EP2164691A2

EP2164691A2 - Apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2164691A2
Application number: EP08750955A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefano Elmi
Original assignee: Sacmi Imola SC
Current assignee: Sacmi Imola SC
Priority date: 2007-05-17
Filing date: 2008-05-15
Publication date: 2010-03-24
Also published as: WO2008142518A2; CN101711198A; ITMO20070165A1; WO2008142518A3

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a mould body (5, 6, 21, 22, 23) from which formed objects (100, 100a) having a base body (101, 101a) and an appendage (102, 102a) connected to said base body (101, 101a) have to be extracted, an extracting device (40, 41, 45, 44, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 59, 63, 64) for extracting said appendage (102, 102a) from said mould body (5, 6, 21, 22, 23) and for coupling said appendage (102, 102a) with said base body (101, 101a), said extracting device comprising pushing means (63, 64) that is movable along a linear path (P2) to move away said appendage (102, 102a) from said mould body (5, 6, 21, 22, 23), and is characterised in that said pushing means (63, 64) is further movable along a curvilinear path (F4, F5) for rotating said appendage (102, 102a) on said base body (101, 101a).

Description

Apparatus

The invention relates to apparatuses for forming objects, in particular objects made of plastics.

The invention further relates to extracting devices associated with apparatuses for forming objects and devices for extracting objects formed with said apparatuses.

The objects can be formed by compression-moulding, or by injection-moulding, or by any other suitable moulding technique . The formed objects may comprise objects provided with a body and an appendage connected, by an elastic hinge made of plastics, to the body, and movable with respect to the body.

Such objects may further comprise caps, for example caps in two parts, comprising a base body and a lid connected to the base body by an elastic hinge made of plastics .

The base body is associated, in use, for example by screwing, to a desired container.

The lid is moved, owing to the elastic hinge, with respect to the base body, between a closing position in which the lid is superimposed on the base body to close the cap, and an opening position in which the lid is moved away from the base body and it is possible to access the substance contained in the container.

Such caps are usually identified as "flip-top" caps. Known apparatuses for producing "flip-top" caps comprise a forming mould provided with a first cavity for forming the base body of the cap and a second cavity for forming the lid of the cap, the first cavity and the second cavity being connected together and shaped so that an elastic connecting hinge is formed between the base body and the lid.

The first cavity and the second cavity are positioned so that the base body and the lid are alongside one another.

The caps are formed by a desired moulding technique, for example injection-moulding. Known moulds for "flip-top" caps comprise two rows of forming moulds . Following the forming step, the mould is opened, so as to disengage from the undercut portions of the formed cap, and an extracting system is subsequently driven for extracting the caps from the mould. In order to extract the caps, an extracting system is known comprising an internal extracting device inside the mould, and an external closing device outside the mould. The internal extracting device comprises a first extracting plate that is vertically movable with respect to the forming mould and is positioned inside the body of the forming mould.

An extracting rod is fixed to the first extracting plate . The external closing device comprises a comb device mounted on a plane outside the forming mould and fixed to a moving plate, that is movable in a direction that is transverse to the forming mould.

In order to extract a flip-top cap, the first extracting plate is moved by lifting the first extracting plate so as to lift consequently the extracting rod fixed to the first extracting plate, the extracting rod sliding along the longitudinal axis thereof.

In this way, an upper end of the extracting rod comes progressively to abut on a surface of the lid. By continuing to lift the first extracting plate, the upper end of the extracting rod pushes against the lid, rotating it around the hinge by about 90° with respect to the forming position.

In this manner, the lid is taken from the forming position in which it is alongside the base body, to an intermediate position in which the lid is positioned in a plane that is perpendicular to that of the base body.

Subsequently, the moving plate of the comb device is driven so as to move the comb device towards the forming mould. The comb device is brought from a rest position in which the comb device is moved away from the forming mould to a working position in which the comb device interacts with the lid.

In particular, an active end of the comb device, positioned on the forming mould side, is pushed progressively to abut 5 on the surface of the lid.

By continuing to bring the comb device near, the active end of the comb device pushes the lid, rotating the lid around the hinge by a further 90° with respect to the intermediate position to which it had been taken by the internalo extracting device.

In this manner, the lid is superimposed on the base body of the cap.

The cap is then taken to the closing configuration thereof.

This extracting system is provided with two distincts actuating mechanisms, in fact, the internal extracting device and the external closing device are driven independently of one another.

There is provided a first actuating mechanism arranged for driving the first extracting plate, and a second actuating0 mechanism arranged for driving the moving plate of the comb device.

Subsequently, once the cap has been taken to the closing position, there is actuated a second extracting plate, which is provided inside the forming mould and is verticallys movable with respect to the forming mould, to extract the cap closed by the forming mould.

An annular extracting element is fixed to the second extracting plate shaped so as to be coupled with the section of the base body of the cap. o By lifting the second extracting plate, the annular extracting element comes progressively to abut against a base zone of the base body and progressively pushes the cap outside the forming cavity.

When the cap has completely exited the forming cavity it5 falls towards a collecting device then to be subsequently conveyed to further processing steps . The extracting system disclosed above is complex as it comprises an internal extracting device and an external closing device.

Further, the presence of two distinct moving mechanisms makes the extracting system even more complex.

Further, this extracting system limits the number of forming moulds that can be provided in the same forming apparatus . This consequently limits the number of caps that can be moulded during a stroke of the mould. In fact, each forming mould has to be accessible at least on one side to enable the comb device to approach and interact with the lid.

Thus, it is necessary to provide only two rows of forming moulds, generally each comprising 8 forming moulds, thus moulding 16 caps in a stroke of the mould.

Further, the extracting system is particularly bulky. In fact, to the side of each forming mould a space has to be provided for housing the comb device in a position thereof distanced from the forming mould and the driving devices of the comb device.

From EP 1 386 712 a "flip-top" caps extracting system is further known comprising a first annular extractor and a second annular extractor positioned outside the first annular extractor. The first and the second annular extractor are positioned inside a first mould portion of the forming mould, so as to be associated with a forming cavity portion in which the cap bodies are formed and are fixed to respective moving plates. The cap extracting system further comprises a closing device for closing, on the respective cap bodies, the formed lids. The closing device is fixed to a supporting plate connected to linear actuators for driving the closing device. To the supporting plate a plurality of axially slidable rods is fixed, each rod being provided with a respective conducting rod that is hinged on a free end of the rod, i.e. the end opposite the supporting plate. To the free end of the connecting rods are constrained rollers that are free to rotate, i.e. idle rollers.

Each idle roller is movable between a rest position, in which the roller is housed in a seat provided on an upper s surface of the first mould portion of the forming mould, at the side of the forming cavities, and an end stroke position in which the rollers close the lids on the respective cap bodies . In order to extract the caps from the mould in two formedo parts, according to EP 1 386 712, the mould is opened, by moving the second mould portion away from the first mould portion, the first and the second annular extractor are moved so as to partially extract the cap bodies and the lids from the respective forming cavities by acting on thes respective moving plates.

