PROVIDED WITH SUCH AN APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns an automated apparatus for the delivery of articles, in particular configured to deliver parallelepiped-shaped articles, i.e. contained in parallelepiped-shaped packages, especially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped ones.

PRIOR ART

Automated warehouses and automated distributors of articles are known, which comprise a warehouse and an article delivery apparatus, which can also be defined as an article pick-up apparatus, at which a user can receive a chosen article.

These apparatuses are generally shaped to prevent access from the outside of the warehouse both in a phase in which the warehouse is closed and in a phase of delivery/pick- up of the articles.

Aim of the present invention is to make available an alternative automated apparatus, which is improved in terms of functionality and safety than those currently known. Such an aim is achieved by the features of the invention reported in the independent claim.

The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention makes available an automated apparatus for the delivery of articles present in a warehouse, from the inside of the warehouse to the outside of the warehouse, comprising:

- a (vertical) wall adapted to divide an environment inside the warehouse from an environment outside the warehouse, in which a through opening is made and which is provided with an outer (vertical) face and an opposite inner (vertical) face,

- a slide movable with respect to the (vertical) wall along a predefined trajectory

- a first bulkhead integral with the slide handling along the predefined trajectory and sized so as to occlude the through opening,

- a second bulkhead integral with the slide translating along the predefined trajectory and shaped so as to occlude the through opening, and

- a loading platform of the articles with an upper surface, which is interposed in plan between the first and the second bulkhead and is connected to the slide, wherein the slide is movable with respect to the (vertical) wall along the predefined trajectory between a first position, in which the first bulkhead occludes the through opening and in which the loading platform is located at least partially in the through opening between the inner face and the outer face of the (vertical) wall or is located internally to the warehouse and a second position, in which the first bulkhead is spaced from the outer face and does not occlude the through opening and in which the loading platform protrudes at least partially from the through opening in a direction away from the outer face of the wall and in which the second bulkhead occludes the through opening, and wherein the automated apparatus comprises an automated drive assembly of the slide configured to handle the slide at least between the first position and the second position along the predetermined trajectory.

Thanks to this solution, a particularly safe and effective automated apparatus for the delivery of the articles is made available.

Furthermore, the predefined trajectory crosses the opening (e.g., it is also horizontal in that the opening may lie on a vertical plane in the illustrated embodiment) so that in the first position the articles are located inside the warehouse and the first bulkhead occludes the opening, and in the second position they are located outside the warehouse, the first bulkhead does not occlude the opening in the wall and the second bulkhead occludes the opening in the wall. Furthermore, in the first position the loading platform, i.e. the upper surface thereof is either at least partially located in the opening inside the warehouse or totally inside the warehouse. In practice, in the first position the upper surface of the loading platform (which for example is flat), on which the article is conveyed between the inside and the outside of the warehouse through the opening in the wall, does not protrude externally from the opening (which is in fact closed by the first bulkhead) and in the second position the upper surface of the loading platform protrudes partially or entirely outside the warehouse, that is, externally to the outer face of the wall in which the opening is made.

As mentioned earlier, the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead are sized so as to occlude the opening in the wall, e.g. so as to prevent a hand or burglary tool from being inserted, in particular it is preferable that they completely occlude the through opening. For example, the first bulkhead may have a greater extension than the opening and therefore is rested on the outer face of the wall, however it is not excluded that it may be configured to be inserted to measure into the opening to occlude it. The second bulkhead can instead be shaped so as to occlude the through opening when it is located inside it, in particular this occlusion also takes place by means of the encumbrance consisting of the loading platform and of the slide, and possibly also a frame with respect to which the slide is handled along the predetermined trajectory.

Since in the first position the first bulkhead occludes the through opening and in the second position it does not occlude it and the second bulkhead must occlude the through opening in the first position, the minimum distance between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead may preferably be greater than the minimum distance between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, i.e. between two faces of the respective bulkheads facing each other. Furthermore, the travel of the slide along the predetermined trajectory may preferably be at least equal to the minimum distance between the two bulkheads.

Preferably, the loading platform is directly interposed in plan between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, especially when the slide is in the second position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus may comprise an extractor assembly configured to remove an article from the upper surface of the loading platform (and from a space interposed between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead) when the slide is located in the second position.

In this way the user does not have to insert the hands between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead to grab the package, so even in the event of any malfunctions, such as an inadvertent handling of the slide from the second to the first position while the user is picking up the article, does not pose a risk to the user. In addition, the fact of not having to provide for a space for the user to insert his hands allows the apparatus to be made more compact with the same maximum size of deliverable article, as well as a greater resistance to burglary in that the lack of a space for the user to insert his hands reduces the possibility of inserting burglary tools.

