DE102022121144A1 - Carrier unit for a container guide and container guide for a container treatment machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrier unit (1) for a container guide (10), comprising at least one base body (2) and a plurality of receiving elements (3, 3') arranged on the base body (2) for holding a guide railing (4) of the container guide (10). Each receiving element (3, 3') has a holding leg (7). According to the invention, each receiving element (3, 3 ') is designed to be open on a side opposite the holding leg (7) with respect to a central plane (HE), the central plane (HE) being centrally located between an upper side (OS) and a lower side (US) of the Base body (2) runs. The plurality of receiving elements (3, 3') are arranged in alternating orientation on the base body (2) in such a way that a first portion of receiving elements (3) is oriented in a first orientation (A1) in which the holding legs (7) are above the central plane (HE) are arranged, and a second portion of receiving elements (3 ') is oriented in a second orientation (A2), in which the holding legs (7) are arranged below the central plane (HE).

Description

The invention relates to a carrier unit for a container guide and to a container guide for a container processing machine. In addition, the invention relates to a container treatment machine, in particular a filling machine.

Container treatment machines are known in different designs, for example as filling machines, labeling machines, inspection machines or rinsers, with the container treatment machines often being connected in series in container treatment systems in order to treat the containers. Various types of containers such as bottles or cans are also known. These can be made of materials such as glass, plastic or metal and can vary in both size and shape. The containers are designed in particular to be filled with liquids, such as drinks.

The container treatment machines or systems are often assigned guide units or container guides, which guide the containers while they are transported through the container treatment system for treatment, for example for filling, closing or labeling, and are thereby successively fed to the various container treatment machines.

Container guides in container treatment machines or devices for guiding containers, also known as guide units, are well known. These container guides or guide units can, for example, also be components which are intended to guide the containers to be treated laterally on their conveying path from one container treatment machine to the next container treatment machine, in order to thereby prevent the containers from falling laterally from the conveyor devices . Container guides for laterally guiding the containers are also known in the inlet and/or outlet area of the container treatment machines.

It is also known that such container guides have specially provided support units or railing supports for supporting or supporting guide rails or guide strips or guide profiles, with the containers sliding along the guide rails or guide strips. In order to enable adaptation to different containers, for example containers of different sizes or geometries, the guide areas, in particular the guide rails or guide strips, are often at least partially interchangeable, so that format parts that can be assembled are available for each type of container or each group of containers.

Due to the direct contact between the guide rails or guide strips and the containers and due to the movement of the containers relative to the guide rails or guide strips, signs of wear occur, so that the guide rails or guide strips have to be replaced regularly and the guide rails are therefore easy to replace is of great advantage.

In order to enable simple and safe assembly and/or interchangeability of the guide railings and at the same time to ensure safe guidance of the containers on the guide railing, the support units carrying the guide railings and the guide railings must be structurally coordinated with one another for effective interaction, with the support units also being one must ensure exact positioning of the guide railings.

For example, describes the EP 2 996 970 B1 a guide unit with precisely aligned railing supports, the railing supports being molded onto a base body and being formed in one piece with it, and wherein a guide railing can be arranged interchangeably on the railing supports, namely by inserting it into U-shaped receptacles of the railing supports.

However, the disadvantage of the management unit mentioned is that replacing the guide railing requires personnel, labor and time, since inserting the guide railing into the precisely fitting and therefore narrow U-shaped receiving sections is sometimes difficult and tricky and requires trained personnel.

The object of the invention is to provide a carrier unit for a container guide and a container guide, which allows easier assembly and disassembly of the guide railing and thereby makes it easier to replace the guide railing.

This object is achieved by a carrier unit for a container guide according to the features of independent patent claim 1. Furthermore, to solve the problem, a container guide according to claim 15 and a container treatment machine according to claim 20 are specified. The subclaims relate to particularly advantageous developments of the invention.

