GRIP DEVICE FOR THE SUPPORT AND MOVEMENT OF PREFORMS
A grip device for the support and movement of preforms which extends along a longitudinal axis and is of the type provided with an access port which forms, at a rim, an annular radial flaring which lies on a surface of arrangement that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The grip device includes a supporting element which is functionally associated with an air supply conduit and is connected to at least one air exit nozzle which is adapted to generate at least one respective air flow which is designed to arrange itself parallel to at least one portion of the radial flaring of a preform to be held in order to enable the preform to be supported without contact.
1 . A grip device for support and movement of preforms which extends along a longitudinal axis and is of a type provided with an access port which forms, at a rim, an annular radial flaring which lies on a surface of arrangement that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said grip device further comprising a supporting element which is operatively associated with an air supply conduit and is connected to at least one air exit nozzle which is adapted to generate at least one respective air flow which is designed to arrange itself parallel to at least one portion of the annular radial flaring of a preform to be held in order to enable said preform to be supported without contact.
2 . The grip device according to claim 1 , wherein said supporting element comprises a centering body configured to engage at said access mouth of the preform to be supported.
3 . The grip device according to claim 1 , wherein said supporting element comprises a delivery port connected to an air delivery conduit which leads, during use, inward into said preform.
4 . The grip device according to claim 1 , further comprising actuation means configured to force a passage of air through said supply conduit.
5 . The grip device according to claim 1 , further comprising actuation means configured to force a passage of air through said delivery conduit.
6 . The grip device according to claim 1 , wherein said supporting element defines a surface configured to face upward toward said annular radial flaring, said at least one nozzle being adapted to convey the respective air flow to strike said surface to hold said preform.
7 . The grip device according to claim 1 , wherein said supporting element comprises two plate elements which are arranged mutually facing and which define, between respective mutually facing faces, a gap configured to be passed through by the air flow that is designed to exit from said at least one nozzle, said nozzle comprising an outlet of said outward-directed gap.
8 . The grip device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the plate elements, arranged above, has a greater radial extension than another one of the plate elements that is arranged below, so asconfigured to define said surface.
9 . The grip device according to claim 6 , wherein said supply conduit comprises a central hollow body, which in use is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said preform and is connected by way of a plurality of radial conduits which lead into respective nozzles which lead out so as to strike said surface.
10 . An apparatus for handling preforms of plastic for the production of containers, which comprises a supporting body configured to move on command and is associated with a grip device according to claim 1 .