EP2539254A1

EP2539254A1 - Method and transport route for introducing bottles or similar containers into lanes

Info

Publication number: EP2539254A1
Application number: EP10795229A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sebastian Pieters; Bernd Molitor; Ulrich Wiedemann; Thomas Stienen
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2010-02-23
Filing date: 2010-12-09
Publication date: 2013-01-02
Also published as: CN102725212B; CN102725212A; RU2509706C1; WO2011103900A1; BR112012016591A2; DE102010009052A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport section for bottles or similar containers, comprising a transport plane (3) that forms a standing or lying surface for the containers (2) and that moves the containers in a transport direction (A), wherein the transport section has at least one first transport section segment (1.1) and at least one second transport section segment (1.2) connected to the first transport section segment in the transport direction, which second transport section segment has at least two lanes (4), which are adjacent to each other and which are separated from each other by a lane separating device (15) and which each have a reduced conveying width relative to the conveying width of the first transport section segment, and comprising at least one container-conducting and guiding device (7) at a lane lead-in or lane inlet area (9) that forms the transition between the first transport section segment and the particular lane, wherein the at least one container-conducting and guiding device has at least one container-conducting and -guiding element that can be driven in a circulating manner.

Description

Method and transport route for introducing bottles or similar containers in alleys

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a transport path according to the preamble of claim 2.

In many industrial areas and especially in the beverage industry, it is necessary in the processing of containers, the containers which are conveyed on a transport path or on a transport section of large conveying width in a multi-lane container stream in which the containers have any arrangement to each other, in narrow streets to convict, for example, the container to be able to submit to a treatment step in a single-lane container stream. The lanes have a lane or conveying width which is only slightly larger than the container width or the diameter of the containers. The problem here is, inter alia, that the containers tend to form before the transition into the lanes or in front of there Gasseneinführ- or Eihlaufbereichen on the transport route section large delivery bridge structures in which block the container by mutual support and interrupt the container terfluss but at least aggravate or impair it.

To remedy this disadvantage has already been proposed (EP 1 762 513 B1), at the transition between the transport path section large conveying width and the lanes, ie at the Gasseneinführ- or inlet regions about axes perpendicular to the transport plane of the transport path circumferentially drums to provide rolls, and indeed related on the transport direction of the transport path in each case a roller in front of a separating two adjacent lanes separating plate or divider. The disadvantage here is that the vector of the rotational speed or rotational movement of the circumferentially driven rollers on one side of the respective separating web of the transport direction of the container is directed against, which at least impairs the introduction of the container into the lanes. The object of the invention is to provide a method and a transport route, which avoid this disadvantage and allows an improved and trouble-free insertion or introduction of the container in the respective alley. To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 is formed. A device is the subject of claim 2.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features, in themselves or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their combination in the claims or their backward relationship. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:

1 shows a schematic perspective partial representation of a transport path according to the invention;

Fig. 2 in an enlarged perspective partial view of the transport path of Figure 1 in the region of the transition between a first transport path section of large conveying width and one of several streets with reduced lane or conveying width formed transport route section.

The transport path designated generally by 1 in the figures serves to transport containers, which in the illustrated embodiment are bottles 2, in a transport direction indicated by the arrow A in the figures. The transport section 1 forms, inter alia, a transport plane 3, on which the bottles 2 are arranged during transport with their bottom of the bottle standing up. As in the figure 1, the transport plane 3 is formed by a plurality of conveyor belts 3.1 and 3.2, of which in the illustrated embodiment in each case a conveyor belt 3.2 with its upper, in the transport direction A circumferentially driven length to the upper, also in the transport direction A driven length of a nes Conveyor belt 3.1 connects and at least the conveyor belts 3.1 are also perpendicular to each other directly adjacent to the transport direction.

As the figures show, the transport path 1 consists of a transport path section 1 .1, which has a large conveying width perpendicular to the transport direction A, i. a conveyor width which corresponds to the width of a plurality of conveyor belts 3.1 and is many times greater than the diameter of the bottles 2, and in the transport direction A to the transport section section 1 .1 then from a transport section 1.2. This is formed by a plurality of each extending in the transport direction A lanes 4, which have perpendicular to the transport direction A a lane or conveying width which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bottles 2. The transport plane of the lanes 4 is each of at least one conveyor belt 3.2 formed.

