PA by moving the male part 10 and the female part 11 relative to each other, in particular by moving the male part 10 downwards in the example shown. It is now possible to extract the object 2 from the mould 9.

[0071] In the example shown, the object 2 remains associated with the female part 11 after the mould 9 is opened as shown in FIG.

[0072] The female part 11 comprises an annular forming element 31, which extends around a forming axis S and is suitable for forming the outer side of the side wall 3 of the object 2. The female part 11 further comprises an extraction element 32, which is delimited by a forming surface 33 and is suitable for forming the lateral wall 4 of the object 2 from the outside. The extraction element 32 is movable along the forming axis S between a forming position PF shown in FIG. 4 and an extraction position, in which the extraction element 32 brings the object 2 into contact with the support surface 18 to separate the object 2 from the female part 11. In the forming position PF, the extraction element 32 works in conjunction with the annular forming element 31 and the male part 10 to form the object 2. To pass from the forming position PF to the extraction position, the extraction element 32 moves along the forming axis S towards the male part 10. When this happens, the extraction element 32 exerts a force on the object 2 which presses against the lateral wall 4 of the object 2, thereby enabling the object 2 to be separated from the annular forming element 31.

[0073] When the mould 9 is in the position of maximum opening PA, the transport element 14 of the transport device 13 and the transfer element 19 of the transfer device 15 are inserted between the male part 10 and the female part 11. The transfer element 19 is located at a higher position than the transport element 14. As shown in Fig. 4, the transfer element 19 is at a distance D1 from the guide element 26 during this step, which distance D1 is greater than the maximum lateral dimension Dmax of the object 2. In the particular example shown, the maximum lateral dimension Dmax is the outer diameter of the protruding edge band 5. Meanwhile, the distance D1 is taken on the central plane of the transfer element 19, i.e. on the plane passing through the centre of the base 23.

[0074] Now the extraction element 32, to which the object 2 is firmly secured, starts to move along the moulding axis S towards the male part 10, detaching the object 2 from the annular forming element 31. At the same time, the cam element 27 and the cam follower 29 move the transfer element 19 towards the guide element 26.

[0075] 5 shows the moment when the extraction element 32 is moving towards the male part 10 and has already detached the object 2 from the annular forming element 31 and brought the object 2 into a position sandwiched between the transport element 19 and the guide element 26. The object 2 is still firmly fixed to the extraction element 32. The transport element 19 is now at a distance D2 from the guide element 26. The distance D2 is smaller than the distance D1 but is still larger than the maximum lateral dimension Dmax of the object 2. The extraction element 32 thus enables the object 2 to pass between the transport element 19 and the guide element 26 without the protruding edge band 5 of the object 2 interfering with the transport element 19 and / or the guide element 26.

[0076] The extraction element 32 continues to stroke towards the support surface 18 until the protruding edge band 5 of the object 2 comes to rest on the support surface 18. At the same time, the transport element 19 moves towards the object 2, as shown in Figure 6, so that the protruding edge band 5 of the object 2 is at least partially received inside the concave band 34 of the transport element 19. The stop surface 36 of the transport element 19 is now at least partially located above the protruding edge band 5 of the object 2.

[0077] During rotation of the central body 16 about the axis Z, the positioning device moves the transport element 19 towards the object 2 so that the transport element 19 comes into contact with the side wall 3 of the object 2 .

[0078] When the object 2 approaches the end of the lead-in stretch 38 of the guide element 26 , a portion of the protruding edge band 5 facing the guide element 26 is received in the recess 35 .

[0079] Furthermore, due to the shape of the guide element 26 , the side wall 3 of the object 2 comes into contact with the guide element 26 .

[0080] After positioning the object 2 on the support surface 18, the extraction element 32 moves back, i.e. along the forming axis S, towards the annular forming element 31. The transport element 19 and / or the guide element 26 engage the object 2 and hold it close to the support surface 18, so that the object 2 is detached from the extraction element 32 and remains stationary on the support disc 17. In particular the stop surface 36 and / or the abutment surface 37 block the protruding edge band 5 of the object 2, thereby preventing the object 2 together with the extraction element 32 from moving back towards the annular forming element 31.

[0081] In this way the object 2 is released onto the support surface 18 .

