Method And An Apparatus For Transferring Articles From A Packaging Machine To Containers

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are described for transferring a plurality of articles (1), at least partially made of a fragile material, such as for example syringes for injections, by an automatic machine (M) which presents them at an outlet (U) thereof, separated from one another, to containers (2, 20) having a plurality of housings (21, 210). The articles (1) are singly housable, separate from one another, in the housings. The method comprises the following steps: placing a plurality of articles (1) presented at the output (U) of the automatic machine (M), in a predetermined formation in which they are maintained separated from one another; removing more than one of the articles (1) and while maintaining them separate from one another, taking them to a container (2, 20) and inserting the articles (1) therein, with the articles maintained separated from each other in the container (2, 20).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to transfer methods and apparatus for picking up articles made of a fragile material at the outlet from a packaging machine, and transferring the articles to protective and transport containers.

In particular, the invention relates to methods and apparatus used for transferring syringes with in glass tube “barrels” or small containers made of a fragile material particularly designed to contain liquids or other loose substances.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In the following, for ease of description, reference will be made purely by way of example to the problem of transfer of syringes with glass barrels for injections, from the outlet from a packaging machine, which, for example, receives at the inlet, syringe barrels (receptacles for the liquid to be injected, an interior of which is connected to the channel of the needle) and processes them so as to pack the single syringes. The packaging machine can be, for example, a piston-inserting machine (for installing the plunger rod in the syringe and/or the needle) and/or a labeling machine.

The filled syringes, comprising the rod and with a lower safety cap in which the needle is embedded, are presented at the outlet of a packaging machine, arranged in a predefined formation, for example, in a single line.

The syringes must be collected at the output of the packaging machine and placed in containers for transport thereof, for example, to packing areas.

In various devices known in the field, a plurality of syringes to be transferred are simultaneously collected by the machine, to be housed a number at a time in the containers.

This is because it is clear that collecting a single syringe at a time would be detrimental to production performance and would thus cause a so-called “bottleneck” in the production chain of receiving, packaging and packing of syringes.

The devices currently known, during the collecting operations of syringes taken from the output of the machine, are made in such a way as to group the syringes in order then to place them, in various ways, into relative housings in the transport container.

During this stage, the syringes are quite possibly subject to impacting against one another.

Since the syringe barrels are made of a fragile material, impacts are often the cause of cracks and/or chipping, if not shattering, which leads to high costs and low yields.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-described drawbacks, and others besides, with:

a method for transferring a plurality of articles, at least partially made of a fragile material, for example syringes for injections, from an automatic machine which presents them at an outlet thereof separated from one another, to containers comprising a plurality of housings in each of which the articles are singly housable separately from one another; and

an apparatus that implements the method.

The method comprises the following steps:

a. arranging a plurality of articles presented at the outlet of the automatic machine in a predefined formation in which they are maintained separated from one another;

b. removing more than one of the articles arranged in step a. and maintaining them separated from one another, taking them to a container; and

c. inserting the articles, maintaining them separated from one another, into the container.

The apparatus comprises:

at least a drawing device for receiving and taking delivery of a plurality of articles which exit the machine as and when they are presented at the outlet thereof; and

at least a pick-up and place device for removing the articles from the drawing device, taking them to the container and inserting them in respective housings thereof.

The apparatus according to the invention further comprises the following where the drawing device comprises a plurality of mobile seatings for singly housing respective articles presented at the outlet of the machine and moves the housed articles a distance away from the outlet of the machine, the mobile seatings being arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the articles housed therein are maintained separated from one another, and wherein the pick-up and place device comprises at least a gripping means configured so as to be able to pick up or alternatively release a plurality of articles and to maintain the picked-up articles separate from one another.

In the following, we will continue to refer to the particular case in which the articles comprise syringes for injections (i.e. substantially syringe barrels with possibly some accessories), which comprise syringe bodies made of a fragile material, but it is clear that this choice, except where it will be differently specified, has purely descriptive purposes and does not limit the scope of application of the invention.

In syringe packaging machines, the syringes are packed at the output thereof separate from one another.

At the output, therefore, the syringes are not subject to reciprocal impact.

By using the method and/or the apparatus of the invention, the syringes exiting the machine are arranged so as to be immediately separated from one another.

The expression “separated” in this context clearly means physically separated, i.e. not in contact and in any case sufficiently spaced such that normal vibrations and oscillations occurring during the movements caused by devices and machines do not cause any reciprocal collisions.

After which, the syringes are moved towards the container destined to house them still separated from one another as mentioned above, and therefore mutual collisions are impossible.

At this point, the syringes are inserted in their housings, and even during this operation are constantly kept separated.

