EP0498181B1 - Device for adjusting the receiving volume of an object supporting-means - Google Patents

Device for adjusting the receiving volume of an object supporting-means Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0498181B1
EP0498181B1 EP92100643A EP92100643A EP0498181B1 EP 0498181 B1 EP0498181 B1 EP 0498181B1 EP 92100643 A EP92100643 A EP 92100643A EP 92100643 A EP92100643 A EP 92100643A EP 0498181 B1 EP0498181 B1 EP 0498181B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
side walls
workpiece carrier
base plate
line
guide
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92100643A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0498181A1 (en
Inventor
Leif Pettersson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Original Assignee
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA filed Critical Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Publication of EP0498181A1 publication Critical patent/EP0498181A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0498181B1 publication Critical patent/EP0498181B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/001—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/003—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/005—Adjustable conveying means

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for adjusting the receiving volume of a workpiece holder, which is held in a conveyor strand and has approximately tubular side walls.
  • a device for adjusting the receiving volume of a workpiece holder which is held in a conveyor strand and has approximately tubular side walls.
  • Such a device is e.g. known from DE-A-2658014.
  • a wide variety of conveying devices are known for the transport of workpieces, with the focus here being on conveyors in which the workpiece is received and conveyed in a carrier held on the conveying strand.
  • liquid packs are thought of, which are transported directly on conveyor belts even without a carrier, and whose processing, in particular filling and closing, is preferably arranged in a workpiece carrier; for positioning purposes alone.
  • a base plate is loosely displaceably arranged in positioning means in the side walls of the workpiece carrier, the Positioning means extend transversely to the direction of conveyance of the strand, and that on at least one positioner which is translationally movable perpendicular to the conveying direction of the strand, a device for receiving and displacing the base plate by pulling it out, moving it to another location and reinserting it in height offset positioning means is attached, the guide means of the receiving device being adjustable relative to the positioning means in the side walls of the workpiece carrier.
  • the special feature of the new invention is the adjustment of the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier in that the height of the workpiece carrier available for the workpiece is changed by pulling out and displacing the base plate. This change is made by inserting the base plate, which is loosely displaceable in the positioning means. If this base plate is attached to the bottom of the workpiece carrier, then the largest holding volume is available for the workpieces. With the receiving and relocating devices of the base plate, it is possible to pull the base plate out of its respective position in the workpiece carrier, to move it to another location by translatory movement of the receiving device and to push it back into the workpiece carrier there. This very simple change in volume can be carried out immediately at any point in the line without loss of capacity of the entire conveyor system.
  • the device for receiving and moving the base plate is a simple means and can be designed in various ways.
  • the workpiece carrier has the shape of a substantially flat side walls
  • the box has at least one, which extends at least transversely to the conveying direction and overlaps the strand in the direction of extension back and forth and / or rotatable push rod
  • two guide plates are fastened parallel to one another and at a distance from one another which is greater than the width of the side walls of the workpiece carrier holding the base plate
  • the device for receiving and displacing the base plate as a holding fork is configured, which is attached to the positioner designed as a positioning rod, the positioning rod extending perpendicular to the push rod, and that the guide plates in and out of the area of the U-shaped holding fork in plan view are movable.
  • the invention is based on a box-shaped workpiece carrier which has at least two essentially flat side walls.
  • the workpiece to be conveyed for example an empty or filled liquid pack of paper, lies between the two side walls and is precisely positioned and moved with the movement of the workpiece carrier.
  • the workpiece for example the liquid pack, is usually inserted into the Carrier inserted that the upper edge of both the carrier and the workpiece are at the same height.
  • the base plate supporting the workpiece from below is in a lower position.
  • the invention assumes that the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier or its depth in the longitudinal direction of the side walls, which is to be thought of as vertical in the preferred application, can be changed by setting a base plate to different levels in each individual workpiece carrier . It is understandable that the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier is lower if the base plate is set at a higher level, i.e. closer to the upper edge of the workpiece carrier, than if the base plate is in the lowest possible lower position (maximum receiving volume).