The present invention provides a carrier unit for a container guide. The carrier unit has at least one base body and a plurality of receiving elements arranged on the base body for holding a guide railing of the container guide. Each receiving element has a holding leg. According to the invention, each receiving element is designed to be open on a side opposite the holding leg with respect to a central plane, the central plane running centrally between an upper side and a lower side of the base body, the plurality of receiving elements being arranged in alternating orientation on the base body in such a way that a first portion of receiving elements is oriented in a first orientation in which the holding legs are arranged above the central plane, and a second portion of receiving elements is oriented in a second orientation in which the holding legs are arranged below the central plane.

In the carrier unit according to the invention, the receiving elements designed to hold or support are to be understood as essentially “single-leg” receiving elements. This can also be used synonymously for the expression that “each receiving element is designed to be open on a side opposite the holding leg in relation to the central plane”. In the present case, this also means that each of the receiving elements has only one or exactly one or a single holding leg. The one holding leg, in particular the exactly one or only holding leg of each receiving element is arranged on only one side of the base body in relation to the central plane of the base body, namely either above the central plane, that is to say on the top side on the top of the base body, if it is a is a receiving element arranged in the first orientation on the base body, or below the central plane, that is to say on the underside of the base body, if it is a receiving element arranged in the second orientation on the base body. The one or exactly one holding leg therefore extends beyond the central plane on only one side of the central plane of the base body.

In other words, the “open design” of the receiving element, which is essentially designed with one leg, can also be understood to mean that the receiving element is free on a side opposite the holding leg in relation to the central plane and in particular that the holding leg of the receiving element is free in relation to the There is no other or further holding leg of the same receiving element opposite the middle plane. Each receiving element is therefore asymmetrical with respect to the central plane. In particular, each receiving element does not have mirror symmetry, since the holding leg of the receiving element lacks a holding leg that is mirrored on the central plane, that is, a mirrorable “mirror image”.

According to the present invention, it is therefore expressly avoided to equip the receiving elements with a U-shaped and therefore narrow or spatially limited receiving section, whereby, according to the invention, an easy-to-handle recording of the guide railing is achieved.

In the sense of the invention, the holding legs of the receiving elements oriented in the first orientation form a first, in particular upper row of holding legs above the central plane and the holding legs of the receiving elements oriented in the second orientation form a second, in particular lower row of holding legs below the central plane.

At least one receiving element oriented in the first orientation and at least one receiving element oriented in the second orientation work together to hold the guide railing.

With the carrier unit according to the invention, the guide railing of the container guide can advantageously be assembled and dismantled in the simplest manner and in particular quickly and preferably without tools. Due to the “open design” of the individual receiving elements, accessibility is improved, so that the guide railing can be introduced into the receiving elements from a front or from the front and can thereby be brought into engagement with the large number of receiving elements. In the present case, the introduction or engagement of the guide railing can also be understood as a type of “threading” or “weaving in” the guide railing into the multitude of receiving elements oriented in the first and second orientation. This is also to be understood as “threading” or “weaving in” the guide railing between the respective holding legs of the receiving elements oriented in the first and second orientation.

With the present carrier unit, replacement or renewal of the guide railing, which is necessary due to corresponding signs of wear, is simplified and facilitated. Due to the improved, especially frontal accessibility, the guide railing can advantageously be inserted, in particular woven, into the receiving elements by a single person, which further simplifies the effort and handling during assembly or replacement.

The improved accessibility in the carrier unit according to the invention "from the front" brings enormous advantages over the previously known, conventional carrier units, especially in the case of a curved course of the container guide or in container guide curves, since in the carrier unit according to the invention the handling when inserting the guide railing through the front side Free accessibility is greatly simplified and made easier, especially in curved sections, especially in comparison to conventional support units in which the guide rails have to be inserted into the narrow receptacles from a side or front end of the container guide, which is particularly difficult in curves proves that this leads to jamming and/or tilting.

A further advantage of the carrier unit according to the invention is that improved hygiene and cleanability of the container guide is achieved by minimizing contact points or contact surfaces with the guide railing.

