Orienting device and singulation system

Abstract

Orienting device 1 for objects P moved along a transport direction X, comprising: a sliding plane 17 for receiving and supporting the objects P moving through the orienting device 1 between an inlet 18 and an outlet 19 and for moving the objects P between the inlet 18 and the outlet 19 along the transport direction X; a guide element 11, arranged at the sliding plane 17 to identify, between the inlet 18 and the outlet 19, a first path P1 and a second path P2 for moving the objects P; wherein the guide element 11 is at least partially raised with respect to the sliding plane 17; and wherein the first path P1 and the second path P2 are formed along the sliding plane 17 laterally to the guide element 11.

Description

DESCRIPTIONAttachment to a patent application for an INDUSTRIAL INVENTION entitled"ORIENTING DEVICE AND SINGULATION SYSTEM"*******

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of object sorting plants.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to an orienting device.

[0003] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a singulation system comprising said orienting device.

[0004] In the field of transport and logistics, the systems for sorting packages and other objects are of particular importance.

[0005] Such systems traditionally comprise a main conveyor on which packages of different shapes and sizes are arranged in a disordered manner, to then be organized into columns of ordered packages. In detail, the systems of the prior art comprise singulation units having sliding surfaces and devices of various types that are arranged in succession.

[0006] Singulation units from the prior art that are currently in use reorder the packages in transit, in particular centrally aligning them with respect to the main conveyor. A column of packages is therefore identifiable as it exits the sorting system.

[0007] Singulation units are typically configured to align elongated packages, arranging the long side of the package transversely to the transport direction as determined by the main conveyor.

[0008] Singulation units from the prior art do however have obvious limitations. In the first place, singulation units from the prior art exhibit limited throughput insofar as the plurality of packages fed in a disordered manner, often superimposed, must firstly be reordered and then the packages must be arranged in a single central column. The process, therefore, is not very efficient.

[0009] The process becomes increasingly inefficient in the presence of small packages which, during transport, tend to be arranged externally to the main conveyor. Small packages must therefore be recovered from the lateral portions of the conveyor and must be arranged centrally to the conveyor, thereby further reducing the efficiency of the singulation unit.

[0010] Furthermore, in order to reorder elongated packages with the long side arranged transversely with respect to the transport direction, the main conveyor must have a considerable lateral footprint in order to also ensure the aforesaid arrangement of packages of larger dimensions. Sometimes, moreover, during the latter operation, elongated packages may become positioned and jammed sideways on the conveyor, thereby slowing or blocking singulation operations whilst waiting for an operator to resolve the jam that has been created.

[0011] In summary, alignment units from the prior art are overall inefficient and cumbersome within a production plant.

[0012] The technical task underlying the present invention is to provide an orienting device and singulation system comprising said orienting device that are capable of overcoming the limits of the prior art.

[0013] In particular, the object of the present invention is that of providing an orienting device and singulation system comprising said orienting device that are capable of allowing for the efficient singulation of objects, thereby reducing the amount of space necessary in order to perform said singulation.

[0014] This specified task and specified objects are substantially achieved by means of an orienting device and singulation system comprising said orienting device, comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the attached claims.

[0015] The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention.

[0016] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an orienting device, and sorting system, comprising said orienting device.

[0017] This description will be set out below with reference to the attached drawings which are provided for indicative purposes only and are therefore not limiting, wherein:- Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a plant for sorting objects comprising an orienting device and singulation system comprising said orienting device, according to the present invention;- Figure 2 shows the singulation system of Figure 1 in a first embodiment; - Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the orienting device of Figure 1 ;- Figure 4 shows a further isometric view of the orienting device of Figure 1 ; - Figure 5 shows the singulation system comprising the orienting device of Figure 1 in the first embodiment;- Figure 6 shows the singulation system comprising the orienting device of Figure 1 in a second embodiment;- Figures 7A-7D show successive steps of an object moving through the orienting device of the figures.

[0018] With reference to the accompanying figures, an orienting device is generically indicated with the numerical reference 1. Furthermore, a singulation unit is generically indicated with the numerical reference 3.

