STATION FOR INSERTING A BOTTLE IN A CASING

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a station for inserting a bottle in a casing.

[0002] It is known to resort, in many fields, to packaging by means of casings (generally made of a material such as cardboard, paper, optionally with layers of polymeric films, or constituted directly by polymeric sheets) of products such as bottles, jars, and the like.

[0003] In particular, this specific packaging method is very widespread for cosmetic products and for some pharmaceutical products, although it is in any case used universally also in other fields (generally with a lower incidence).

[0004] The casings generally have the shape of a parallelepiped and are already completely formed when the bottle is inserted.

[0005] In this step, the flaps of each casing, which will be intended for the subsequent closure thereof, must be kept divaricated in order to allow easy entry of the bottle.

[0006] Keeping the flaps in the divaricated configuration forces an opposite folding thereof, which inevitably causes the generation of deformations along the folding line: even after closing the casing, these deformations in any case will be visible, worsening the overall appearance of the packaging.

[0007] Since these are products intended for sectors in which aesthetic appearance is very important (for example cosmetics), or for top-range products in the most disparate sectors, the presence of folding lines along which deformations are visible might induce the potential buyer to reject the product.

[0008] It is therefore very difficult to provide a package with high quality and aesthetic standards, especially if one resorts to automatic packaging.

[0009] On the other hand, manual packaging entails excessively high costs, which would affect negatively the final price of the product.

[0010] Finally, it should be noted that in many cases bottles for the cosmetic sector (it is specified that this solution is used also in some pharmaceutical, food, electronic products and for clothing, costume jewelry and jewelry accessories) are wrapped within a protective covering that is interposed between the bottle and the casing once packaging has been completed.

[0011] This protective covering has the function of preserving the bottle against accidental friction against other surfaces, furthermore damping the effect on the bottle of any impacts affecting the entire packaging.

[0012] The protective covering is generally provided by means of sheets of cardboard or polymeric material that have an undulated or ribbed shape: these shapes allow to damp the effects on the bottle of any deformations to which the entire packaged product is subjected.

[0013] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, by proposing a station for inserting a bottle in a casing that does not generate permanent deformations of the casing and therefore preserves its aesthetic appearance.

[0014] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to propose a station for inserting a bottle in a casing that is completely automated.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to propose a station for inserting a bottle in a casing that allows to process bottles wrapped within a protective covering as well.

[0016] A further object of the present invention is to provide a station for inserting a bottle in a casing that has modest costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

[0017] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a station according to claim 1, i.e. a station for inserting a bottle in a casing, of the type that can be installed between a line for supplying said bottles and a line for forming/delivering said casings. The station comprises at least one functional arm provided with grip means for at least one bottle and at least one laminar tab that can be oriented to move the top flaps of a casing, said arm being movable between a pickup configuration, in which it is aligned with a region for delivering said bottles of said supply line, and an insertion configuration, in which it is aligned with a casing arranged on the end portion of said line for forming/delivering said casings, said grip means being translatable along said arm between a raised configuration, in which they surmount said laminar tab, and a lowered configuration, in which they are, at least partially, at a substantially lower height than said laminar tab, said laminar tab being able to slide along said arm between a lowered configuration of substantial alignment of its terminal edge with at least one upper portion of the lateral walls of a said casing arranged on the respective forming/delivery line and a raised configuration in which said terminal edge is at a higher level.

[0018] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the station for inserting a bottle in a casing according to the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a functional arm of a station for the insertion of a bottle in a casing, according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the arm of Figure 1 in a first step of pickup of the bottle wrapped in a protective covering;

Figure 3 is a front view of the arm of Figure 1 in a second step of transfer of the bottle, wrapped in a protective covering, from the pickup region to the delivery region;

Figure 4 is a front view of the arm of Figure 1 in a third step of insertion of laminar tabs in a respective casing;

Figure 5 is a front view of the arm of Figure 1 in a fourth step of insertion of the bottle in a respective casing, the upper flaps of which are kept open by the laminar tabs;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bottle wrapped in a protective covering.