According to a preferred embodiment variant, each receiving element is essentially hook-shaped or claw-like, in particular in the form of a single-angled or single-folded holding profile element. In this preferred embodiment, the “open design” of the individual receiving elements is particularly effective, so that free accessibility, especially from a front, is additionally supported and improved here.

According to a further preferred embodiment variant, each receiving element is essentially L-shaped and has a contact leg that adjoins the holding leg at an angle and is arranged at least in sections perpendicular to the central plane. In the present sense, this can also be understood to mean that the holding leg of the receiving element is L-shaped and has a holding section that runs at least in sections essentially parallel to the central plane and a contact section that runs at least in sections essentially perpendicular to the central plane. According to this understanding, the holding leg is formed by the holding section and the contact leg is formed by the contact section.

With the contact leg adjoining the holding leg at an angle, the holding leg is arranged at a distance from the center plane in this embodiment, namely at a distance predetermined by a length of the contact leg or contact section. Preferably, all receiving elements have the same dimensions, in particular all contact legs of the receiving elements have the same length. By appropriately selecting the length of the contact leg, the distance between the respective holding legs from the central plane can be specified, whereby the support unit can be tailored to a shape and/or size of a desired or specified guide railing.

The contact leg or contact section serves not only for a desired, possibly adapted spacing of the holding legs or holding sections from the central planes, but also as a stop surface or as a contact for the guide railing, which in the recorded state comes into contact on the back against the contact leg or contact section and is therefore held securely in position.

Each receiving element is preferably connected to the base body via a web section, the web sections being arranged in particular in the central plane. The web sections are particularly preferably twisted helically.

To produce this particularly preferred embodiment variant, a preform or raw form can be punched out or cut out, for example, from a flat piece of material or from a flat blank, preferably by means of a laser cutting device. The preform or raw form comprises the base body with sections molded onto it for producing the receiving elements. By means of the punching or by means of cutting out, the sections for producing the receiving elements are produced in such a way that they remain molded onto the base body and have both the web section via which they connect to the base body and also include the contact and holding leg. The preform or raw form is designed to be flat overall, with both the base body and the web section as well as the receiving element with its contact and holding legs extending in the central plane in the preform or raw form.

A plastic deformation, for example a screw-like rotation of the web sections, can then be carried out particularly easily on a preform or raw form produced in this way. The precisely aligned web sections extending in the central plane simply need to be rotated about an axis running along their longitudinal extent, for example by a rotation with an angle in a range from 75 ° to 105°, preferably a quarter turn. By rotating the web sections, the receiving element is deflected, in particular in such a way that the contact leg is oriented essentially perpendicular to the central plane and the holding leg is arranged above or below the central plane.

Particularly preferably, the base body is formed in one piece with the receiving elements, as is the case, for example, in the particularly preferred embodiment variant above. In particular, the base body can be designed in one piece with the web sections and the receiving elements. In these embodiments, the web sections and receiving elements protrude from a flat section or flat base body section that continues to be flat, that is to say that remains in a flat configuration.

Particular advantages arise from the fact that the receiving elements are oriented individually or in groups alternately in the first and second orientation. This makes it easier to “thread” or “weave” the guide railing into or between the holding legs.

Particularly preferably, a receiving element oriented in the first orientation is immediately followed by a receiving element oriented in the second orientation and/or a receiving element oriented in the second orientation is immediately followed by a receiving element oriented in the first orientation. This means that adjacent, i.e. immediately or directly adjacent, receiving elements are arranged alternately in the first and second orientation, so that each individual receiving element is arranged differently from its directly adjacent receiving elements.

In equally preferred, alternative embodiment variants, n receiving elements arranged one behind the other and oriented in the first orientation are followed by m receiving elements arranged one behind the other and oriented in the second orientation and/or m receiving elements arranged one behind the other and oriented in the second orientation are followed by n receiving elements arranged one behind the other in the first Alignment-oriented recording elements, where n and m are natural numbers greater than 1.

