US 12,168,581 B2
Apparatus for stacking layers of containers
Simone Cervi, Sant'llario d'Enza (IT)
Assigned to CLEVERTECH S.p.A., Cadelbosco di Sopra (IT)
Filed by CLEVERTECH S.p.A., Cadelbosco di Sopra (IT)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/331,706.
Claims priority of application No. 102022000015504 (IT), filed on Jul. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0025675 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. B65G 61/00 (2006.01); B65G 57/04 (2006.01); B65G 59/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 61/00 (2013.01) [B65G 57/04 (2013.01); B65G 59/04 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for moving containers, the apparatus comprising:
a stacking system for forming several overlapping layers of containers; and
a feeding line for feeding said containers to said stacking system,
said stacking system comprising:
a first pick-up head for picking up a group of said containers from said feeding line to form one of said layers, the first pick-up head defining a housing area of the group of containers, said first pick-up head comprising:
one or more suction nozzles for sucking said group of containers; and
lateral sides which laterally retain said group of containers;
a gripping station for gripping the group of containers via the first pick-up head;
an unloading station for unloading said group of containers via the first pick-up head; and
a support on which said stacking system positions several overlapping layers of containers, the support being located lower relative to an area from which the group of containers is picked up by the first pick-up head,
wherein said lateral sides of the first pick-up head comprise a thrust side which in at least a first operating configuration of the first pick-up head is arranged rearwards with respect to a direction which extends from the gripping station towards the unloading station, said lateral sides comprising a vertical wall and a lower edge bent towards an inside of the housing area, and
wherein the first operating configuration is defined as a configuration assumed by the first pick-up head during movement from the gripping station to the unloading station with said group of containers held by the first pick-up head.