Conveying device for conveying a dose of polymeric material towards a mould

Abstract

A conveying device for conveying a dose of polymeric material towards a receiving part of a mould comprising a plurality of conveying elements (301) each comprising a main structure (306) connected to the support (307) and provided with a seat (306A) extending along its own axis of extension (X) between an end wall (E) and a sliding opening (A), and a pusher (304) positioned in the seat (306A) and movable along the axis of extension (X) through the sliding opening (A). The device comprises an abutting member (308) extending along the axis of extension (X), placed in the seat (306A) and interposed between the end wall (E) and the pusher (304). The abutting member (308) is configured to make contact with the pusher (X) along the axis of extension (X) defining an end of stroke stop for the pusher (304) along the axis of extension (X) and to keep the pusher (304) at a distance from the end wall (E) when the pusher (304) is in the retracted configuration.

Description

[0001] CONVEYING DEVICE FOR CONVEYING A DOSE OF POLYMERIC MATERIAL TOWARDS A MOULD DESCRIPTION

[0002] This invention relates to a conveying device for conveying a dose of polymeric material towards a mould.

[0003] There are prior art apparatuses for making concave objects, in particular caps, by compression moulding. The prior art apparatuses comprise an extruder for supplying a continuous extrusion of polymeric material in the molten state and a moulding device comprising a plurality of moulds, each of which is configured to make an object from a dose of polymeric material.

[0004] A conveying device is interposed between the extruder and the moulding device and comprises a plurality of conveying elements movable along a path between a pick-up position, for picking up a dose of polymeric material from the extruder, and a releasing position, for releasing the dose into the mould.

[0005] Each conveying element comprises a pusher which is usually made of metal material and movable between a retracted configuration, in which the dose adheres to the pusher, and a forward configuration, in which the dose is detached from the pusher. The movement between the retracted and forward configurations is pneumatic: the pusher is usually connectable to a suction source which keeps it in the retracted configuration, and to a compressed air source capable of generating a flow of compressed air which shifts the pusher to the forward configuration.

[0006] In fact, structurally, each pusher is movable in a seat put in fluid communication with the sources of compressed air and suction. The movement of the pusher to the retracted position driven by the suction source therefore generates a negative pressure in the seat which “sucks” the pusher, causing it to abut against an end wall of the seat. In otherwords, every time the pusher is brought to the retracted position, it makes impact against the end wall of the seat.

[0007] Generally, the pusher comprises a hollow portion facing the end wall which gives the pusher lightness therefore making it light and easy to move by suction and compressed air. However, that means that the face of the pusher which makes contact with the end wall has the shape of an annulus which disadvantageously is highly likely to be damaged by the pusher abutting against the end wall during its movement to the retracted configuration.

[0008] In more detail the continuous impact between the contact face of the pusher and the end wall causes the formation of lamellae or curls jutting out from the contact face which prevent correct sliding of the pusher in the seat. That results in the need for frequent maintenance work and / or replacement of one or more conveying elements and / or of one or more respective components.

[0009] Therefore, the prior art conveying devices are affected by the disadvantage of not only being subjected to high levels of wear and malfunctions deriving from that, but also being noisy and, therefore, troublesome for the operators.

[0010] One aim of the invention is to improve the apparatuses for making objects made of polymeric material by compression moulding, as well as the conveying devices for conveying doses of polymeric material from an extruder to a mould.

[0011] A further aim is to provide a conveying device which requires limited maintenance.

[0012] Another aim is to provide a conveying device which is not very noisy.

[0013] According to a first aspect of the invention a conveying device is provided for conveying a dose of polymeric material towards a receiving part of a mould.

[0014] The conveying device comprises a support.The conveying device comprises a plurality of conveying elements, each configured to receive a dose of polymeric material. Each of the conveying elements is connected to the support. Each of the conveying elements is movable along a path between at least a pick-up position for picking up a dose of polymeric material and a releasing position for releasing the dose of polymeric material into the mould.

[0015] Each of the conveying elements comprises a main structure connected to the support and provided with a seat. The seat extends along its own axis of extension between an end wall and a sliding opening.