[0019] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a functional arm of a station for inserting a bottle A in a casing B.

[0020] The station is of the type that can be installed between a line for supplying bottles A and a line for forming/delivering the casings B.

[0021] In particular, the line for supplying the bottles A is such as to convey the bottles A with a predefined pitch, so as to ensure that they are delivered to the station according to the invention in a precisely defined position.

[0022] The line for supplying the bottles A can have sliders, cups or, more generically, containers in which the bottles A are to be accommodated in order to know precisely their position at each instant.

[0023] Furthermore, it is known to resort to protective coverings C which can be wrapped (or more generically folded) around the bottle A in order to preserve its integrity.

[0024] The supply line can therefore also be preset for the insertion of the bottle A within a respective protective covering.

[0025] In any case, the assembly constituted by the pair formed by the protective covering C and the bottle A also can be delivered with precision to the station according to the invention.

[0026] The station according to the invention comprises at least one functional arm 1, which is provided with grip means 2 for at least one bottle A and at least one orientable laminar tab 3 for the movement of the top flaps D of a casing B.

[0027] The arm 1 can move between a pickup configuration, in which it is aligned with a region for the delivery of the bottles A, which is located on the supply line of the bottles A, and an insertion configuration, in which it is aligned with a casing B that is arranged on the end portion of the line for forming/delivering the casings B.

[0028] According to the invention, the grip means 2 can translate along the arm 1 itself between a raised configuration, in which they surmount the laminar tab 3, and a lowered configuration, in which they are at least partially at a substantially lower level than the laminar tab 3.

[0029] In turn, the laminar tab 3 can slide along the arm 1 between a lowered configuration of substantial alignment of its terminal edge 4 with at least one upper portion of the lateral walls of a casing B arranged on the respective forming/delivery line, and a raised configuration, in which its terminal edge 4 is at a higher level.

[0030] It is deemed useful to point out that the at least one functional arm 1 can validly comprise a guiding track 5 for the grip means 2 and the orientable laminar tab 3.

[0031] In this manner, the grip means 2 and the tab 3 can translate with respect to a same linear reference (the track 5) in order to ensure correct mutual alignment.

[0032] With particular reference to a particularly interesting and efficient embodiment, the grip means 2 can comprise a linear actuator 6, which can slide along the guiding track 5, to which a fluid-operated device 7 (which might be constituted by a fluid-operated cylinder or more simply by a support which comprises a channel of a circuit in partial vacuum associated with a respective suction element) is coupled, said device being provided, at its terminal end, with a grip head 8 provided with at least one sucker (the operation of which can be validly controlled by the connection to said channel of the circuit in partial vacuum).

[0033] With particular reference to the described embodiment, the grip head 8 can comprise effectively at least one lower sucker 9 that abuts against the top of a respective bottle A (in the configuration for picking up said bottle) and at least one lateral sucker 10, which abuts against the inner wall of a protective covering C which is arranged around the bottle A, for the simultaneous pickup of the bottle A and of the protective covering C.

[0034] It is specified that the lateral suckers 10 are at least four: each lateral sucker 10 in this case is aligned with a respective inner wall of one of the four lateral surfaces of the protective covering C (ensuring that it retains its arrangement wrapped around the bottle A).

[0035] With particular reference to a constructive solution of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, it is deemed useful to specify that the orientable laminar tabs 3 can be at least two, mutually opposite and orientable between a first configuration, intended for their entry in a respective casing B, in which the respective terminal edges 4 face each other and are mutually proximate, and a second configuration, which is intended for the divarication of the flaps D that protrude from the lateral walls of the casing B, in which the respective terminal edges 4 are mutually distant.

[0036] The first inlet configuration is therefore designed for easy access of the laminar tabs 4 within the perimetric flaps D of the opening of the casing: the converging arrangement of the laminar tabs 3 in fact determines a wedge-like shape, which facilitates their entry in the opening of the casing even if the perimetric flaps D are greatly folded inward (partially occluding the opening of the casing B).