In this manner, the lids can rotate and are laterally accessible to the closing device.

Subsequently, the linear actuator is driven that controls the supporting plate to move the rods axially, and,0 consequently, by means of the connecting rods, to push the idle rollers to the lids along a trajectory defined by guiding grooves in which opposite ends of the idle rollers are received. By moving progressively along the grooves, the idle rollers5 move towards the lids and rotate the lids around the hinge to close the lids on the cap bodies.

Subsequently, the supporting plate is further moved that in turn moves the second plate to which the second annular extractor is connected. In this manner, the second annularo extractor acts on the respective cap bodies, ejecting the cap bodies from the respective forming cavities to make the cap bodies fall onto collecting devices.

Lastly, after the caps have been ejected, the idle rollers are newly moved to be taken to the seat in which they ares housed in the rest position and can start a new forming cycle . This extracting system is complex and requires a complex sequence of operations.

Further, even using the extracting system disclosed in EP 1

386 712, moulds having considerable overall dimensions are 5 obtained.

In fact, in the rest position the closing device is positioned laterally with respect to each row of forming cavities, on the lids side.

Further, each row of lids has to be laterally accessible too the closing device.

Further, for the idle rollers of two adjacent rows of forming cavities two different trajectories are provided, and thus grooves are provided having a different shape from one another due to interference problems . s This further complicates the structure of the mould according to EP 1 386 712.

Further, in EP 1 386 712 there is provided a plurality of moving devices, one for the first annular extractor, one for the second annular extractor, and one for the closingo device .

This leads to significant structural complications in the mould and in the making of the mould.

This further entails an increase in the costs of making and operating the mould. 5 Further, by increasing the number of moving mechanisms, the precision and thus the checks of the mould have to be consequently increased, with a further increase of costs.

An object of the invention is to improve extracting devices for extracting objects in two parts. o A further object of the invention is to improve extracting devices for extracting "flip-top" caps.

A still further object is to provide extracting devices for extracting "flip-top" caps having a compact and simplified structure . 5 A still further object is to provide extracting devices for extracting "flip-top" caps that have simplified operation. Another object of the invention, is to improve the forming apparatuses for forming "flip-top" caps.

A still further object is to provide forming apparatuses for forming "flip-top" caps having high productivity. A still further object is to provide forming apparatuses for forming "flip-top" caps having limited overall dimensions. In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a mould body from which formed objects have to be extracted, said formed objects having a base body and an appendage connected to said base body, an extracting device for extracting said appendage from said mould body and for coupling said appendage to said base body, said extracting device comprising pushing means that is movable along a linear path to move away said appendage from said mould body, characterised in that said pushing means is further movable along a curvilinear path for rotating said appendage onto said base body.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to make a compact extracting device having limited overall dimensions.

By using the pushing means according to the invention, it is further possible to use a single device to extract the appendages from a mould body and couple the appendages with the base body. This enables forming apparatuses to be significantly simplified.

This further enables the extracting procedure for extracting the formed objects to be made simpler and cheaper than known procedures . The dimensions of a forming apparatus provided with the extracting device according to the invention are reduced with respect to the dimensions of apparatuses provided with known extracting devices. This enables apparatuses to be made that are very cheap compared to known apparatuses, that use forming presses having a limited tonnage compared with known apparatuses. By using the extracting device according to the invention, it is not necessary, in fact, to provide a first extracting device to rotate the appendage by about 90° with respect to the forming position, and a second device to further rotate the appendage and superimpose the appendage on the base body.

The extracting device according ^"to the invention can be housed inside the body and/or a supporting structure of the forming apparatus, further reducing the overall dimensions of the apparatus .

In an embodiment, the extracting device further comprises a moving device to which the pushing means is fixed and which is substantially movable inside the body of the apparatus. The mould body of an apparatus according to the invention can be shaped so as to provide a considerable number of forming cavities for forming a considerable number of objects .

Further, it is not necessary to provide, for each forming cavity, an access zone for transversely accessing said mould body, as, on the other hand, was necessary in the prior art for making the extracting comb device, or the closing device, interact with the appendages of the caps. Therefore, the mould body of an apparatus according to the invention can be shaped so as to form a number of forming cavities that is greater than what is provided in the prior art.

Further, such forming cavities can be positioned so as to form a desired number of rows and/or lines. The constraints, that are found in apparatuses provided with known extracting devices, do not exist in an apparatus according to the invention.

In fact, the forming cavities of known apparatuses have to be accessible in two directions that are transverse to one another to enable both the internal extracting device and the external closing device to interact with the appendages. On the other hand', using the extracting device according to the invention, it is sufficient for the formed objects to be accessible in a single direction to enable the extracting device to interact with the appendages .

5 In another embodiment, the extracting device further comprises further pushing means configured like, the pushing means and arranged for interacting with a further appendage of a further object, which is formed with said apparatus. In an embodiment, the further pushing means is positioned ino a symmetrical manner with respect to the pushing means, so as to be movable . along a further linear path that is substantially parallel to said linear path, and along a further curvilinear path that is substantially coplanar and in an opposite direction to said curvilinear path. s Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to make a very compact extracting device having very limited overall dimensions.

In this manner, it is possible simultaneously to interact with an appendage and a further appendage respectively of ano object and a further object that is different from said object.

In a further embodiment there is provided a driving mechanism arranged for driving said extracting device comprising a linear driving mechanism, for example a5 pneumatic piston.

In a still further embodiment, said pushing means comprises a plurality of pushing elements shaped so as to interact with a plurality of appendages of a plurality of objects formed in said apparatus . o Each pushing element of said plurality of pushing elements is shaped so as to interact with a corresponding appendage of said plurality of appendages.

Each appendage of said plurality of appendages belongs to an object of said plurality of objects. In this manner, it is possible to interact simultaneously with a high number of caps, possibly with all the caps formed in an apparatus .

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising extracting formed objects from a mould body, said formed objects having a base body and an appendage connected to said base body, coupling said appendage with said base body, said extracting comprising linearly moving an extracting device to move away said appendage from said mould body, characterised in that said driving further comprises rotationally moving said extracting device to rotate said appendage onto said base body. In an embodiment, said extracting comprises driving a driving device of said extracting device.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to simplify the extracting methods for extracting objects from corresponding mould bodies in which they were formed. It is further possible to obtain a particularly simple and cheap extracting method.

Preferably, said driving comprises driving a linear driving device .

In this manner, it is possible to achieve composite motion using a simple and cheap driving device. The invention can be understood better and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a flip-top cap in a closed position; Figure 2 is a side view of the cap in Figure 1 in an open position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of an apparatus for forming "flip- top" caps; Figure 4 is a section taken along the plane IV-IV in Figure 3 that shows two forming cavities of the apparatus in Figure 3 in a first operating position; Figure 5 is a view like the one in Figure 4 that shows the apparatus in a second operating position;

Figure 6 is a view like the one in Figure 4 that shows the apparatus in a third operating position; Figure 7 is a view like the one in Figure 4 that shows the apparatus in a fourth operating position;

Figure 8 is a view like the one in Figure 4 that shows the apparatus in a fifth operating position.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a cap 100 of the flip-top type, comprising a base body 101 and a lid

102 connected to the base body 101 by an elastic hinge 103.