[0019] The orienting device 1 and the singulation unit comprising the orienting device 1 according to the present invention may be arranged within a plant 10 for sorting objects P (Figure 1).

[0020] In the course of this discussion, the term objects P refers preferably, but not exclusively, to parcels or packages that are intended to be sorted within the plant 10. The objects P may have different shapes and sizes. The objects P preferably have a cuboid shape. Even more preferably, the objects P have a parallelepiped shape. The objects P are, for example, small and medium-sized boxes and packages, but also envelopes, packages and small boxes.

[0021] The plant 10 comprises a conveyor 4, along which the objects P are moved in a transport direction X.

[0022] The conveyor 4 determines an overall transport direction X of the objects P, which extends between a supply zone 21, where the objects P are introduced into or arranged upon the conveyor 4, and a removal zone, where the objects P are removed or taken away from the sorting plant 10.

[0023] The orienting device 1 is arranged at the conveyor 4 for moving the objects P. In detail, in relation to the transport direction X, the orienting device 1 is arranged downstream of the supply zone 21 and upstream of the removal zone.

[0024] The packages P enter the plant in a disordered configuration and are typically superimposed and juxtaposed without any ordering. Typically, in fact, the objects P are unloaded in a disordered manner manually by operators or by means of tippers onto a supply line 2 or onto a plurality of branches 211 that converge onto the supply line 2.

[0025] The supply line 2, comprising a first portion of the conveyor 4, is intended for transporting the objects P from the supply area 21 to the orienting device 1.

[0026] The conveyor 4 comprises a transport plane 41 , configured to receive and support the transported objects P. The conveyor 4 may comprise a roller, a conveyor belt and / or a plurality of different devices designed to transport objects P that are arranged in succession along the transport direction X.

[0027] Overall, the transport plane 41 corresponds to an upper plane as determined by the conveyor belt, the roller and / or the different devices present: said transport plane 41 receives and supports the objects P and enables their movement through the plant 10.

[0028] As mentioned, within the plant 10, the objects P are moved from the inlet to the orienting device 1 along a supply line 2 in a disordered configuration. In other words, a transport order of the objects P themselves along the supply line 2 cannot be strictly determined.

[0029] The orienting device 1 according to the present invention receives the objects P in a disordered manner, i.e. , randomly supplied to the supply line 2 and advantageously allows said objects P to be reordered, according to the methods described hereinafter.

[0030] In fact, the first subject matter of the present invention is the orienting device 1 for objects P that are moved along the transport direction X (Figure 3-Figure 4).

[0031] The orienting device 1, according to the present invention, comprises a sliding plane 17 for receiving and supporting thereupon the objects P moving through the orienting device 1 between an inlet 18 and an outlet 19. The sliding surface 17 allows for the movement of the objects P between the inlet 18 and the outlet 19, in the transport direction X.

[0032] The orienting device 1 further comprises a guide element 11, arranged at the sliding plane 17. The guide element 11 protrudes at least partially from said sliding plane 17, in such a way as to laterally identify a first path P1 and a second path P2 for moving the objects P.

[0033] In other words, the guide element 11 is at least partially raised from the sliding plane 17 or at least partially emerging from the sliding plane 17. The two lateral portions with respect to the guide element 11 are not raised or, in any case, are raised to a lesser extent with respect to the guide element 11. Each portion that is lateral to the guide element 11 defines a respective movement path of the objects P, in particular the first path P1 and the second path P2.

[0034] In detail, the guide element 11 is arranged medially with respect to the sliding plane 17, i.e. , it defines a medial protrusion of the sliding plane 17. The first path P1 and the second path P2 are identifiable laterally to the guide element 11, i.e., they affect the lateral portions of the sliding plane 17.

[0035] Objects arriving at the inlet 18, for example transported to the inlet 18 by the supply line 2, are moved through the orienting device 1 in the transport direction X following one of the paths P1, P2 as determined by the guide element 11. An object P entering the orienting device 1 is, therefore, movedtowards the outlet 19 of the orienting device 1 alternately through the first path P1 or the second path P2, according to the methods described below.