[0037] The second divarication configuration is instead designed for the mutual spacing of the perimetric flaps D of the opening of the casing B: the laminar tabs 3 in fact act on the internal surface of the flaps D, divaricating them and rendering the opening of the casing B delimited between them fully accessible.

[0038] According to a particularly efficient embodiment, the grip head 8 can advantageously comprise an external frame 11 the shape and dimensions of which are complementary to those of the protective covering C of the bottle A, for its snug entry within the covering C.

[0039] In this case, the frame 11 accommodates internally at least one main sucker 9 for the grip of at least one bottle A and supports, on its external walls, a plurality of secondary lateral suckers 10 for locking the protective covering C of said bottle.

[0040] In order to specify the various aspects that ensure optimum operation of the station according to the invention, it is specified that the arm 1 can move, by virtue of the action of respective movement means (not visible in the accompanying figures), along a conveyance path which is arranged perimetrically with respect to a fixed supporting structure.

[0041] The path has at least one first portion which is aligned with a region for the delivery of the bottles A along the supply line of the bottles A and at least one second portion which is aligned with a casing B arranged on the end portion of the forming/delivery line of the casings B.

[0042] In order to clarify the operating and functioning modes of the station according to the invention, it is appropriate to point out that a sliding support 12 (able to slide along the track 5 by means of respective actuators) is interposed between the arm 1 and the at least one orientable laminar tab 3: the at least one laminar tab 3 is pivoted to the sliding support 12 and is coupled to a pusher which is designed for its rotation with respect to the respective pivoting axis.

[0043] In this manner, by virtue of an action of the pusher it is possible to actuate the simultaneous rotation of the two mutually opposite laminar tabs 3 between the first inlet configuration (in which their terminal edges 4 face each other and are mutually proximate) and the second divarication configuration (in which the two tabs 3 are substantially mutually parallel and keep the flaps D of the casing B divaricated).

[0044] The suckers 9 and 10 are connected to a suction circuit in order to allow rapid transition (by activation/interruption of the suction flow) from a step for retaining the bottle A and the enclosure C to a step for release thereof (after they have been inserted correctly in the respective casing B).

[0045] It is specified that the suction circuit, the actuators (i.e., the linear actuator 6 and the component for moving the support 12), the fluid-operated device 7 (or other equivalent movement apparatus), the pusher (designed to move/orient the tabs 3) and the movement means (which allow the arm 1 to move along the path defined on the respective supporting structure) are controlled by a respective control and management unit.

[0046] In this manner it has been pointed out that the station according to the invention can be managed in a fully automated manner.

[0047] Operation of the present invention is very simple: once the bottle A (and also the optional protective covering C) has been picked up from the respective supply line (by means of the suckers 9 and 10 of the grip head 8, which are supplied by the defined suction circuit), the arm 1 moves along the previously described path until it aligns itself with the region for the insertion of the bottle A (optionally wrapped within the protective covering C) that is formed along the line for forming/delivering the casings B.

[0048] A first descent of the laminar tabs 3 thus occurs (by virtue of the translation of the support 12 along the track 5) while they are in the first configuration, in which their terminal edges 4 face each other and are mutually proximate (wedge-like arrangement).

[0049] Within this descent step, a part of the tabs 3 enters the casing B through its opening, finding itself within the flaps D, which protrude from the respective edge.

[0050] The tabs 3, by widening, are subsequently capable of spacing the flaps D and thus completely free the opening of the casing B.

[0051] By means of the pusher it is therefore possible to determine a rotation of the laminar tabs 3 in the second configuration for divarication of the flaps D, in which the tabs 3 are mutually substantially parallel and are arranged within the flaps D. This arrangement ensures easy and complete accessibility to the inside of the casing B (the flaps D not block even partially the opening that is delimited between them).

[0052] At this point it is possible to actuate the descent of the grip head 8: this descent can be determined by a translation of the linear actuator 6 along the track 5, with which the fluid-operated device 7 (which as described previously might be constituted by a simple support provided with a suction channel associated with the sucker of the grip head) and the grip head 8 are integral.

