Unit for processing articles and plant

Abstract

A unit for processing articles (A), which comprises: - a first working member (10) configured to perform a first operation on a first article, - a second working member (20) configured to perform a second operation on a second article, - a main actuator (30) configured to move the first and second working members (10, 20) simultaneously along a main direction (D).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] UNIT FOR PROCESSING ARTICLES AND PLANT

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention relates to a unit for processing articles and to a plant comprising such a unit.

[0005] The invention belongs to the field of industrial processes for the production, processing and packaging of articles and, in particular, the transport thereof.

[0006] Therefore, the type of articles does not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0007] Background art

[0008] Preferably, the term “articles” means a single article, individually graspable, transportable and releasable.

[0009] By way of non-limiting example, articles according to the present invention can be considered to be food or confectionary products; components or subunits of electronic cigarettes; electronic components; small mechanical parts.

[0010] In known systems for the processing, transport and assembly of articles, multiple stations and movement systems are provided, generally arranged along conveying lines of the articles themselves and dedicated to the processing and / or assembly of groups of articles.

[0011] Disadvantageously, these processing systems or units are particularly bulky.

[0012] The Applicant has thus found that these systems can be improved in terms of reducing the space required, in particular in terms of compactness.

[0013] Object of the invention

[0014] In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide a unit for processing articles and a plant comprising this unit which overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, the object of the present invention is to make available a unit for processing articles and a plant comprising this unit which achieve high compactness and a reduction in overall dimensions, also obtaining benefits in terms of costs.

[0015] The specified technical task and object are substantially achieved by a unit for processing articles and a plant comprising this unit having the technical characteristics set out respectively in the independent claims and / or in one or more of the dependent claims.

[0016] According to an aspect, the description concerns a unit for processing articles comprising:

[0017] - a first working member configured to perform a first operation on a first article and movable along a main direction,

[0018] - a second working member configured to perform a second operation on a second article and movable along the main direction,

[0019] - a main actuator configured to move the first and second working members simultaneously along the main direction.

[0020] Advantageously, using the same actuator to move the first and second working members allows for a reduction in overall dimensions.

[0021] Advantageously, using the same actuator to move the first and second working members allows a more compact operating unit to be obtained.

[0022] Advantageously, using the same actuator to move the first and second working members allows for a reduction in costs due to the use of a single actuator.

[0023] The term “operation” means any action carried out on the article.

[0024] An operation may be, by way of non-limiting example, a movement of the article, a weld carried out on the article, the application of an adhesive layer on the article, an engraving carried out on the article, etc.

[0025] In a preferred example, the first working member and / or the second working member can be configured to perform a movement of the first and / or second article; the first operation and / or second operation are a movement of the first and / or second article.

[0026] In an example, the first working member and / or the second working member can be configured to carry out a weld on the first and / or second article; the first operation and / or second operation are a weld carried out on the first and / or second article.

[0027] In an example, the first working member and / or the second working member can be configured to apply an adhesive layer on the first and / or second article; the first operation and / or second operation are an application of the adhesive layer on the first and / or second article.

[0028] The operation carried out by the first working member on the first article may be different from the operation carried out by the second working member on the second article.

[0029] Preferably, the first working member comprises a first gripping element configured to grip a first article and to perform a first movement of the first article.

[0030] Preferably, the second working member comprises a second gripping element configured to grip a second article and to perform a second movement of the second article.

[0031] Advantageously, the first and second gripping elements can move the articles, for example, between conveying line for transporting articles and a processing station.

[0032] The first gripping element may comprise a first gripper and the second gripping element may comprise a second gripper.

[0033] The main direction is preferably a vertical direction.

[0034] The first and second gripping elements are thus moved by the actuator preferably along the vertical direction.

[0035] Advantageously, the main actuator moves the first and second gripping elements between a first position and a second position.

[0036] Preferably, if the main direction is the vertical direction, the main actuator moves the first and second gripping elements between a first height and a second height.

[0037] The first movement of the first gripping element may comprise a translation along a direction transverse to the main direction.

[0038] Advantageously, the translation of the first gripping element allows the first article to be moved along the aforesaid transverse direction. For example, the first article may be moved along the transverse direction between a conveying line for transporting articles and a processing station. Throughout the present description, the term “processing” means any operation on the articles such as marking, assembly with another component, quality control of the article.

[0039] The term “processing” is not to be understood as limiting with respect to actions that modify the article.

[0040] The first gripping element is preferably movable along said transverse direction.

[0041] The first movement of the first gripping element may comprise a first rotation about a first axis of rotation.

[0042] The first gripping element may thus be preferably rotatable about the first axis of rotation.