According to one aspect of the invention, the article can be extracted by handling said article along an extraction direction parallel to the upper surface of the loading platform and transverse to the predetermined trajectory. This extraction direction can, for example, be horizontal and perpendicular to the predetermined trajectory.

In this way the article is substantially pushed by making it slide on the upper surface of the loading platform. According to another aspect of the invention, the extractor assembly may comprise a pusher of the article, i.e. it may comprise a thrust body (or pad) driven by means of an actuator provided with a fixed portion integral with the slide and a movable portion which is movable with respect to the fixed portion along the extraction direction and to which the thrust body is integral.

In this way the article is effectively handled with respect to the loading platform for the delivery thereof to the user without damaging it, as the article is not clamped or pressed at a point thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment, the thrust body is shaped as a (vertical) bulkhead (i.e. it is provided with a surface of contact with the articles that is flat and lying on a vertical plane, for example also perpendicular to the first bulkhead) that is perpendicular to a (vertical) plane along which the first bulkhead develops.

Thanks to this solution, the system is particularly safe and functional, as well as offering stability in the extraction of the article.

For an optimal operation with very different types of articles, the bulkhead has an (vertical) extension comparable to the first bulkhead and to the second bulkhead. Further, for the same reasons, it has a slightly smaller width than the minimum distance between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead when the slide is in the second position. There may also be skids/baffles/scrapers fixed to the bulkhead of the extractor assembly and which contact the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead so as to cancel the space between said bulkhead of the extractor assembly and the first and the second bulkhead.

The vertical bulkhead of the extractor assembly can preferably be interposed (in plan) between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, at least during the handling that allows the article to be extracted from an interposed space.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the apparatus may comprise an article overturning assembly configured to rotate the articles and to position them standing, i.e. with the largest dimension arranged vertically, on the loading platform interposed between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead.

Such an overturning assembly is implementable in the case where the wall in which the opening is obtained is substantially vertical, while it is not necessary in the case where the wall in which the opening is obtained is substantially vertical (and facing upwards). Such an overturning assembly, for example, may comprise the second wall, which comprises a flat surface and is movable in rotation with respect to the slide by means of an automated actuating assembly between a first position, in which the flat surface of the second bulkhead is facing upwards and is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, and a second position, in which the flat surface of the second bulkhead is facing towards the first bulkhead.

This facilitates the positioning of the articles for delivery, in particular the articles having a width and a height that are greater than their thickness, which are generally handled in the warehouse on their major face to have a better stability and which, depending on the sizes, would require a delivery apparatus in which the travel of the slide between the first and the second position should be very high, hence larger actuators of the slide, more bulky slide, etc.

In particular, during such rotation, the flat surface of the second bulkhead rotates with respect to an axis of rotation parallel to the flat surface itself, horizontal and perpendicular to the predetermined trajectory.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the loading platform and the second bulkhead can be rigidly fixed to each other and rotate together with respect to the slide by means of the automated actuating assembly (of the second bulkhead) between the first position, in which the flat surface of the second bulkhead is facing upwards and is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and the second position, in which the flat surface of the second bulkhead is facing the first bulkhead and the flat upper surface is facing upwards.

As a further detail, in the first position the second bulkhead is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane so that an end portion of the second bulkhead itself is located at a greater height than an end portion of the second bulkhead itself proximal to the loading platform. In the second position, the second bulkhead is vertical.

In this way, when the articles are carried on the second bulkhead located in the first position, they slide by gravity towards the loading platform that stops the travel of the article that is sliding, thus placing it in the correct position before being overturned.

In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, at least the second bulkhead and the loading platform are rigidly fixed to each other without residual degrees of freedom and are rigidly fixed without residual degrees of freedom to the slide in a position where the face x of the second bulkhead is facing towards the first bulkhead and the flat upper surface is facing upwards. In this case there is a conveyor belt or a pusher placed at the vertical height or above with respect to the upper surface of the loading platform that handles the articles on the loading platform when the slide is located in the first position, handling them along a horizontal direction and perpendicular to the predetermined trajectory.

Furthermore, it is not excluded that in another alternative embodiment not illustrated only the second bulkhead moves and the loading platform is integral without degrees of residual freedom to the slide.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the actuating assembly of the overturning assembly may comprise a linear actuator provided with a first longitudinal end hinged to the slide and an opposite second longitudinal end hinged in proximity to an end of the second bulkhead distal from the loading platform.