This means that a number of n receiving elements in the first orientation follows a number of m receiving elements in the second orientation and vice versa, that is, a sequence of n receiving elements in the first orientation and m receiving elements in the second orientation results. The sequence can be regular or irregular, that is, the numbers n and m can be the same or different from each other. This is equivalent to the fact that the following statements can equally apply: “m = n” (“m equals n”) or “m ≠ n” (“m not equal to n”).

Preferably, a receiving element oriented in the first orientation and a receiving element oriented in the second orientation work together in pairs in order to hold the guide railing in a clasping manner on the top and bottom. It is understood that several receiving elements oriented in the first orientation and several receiving elements oriented in the second orientation can work together as groups in order to hold the guide railing in a clasping manner on the top and bottom. For example, two or more directly adjacent receiving elements can cooperate in groups in a first alignment with two or more receiving elements adjacent thereto and directly adjacent to one another in order to hold the guide railing in a clasping manner on the top and bottom.

According to a preferred embodiment variant, at least the horizontally oriented sections of the holding legs of the receiving elements oriented in the first orientation are arranged together in an upper holding plane running above the central plane and at least the horizontally oriented sections of the holding legs of the receiving elements oriented in the second orientation are arranged together in an upper holding plane below the Middle plane extending lower holding plane arranged, wherein the upper and lower holding planes run essentially parallel to the middle plane and preferably both at the same distance from the middle plane. This ensures, for example, a stable and more secure hold of the guide railing, in particular in such a way that the guide railing is optimally positioned in order to safely guide the containers to be guided.

The distance between the upper and lower holding planes and the central plane essentially correlates directly with the longitudinal extent of the contact legs or contact sections of the receiving elements and can be selected, for example, depending on the geometry of the guide railing.

Preferably, the receiving elements are evenly distributed along the base body and in particular arranged equidistant from one another. In an embodiment variant with equidistant spacing, all receiving elements are at the same distance from one another, that is, each receiving element is at the same distance from its respective neighboring receiving elements. This enables easy handling for “engaging” the guide railing while at the same time holding it securely and evenly so that the guide railing is always correctly positioned to ensure safe guidance of the containers.

It goes without saying that it is alternatively possible for the receiving elements to be arranged at two or more different distances relative to one another, in particular depending on a radius of curvature of the carrier unit. For example, two receiving elements, one of which is arranged in the first orientation and the other in the second orientation, can form a respective pair, with the two receiving elements within a respective pair being at a first distance from one another and with one from the first between adjacent pairs Distance different second distance is selected. For example, the second distance can be larger than the first distance.

In this sense, instead of pairs of receiving elements, groups of receiving elements can also be formed, with the individual receiving elements within the groups being arranged at an identical, first distance from one another and a second distance being maintained between the different groups. The number of recording elements within respective groups can be the same or different.

According to a further preferred embodiment variant, the holding legs of the receiving elements each have a free end facing away from the base body, the free end being equipped with slip means for easier insertion of the guide railing and, for this purpose, in particular being chamfered or rounded on the free end. This ensures that the guide railing is particularly easy to insert between the holding legs of the receiving elements, which ultimately makes it easier to replace the guide railing.

According to a further preferred embodiment variant, the holding legs of the receiving elements have a support surface facing the central plane, the supporting surface running obliquely to the central plane and, starting from the base body, inclining obliquely towards the central plane. As a result, the guide railings can be held in particular in a secured or secured position.

The present invention also relates to a container guide for a container treatment machine, comprising at least one carrier unit and at least one replaceable guide railing supported by the carrier unit. In particular, the carrier unit is designed and configured as described above and can, for example, also be configured as specified with the preferred embodiment variants.

The aspects and advantages described above in connection with the carrier unit therefore also apply to the container guide. When the container guide is in use, the central plane along which the base body of the carrier unit extends is a horizontally aligned or horizontally extending plane, namely a horizontal plane.