[0016] Each of the conveying elements comprises a pusher positioned in the seat and movable along the axis of extension through the sliding opening between a retracted configuration and a forward configuration. In the retracted configuration, the pusher is housed inside the seat for receiving the dose. In the forward configuration the pusher is at least partly removed from the seat and projects from the sliding opening for releasing the dose. Each of the conveying elements comprises an abutting member placed in the seat and interposed between the end wall of the seat and the pusher. The abutting member extends along the axis of extension and makes contact with the pusher along the axis of extension defining an end of stroke stop for the pusher when the pusher is in the retracted configuration. The abutting member keeps the pusher at a distance from the end wall when the pusher is in the retracted configuration.

[0017] Therefore, when the pusher is positioned in the retracted position it makes impact against the abutting member along the axis of extension always remaining at a distance from the end wall. In other words, the pusher does not make impact against the end wall, instead abutting against the abutting member. Advantageously, that considerably limits the wear on the pusher, thereby guaranteeing a considerably reduced need for maintenance work and / or replacement of one or more conveying elements and / or of one or more respective components.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the abutting member and thepusher are coaxial along the axis of extension.

[0019] Advantageously, that avoids any misalignments between the pusher and the seat which in contrast could occur if the abutting member and the pusher were not coaxial along the axis of extension.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the abutting member extends from the end wall along the axis of extension as far as at least one abutting face transversal to the axis of extension. In one embodiment, the abutting member comprises a plurality of protuberances each extending along the axis of extension as far as its own abutting face. The abutting faces of the protuberances are coplanar.

[0021] The pusher comprises a contact face transversal to the axis of extension and facing the abutting face. The contact face and the abutting face extend around the axis of extension. The abutting face abuts against at least part of the contact face defining the end of stroke stop for the pusher when the pusher is in the retracted configuration.

[0022] Therefore, the impact between the abutting member and the pusher occurs in its contact surface. Advantageously, that considerably limits the wear to which the pusher is subjected.

[0023] Structurally, the abutting face has a radial extent, with reference to the axis of extension, less than or equal to the radial extent, with reference to the axis of extension, of the contact face. Advantageously, that considerably prevents the formation of lamellae and / or curls jutting out from the pusher and in that way correct sliding of the pusher in the seat always remains allowed. That results in a reduction in the need for frequent maintenance work and / or replacement of one or more conveying elements and / or of one or more respective components.

[0024] According to one aspect of this invention, the abutting face and the contact face are parallel to each other and are coaxial with each other along the axis of extension. Advantageously, that avoids misalignments between the pusher and the seat in which the pusher is movable between the retracted and forward configurations.The pusher comprises its own lateral walls delimiting the pusher transversally to the axis of extension and extending along the axis of extension as far as a perimetric face transversal to the axis of extension. The perimetric face is facing the end wall and extends annularly around the main axis.

[0025] The contact face is radially inside the perimetric face with reference to the axis of extension.

[0026] The abutting face abuts against at least part of the contact face keeping the perimetric face at a distance from the end wall when the pusher is in the retracted configuration. Consequently, the perimetric face never abuts against either the abutting member or the end wall. Advantageously, the wear to which the pusher is subjected is considerably reduced.

[0027] According to one aspect of this invention, the pusher comprises a housing extending along the axis of extension between an infeed opening open towards the abutting member and the contact face. The infeed opening is defined on the perimetric wall defined by the lateral walls of the pusher. The abutting member is shaped to be inserted into the housing through the infeed opening when the pusher is in the retracted configuration. The abutting member has an extent along the axis of extension greater than an extent of the housing along the axis of extension. Therefore, when the pusher is in the retracted configuration the abutting face of the abutting member is in contact with the contact face of the pusher, which is at a distance from the end wall.

[0028] Consequently the only zone of the pusher which abuts against a component external to it is the contact face which delimits the housing and which abuts against the abutting member. Advantageously, the wear to which the pusher is subjected is considerably reduced: neither lamellae nor curls form jutting out from a perimetric edge of the pusher outside the housing and which slides along the walls of the seat. In that way, correct sliding of the pusher in the seat always remains allowed with a consequent reduction in the need for frequent maintenance work and / or replacementof one or more conveying elements and / or of one or more respective components.