[0036] Returning to the structure of the orienting device and, in particular, of the guide element 11, the guide element 11 may comprise a first lateral surface 112 and a second lateral surface 113, emerging from the sliding plane 17. In other words, the first lateral surface 112 and the second lateral surface extend, or have at least one component of extension diverging away from the sliding plane 17.

[0037] In detail, the first lateral surface 112 delimits a medial portion of the first path P1, with the second lateral surface 113 delimiting a medial portion of the second path P2.

[0038] The guide element 11 may assume a plurality of three-dimensional configurations. The first lateral surface 112 and the second lateral surface 113, protruding from the sliding plane 17, preferably converge towards a top edge or vertex 111. The top edge or vertex 111 may be part of the guide element 11 , i.e., it may be physically comprised within the guide element 11: in this case, the guide element 11 has a triangular cross section. Alternatively, the top edge or vertex 111 may be seen externally to the guide element 11 : in the latter case, the guide element 11 has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

[0039] Further configurations and sections are not excluded.

[0040] Again, in other words, the guide element 11 has a wedge-shaped structure and operates as a wedge to identify two lateral sections, each corresponding to the first and second path P1 , P2 indicated above.

[0041] The objects P arriving at the orienting device 1 , due to the presence of the wedge-shaped structure of the guide element 11, may advance in thetransport direction X either through the first path P1 or through the second path P2.

[0042] The orienting device 1 may also comprise a first wall 14 and a second wall 15, externally delimiting the sliding plane 17. The first wall 14 laterally delimits the first path P1 and the second wall 15 laterally delimits the second path P2. The guide element 11 is, therefore, arranged in a substantially medial position between the first wall 14 and the second wall 15, between the inlet 18 and the outlet 19 of the orienting device 1.

[0043] The guide element 11 may also be arranged between the first wall 14 and the second wall 15, in a position closer to the first wall 14 or to the second wall 15.

[0044] In a variant of the invention, shown in Figures 2-5, the sliding plane 17 of the orienting device 1 has a first stretch 171 and a second stretch 172, arranged downstream of the first stretch 171 with respect to the transport direction X. The objects P are, therefore, firstly conveyed along the first stretch 171, and then along the second stretch 172.

[0045] The first stretch 171 is preferably raised relative to the second stretch 172, i.e., it is arranged above the second stretch 172, considering a vertical reference plane.

[0046] In this configuration, the first stretch 171 and the second stretch 172 are connected by a sliding chute 173 for the objects P.

[0047] The chute 173, therefore, has an overall slope from the top to the bottom in order to connect the first elevated stretch 171 to the second stretch 172 arranged therebelow.

[0048] The guide element 11 is preferably arranged at said chute 173 to identify the first path P1 and the second path P2 laterally, along said chute 173.

[0049] In the embodiment just described, the objects P may slide through the orienting device 1 advantageously exploiting the force of gravity.

[0050] The second stretch 172 may be connected to the first stretch 171 by means of a second curved wall 15 to define an angle of deviation of the transport direction X. In other words, the presence of the curvature of the second wall 15 allows the transport direction X to be deflected. Consequently, the curvature of the second wall 15 allows the first and second paths P1, P2 to be deflected.

[0051] Alternatively, the first stretch 171 and the second stretch 172 may be on the same plane and use movement means arranged in order to allow the movement thereof between the inlet 18 and the outlet 19. This alternative embodiment is not represented in the accompanying figures.

[0052] With reference to all of the embodiments described, the sliding plane 17 of the orienting device 1 may have a first surface 12 and a second surface 13, each intended for the sliding of the objects P along the first path P1 and along the second path P2, respectively.

[0053] The first surface 12 may have a plurality of first surfaces 12n that are adjacent and successively arranged with respect to the transport direction X. The first surfaces 12n, in response to particular functional, structural and dimensional requirements of the plant 10, may have different dimensions, shapes and / or inclinations.

[0054] Additionally or alternatively, the second surface 13 may have a plurality of second surfaces 13n that are adjacent and successively arranged with respect to the transport direction X. The second surfaces 13n may havedifferent dimensions, shapes and / or inclinations in response to particular functional, structural and dimensional requirements of the plant 10.