The elastic hinge 103 is shaped so that the lid 102 can be rotated, with respect to the base body 101, in the direction indicated by the arrow F, between a closing position X, shown in Figure 1, in which the lid 102 is positioned above the base body 101, and an opening position Y, shown in

Figure 2, in which the lid 102 is moved away from the base body 101, and is positioned almost parallel to the base body

101. The base body 101 comprises a skirt 104 arranged for being coupled with a neck portion of a container, and a spout 106 that projects from the skirt 104.

The spout 106 is used to dispense the substance contained in the container with which the cap 100 is associated, and comprises a nozzle 110 for the exiting of the substance.

In case of fluid substances, usually, the spout 106 is positioned directly in the mouth of a user so that through the nozzle 110 the user receives the fluid contained in the container easily and directly from the container. The skirt 104 has an almost annular shape with a preferably circular base section defining a diameter D and being bounded by an edge 113.

On the skirt 104 there is provided opening indicating means

111 shaped as weakening portions of the skirt 104 and arranged for indicating a possible removal of the cap 100 from a container with which the cap 100 was previously associated.

The skirt 104 is further internally provided with a thread 105 that enables the cap 100 to be screwed onto/unscrewed from a desired container. The lid 102 is shapingly coupled with the base body 101, so as to enable the spout 106 to be correctly housed and the cap 100 to be sealingly closed.

The lid 102 comprises a bottom surface 114 from which protrusions 107 project internally that engage, in the closing position X, with respective recesses 108 of the spout 106 so that between two successive protrusions 107 of the lid 102 there is interposed a further protrusion 112 of the spout 106. In this manner, the shapingly coupling between the lid 102 and the base body 101 is improved in the closing position X of the cap 100.

The lid 102 further comprises a grip portion 109, provided on an external surface of the lid 102, and arranged for facilitating the lifting of the -lid 102 from the base body 101 to open the cap 100.

The cap 100 can be sealed externally by sealing means that are not shown, for example film made of plastics to preserve the integrity of a package. The cap 100 can be obtained from any suitable forming apparatus, for example with the apparatus 1 shown in Figures 3-8.

With reference to Figures 3-8, there is shown a forming apparatus 1 comprising a supporting structure 10 in which there is obtained a plurality of forming moulds 2, each suitable for moulding a cap in two parts, for example the cap 100.

The apparatus 1 is suitable for forming objects made of plastics in two parts, comprising a base body and an appendage connected to the base body by an elastic hinge, such as, for example, the cap 100.

The apparatus 1 can use a compression-moulding forming process, or also an injection-moulding process, or any other suitable technique for forming objects made of plastics in two parts .

Each forming mould 20 of the plurality of forming moulds 2 5 comprises a first half mould 21 and a second half mould, not shown in the figures, and arranged for shapingly coupling with the first half mould 21 to define a forming cavity having the shape of a cap 100. The first half mould 21 and the second half mould compriseo protruding and recessed portions positioned so that between the first half mould 21 and the second half mould the cap 100 is formed having the shape disclosed above. The first half mould 21 comprises a first mould portion.22 and a second mould portion 23 that are movable in thes direction of the arrow Fl between a forming position K, shown in Figures 23 and 4, and a detachment position J shown in Figures 5-8.

The first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 are connected to a driving device, which is not shown,o a.rranged for moving the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 between the forming position K and the detachment portion J.

In the forming position K, the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 are close and positioned so as5 to define a portion of mould cavities 24 for forming the cap 100.

In the detachment position J the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 are spaced apart from one another, so that the undercut portions of the cap 100 can beo freed.

In the detachment position J, between the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 a gap remains defined and the cap 100 is accessible for suitable extracting devices to be extracted from the portion of mould5 cavities 24, as disclosed better below.

The first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 are further shaped so that the portion of mould cavities 24 defined thereby comprises a first mould cavity 26 arranged for forming the base body 101 of the cap 100, a second mould cavity 27 arranged for forming the lid 102, and a cavity 28 defined between the first and the second mould cavities 26, 27 for forming the hinge 103.

In this manner a cap is thus obtained that is provided with two parts mutually connected by an elastic hinge. The second half mould comprises mould portions that are suitably shaped so as to be coupled respectively with the first and the second mould cavities 26, 27 for forming the base body 101 and the lid 102 of the cap 100. The second half mould and/or the first half mould 21 are mutually movable in the direction of the further arrow F2, shown in Figure 4, to enable the forming of the cap 100, between a moulding position that is not shown, in which the second half mould and the first half mould 21 are close to one another to form the cap 100, and a distanced position, shown in Figures 3-8, in which the second half mould and the first half mould 21 are moved away from one another and it is possible to access the formed cap 100.

In particular, the first half mould 21 is fixed and cooperates to form a cap 100 with a second half mould that is movable with respect to the first half mould 21. The first mould cavity 26 is shaped so as to form the base body 101 and in particular the skirt 104. An internal surface of the first mould cavity 26 is shaped so as to form the thread 105. The first mould cavity 26 further comprises a first bottom surface 29 shaped so as to form the edge 113 of the base body 101, in this manner, the base body 101 of the cap 100 is shaped with the spout 106 that projects from the first bottom surface 29 of the first mould cavity 26. The second mould cavity 27 is shaped so as to form the lid 102 of the cap 100, and comprises a second bottom surface 30 shaped so as to form the surface 114 of the lid 102 and the protrusions 107 of the lid 102.

Each forming mould 20, further, is connected to a cooling device 31 for cooling the portion of mould cavities 24, and in particular the first mould cavity 26.

5 The cooling device 31 may comprise a supplying conduit for conveying a desired cooling fluid to the portion of mould cavities 24, and a return conduit to move away the fluid that is heated by cooling the portion of mould cavities 24. The return conduit can convey the cooling fluid to a coolingo unit to be cooled again, or to a discharging unit by which the fluid can be discharged to the exterior.

The apparatus 1 can be provided with a desired number of forming moulds 20. In a preferred embodiment twenty-four forming moulds 20 ares provided arranged on six rows .

In this manner, on each row there are provided four forming moulds 20, i.e. four lines are provided each containing six forming moulds 20. In other embodiments- any number of forming moulds can beo provided.

Further, the various forming moulds provided can be positioned in various manners in the forming or moulding apparatus so as to define a desired number of lines and/or of rows of moulds having a desired number of moulds. 5 The forming moulds 20 provided in the apparatus 1 are associated together, in the manner disclosed below to form a plurality of pairs 3 of forming moulds.

In Figures 4-8 there is shown a pair of forming moulds 4 of the plurality of pairs 3 provided in the apparatus 1, ino various operating positions, as disclosed better below.