[0029] In one embodiment, the abutting member is made of plastic material.

[0030] Advantageously, that optimises the reduction of wear on the pusher which abuts against material having reduced hardness. Moreover, the noise deriving from the impact between the pusher and the abutting member is extremely reduced, making the machine hardly or not at all troublesome for operators in the sector.

[0031] In one embodiment, the abutting member is made of an elastic material, for example rubbery.

[0032] In one embodiment, the conveying element comprises a plate defining the end wall of the seat and the abutting member is fixed to the plate.

[0033] In one embodiment, the abutting member and the plate are made in one piece, that is to say, they are irreversibly connected; in other words, the abutting member and the plate define a single monolithic body.

[0034] In one embodiment, the abutting member is hollow.

[0035] Advantageously, the quantity of material, for example plastic and / or rubbery, necessary to make the abutting member is reduced with a consequent reduction in its production costs.

[0036] In one embodiment, the pusher is hollow.

[0037] Advantageously, the pusher is light and easy to move using compressed air and negative pressure forced into a chamber defined in the seat and delimited by the end wall and by the pusher.

[0038] In one embodiment, at least one of the end wall or the abutting member comprises at least one through opening configured to receive a movement unit or a cooling unit connectable to the pusher to move the pusher between the retracted and forward configurations or to cool it.

[0039] Advantageously, a connection between the pusher and the movement means is allowed in this way.The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several example, non-limiting embodiments of it, in which:

[0040] Figure 1 is a schematic top view, showing a portion of a machine for making objects by compression moulding, which comprises an extruder, a conveying device for conveying a dose and a moulding device for moulding the dose;

[0041] Figure 2 is a perspective bottom view of a part of the conveying device of Figure 1 comprising a support on which a plurality of conveying elements is fixed, each having a respective pusher which is in a retracted position; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of the conveying device of Figure 2 which shows two different pushers, amongst which it is possible to identify one pusher in a forward configuration (on the left) and one pusher in a retracted configuration (on the right),

[0042] Figure 4 is a cross-section of the conveying element and of a female mould part, in which the conveying element has picked up a dose of polymeric material and the pusher of the conveying element is still in the retracted configuration, housed in a respective seat;

[0043] Figure 5 is a cross-section of the conveying element and of a female mould part, of Figure 4, in which the pusher of the conveying element has been moved from the retracted configuration to the forward configuration to transfer the dose from the conveying component to the female mould part;

[0044] Figure 6 is a top view of the conveying element,

[0045] Figure 7 is a cross-section of the conveying element of Figure 6 along the line VII-VII of Figure 5 in which the pusher of the conveying element is in the retracted position, housed in a respective seat,

[0046] Figure 8 is a cross-section of the conveying element of Figure 5 along the line VII-VII of Figure 5 in which the pusher of the conveying element is in the forward position, housed in a respective seat,

[0047] Figure 9 is a detail of Figure 6.With reference to Figures 1 to 9, the number 1 is used to indicate in its entirety a machine for making objects by compression moulding a polymeric material. The objects which the machine 1 allows to be obtained may be concave objects such as containers, caps for containers, preforms of containers, capsules for coffee, or even other types of objects.

[0048] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the machine 1 comprises an extruder 2, suitable for supplying a continuous extrusion of polymeric material. The machine 1 also comprises a conveying device 3, which includes at least one conveying element 301 for picking up a dose 4 of polymeric material from the extruder and for conveying it to a mould 5. For that purpose, each of the conveying elements 301 is movable along a path T which, in the example shown, is circular. However, this condition is not necessary, and the path T could be a generic closed loop trajectory, having at least one non-circular stretch.

[0049] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, each conveying element 301 has a retaining space 302 defined inside it, suitable for retaining the dose 4. Each conveying element 301 is provided with a cutting edge 303, which in the example shown in Figures 2 and 3 is a lower edge of the conveying component 301. The cutting edge 303, as it passes near an outlet (not shown) of the extruder device 2, separates the dose 4 from the continuous extrusion. The cutting edge 303 of the conveying component 301 therefore acts, in this case, as a separating element for separating the dose 4 from the continuous extrusion.

