阅读说明：本技术 带有可动喷射喷嘴的涂覆设备 (Coating device with movable spray nozzle ) 是由 P·夸德拉多费尔南德斯 于 2019-06-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种带有可动喷射喷嘴的涂覆设备(100),其包括旋转滚筒(3)和用于产品的喷射喷嘴集(21)的定位组(1),该定位组(1)具有控制柱(5),该控制柱(5)能够基本上轴向地定位在滚筒(3)内侧并且其容纳内轴(6),控制柱(5)配备有包括旋转的喷嘴集(21)承载件(20)的至少一个铰接臂(7)。传动系统(30),其基于容纳在控制柱(5)中以及铰接臂(7)中的带轮装置和对应的牵拉装置,所述带轮装置和对应的牵拉装置基于转向柱(5)与内轴(6)之间的相对角位置而同时产生铰接臂(7)的收缩或延伸以及喷嘴集(21)的承载件(2)的旋转。(The invention relates to a coating installation (100) with movable spray nozzles, comprising a rotating drum (3) and a positioning group (1) of a spray nozzle set (21) for the product, the positioning group (1) having a control column (5), the control column (5) being positionable substantially axially inside the drum (3) and accommodating an inner shaft (6), the control column (5) being equipped with at least one articulated arm (7) comprising a rotating nozzle set (21) carrier (20). A transmission system (30) based on pulley devices and corresponding traction devices housed in the control column (5) and in the articulated arm (7) which simultaneously produce the contraction or extension of the articulated arm (7) and the rotation of the carriage (2) of the set of nozzles (21) based on the relative angular position between the steering column (5) and the inner shaft (6).)

1. Coating apparatus (100) with movable spray nozzle, comprising a coating vessel (2), said coating vessel (2) accommodating: a rotating and perforated drum (3), said drum (3) being intended to agitate a mass of articles (4) to be coated during rotation of said drum, said articles (4) being intended to define a free surface; and a positioning group (1) of a set of spray nozzles (21) for the product with which the article (4) is intended to be coated when the article (4) is agitated by the drum (3), characterized in that the positioning group (1) comprises:

-a control column (5) which can be positioned substantially axially inside the drum (3) and which control column (5) houses an inner shaft (6),

-the control column (5) is equipped with at least one articulated arm (7), said at least one articulated arm (7) having a first portion (7a) and a second portion (7b) hinged together about a first axis (11), said first portion (7a) rotating together with the control column (5), and a carriage (20) of a set of nozzles (21) is articulated joined to said second portion (7b) of the articulated arm (7) about a second axis (12), both said first and second axes (11, 12) being parallel to each other and to the control column (5),

-a transmission system (30) based on pulley means and corresponding pulling means housed in the control column (5) and in the articulated arm (7) which simultaneously produce the retraction or extension of the articulated arm (7) and the rotation of the carriage (2) of the set of nozzles (21) with respect to the second portion (7b) of the aforementioned articulated arm (7) based on the relative angular position between the steering column (5) and the inner shaft (6); the positioning set further comprises:

-first and second actuators (5a, 6a) to actuate the rotation of the control column (5) and of the inner shaft (6), respectively, from the outside of the container (2), thereby varying the angular position for the convenience of the user and consequently the extension of the articulated arm (7) and the orientation of the carriage (20) of the set of nozzles (21).

2. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the transmission system (30) comprises:

-a first pulley device (31) fixed to the inner shaft (6) or integral with the inner shaft (6);

-a second pulley device (32) freely rotating around the second shaft (12) and fixed to or integral with the carrier (20) of the set (21) of nozzles;

-third pulley means (33) freely rotating around said first shaft (11) and connected to said first pulley means (31) by means of first traction means (35);

-fourth pulley means (34) fixed to or integral with said first portion (7a) of said articulated arm (7) and connected to said second pulley means (32) by means of second pulling means (36);

each pulley arrangement is configured such that one revolution of the first and second pulley arrangements (31, 32) corresponds to more than one revolution of the third and fourth pulley arrangements (33, 34), respectively, and vice versa.

3. The apparatus (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein each pulley device is configured so that one turn of the first and second pulley devices (31, 32) corresponds to two turns of the third and fourth pulley devices (33, 34), respectively.