[0043] Preferably, the first axis of rotation is parallel to the main direction.

[0044] The first rotation of the gripping element allows the first article to rotate according to requirements.

[0045] Advantageously, the article can be rotated by 90° to modify its position on a conveying line or on a processing station.

[0046] Advantageously, the article can be rotated by 180°, resulting in a reversal of its orientation.

[0047] The second movement of the second gripping element can comprise a second rotation about a second axis of rotation.

[0048] The second gripping element is rotatable about the second axis of rotation.

[0049] The second axis of rotation is preferably transverse to the main direction. Advantageously, by rotating the second gripping element about the second axis of rotation by 180°, the second article can be rotated causing it to overturn.

[0050] The processing unit may comprise an upright and an arm extending from the upright.

[0051] The actuator acts on the upright moving the first and second working members.

[0052] The main actuator is configured to move the upright along the main direction.

[0053] The first gripping element is preferably coupled to the arm by a first working unit.

[0054] The first working unit can move along the prevailing extension direction of the arm.

[0055] Advantageously, the movement of the first working unit along the arm allows the translation of the first gripping element.

[0056] The arm may have a guide and in which the first working unit is configured to move the first gripping element along the guide, along the transverse direction via a first actuator.

[0057] The working unit may be configured to rotate the first gripping element about the first axis of rotation via a second actuator.

[0058] The second gripping element is preferably coupled to the upright by a second working unit.

[0059] The second working unit may be configured to rotate the second gripping element about the second axis of rotation via a third actuator.

[0060] According to an aspect of the description, the description relates to an article processing plant comprising:

[0061] - a conveying line for articles, on which at least a first and a second article are positionable,

[0062] - at least one processing station for processing articles, located along the conveying line,

[0063] - a processing unit for processing articles according to any of the above aspects, located along the conveying line in proximity to the processing station, configured to move the first and the second working members along the main direction between a respective first position and a second position.

[0064] At the first position, the first working member is close to a first zone of the conveying line or to the processing station, and the second working member is close to a second zone of the conveying line.

[0065] At the second position, the first working member is away from the first zone of the conveying line or from the processing station, and the second working member is away from the second zone of the conveying line. The first working member may be movable between the conveying line and the processing station for processing articles along a direction transverse to the main direction.

[0066] Preferably, the conveying line is interposed between the processing station and the movement unit.

[0067] The conveying line may comprise a guide and carriages movable along the guide, configured to receive an article.

[0068] In an example, the conveying line comprises a linear motor.

[0069] Brief description of the drawings

[0070] The main features of the invention will be better highlighted by the following detailed description, provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent a purely exemplifying and nonlimiting embodiment, in which:

[0071] - Figure 1 illustrates a processing plant for processing articles comprising a unit for processing articles according to the present description, in a perspective view,

[0072] - Figure 2 illustrates the plant in Figure 1 with some portions removed, in a perspective view,

[0073] - Figures 3A,3B,3C and 3D illustrate an enlargement of the plant in Figure 2 in a first, second, third and fourth configuration,

[0074] - Figure 4 illustrates a plant comprising a unit for processing articles according to the present description, with some portions removed, in a side view.

[0075] Number 1 has been used in Figure 1 to indicate a unit for processing articles A comprising:

[0076] - a working member 10 movable along a main direction D and configured to perform a first operation on an article A,

[0077] - a working member 20 movable along a main direction D and configured to perform a second operation on an article A,

[0078] - a main actuator 30 configured to move the two working members 10, 20 simultaneously along the main direction D.

[0079] Preferably, the main direction D is a vertical direction. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0080] In an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 2, the working member 10 comprises a gripping element 11 configured to grip the article A and to perform a first movement of the article A. In this case, therefore, the first operation is a first movement of the article A.

[0081] In an embodiment not illustrated, the first working member and / or the second working member are configured to carry out a weld on the first and / or second article; the first operation and / or second operation are a weld carried out on the first and / or second article.

[0082] In an embodiment not illustrated, the first working member and / or the second working member are configured to apply an adhesive layer on the first and / or second article; the first operation and / or second operation are an application of the adhesive layer on the first and / or second article.

[0083] In an embodiment, the operation carried out by the first working member on the first article may be different from the operation carried out by the second working member on the second article.

[0084] In an embodiment, the working member 20 comprises a gripping element 21 configured to grip a second article A and to perform a second movement of the second article A. In this case, therefore, the second operation is a second movement of the article A.

[0085] In an embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3D, the first movement comprises a translation along a transverse direction T with respect to the main direction D.

[0086] In other words, the member 10 can translate along the direction T.