[0053] Once the arrangement of the bottle A (and of the optional protective covering C) within the casing B has been achieved, it is possible to interrupt the suction flow (disabling the ability to retain the bottle A and the covering C respectively to the suckers 9 and 10), releasing them.

[0054] Advantageously, the present invention solves the problems described previously, proposing a station for inserting a bottle A within a casing B that does not generate permanent deformations of the casing B and therefore preserves its aesthetic appearance. It has in fact been shown that the laminar tabs 3 divaricate the flaps D, moving them into a configuration that is proximate to their mutually parallel arrangement, without therefore generating any opposite folding thereon which might generate permanent deformations of specific portions of the casing B.

[0055] Conveniently, the station 1 according to the invention is fully automated: the intervention of operators to prevent the insertion of the bottles A in the casings B from being able to cause deformations of the casing B that might compromise its aesthetic appearance is therefore not required.

[0056] Validly, the station according to the invention allows to process even bottles A wrapped within a protective covering C.

[0057] Usefully, the station according to the invention can be provided in a relatively simple manner, by bearing substantially modest costs: these characteristics render the station according to the invention a technical solution of assured application.

[0058] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0059] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

1. A station for inserting a bottle (A) in a casing (B), of the type that can be installed between a line for supplying said bottles (A) and a line for forming/delivering said casings (B), wherein the station comprises at least one functional arm (1) provided with grip means (2) for at least one bottle (A) said arm (1) being movable between a pickup configuration, in which it is aligned with a region for delivering said bottles (A) of said supply line, and an insertion configuration, in which it is aligned with a casing (B) arranged on the end portion of said line for forming/delivering said casings (B), said grip means (2) being translatable along said arm (1), characterized in that the station comprises at least one laminar tab (3) that can be oriented to move the top flaps (D) of a casing (B), said grip means (2) being translatable along said arm (1) between a raised configuration, in which they surmount said laminar tab (3), and a lowered configuration, in which they are, at least partially, at a substantially lower height than said laminar tab (3), said laminar tab being able to slide along said arm (1) between a lowered configuration of substantial alignment of its terminal edge (4) with at least one upper portion of the lateral walls of a said casing (B) arranged on the respective forming/delivery line and a raised configuration in which said terminal edge (4) is at a higher level.

2. The station according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one functional arm (1) comprises a guiding track (5) for said grip means (2) and said orientable laminar tab (3).

3. The station according to claim 2, characterized in that said grip means (2) comprise a linear actuator (6), which can slide along said guiding track (5), to which a fluid-operated device (7) is coupled which is provided, at its terminal end, with a grip head (8) provided with at least one sucker.

4. The station according to claim 3, characterized in that said grip head (8) comprises at least one lower sucker (9) that abuts against the top of a respective bottle (A) and at least one lateral sucker (10) that abuts against the inner wall of a protective covering (C) arranged around said bottle (A), for the simultaneous pickup of said bottle (A) and said protective covering (C).

5. The station according to claim 4, characterized in that said lateral suckers (10) are at least four, each lateral sucker (10) being aligned with a respective inner wall of one of the four lateral surfaces of said protective covering (C).

6. The station according to claim 1, characterized in that said orientable laminar tabs (3) are at least two, are mutually opposite and are orientable between a first inlet configuration, in which the respective terminal edges (4) face each other and are mutually proximate, said inlet configuration being designed for easy access of the laminar tabs (3) inside the perimetric flaps (D) of the opening of the casing (B), and a second divarication configuration, in which the respective terminal edges (4) are mutually spaced, said divarication configuration being designed to move mutually away said perimetric flaps (D) of the opening of the casing (B).

7. The station according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said grip head (8) comprises an external frame (11) with a shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of the protective covering (C) of said bottle (A), for its snug entry into said covering (C), said frame (11) accommodating internally at least one main sucker (9) to grip at least one said bottle (A) and supporting on the external walls a plurality of secondary suckers (10) for blocking the protective covering (C) of said bottle (A).

8. The station according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said arm (1) can move, by virtue of the action of respective movement means, along a conveyance path that is arranged perimetrically with respect to a fixed supporting structure, said path having at least one first portion aligned with a region for delivering said bottles (A) along said supply line and at least one second portion aligned with a casing (B) arranged on the terminal portion of said line for forming/delivering said casings (B).