Since the containers are configured to accommodate syringes so as to be separated from one another, it is clear that by using the method and apparatus of the present invention, the syringes that have exited from the packaging machine do not receive any reciprocal impacts up to packing and dispatch.

In this way, the risks and costs that beset the prior art are completely prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the invention, and advantageous technical-functional characteristics related to the embodiments that are only partly derivable from the above description, will be described in the following, in accordance which what is set out in the accompanying claims and with the aid of the appended tables of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is an axonometric projection of the apparatus of the invention, associated to a bench of a packaging machine, which is not represented apart from the endless screw located just within the entrance of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view in section and from above of a container for syringes;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view from above of the pick-up and place device and a part of the gripping device;

FIG. 4 is a vertical and transversal section of the previous figure;

FIG. 5 is the view of FIG. 4 in which the gripping device is activated to collect up the syringe from the pickup and place device;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view from above of the same situation as the previous figure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view in vertical section of a filling cycle of the container for syringes;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view from above of another type of container associated with the pick up and place device and the gripping device;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the filling cycle of a container of the type illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views in vertical section and in horizontal section of the act of inserting the syringe into a container of the type shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates the apparatus A of the invention, associated to the packaging machine M, with the outlet U thereof exhibiting, immediately internally of the machine M, a carousel which, in known ways, is designed to present each packaged syringe 1 at the output in order for it to be collected by the apparatus A of the invention.

Clearly, the representation of the carousel G in the drawings must be understood as auxiliary to the invention: the machine M could be of any type suitable for packaging syringes (and in general articles that are at least partly made of fragile material).

Note that, apart from the carousel G, and the bench B pallet, the machine M is not shown in the appended figures.

The apparatus A, in its possible embodiments, will be described in detail after explaining some possible variants of the method according to the invention.

Primarily, it should be clarified that the syringes 1 may be present at the output of the machine M in two configurations.

In a first configuration the syringes 1 comprise a respective barrel or lateral wall 100 for the liquid to be injected, the edge of the mouth of which forms a collar that, as shall be described, serves as a support element 10 (i.e., expressed in general terms, it is the support element of the article 1 exiting from the machine M).

The lateral wall 100 extends inferiorly into a needle that is completely contained in a safety cap which has a lower end 11 functioning as the bottom of the syringe 1 (i.e. it is the bottom part 11 of the article exiting from the machine M).

This configuration is only schematically illustrated in the enclosed figures, for reasons of simplicity.

In another configuration (not illustrated) the syringe is presented at the output from the machine M with the well-known safety device for receiving and constraining the needle once an injection has been performed (commonly called a “safety”), which safety device at least partially comprises the lateral wall 100 of the syringe 1 between its own lateral walls, also comprises projections on the side thereof (which in general terms identify the support element 10 of the article 1), and finally comprises a lower end which constitutes the bottom 11 of the syringe 1.

In the following, for reasons of simplicity and brevity we will refer simply to syringes 1 having a relative support element 10, a bottom 11 and one (or more) lateral walls 110, in relation both above-cited configurations.

In a first variant of the method:

during step a., a following sub-step is performed: arranging the articles 1 while they are in the predefined formation, resting on the respective support elements 10 with the bottom 11 thereof left free (this can be understood from schematic FIG. 4); and

during step b., a following sub-step is performed: pushing the bottom 11 of several articles 1 upwards so as to lift the articles 1 while keeping them resting by means of the bottom 11 thereof, keeping them separate, such that a respective upper part 101 comprising the support element 10 is lifted and free; and then taking the lifted articles 1 by the upper part 10 thereof, keeping them separated from one another, and taking them to the container 2, 20 (see FIGS. 5 and 7).

In this way, the configurations of the syringes 1 are exploited so as to carry out a transfer that completely prevents any mutual impact.

The containers 2, 20 for syringes 1 are essentially of two types.

The most used is the one that comprises a tray 20 for syringes comprising a plurality of housings 210, in which the syringe 1 can be laid horizontally supported, for example, which housings 210 might be made in a complementary shape to the syringe 1, accessible from above.

The other type of container 2 comprises a series of housings each affording a cylindrical vertical through-cavity where a syringe is housed vertically, resting on the edge of the cavity of the housing through the support element.

The housing 21, 210 are frequently arranged in parallel rows in the container 2, 20, which are often intercalated.

In the case of use of trays, the method may comprise that:

during step a., a following substep is performed: arranging each article 1 vertically when it is in the above-mentioned predefined formation; and wherein before or together with step c., a following step is performed: rotating each article 1 taken in step b. so as to arrange the article 1 horizontally.

This enables laying the syringes 1 horizontally in the respective housing 21, even where the machine M 1 presents syringes 1 vertically in output, as in the case where it comprises the carousel G as described above.