[0082] When the side wall 3 of the object 2 contacts both the transfer element 19 and the guiding element 26, the gripping position PP is reached, as shown in Fig. 7. In this configuration, in particular the transfer element 19 contacts a portion of the side wall 3 of the object 2, while the guiding element 26 contacts a further portion of the side wall 3 of the object 2, diametrically opposite to the portion of the side wall 3 contacted by the transfer element 19.

[0083] The object 2 rests on the support surface 18 in an upside-down configuration, i.e. with the protruding edge band 5 facing downwards and the lateral walls 4 facing upwards. This is also the configuration in which the object 2 is formed in the mold 9, with the recess of the object 2 bounded by the side walls 3 and the lateral walls 4 facing the support surface 18.

[0084] The accommodation of the protruding edge band 5 in the concave band 34 ensures that the transfer element 19 abuts against the side wall 3 of the object 2 and not against the protruding edge band 5. The transfer element 19 therefore uses the side wall 3 of the object 2 to transport the object 2 towards the outfeed conveyor 20, thereby ensuring greater precision and reliability during the transport of the object 2 by the transfer element 19.

[0085] Furthermore, accommodating a portion of the protruding edge band 5 opposite the transfer element 19 in the recess 35 ensures that the guide element 26 interacts with the object 2 at its side wall 3 downstream of the gripping position PP. This allows for even greater accuracy and reliability during the transport of the object 2 by the transfer element 19 working in conjunction with the guide element 26.

[0086] By containing the protruding edge band 5 within the recessed band 34, the object 2 can be held close to the support surface 18, allowing the object 2 to be detached from the extraction element 32. This is facilitated by the interaction of the protruding edge band 5 with the stop surface 36. In certain circumstances, even the guide element 26 can assist in detaching the object 2 from the extraction element 32 through the interaction of the protruding edge band 5 with the abutment surface 37.

[0087] 3 illustrates several key points along the centerline LC of the cam track 28 that the transfer element 19 reaches along its path. In particular, PR marks a receiving position where the object 2 is received between the transfer element 19 and the guide element 26 and comes to rest on the support surface 18. The cam element 27, operating in conjunction with the cam follower 29, then moves the transfer element 19 towards the object 2, as described above, thereby bringing the transfer element 19 into contact with the side wall 3 of the object 2. This occurs at a contact position P1 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0088] It should be noted that while passing from the receiving position PR to the contact position P1, the distance between the point on the center line LC of the cam path 28 and the axis Z increases progressively. This means that the transfer element 19 moves outward, i.e. progressively away from the axis Z.

[0089] While the object 2 moves along the path P, the shape of the guiding element 26 causes the side wall 3 to come into contact with the guiding element 26. This occurs at the gripping position PP shown in FIG.

[0090] Downstream of the gripping position PP, the transfer element 19 continues to move the object 2, now in contact with the guide element 26, towards the outfeed conveyor 20. While this is happening, the object 2 initially moves along a portion of a path which may be substantially circular. The cam element 27 then operates in conjunction with the cam follower 29 to move the transfer element 19 further away from the axis Z, e.g. radially. The object 2 thus moves progressively towards the periphery of the support disc 17 and subsequently from the support disc 17 to an intermediate support 21 which may be at the same height as the support disc 17, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0091] The transfer element 19 is further made to slide towards the outside of the support disc 17 until it positions the object 2 on the outfeed conveyor 20 such that the object 2 lies along the outfeed axis U of the outfeed conveyor 20. This occurs at a transfer position PC where it transfers the object 2 to the outfeed conveyor 20, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0092] After delivering the object 2 to the outfeed conveyor 20, the transfer element 19 is moved towards the axis Z by means of a cam element 27 working in conjunction with a cam follower 29 until the transfer element 19 reaches a receiving position PR where it again receives a new object 2.

[0093] Although the above examples have always referred to objects 2 having a protruding edge band 5, the use of the above described method and device is also useful for transferring an object 2 away from a mould 9 having a frustoconical wall, or more generally a wall narrowing upward from the support surface 18, when the object 2 is at rest on the support disc 17. In this case, receiving the object 2 on the support surface 18 while the transfer element 19 is in the retracted position, so that there is a gap between the transfer element 19 and the object, helps to avoid interference between the side wall 3 of the object 2 and the transfer element 19.