9. The station according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sliding support (12) is interposed between said arm (1) and said at least one orientable laminar tab (3), said at least one laminar tab (3) being pivoted to said sliding support (12) and coupled to a pusher intended for its rotation relative to the respective pivoting axis.

10. The station according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said suckers (9, 10) are connected to a suction circuit, said suction circuit, said actuators (6, 12), said fluid-operated device (7), said pusher and said movement means being controlled by a respective control and management unit.

Ansprüche

1. Eine Station zur Einführung einer Flasche (A) in ein Gehäuse (B) des Typs, der zwischen einer Leitung zum Bereitstellen der genannten Flaschen (A) und einer Leitung zum Formen/Zustellen der genannten Gehäuse (B) installiert werden kann, worin die Station mindestens einen funktionalen Arm (1) umfasst, ausgestattet mit einem Greifmittel (2) für mindestens eine Flasche (A), wobei der genannte Arm (1) bewegbar ist zwischen einer Aufnahmekonfiguration, in welcher er mit einem Bereich zum Zustellen der genannten Flaschen (A) der genannten Bereitstellungsleitung ausgerichtet ist, und einer Einsetzkonfiguration, in welcher er mit einem Gehäuse (B) ausgerichtet ist, angeordnet auf dem Endabschnitt der genannten Leitung zum Formen/Zustellen der genannten Gehäuse (B), wobei das genannte Greifmittel (2) entlang dem genannten Arm (1) verschiebbar ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Station mindestens eine laminare Stütze (3) umfasst, die ausgerichtet werden kann, um die Deckelklappen (D) eines Gehäuses (B) zu bewegen, wobei das Greifmittel (2) entlang dem genannten Arm (1) verschiebbar ist, zwischen einer angehobenen Konfiguration, in welcher sie die genannte flächenförmige Stütze (3) überragen, und einer erniedrigten Konfiguration, in welcher sie, zumindest teilweise, in einer im Wesentlichen niedrigeren Höhe sind als die genannte flächenförmige Stütze (3), wobei die genannte flächenförmige Stütze in der Lage ist entlang dem genannten Arm (1) zu gleiten zwischen einer erniedrigten Konfiguration von wesentlicher Ausrichtung seiner Endkante (4) mit mindestens einem oberen Abschnitt der seitlichen Wände des genannten Gehäuses (B) angeordnet auf der entsprechenden Form-/Zustellleitung, und einer gehobenen Konfiguration, in welcher die genannte Endkante (4) auf einem höheren Niveau ist.

2. Die Station gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der genannte mindestens eine funktionale Arm (1) eine Führungsschiene (5) für das genannte Greifmittel (2) und die genannte flächenförmige Stütze (3) umfasst.

3. Die Station gemäß Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das genannte Greifmittel (2) einen linearen Antrieb (6) umfasst, der entlang der genannten Führungsschiene (5) gleiten kann, an welchen eine Fluid-betriebene Vorrichtung (7) angekoppelt ist, welche, an ihrem Abschlussende, mit einem Greifkopf (8) ausgestattet ist, der mindestens eine Saugvorrichtung besitzt.

4. Die Station gemäß Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der genannte Greifkopf (8) mindestens eine untere Saugvorrichtung (9) umfasst, die gegen die Oberseite einer entsprechenden Flasche (A) anstößt, und mindestens eine seitliche Saugvorrichtung (10), die gegen die innere Wand einer Schutzumhüllung (C) anstößt, die um die genannte Flasche (A) herum angeordnet ist, für die gleichzeitige Aufnahme der genannten Flasche (A) und der genannten Schutzumhüllung (C).

5. Die Station gemäß Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannten seitlichen Saugvorrichtungen (10) mindestens vier sind, wobei jede seitliche Saugvorrichtung (10) mit einer entsprechenden inneren Wand von einer der vier seitlichen Oberflächen der genannten Schutzumhüllung (C) ausgerichtet ist.