4. The plant (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control column (5) is equipped with two articulated arms (7) such that the carriage (20) of the set of nozzles (21) is engaged such that the carriage (20) is articulated between the respective second portions (7b) of the articulated arms (7) and extends between the respective second portions (7b) of the articulated arms (7).

5. The plant (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (20) of the set of nozzles (21) comprises a collection tube or dispenser (22) of the product to be sprayed, the collection tube or dispenser (22) being axially aligned with the second joining axis (12) between the carrier (20) and the second portion (7b) of the set of nozzles (21), or, if applicable, with each second portion (7b) of the articulated arm or arms (7).

6. The apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning group (1) comprises means for supplying the nozzles (21) with the product to be sprayed, said means comprising a hydraulic connection circuit (8) through the control column (5) between the outside of the container (2) and the nozzles (21).

7. The apparatus (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the hydraulic connection circuit (8) is partially housed inside a third articulated engagement arm (9) between the control column (5) and the carrier (20) of the set of nozzles (21).

8. The apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle (21) is removably coupled to a guide member (23), the guide member (23) being parallel to the second joint axis (12) extending between the support (20) of the set (21) of nozzles and the at least one articulated arm (7).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a coating installation of this type: it comprises a rotating drum intended to agitate a large number of articles to be coated with a specific product by spraying the product by means of nozzles placed inside the drum. For example, these devices are used to coat particulate articles, such as pharmaceutical products or confectionery products.

Background

Coating devices are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for applying one or several outer layers of a product to articles in the form of granules or capsules.

These apparatuses essentially comprise a container inside which a roller containing a large number of articles to be coated runs. These devices are generally equipped with a series of spray nozzles of the product to be used for coating the article. The spraying operation is performed while the drum is running and agitating a large number of articles to ensure uniform coating of the articles. Moreover, in a conventional manner, the drum is perforated and the coating apparatus comprises a forced air circuit which passes through the drum and helps to dry the sprayed product once it is applied to the article to be coated.

It has turned out that the distance between the nozzle and the free surface of the article to be coated is a critical factor in ensuring proper coating. However, this distance is not the only parameter involved in achieving optimal coating. Other factors, such as the direction of the ejected product stream (beam), play an important role, and it is particularly important to aim the stream in a direction substantially normal to the free surface of a large number of articles to be coated.

Devices with fixed nozzles cannot be adapted to these requirements and can therefore only be used appropriately for very specific product batches.

For example, the smaller the batch of articles to be coated, the greater the distance between the free surface of said agitated articles inside the drum and the spray nozzles will be, which prevents apparatuses with fixed nozzles, which are basically suitable for large batches, from being used for smaller batches and vice versa.

Similarly, if the characteristics of the product used to coat the article vary, for example, it may be the case that different distances between the free surface of the article and the nozzle are required for a single batch of articles.

Similarly, another parameter affecting the characteristics of the device with fixed nozzles, in addition to the distance between the nozzle and the free surface of the product, is the orientation of said nozzle. The change in volume of the batch causes a change in the natural placement of the bulk of the articles within the drum during rotation of the drum, and as a result, not only the distance of the free surfaces of the bulk of the articles, but also the orientation of the free surfaces of the bulk of the articles. Thus, the orientation of the nozzles will have to be adjusted according to the new orientation of the free surfaces of the bulk of the articles inside the drum.

Other parameters that also contribute to the maximum optimization of the coating can be the rotation speed of the drum, the replacement of the drum, etc., essentially any parameter that can trigger a change in the distance and/or orientation of the free surface of a large number of articles relative to a fixed spray point.

A first object of the present invention is a coating apparatus with a movable spray nozzle that is able to assume different spatial positions and is also able to vary its orientation to adapt to the batch of articles and/or to the product to be coated for said articles.

One obstacle to overcome when designing a suitable positioning group for moving the nozzles inside the drum is that the actuation of the positioning group should preferably be done from outside the container housing the drum. This means that the transmission between the actuator outside the container and the movable support of the nozzle must pass through the wall of the container, for which purpose a part of the cover of the container is generally used, which can be moved to uncover or close the access opening for enabling the introduction of the articles inside the drum. This is a delicate part of the apparatus that must not compromise the seal of the container. Complex sealing closures, such as slides with movable parts sliding on tracks or grooves, must therefore be avoided.