Each pair of forming moulds 4 of the plurality of pairs 3 comprises a first forming mould 5 and a second forming mould 6 that are positioned in a specular manner to one another, as shown in Figure 3, and explained below. 5 The first forming mould 5 and the second forming mould 6 comprise first portions of forming moulds shown in Figures 4-8 cooperating with respective second mould portions, which are not shown, for generating forming cavities shaped so as to form the caps 100.

The first mould portion of the first forming mould 5 5 comprises a first and a second half mould that are mutually movable and cooperating to form a first portion of mould cavities 50.

The first portion of mould cavities 50 comprises a first forming cavity 7 for forming the base body 101 of the capo 100, a second forming cavity 8 for forming the lid 102, a third forming cavity 12 for forming the hinge 103.

The second forming mould 6 is shaped like the first forming mould 5 and comprises respective half moulds cooperating to . shape a second portion of mould cavities 60. s The second mould cavities 60 comprises a further first forming cavity 9 for forming a further base body 101a, a further second forming cavity 11 for forming a further lid

102a, a further third forming . cavity 13 for forming a further hinge 103a of a further cap 100a. 0 The first forming mould portions and the second mould portions of the first and of the second forming mould 5, 6 are further shaped so as to form the cap 100 and the further cap 100a in the opening position Y.

The first and the second forming mould 5, 6 of a same pair5 of forming moulds 4 , are configured so that the second forming cavity 8 and the further second forming cavity 11 are alongside one another and are interposed between the first forming cavity 7 and the further first forming cavity

9. o In this manner, the lid 102 and the further lid 102a formed with each pair of forming moulds 4 are alongside one another and interposed between the base body 101 and the further base body 101a.

Each pair of forming moulds 4 is provided with an extracting5 device 15 for extracting the base body 101 of the cap 100 from the first forming cavity 7 and the further base body J. /

101a from the further first forming cavity 9, as explained below.

The extracting device 15 comprises a first extracting plate 14 housed inside the supporting structure 10 of the apparatus 1 and a driving device, to move the first extracting plate 14 in the direction of the further arrow F2, between a rest position W shown in Figures 4-7 in which the extracting device 15 does not interact with the caps formed and the caps are housed in the respective forming cavities, and an ejecting position Z shown in Figure 8, in which the extracting device 15 has interacted with the formed caps and the caps are ejected from the respective forming cavities. The driving device comprises, preferably a linear driving device, for example a pneumatic piston, or also a worm screw.

The extracting device 15 further comprises a first tubular body 17 and a second tubular body 18 fixed to the first extracting plate 14, by a respective base end 17a, 18a. The first and the second tubular body 17, 18 comprise- respectively an end 17b, and a further end 18b opposite the respective base ends 17a, 18a and arranged for interacting respectively with the edge 113 of the base body 101 formed in the first forming cavity 7 and with the further edge 113a of the further base body 101a formed in the further first forming cavity 9.

The first tubular body 17 and the second tubular body 18 are shaped so that the end 17b and the further end 18b are shapingly coupled with the edge 113 and with the further edge 113a.

In the rest position W, the first tubular body 17 and the second tubular body 18 are housed inside the supporting structure 10, and the end 17b and the further end 18b are spaced apart respectively from the edge 113 and from the further edge 113a.

The first mould portions of the first forming mould 5 and of the second forming mould 6 are interposed, in this position, respectively between the end 17b and the edge 113 and between the further end 18b and the further edge 113a. If in the apparatus 1 there is provided a plurality of rows of pairs of forming moulds 4, for each row of moulds there can be provided a single extracting device comprising a plurality of tubular bodies connected to a single extracting plate. The number of tubular bodies corresponds to the number of base bodies 101, and/or of caps 100, formed in the same row of moulds, and therefore of the forming cavities provided in each row.

In this case there can be, further, provided a single moving device arranged for moving the extracting plate and simultaneously moving the tubular bodies fixed to the extracting plate.

In this manner, by driving the extracting plate of each row it is possible simultaneously to eject all the base bodies and, thus, all the caps that are formed in the forming cavities provided in the same row.

Possibly, the extracting plates of the different lines of forming moulds can be driven by the same driving mechanism that enables all the plates to be driven simultaneously to eject, possibly simultaneously, all the base bodies and/or the caps formed in the apparatus .

Further, there can be possibly provided a single extracting plate for all the apparatus 1, to which a plurality of tubular bodies is connected that are provided in a number corresponding to the number of the base bodies 101 and/or of the caps 100 formed in the apparatus 1, and thus to the forming cavities provided in the apparatus .

The first and the second forming moulds 5, 6 are further provided with, respectively, a first supporting member 32 and a second supporting member 33 housed inside the supporting structure 10.

The first supporting member 32 and the second supporting _{± g}

member 33 are positioned, respectively, at least partially internally to the first tubular body 17 and to the second tubular body 18 and are concentric with the first tubular body 17 and the second tubular body 18. The first and the second supporting member 32, 33 are shaped so as to form the first forming cavity 7 and the further first forming cavity 9 for forming the cap body 101 and the further cap body 101a. In particular, the first and the second supporting member 32, 33 are provided with shaped portions arranged for forming the thread 105 of the cap 100 and of the further cap 100a.

Further, the first and the second supporting member 32, 33 are configured so that the cooling device 31 extends at least partially inside the first and the second supporting member 32, 33.

The first and the second supporting member 32, 33 are further fixed to a plate 34, by respective fixing ends 32a, 33a. ^• Possibly, the plate 34 can be connected to driving devices to be moved as disclosed better below.

Such driving devices may comprise linear driving devices, for example a spring, a worm screw, or something else. Each pair of forming moulds 4 is further provided with a second extracting plate 41 housed inside the supporting structure 10 of the apparatus 1, and movable in the direction of the further arrow F2, between a rest configuration A shown in the Figure 4, various active positions, described better below, and comprising a first active configuration B shown in the Figure 5, and a second active configuration C shown in the Figure 6, and a further rest configuration E shown in Figures 7 and 8. The second extracting plate 41 can be moved from the rest configuration A after the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23, defining the portion of mould cavities 24, have been distanced.

The second extracting plate 41 is moved by a moving device, which is not shown, suitable for moving the second extracting plate 41 between the rest configuration A, the first active configuration B, the second active configuration C and the further rest configuration E, and vice versa.

The moving device comprises a preferably linear moving device, for example a pneumatic piston or, also, a worm screw.

To the second extracting plate 41 there is further connected a further extracting device 40, positioned inside the supporting structure 10 so as to be interposed between the first forming mould 5 and the second forming mould 6 of each pair of forming moulds 4 , in order to be able to interact with both the forming moulds 5, 6, of the same pair of forming moulds 4.

If the apparatus 1 is provided with a plurality of rows of pairs of forming moulds 4, for each row of moulds there can be provided a single second extracting plate to which there is fixed a number of further extracting devices equal to the number of rows of pairs of forming moulds provided in the apparatus .

In this manner, by driving the second extracting plate of each row it is possible simultaneously to move and extract all the lids formed in the forming cavities provided in the same row.