[0055] Alternatively, the first and second surfaces 12, 13 may be made in one piece and have a homogeneous structure. This variant is not shown in the accompanying figures.

[0056] Finally, the orienting device 1 according to the present invention may have, at one of the walls 14, 15, a contact element 16 horizontally protruding from the wall 14, 15 and facing the guide element 11. In other words, at least one of the walls 14, 15 may have a protrusion, i.e. , the contact element 16, facing the guide element 11. Preferably, the second wall 15 has said contact element 16.

[0057] The contact element 16 may have a first surface 162 and a second surface 163, protruding laterally with respect to the wall 14, 15 and converging towards a lateral vertex or edge 161. The lateral edge 161 is, therefore, facing the guide element 11, i.e., considering a horizontal direction, it is arranged so as to approach the guide element 11. In the case of a contact element 16 protruding from the second wall 15, the top edge or vertex 161 is facing and approaching with respect to the second lateral surface 113 of the guide element.

[0058] Alternatively, in an embodiment not shown in the figures, a contact element 16 protruding from the first wall 14 has a top edge or vertex 161 facing or approaching the first lateral surface 112 of the guide element 11.

[0059] The contact element 16, in protruding laterally and internally from the orienting device 1 , causes a narrowing of the space available for the transit of the objects P. As will be described in the following paragraphs, the contact element 16 is advantageously used in the rotation operations of elongatedobjects that are moved in the direction X and, in particular, in the second path P2.

[0060] Going into detail regarding the operation of the orienting device 1 , as mentioned above, the objects P are supplied to the orienting device 1 at the inlet 18. The objects P are preferably supplied to the orienting device 1 by means of the supply line 2 comprising the conveyor 4.

[0061] The conveyor 4 has a width w measured in the transverse direction W relative to the transport direction X.

[0062] As previously introduced, the objects P transported by the conveyor 4 tend to be arranged externally to the transport plane 41 , or, in the transverse direction W, within lateral portions of the transport plane.

[0063] With reference to Figure 3, on the conveyor 4 it is possible to identify a first outer zone Z1 and a second outer zone Z2, arranged side by side in the transverse direction W.

[0064] The objects P, once unloaded onto the supply line 21 , are consequently arranged at one of the first outer zone Z1 and the second outer zone Z2. In other words, the objects P moved by the conveyor 4 reach the inlet 18 either at the first outer zone Z1 or at the second outer zone Z2, depending upon the position assumed on the transport plane 41 while moving during the supply step.

[0065] Objects P that are arranged at the first outer zone Z1 are intended to travel along the first path P1 through the orienting device 1, whilst those objects P that are arranged at the second outer zone Z2 are intended to travel along the second path P2 through the orienting device 1.

[0066] In detail, those objects P that are arranged within the first outer zone Z1 enter the orienting device 1 and, in particular, the first stretch 171 of the orienting device 1. Here, the guide element 11 operates as a dividing element, causing the transit of an object P located within the first outer zone Z1 along the first path P1. In other words, the guide element 11 prevents an object P, arranged at the first outer zone Z1 , from traveling along the second path P2.

[0067] Each object P belonging to the first outer zone Z1 is conveyed along the first path P1 by virtue of the presence of the guide element 11 and, in particular, by interference with the respective first surface 112, which operates as the main barrier element, preventing the movement of the object P transversely to the direction as determined by the first path P.

[0068] Once moved through the orienting device 1 , the object P is conveyed through the outlet 19 in the transport direction X following the first path P1.

[0069] Similarly, those objects that are arranged in the second outer zone Z2 enter the orienting device 1 and, in particular, the first stretch 171 of the orienting device 1. Also in this case, the guide element 11 operates as a dividing element, determining, however, the transit of the object P located in the second outer zone Z2 along the second path P2. In other words, the guide element 11 prevents the object P, arranged at the second outer zone Z2, from traveling along the first path P1.

[0070] Each object P belonging to the second outer zone Z2 is conveyed along the second path P2 by virtue of the presence of the guide element 11 and, in particular, by interference with the respective second surface 113, which operates as the main barrier element, preventing the movement of the object P transversely to the direction as determined by the second path P2.