Patent document JP2003062500 describes a coating apparatus comprising a set of positioning of a series of nozzles. The positioning group has only one degree of freedom and is only able to move the nozzle vertically in order to move the nozzle closer to or away from the bottom of the drum. Apart from the fact that the positioning group is not prepared to move the nozzles in other directions, it is also not prepared to orient the nozzles according to the orientation of the free surfaces of a large number of articles inside the drum.

Patent document EP1200197 describes an alternative to the aforementioned apparatus, in which the articulated arm is rotationally coupled to a fixed support of the tube introduced in the drum. One free end of the arm, equipped with a nozzle, is engaged in a movable manner along an integral guide of the rotation axis. By actuating the rotation of the shaft, the guide may be rotated in one direction or the other to retract or extend the articulated arm while substantially maintaining the same orientation of the nozzle. In fact, it is possible to move the nozzle closer to or further away from the wall of the drum without changing the orientation of the nozzle too much. Although this proposal improves the solution described in JP2003062500 in some respects, it is still not possible to provide a nozzle with the minimum degree of freedom that would be desirable for making the device versatile, since in all its possible placements the nozzle will have the same orientation, as explained earlier, when the orientation of the free surface of the article can be varied according to its nature and volume, the rotational speed of the drum, etc., as a result of which the optimum orientation of the nozzle in each case is varied.

Disclosure of Invention

The proposed device overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks. The apparatus comprises, in a manner known per se, a coating vessel containing: a rotating and perforated drum intended to agitate a mass of articles to be coated during rotation of the drum, the articles being intended to define a free surface; and a positioning group of sets of nozzles for the product with which it is desired to coat the article while it is agitated by the drum.

Essentially, the plant is characterized in that said positioning assembly comprises a control column, which can be positioned substantially axially inside the drum, which houses the internal shaft, which is equipped with at least one articulated arm having a first portion and a second portion hinged together about a first axis, the first portion rotating together with the control column, and the nozzle-set carrier being hingedly joined to the second portion of the articulated arm about a second axis, both the first axis and the second axis being parallel to each other and to the control column.

The positioning group further comprises a transmission system based on pulley means and corresponding pulling means in the control column and in the articulated arm, which simultaneously produce a contraction or extension of the articulated arm and a rotation of the nozzle set carrier relative to the second portion of said articulated arm based on the relative angular position between the control column and the inner shaft; the positioning group further comprises a first actuator and a second actuator for actuating the rotation of the control column and of the inner shaft, respectively, from the outside of the container and thereby conveniently changing the angular position thereof, and by doing so, the extension of the articulated arms and the orientation of the nozzle-set carrier.

Advantageously, the positioning and orientation of the set of nozzles in space can be achieved by means of a rotation of the control column and its inner shaft, which action is very easy to perform from outside the container.

Similarly, the positioning assembly avoids the use of mechanisms that produce linear motion inside the drum, such as telescopic arms, screws or the like, which usually involve inserting and removing elements from other elements, with the risk of particles being located inside the elements and not eliminated during the cleaning operation, causing undesirable cross-contamination in the field of the preparation of pharmaceutical products.

This risk is not present in the device of the invention, since the linear movement of the nozzle is the result of a combination of rotational movements, which can easily be protected with an effective seal, for example in the pharmaceutical industry.

In one embodiment, a transmission system includes: a first pulley arrangement fixed to or integral with the inner shaft; a second pulley device freely rotatable about a second axis and fixed to or integral with the nozzle-set carrier; a third pulley means freely rotatable about the first axis and connected to the first pulley means by means of a first pulling means; and a fourth pulley device fixed to or integral with the first part of the articulated arm and connected to the second pulley device by means of a second traction device, all these pulley devices being configured so that one revolution of the first and second pulley devices corresponds to more than one revolution of the third and fourth pulley devices, respectively.

The transmission system is passive or driven, i.e. it is actuated by a change in the relative position between the control column and its inner shaft.