The transport route section 1 .1 is delimited on each side of the transport route 1 by a guide railing 5, of which in FIG. 1 only the guide railing 5 is shown on one side of the transport belt section 1 .1 due to the partial representation of the transport route. The lanes 4 are provided on both sides with a guide railing, namely the two outer lanes 4, ie those lanes 4, which are immediately adjacent to one side of the transport section 1, with the outer the continuation of the guide railing 5 forming guide railing 5.1 and an inner guide railing 6 and the inner lanes with two guide railing 6. The guide railing 6 between the lanes 4 are arranged so that the respective guide railing 6 a lane 4 is spaced in the horizontal axis perpendicular to the transport direction A of the adjacent guide railing 6 of the adjacent lane. The front ends of all guide rails, relative to the direction of transport A railing 5.1 and 6 are arranged in a common, perpendicular to the transport direction A and perpendicular to the transport plane 3 oriented plane.

As shown particularly in FIG. 1, in the illustrated embodiment, the lanes 4 extend with their front section in relation to the transport direction A into the part of the transport plane 3 formed by the conveyor belts 3.1, namely with the introduction or introduction of the bottles 2 in FIG the lanes 4 supporting active Behälterleit- and guide means 7 and with these subsequent in the transport direction A and oriented in the transport direction A guide railing sections 8. The Behälterleit- and guide means 7 are each part of the front in the transport direction A lane sections or Gasseneinführ- or gas inlet areas 9, where the transport plane is still formed by the conveyor belts 3.1. The Behälterleit- and guide means 7 each consist of a circumferentially drivable Behälterleit- and guide member 10, which forms a lateral Behälterleit- or contact surface at the respective Gasseneinführ- or gas inlet region 9, namely for the lateral surface of the bottle 2 in the inlet in the alley. The Behälterleit- and guide elements 10 are formed so that the coming into contact with the respective bottle 2 or in contact portion of the circumferentially driven Behälterleit- and guide element 0 has a component of movement in the transport direction A.

The Behälterleit- and guide means 7 are provided in the illustrated embodiment, in each case between the Gasseneinführ- or gas inlet areas 9 of two adjacent lanes 4, each Behälterleit- and guide means 7 in the illustrated embodiment, two Behälterleit- and guide elements 10 has. These are counter-rotating circumferentially driven so that each coming into contact with the bottles 2, ie the lateral conditioning for the bottles 2 forming area at each Gasseneinführ- or Gasseneinlauf- 9 has an oriented in the direction of transport A motion or velocity vector, the transfer of the wide, over the transport route area 1.1 requested bottle flow supported in the lanes 4, in which the bottles 2, for example, each form a single-lane flow of bottles.

As the figure 1 also shows, a Behälterleit- and guide element 10 is provided at the Gasseneinführ- or lane inlet region 9 of the two outer lanes 4 only on the outer guide railing 5.1 inner side, while the Gasseneinführ- or Gasseneinlaufbereiche 9 of the remaining lanes each have on both sides a Behälterleit- and guide element 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the two Behälterleit- and guide elements 10 each Behälterleit- and guide means 7 are formed by an endless circumferentially drivable elastic band, which is guided over three guide rollers or rollers 11, 12 and 13, with their axes in the vertical direction or ., are oriented perpendicular to the transport plane 3 and are rotatably mounted on bearings (not shown). Of these, in each case a guide roller, for example, the guide roller 13 is driven by a motor drive, not shown, so that when activated Behälterleit- and guide means 7 a band-shaped Behälterleit- and guide member 10 in the direction of arrow B and the other band-shaped Behälterleit- and guide member 10 opposite in Rotate in the direction of arrow B '. The guide rollers 11 - 13 and their axes form in plan view, the vertices of a right triangle, in such a way that the guide roller 11 is arranged in the transport direction A in front of the guide rollers 12 and 13, the axes of the rollers 12 and 3 enclosing plane perpendicular to Transport direction A and is oriented perpendicular to the transport plane 3 and the axes of the rollers 11 and 13 enclosing plane parallel or approximately parallel to the transport direction A and also perpendicular to the transport plane 3 is oriented. To support the respectively extending between the guide rollers 11 and 12 length of the loop of the band-shaped Behälterleit- and guide element 10, a wall-shaped support member 14 is provided.