Possibly, the second extracting plates of the different lines of forming moulds can be driven by the same moving mechanism that simultaneously enables all the plates to be driven for ejecting, possibly simultaneously, all the lids formed in the apparatus .

Possibly, a single second extracting plate can further be provided for all the apparatus 1, to which a plurality of further extracting devices is connected in a number corresponding to the number of pairs of forming moulds 4 provided in the apparatus .

The further extracting device 40 comprises a bush 44, fixed to the second extracting plate 41, an extracting element 45 arranged for extracting the lids 102 from the corresponding mould cavity, and a supporting device 46 that is interposed between the bush 44 and the extracting element 45 and 5 enables the bush 44 and the extracting element 45 to be mutually connected.

The bush 44 comprises a base portion 47 fixed to the second extracting plate 41 and a body 48 that is internally hollow and shaped so as to define a housing 49. o The supporting device 46 comprises an internally hollow supporting body 55 inserted in a sliding manner inside the housing 49 and a fork element 56 comprising a pivot 59 that extends between two opposite walls of the fork element 56. The fork element 56 has an external dimension Dl, measureds in a direction that is transverse to the direction of the further arrow F2, and a surface 57 positioned on the side of the first forming mould 5 and/or of the second forming mould 6. The extracting element 45 comprises a first hammer extractor0 63 and a second hammer extractor 64.

The first hammer extractor 63 comprises a foot 65 provided with a hole for enabling the foot 65 to be inserted into the pivot 59, a body 67, and a head 68 positioned on the opposite side to the foot 65 and arranged for interacting5 with the lid 102 formed in the second cavity 8.

The foot 65 and the head 68 are shaped so as to protrude from the same part with respect to the body 67, giving the first hammer extractor 63 a "C" shape. Similarly, the second hammer extractor 64 comprises ao further foot 69 provided with a further hole to enable the further foot 69 to be inserted into the pivot 59, a further body 71 and a further head 72 positioned on the opposite side to the further foot 69 and arranged for interacting with the further lid 102a formed in the further second5 cavity 11.

The further foot 69 and the further head 72 protrude from the same side with respect to the further body 71, giving on the second hammer extractor 64 a "C" shape.

By inserting the foot 65 and the further foot 69 into the pivot 59 of the fork element 56, it is possible to hinge the 5 extracting element 45 on the supporting device 46, so that the first hammer extractor 63 and the second hammer extractor 64 can rotate around the pivot 59, as indicated by the rotation arrow F3 , and as disclosed better below. The first hammer extractor 63 and the second hammero extractor 64 are positioned in the fork element 56 in a specular manner with respect to one another, i.e. so that the head 68 and the further head 72, and the foot 65 and the further foot 69 protrude from opposite sides to one another. In this manner, the head 68 of the first hammer extractor 63s faces the first forming mould 5, whilst the further head 72 of the second hammer extractor 64 faces the second forming mould 6.

In this position the extracting element 45 has total overall dimensions D3 , measured as the distance between opposite0 ends of the foot 65 and of the further foot 69, that is greater than the external dimension Dl of the fork element 56.

The foot 65 and the further foot 69 are positioned in the fork element 56 so as to protrude from the external5 dimension Dl of the fork element 56 each by a portion "d". In this manner, the total overall dimensions D3 of the extracting element 45, in the further rest position A, is equal to the sum of the portion "d" relating to the foot 65, of the external dimension Dl of the fork element 56, and ofo the portion "d" relating to the further foot 69. The foot 65 and the further foot 69 are further positioned almost flush with the surface 57 of the fork element 56.

In the supporting structure 10, there is further provided a pair of guiding surfaces 70 having a step profile, shaped so5 as to define a further housing 73 to enable and to guide the sliding of the further extracting device 40. The further housing 73 comprises a seat 74 having a first internal dimension D2 almost corresponding to the total overall dimensions D3 of the extracting element 45, and a further seat 75 having a second internal dimension D4 almost corresponding to the external dimension Dl of the fork element 56, and a connecting surface 76 interposed between the seat 74 and the further seat 75. The fork element 56 can be, therefore, received both inside the seat 74 and inside the further seat 75. On the other hand, the extracting element 45 can be received inside the seat 74, but not inside the further seat 75. Thus, the connecting surface 76 acts as an arresting surface for the extracting element 45, and in particular for the foot 65 and for the further foot 69 hinged on the fork element 56.

The further seat 75 is positioned in a zone of the further housing 73 facing the first and/or the second forming mould 5, 6 and comprises a closed bottom surface 77 that bounds the further seat 75 on the side of the first and/or of the second forming mould 5 , 6.

The seat 74 further has a longitudinal dimension L comprising a first longitudinal dimension Ll, measured as a distance between the surface 57 of the fork element 56 and the connecting surface 76 in the further rest position A and a second longitudinal dimension L3. The first longitudinal dimension Ll corresponds to the extent of the movement that the fork element 56 can perform inside the seat 74 between the rest configuration A and the first active configuration B. The further seat 75 has a further longitudinal dimension L2, considered in the direction of the further arrow F2, and measured as a distance between the connecting surface 76 and the bottom surface 77. The further longitudinal dimension L2 is the same as the extent of the further movement that the fork element 56 can perform inside the further seat 75, as far as the bottom surface 77, between the first active configuration B and the second active configuration C. The further longitudinal dimension L2 substantially corresponds to the overall longitudinal extent of the further seat 75.

Ξ In the rest configuration A, the fork element 56 is positioned in a lowered position inside the further housing 73, so that the surface 57 thereof is spaced apart from the connecting surface 76 by a distance equal to the first longitudinal dimension Ll, and the extracting element 45 io extends almost completely inside the further housing 73.

By moving the second extracting plate 41 from the rest configuration A, along the direction of the further arrow F2, to take the second extracting plate 41 progressively to the first active configuration B and to the second active i5 configuration C, the fork element 56 is made to slide in the further housing 73, and in particular, first inside the seat 74 and, subsequently, the further seat 75.

This by causing a movement of the extracting element 45 that progressively exits from the further housing 73, inserting

20 itself gradually in the gap defined, in the detachment position J, between the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23.

The amount of the movement due to the movement of the second extracting plate 41 from the rest configuration A, to the

25 first active configuration B, shown in Figure 5, in the direction of the further arrow F2 , is almost the same as the first longitudinal dimension Ll, i.e. equal to the distance between the surface 57 of the fork element 56 and the connecting surface 76 in the further rest position A.

3o The movement of the second extracting plate 41 from the rest configuration A, to the first active configuration B, causes a movement of the fork element 56 inside the seat 74 almost equal to the first longitudinal dimension Ll₇ and a corresponding linear movement of the first hammer extractor

35 63 and of the second hammer extractor 64 of the extracting element 45. The linear movement of the extracting element 45 from the rest configuration A to the first active configuration B comprises a first movement portion between the rest configuration A and a contact position, which is not shown, 5 and a second movement portion between the contact position and the first active configuration B.