Preferably, there is a multiplying or reducing relationship between the first and third and between the second and fourth pulley means. In the embodiment concerned, each pulley device is configured so that one turn of the first and second pulley devices corresponds to two turns of the third and fourth pulley devices, respectively.

According to a variant of the invention, the control column is equipped with two articulated arms, so that the nozzle set carrier is articulated in engagement and extends between respective second portions of said articulated arms.

The nozzle set carrier may comprise a collection tube or dispenser for the product to be sprayed, preferably in axial alignment with a second engagement axis hinged between the carrier and the or each second part of the hinge arm or arms to which it is hingedly engaged. In this way, the momentum of the force required to initiate its rotation is reduced.

The positioning group comprises means for supplying the nozzle with the product to be sprayed, which preferably comprise a hydraulic connection circuit between the outside of the container and the nozzle through the control column, and thus no longer require a more sealed closure between the containers in the portion of the inlet to the drum.

In one embodiment, the hydraulic connection circuit is partially housed inside the third articulating engagement arm between the control post and the nozzle set carrier.

In order to facilitate the interchangeability of the nozzles, in order to modify their number or distribution, it is envisaged that the nozzles are removably coupled to a guide member extending parallel to the second axis of engagement between the set of nozzles and the at least one articulated arm.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a positioning group of the device according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the positioning group of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of a detail of the portion of FIG. 3 marked with dashed lines;

FIG. 4 is a view of the major components and in an associated assembled position for transmitting rotation from the third pulley device to the second portion of the articulated arm, and in turn securing the fourth pulley device to the first portion of the articulated arm;

5a, 5b and 5c show a sequence of movements representative of the operation of the transmission system of the positioning group when the relative angular position between the control column and the inner shaft is changed;

FIGS. 6a and 6b show a sequence of movements illustrating the operation of the positioning group's drive train when the control column and the inner shaft rotate together;

fig. 7a and 7b are schematic views showing two different positions that the set of nozzles can occupy in the apparatus according to the invention, adapted to the requirements of two different large numbers of articles to be coated.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a device 100 illustrating the present invention. The apparatus 100 comprises, in a known manner, a container 2 housing a rotating drum 3 inside which the articles to be coated are arranged. Although not shown in the figures, the drum 3 is a perforated drum and may have a series of fins for agitating the articles in a suitable manner during rotation of the drum 3.

The apparatus 100 is equipped with a set of nozzles 21 for spraying the product that has to coat the article. The working cycle of the apparatus 100 comprises a phase in which the nozzles 21 are introduced into the drum 3, which at the same time operates and agitates the article to be coated, so that the product sprayed by the nozzles 21 is applied to the surface of said article. The rotation of the drum 3 and the correct positioning of the nozzles 21 help to make the application of the product to the surface of the article uniform.

The drum 3 is open at one of its bases, through which the article to be coated is introduced and through which the coated article is extracted once the working cycle of the apparatus 100 has been completed. In a conventional manner, the apparatus 100 of fig. 1 comprises a cover 10 provided with a viewing hole 10a for uncovering or closing the opening of the drum 3. In the example of fig. 1, for the sake of its operation, the lid 10 is not hinged to the body of the container 2, but is a removable lid of the container 2 in an axial direction with respect to the drum 3, and is suspended from a guide system 14 and a slide 13, the guide system 14 and the slide 13 being suitable for supporting the weight of the lid 10 and, in the present case, also of a positioning group 1 of sets of nozzles 21, the function of the positioning group 1 being to be able to arrange and orient said nozzles 21 in an optimal manner according to the work to be completed, as will be explained in further detail below.

Fig. 2 shows the aforementioned positioning group 1. The positioning group comprises a control column 5, which control column 5 is placed substantially axially inside the drum 3 when the lid 10 is placed in such a way that it closes the container 2, and which control column 5 is equipped with a first and a second articulated arm 7, between which first and second articulated arms 7a carrier 20 for the nozzle 21 extends, and which control column 5 is equipped with a third articulated arm 9, which third articulated arm 9 is central to the operation and is suitable for accommodating all the operations required for the nozzle 21 to control the nozzle 21. In particular, each articulated arm 7 has a first portion 7a and a second portion 7b hinged together about a first axis 11, the first portion 7a being integral with the control column 5, and the carriage 20 of the set of nozzles 21 is hingedly joined to the second portion 7b of the articulated arm 7 about a second axis 12, both the first axis 11 and the second axis 12 being parallel to each other and to the control column 5.