Each Behälterleit- and guide member 7 is further formed so that the two from the respective Behälterleit- and guide member 10 and the associated Rigid guide rollers 1 1 - 13 existing arrangements are mirror-symmetrical to a running in the transport direction A and oriented perpendicular to the transport plane 3 center plane, which is also the median plane between the two adjacent and spaced guide rails 6 and guide railing sections 8. The guide rollers 1 1 and 13 of the two Behälterleit- and guide elements 10 are directly adjacent to this center or plane of symmetry. The arrangement of the rollers 1 1 - 1 3 in the triangle results for each Behälterleit- and guide device 7 a wedge-like in plan view, tapered against the transport direction A structure, which also fed to a trouble-free splitting and discharging over the transport route section 1 .1 wide container or bottle flow in the example single-lane cylinder flows of the lanes 4 contributes, without in particular to a mutual blocking or blocking of the bottles 2 by "bridging" at the transition between the conveyor belt section 1 .1 and the lanes 4 comes.

In the illustrated embodiment, the container guiding and guiding elements 10 are elastic bands having a width which is equal to or approximately equal to the height of the guide railings 6 and the guide railing sections 8, respectively. In principle, it is also possible, instead of wide belts, to provide narrow or belt-like belts, which in turn each form a closed loop guided by deflecting rollers or rollers and of which then at least two in the direction of the deflecting rollers for forming the respective container guiding and guiding element 1 1 - 13 or similar deflecting elements are provided offset from one another.

Preferably, the width of the lanes 4 is adjustable in order to adjust the transport path 1 of containers or bottles 2 with different container diameter can. The adjustment of the lane width then takes place by adjusting the guide railings 6 provided between the lanes 4 and the guide railing sections 8 preceding them in the transport direction, in each case perpendicular to the transport direction A. With the adjustment of the guide railings 6 or the guide railing sections 8, an adjustment of at least the deflection whale takes place - zen 12 or a change in the distance between the guide rollers 12 and the respective associated guide roller 13. Due to the elastic design of the band-shaped Behälterleit- and guide elements 10, this is easily possible. For this adjustment, the respective guide roller 12 and the guide piece 14 are mounted or fixed, for example, on a machine or bearing element connected to the associated guide railing section 8.

The speed with which the container guide and insertion elements 10 circulate is preferably controllable or steerable, for example continuously, e.g. between zero and a maximum rotational speed. The control and regulation can in this case be designed such that in each case both Behälterleit- and insertion 10 each Behälterleit- and insertion 7 at the same speed, but counter-rotate, or the speed of Behälterleit- and insertion elements 10 of Behälterleit- and insertion 7 are respectively individually controllable or controllable, eg also in such a way that the rotational speeds of Behälterleit- and insertion elements 10 of the respective Behälterleit- and insertion 7 are different. Furthermore, it is possible to regulate or control the individual Behälterleit- and introducers 7 and their Behälterleit- and insertion elements 10 together or train individually controllable or controllable for each Behälterleit- and insertion 7.

It was assumed above that the container guiding and introducing devices 7 are respectively provided on the adjacent lanes 4 separating and formed by the guide rails 6 and the guide railing sections 8 Gassenentrennein- or the Gasseneinführ- or Gasseneinlauf- 9 each lane 4 of at least one Behälterleit- and insertion element 10 a Behälterleit- and insertion 7 is formed. Basically, it is also possible to form only a few lanes 4 with such a Gasseneinführ- or Gasseneinlauf- area 9, for example, in an axial direction parallel to the transport plane 3 and perpendicular to the transport direction A only every n-th alley, eg every second, third, etc. alley 4th Furthermore, it was assumed above on the outer lane 4 or at their Gasseneinführ- or gas inlet areas 9 only on one side a container- and insertion element 10 is provided. Of course, it is also possible to provide a container guide and insertion device 7 with a container guide and insertion element 10 on both sides of the lane entry or intake areas 9 of the outer lanes 4.

