| 主权项 |
1. A device for the accumulation and release of products (P), comprising:
a main accumulation unit (2) with a reception opening (4) and a first delivery opening (6) of said products, a plurality of containers (7) movably guided inside said main accumulation unit (2) between said reception opening (4) and said first delivery opening (6) along a first trajectory (8), each container (7) being provided with a plurality of supporting surfaces (9) to contain products, said first trajectory (8) extending in a closed loop and including a first and a second trajectory portion (8′, 8″) extending from each other, along the first portion (8′) of trajectory extending from the reception opening (4) in the direction of said first delivery opening (6) moving the containers (7) loaded with products, while along the second portion (8″) of trajectory extending from said first delivery opening (6) towards the reception opening (4) moving the containers (7), emptied of products, actuating means being provided to drive the movement of said containers (7) in the main accumulation unit (2) so as to present in sequence each container (7) to be filled to the reception opening (4), in order to load incoming products onto the respective supporting surfaces of the container and to convey the previously filled containers (7) to the first delivery opening, in order to release respective products exiting the main accumulation unit (2), said actuating means comprising first and second distinct driving means (20, 21) associated respectively in sequence with one container (7) after another of each pair of containers (7) identifiable in said plurality of containers, so that both of said containers (7) are conveyed one after the other away from and towards said reception opening (4) and/or said first delivery opening (6) of the main accumulation unit (2) with movements independent of each other, at least one second accumulation unit (10) operationally in communication with the main accumulation unit (2) and extending along a second trajectory (11) on which there is provided a second delivery opening (13), said second trajectory (11) extending between a first end (11′) in which it is operationally connected to the first portion (8′) of the first trajectory (8) of the main accumulation unit (2), to enable the passage of containers (7) loaded with products from the main accumulation unit (2) to at least said second accumulation unit (10), and a second end (11″) in which it is operationally connected to the second portion (8″) of the first trajectory of the main accumulation unit, to enable the transfer into the main accumulation unit (2) of containers (7) already emptied into at least said second accumulation unit (10) through the second delivery opening (13), to be conveyed back to the reception opening (4), said second delivery opening (13) of at least said second accumulation unit (10) is located along said second trajectory (11) between said first and second ends (11′, 11″), the device (1) further comprises actuating means (14) provided at the first end (11′) of said second trajectory (11) capable of selectively moving containers (7) loaded with products from the main accumulation unit (2) to at least the second accumulation unit (10), in order selectively to by-pass the first delivery opening (6) and enable containers (7) to be unloaded at the second delivery opening (13) of at least said second accumulation unit (10). |