Claims

1. A method for transporting a concave object (2) having a side wall (3) spaced from a mold (9) and including a protruding edge band (5) protruding outwardly from one end of the side wall (3), the method comprising: - providing a transport element (19) movable along a path (P) and a guide element (26); - extracting the object (2) from the mould (9) while the transfer element (19) is at a distance from the object (2) and releasing the object (2) on the support surface (18) in a position between the transfer element (19) and the guide element (26); - displacing the transfer element (19) towards the object (2) so that the transfer element (19) contacts the side wall (3); - moving the transfer element (19) along a portion of the path (P) to transport the object (2) towards a transfer position (PC), wherein a portion of the protruding edge band (5) is received in a recessed band (34) provided on the transfer element (19).

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an extraction element (32) acts on the object (2) during the step of extracting the object (2) from the mould (9).

3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the extraction element (32) passes the object (2) between the transport element (19) and the guide element (26) to bring the object (2) into contact with the support surface (18).

4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transfer element (19) holds the object (2) while the extraction element (32) moves away from the support surface (18).

5. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the extraction element (32) has a forming surface (33) which forms from the outside a lateral wall (4) of the body (2).

6. During a step of extracting the object (2) from the mould (9), an extraction element (32) acts on the object (2) by moving the object (2) towards the support surface (18), the transfer element (19) holds the object (2) while the extraction element (32) moves away from the support surface (18); 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer element (19) holds the object (2) by means of a stop surface (36) acting on the protruding edge band (5) to prevent the object (2) from moving away from the support surface (18), the stop surface (36) delimiting the concave band (34) and facing the support surface (18).

7. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the side wall (3) of the object (2) is in contact with the guide element (26) which interacts with an area of ​​the side wall (3) opposite a further area of ​​the side wall (3) which interacts with the transport element (19) to keep the object (2) guided.

8. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the object (2) comprises a protruding edge band (5) protruding outwardly from one end of the side wall (3), a portion of the protruding edge band (5) being received within a recess (35) provided in the guide element (26).

9. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein during the step of moving the transfer element (19), the transfer element (19) moves outward to position the object (2) on an outfeed conveyor (20) at a outfeed position (PC).

10. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object (2) is formed in an upside-down configuration, such that during the extracting step, a concave portion of the object (2) faces the support surface (18).

11. at least one die (9) for forming a concave object (2) having a side wall (3) and including a protruding edge band (5) projecting outwardly from one end of said side wall (3) and spaced from said side wall (3); at least one transfer element (19) movable along a path (P) for moving said object (2) away from said mould (9); a guiding element (26) adapted to operate in conjunction with the transfer element (19) and to guide the object (2) during its movement away from the mould (9); a positioning device (27, 29) for positioning said transport element (19) at a variable distance along said path (P) from said guide element (26), the positioning device (27, 29) is configured such that the transfer element (19) is spaced from the object (2) when the object (2) is received between the transfer element (19) and the guide element (26); The positioning device (27, 29) is further configured to move the transfer element (19) towards the guide element (26) until the transfer element (19) contacts a side wall (3) of the object (2). the transfer element (19) has a concave band (34) that receives a portion of a protruding edge band (5) that protrudes outwardly from the side wall (3) of the object (2); The apparatus, wherein said concave band (34) faces a support surface (18) suitable for supporting said object (2) while said object (2) is moved by said transport element (19).

12. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an extraction element (32) for extracting the object (2) from the mould (9).

13. 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the extraction element (32) is configured to release the object (2) onto a support surface (18) in a position sandwiched between the transport element (19) and the guide element (26).

14. 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the extraction element (32) has a forming surface (33) which externally forms a lateral wall (4) of the object (2).

15. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the guide element (26) has a recess (35) which receives a further portion of the protruding edge band (5) and faces the support surface (18).

16. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the mould (9) comprises a male part (10) and a female part (11), the female part (11) being located below the male part (10).

17. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the positioning device (27, 29) comprises a cam element (27) arranged at a fixed position and a cam follower (29) mounted on the transport element (19) and engaging with the cam element (27).

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