  • the teaching of the invention does not consist solely of the idea of changing the holding volume of the workpiece carrier by moving the base plate, but is primarily concerned with the devices of how this base plate can be moved mechanically and, if possible, automatically or in a controlled manner from one position to another .
  • the solution is proposed to move the base plate by means of two guide plates which are attached to movable push rods. If, in a preferred embodiment, the position of the base plate is assumed to be horizontal, then the respective guide plate is to be considered perpendicular to it, the plane of each guide plate extending parallel to the conveying direction.
  • the predetermined distance between the two guide plates makes it possible to operate the conveyor independently of the adjustment device.
  • the workpiece carriers are moved with the strand through the adjusting device, in particular one workpiece carrier being moved through a pair of guide plates. This can be seen as the zero position of the guide plates.
  • the adjustment device can be switched on without any time delay when the intermittently moving conveyor is at a standstill. Switching on causes the push rod to move in such a way that the base plate, which is loosely held by the side walls, is pushed out laterally, ie transversely to the conveying direction, by the guide plate arranged in the pushing direction at the rear.
  • a holding fork is arranged laterally next to the push rod on a positioning rod and provided on the inside with guide means such that the base plate inserted into the holding fork from the rear guide plate comes to lie exactly in the guide means.
  • the push rod and thus the two guide plates are displaced into the area of the holding fork to such an extent that the base plate finally lies completely in the holding fork and has become free of the workpiece carrier.
  • the base plate can now be raised or lowered to another level of the box-shaped workpiece carrier.
  • the push rod then moves the base plate in the opposite direction out of the holding fork into the positioning means of the side walls of the workpiece carrier, and the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier is thus adjusted in the desired manner.
  • the measures according to the invention can be used to remove the base plate from the workpiece carrier at any point on a conveyor by means of corresponding guide plate pairs and to push it back in at another point, so that the adjustment of the receiving volume is ensured by simple means at almost any point on a conveyor .
  • the volume adjustment according to the invention can be started and closed at any time during the conveying without loss of capacity. So you do not need to let a conveyor section - as in known devices - of workpieces empty in order to then assemble lifting rails or the like, but you start to change the volume at any desired location in the line and at any time. Without adjustment, the strand with the workpiece carriers runs through the adjustment device without touching or influencing it.
  • the plane of the side walls with the positioning means is preferably vertical and transverse to the conveying direction of the strand. Then the base plate can be easily pushed out of the push rod arranged in the manner described, adjusted in height and pushed back into the workpiece carrier.
  • the positioning means can be formed by the projections, projections, buttons, strips, rails or the like protruding from the opposing surfaces of the side walls.
  • pairs of opposing, parallel, straight grooves are provided at a distance above one another as positioning means and that the guide means of the U-shaped holding fork are also grooves whose open sides are opposite one another.
  • Such a U-shaped holding fork can be constructed particularly firmly if the mentioned positioning rod for the holding fork is attached to the web connecting its free legs of the U.
  • the plane spanned by the U of the holding fork is then perpendicular to the positioning rod, which in a preferred embodiment runs vertically.
  • the main plane of the holding fork is then horizontal, as is the base plate in the workpiece carrier.
  • the side wall of the workpiece carrier is made of a solid material, preferably stainless steel, then it can be easily introduced as a positioning means when producing a groove.
  • a position groove also stiffens the side wall like a bead.
  • the cross section of the groove preferably has a V shape with the tip of the V pointing outwards.
  • the respective base plate can then be pushed into the grooves in the opposite side walls of the workpiece carrier as in rails. Even heavy workpieces are guided correctly and precisely from such a base plate in a workpiece carrier designed in this way.
  • the workpiece carrier consists of four substantially flat side walls which are connected to one another along the four edges of the tube formed thereby and a fixed base which is arranged transversely thereto, two of the four side walls which have no positioning means being left at a distance from The floor is shortened.