Often a conveyor line L is provided for transporting containers 2, 20. The conveyor line L can be configured such as to move containers 2, 20 in single file, stepped close to the machine M, with the containers 2, 20, one at a time, stopping in the loading position P, up until all the syringes 1 to be housed have been inserted.

Then, the container 2, 20 comprising the syringe 1 is displaced from the loading position P and the conveyor line L is activated to bring another container 2, 20 into the loading position P.

Alternatively, the conveyor line L continuously transports the containers 2, 20.

All the embodiments of the method and apparatus A can be used for both cases, except where explicitly stated otherwise.

Bearing in mind that the housings 21, 210 are arranged in at least row 2, 20 in the containers, the method may comprise that:

during step a., a following substep is performed: arranging, in the predefined formation, a number of articles/syringes 1 which is at least equal to the number of housings 21, 210 of the line in a container 2, 20,

during step b., a following substep is performed: picking up and taking to the container 2, 20 a number of articles/syringes 1 equal to the number of housings 21, 210 of the line of containers 2, 20,

during step c., a following substep is performed: inserting each syringe 1 picked up and taken to the container in step b. into a respective housing of the line in the container 2, 20;

steps a., b. and c. are repeated applying them cyclically to each of the housings 2, 210 and are actuated such that stage a. has a duration which is at most equal to a sum of a duration of step b. and step c., so that step a. of a cycle in which the articles destined to be inserted in a given line of housings 21, 210 of a container 2, 20 can be completed during steps b. and c. applied in the preceding cycle to a further line of housings 21, 210 of the same container 2, 20 or in a further container; and wherein

after respective articles 1 are housed in all the housings 21, 210 of the container 2, 20, the container 2 is distanced by means of the conveyor line L;

whereby the housings 21, 210 of other containers 2, 20 can receive respective articles 1 and the steps of the method can be repeated from the start, for as long as articles 2 are presented at the outlet U of the machine M.

In order to maximize performance, an advantageous variant of the method provides that, during step a, the following sub-steps are implemented:

distancing the articles/syringes 1 progressively presented at the outlet U of the machine M from the outlet U, such as to form at least a line, comprising a plurality of articles/syringes 1;

moving the line of articles/syringes 1 that have exited the machine M distancing from the outlet U of the machine M, the line being the predefined formation;

moving the line of articles/syringes 1 that have exited the machine M continuously.

In this variant of the method the following additional step, during step b, is implemented: removing the syringes 1 from the line in a following-mode, while the line is actually moving.

If a conveyor line L is present which transports the containers 2, 20 continuously, step c. can be actuated in the following manner: inserting the articles 1 in the respective housings 21, 210 of a line in a container 2, 20, maintaining them separated from one another and in a following-mode, while the containers are moving borne on the conveyor line L.

This aspect of the method can be combined with the version previously described in which during step b. the syringes 1 are taken from the predefined formation with a following-mode.

In the following possible embodiments of the apparatus A will be described, with functioning modes thereof.

As mentioned, in the apparatus A according to the invention the above-mentioned drawing device 5 comprises a plurality of mobile seatings for singly housing the respective syringes 1 exiting the machine M, and further the pick-up and place device 3 comprises at least a gripping device 30 configured such as to pick up or alternatively release a plurality of syringes 1 and to maintain the gripped syringes 1 separate from one another (see FIG. 1).

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the drawing device 3 comprises at least one rest guide 52 (shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9) for supporting the syringes 1 presented at the exit from the machine M.

In detail, the rest guide 52 is configured so as to slidingly restingly receive support elements 10 of the syringes 1, leaving the bottom 11 thereof free, to enable removal thereof from the outlet U of the machine M.

In this way, the apparatus A takes delivery of the syringes 1, advantageously exploiting both the configuration of the syringes and the manner in which they are presented in outlet of the packaging machine M.

Further, in the preferred embodiment, the drawing device 5 comprises at least a screw 50 rotating around a central axis of rotation passing through the output U of the machine M, a first end 50 of the screw being placed at the output U of the machine M.

The screw 50 has, at a lateral periphery thereof, a helical groove 500 (see FIGS. 1, 6 and 8) arranged around the central axis, which groove 500 is dimensioned such as to be able to receive a syringe 1 arranged vertically, abutting the lateral wall 110, of the syringe, the groove 500 further originating from the first end of the Archimedes screw 50 such as to be able to directly accommodate the syringes 1 presented at the outlet U of the machine M.

This aspect of the invention enables translating the syringes 1 away from the outlet U of machine M, single file and absolutely without any possibility that they might collide against one another.