In this way the overturning system is compact and efficient.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first bulkhead can be fixed to the slide in a lower portion thereof and in this case the apparatus comprises a stiffening structure (for example formed by spars and beams) which connects (directly) an upper portion of the first bulkhead to the slide.

This makes the structure more rigid and resistant to burglary.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the apparatus may be provided with a conveyor configured to position an article on the second bulkhead when the second bulkhead itself is located in the first position and provided with a transport surface placed at a vertical height at least equal to the maximum vertical height of the second bulkhead when the second bulkhead itself is located in the first position.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the apparatus may comprise a pick-up surface flanked in plan to the upper surface of the loading platform when the slide is located in the second position, on a side towards which the extraction assembly handles the article that is present on the loading platform.

In this way the user does not have to be in position to grab the package, but he can wait for the operations to end and for the slide to return to the first position.

The invention also makes available an automated warehouse of articles comprising:

- a box-like body inside which at least one article handling assembly is housed (and which isolates an environment inside the warehouse from an environment outside the warehouse),

- and an automated apparatus for the delivery of articles wherein the (vertical) wall of the automated apparatus for the delivery of packages forms part of a portion of the box-like body or is inserted into an opening of the box-like body.

In the case where the apparatus is like in the illustrated embodiment, thus comprising both the overturning assembly and the extractor assembly as well as the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, the invention further makes available an automated apparatus for the delivery of articles, wherein the aforesaid apparatus comprises:

- a slide provided with a loading platform configured to support the articles below and configured to convey the aforesaid articles through an opening of a wall of a warehouse, from a first position, in which the articles are located inside the warehouse, to a second position, in which the articles are located outside the warehouse,

- a first bulkhead and a second bulkhead between which the loading platform is interposed in plan and which are integral with the slide in the handling between the first position and the second position, wherein the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead are sized and positioned with respect to the slide so that in the first position the first bulkhead occludes the opening and the second bulkhead does not occlude the opening and in the second position the first bulkhead does not occlude the opening and the second bulkhead occludes the opening, wherein the apparatus comprises an overturning assembly of the articles from an inclined position to a vertical position, said apparatus being connected to the slide moving between the first position and the second position, wherein the apparatus comprises an extractor assembly of the aforesaid articles configured to displace the articles in a direction perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the aforesaid slide, and wherein the overturning assembly and the extractor assembly are integral with the slide, in such a way that the movement of the slide from the first to the second position and the movement of the overturning assembly bring the articles vertically at the aforesaid extractor assembly, when the aforesaid extractor assembly is located outside or just before the aforesaid warehouse.

In the illustrated embodiments only one embodiment is shown in which the wall in which the opening is made is vertical, however in a non-illustrated embodiment such wall is horizontal. In this embodiment, the mechanism that allows the second bulkhead to be rotated with respect to the slide is not necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent after reading the following description provided by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the figures illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where

- Figure 1 is a plan view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles according to an embodiment of the invention, in a first operational configuration, and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the vertical plane A1 -A1 of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a side view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a first operational configuration, and Figure 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the horizontal plane A3-A3 of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 is a plan view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles, in a second operational configuration, and Figure 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the vertical plane A5-A5 of Figure 5;

- Figure 7 is a side view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles, in a second operational configuration, and Figure 8 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the horizontal plane A7-A7 of Figure 7;

- Figure 9 is a plan view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles, in a third operational configuration, and Figure 10 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the vertical plane A9-A9 of Figure 9;

- Figure 1 1 is a side view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a third operational configuration, and Figure 12 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the horizontal plane A1 1 -A1 1 of Figure 11 ;

- Figure 13 is a plan view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a fourth operational configuration, and Figure 14 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the vertical plane A13-A13 of Figure 13;

- Figure 15 is a side view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a fourth operational configuration, and Figure 16 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the horizontal plane A15-A15 of Figure 15;

- Figure 17 is a plan view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a fifth operational configuration, and Figure 18 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the vertical plane A17-A17 of Figure 17;

- Figure 19 is a side view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a fifth operational configuration, and Figure 20 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the horizontal plane A19-A19 of Figure 19;

- Figure 21 is a plan view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a sixth operational configuration, and Figure 22 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the vertical plane A21 -A21 of Figure 21 ;

- Figure 23 is a side view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a sixth operational configuration, and Figure 24 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the horizontal plane A23-A23 of Figure 23;

- Figure 25 is a plan view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a seventh operational configuration, and Figure 26 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the vertical plane A25-A25 of Figure 25;

- Figure 27 is a side view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles, in a seventh operational configuration, and Figure 28 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the horizontal plane A27-A27 of Figure 27;

- Figure 29 is a plan view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in an eighth operational configuration, and Figure 30 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the vertical plane A29-A29 of Figure 29;

- Figure 31 is a side view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in an eighth operational configuration, and Figure 32 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the horizontal plane A31 -A31 of Figure 31 ;

- Figure 33 is a plan view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a ninth operational configuration, and Figure 34 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the vertical plane A33-A33 of Figure 33; and

- Figure 35 is a side view of the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles in a ninth operational configuration, and Figure 36 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the horizontal plane A35-A35 of Figure 35.