  • the shortened shape of two opposite side walls not only saves material and reduces the weight of the workpiece carrier, it also results in better movement options for pushing out and pushing in the respective base plate.
  • the positioning grooves should namely be arranged at such a height in the two large side walls that there is no interference or blocking by the two side walls arranged transversely thereto, i.e. so outside the area of the shortened side walls.
  • a window is formed which extends through the entire workpiece carrier and through which the guide plates mentioned above can be pushed.
  • a holding plate for fastening and holding the workpiece carrier on the strand is provided on or next to one of the shortened side walls.
  • the side wall should preferably be a cuboid-shaped space, ie a space in the form of a very flat cuboid, because in this space in the zero position the guide plates are arranged without engagement with the workpiece carriers, or, when the conveyor is running, they run past the workpiece carriers.
  • This free space results from the fact that the holding plate is pulled down parallel to the workpiece carrier to its longitudinal center position.
  • the workpiece carrier can be attached to the strand in the region of its center of gravity, so that the workpiece carrier is held on the strand much more strongly.
  • the intended design of the workpiece carrier is not only inherently torsionally rigid but is also firmly held and nevertheless it is possible to run past the guide plates when the adjusting device is switched off.
  • the bottom plate loosely held in the workpiece carrier is square in plan view and has at least one recess which extends from at least one edge to the center and if the edge preferably projects outwards, particularly preferably V-shaped in cross section with an outwardly pointing tip.
  • the base plate can be made of any hard material, preferably a hard plastic, because its production and friction properties with the position grooves in the side walls of the workpiece carrier are very favorable.
  • the bottom plate should be formed in a top view, i.e. also e.g. square.
  • the insertion of the base plate into the position grooves of the workpiece carrier is further facilitated in that the four corners of the base plate are cut off when viewed from above, so that small triangles are omitted at the corners.
  • the base plate has three elongated recesses next to one another that lie parallel to one another and extend beyond the center.
  • the recess extending from the edge to the central region of the base plate generally serves the spring action, which is why the elongated recesses last described here can also be referred to as spring grooves.
  • the recesses in the base plate compensate for small tolerances, so that pushing in in any case or also guiding the base plate out into the workpiece carrier or out of it easily.
  • the strand has a self-contained row of links abutting one another over end faces, in which recesses are provided for engagement with guide rails which support the links in the sections, with at least one workpiece carrier on each link is inextricably attached. It can also be imagined that each link holds a workpiece carrier on its two transverse sides, so that the workpiece carriers are always moved in pairs in the conveying direction.
  • the guide plates can be fastened in pairs to the movable push rod and lie in the non-operational position next to the conveyor line in such a way that the workpiece carriers run freely through the adjusting device; on the other hand, with the adjustment device switched on, the guide plates can slide out a base plate on each side and move them back into the respective workpiece carriers after being moved.
  • the adjusting device according to the invention can also be used in a conveyor device in which the strand is driven endlessly rotating around two deflection wheels, so that two straight and two curved sections are formed, the workpiece carriers being supported via the links by means of the guide rails.
  • the guide rails support the links in the straight sections from opposite sides and in the curved sections from the outside.
  • the adjusting device according to the invention can be used both in the straight and in the curved section of the conveyor.
  • the adjustment device according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in the transport or conveyance of tubular plastic flux packs which are open on one side in a machine for producing and / or filling and / or closing such packs.
  • tubular plastic flux packs which are open on one side in a machine for producing and / or filling and / or closing such packs.
  • the links 4 lie in a manner not shown here over end faces 16 and have for the engagement with the guide rails 1, 1 'in the longitudinal direction or conveying direction 2, groove-shaped recesses 10 and 15.
  • the flat side walls 22 are via the respective holding plate 39 by means of Bores 21, generally designated 5, are attached to the workpiece carriers, which, taken out, are shown in perspective in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
  • FIG. 1 shows the conveying direction of the transport carriers 5 with their link 4 connecting them to the bottom right according to arrow 2, while in the region of the adjusting device of FIG. 3 the conveying direction 2 can be seen to the top left.
