Machine for stacking articles

Abstract

A machine is disclosed to perform orderly positioning an transfer of stackable articles. The stack forming station includes at least one container ( 30 a, 30 b ) equipped with a plurality of essentially vertical compartments ( 39 ) designed to receive the articles and to promote their stacking through gravity.

1 . A machine for the orderly positioning and transfer of stackable articles, wherein stacks formed of a pre-established number of said articles are prepared, and from which said stacks are deposited on transport means, the machine including at least one station to receive said articles and at least one station to form stacks, characterized in that said station to form stacks includes at least one container equipped with a plurality of essentially vertical compartments designed to receive said articles and promote their stacking through gravity.  
   
   
       2 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one container is movable between at least one position to accumulate said articles and at least one or more positions to release the stacks of articles thus formed.  
   
   
       3 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said movable containers are provided, and wherein at least one of said two containers is held in a position to accumulate the articles when the other of said containers is in said one or more positions to release the stacks, or vice versa.  
   
   
       4 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two containers are mounted on a rotatable frame and wherein first handling means are provided to operate said frame in rotation.  
   
   
       5 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two containers are mounted in diametrically opposed positions with respect to the axis of rotation of said frame.  
   
   
       6 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of said frame is inclined with respect to the supporting surface of the machine.  
   
   
       7 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein second handling means are provided to translate said containers with respect to said frame between at least one stand-by position and said one or more release positions.  
   
   
       8 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said second handling means include a single motor and are designed to disable translation of the container in the position to accumulate the articles and enable translation of the other of said two containers between said stand-by position and said one or more positions to release the stacks.  
   
   
       9 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein bottom elements positioned under each of said containers are provided for bearing said stacks.  
   
   
       10 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom elements are mounted on said frame, and wherein means are provided to produce vibrations in at least the bottom element associated with the container in said accumulation position.  
   
   
       11 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein movable means are provided to obstruct or allow access of said articles to said containers.  
   
   
       12 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said articles are produced in a thermoforming station positioned upstream of the machine.  
   
   
       13 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the compartments of said containers have the same number and the same layout as the cavities in the mould in which said articles are formed.  
   
   
       14 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one control unit is provided to operate said handling means in synchronism with the production cycle of said thermoforming station.