According to a preferred embodiment variant, the container guide comprises two or more carrier units, as described above, with each carrier unit having a guide rail held by it and with the two or more carrier units being arranged one above the other in the vertical direction. This enables additionally secured and further improved guidance of the containers as well as further improved adaptation to different containers.

When guiding the container, a cross-sectional shape of the guide railing and the geometry of the receiving elements are preferably coordinated with one another in such a way that the guide railing, which is held between the holding legs of the receiving elements, is held securely against rotation and displacement.

According to a preferred embodiment variant, the guide railing is held interchangeably between the holding legs of the receiving elements without tools, the guide railing and/or the receiving elements preferably being equipped with slip means for easier removal and insertion of the guide railing into the receiving elements.

The guide railing is particularly preferably designed as a profile strip, in particular as a plastic profile strip. For example, the profile strip can be made of a polymer material, in particular polyethylene. The geometry, cross-sectional shape and size of the profile strip can be selected depending on the application and, for example, in coordination with the configuration of the carrier unit.

The present invention also relates to a container treatment machine, in particular a filling machine, having a container inlet and/or outlet with a container guide as defined above.

• 1 in einer vereinfachten schematischen Darstellung eine Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer Trägereinheit gemäß der Erfindung;
• 2 in einer vereinfachten schematischen Darstellung eine Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer Trägereinheit gemäß der Erfindung mit halternd in der Trägereinheit aufgenommenem Führungsgeländer;
• 3 schematisch dargestellt den in 1 angedeuteten und mit I bezeichneten Ausschnitt der Trägereinheit der 1 ;
• 4 schematisch dargestellt den in 2 angedeuteten und mit II bezeichneten Ausschnitt der Trägereinheit mit Führungsgeländer gemäß 2 und
• 5 in einer schematischen Darstellung eine perspektivische Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer Behälterführung gemäß der Erfindung.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the figures and exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• 1 in a simplified schematic representation a view of a preferred embodiment of a carrier unit according to the invention;
• 2 in a simplified schematic representation a view of a preferred embodiment of a carrier unit according to the invention with a guide rail held in the carrier unit;
• 3 shown schematically in 1 indicated and designated I section of the carrier unit 1 ;
• 4 shown schematically in 2 indicated section of the support unit with guide railing marked II 2 and
• 5 in a schematic representation a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a container guide according to the invention.

The 1 shows, based on a schematic drawing, a view of a preferred embodiment of a carrier unit for a container guide 10 and generally designated in the figures with reference number 1 2 shows, also with reference to a schematic drawing, a view of a preferred embodiment of a container guide, generally designated by reference number 10 in the figures, which comprises at least one carrier unit 1 and at least one replaceable guide railing 4 supported by the carrier unit 1.

The container guide 10 is used to safely guide containers, for example bottles, cans or similar containers, such as those used in the beverage industry. In particular, the container guide 10 is configured to guide containers laterally while they are transported in a conveying or transport direction, in particular while they are transported standing on horizontal conveyors.

The container guide 10 is, for example, assigned to a container treatment machine (not shown in the figures), such as a filling machine, and is preferably arranged in a container inlet and/or container outlet of the container treatment machine. The container guide 10 can also be a component or part of the container treatment machine.

The carrier unit 1 of the container guide 10 has a base body 2, which in the example shown in the figures comprises a substantially flat section and on which a plurality of receiving elements 3, 3 'are arranged for holding the guide railing 4. In the example shown the 1 the base body 2 is formed in one piece with the receiving elements 3, 3', so that the receiving elements 3, 3' can also be understood as receiving element sections 3, 3'. The base body 2 with the receiving element sections 3, 3 ', namely the carrier unit 1, is made, for example, from a metal, in particular flat metal or sheet metal.

The base body 2 has a top side OS and a bottom side US opposite it and extends essentially along a central plane HE running between the top side OS and the bottom side US, which is oriented horizontally in the state of use of the container guide 10 and forms a horizontal plane.