  • FIG. 1 shows an illustration of the upper straight run of a conveyor and in FIGS. 3 and 4 a part is cut out of the lower straight conveyor section. Therefore, the parallel parallel side guide rails 1 'are shown in Figure 1 below and in Figures 3 and 4 above in relation to the link 4 shown.
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B Workpiece carrier 5 shown explained.
  • This consists of four levels and side walls 35, 36, 37, 38 connected to one another along the edges of the tube formed thereby, of which the surface 38 facing the strand 3 is a shortened wall, which even merges into a holding plate 39.
  • This holding plate 39 is at a distance d in the transverse direction (arrow 8) to the conveying direction 2 from the inner edge 6 of the side wall 35 and 37. This distance d is necessary that the guide plate 9, 9 'in the illustration of Figure 3 in the rest position of the Adjustment device can be moved next to the tool holder 5.
  • the box-shaped workpiece carrier 5 is closed by a base 32, which can be seen at the top in the illustration of FIGS. 3 to 5B, because the workpiece carrier is turned upside down here.
  • the hole shown in the bottom 32 serves on the one hand to save material and weight; but it also serves to reduce the surface area on which bacteria could form and collect in a milk packaging machine. Through this hole one can spray cleaning agents better or even insert tools which have to carry out work within the workpiece holder 5.
  • the workpiece carriers 5 With the holes 21 in the holding plate 39, the workpiece carriers 5 are fastened to the respective link 4, that is to say by means of bolts.
  • the large side walls 35 and 37 lying perpendicular thereto have a greater height, namely from the bottom 32 to the upper edge 12 of the workpiece carrier.
  • the large side walls 35 and 37 are smooth without position grooves. But then you can see in Figures 5A and 5B from bottom to top (because the workpiece carrier is upside down) the upper position grooves 13, the middle grooves 13 'and the lower position grooves 13 ⁇ .
  • the purpose of the adjustment device is, however, the automatic displacement and relocation of the base plate 14. This is done with the device, which is shown in FIG. 2 alone.
  • the left half with the rear push rod 17 is first explained.
  • the right half is structured analogously, and the corresponding parts are provided with a subscription verse with the same reference numbers.
  • Both push rods 17, 17 ' are parallel to each other.
  • a bracket 18 is attached, to which an outer guide plate 11 is attached, to which the inner guide plate 9 is attached in parallel via the bracket 19.
  • Both push rods 17, 17 ' can be moved in the direction of the double arrow 8, that is to say transversely to the conveying direction 2, namely the push rod 17 in the opposite direction to the push rod 17' - that the pair of left guide plates 9, 11 to the left and at the same time the pair of the right Guide plates 9 ', 11' are moved to the right.
  • the push rods 17, 17 ' are held and guided in guide sleeves 23 and are driven by a drive device 24.
  • the positioning rods 27, 27 ' can be raised or lowered in the vertical direction according to double arrow 29 in order to raise the respective base plate 14 to a different level of position grooves 13 when adjusting the receiving volume, e.g. from 13 to 13 ′; from 13 ′ to 13 ⁇ ; or the other way around.
  • the base plate 14 is shown in a first embodiment in plan view in FIG. 6 and in a second embodiment in plan view in FIG. 7.
  • the general shape of the bottom plate 14 in plan view is square with cut corners.
  • the base plate 14 has an upper edge 30 and a lower opposite edge 31.
  • the embodiment of Figure 7 extends only from the upper edge 30 to the center of the bottom plate 14 towards a generally designated 33 recess, which first begins as an elongated recess 33 'and then opens into a circular opening. It goes without saying that the upper edge 30 in the embodiment of the base plate 14 according to FIG. 7 can be shortened or pulled apart by bending.
  • the side view of the bottom plate 14, e.g. 6 and 7 looking from left to right looks like that shown in FIG. 6A.
  • the straight edges are projecting outwards and have a V-shaped cross-section with the tip pointing outwards.
  • the guide plates 9, 11 and 9 ', 11' are in the position of FIG. 3, so that the workpiece carriers 5 can be conveyed through the adjustment device in the direction of the arrow 2. It is assumed that the workpiece carriers 5 carry the base plates 14 in the lowest pair of position grooves 13 ⁇ . Before switching on to implement the base plates 14, the positioning rods 27, 27 'in the direction of the double arrow 29 are moved up into the highest position. Here are now the guide grooves 26 of the holding forks 25, 25 'the position groove pair 13 ⁇ at the correct height exactly opposite.
  • the rear push rod 17 moves to the left and the front push rod 17 'to the right in each case in the transverse direction of the double arrow 8, so that the position in FIG. 4 is reached.
  • the pair of guide plates 9, 11 on the left side or 9 ', 11' on the right side gripped the respective base plate 14 and out of the positioning grooves 13 'and into the guide grooves 26 of the holding forks 25, 25'.
  • the bottom plates 14 can be moved vertically in the direction of the double arrow 29 down and up without interference. If the shift from the position of FIG. 4 downwards occurs e.g.