According to these articulated joints, the third work arm 9 further comprises a first and a second portion 9a and 9b articulated about a rotation axis aligned with the first axis 11. Similarly, the second portion 9b of the third arm 9 is mechanically connected to the carrier 20 of the nozzle 21 with a clearance or a certain play. In this connection with some freedom of movement, a member with flexible properties, an outer protective cover, a telescopic connection, etc. may intervene.

The aforementioned bearing 20 of the nozzle 21 is hinged to the articulated arm 7 and said articulated arm 7 has the ability to fold and extend while being able to rotate when the control post 5 has completed its rotation. These features provide sufficient freedom for the positioning group to arrange the nozzles 21 in an optimal position inside the drum 3 and also with an optimal orientation according to the working requirements.

To this effect, the control column 5 is a rotatable control column which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and which houses a coaxial inner shaft 6, which coaxial inner shaft 6 is also rotatable independently of the control column 5; and the positioning group further comprises a transmission system 30, which we shall commented in further detail below with the aid of figures 3 and 4, which produces the folding or extension of the articulated arm 7 by varying the relative angular position between the steering column 5 and the inner shaft 6, on the basis of the pulley means and the corresponding pulling means housed in the control column 5 and in the articulated arm 7. Advantageously, the transmission system 30 further ensures that the carrier 20 of the nozzle 21 corrects its orientation so that it does not change when the articulated arm is folded or extended.

As shown by fig. 3 and 4, for each articulated arm 7, the transmission mechanism 30 comprises: a first pulley means 31 engaged to the inner shaft 6 and about which first portion 7a of the articulated arm 7 rotates when the control column 5 is running with respect to the inner shaft 6; and a third pulley means 33, free to rotate about the first axis 11, placed at the free end of the first portion 7a of the articulated arm 7, firmly coupled to the rotation axis 11a driven by the third pulley means 33, and to which rotation axis 11a the second portion 7b of the articulated arm 7 is firmly engaged, the first pulley means 31 and the third pulley means 33 being related to each other by means of a first pulling means 35.

For each articulated arm 7, the transmission mechanism 30 further comprises: a fourth pulley means 34, coaxial with the third pulley means 33, but solidly joined to the first portion 7a of the articulated arm, about which fourth pulley means 34 the second portion 7b of the articulated arm 7 rotates when the rotation axis 11a runs together with the third pulley means 33; and a second pulley means 32, free to rotate about the second axis 12, placed at the free end of the second portion 7b of the articulated arm 7, firmly coupled to the carriage 20 of the nozzle 21, the fourth pulley means 34 and the second pulley means 32 being associated with each other by means of a second pulling means 36.

In the embodiment of the example, each pulley device is configured such that one turn of the first pulley device 31 and the second pulley device 32 corresponds to two turns of the third pulley device 33 and the fourth pulley device 34.

Similarly, in order to guarantee the tension of the first and second pulling means 35 and 36 and to increase the arc of contact of the first and second pulling means with the third and fourth pulley means 33 and 34, it is envisaged that the respective sets of deflecting wheels 35a and 36a are adjustably placed in position, respectively.

In the embodiment illustrating the present invention, the transmission system 30 has cogwheels as the first, second, third and fourth pulley devices 31 to 34 and a toothed belt or a synchronous belt as the first pulling device 35 and the second pulling device 36. Alternatively, a chain may be used instead of a toothed belt and pinion and generally any type of pulley device and pulling device capable of transmitting a pulling force. In this sense, the transmission can be carried out as long as there is mechanical interference or sufficient friction between the pulley arrangement and the pulling arrangement. It is also conceivable to use cables or belts and wheels with or without channels on their periphery without changing the essence of the invention.

The components of the transmission 30 are completely housed inside the positioning group 1, free from the environmental disturbances inside the drum 3. In this example, the first pulling means 35 runs inside the first portion 7a of the articulated arm 7; and the second pulling device 36 runs inside the second part 7b of the articulated arm 7.