In the first movement portion the head 68 of the first hammer extractor 63 and the further head 72 of the second hammer extractor 64 are brought progressively closero respectively to the lid 102 formed in the second forming cavity 8, and to the further lid 102a formed in the further second forming cavity 11, until a contact position is reached in which the head 68 and the further head 72 are respectively in contact with the surface 114 of the lid 102s and with the further surface 114a of the further lid 102a. After the aforesaid contact position has been reached, each subsequent movement of the second extracting plate 41 causes an interaction between the head 68 and the further head 72 and, respectively, the surface 114 and the further surfaceo 114a.

The movement of the second extracting plate 41 in the second movement portion means that the head 68 and the further head 72 exert a thrust force respectively on the surface 114 and on the further surface 114a, causing rotation of the lid 1025 and of the further lid 102a respectively around the hinge 103 and the further hinge 103a, as indicated respectively by the rotation arrows F4 and F5.

Along the second movement portion, further, the contact zone between the head 68 and the further head 72 and,o respectively, the surface 114 and the further surface 114a, moves from the hinge 103 and from the further hinge 103a towards the grip portion 109 and the further grip portion 109a. In the first active configuration B, shown in Figure 5, the5 lid 102 and the further lid 102a are positioned in an intermediate position Q with respect to the opening position Y, in which they were formed, and the closing position X. In the intermediate position Q, the lid 102 and the further lid 102a are rotated by about 90°, with respect to the opening position Y and lie on a plane that is transverse to a plane on which lie respectively the base body 101 and the further base body 101a.

In the first active configuration B the foot 65 and the further foot 69 abut on the connecting surface 76. Subsequently, the second extracting plate 41 can be further driven, in the direction of the further arrow F2, to be moved from the first active configuration B to the second active configuration C, shown in Figure 6.

The further movement of the second extracting plate 41 from the first active configuration B to the second active configuration C, in the direction of the further arrow F2, is almost equal to the further longitudinal dimension L2, i.e. almost equal to the distance between the connecting surface 16 and the bottom surface 77 of the further seat 75. The further movement of the second extracting plate 41 from the first active configuration B to the second active configuration C causes a corresponding further movement of the fork element 56 that is made to slide inside the further seat 75, and a corresponding rotation movement of the first hammer extractor 63 and of the second hammer extractor 64 of the extracting element 45, respectively in the direction of the arrow F4 and F5, as disclosed better below. The further movement of the second extracting plate 41 causes a corresponding further linear movement of the fork element 56 and thus of the pivot 59 to which the first hammer extractor 63 and the second hammer extractor 64, that move in the further seat 75, are hinged.

Nevertheless, as the second internal dimension D4 of the further seat 75 is of lesser extent than the total overall dimensions D3 of the extracting element 45, the latter cannot be moved together with the fork element 56.

The foot 65 and the further foot 69 are locked by the connecting surface 76 to perform any further movement in the direction of the further arrow F2.

Then the further movement of the pivot 59 forces the first hammer extractor 63 and the second hammer extractor 64 to 5 rotate around the pivot 59 to adapt to the movement of the pivot 59 on which they are hinged.

Thus the further movement of the second extracting plate 41 from the first active configuration B to the second active configuration C, causes a rotational movement of the firsto hammer extractor 63 and of the second hammer extractor 64 around the pivot 59 respectively in the direction of the arrow F4 and F5, respectively towards the first forming mould 5 and towards the second forming mould 6. This rotational movement of the first hammer extractor 63 and ofs the second hammer extractor 64 moves the head 68 and the further head 72 respectively to the first forming cavity 7 and the further first forming cavity 9.

During rotational movement, the head 68 and the further head 72 push on suitable contact zones respectively of theo surface 114 and of the further surface 114a, causing a further rotation respectively of the lid 102 and of the further lid 102a respectively around the hinge 103 and the further hinge 103a. Along the rotational movement, the contact zone between the5 surface 114 and the further surface 114a and, respectively, the head 68 and the further head 72 moves further from the hinge 103 and from the further hinge 103a to the grip portion 109 and the further grip portion 109a. In the second active configuration C, shown in Figure 6, theo lid 102 and the further lid 102a are coupled respectively with the base body 101 and with the further base body 101a, i.e. the cap 100 and the further cap 100a are positioned in the closing position X. In the second active configuration C, shown in Figure 6, the5 lid 102 and the further lid 102a are, further, rotated by about 90°, in the direction of the arrow F4 and F5 respectively, with respect to the intermediate position Q that the lid 102 and the further lid 102a had assumed in the first active configuration B. The actual position of the fork element 56 in the further seat 75 in the second active configuration C, and also the amount of the longitudinal movement performed by the extracting element 45 between the first active configuration B and the second active configuration C, depend on constructional decisions, for example on the shape and the actual dimensions of the first hammer extractor 63 and of the second hammer extractor 64, in particular on the transverse extent of the head 68 and of the further head 72 and on the longitudinal extent of the body 67 and of the further body 71. This longitudinal movement has to be such as to ensure that, in the second active configuration C, the cap 100 and the further cap 100a are positioned in the closing position X. In the embodiment shown, in the second active configuration C the fork element 56 is partially positioned inside the further seat 75, so that the surface 57 of the fork element 56 is spaced apart from the bottom surface 77 of the further seat 75.

In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown, in the second active configuration C, the fork element 56 is positioned inside the further seat 75 so that the surface 57 of the fork element 56 abuts on the bottom surface 77 of the further seat 75.

From the second active configuration C, the second extracting plate 40 can still further be moved in the direction of the further arrow F2 to be taken to the further rest configuration E, shown in Figures 7 and 8. This still further movement means that the first hammer extractor 63 and the second hammer extractor 64 disengage respectively from the lid 102 and from the further lid 102a, and are returned progressively inside the supporting structure 10. In the further rest configuration E, the cap 100 and the further cap 100a are in the closing position X with the lid 102 and the further lid 102a coupled, respectively, to the base body 101 and to the further base body 101a, and the second forming cavity 8 and the further second forming cavity 11 are thus empty.

After the cap 100 and the further cap 100a have been closed, it is further possible to drive the first extracting device 15 for extracting the cap 100 and the further cap 100a, respectively from the first forming cavity 7 and from the further first forming cavity 9.

With reference to Figure 8, the ejecting position Z of the first extracting plate 14 is shown. The first extracting plate 14 is taken, by driving the corresponding driving device, to the ejecting position Z for ejecting the cap 100 and the further cap 100a respectively from the first forming cavity 7 and from the further first forming cavity 9. The first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 are positioned in the detachment position J, so as to free the undercut portions of the cap 100 and of the further cap 100a and thus to be able to move the first extracting plate 14 from the rest position W to the ejecting position Z. By moving the first extracting plate 14 progressively from the rest position W to the ejecting position Z, a corresponding movement of the end 17b and of the further end 18b of the first tubular body 17 and of the second tubular body 18 of the extracting device 15 is generated along the direction of the further arrow F2. In particular, in the movement of the first extracting plate 14, the end 17b and the further end 18b move progressively closer, respectively, to the edge 113 and to the further edge 113, until they come to abut on the edge 113 and the further edge 113, and subsequently push onto the edge 113 and onto the further edge 113, progressively ejecting respectively the cap 100 from the first forming cavity 7 and the further cap 100a from the further first forming cavity 9 .

