Apparatus and method for processing doses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906213-B2
Application number	US-201615767011-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2016
Priority date	Oct 14, 2015
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus including a co-extrusion device for extruding a multi-layer structure having at least one primary layer and at least one secondary layer, so that the multi-layer structure leaves the co-extrusion device along an exit direction; a mould provided with a pair of elements, at least one of the elements being movable towards the other in a moulding direction, so as to compression mould an object from a multi-layer dose which was severed from the multi-layer structure; a transport device for carrying the dose towards the mould; an arrangement for modifying orientation of the dose while the dose is being transported by the transport device, so that the dose is introduced into the mould with an orientation in which the secondary layer extends transversely to the moulding direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a co-extrusion device for extruding a multi-layer structure having at least one primary layer and at least one secondary layer, so that the multi-layer structure leaves the co-extrusion device along an exit direction;
a mould provided with a pair of elements, at least one of said elements being movable towards the other in a moulding direction, so as to compression mould an object from a multi-layer dose which was severed from the multi-layer structure;
a transport device for carrying the dose towards the mould, the transport device comprising a plurality of transport elements, each transport element being movable along a path directed from a collecting position, in which the dose is collected by the transport element, towards a release position, in which the dose is released into the mould by the transport element interposed between the pair of elements of the moulds, the transport element having a transport surface for coming into contact with the dose, whereby the dose remains adherent to the transport surface from the collecting position to the release position along said path;
an arrangement for modifying orientation of the dose configured to rotate the dose from an initial orientation, in which the secondary layer extends substantially parallel to the exit direction, to an orientation in which the secondary layer extends transversely to the moulding direction by rotating each transport element about an axis while the dose is being transported by the transport element along said path, so that the dose is introduced into the mould with the orientation in which the secondary layer extends transversely to the moulding direction.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the arrangement for modifying orientation of the dose is configured so that the dose is released into the mould with an orientation in which the secondary layer is substantially perpendicular to the moulding direction.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the co-extrusion device has an exit mouth which is conformed as a slit for dispensing a flat multi-layer structure, whereby multi-layer doses which are shaped as flat laminar elements can be severed from the flat multi-layer structure.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the arrangement for modifying orientation of the dose is configured to modify orientation of the dose in the second half of the path which goes from the collecting position to the release position.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transport device comprises a central body supporting the plurality of transport elements, the central body being rotatable about a rotation axis for moving the transport elements from the collecting position to the release position.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said rotation axis is substantially parallel to the moulding direction.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein each transport element is connected to an arm supported by the central body, the arrangement for modifying orientation of the dose being configured to rotate each transport element about an axis of the corresponding arm, so as to modify orientation of the dose.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said transport surface is flat.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the transport surface has an area greater than an area of a face the dose intended to be in contact the transport surface during the path from the collecting position to the release position, in order to minimize deformation of the dose during transport.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a blade is connected to said at least one transport element, so as to sever the dose from said structure.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said mould is included in a plurality of moulds supported by a carousel, said carousel being rotatable continuously or intermittently about an axis.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said mould is included in a plurality of moulds movable along a linear path.

13. An apparatus comprising:
a dispensing device having an exit mouth which is conformed as a slit for dispensing a continuous flat structure from which a laminar dose can be severed;
a mould provided with a pair of elements, at least one of said elements being movable towards the other in a moulding direction, so as to compression mould an object from the dose;
a transport device for carrying the dose towards the mould, the transport device comprising at least one transport element which is movable along a path directed from a collecting position, in which the dose is collected by the transport element, towards a release position, in which the dose is released into the mould by the transport element interposed between the pair of elements of the mould, the transport element having a transport surface for coming into contact with the dose, whereby the dose remains adherent to the transport surface from the collecting position to the release position along said path;
an arrangement for modifying orientation of the dose by rotating the transport element about an axis while the dose is being transported by the transport device along said path, so that the dose is introduced into the mould while the dose is lying in a plane arranged transversely to the moulding direction, the arrangement for modifying orientation of the dose being configured to rotate the dose from an initial orientation, in which the dose is lying in a plane substantially parallel to the exit direction, up to reaching the orientation in which the dose is lying in the plane arranged transversely to the moulding direction.

Assignees

• Sacmi

Inventors

• Pucci Fabrizio
• Parrinello Fiorenzo

Classifications

• B29C43/34 Primary

  Feeding the material to the mould or the compression means {(B29C43/085 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B29K2101/12

  Thermoplastic materials · CPC title

• B29C2043/3466

  using rotating supports, e.g. turntables or drums · CPC title

• B29K2995/0067

  non-permeable · CPC title

• B29C43/08

  with circular movement {, e.g. mounted on rolls, turntables} · CPC title