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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Special Conveying (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
  • Framework For Endless Conveyors (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
  • Constituent Portions Of Griding Lathes, Driving, Sensing And Control (AREA)
  • Chain Conveyers (AREA)
  • Grinding Of Cylindrical And Plane Surfaces (AREA)
  • Control Of Amplification And Gain Control (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Reduction Or Emphasis Of Bandwidth Of Signals (AREA)
  • Signal Processing Not Specific To The Method Of Recording And Reproducing (AREA)
  • Finish Polishing, Edge Sharpening, And Grinding By Specific Grinding Devices (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)

Abstract

A device is described for adjusting the volume of an object-supporting means mounted on a line, which means has a box shape with flat face walls. <??>In order to permit the adjustment of the volume at any desired point on a conveyor by simple means, it is provided that two guide plates (9, 11; 9', 11') are attached parallel to each other and at a distance (a) from each other which is greater than the width of the side walls of the object-supporting means, which side walls loosely support a base plate, to a slide rod (17, 17'), which extends transversely to the conveying direction and, spanning the line, is movable in the direction of extension (8) in a straight line reciprocating manner, positioning means extending in the direction of extension (8) of the slide rod (17, 17'), and that a retaining fork (25, 25') to receive and shift the base plate is mounted on a positioning rod (27, 27') which extends perpendicularly to the slide rod (17, 17') and to the conveying direction of the line and which is movable in a translatory manner, guide means (26) for the retaining fork (25, 25') being adjustable with respect to the positioning means in the side walls of the object-supporting means and the guide plates in the region of the retaining fork (25, 25') being movable in a reciprocating manner. <IMAGE>

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zum Verstellen des Aufnahmevolumens eines in einem Förderstrang gehalterten, etwa rohrförmigen, Seitenwände aufweisenden Werkstückträgers. Eine derartige Vorrichtung ist z.B. aus DE-A-2658014 bekannt.The invention relates to a device for adjusting the receiving volume of a workpiece holder, which is held in a conveyor strand and has approximately tubular side walls. Such a device is e.g. known from DE-A-2658014.

Für den Transport von Werkstücken sind die verschiedensten Fördereinrichtungen bekannt, wobei hier auf solche Förderer abgestellt wird, bei denen das Werkstück in einem am Förderstrang gehalterten Träger aufgenommen und gefördert wird. Beispielsweise und bevorzugt wird an Flüssigkeitspackungen gedacht, die zwar auch ohne Träger direkt auf Förderbändern transportiert werden, bei deren Verarbeitung, insbesondere Füllen und Verschließen, die Anordnung in einem Werkstückträger bevorzugt ist; allein schon zu Positionierungszwecken.A wide variety of conveying devices are known for the transport of workpieces, with the focus here being on conveyors in which the workpiece is received and conveyed in a carrier held on the conveying strand. For example, and preferably, liquid packs are thought of, which are transported directly on conveyor belts even without a carrier, and whose processing, in particular filling and closing, is preferably arranged in a workpiece carrier; for positioning purposes alone.

Bekannt sind verschiedene Packungsgrößen. So werden beispielsweise Spirituosen, Wein und Säfte in kleineren Packungen, teilweise Säfte, Milch, Öle und Wasser in größeren Packungen transportiert. Diese hier angegebene grobe Klassifizierung soll lediglich veranschaulichen, daß Packungen für Flüssigkeiten - und selbstverständlich auch für andere Füllgüter - mit unterschiedlichen Volumina gefüllt und gebraucht werden. Für den Hersteller und Benutzer einer Vorrichtung der eingangs genannten Art ist es wünschenswert, Werkstücke, z.B. Flüssigkeitspackungen aus Papier, mit unterschiedlichen Inhalten nach geringfügigen Justierarbeiten in ein und derselben Herstellungsmaschine zu produzieren. Handelt es sich bei einem Teil der Herstellungsmaschine um einen Förderer mit einem Strang, an welchem Werkstückträger befestigt sind, dann sollte der Werkstückträger von einem Werkstück großen Volumens auf ein solches mit kleinerem Volumen umstellbar sein.Different pack sizes are known. For example, spirits, wine and juices are transported in smaller packages, and some juices, milk, oils and water are transported in larger packages. This rough classification given here is only intended to illustrate that packs for liquids - and of course also for other filling goods - are filled and used with different volumes. For the manufacturer and user of a device of the type mentioned in the introduction, it is desirable to remove To produce liquid packs of paper with different contents after minor adjustment work in one and the same manufacturing machine. If a part of the production machine is a conveyor with a strand to which workpiece carriers are fastened, then the workpiece carrier should be able to be converted from a workpiece with a large volume to one with a smaller volume.

