Device and method for conveying products

1. A device ( 1 ) for conveying products on a production line, comprising:

at least one section ( 2 ) upstream for moving said products in a first orientation in a longitudinal direction;

at least one other section ( 3 ) for diverting said products into a second orientation relative to said longitudinal direction; and

at least one section ( 2 ) downstream for moving said products in the second orientation in the longitudinal direction,

wherein

said other section ( 3 ) comprises a plurality of Mecanum wheels ( 4 ) compactly grouped in sets ( 5 ) of wheels ( 4 ) aligned in a direction perpendicular to their rotation axis;

said wheels ( 4 ) of the same set ( 5 ) being identically oriented and on the same plane as the upstream section and the downstream section;

the device ( 1 ) comprises a single means of motorizing all the Mecanum wheels ( 4 ) of one or more sets ( 5 ) of the other section ( 3 ).

2. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said other, diverter section ( 3 ) comprises at least two sets ( 5 ) of identically oriented Mecanum wheels ( 4 ) in such a manner as to constitute another section ( 3 ) for diverting said products laterally to the right or to the left of said device ( 1 ).

3. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said other, diverter section ( 3 ) comprises at least two sets ( 5 ) of symmetrically oriented Mecanum wheels ( 4 ) in such a manner as to constitute another section ( 3 ) for rotationally diverting said products.

4. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of different and independent other, diverter sections ( 3 ).

5. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the axis of the Mecanum wheels ( 4 ) of another section ( 3 ) is orthogonal to or aligned with the direction of the longitudinal movement.

6. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a plurality of wheels ( 4 ) of different sets ( 5 ) are contiguous along their rotation axis.

7. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least two sets ( 5 ) of the same other section ( 3 ) are separated transversely by at least one longitudinal conveyor ( 6 ).

8. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said longitudinal conveyor ( 6 ) comprises a conveyor provided with rollers ( 7 ) mounted to rotate freely and the rotation axes of which are oriented longitudinally.

9. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one lateral guide ( 8 ) on which said products slide.

10. A method of conveying products on a production line, in which, at least:

the products are moved in a longitudinal direction over at least one upstream section ( 2 ) in a first orientation;

said products are diverted into a second orientation relative to the longitudinal direction over at least one other section ( 3 ); and

the products are moved in a longitudinal direction over at least one downstream section ( 2 ) in a the second orientation;

wherein:

there are in said other section ( 3 ) a plurality of Mecanum wheels ( 4 ) compactly grouped in sets ( 5 ) of wheels ( 4 ) aligned in a direction perpendicular to their rotation axis; and

the Mecanum wheels ( 4 ) of the same other section ( 3 ) are actuated by a single drive means.

11. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of different and independent other, diverter sections ( 3 ).

12. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of different and independent other, diverter sections ( 3 ).

13. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the axis of the Mecanum wheels ( 4 ) of another section ( 3 ) is orthogonal to or aligned with the direction of the longitudinal movement.

14. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the axis of the Mecanum wheels ( 4 ) of another section ( 3 ) is orthogonal to or aligned with the direction of the longitudinal movement.

15. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a plurality of wheels ( 4 ) of different sets ( 5 ) are contiguous along their rotation axis.

16. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a plurality of wheels ( 4 ) of different sets ( 5 ) are contiguous along their rotation axis.

17. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein at least two sets ( 5 ) of the same other section ( 3 ) are separated transversely by at least one longitudinal conveyor ( 6 ).

18. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein at least two sets ( 5 ) of the same other section ( 3 ) are separated transversely by at least one longitudinal conveyor ( 6 ).

19. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising at least one lateral guide ( 8 ) on which said products slide.

20. The conveyor device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising at least one lateral guide ( 8 ) on which said products slide.