US 11,679,535 B2
Apparatus and method for processing doses
Fabrizio Pucci, Castel Guelfo di Bologna (IT); and Fiorenzo Parrinello, Medicina (IT)
Assigned to SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA, Imola (IT)
Filed by SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA, Imola (IT)
Filed on Dec. 29, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/136,481.
Application 17/136,481 is a continuation of application No. 15/767,011, granted, now 10,906,213, previously published as PCT/IB2016/056007, filed on Oct. 7, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 102015000061419 (IT), filed on Oct. 14, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0114264 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 43/34 (2006.01); B29C 48/00 (2019.01); B29C 48/21 (2019.01); B29C 31/04 (2006.01); B29C 31/06 (2006.01); B29C 43/20 (2006.01); B29C 43/08 (2006.01); B29K 101/12 (2006.01); B29L 31/56 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 43/34 (2013.01) [B29C 31/048 (2013.01); B29C 31/06 (2013.01); B29C 43/203 (2013.01); B29C 48/0011 (2019.02); B29C 48/21 (2019.02); B29C 43/08 (2013.01); B29C 2043/3411 (2013.01); B29C 2043/3466 (2013.01); B29C 2043/3472 (2013.01); B29K 2101/12 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0067 (2013.01); B29L 2031/565 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising the steps of:
extruding a multi-layer structure having at least one primary layer and at least one secondary layer;
severing a multi-layer dose from the multi-layer structure;
compression moulding an object from the multi-layer dose, the step of compression moulding occurring in a mould which is provided with a pair of elements, at least one of said elements being movable towards the other in a moulding direction, so that the multi-layer dose can be shaped;
wherein the multi-layer dose is transported towards the mould by a transport device comprising at least one transport element which is movable along a path directed from a collecting position, in which the multi-layer dose is collected by the transport element, towards a release position, in which the multi-layer dose is released into the mould by the transport element, and
wherein the multi-layer dose has an initial orientation at the end of the step of extruding, the orientation of the multi-layer dose being modified while the multi-layer dose is transported towards the mould, so that the multi-layer dose is introduced into the mould with a final orientation in which the secondary layer extends transversely to the moulding direction.