In the ejecting position Z a portion 17c of the first tubular body 17 and a further portion 18c of the second tubular body 18 are inserted into the gap defined between

5 the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23. In the ejecting position Z the cap 100 and the further cap 100a have been ejected respectively from the first forming cavity 7 and from the further first forming cavity 9. Possibly, in order to facilitate the ejection step, also theo plate 34 can be moved and thus also the first supporting element 32 and the second supporting element 33 connected to the plate 34, in the direction of the arrow F2, opposite the movement of the first extracting plate 14. The plate 34 can be moved to move away respectively thes first supporting element 32 and the second supporting element 33 from the cap body 101 and from the further cap body 101a.

In this manner, the cap body 101 and the further cap body 101a are disengaged respectively from the first supportingo element 32 and from the second supporting element 33, both through the effect of the movement of the first tubular body 17 and of the second tubular body 18, and through the effect of the further movement of the first supporting element 32 and of the second supporting element 33. s This enables the ejection step from the apparatus 1 of the cap 100 and of the further cap 100a to be further facilitated.

In operation, there is provided a forming step in which, by compression-moulding, or injection-moulding, the caps 100,o 100a are formed in the apparatus 1.

In the forming step the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 of the first half mould 21 are in the forming position K, i.e. they are moved near to one another to form the portions of mould cavities 24, and the5 second half moulds cooperate with the first half mould 21 to form a forming cavity shaped so as to form objects even having a complex shape .

Subsequently, the second half moulds are moved away from the first half moulds 21, and the formed caps 100, 100a are left in respective portions of mould cavities 24 for a time that s is sufficient to ensure suitable cooling of the caps 100, 100a, Figure 3, 4.

Subsequently, the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 are moved away from one another in the direction of the arrow Fl, i.e. taken to the detachmento position J, defining a gap between the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23, freeing the undercut portions of the caps 100, and enabling the extracting device and the further extracting device to be driven and the extracting device and the further extracting device tos access the caps 100.

Subsequently, there is provided an extracting step in which the further extracting device 40 is moved so as to cause a linear movement of the extracting element 45 that in turn generates a rotation of the lid 102 and of the further lid0 102a from the opening position Y to the intermediate position Q, Figure 5, as disclosed previously. Subsequently, the further extracting device 40 is subjected to a further movement that causes a rotational movement of the extracting element 45 that in turn generates a further5 rotation of the lid 102 and of the further lid 102a from the intermediate position Q to the closing position X, Figure 6. Subsequently, the further extracting device 40 is subjected to a still further movement suitable for returning the further extracting device 40 inside the supporting structureo 10, preventing interaction of the further extracting device 40 with the cap 100 and the further cap 100a, Figure 7. Subsequently, there is provided an ejection step, in which the extracting device 15 is driven for ejecting the cap 100 and the further cap 100a respectively from the first forming5 cavity 7 and from the further first forming cavity 9, Figure 8. In this step there can be further provided moving the plate

34 to move away the first supporting element 32 and the second supporting element 33 respectively from the cap body

101 and from the further cap body 101a. s The cap 100 and the further cap 100a, after being ejected from the respective forming cavities, are collected by collecting devices and are possibly conveyed to further zones of the apparatus, for example to further treatment zones, or packaging zones, o The extracting device 15 is then returned to the rest position in which it does not interact with the base bodies

101, 101a of the caps.

Similarly, the first supporting element 32 and the second supporting element 33 are returned to the forming position,s in which they cooperate with the further moulding parts to form respectively the first forming cavity 7 and the further first forming cavity 9.

At this point, the apparatus 1 is ready for restarting a new cycle of forming and ejecting caps. o Thus, the first mould portion 22 and the second mould portion 23 are again enclosed, forming position K, so as to form the portion of mould cavities 24.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a mould body (5, 6, 21, 22, 23) from which formed objects (100, 100a) have to be extracted, said formed objects (100, 100a) having a

5 base body (101, 101a) and an appendage (102, 102a) connected to said base body (101, 101a) , an extracting device (40, 41, 45, 44, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 59, 63, 64) for extracting said appendage (102, 102a) from said mould body (5, 6, 21, 22, 23) and for coupling saido appendage (102, 102a) with said base body (101, 101a), said extracting device comprising pushing means (63, 64) that is movable along a linear path (F2) to move away said appendage (102, 102a) from said mould body (5, 6, 2I₇ 22, 23), characterised in that said pushings means (63, 64) is further movable along a curvilinear path (F4, F5) for rotating said appendage (102, 102a) on said base body (101, 101a¹) .

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pushing means (63, 64) comprises body means (65, 67, 68, 69,0 71, 72) having a "C" shape.

3. Apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said body means comprises an extractor body having an elongated shape (67, 71) .

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said body meanss further comprises a head (68, 72) provided on an end portion of said extractor body (67, 71) and arranged for interacting with said appendage (102, 102a) .

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body means further comprises a base portion (65, 69) provided on ao further end portion of said extractor body (67, 71) opposite said end portion.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said base portion (65, 69) is hinged on a supporting element (41, 44, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 59) of said extracting5 device arranged for supporting said pushing means (63, 64) .

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said supporting element (44, 46, 48, 56, 59) is movable linearly along said linear path (F2) .

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said supporting 5 device (44, 46, 48, 56, 59) comprises a fork element

(55, 56, 57) .

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fork element (55, 56, 57) comprises a pair of walls between which there extends a pivot (59) arranged for receivingo hinge hole means provided in said base portion (65, 69) for hinging said base portion (65, 69) with said supporting element (44, 46, 48, 56, 59).

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said mould body (5, 6, 21, 22, 23) furthers comprises guiding means (70) arranged for guiding said movement of said extracting device (40, 41, 45, 44, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 59, 63, 64) along said linear path (F2) .

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said guidingo means (70) is shaped so as to define housing means (73,

74, 75, 76, 77) for receiving said extracting device (40, 41, 45, 44, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 59, 63, 64) .

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, as claim 10 is appended to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein said5 housing means comprises a housing (74) having a transverse dimension (D3) such as to receive said base portion (65, 69) and said fork element (55, 56, 57) of said supporting element (44, 46, 48, 56, 59).

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said housingo means comprises a further housing (75) having a further transverse dimension (D4) that is less than said transverse dimension (D3) and such as to receive said fork element (55, 56, 57) of said supporting element (44, 46, 48, 56, 59) . 5

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said housing means further comprises a connecting surface (76) interposed between said housing (74) and said further housing (75) and arranged for acting as an abutting surface for said base portion (65, 69) .

15. Apparatus according to claim 8, or 9, or according to s any one of claims 10 to 14, as claim 10 is appended to claim 8, or 9, wherein said fork element comprises an internally hollow elongated body (55) .