Each of the plurality of receiving elements 3, 3' has exactly one holding leg 7, the outer contour of which is preferably oriented at least in sections parallel to the centrally arranged central plane HE. On a side opposite the holding leg 7 with respect to the central plane HE, each receiving element 3, 3 'is designed to be open, that is, a respective receiving element 3, 3' has one leg and is therefore designed asymmetrically with respect to the central plane HE, in particular the central plane HE does not represent a symmetry or mirror plane.

The plurality of receiving elements 3, 3' are arranged on the base body 2 in alternating orientation. A first portion of receiving elements 3 is oriented in a first orientation A1, in which the holding legs 7 are arranged above the central plane HE and thus protrude on the top side OS of the base body 2 beyond its flat section or protrude from the top side thereof. Furthermore, a second portion of receiving elements 3 'is oriented in a second orientation A2, in which the holding legs 7 are arranged below the central plane HE and thus protrude on the underside US of the base body 2 beyond its flat section or protrude from the underside thereof.

The horizontally oriented sections of the holding legs 7 of the receiving elements 3 oriented in the first orientation A1 are arranged together in an upper holding plane E1 running above the central plane HE and the horizontally oriented sections of the holding legs 7 of the receiving elements 3' oriented in the second orientation A2 are arranged together in a lower holding plane E2 running below the central plane HE, the upper and lower holding planes E1, E2 being essentially parallel to the central plane HE and in the example shown both run at the same distance from the central plane HE.

In the examples shown in the figures, each receiving element 3, 3 'is essentially hook-shaped or claw-like, in particular in the form of a single-angled or single-folded holding profile element, which essentially has an L-shape and an angled one on the holding leg 7 adjoining contact leg 8 which is arranged at least in sections perpendicular to the central plane HE.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, the receiving elements 3, 3', which are formed in one piece with the base body 2, connect to the base body 2, that is, to the flat section of the base body 2, via respective web sections 6. The web sections 6 extend in the central plane HE, so that the respective contact legs 8 connect to the web sections 6 essentially at right angles and the holding legs 7 in turn connect to the respective contact legs 8 essentially at right angles.

The ones in the 1 and 2 Carrier unit 1 or container guide 10 shown has (similar to that in 5 shown container guide 10) has a curved course or a curved course and thus forms a curved carrier unit 1 or container guide 10, which is why the carrier unit 1 or container guide 10 in the illustrations 1 and 2 is shown cut in the left edge area of the figures. The carrier unit 1 or container guide 10 would emerge from the plane of the paper in the left edge area due to its curve and is therefore cut there and shown in cross section.

In the in the 1 and 2 In the example shown, the receiving elements 3, 3' are oriented alternately in the first and second orientation A1, A2 such that each receiving element 3 oriented in the first orientation A1 is immediately followed by a receiving element 3' oriented in the second orientation A2 and vice versa. All receiving elements 3, 3' are evenly distributed along the base body 2 and arranged equidistant from one another, so that the same distance is maintained between all receiving elements 3, 3' regardless of their orientation A1, A2.

As can be seen in particular from the in 3 compared to 1 As can be seen from the enlarged section I, the holding legs 7 of the receiving elements 3, 3' of the example shown each have a free end 7a facing away from the base body 2, namely from the flat section of the base body 2, which has slip means 11 for easier insertion the guide railing 4 is equipped. The slip means 11 is designed in the form of a chamfer or rounding, that is, the free end 7a is chamfered or rounded or the holding leg 7 of the receiving elements 3, 3' is chamfered or rounded on the free end.

The holding legs 7 of the receiving elements 3, 3' have a support surface 9 facing the central plane HE. The support surface 9 is in the state of use of the carrier unit 1 or the container guide 10, namely in the state with the guide rail 4 received by the carrier unit 1, which is between the holding legs 7 the receiving elements 3, 3' oriented in the first and second orientation A1, A2 are held in contact with an upper and lower profile surface 12, 13 of the guide railing 4, which in the examples shown is designed in the form of a profile strip, in particular a plastic profile strip, like this in particular from the in 4 compared to 2 can be seen in the enlarged section II.