BEST MODE TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

In Figures 1 -36, the automated apparatus for the delivery of articles according to the invention has been indicated globally with the numerical reference 10. The apparatus 10 for delivery of articles is configured to carry the articles, e.g. the packages P, from a conveyor belt 30 present in an inner zone of an automated warehouse (not illustrated) to a pick-up zone of the packages P present outside the automated warehouse.

In this outer zone there may be a pick-up surface 70 (flat and horizontal) configured to receive and support the packages P exiting the apparatus for the delivery of the articles. The packages P can have the shape of a parallelepiped, especially have the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

In this case, the packages P have surfaces with a different area, in particular they have two opposing surfaces that serve as bases of the parallelepiped and with a greater area than the area of the other 4 surfaces of the parallelepiped.

In the following, a package P will be indicated as being placed in a vertical position when resting on one of the 4 faces that do not constitute the larger sized faces of the parallelepiped.

The apparatus 10 first comprises a package ejection structure (for bringing the packages from the inside to the outside of the warehouse) which operates as a movable slide 40, for example horizontally, preferably driven by a cylinder-piston assembly 80.

This movement in the horizontal direction takes place, for example, in the direction of the arrow F of Figure 18 and in the direction of the arrow F’ of Figure 30.

The movable slide 40 is in turn configured to carry in its horizontal translation movement an overturning assembly 50 of the packages P that comprises a first element 52 (second bulkhead) and a second element 55 (loading platform), which are constrained to each other to assume an L-shaped conformation.

The overturning assembly 50 is capable of overturning the packages P from a first position that is inclined with respect to the horizontal in which the packages P are resting on the first element 52 on a base thereof to a second position in which the packages P are in a substantially vertical position, where in the aforesaid second position the packages are resting on the second element 55 on one of their surfaces with area lower than that of the bases of the parallelepiped.

The overturning assembly 50 is driven by a cylinder-piston assembly 60.

Finally, the apparatus 10 comprises an extractor 90 that operates as an ejection structure for the packages P, the extractor 90 comprising a thrust wall 92 that is movable horizontally in the direction of the arrow G of Figure 24 to let the packages P translate and deposit them on the pick-up surface 70.

In particular, this extractor 90 is also integral and carried by the movable slide 40.

The inner zone of the automated warehouse is separated from the outer zone for picking up the packages P by a vertical wall 20 in which a horizontal through opening 22 is made. The wall 20 is provided with a vertical outer face 24 and an opposite inner vertical face 26.

The movable slide 40 is movable with respect to the vertical wall 20, and is in particular able to pass, at least partially, through the opening 22 of the wall 20.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a first vertical bulkhead 42 shaped so as to occlude the through opening 22 of the wall 20 and the aforesaid first vertical bulkhead 42 is connected to and movable with the aforesaid slide 40.

The first vertical bulkhead 42 is configured so as to prevent a hand or a burglary tool from being inserted.

The first element 52 of the overturning assembly 50 operates, in the operation of the apparatus, as a second bulkhead that is shaped so as to occlude the through opening 22 of the wall 20, in an operating step of the apparatus 10.

The second element 55 of the overturning assembly 50 operates as a loading platform of the packages P.

The conveyor belt 30 is configured to position a package P on the second bulkhead 52 when the second bulkhead 52 itself is located in the first position and is provided with a transport surface placed at a vertical height at least equal to the maximum vertical height of the second bulkhead 52 when the second bulkhead 52 itself is located in the first position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the slide 40 is movable with respect to the vertical wall 20, in particular along a direction coaxial to a central axis of the opening 22, i.e. perpendicular to a lying plane of the opening 22, for example horizontal, between a first position (see for example Figure 2), in which the first bulkhead 42 occludes the through opening 22 and in which the loading platform 55 is either at least partially in the through opening 22 between the inner face and the outer face of the vertical wall or is located inside the warehouse, and a second position (see for example Figure 22), in which the first bulkhead 42 is spaced from the outer face 24 and does not occlude the through opening 22 and in which the loading platform 55 protrudes at least partially from the through opening 22 in a direction away from the outer face 44 (and from the inner face) and wherein the second bulkhead 52 occludes the through opening 22.