Taking the above particulars into account, the preferred embodiment of the cited mobile seatings 51 is explained in the following.

Primarily, in this embodiment, the rest guide 52 is straight and is positioned parallel to the rotation axis of the screw 50 (see for example FIG. 3).

In detail, the guide 52 is arrangeable above the screw 50 in such a way that the groove 500 of the screw 50 defines, together with the rest guide 52, the aforementioned plurality of 51 mobile seatings, which are arranged in a single file along the longitudinal axis of development of the screw 50; in each of the mobile seatings 51 the syringe 1 is housable in the groove 500 and resting on the straight rest guide 52 by means of the respective support element 10 with the respective fund 11 which is left free.

In this embodiment, each mobile seating 51 moves along the longitudinal development of the screw 50, distancing in output from the machine, when the screw 50 is driven in rotation.

The solution described enables immediate delivery of the syringes 1 at the outlet from the machine, supporting them in order to guide them away from the outlet in order that a plurality can be arranged in a predefined formation (in this case, in single file), which is the best for preparing the subsequent displacement thereof and insertion into the containers 2, 20 (as will be explained in the following), all the while ensuring that the syringes 1 can never collide with one another.

According to the preferred constructional choice of the rest guide 52 (for example, illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6), a straight passage 520 is afforded therein, parallel to the rotation axis of the screw 50, defined by two reciprocally-facing lateral edges 521, 522.

The straight passage 520 is arranged above the screw 50 and has a width such that the syringe 1 can be inserted freely between the lateral edges 521, 522 thereof only as far as relative support elements 10 (which again are advantageously exploited to the maximum), so that two opposing sides of each support element 10 are restingly received on a different lateral edge 521, 522, next to the passage 50 of the guide and rest element 52.

This constructional choice is the most economical, functional and least cumbersome possibility.

Before entering into detail with respect to the functioning of the apparatus A, it is well to specify what is the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned drawing means 30.

As can be seen in almost all the figures from 3 to 10, the invention comprises a plurality of pliers 30, each of which is closable for solidly gripping an article 1 or alternatively openable for releasing the article, the pliers 30 being arranged at a reciprocal distance such that the articles 1, while being picked up and once picked up by a respective pliers 30, are maintained separated from one another.

Thanks to this detail, during the critical passage from the drawing device 5 to the container 2, 20 no mutual collision is possible between the syringes 1, and this while maintaining the operational constraint to transfer a variety of syringes 1 at a time. Preferably, each pliers 30 comprises a pair of jaws 31 that can be reciprocally rotated with respect to an axis of rotation, alternatively for approaching, closing the pliers 30, or distancing, opening the pliers 30.

The jaws 31 are shaped such that when the pliers 30 close on a syringe 1 they can couple thereto, solidly tightening the lateral wall 110 thereof between the jaws 31.

To understand the functioning of the apparatus A it is necessary to introduce another particular of the invention, which is designed so as to collaborate functionally with the screw 50, with the above-described guide above 52 and with the pliers 30.

The pick-up means 3 can comprise a thrust element 32 (schematically illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, for example), arranged inferiorly of the drawing device 5.

The thrust element 32, which comprises a top abutting surface 320, can oscillate vertically in such a way that, when performing an upwards run, it can push, with the upper surface 320 thereof, the free bottom 11 of the syringes 1 housed in the mobile seatings 52, causing a lifting of the aforementioned upper part 101 (see FIG. 5) which, as has been mentioned, comprises the support element 10.

With the upper part 101 of the syringes 1 raised, it projects superiorly of the mobile seating 51.

In particular, the pusher element can comprise a rod 32 or a plate, having the upper abutting surface horizontal and mounted such as to lie in a common vertical plane with the plurality of pliers 30 flanked.

The functioning of A is described below.

The drawing device 5, preferably comprising the screw 50 and guide 52, draws away the syringes 1 in output from the machine M.

The syringes are preferably 1 arranged in a single file that moves, for example, continuously.

The pusher element 32 locates below the syringes 1 still housed in the mobile seatings 51, while the plurality of pliers 30 locates above (see FIG. 4), in a manner which will be more fully explained herein below.

The pusher element 32 upwardly pushes a certain number of syringes 1 (FIG. 5), preferably equal in number to the housings 21, 210 of a row of containers 2, 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, immediately following the push, or simultaneously with it, the pliers 30 each take a syringe 1 (preferably the number of pliers 30 will be equal to the number of the housings 21, 210 in a row of containers 2, 20).

After they have been coupled tightly to the syringe 1, the pliers 30 are moved such as to take them away from the mobile housings 51 (right side of FIG. 7, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10), and then to bring them to the containers 2, 20 where they are inserted in the respective housing 21, 210 (as seen on the left side of FIGS. 7, 9 and 10).

