Patent attributes
A device for carrying out a “re-pitching” operation, i.e., an operation for changing the pitch between articles included in a flow of moving articles, includes one or more elements for conveying the articles, which are able to perform an orbital movement about a principal axis between a position for pick-up and a position for release of the articles. The speed of the orbital movement is selectively variable in the passage between the position for pick-up and the position for release. Members are provided for distribution of subatmospheric pressure to the conveying elements to enable them to carry out selectively an action of suction to pick up the articles. The members include a distributor, which can turn about the aforesaid principal axis. Set between the rotating distributor and each conveying element is a respective flexible pipe or hose for transferring the subatmospheric pressure to the conveying element. The flexibility of the pipe enables relative angular orientation between the distributor and the conveying element with respect to the aforesaid principal axis.