6. Die Station gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die ausrichtbaren flächenförmigen Stützen (3) mindestens zwei sind, einander gegenüberliegen und zwischen einer ersten Einlasskonfiguration, in welcher die entsprechenden Endkanten (4) einander gegenüberstehen und in unmittelbarer Nähe zueinander sind, wobei die genannte Einlasskonfiguration für einen leichten Zugriff der flächenförmigen Stützen (3) innerhalb der umlaufenden Klappen (D) der Öffnung des Gehäuses (B) ausgebildet sind, und einer zweiten Spreizkonfiguration, in welcher die entsprechenden Endkanten voneinander beabstandet sind, wobei die genannte Spreizkonfiguration ausgebildet ist, um die genannten umlaufenden Klappen (D) der Öffnung des Gehäuses (B) voneinander weg zu bewegen, ausrichtbar sind.

7. Die Station gemäß einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der genannte Greifkopf (8) einen äußeren Rahmen (11) umfasst, mit einer Form und Abmessungen, die komplementär sind zu denjenigen der Schutzumhüllung (C) der genannten Flasche (A) für ihren engen Eintritt in die genannte Umhüllung (C), wobei der genannte Rahmen (11) intern mindestens eine Hauptsaugvorrichtung (9) beherbergt, um mindestens eine genannte Flasche (A) zu greifen, und auf den externen Wänden eine Vielzahl von zweiten Saugvorrichtungen (10) trägt, zum Blockieren der Schutzumhüllung (C) der genannten Flasche (A).

8. Die Station gemäß einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der genannte Arm (1) sich auf Grund der Wirkung von entsprechenden Bewegungsmitteln entlang einer Transportbahn bewegen kann, die perimetrisch im Hinblick auf eine feste Trägerstrukur angeordnet ist, wobei die genannte Bahn mindestens einen ersten Abschnitt ausgerichtet mit einer Region für das Zustellen der genannten Flaschen (A) entlang der genannten Bereitstellungsleitung und mindestens einen zweiten Abschnitt ausgerichtet mit einem Gehäuse (B) angeordnet auf dem Endabschnitt der genannten Leitung zum Formen/Zustellen der genannten Gehäuse (B) hat.

9. Die Station gemäß einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Gleitstütze (12) zwischen dem genannten Arm (1) und der genannten mindestens einen ausrichtbaren flächenförmigen Stütze (3) angeordnet ist, wobei die genannte mindestens eine flächenförmige Stütze (3) zu der genannten Gleitstütze (12) geschwenkt ist und an einen Schieber gekoppelt ist, der für ihre Rotation relativ zu der entsprechenden Schwenkachse gedacht ist.

10. Die Station gemäß einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannten Saugvorrichtungen (9, 10) mit einem Ansaugkreislauf verbunden sind, wobei der genannte Ansaugkreislauf, die genannten Antriebe (6, 12) die genannte fluidbetriebene Vorrichtung (7), der genannte Schieber und das genannten Bewegungsmittel durch eine entsprechende Kontroll- und Steuereinheit gesteuert wird.

Revendications

1. Poste d'insertion d'une bouteille (A) dans un coffret (B), du type qui peut être installé entre une ligne d'alimentation desdites bouteilles (A) et une ligne de mise en forme/distribution desdits coffrets (B), dans lequel le poste comprend au moins un bras fonctionnel (1) pourvu d'un moyen de préhension (2) pour au moins une bouteille (A), ledit bras (1) étant mobile entre une configuration de levage, dans laquelle il est aligné avec une région pour distribuer lesdites bouteilles (A) de ladite ligne d'alimentation, et une configuration d'insertion, dans laquelle il est aligné avec un coffret (B) placé sur la partie d'extrémité de ladite ligne de mise en forme/distribution desdits coffrets (B), ledit moyen de préhension (2) pouvant être mis en translation le long dudit bras (1), caractérisé en ce que le poste comprend au moins une languette (3) qui peut être orientée pour déplacer les rabats supérieurs (D) d'un coffret (B), ledit moyen de préhension (2) pouvant être mis en translation le long dudit bras (1) entre une configuration relevée, dans laquelle il surmonte ladite languette (3), et une configuration abaissée, dans laquelle il est, au moins partiellement, à une hauteur substantiellement plus basse que ladite languette (3), ladite languette étant apte à glisser le long dudit bras (1) entre une configuration abaissée en alignement substantiel de son bord terminal (4) avec au moins une partie supérieure des parois latérales dudit coffret (B) placée sur la ligne de mise en forme/distribution respective et une configuration relevée dans laquelle ledit bord terminal (4) est à un niveau plus élevé.