The pick-up device 3 then returns the pliers 30 to the drawing device 5.

In practice, the apparatus operates a succession of cycles of drawing and filling in each of which it takes an entire row of syringes 1 from the machine M, and then inserts the syringes 1 into the container 2, 20, up until, after a certain number of cycles, all the housings 21, 210 of the container 2, 20 are filled and the apparatus can return to fill a row of housings 21, 210 of the container 2, 21 in the next cycle.

As with the apparatus A in its fundamental parts as described above, it has a functioning which is such as to completely ensure that during transfer from the outlet U of the machine M to the container 21, 210, no impacts will occur between the syringes 1.

To further clarify the critical phase of the extraction of the syringes 1 from the drawing device 5, it is specified that the plurality of pliers 30 is arrangeable on the drawing device 5 in such an arrangement that they are activatable to grip the respective syringe 1 pushed upwards by the thrust element 32, tightly retaining said syringe 1 by the upper projecting part 101 thereof.

The plurality of pliers 30 is preferably arranged in a straight horizontal line, with the axes of rotation 31 of the jaws parallel to each other.

In a second preferred aspect illustrated in FIGS. 3, 6 and 8, for example, each jaw 31 of each pair has a gripping section 310, facing the gripping section 310 of the other jaw 31 of the pair, and having a shape that is complementary to that of the lateral wall 100 of the syringe 1.

Even more specifically, the jaws 31, when tightening on the respective syringe 1, can be located horizontally with respect thereto such as to grip the upper projecting part 101 of the respective syringe 1, as already mentioned, and at the same time, such as to inferiorly abut the support element 10 itself, in such a way as to increase the firmness of the grip (this detail is not shown, but it can be derived from what has been described herein above).

As explained above, the containers for syringes 1 may comprise trays 20 as described above in detail (and illustrated in FIG. 8).

In this case, the invention can comprise an embodiment of the apparatus (shown schematically in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10), in which each pliers 30 comprises a pair of jaws 31 of such dimensions as to fit into a housing 210 in order to grip a syringe 1.

In this case, pick-up means 3 further comprises a rotation device connected to the plurality of pliers 30 in order to rotate the syringes 1 (see FIG. 9) picked up by the pick-up device 3 and arrange them horizontally and insert them in the relative housings 210 of the tray (see FIG. 10).

For example, the rotating device can be formed by a motor connected to the plurality of pliers 30 and inserted into an operating head 33, which supports the whole row of pliers 30, or by other equivalent devices known to the person skilled in mechanical engineering and the like.

Not infrequently, and this is well-known, the housings 201 of the trays extend laterally (see FIG. 8) such as to create, by the side of each housed syringe 1, an undercut 211, i.e. an empty space for facilitating picking-up and collecting of the syringes 1.

In this case, each jaw 31 of a pliers 30 can be of such dimensions as to fit into the undercut 211 so that the pliers 30 can take a respective syringe 1 by tightening on the lateral wall 110 thereof.

In an aspect illustrated only in FIG. 1, the pick-up and place device 3 preferably comprises a robot 400 of known type for supporting and moving the plurality of pliers 30.

This type of robot 400 is of known type and serves to support and move an object in different points of space.

Several types of robots of this type are known per se, but none in combination with other aspects of the apparatus A.

In a particular embodiment of the robot 400, said robot 400 comprises:

a bearing body 40 destined to oscillate between loading positions thereof, by a flank of the pick-up device, and unloading position thereof, in proximity of a container transported by the conveyor line,

a guide 41 for constraining oscillation of the bearing body 40,

a motor for displacing the bearing body 40 along the guide 41 or for halting the bearing body 40 at any position along the guide 41; and

a support arm 42 solidly mounted to the bearing body 40, on which support arm 42 the plurality of pliers 30 is mounted, the support arm 42 being movable such as to displace the pliers 30 along two Cartesian axes of a vertical plane.

The support arms 42 of the type suitable for moving the pliers 30 in the manner specified are known in themselves but not in combination with other aspects of the pick-up device 3 and even less known with the mentioned additional aspects and to be described of the apparatus A.

The supporting body 40, when in the loading position, is arranged above the drawing device 5 so that the support arm 42 can raise the pliers 30, once they have gripped the syringes 1, such as to extract them from the mobile housings 51.

Further, the supporting body 40, when in the unloading position, is arranged, with respect to the conveyor line L, in such a way that the arm 42 can lower the pliers 30 bearing the syringes 1 so that the syringes 1 can be inserted into respective housings 21, 210 in a given container 2,10 to which they are destined.