The articulated joint between said first and second portions 7a, 7b of the articulated arm 7 is shown in detail enlargement in fig. 4, and its main components are represented in a relative assembled position in fig. 4 a. As one of the possible mechanical alternatives, in the present example the rotation shaft 11a is provided with a ring having two guide slots 11b in a circumferential arc and concentric with respect to the centre of the circumferential arc, by means of the guide slot 11b, a relative movement between the second portion 7b of the articulated arm 7 fixed with respect to said rotation axis 11a and the third pulley means 34 fixed to the hub 34a (by means of the guide slot 11a) will be possible, the hub 34a is joined to the first portion 7a of the articulated arm 7 and is mounted about the rotation axis 11a, associated with the rotation axis 11a by means of a set of bearings 33a, the set of bearings 33a makes possible a rotational movement between the set formed by the rotation shaft 11a and the second portion 7b of the articulated arm 7 with respect to the assembly formed by the third pulley means 33 and the hub 34a, this hub 34a is fixed to the first portion 7a of the aforementioned articulated arm 7 by means of a set of bolts of sufficient length.

Thus, the relative position between the control column 5 and the inner shaft 6 will determine the extent of extension of the articulated arm 7; and the absolute position of the control column 5 and the inner shaft 6 will determine the orientation of the nozzle 21. To take advantage of this, the apparatus 100 comprises actuators to rotate the control column 5 and the internal shaft 6 in an independent manner by means of actuating levers 5a and 6a, respectively, the levers 5a and 6a being actuated by respective motorized screw-type actuations, for example with brushless motors.

The operating principle of the positioning group 1 is explained below with the aid of fig. 5a to 5c and fig. 6a and 6 b.

A) The orientation of the nozzle relative to the bed of articles to be coated is changed.

The change of orientation is necessary because if the quantity of articles changes, the orientation of their free surface inside the drum changes and, as a result, the ideal orientation of the jet stream changes.

As shown in the sequence of fig. 6a and 6b, if the motorized actuators of levers 5a and 6a (whether or not at the same time) produce the same amount of rotation, and in the same direction of control column 5 and inner shaft 6, their relative positions will not change. The control column 5 and the inner shaft 6 will change their position with respect to the same absolute reference, causing a rotation of the articulated arm 7, but without changing their extension. This rotation produces a change in the orientation of the nozzle 21.

This movement a) is represented in fig. 6A and 6b, which shows a rotation of 15 ° in the anticlockwise direction of both the lever 5a and the lever 6A, for actuating the control column 5 and the inner shaft 6 respectively. This rotation produces a 15 deg. rotation of the spray nozzle 21 also in the counterclockwise direction.

B) The degree of extension of the articulated arm is changed.

A change in the extent of the articulated arms is also necessary, since by varying the amount of articles, the articulated arms will move away from or close to the free surface of the article bed relative to the centre of the drum, the position of the nozzles needing to be corrected to arrange them at the desired distance from the articles. The extent of the hinge arm will allow the spray nozzle to be moved closer to or further away from the article.

As shown in the sequence of fig. 5a to 5c, if the motorized actuators of levers 5a and 6a (whether or not at the same time) produce a change in their relative positions, control column 5 and inner shaft 6 will also change their relative positions, producing a change in the extension of articulated arm 7.

This movement B) is represented in fig. 5a and 5c, which shows a rotation of 30 ° in the counterclockwise direction of the lever 5a, holding the lever 6a immobile, and then causing a rotation of the control column 5, holding the inner shaft 6 stationary.

In this case, the first pulley means 31 will remain stationary and the first part 7a of the articulated arm will rotate around them by the same amount as the lever 5 a.

On the one hand, the movement of the first portion 7a of the articulated arm 7 causes the first pulling means 35 to pull the third pulley means 33, which third pulley means 33 in turn pulls the second portion 7b of the articulated arm 7 through the rotation axis 11a, so that by rotating the first portion 7a in the anticlockwise direction by a certain angle "α", the third pulley means 33, controlled by the first pulley means 31, will rotate the second portion 7b of the articulated arm 7 in the clockwise direction and by an angle "2 α" with respect to the first portion 7 a.