[0050] The dose 4 is then received in the retaining space 302 of the conveying component 301. The retaining space 302 is delimited by a conveying face 301 A to which the dose 4, which is still in a molten state, can adhere thanks to its viscosity.

[0051] The machine 1 also comprises at least one mould 5 for compression moulding the dose 4, obtaining the desired object from it by compression moulding. In the example shown in Figure 1, there is a plurality of moulds5 mounted in a peripheral region of a rotatable moulding carrousel 6, even if this condition is not necessary.

[0052] Each mould 5 comprises a first mould part 501 and a second part 502, aligned with each other along a moulding line between an open position, in which they are moved away from each other and the dose 4 is received on a receiving part of a mould selected from the first mould part 501 or the second mould part 502, and a closed position, in which they are drawn near each other and the object is moulded starting from the dose 4 between the first mould part 501 and the second mould part 502. For example, the first mould part 501 may be a male mould part provided with a punch whilst the second mould part 502 may be a female part provided with a cavity for receiving the punch.

[0053] The dose 4 is transferred from the conveying element 301 to the receiving part of the mould 5 when they are aligned with each other. Specifically, the dose 4 falls into a moulding cavity 503 of the female mould part 502.

[0054] The female mould part 502 is therefore the receiving part, that is to say, the mould part which receives the dose 4 to be moulded. However, this condition is not necessary since the receiving part could even be the male mould part 501. For the sake of simplicity, in the text below, reference will be made to the fact that the conveying device 3 is configured to convey the dose 4 to the receiving part 152 which may however even be the male mould part 501.

[0055] In order to pick up and transfer the dose 4 from the conveying element 301 to the receiving part of a mould 502, each of the conveying elements 301 is movable along the path T between a pick-up position, for picking up the dose 4 and a releasing position, for releasing the dose 4 into the receiving part 502 of the mould 5.

[0056] Structurally, the conveying device 3 comprises a support 307 to which the supporting elements 301 are connected. The conveying elements 301 may be movable along the support 307 or, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the conveying elements 301 are fixed to the support 307 which is movablefor moving the conveying elements 301 along the path T. The support 307 is therefore configured like a conveying carrousel, and is connected to movement units (not illustrated) suitable for rotating it clockwise or anticlockwise in a direction of feed F.

[0057] Structurally, with reference to Figures 4 to 8, each conveying element 301 is provided with a main structure 306 connected to the support 307. The main structure 306 is provided with the cutting edge 303 and defines the retaining space 302.

[0058] In order to contain the pusher 304, the main structure 306 is provided with a seat 306A open towards the retaining space 302 and suitable for containing the pusher 304 inside it. The seat 306A extends along its own axis of extension X between an end wall E and a sliding opening A.

[0059] The axis of extension X is therefore a longitudinal axis of the seat 306A around which the seat 306A extends.

[0060] The pusher 304 is therefore positioned in the seat 306A and, in order to allow picking up and releasing of the dose 4, is movable along the axis of extension X through the sliding opening A between a retracted configuration (Figure 4 and 7), in which it is housed inside the seat 306A for receiving the dose 4, and a forward configuration (Figures 5 and 8), in which it is at least partly removed from the seat 306A and projects from the sliding opening A for releasing the dose 4. Therefore, the pusher 304 is placed in the retracted configuration when the conveying element 301 is in the pick-up position, that is to say, near the extruder 2 for picking up the dose 4, and is placed in the forward configuration when the conveying element 301 is in the releasing position, that is to say, aligned with the receiving part 502 of the mould 5 for releasing the dose to the latter.

[0061] The pusher 304 therefore acts on the dose 4 and is suitable for pushing the dose 4 towards the receiving part 502 of the mould 5 by a movement from the retracted configuration to the forward configuration. The pusher 304 is then suitable for returning to the retracted configuration, from the forward configuration, in a corresponding ascent step.With reference to Figures 4 and 5, in order to be able to move the pusher 304 between the retracted and forward configurations, each conveying component 301 comprises a feed duct 305 in fluid communication with the pusher 304. Structurally, the main structure 306 is provided with a connecting opening 306B open towards the seat 306A which may be connected to an outfeed end 305B of the feed duct 305.