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said supporting element further comprises a connectingo element (44, 47, 48, 49) defining a housing wherein there is received said elongated body (55) .

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said connecting element further comprises a base (44) fixed to a supporting plate (41) of said supporting element.s

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein said extracting device comprises a plurality of pushing means (63, 64) arranged for interacting with a plurality of formed objects (100, 100a) .

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, as appended to claim0 17, wherein said plurality of pushing means (63, 64) is fixed to said supporting plate (41) of said device.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18, or 19, wherein each pushing means of said plurality of pushing means comprises a first pushing element (63) arranged for5 interacting with an appendage (102) of a formed object (100) and a second pushing element (64) arranged for interacting with a further appendage (102a) of a further formed object (100a) .

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, or 19, wherein saido first pushing element. (63) is arranged symmetrically with respect to said second pushing element (64) .

22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 21 and further comprising a moving mechanism for moving said extracting device (40, 41, 45, 44, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56,5 57, 59, 63, 64) .

23. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 21 and comprising an ejecting device (14, 15, 17, 18) arranged for ejecting said base body (101, 101a) of said formed objects (100, 100a) . s

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said ejecting device (14, 15, 17, 18) comprises cylindrical body means (17, 18) configured so as to shapingly couple with an edge (113, 113a) of said base body (101, 101a).

25. Apparatus according to claim 23, or 24, and furthero comprising supporting plate means for supporting said ejecting device (14, 15, 17, 18) .

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, and further comprising driving means for driving said supporting plate to move said ejecting device (14, 15, 17, 18). s

27. Apparatus according to any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein said ejecting device (14, 15, 17, 18) comprises a plurality of ejecting elements arranged for interacting with a plurality of base bodies (101, 101a) of a plurality of objects (100, 100a) . o

28. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein said mould body comprises first mould portion means (22) and second mould portion means (23) that is movable along a transverse direction (Fl) between a near forming position (K) and a further detachment5 position (J) .

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said first mould portion means (22) and said second mould portion means (23) are configured so that in said near forming position (K) between said first mould portion means0 (22) and said second mould portion means (23) , forming cavity means (24) is defined for forming said objects (100, 100a) .

30. Apparatus according to claim 28, or 29, wherein said first mould portion means (22) and said second mould5 portion means (23) are configured so that in said further detachment position (J) between said first mould portion means (22) and said second mould portion means (23) , gap means is defined that is suitable for enabling said pushing means (63, 64) to access said objects (100, 100a) .

31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 27 to 30, and further comprising a moving mechanism for moving said first mould portion means (22) and said second mould portion means (23) .

32. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein said objects comprise a cap in two parts, for example a flip top cap.

33. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein said base body comprises a cap body (101, 101a) intended for being associated with a container.

34. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein said appendage comprises a lid portion (102, 102a) .

35. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 34, and further comprising a further mould body cooperating with said mould body to generate mould cavity means for forming said objects (100, 100a) .

36. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said mould body and said further mould body are shaped so as to generate a plurality of mould cavities for forming a plurality of objects (100, 100a) .

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said plurality of mould cavities comprises 24 mould cavities positioned so as to form a multiplicity of lines and rows of mould cavities .

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said plurality of mould cavities is positioned so as to form 6 lines and 4 rows of mould cavities .

39. Method comprising extracting formed objects (100, 100a) from a mould body (5, 6, 21, 22, 23), said formed objects (100, 100a) having a base body (101, 101a) and an appendage (102, 102a) connected to said base body (101, 101a) , coupling said appendage (102, 102a) with said base body (101, 101a), said extracting comprising linearly moving an extracting device (63, 64) to move away said appendage (102, 102a) from said mould body s (5, 6, 21, 22, 23), characterised in that said extracting further comprises rotationally moving said extracting device (63, 64) to rotate said appendage (102, 102a) on said base body (101, 101a) .

40. Method according to claim 39, wherein during saido linearly moving there is provided translating supporting means (40, 41, 45, 44, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 59) of said extracting device (63, 64) along a portion (Ll) of linear path (F2) .

41. Method according to claim 40, wherein, during saids rotationally moving, further moving said supporting means(40, 41, 45, 44, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 59) is provided along a further portion (L2) of said linear path (F2) .

42. Method according to claim 41, wherein said further0 moving is provided after said moving.

43. Method according to any one of claims 39 to 42, wherein said moving away comprises further rotating said appendage (102, 102a) towards said base body (101, 101a) . 5

44. Method according to any one of claims 39 to 43, wherein said linearly moving comprises moving said extracting device (63, 64) towards said appendage (102, 102a).

45. Method according to claim 44, as appended to claim 43, wherein said linearly moving further comprises pushingo said extracting device (63, 64) against said appendage (102, 102a) to cause said further rotating said appendage (102, 102a) towards said base body (101, 101a) .

46. Method according to any one of claims 39 to 45, and5 further comprising moving first mould portion means

(22) and second mould portion means (23) of said mould body between a near forming position (K) and a further detachment position (J) .

47. Method according to claim 46, wherein said moving comprises moving said first mould portion means (22) s and said second mould portion means (23) along a transverse linear direction (Fl) that is transverse to said linear path (F2) .

48. Method according to claim 46, or 47, wherein said moving comprises mutually moving away said first mouldo portion means (22) and said second mould portion means (23) , so that between said first mould portion means

(22) and said second mould portion means (23) gap means remains defined that is suitable for enabling said extracting device (63, 64) to pass through. s 49. Method according to claim 48, wherein said moving away is provided before said linearly moving.

50. Method according to any one of claims 46 to 49, wherein said moving comprises placing said first mould portion means (22) and said second mould portion means (23)0 mutually alongside, so that between said first mould portion means (22) and said second mould portion means

(23) there is defined forming cavity means (24) for forming said objects (100, 100a) .

51. Method according to any one of claims 39 to 50, wherein5 said extracting further comprises ejecting said objects

(100, 100a) from said mould body (5, 6, 21, 22, 23) .

52. Method according to claim 51, wherein said ejecting is provided following said coupling.

53. Method according to claim 51, or 52, wherein said0 ejecting comprises driving a further extracting device.

54. Method according to claim 53, wherein said driving comprises linearly moving said further extracting device .

55. Method according to claim 53, or 54, wherein said5 driving comprises moving said further extracting device near said base body (101, 101a) .

56. Method according to any one of claims 53 to 55, wherein said ejecting comprises shapingly coupling said further extracting device with an edge portion (113, 113a) of said base body (101, 101a) .

57. Method according to any one of claims 53 to 56,. wherein said driving comprises pressing said further extracting device against said edge portion (113, 113a) of said base body (101, 101a) to remove the base body from said mould body (5, 6) .

58. Method according to any one of claims 39 to 57, and further comprising forming said objects (100, 100a) .

59. Method according to claim 58, wherein said forming comprises injection-moulding.

60. Method according to any one of claims 39 to 59 and further comprising cooling said objects (100, 100a).

61. Method according to claim 60 as appended to claim 58, or 59, wherein said cooling is provided after said forming and before said extracting.