The cross-sectional shape of the guide railing 4, which is designed as a plastic profile strip, and the geometry of the receiving elements 3, 3' are coordinated with one another in such a way that the guide railing 4, which is held between the holding legs 7 of the receiving elements 3, 3', is held so that it cannot rotate or move. For example, the support surfaces 9 of the holding legs 7 of the receiving elements 3, 3' run obliquely towards the central plane HE and, starting from the base body 2, slope obliquely towards the central plane HE. At the same time, the upper and lower profile surfaces 12, 13 of the guide railing 4 are also designed as inclined surfaces and rest against the support surfaces 9 of the holding legs 7.

In the example of the 2 and 4 is the guide railing 4 a plastic profile strip with a hexagonal cross section, the profile strip having a stepped back or back surface on its side facing the base body 2 of the support unit 1 and a continuous, essentially flat side on its side facing away from the base body 2 of the support unit 1 Guide surface 5 provides for guiding the containers.

Alternatively or in addition to the slip means 11 preferably provided on the holding legs 7 of the receiving elements 3, 3 ', the guide railing 4 can also be equipped with appropriate slip means, for example with a chamfer or curve, in order to facilitate the insertion and removal of the guide rail 4 and thus simplifying tool-free interchangeability. In particular, the slip means on the guide railing 4 are on the Base body 2 of the carrier unit 1 is provided on the side of the guide railing 4 facing.

5 shows a preferred embodiment variant of the container guide 10, in which two carrier units 1, 1 'are provided, each with a guide rail 4 held by it, which are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction. In the representation of the 5 the upper support unit is provided with the reference number 1 and the lower support unit is provided with the reference number 1'. The upper support unit 1 extends along the central plane HE and the lower support unit along the central plane HE ', with the two central planes running parallel to one another.

The guide railing 4 held in the upper support unit 1 is in 5 hidden, with only its position indicated by a dashed line. In contrast, the guide railing 4 held in the lower support unit 1 'is 5 visibly displayed.

The container guide 10 of the 5 has a curved course and thus forms a guide curve or a curve guide for containers. The support units 1, 1' arranged one above the other in the vertical direction with respective guide rails 4 can improve the safety and efficiency of guiding the containers.

Reference symbol list

1, 1'

Carrier unit

2

Basic body

3, 3`

Recording elements

4

Guide railing

5

Guide surface

6

Bridge section

7

holding leg

7a

free ending

8th

investment leg

9

Support surface

10

Container guidance

11

Hatching agent

12

upper profile surface

13

lower profile surface

A1

first alignment

A2

second orientation

E1

upper holding level

E2

lower holding level

HE, HE`

Middle level

O.S

Top

US

bottom

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 2996970 B1 [0008]

Claims (20)