[0062] In detail, the conveying device 3 comprises a pneumatic circuit (not illustrated in the accompanying figures), comprising a vacuum line 7 and a pressure line 8 which may, both, be put in fluid communication with the feed duct 305.

[0063] The feed duct 305 is suitable for alternatively being connected to the vacuum line 7, for moving the pusher 304 along the axis of extension X from the forward position to the retracted position (Figure 4) or being connected to the pressure line 8, for moving the pusher 304 along the axis of extension X from the retracted position to the forward position (Figure 5). In other words, the feed duct 305 is in fluid communication with the seat 306A in which the pusher 304 is housed and is in turn in fluid communication with the vacuum line 7, or with the pressure line 8. In this way, when the negative air pressure is applied to the feed duct 305, the seat 306A is placed in negative pressure and the pusher 304 is sucked and pushed along the axis of extension X towards the end wall E (Figure 4). In contrast, when the pressurised air is fed to the feed duct 305, the seat 306A is pressurised and the pusher 304 is pushed along the axis of extension X out of the seat 306A, through the sliding opening A, to the forward configuration (Figure 5).

[0064] To facilitate shifting of the pusher 304 between the retracted and forward configurations, the pusher 304 is hollow. In fact, that makes the pusher 304 light.

[0065] According to one advantageous aspect of this invention, the conveying device 3 comprises an abutting member 308, extending along the axis of extension X, placed in the seat 306A and interposed between the end wallE and the pusher 304. The abutting member 308, when the pusher 304 is in the retracted configuration, makes contact with the pusher 304 along the axis of extension X defining an end of stroke stop for the pusher 304 and keeps the pusher 304 at a distance from the end wall E.

[0066] Therefore, when the negative air pressure is applied to the seat 306A, the pusher 304 is sucked and pushed along the axis of extension X towards the end wall E of the seat 306A (Figure 4) until it makes impact, along the axis of extension X, against the abutting element 308 defining the end of stroke stop. Therefore, the pusher 304 never makes impact against the end wall E. Advantageously, wear on the pusher 304 is reduced in this way.

[0067] In this description, “at a distance from” means that a play of several tenths of a millimetre is defined between the pusher 304 and the end wall E.

[0068] In this description “define an end of stroke stop” means stopping the stroke of the pusher 304 along the axis of extension X.

[0069] Structurally, the abutting member 308 extends from the end wall E along the axis of extension X as far as at least one abutting face 308A transversal to the axis of extension X and the pusher 304 comprises a contact face 304C transversal to the axis of extension X and facing the abutting face 308A. The abutting member 308 may comprise a plurality of protuberances extending along the axis of extension X as far as respective abutting faces 308A. The contact face 304C and the abutting face 308A extend around the axis of extension X. The abutting face 308A abuts against at least part of the contact face 304C of the pusher 304 when the pusher 304 is in the retracted configuration.

[0070] The pusher 304 therefore abuts against the abutting member 304 by means of the contact face 304C, and this advantageously causes a reduction in the wear on the pusher 304.

[0071] In one embodiment, the abutting face 308A has a radial extent, with reference to the axis of extension X, less than or equal to the radial extent, with reference to the axis of extension X, of the contact face 304C.The expression “radial extent” means a distance between an outer edge (that is to say, distal from the axis of extension X) of the abutting face 308A and the axis of extension X measured along a plane orthogonal to the axis of extension X.

[0072] A perimetric edge 304B of the pusher 304 extending around the axis of extension X and facing the end wall E therefore never makes contact with either the abutting element 308 or the end wall E. Consequently, advantageously, the wear to which the pusher 304 is subjected is considerably reduced: in fact there is avoidance of formation of lamellae or curls jutting out from the perimetric edge 304B of the pusher 304 which would hinder correct sliding of the pusher 304 in the seat 306. Therefore, the conveying device 3 maintenance costs are considerably lower.

[0073] In order to avoid misalignments of the pusher 304 in the seat 306, which would cause malfunctions and an increase in the wear on the pusher 304, the abutting member 309 and the pusher 304 are coaxial along the axis of extension X.