[0071] Once moved through the orienting device 1, the object P is conveyed through the outlet 19 in the transport direction X following the second path P2.

[0072] Upon exiting the orienting device 1 , therefore, two columns of objects P may be seen that are discharged in parallel from the orienting device 1 and transported in the transport direction X towards downstream stations. The orienting device 1 according to the present invention therefore allows for a disordered flow of objects P placed side by side and / or overlapping to be received at the input and the efficient separation of the disordered flow of objects P into two columns of objects P to be performed. The two columns of objects P are obtained by moving the objects P along the first path P1 or the second path P2 by means of the orienting device 1 , according to the present invention and, in particular, by interference with the guide element 11 acting as a barrier.

[0073] The orienting device 1 according to the present invention is also configured to correctly orient large objects P. In particular, the orienting device 1 according to the present invention is configured to correctly orient objects P having an elongated shape and, therefore, for which a dimension L greater than the other dimensions may be identified.

[0074] With reference to Figures 7A-7D, the object P is transported to the inlet 18 of the orienting device 1 In particular, given the size and three-dimensional shape of the object P, it will tend to arrange itself within the second outer zone Z2, to be conveyed along the second path P2.

[0075] Firstly, the object P reaches the sliding plane 17 (Figure 7A), in particular the first stretch 171 of the sliding plane 17. Here the object P is conveyed along the second path P2 until it impacts against the guide element 11 and, in particular, the second lateral surface 113 of the guide element 11 (Figure 7B).

[0076] Upon contact of the object P with the guide element 11, the guide element 11 itself, in particular the second lateral surface 113 thereof, acts as a fulcrum for the rotation of the object P (Figure 3C).

[0077] The object P, therefore, undergoes rotation, preferably by an angle of 90 degrees, to obtain an alignment of the dimension L thereof with the direction as determined by the second path P2 (Figure 74).

[0078] In other words, a large package of elongated form is discharged from the orienting device 1 parallel to the transport direction X, in the column corresponding to the first path P1.

[0079] In the embodiment of the orienting device 1 having the contact element 16, said contact element 16 may act as a further alignment and rotation guide for the elongated object P. The first and second surfaces 162, 163, converging towards the lateral vertex or edge 161 , act as additional guide elements for the rotation of the object P and provide additional points of support, and thus fulcrum, for the rotation thereof.

[0080] Advantageously, the alignment of large objects P with the transport direction X allows for the use of conveyors 4 having a smaller width 4, thereby considerably limiting the overall dimensions necessary in order to achieve the alignment and subsequent singulation of the transported objects P. By virtue of the orienting device 1 according to the present invention, it is, therefore, possible to reorder the objects P into two columns, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing bulk when compared to the units and devices of the prior art.

[0081] The columns of objects P exiting the orienting device 1 may comprise objects P that are already aligned in the transport direction X or that are arranged side by side or superimposed, depending upon their shape and thesize of the objects P and depending upon how they are supplied to the orienting device 1.

[0082] The arrangement of the objects P one after the other, or their singulation, may be performed subsequently by a singulation unit 3, upstream whereof the orienting device 1 may be advantageously arranged.

[0083] In fact, the second subject matter of the present invention is a singulation system 30 comprising the orienting device 1 and a singulation unit 3. The singulation system 30 according to the present invention is configured in use to obtain the singulation of the objects P.

[0084] In considering objects P supplied in a disordered manner or arranged side by side and / or superimposed, the term singulation means, as mentioned, the arrangement, in relation to the transport direction X, of the objects P one after the other, i.e., successively. In particular, the singulation operation allows the objects P to be spaced apart in the transport direction X. In other words, subsequently to the singulation operation, spacing is obtained between an object P and a subsequently transported object P.

[0085] Following the singulation operation, the objects P are discharged from the plant 10, one behind the other and spaced apart therebetween, in ordered rows.

[0086] The singulation system 30 according to the present invention therefore allows two rows of successively arranged and spaced apart objects P to be created simultaneously and contextually. Each row is ordered, independently of the other, starting from one of the two columns of objects P exiting the orienting device 1 , according to the methods described above.