Carrier unit (1) for a container guide (10), comprising at least one base body (2) and a plurality of receiving elements (3, 3 ') arranged on the base body (2) for holding a guide railing (4) of the container guide (10), each Receiving element (3, 3 ') has a holding leg (7), characterized in that each receiving element (3, 3') is open on a side opposite the holding leg (7) with respect to a central plane (HE), the central plane (HE) runs centrally between a top side (OS) and a bottom side (US) of the base body (2), the plurality of receiving elements (3, 3 ') being arranged in alternating orientation on the base body (2) in such a way that a first portion of receiving elements (3) is oriented in a first orientation (A1), in which the holding legs (7) are arranged on the top side above the central plane (HE), and a second portion of receiving elements (3 ') is oriented in a second orientation (A2). is, in which the holding legs (7) are arranged on the underside below the central plane (HE). Carrier unit (1). Claim 1 , characterized in that each receiving element (3, 3 ') is essentially hook-shaped or claw-like, in particular in the form of a single-angled or single-folded holding profile element. Carrier unit (1). Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that each receiving element (3, 3 ') is essentially L-shaped and has a contact leg (8) which adjoins the holding leg (7) at an angle and is arranged at least in sections perpendicular to the central plane (HE). Carrier unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each receiving element (3, 3 ') is connected to the base body (2) via a respective web section (6), the web sections (6) in particular in the central plane (HE ) are arranged. Carrier unit (1). Claim 4 , characterized in that the web sections (6) are twisted helically. Carrier unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (2) is formed in one piece with the receiving elements (3, 3'). Carrier unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving elements (3, 3') are oriented alternately in the first and second orientation (A1, A2). Carrier unit (1). Claim 7 , characterized in that a receiving element (3) oriented in the first orientation (A1) is immediately followed by a receiving element (3') oriented in the second orientation (A2) and/or a receiving element (3') oriented in the second orientation (A2) 3') is immediately followed by a receiving element (3) oriented in the first orientation (A1). Carrier unit (1). Claim 7 , characterized in that n receiving elements (3) arranged one behind the other and oriented in the first orientation (A1) are followed by m receiving elements (3') arranged one behind the other and oriented in the second orientation (A2) and/or m ones arranged one behind the other in the Receiving elements (3') oriented in the second orientation (A2) are followed by n receiving elements (3) arranged one behind the other and oriented in the first orientation (A1), where n and m are natural numbers greater than 1. Carrier unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a receiving element (3, 3') oriented in the first orientation (A1) and a receiving element (3, 3') oriented in the second orientation (A2) work together in pairs to support the guide railing (4). to be held in a clasp on the top and bottom. Carrier unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the horizontally oriented sections of the holding legs (7) of the receiving elements (3) oriented in the first orientation (A1) are together in an upper holding plane (HE) extending above the central plane (HE). E1) are arranged and at least the horizontally oriented sections of the holding legs (7) of the receiving elements (3 ') oriented in the second orientation (A2) are arranged together in a lower holding plane (E2) running below the central plane (HE), the upper and lower holding plane (E1, E2) run essentially parallel to the central plane (HE) and preferably both at the same distance from the central plane (HE). Carrier unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving elements (3, 3') are evenly distributed along the base body (2) and in particular are arranged equidistant from one another. Carrier unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding legs (7) of the receiving elements (3, 3 ') each have a free end (7a) facing away from the base body (2), the free end (7a) is equipped with slip means (11) for easier insertion of the guide railing (4) and for this purpose is in particular chamfered or rounded on the free end. Carrier unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding legs (7) of the receiving elements (3, 3') have a support surface (9) facing the central plane (HE), the supporting surface (9) being oblique to the central plane ( HE) runs and, starting from the base body (2), slopes obliquely towards the central plane (HE). Container guide (10) for a container treatment machine, comprising at least one carrier unit (1) and at least one replaceable guide rail (4) supported by the carrier unit (1), characterized in that the carrier unit (1) is designed according to one of the preceding claims. Container guide (10). Claim 15 , characterized by two or more carrier units (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 14 each with a guide railing (4) held by it, the two or more support units (1) being arranged one above the other in the vertical direction. Container guide (10). Claim 15 or 16 , characterized in that a cross-sectional shape of the guide railing (4) and the geometry of the receiving elements (3, 3') are coordinated with one another in such a way that the guide railing (4) held between the holding legs (7) of the receiving elements (3, 3') is held securely against twisting and shifting. Container guide (10) according to one of the Claims 15 until 17 , characterized in that the guide railing (4) is held interchangeably between the holding legs (7) of the receiving elements (3, 3 ') without tools, the guide railing (4) and / or the receiving elements (3, 3') preferably having slip means for an easier removal and insertion of the guide railing (4) into the receiving elements (3, 3 ') are/is equipped. Container guide (10) according to one of the Claims 15 until 18 , characterized in that the guide railing (4) is designed as a profile strip, in particular as a plastic profile strip. Container treatment machine, in particular filling machine, having a container inlet and/or outlet with a container guide (10) according to one of the Claims 15 until 19 .

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