[0074] Structurally, the pusher 304 comprises its own lateral walls 304L delimiting the pusher 304 transversally to the axis of extension X. The perimetric walls 304L extend along the axis of extension X as far as a perimetric face 304P transversal to the axis of extension X and facing the end wall E. Moreover, the perimetric face 304P extends annularly around the main axis X. The perimetric face 304P is delimited by its own edge coincident with the perimetric edge 304B of the pusher 304.

[0075] The contact face 304C is radially inside the perimetric face 304P with reference to the axis of extension X.

[0076] The abutting face 308A abuts against at least part of the contact face 304C keeping the perimetric face 304P and the lateral walls 304L at a distance from the end wall E when the pusher 304 is in the retracted configuration.

[0077] Consequently, advantageously, there is avoidance of formation of lamellae or curls jutting out from the perimetric face 304P (and from the perimetricedge 304B) of the pusher 304 which would hinder correct sliding of the pusher 304 in the seat 306.

[0078] In order to avoid misalignments of the pusher 304 in the seat 306 which would cause malfunctions and an increase in the wear on the pusher 304, the abutting face 308A and the contact face 304C are parallel to each other and are coaxial with each other along the axis of extension X.

[0079] According to one aspect of this invention, the pusher 304 comprises a housing 309 extending along the axis of extension X and configured to receive the abutting member 308 inserted into it. The housing 309 extends between an infeed opening 309A open towards the abutting member 308 and the contact face 306C.

[0080] In turn, the abutting member 308 is shaped to be inserted into the housing 309 through its infeed opening 309 when the pusher 304 is in the retracted configuration.

[0081] The abutting member 308 has an extent along the axis of extension X greater than an extent of the housing 309 along the axis of extension X. Consequently, when the pusher 304 is in the retracted configuration, the abutting face 308A is in contact with the contact face 306C delimiting the housing 309 and the pusher 304 is at a distance from the end wall E delimiting the seat 306A.

[0082] Specifically, the infeed opening 309A of the housing 309 is open on the perimetric face 304P of the pusher 304. Therefore, when the pusher 304 is in the retracted configuration, the contact wall 304C of the pusher 304 is placed in contact with the abutting wall 308A of abutting member 308 whilst the perimetric wall 304P of the pusher 304 is at a distance from the end wall E delimiting the seat 306.

[0083] In one embodiment, the abutting member 308 is made of plastic material, preferably rubbery. The plastic material dampens the impact of the pusher 304 against the abutting member 308, advantageously causing a considerable reduction in the wear on the pusher 304. Moreover, the plastic material advantageously allows the noise deriving from the impactof the pusher 304 against the abutting member 308 to be minimised or even eliminated.

[0084] With reference to the end wall E of the seat 306, from which the pusher 304 is kept at a distance, the conveying device 3 comprises a plate 310 transversal to the axis of extension X and defining the end wall E.

[0085] The abutting member 308 juts out from the plate 310.

[0086] In one embodiment, the abutting member 308 is made in one piece with the plate 310. The expression “made in one piece with” means that the plate 310 and the abutting member 308 define a single monolithic body. In one embodiment, the abutting member 308 is hollow. That causes a reduction in its production cost since less material is needed than would be the case to make a solid abutting member.