The automated apparatus comprises an automated drive assembly of the slide 40 configured to handle the slide at least between the first position and the second position.

Such a drive assembly may comprise a cylinder-piston assembly 80 configured to impart a translational movement to the slide 40.

It can be observed that the minimum distance between the first bulkhead 42 and the second bulkhead 52 is greater than the distance between the inner face 26 and the outer face 24 of the wall 20. In an embodiment not illustrated, the minimum distance between the first bulkhead 42 and the second bulkhead 52 is however lower than the distance between the inner face 26 and the outer face 24 of the wall 20.

The travel of the slide 40 is at least equal to the minimum distance between the bulkheads 42 and 52, in the case where the second bulkhead 52 is stopped at the outer face it is at least equal to the distance between the bulkheads plus the thickness of the wall 20.

As illustrated above, the first bulkhead 42, the second bulkhead 52 and the loading platform 55 are associated with the slide 40 so as to move integrally therewith between the first and second position.

Furthermore, when the slide 40 is located in the second position, the extractor 90 is able to remove the package P from the upper surface of the loading platform 55, handling said package P through the action of the thrust wall 92 parallel with respect to the first bulkhead 42 and to the second bulkhead 52 in the direction of the arrow G of Figure 24 to convey it on the pick-up surface 70.

The extractor 90 comprises a thrust wall 92 which operates as a thrust body for the packages P and is driven by means of an actuator 94 provided with a fixed portion integral with the slide 40 and a movable portion which is movable with respect to the fixed portion and is integral with the thrust wall 92.

The thrust wall 92 is shaped as a vertical bulkhead perpendicular to a vertical plane along which the first bulkhead 42 develops.

Thanks to this solution, the apparatus 10 is particularly safe and functional, in addition to offering stability in the extraction of the article. Note that the first bulkhead 42 is fixed to the slide 40 in a lower portion thereof and the apparatus 10 comprises a stiffening structure connecting an upper portion of the first bulkhead 42 to the slide 40, with the advantage that in this way the structure is more rigid and resistant to burglary. Such a structure comprises, for example, a pair of horizontal spars that develop from the first bulkhead towards the inside of the warehouse, which are connected to each other by a cross member distal from the first bulkhead and are connected to the slide by a pair of vertical columns that rise from the slide itself.

The operation of the apparatus 10 for the delivery of packages P takes place substantially according to the following modes.

In a first step (Figures 1 -4), a package P is located on the conveyor belt 30 and is ready to be transferred onto the overturning assembly 50.

At the same time, the slide 40 is in the first position in which the first bulkhead 42 closes the through opening 22 of the wall 20.

In a second step (Figures 5-8), the package P is transferred from the conveyor belt 30 onto the overturning assembly 50, while the slide 40 remains in the first position.

In a third step (Figures 9-12), the overturning assembly 50 is driven by the cylinder-piston assembly 60 and begins to rotate about the hinge C, while the slide 40 remains in the first position.

In a fourth step (Figures 13-16), the overturning assembly 50 accomplishes the overturning of the package P which is in a vertical position within the space defined by the through opening 22 of the wall 20.

In a fifth step (Figures 17-20), the slide 40 translates in the direction of the arrow F of Figure 18 from the first position to the second position.

In the second position, the element 52 of the overturning assembly 50 forms a second bulkhead 52 that closes the through opening 22 of the wall 20, while the package P is located outside the wall 20.

In a sixth step (Figures 21 -24), the extractor 90 is driven by the actuator 94 and the thrust wall 92 pushes the package P in the direction of the arrow G of Figure 24 towards the pick-up surface 70.

In a seventh step (Figures 25-28), the extractor 90 accomplishes its movement of pushing the package P until it is fully positioned on the pick-up surface 70.

In an eighth step (FIGS. 29-32), the slide 40 performs the reverse movement by passing from the second position to the first position moving in the direction of the arrow F’ of Figure 30.

In a ninth and final step (Figures 33-36), the slide 40 returns to the first position which results in the reception a new package P, while the previous package P is located on the pick-up surface 70 ready to be picked up.

Although not illustrated in the figures, it is not excluded that the apparatus may comprise a closing bulkhead that extends, from a portion of the first bulkhead distal from the loading platform, in the direction of approach to the second bulkhead (for example in contact therewith when the second bulkhead is in a vertical position), adapted to close above a volume interposed between the first bulkhead, the second bulkhead and the loading platform.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept.

Moreover, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and sizes, can be whatever according to the requirements without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.