[0087] Advantageously, the translation along the transverse direction T can allow the article A to be moved between a conveyor belt 101 to a processing station 102.

[0088] The gripping element 11 is thus preferably movable along said transverse direction T.

[0089] In an embodiment, the first movement comprises a rotation R1 about an axis of rotation A1 .

[0090] The gripping element 11 is thus rotatable about the axis of rotation A1 . In an embodiment, illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B, the rotation R1 of the first gripping element 11 about the axis of rotation A1 is a 90° rotation.

[0091] Figures 3A and 3B illustrate how the gripping element 11 is configured to pass from a first configuration C1 in which it is positioned so as to grasp the article A arranged, for example, on a conveying line 101 for transporting articles, to a configuration C2 in which the article A can be rotated to be positioned on a processing station 102.

[0092] In an embodiment, the rotation R1 of the first gripping element 11 about the axis of rotation A1 is a 180° rotation.

[0093] In the case of a 180° rotation the orientation of the article is changed.

[0094] In an embodiment, the axis of rotation A1 is parallel to the main direction D.

[0095] As illustrated in Figure 2, the main direction D and the axis of rotation A1 extend according to the vertical direction.

[0096] In an embodiment, illustrated for example in Figures 3A and 3B, the second movement comprises a rotation R2 about an axis of rotation A2. The gripping element 21 is rotatable about the axis of rotation A2.

[0097] In an embodiment, the rotation R2 of the gripping element 21 about the axis of rotation A2 is a 90° rotation.

[0098] In a preferred embodiment, the rotation R2 of the gripping element 21 about the axis of rotation A2 is a 180° rotation.

[0099] Preferably, the rotation R2 of the gripping element 21 determines the overturning of the article A2.

[0100] Preferably, the axis of rotation A2 is transverse to the main direction D.

[0101] As illustrated for example in Figure 3A, the axis of rotation A2 is a horizontal axis.

[0102] In an embodiment, illustrated for example in Figure 3A and 3B, each gripping element 11 ,21 comprises a gripper 12,22.

[0103] The grippers 21 and 22 are configured to be closed and grasp the article A which is to be moved.

[0104] The processing unit 1 , as illustrated in Figure 1 , preferably comprises an upright 40 and an arm 50 extending from the upright 40 itself.

[0105] The working member 10 is coupled to the arm 50 and the processing member 20 is coupled to the upright 40.

[0106] In particular, the gripping element 21 is coupled to the arm 40 via a working unit 23 and the gripping element 11 is coupled to the arm 50 via a working unit 13.

[0107] The working unit 23 is configured to rotate the gripping element 21 about the axis of rotation A2 via an actuator 24.

[0108] The arm 50 has a guide 51 which extends along the arm 50 itself and the working unit 13 is configured to move the gripping element 11 along the guide 51.

[0109] In particular, the working unit 13 moves the gripping element 11 along the transverse direction T via an actuator 14.

[0110] In an embodiment, the working unit 13 is configured to rotate the gripping element about the axis of rotation A1 via an actuator 15.

[0111] The actuator 30 is configured to move the upright 40 along the main direction D.

[0112] As illustrated in Figures 3A and 3C, the main actuator 30 thus moves the gripping element 11 and the gripping element 21 integrally between a first and a second position R1 ,P2 along the main direction D.

[0113] Preferably, the main direction D is a vertical direction and the main actuator 30 moves the upright 40 and the arm 50 between a first and a second height.

[0114] The main actuator 30 comprises a drive unit 60.

[0115] As illustrated in Figure 4, the drive unit 60 comprises an electric motor 61 and a worm screw 62 coupled to the electric motor 61 .

[0116] The drive of the electric motor 61 determines the movement of the worm screw 62 via a transmission belt 63.

[0117] The actuator 30 comprises a slide 31 , on which the drive unit 60 acts, whose movement determines the movement of the upright 40 and consequently of the members 10,20.

[0118] It is an object of the description a plant 100 for processing articles A illustrated in Figure 1 .

[0119] The processing plant 100 comprises:

[0120] - a conveying line 101 for articles A, on which the articles A are positionable,

[0121] - at least one processing station 102 for processing articles A, located in proximity to the conveying line 101 ,

[0122] - a processing unit 1 for processing articles A according to any one of the features set out above.

[0123] In other words, the station 102 for processing articles A is arranged alongside the conveying line 101 along a direction T transverse to the main direction D.

[0124] The processing unit 1 is located along the conveying line 101 in proximity to the processing station 102 and is configured to move the working members 10, 20 along the main direction D between a respective position P1 and a position P2.