[0087] In one embodiment, at least one of the end wall E or the abutting member 308 comprises one or more through connecting openings C configured to receive a movement unit configured to move the pusher 304 between the retracted and forward configurations. The through openings C may be connected to a cooling unit configured to cool the pusher 304. Alternatively, the cooling unit is connectable to the conveying element 301. This invention achieves the aims proposed. Thanks to the abutting member 308, interposed between the end wall E and the pusher 304, which defines an end of stroke stop for the pusher and which extends, like the pusher 304, along the axis of extension X, the pusher 304 in the retracted configuration makes contact with the abutting member 308 along the axis of extension X and is kept at a distance from the end wall E. That advantageously causes a reduction in the wear on the pusher 304 thereby reducing the maintenance costs for the conveying device 3.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A conveying device (3) for conveying a dose (4) of polymeric material towards a receiving part of a mould (5), the conveying device (3) comprising a support (307) and a plurality of conveying elements (301) each configured to receive a dose (4) of polymeric material, each connected to the support (307) and each movable along a path (T) between at least a pick-up position, for picking up the dose (4) and a releasing position, for releasing the dose (4) into the receiving part of the mould (5), wherein each conveying element (301) comprises:- a main structure (306) connected to the support (307) and provided with a seat (306A) extending along its own axis of extension (X) between an end wall (E) and a sliding opening (A);- a pusher (304) positioned in the seat (306A) and movable along the axis of extension (X) through the sliding opening (A) between a retracted configuration, in which it is housed inside the seat (306A) for receiving the dose (4), and a forward configuration, in which it is at least partly removed from the seat (306A) and projects from the sliding opening (A) for releasing the dose (4);- an abutting member (308) placed in the seat (306A), extending along the axis of extension (X) and interposed between the end wall (E) and the pusher (304), wherein, when the pusher (304) is in the retracted configuration, the abutting member (308) makes contact with the pusher (304) along the axis of extension (X) defining an end of stroke stop for the pusher (304) and keeping the pusher (304) at a distance from the end wall (E).

2. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the abutting member (308) the pusher (304) are coaxial along the axis of extension (X).

3. The conveying device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the abutting member (308) extends from the end wall (E) along the axis of extension (X) as far as at least one abutting face (308A) transversal to the axis of extension (X) and wherein the pusher (304) comprises a contact face(304C) transversal to the axis of extension (X) and facing the abutting face (308A);wherein the contact face (304C) and the abutting face (308A) extend around the axis of extension (X), the abutting face (308A) abutting against at least part of the contact face (304C) defining the end of stroke stop for the pusher (304) when the pusher (304) is in the retracted configuration.

4. The conveying device (3) according to the preceding claim, wherein the abutting face (308A) has a radial extent, with reference to the axis of extension (X), less than or equal to the radial extent, with reference to the axis of extension (X), of the contact face (304C).

5. The conveying device (3) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pusher (304) comprises its own lateral walls (304L) delimiting the pusher (304) transversally to the axis of extension (X) and extending along the axis of extension (X) as far as a perimetric face (304P) transversal to the axis of extension (X), facing the end wall (E) and extending annularly around the main axis (X);wherein the contact face (304C) is radially inside the perimetric face (304P) with reference to the axis of extension (X), the abutting face (308A) abutting against at least part of the contact face (304C) keeping the perimetric face (304P) and the lateral walls (304L) at a distance from the end wall (E) when the pusher (304) is in the retracted configuration.

6. The conveying device (3) according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein the abutting face (308A) and the contact face (304C) are parallel to each other and are coaxial with each other along the axis of extension (X).

7. The conveying device (3) according to any one of the preceding claims when it depends on claim 3, wherein the pusher (304) comprises a housing (309) extending along the axis of extension (X) between an infeed opening (309A) open towards the abutting member (308) and the contact face (309C);wherein the abutting member (308):- is shaped to be inserted into the housing (309) through the infeed opening (309A) when the pusher (304) is in the retracted configuration; - has an extent along the axis of extension (X) greater than an extent of the housing (309) along the axis of extension (X) in such a way that, when the pusher (304) is in the retracted configuration, the abutting face (308A) is placed abutting at least part of the contact face (304C) and the pusher (304) is at a distance from the end wall (E) delimiting the seat (306A).

8. The conveying device (3) according to the preceding claim when it depends on claim 5, wherein the infeed opening (309A) is open on the perimetric face (304P) of the pusher (304).

9. The conveying device (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abutting member (308) is made of plastic material.

10. The conveying device (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plate (310) transversal to the axis of extension (X) and defining the end wall (E), and wherein the abutting member (308) juts out from the plate (310) and is made in one piece with the plate (310).

11. The conveying device (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abutting member (308) is hollow.

12. The conveying device (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the end wall (E) or the abutting member (308) comprises one or more through connecting openings (C) and wherein each conveying element (301) is connectable:- to a movement unit, configured to move the pusher (304) between the retracted and forward configurations, through the connecting openings (C), and / or- to a cooling unit, configured to cool the pusher (304), through the connecting openings (C) and / or connectable to the main structure (301).

13. The conveying device (3) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pusher (304) is hollow.

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