After the syringes 1 have been removed from the mobile housings, thanks to the movement of the supporting body 40 along the guide, they are brought to the container 2, 20 where they are inserted into the housings 21, 210.

At this point, the pick-up and place cycle recommences by being applied to a further row of syringes 1 exiting the machine M.

In practice, after the insertion of needles into the housings 21, 210 also referred to herein as “filling”, the robot 4 brings the supporting body 40 back to the drawing device 5.

When after a given number of repeated cycles, which in practice is equal to the parallel rows of housings 21, 210 in the container 2, 20, the container 2, 20 is completely filled, then a further container 2, 20 to be filled is started on.

Finally, the pick-up and place device 5 comprises a pusher organ 34 mounted solidly to the supporting body 40 of the robot 400 and fixed inferiorly to the thrust element 32, the pusher organ (34) being operable to cause the vertical oscillation of the thrust element 32, which is mounted above such that the upper surface 320 thereof is vertically below the line of pliers 30.

The pusher organ (34) can be a jack, a linear actuator or other known equivalent device.

Finally, in a possible constructional aspect, the guide of the robot 400 comprises a straight beam for supporting the supporting body 40 such that it only runs along the longitudinal development of the beam.

The foregoing has been described by way of non-limiting example, and any constructional variants are understood to fall within the ambit of the present technical solution, as claimed in the following.

Claims

1. A method for transferring a plurality of articles (1), at least partially made of a fragile material, for example syringes for injections, from an automatic machine (M) which presents them to an outlet (U) thereof separated from one another, to containers (2, 20) containing a plurality of housings (21, 210) in each of which the articles are singly housable separately from one another; wherein the method comprises the following steps:

arranging a plurality of articles (1) presented at the outlet (U) of the automatic machine (M) in a predefined formation in which they are maintained separated from one another;

removing more than one of the articles (1) arranged in step a. and maintaining them separated from one another, taking them to a container (2, 20); and

inserting the articles (1), maintaining them separated from one another, into the container (2, 20).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the articles (1) has a support element (10) which projects laterally, and a bottom (11) at a lower end thereof, wherein:

during step a., a following sub-step is performed: arranging the articles (1) while they are in the predefined formation, resting on the respective support elements (10), with the bottom (11) thereof left free: and

during step b., a following sub-step is performed: pushing the bottom (11) of several articles (1) upwards so as to lift the articles (1) while keeping them resting by means of the bottom (11) thereof, keeping them separate, and such that a respective upper part (101) comprising the support element (10) is lifted and free; and then taking the lifted articles (1) by the upper part (101) thereof, keeping them separated from one another, and taking them to the container (2, 20).

3. The method of claim 2, usable for transferring elongate articles (1) at least partially made of a fragile material to containers, wherein each container comprises a tray (20) for containing the elongate articles (1), the tray having a plurality of open housings (210) for singly accommodating respective articles (1) lying horizontally, the housings (210) being arranged with respect to one another in such a way as to be separated from one another, wherein:

during step a., a following sub-step is performed: arranging each article (1) vertically when it is in the above-mentioned predefined formation; and wherein

before or together with step c., a following step is performed: rotating each article (1) taken in step b. so as to arrange the article (1) horizontally.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a conveyor line (L) for transporting the containers (2, 20), presenting the containers (2, 20) without articles (1) and distancing the containers once all the housings (21, 210) thereof house respective articles (1), the housings (21, 210) in each container being arranged in at least a line, wherein, in the method:

during step a., a following substep is performed: arranging, in the predefined formation, a number of articles (1) which is at least equal to the number of housings (21, 210) of the line in a container (2, 20),

during step b., a following substep is performed: picking up and taking to the container (2, 20) a number of articles (1) equal to the number of housings (21, 210) of the line in the containers (2, 20),

during step c., a following substep is performed: inserting each articles picked up and taken to the container in step b. into a respective housing of the line in the container,

steps a., b. and c. are repeated and applied cyclically to each of the housings (2, 210) and are actuated such that stage a. has a duration which is at most equal to a sum of a duration of step b. and step c., so that step a. of a cycle in which the articles destined to be inserted in a given line of housings (21, 210) of a container (2, 20) are predisposed can be completed during steps b. and c. applied in the preceding cycle to a further line of housings (21, 210) of the same container (2, 20) or in a further container; and wherein

after respective articles (1) are housed in all the housings (21, 210) of the container (2, 20), the container (2) is distanced by means of the conveyor line (L);

whereby the housings (21, 210) of other containers (2, 20) can receive respective articles (1) and the steps of the method can be repeated from the start, for as long as articles (2) are presented at the outlet of the machine (M).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein during step a., the following substeps are performed:

distancing the articles (1) progressively presented at the outlet (U) of the machine (M) from the outlet (U), so as to form at least a line, comprising a plurality of articles (1);

moving the line of articles (1) that have exited the machine (M) distancingly from the outlet (U) of the machine (M), the line being the predefined formation;

moving the line of articles (1) that have exited the machine (M) continuously;

and wherein during step b., a following substep is performed: removing the articles (1) from the line in a following-mode, while the line is actually moving.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the conveyor line (L) transports the containers (2, 20) continuously, wherein step c. is actuated as follows: inserting the articles (1) in the respective housings (21, 210) of a line in a container (2, 20), maintaining them separated from one another and in a following-mode, while the containers are moving borne on the conveyor line (L).