[0087] With reference to Figure 2, Figure 5 and Figure 6, the singulation system 30 according to the present invention comprises the orienting device 1described in the preceding paragraphs and configured in use to form columns of objects P arranged side by side and / or superimposed. The columns of objects P exiting the orienting device 1 are globally aligned with the transport direction X.

[0088] The singulation system 30 further comprises the singulation unit 3 located downstream of the orienting device 1 according to the transport direction X, and configured in use to separate the objects P, thereby obtaining, for each column of objects P exiting the orienting device 1 , a row of objects P spaced apart therebetween in the transport direction X.

[0089] In a variant of the singulation system 30, the singulation unit 3 may be configured to align the objects P spaced apart in the transport direction X.

[0090] The singulation unit 3, in other words, is configured in use, with respect to the transport direction X, to arrange the objects P one after the other or one behind the other, by spacing said objects P therebetween; furthermore, the singulation unit 3 may in use be configured to align the objects P one after the other and parallel to the transport direction X, interspersed by a spacing.

[0091] In both embodiments, the objects P exiting the singulation system 30 are properly singulated.

[0092] In a first embodiment, shown in Figure 6, the singulation unit 3 comprises a first singulation device 31 comprising singulation means 311. Within the first singulation device 31 , the singulation means 311 are configured in use to receive the objects P exiting the orienting device 1 and arranged side by side or partially side by side within a respective column of objects P. Furthermore, the singulation means 311 are configured in use to translate, rotate and / or move the objects P, thereby forming a row of objects P arranged, considering the transport direction X, one behind the other and spaced apart therebetween. Said row of objects P, arranged one behind the other andspaced apart therebetween, is obtained for each column of objects P exiting the orienting device 1.

[0093] In other words, starting from each column of objects P exiting the orienting device 1 , the first singulation device 31 is able to move each object P in such a way that the plurality of objects P belonging to the column passes from a side by side or disordered configuration to a more ordered configuration, wherein packages are arranged in succession one after the other.

[0094] The first singulation device 31 may be further configured to align the objects P parallel to the transport direction X. In this case, each row exiting the singulation system 30 comprises a plurality of objects P aligned in the transport direction X.

[0095] In a preferred embodiment, the singulation means 311 may comprise movable ball means, rotatably connected to fixed supports. The ball means identify, above, a translation and sliding plane 312 of the objects P.

[0096] Examples of singulation devices 31 and singulation means 311 of the preferred, but not exclusive, type may be identified in patent number 102018000009647 on behalf of the same applicant.

[0097] Additionally, the singulation unit 3 may be comprise an intermediate singulation device 32, arranged downstream of the orienting device 1 and upstream of the first singulation device 31 (Figure 2, Figure 5).

[0098] The intermediate singulation device 32 comprises further singulation means 321, cooperating with the first singulation means 311 to obtain the spacing, one after the other in the transport direction X, of the objects P exiting the singulation system.

[0099] In detail, the further singulation means 321 are configured in use to receive the objects P that are exiting the orienting device 1 and at least partially superimposed, in a respective column of objects P. Furthermore, the further singulation means 321 are configured in use to translate, rotate and / or move the objects P, arranging the objects P side by side so that they are at least partially superimposed.

[0100] The further singulation means 321 are of the type known in the field.

[0101] For example, but not exclusively, the singulation means 321 have a plurality of upper surfaces 322 that are interconnected therebetween. The upper surfaces 322 are, moreover, suitably inclined towards one another in order to obtain the lateral alignment of the objects P starting from objects P in a bulk, or at least partially superimposed configuration.

[0102] Thus, when exiting the intermediate singulation device 32, the objects P pass from a disordered or bulk or at least partially superimposed configuration to a side by side configuration, within each column to which they belong.

[0103] The objects P in a side by side configuration may subsequently be arranged by the first singulation device 31 in the aforementioned rows of objects P, as previously discussed in detail.

[0104] The singulation system 30 according to the present invention advantageously allows for the efficient singulation of objects P supplied in bulk and arranged side by side and / or superimposed.