In this example, a 60 ° change in the relative position between the levers 5a and 6a causes a 120 ° change in the angle formed between the first and second portions 7a and 7b of the articulated arm 7, said angle being initially 30 ° and finally 150 °.

On the other hand, the same phenomenon occurs between the carrier 20 of the nozzle 21 and the second portion 7b of the articulated arm.

The fourth pulley means 34, engaged to the first portion 7a of the articulated arm, pull the second pulley means 32 by means of the second pulling means 36 and by the action of the rotation of the second portion 7b of the articulated arm 7 about the aforementioned third pulley means 33, but since their relationship is from 1 to 2, they will rotate the second pulley means 32 by an angle of absolute value "a" in a clockwise direction with respect to the first portion 7a of the articulated arm 7, but since the first portion 7a has been rotated by the same angle "a" in a counterclockwise direction (i.e. in the opposite direction), with the result that the second pulley means 32 maintain their initial orientation.

Using these principles a) and B), the apparatus 100 is prepared to arrange and orient the nozzles 21 in an ideal manner based on the needs of each batch of articles to be coated.

Naturally, knowing beforehand the final or absolute angular position of the control column 5 and the inner shaft 6 that will place the nozzle 21 in the desired spatial position and orientation, it is possible to proceed to manoeuvring the control column 5 and the inner shaft 6 according to principle a) and then according to principle B) if it is necessary to change the orientation and move the nozzle 21 away from or close to the article bed; it is also possible to proceed in the reverse order and to operate the control column 5 and the inner shaft 6 first according to principle B) and then according to principle a); or it may proceed to steer the control column 5 and the inner shaft 6 according to both principles simultaneously.

Obviously, the angular position and/or the manoeuvre for reaching said position can be carried out in an automated manner, pre-programmed by the user in the factory based on his or her experience in the control unit or programmed and stored in said control unit (not shown).

Fig. 7a and 7b are intended to show that both the position and the orientation of the nozzle 21 are changed, which is possible with the aid of the device 100 according to the invention. Said figures 7a and 7b show the form that the bed of articles 4 occupies inside the drum 3, based on the amount of articles, which means for batches of different volumes. The free surface of the articles varies in orientation and also in distance with respect to the centre of the drum 3, and in each case the nozzles 21 are arranged in the desired orientation (substantially normal to the free surface of the bed) and at a suitable distance.

This allows, for example, the apparatus 100 according to the invention to be versatile enough to work with very high variability in working batches, which is effective when using batches representing 100% of the capacity of the apparatus 100 and for batches representing only 10% of the capacity of the apparatus 100, the proportions being precisely shown in fig. 7a and 7 b.

In the apparatus of example 100, for supplying the nozzle 21, the positioning group 1 is provided with supply means comprising a hydraulic connection circuit 8 between the outside of the container 2 and the nozzle 21, which passes through the control column 5 and in this case through the third articulated arm 9, as schematically illustrated by fig. 3. For this effect, a flexible hose can be used which can be instantaneously adapted to the form of the third articulated arm 9. In this case, the hydraulic connection circuit connects the source of the product to be used, arranged outside the drum 3, to a collector or distributor 22 of the product to be sprayed, this collector or distributor 22 being axially aligned with the second articulated joint shaft 12 between the carriage 20 of the set of nozzles 21 and each of the second portions 7b of the two articulated arms 7.

With the aim of increasing the versatility of the device 100, in this case the nozzles 21 are coupled in a removable manner to the guide members 23 extending parallel to the aforesaid second shaft 12, so that they are easily interchangeable and, moreover, it is easy to increase or decrease the number thereof and to vary the distribution thereof over the whole guide member 23. The final connection between the nozzle 21 and the collector or distributor 22 can be performed in a known manner by means of flexible tubes or hoses (not shown in the figures).

The carrier 20 of the set of nozzles 21 may also support a sensor 24 (see fig. 3) of the ultrasonic type, which sensor 24 is able to instantaneously measure the distance to the bed of articles inside the drum 3 during operation of the apparatus 100. In this way, the apparatus 100 is provided with means for automatically correcting the actual distance between the nozzle 21 and the bed 4, adjusting it to a target value determined by the user or already selected by the program.