[0125] As illustrated, for example, in Figure 3C, at the position P1 , the working member 10 is close to a zone Z1 of the conveying line 101 or to the processing station 102 and the working member 20 is close to a zone Z2 of the conveying line 101 .

[0126] As illustrated, for example, in Figures 3A and 3D, at the position P2, the working member 10 is far from the zone Z1 of the conveying line 101 or of the processing station 102 and the working member 20 is far from the zone Z2 of the conveying line 101 .

[0127] Preferably, the working member 10 is movable between the conveying line 101 and the station 102 for processing articles A along the direction T transverse to the main direction D.

[0128] The conveying line 101 is interposed between the processing station 102 and the processing unit 1 .

[0129] The conveying line 101 preferably comprises a transport conveyor. Preferably, the conveying line 101 comprises a guide 103 and carriages 104 sliding along the guide 103 and configured to receive an article A.

[0130] In an embodiment, the conveying line 101 comprises a linear motor which determines the movement of the carriages 104.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A unit for processing articles (A), comprising:-a first working member (10) configured to perform a first operation on a first article and movable along a main direction (D),-a second working member (20) configured to perform a second operation on a second article and movable along the main direction (D),-a main actuator (30) configured to move the first and second working members (10, 20) simultaneously along the main direction (D).

2. The unit according to claim 1 , wherein the main direction (D) is a vertical direction.

3. The unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first working member (10) comprises a first gripping element (11 ) configured to grip a first article and to perform a first movement of said first article and wherein the second working member (20) comprises a second gripping element (21 ) configured to grip a second article and to perform a second movement of said second article.

4. The unit according to claim 3, wherein the first gripping element (11 ) comprises a first gripper (12) and wherein the second gripping element (21 ) comprises a second gripper (22).

5. The unit according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first movement comprises a translation along a direction (T) transverse to the main direction (D), said first gripping element (11 ) being movable along said transverse direction (T).

6. The unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first movement comprises a first rotation (R1) about a first axis of rotation (A1 ), said first gripping element (11 ) being rotatable about said first axis ofrotation (A1 ).

7. The unit according to claim 6, wherein the first axis of rotation (A1 ) is parallel to the main direction (D).

8. The unit according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein second movement comprises a second rotation (R2) about a second axis of rotation (A2), said second gripping element (21 ) being rotatable about said second axis of rotation (A2).

9. The unit according to claim 8, wherein the second axis of rotation (A2) is transverse to the main direction (D).

10. The unit according to any one of claims 3 to 9, comprising an upright (40) and an arm (50) extending from said upright (40), the first gripping element (11 ) being coupled to the arm (50) via a first working unit (13) and the second gripping element (21 ) being coupled to the upright (40) via a second working unit (23), the main actuator (30) being configured to move the upright (40) along the main direction (D).

11. The unit according to claims 10 and 5, wherein the arm (50) is provided with a guide (51 ) and wherein the first working unit (13) is configured to move the first gripping element (11 ) along the guide (51 ) in the transverse direction (T) via a first actuator (14).

12. The unit according to claims 11 and 6, wherein the first working unit (13) is configured to rotate the first gripping element (11 ) about the first axis of rotation (A1 ) via a second actuator (15).

13. The unit according to any one of claims 10 to 12 and according toclaim 8, wherein the second working unit (23) is configured to rotate the second gripping element (21 ) about the second axis of rotation (A2) via a third actuator (24).

14. A plant for processing articles (A), comprising:-a conveying line (101 ) for transporting articles, on which at least a first and a second article are positioned, -at least one processing station (102) for processing articles, located in proximity to the conveying line (101 ),-a processing unit (1 ) for processing articles according to any one of claims 1 to 13, located along the conveying line (101 ) in proximity to the processing station (102), configured to move the first and the second working members (10, 20) along the main direction (D) between a respective first position (P1 ) and a second position (P2), wherein, at the first position (P1 ), the first working member (10) is close to a first zone (Z1 ) of the conveying line (101 ) or to the processing station (102), and the second working member (20) is close to a second zone of the conveying line (101 ), and wherein, at the second position (P2), the first working member (10) is away from the first zone of the conveying line (101 ) or from the processing station (102), and the second working member (20) is away from the second zone (Z2) of the conveying line (101 ).

15. The plant according to claim 14, wherein the first working member (10) is movable between the conveying line (101 ) and the processing station (102) for processing articles (A) along a direction (T) transverse to the main direction (D).

16. The plant according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the conveying line (101 ) is interposed between the processing station (102) and the processing unit (1 )-17. The plant according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the conveying line (101 ) comprises a guide (103) and carriages (104) movable along the guide (103) and configured to receive an article (A).

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