US 12,011,029 B2
Device and method for moving tubular bodies
Massimo Sartoni, Bologna (IT); and Fausto Mengoli, Sasso Marconi (IT)
Assigned to G.D S.P.A., Bologna (IT)
Appl. No. 15/768,280
Filed by G.D S.p.A., Bologna (IT)
PCT Filed Oct. 12, 2016, PCT No. PCT/IB2016/056090
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 13, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/068462, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 27, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 102015000062964 (IT), filed on Oct. 19, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2018/0279669 A1, Oct. 4, 2018
Int. Cl. A24C 5/32 (2006.01); A24D 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC A24C 5/327 (2013.01) [A24C 5/323 (2013.01); A24D 3/0291 (2013.01); A24D 3/0254 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for moving tubular bodies, comprising:
a feeding device for feeding a plurality of tubular pieces, each extending along a respective axis of extension; the feeding device being configured in such a way as to provide a succession of groups of tubular pieces where each group is defined by a predetermined number of tubular pieces positioned in succession along the respective axis of extension, where the feeding device includes at least one offsetting device configured to translationally transfer the tubular pieces of each group of tubular pieces in such a way as to dealign the respective axes of extension transversely to each other by translationally moving at least some of the tubular pieces of each group along a direction perpendicular to the respective axis of extension, the at least one offsetting device comprising a first rotary drum;
at least one translational transfer device placed operatively downstream of the offsetting device and configured to move the tubular pieces of each group of tubular pieces along the respective axis of extension to juxtapose the tubular pieces and define an ordered succession of tubular pieces which extends transversely to the axis of extension of the tubular pieces;
wherein the translational transfer device comprises a second rotary drum including a periphery, and on the periphery, a plurality of angularly spaced flutes, with each of the flutes being configured to receive at least one of the tubular pieces, and wherein the second rotary drum includes at least one housing for containing a respective tubular piece of the group of tubular pieces and a blowing device, the blowing device including at least one outlet opening in a side wall of the housing and connectable with an air source to generate an air flow transverse to the tubular piece defining an air cushion by which the respective tubular piece is transferred translationally along the respective axis of extension of the respective tubular piece;
wherein the translational transfer device comprises at least one covering element extending circumferentially at least partly around the second rotary drum to radially delimit each of the flutes that the at least one covering element is facing; the each of the flutes, in conjunction with the at least one covering element, defining the at least one housing; and
wherein, for each of the flutes, the at least one outlet opening includes an outlet opening positioned in a radially inwardly area of a wall of the flute to be connectable with the air source to generate the air flow transverse to the tubular piece to define the air cushion;
wherein the at least one outlet opening includes at least one distal outlet opening which is distal from an axis of rotation of the second rotary drum and made at the at least one covering element.