7. An apparatus for transferring a plurality of articles (1) at least partially made of a fragile material, such as for example syringes for injections, by an automatic machine (M), which presents the articles (1) at an outlet (U) thereof separated from one another, to containers (2, 20) having a plurality of housings (21, 210) in each of which the articles (1) can be singly accommodated so as to be separated from one another; the apparatus comprising:

at least a drawing device (5) for receiving and taking delivery of a plurality of articles (1) which exit the machine (M) as and when they are presented at the outlet (U) thereof; and

at least a pick-up and place device (3) for removing the articles from the drawing device (5), taking them to the container (2, 20) and inserting them in respective housings (21, 210) thereof,

wherein in the apparatus (A):

the drawing device (5) comprises a plurality of mobile seatings (51) for singly housing respective articles (1) presented at the outlet (U) of the machine (M) and moves the housed articles (1) distancingly from the outlet (U) of the machine (M), the mobile seatings (51) being arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the articles (1) housed therein are maintained separated from one another, and wherein

the pick-up and place device (3) comprises at least a gripping means (30) configured such as to be able to pick up or alternatively release a plurality of articles (1) and to maintain the picked-up articles separate from one another.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein elongate articles (1) are transported, each elongate article comprising one or more lateral walls (110), a support element (10) which projects laterally, and a bottom (11) at a lower end thereof, wherein, in the apparatus (A), the drawing device (5) comprises at least a rest guide (52) for supporting the articles (1) presented at the outlet (U) of the machine (M), the rest guide (52) being configured so as to be able to restingly slidingly receive the support elements (10) of the articles, leave a bottom (11) thereof free and enable distancing thereof from the outlet (U) of the machine (M).

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the drawing device (5) comprises at least an Archimedes screw (50) rotatable about a central rotating axis which passes through the outlet (U) of the machine (M), with a first end of the Archimedes screw (50) being locatable at the outlet (U) of the machine (M), the Archimedes screw having, at a lateral periphery thereof, a helical groove (500) arranged about the central axis, which groove (500) is dimensioned such as to be able to receive an article (1) arranged vertically, abutting the lateral wall (110) of the article (1), the groove (500) further originating from the first end of the Archimedes screw (50) so as to be able to directly accommodate the articles (1) presented at the outlet (U) of the machine (M).

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the rest guide (52) is straight, is positionable parallel to the rotation axis of the Archimedes screw (50) and is further arrangeable with respect thereto such that the groove (500) of the Archimedes screw (50) defines, together with the rest guide (52), the plurality of mobile seatings (51), which are arranged in a line along the longitudinal development of the Archimedes screw (50), each article (1) being housable in each of the mobile seatings (51) accommodated in the groove (50) and resting on the straight guide (52) on the respective support element (10) with the free bottom (11), each mobile seating (51) moving along the longitudinal development of the Archimedes screw (50), distancingly from the outlet of the machine (M) when the Archimedes screw (50) is activated in rotation.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a straight passage (520) is afforded in the rest guide (52), which straight passage (520) is parallel to the axis of symmetry of the Archimedes screw (50) and is defined by two lateral edges (521, 522) facing one another, the straight passage (530) being arranged above the Archimedes screw (50) and having a width which is such that the articles (1) can be freely inserted between the lateral edges (521, 522) only up to relative support elements (10) thereof, such that two opposite sides of each support element (10) are each received restingly on a different lateral edge (521, 522) flanking and defining the passage (50) of the guide and rest element (52).

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the gripping means comprise a plurality of pliers (30), each of which is closable for solidly gripping an article (1) or alternatively openable for releasing the article, the pliers (30) being arranged at a reciprocal distance such that the articles (1), while being picked up and once picked up by a respective pliers (30), are maintained separated from one another.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein elongate articles (1) are transported, each elongate article comprising one or more lateral walls (110), wherein, in the apparatus (A), each pliers (30) comprises a pair of jaws (31) that are reciprocally rotatable with respect to a rotation axis, alternatively to near and thus close the pliers (30) or to distance and open the pliers (30), the jaws (31) having a shape such that, when the pliers (30) close, an article (1) can be coupled thereto, solidly gripping the lateral wall (100) which is gripped between the jaws (31).