Für eine solche Verstellbarkeit des Aufnahmevolumens von Werkstückträgern ist es bei Fördereinrichtungen bereits bekannt, längs des Förderweges Hebeschienen einzubauen, wobei dann der Werkstückträger bei gleichbleibendem Querschnitt ohne die Hebeschiene maximale Tiefe und damit maximales Aufnahmevolumen hat; bei eingebauter Hebeschiene und z.B. für eine kürzere Packung geeignet eingestellt werden kann, weil dann der Boden dieser kürzeren Packung durch die Hebeschiene in dem Werkzeugträger auf eine solche Höhe gebracht wird, daß die Oberränder von Werkstückträger und Werkstück für alle Volumina gleich ist. Eine solche Hebeschiene ist zwar verstellbar, in gebogenen Abschnitten eines Förderers aber mit Nachteil nicht verwendbar. Außerdem hat die Praxis gezeigt, daß für drei verschiedene Volumina z.B. drei verschiedene Hebeschienen verwendet werden müssen.For such an adjustability of the receiving volume of workpiece carriers, it is already known in conveyor devices to install lifting rails along the conveying path, the workpiece carrier then having a constant cross section without the lifting rail having maximum depth and thus maximum receiving volume; with built-in lifting rail and e.g. suitable for a shorter pack, because then the bottom of this shorter pack is brought to such a height by the lifting rail in the tool carrier that the upper edges of the workpiece carrier and workpiece are the same for all volumes. Such a lifting rail is adjustable, but disadvantageously it cannot be used in curved sections of a conveyor. In addition, practice has shown that for three different volumes e.g. three different lifting rails must be used.

Die betriebliche Praxis hat ferner gezeigt, daß ein Werkstückträger bei einigen Behandlungsstationen in der Herstellungsmaschine bezüglich dem Förderniveau angehoben, abgesenkt und wieder in die ursprüngliche Position zurückgebracht werden muß. Bei der Verwendung der Hebeschienen ist ein solches Anheben oder Absenken aus dem Nullniveau nur mit großem Aufwand zu bewerkstelligen.Operational practice has also shown that at some treatment stations in the manufacturing machine, a workpiece carrier must be raised, lowered and returned to the original position with respect to the level of conveyance. When using the lifting rails, such lifting or lowering from the zero level can only be accomplished with great effort.

Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es mithin, eine Vorrichtung mit den eingangs genannten Merkmalen so zu verbessern, daß die Volumenverstellung an nahezu beliebiger Stelle eines Förderers mit einfachen Mitteln möglich wird, vorzugsweise ohne Kapazitätsverlust sofort im Strang verstellt werden kann.It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a device with the features mentioned at the outset in such a way that volume adjustment at almost any point on a conveyor is possible with simple means, preferably can be adjusted immediately in the strand without loss of capacity.

Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß dadurch gelöst, daß eine Bodenplatte lose verschieblich in Positioniermitteln in den Seitenwänden des Werkstückträgers angeordnet ist, wobei die Positioniermittel quer zur Förderrichtung des Stranges verlaufen, und daß an wenigstens einem sich senkrecht zur Förderrichtung des Stranges translatorisch bewegbaren Positionierer eine Einrichtung zur Aufnahme und zum Versetzen der Bodenplatte durch deren Herausziehen, durch deren Verbringen an eine andere Stelle und durch deren Wiedereinschieben in in der Höhe versetzte Positioniermittel angebracht ist, wobei Führungsmittel der Aufnahmeeinrichtung den Positioniermitteln in den Seitenwänden des Werkstückträgers gegenüber einstellbar sind.This object is achieved in that a base plate is loosely displaceably arranged in positioning means in the side walls of the workpiece carrier, the Positioning means extend transversely to the direction of conveyance of the strand, and that on at least one positioner which is translationally movable perpendicular to the conveying direction of the strand, a device for receiving and displacing the base plate by pulling it out, moving it to another location and reinserting it in height offset positioning means is attached, the guide means of the receiving device being adjustable relative to the positioning means in the side walls of the workpiece carrier.