2. Poste selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit au moins un bras fonctionnel (1) comprend une piste de guidage (5) pour ledit moyen de préhension (2) et ladite languette orientable (3).

3. Poste selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de préhension (2) comprend un actionneur linéaire (6), qui peut coulisser le long de ladite piste de guidage (5), auquel est couplé un dispositif actionné par un fluide (7) qui est pourvu, à son extrémité terminale, d'une tête de préhension (8) qui comporte au moins une ventouse.

4. Poste selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que ladite tête de préhension (8) comprend au moins une ventouse inférieure (9) qui prend appui contre le sommet d'une bouteille respective (A) et au moins une ventouse latérale (10) qui prend appui contre la paroi intérieure d'une enveloppe protectrice (C) placée autour de ladite bouteille (A), pour le levage simultané de ladite bouteille (A) et de ladite enveloppe protectrice (C).

5. Poste selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que lesdites ventouses latérales (10) sont au nombre d'au moins quatre, chaque ventouse latérale (10) étant alignée avec une paroi intérieure respective de l'une des quatre surfaces latérales de ladite enveloppe protectrice (C).

6. Poste selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdites languettes orientables (3) sont au nombre d'au moins deux, sont mutuellement opposées et sont orientables entre une première configuration d'entrée, dans laquelle les bords terminaux respectifs (4) se font face et sont mutuellement proches, ladite configuration d'entrée étant conçue pour permettre l'accès facile des languettes (3) à l'intérieur des rabats périmétriques (D) de l'ouverture du coffret (B), et une deuxième configuration, ou configuration d'écartement, dans laquelle les bords terminaux respectifs (4) sont mutuellement espacés, ladite configuration d'écartement étant conçue pour éloigner mutuellement lesdits rabats périmétriques (D) de l'ouverture du coffret (B).

7. Poste selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ladite tête de préhension (8) comprend un cadre extérieur (11) dont la forme et les dimensions sont complémentaires de celles de l'enveloppe protectrice (C) de ladite bouteille (A), pour permettre son entrée serrée dans ladite enveloppe (C), ledit cadre (11) recevant intérieurement au moins une ventouse principale (9) pour saisir au moins une dite bouteille (A) et supportant sur les parois extérieures une pluralité de ventouses secondaires (10) pour bloquer l'enveloppe protectrice (C) de ladite bouteille (A).

8. Poste selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit bras (1) peut se déplacer, grâce à l'action de moyens de déplacement respectifs, le long d'un chemin de convoyage qui est disposé de façon périmétrique par rapport à une structure de support fixe, ledit chemin ayant au moins une première partie alignée avec une région pour distribuer lesdites bouteilles (A) le long de ladite ligne d'alimentation et au moins une deuxième partie alignée avec un coffret (B) placé sur la partie terminale de ladite ligne de mise en forme/distribution desdits coffrets (B).

9. Poste selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'un support coulissant (12) est intercalé entre ledit bras (1) et ladite au moins une languette orientable (3), ladite au moins une languette orientable (3) étant montée à pivotement sur ledit support coulissant (12) et accouplée à un poussoir destiné à permettre sa rotation par rapport à l'axe de pivotement respectif.

10. Poste selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdites ventouses (9, 10) sont reliées à un circuit d'aspiration, ledit circuit d'aspiration, lesdits actionneurs (6, 12), ledit dispositif actionné par un fluide (7), ledit poussoir et lesdits moyens de déplacement étant commandés par une unité de commande et de gestion respective.

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