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the pick-up means (3) comprises at least a thrust element (32), arrangeable inferiorly of the pick-up device and comprising an upper abutting surface (320), the thrust element (32) being able to oscillate vertically such that when thrust element performs an upwards run, the thrust element can push, with the upper surface (320) thereof, the free bottom (11) of articles housed in the mobile seatings, causing an upper part (101) of the pushed articles (1) comprising the support element (10) to project superiorly of the mobile seating and the rest guide (21),

the plurality of pliers (30) being arrangeable above the pick-up device; and wherein

each of the relative pliers (30) is closable in order to grip one of the articles (1) pushed upwards by the thrust element (32), solidly gripping it by the upper projecting part (101) thereof, or is alternatively openable in order to release the article (1).

15. The apparatus of claim 12, for transferring articles (1) to containers, each container having a tray (20) for receiving articles (1) made of a fragile material, each tray comprising a plurality of open housings (210), accessible superiorly, and able to singly house the articles (1) lying horizontally so that the articles (1) are separated from one another, wherein, in the apparatus (A), each pliers (30) comprises a pair of jaws (31) that are dimensioned such as to insert in a housing (210) in order to grip an article (1); and further the gripping means comprises a rotation device connected to the plurality of pliers (30) so as to be able to rotate the articles (1) picked up from the drawing device (5) so as to arrange them horizontally in order to be able to insert them in the relative housings (210) of the tray (20).

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said pick-up and place device (3) comprises a robot (4) for supporting and moving the plurality of pliers (30) in space.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a conveyor line (L) for transporting the containers (2,20), for presenting containers (20) without articles (1) and then for distancing the containers once all housings (21, 210) thereof are accommodating respective articles (1), the housings being arranged in at least a line, wherein the robot (400) comprises:

a bearing body (40) destined to oscillate between loading positions thereof, by a flank of the pick-up device, and an unloading position thereof, in proximity of a container transported by the conveyor line,

a guide (41) for constraining oscillation of the bearing body (40),

a motor for displacing the bearing body (40) along the guide (41) or for halting the bearing body (40) at any position along the guide (41); and

a support arm (42) solidly mounted to the bearing body (40), on which support arm (42) the plurality of pliers (30) is mounted, the support arm (42) being movable such as to displace the pliers (30) along two Cartesian axes of a vertical plane;

when in the loading position, the bearing body (40) being arranged with respect to the drawing device (5) such that the support arm (42) can lift the pliers (30), once the pliers (30) have gripped the articles (1), so as to extract the articles (1) from the respective mobile seatings (51), and the bearing body (40), when in the unloading position, being further arranged with respect to the conveyor line (L) such that the arm (42) can lower the pliers (30) which bear the articles in order for the articles (1) to be inserted in respective housings of a container to which they are destined.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the pliers (30) are arranged in a horizontal line; the pick-up and place device (3) further comprises a pusher organ (34) solidly mounted to the bearing body (40) of the robot (400) and inferiorly fixed to the thrust element (32), activatable to cause the vertical oscillation of the thrust organ (32); and wherein

the thrust element (32) is mounted on the pusher organ (34) such that the upper abutting surface (320) is vertically below the line of pliers (30).

19. The apparatus of claim 8, usable for transferring articles (1) which each comprise a syringe for injections, which syringe comprises a barrel (100) for the liquid to inject, the upper element (10) is a collar formed at a rim of a mouth of the tube (100), and the bottom (11) of which is a lower end of a safety cap which houses a needle of the syringe, wherein, in the apparatus (A), the rest guide (52), the groove (500) of the Archimedes screw (50), the jaws (31) of the pliers (30) and the thrust element (32) are dimensioned such as to able respectively to: restingly slidingly receive the collars of the barrels of the syringe, accommodate the syringes by abutting a lateral wall thereof, solidly grip the lateral wall of the syringes and push the lower end of the safety cap.

20. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each article (1) comprises a syringe for injections and a safety device for housing and retaining the needle once an injection has been made, which safety device at least partially includes the barrel (100) of the syringe between lateral walls thereof, the safety device having lateral projections which constitute the support element (10) of the article and has a lower end which constitutes the bottom (11), wherein, in the apparatus (A), the rest guide (52), the groove (500) of the Archimedes screw (50), the jaws (31) of the pliers (30) and the thrust element (32) are dimensioned such as respectively to be able to: restingly sliding receive the lateral projections of the safety device, accommodate the safety device by abutting a lateral wall thereof, solidly grip the lateral wall of the safety device and push the lower end of the safety device.