[0105] Advantageously, the singulation system 30, comprising the orienting device 1 according to the present invention, allows for the singulation of two rows of products P simultaneously and effectively. Finally, the singulation system 30, by virtue of the presence of the orienting device 1 , allows saidsingulation of the objects P to be obtained within a reduced space, thereby occupying limited floorspace within a plant 10.

Claims

Claims1. Orienting device 1 for objects P moved along a transport direction X, comprising:a sliding plane 17 for receiving and supporting the objects P moving through the orienting device 1 between an inlet 18 and an outlet 19 and for moving the objects P between the inlet 18 and the outlet 19 along the transport direction X;a guide element 11 arranged at the sliding plane 17, identifying, between the inlet 18 and the outlet 19, a first path P1 and a second path P2 for moving the objects P;wherein the guide element 11 is at least partially raised with respect to the sliding plane 17; andwherein the first path P1 and the second path P2 are formed along the sliding plane 17 laterally to the guide element 11.

2. Orienting device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element 11 has a first lateral surface 112 delimiting a medial portion of the first path P1 and a second lateral surface 113 delimiting a medial portion of the second path P2, wherein the first lateral surface 112 and the second lateral surface 113 extend away from the sliding plane 17.

3. Orienting device according to claim 2, wherein the first lateral surface 112 and the second lateral surface 113, protruding from the sliding plane 17, converge towards a top edge or vertex 111.

4. Orienting device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the guide element 11 has a triangular or trapezoidal vertical cross-section.

5. Orienting device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a first wall 14 and a second wall 15, externally delimiting the sliding plane 17,wherein the first wall 14 laterally delimits the first path P1 and wherein the second wall 15 laterally delimits the second path P2.

6. Orienting device according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding plane 17 has a first stretch 171 and a second stretch 172, arranged downstream of the first stretch 171 with respect to the transport direction X.

7. Orienting device according to claim 6, wherein the first stretch 171 is raised relative to the second stretch 172 and wherein the first stretch 171 and the second stretch 172 are connected by a sliding chute 173 for the objects P, on which the guide element 11 is arranged and wherein the guide element 11 is at least partially protruding from the chute 173 so as to identify the first path P1 and the second path P2.

8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second stretch 172 is connected to the first stretch 171 by means of a second curved wall 15 so as to define an angle of deviation of the transport direction X.

9. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding plane 17 comprises a plurality of surfaces 12n,13n that are adjacent and successively arranged with respect to the transport direction X.

10. Orienting device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the second wall 15 comprises a contact element 16 horizontally protruding from the second wall 15 and facing the second lateral surface 113 of the guide element 11.

11. Singulation system 30 for objects P that are moved in a transport direction X, comprising:an orienting device 1 according to at least one of claims 1-10, configured in use to form columns of objects P placed side by side and / orsuperimposed, wherein the columns are arranged in parallel with respect to the transport direction X; anda singulation unit 3 located, according to the transport direction X, downstream of the orienting device 1 and configured in use to separate objects P, thereby obtaining, for each column of objects P exiting the orienting device 1, a row of objects P spaced apart therebetween in the transport direction X.

12. Singulation system according to claim 11 , wherein the singulation unit 3 is configured in use to align the spaced apart objects P in the transport direction X.

13. Singulation system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the singulation unit 3 comprises a first singulation device 31, comprising singulation means 311 , configured in use for:receiving the objects P exiting the orienting device 1 and at least partially placed side by side within a respective column of objects P; and translating, rotating and / or moving the objects P, thereby forming a row of objects P in the transport direction X for each column of objects P exiting the orienting device 1.

14. Singulation unit according to claim 13, wherein the singulation means 311 comprise movable ball means, rotatably connected to fixed supports, wherein the ball means identify an upper plane 312 for translating and sliding the objects P.

15. Singulation unit according to claim 13, comprising an intermediate singulation device 32, arranged downstream of the orienting device 1 and upstream of the first singulation device 31, wherein the intermediate singulation device 32 comprises further singulation means 321 configured in use for:receiving the objects P exiting the orienting device 1 and at least partially superimposed within a respective column of objects P;translating, rotating and / or moving the objects P, arranging the objects P side by side so that they are at least partially superimposed.

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