It has also been assumed above that the respective container guide and insertion element 10 is formed by a single band or belt. The container guide and insertion element 10 can also be formed by a plurality of belts or belts and / or other peripherally drivable elements, which are then offset from each other, for example perpendicular to the transport plane 3 and / or in the transport direction A, for example, overlapping each other. The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 transport route

1 .1, 1.2 transport section

2 containers or bottle

3 transport level

3.1, 3.2 conveyor belt

4 alley

5, 6 guiding railings

7 container guide and guide device

8 guide railing section

9 Gasseneinführ- or gas inlet area

10 container guide and guide elements

1 1 - 13 guide rollers

14 guide piece

15 gas separation device

A transport direction

B, B 'direction of rotation of the wall-shaped Behälterleit- and guiding element

Claims

claims

1 . Method for introducing bottles or similar containers (2) conveyed on a transport route section (1 .1) in a transport direction (A) into alleys (4) which have a reduced passage or conveying width compared to the transport route section (1 .1) and in the transport direction (A) to the transport path section (1 .1), wherein the introduction of the containers (2) in the lanes (4) with support of the containers (2) coming into contact container contact areas on driven, preferably circulating driven Behälterleit- and guide elements (10),

characterized,

in that all container contact areas of the container guide and guide elements (10) are moved by means of a speed or movement vector which is oriented at least with a partial component in the transport direction (A).

2. Transport line for bottles or similar containers (2) with a a standing or supporting surface for the container (2) forming and the container (2) in a transport direction (A) moving transport plane (3), wherein the transport path at least a first transport path section (1.1) and at least one second transport path section (1 .2) in the transport direction, the at least two adjacent and by a gas separation device (15) separated from each other lanes (4), each with respect to the conveying width of the first transport path section (1. 1) has reduced lane or conveying width, and with at least one Behälterleit- and guide means (7) on a transition between the first transport path section (1 .1) and the respective lane (4) forming Gasseneinführ- or gas inlet region (9), wherein the at least one Behälterleit- and guide means (7) areindind est a circumferentially drivable Behälterleit- and guide element (10) for lateral support and guidance of the container (2), characterized in that at the at least two adjacent lane (4) or at the Gasseneinführ- or gas inlet region (9) there Behälterleit- and guide element (10) with its with the in the lane (4) to be introduced containers (2) coming into contact region each having a velocity or motion vector which is directed at least with a sub-component in the transport direction (A) of the container (2).

3. Transport route according to claim 2, characterized in that the respective Behälterleit- and guide means (7) has at least two circumferentially drivable Behälterleit- and guide elements (10), of which at least one Gasseneinführ- or Gasseneinlaufbereich (9) of a lane ( 4) and at least one further associated with the Gasseneinführ- or Gasseneinlaufbereich (9) of the adjacent lane (4).

4. Transport route according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one Behälterleit- and Führungseinreichung (7) with respect to the transport direction (A) in front of the adjacent streets separating Lane separating device (15) is provided.

5. Transport route according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circumferentially drivable Behälterleit- and guide elements (10) are flexible elements, for example, each of at least one band or chain of metal and / or plastic or of a fabric, such as a plastic fabric are formed.

6. Transport route according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of lanes (4), each separated by a plurality of Gassen- separating devices (15), wherein at the Gasseneinführ- or gas inlet region (9) each lane (4 ) or at least part of the lanes (4) preferably at least one Behälterleit- and guide element (0) is provided.

7. Transport route according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that relative to the transport direction (A) before each Gassenentrennein- direction (15) or at least in front of a part of the gas separation devices (15) each at least one Behälterleit- and insertion device (7) is arranged.

8. Transport route according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the at least one container guiding and introducing device (7) is designed such that the conveying width of the associated gas inlet or gas inlet region (9) narrows in the direction of transport (A), and / or

that the delivery width of the respective Gasseneinführ- or Gasseneinlaufbereich (9) and / or the associated lane (4) is adjustable, for example, for all lanes (4) together or for each lane (4) independently of the other lanes (4) ,

9. Transport route according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least on one side of the Gasseneinführ- or Gasseneinlaufbereichs (9) at least one lane (4) at least two each a Behälteranlage- and guide area forming, circumferentially drivable Behälterleit- and insertion elements (10 ) are provided, and that these elements in series or stepped offset in the transport direction A to each other.

10. Transport route according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotational speed of Behälterleit- and insertion elements (10) is regulated or controlled, for example, continuously and / or between zero and a maximum rotational speed, said control or control, for example, for all Behälterleit - And insertion elements (10) together or individually for each Behälterleit- and insertion element (10).

1 1. Transport path according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two at the one Gasseeinführbereich (9) at least one lane (4) provided Behälterleit- and insertion elements (10) are driven with different rotational speed.