Das Besondere der neuen Erfindung ist die Verstellung des Aufnahmevolumens des Werkstückträgers dadurch, daß die für das Werkstück zur Verfügung stehende Höhe des Werkstückträgers durch das Herausziehen und Versetzen der Bodenplatte verändert wird. Diese Veränderung erfolgt durch Einsetzen der lose verschieblich in den Positionierungsmitteln gehalterten Bodenplatte. Ist diese Bodenplatte ganz unten am Werkstückträger angebracht, dann steht das größte Aufnahmevolumen für die Werkstücke zur Verfügung. Mit den Aufnahme- und Versetzeinrichtungen der Bodenplatte ist es möglich, die Bodenplatte aus ihrer jeweiligen Position im Werkstückträger herauszuziehen, durch translatorische Bewegung der Aufnahmeeinrichtung zu einer anderen Stelle zu verbringen und dort wieder in den Werkstückträger einzuschieben. Dieses sehr einfache Umstellen des Volumens kann ohne Kapazitätsverlust der Gesamtförderanlage sofort im Strang an jeder beliebigen Stelle durchgeführt werden. Die Einrichtung zur Aufnahme und zum Versetzen der Bodenplatte ist ein einfaches Mittel und kann in verschiedener Weise ausgestaltet werden.The special feature of the new invention is the adjustment of the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier in that the height of the workpiece carrier available for the workpiece is changed by pulling out and displacing the base plate. This change is made by inserting the base plate, which is loosely displaceable in the positioning means. If this base plate is attached to the bottom of the workpiece carrier, then the largest holding volume is available for the workpieces. With the receiving and relocating devices of the base plate, it is possible to pull the base plate out of its respective position in the workpiece carrier, to move it to another location by translatory movement of the receiving device and to push it back into the workpiece carrier there. This very simple change in volume can be carried out immediately at any point in the line without loss of capacity of the entire conveyor system. The device for receiving and moving the base plate is a simple means and can be designed in various ways.

Bei einer bevorzugten und spezielleren Ausführungsform, auf welche die vorliegende Erfindung aber nicht beschränkt ist, wird vorgesehen, daß der Werkstückträger die Gestalt eines im wesentlichen ebene Seitenwände aufweisen den Kastens hat, daß an wenigstens einer sich quer zur Förderrichtung erstreckenden und den Strang übergreifenden, wenigstens in der Erstreckungsrichtung geradlinig hin- und herbewegbaren und/oder drehbaren Schubstange zwei Führungsplatten parallel zueinander und in einem Abstand voneinander befestigt sind, der größer als die Breite der die Bodenplatte haltenden Seitenwände des Werkstückträgers ist, daß die Einrichtung zur Aufnahme und zum Versetzender Bodenplatte als Haltegabel ausgestaltet ist, die an dem als Positionierungsstange ausgebildeten Positionierer befestigt ist, wobei die Positionierungsstange sich senkrecht zur Schubstange erstreckt, und daß die Führungsplatten in den Bereich der in Draufsicht U-förmigen Haltegabel hinein- und herausbewegbar sind.In a preferred and more specific embodiment, to which the present invention is not restricted, it is provided that the workpiece carrier has the shape of a substantially flat side walls, the box has at least one, which extends at least transversely to the conveying direction and overlaps the strand in the direction of extension back and forth and / or rotatable push rod two guide plates are fastened parallel to one another and at a distance from one another which is greater than the width of the side walls of the workpiece carrier holding the base plate, that the device for receiving and displacing the base plate as a holding fork is configured, which is attached to the positioner designed as a positioning rod, the positioning rod extending perpendicular to the push rod, and that the guide plates in and out of the area of the U-shaped holding fork in plan view are movable.

Die Erfindung stellt bezüglich der vorstehenden Ausführungsform auf einen kastenförmigen Werkstückträger ab, der wenigstens zwei im wesentlichen ebene Seitenwände hat. Das zu fördernde Werkstück, z.B. eine leere oder gefüllte Flüssigkeitspackung aus Papier, liegt zwischen den beiden Seitenwänden und wird mit der Bewegung des Werkstückträgers genau positioniert und bewegt. Das Werkstück, z.B. die Flüssigkeitspackung, wird in der Regel von oben so in den Träger eingeführt, daß die Oberkante sowohl des Trägers als auch des Werkstückes in gleicher Höhe liegen. Bei Werkstücken mit großem Aufnahmevolumen, welche also in der Längsrichtung der Seitenwände tief sind, befindet sich die das Werkstück von unten stützende Bodenplatte in einer unteren Position. Anstelle der schlecht verstellbaren Hebeschienen geht die Erfindung davon aus, das Aufnahmevolumen des Werkstückträgers bzw. seine Tiefe in Längsrichtung der Seitenwände, die bei dem bevorzugten Anwendungsfall vertikal zu denken ist, dadurch zu verändern, daß in jedem einzelnen Werkstückträger eine Bodenplatte auf verschiedene Niveaus eingestellt wird. Es ist verständlich, daß das Aufnahmevolumen des Werkstückträgers geringer ist, wenn die Bodenplatte auf einem höheren Niveau, also näher an der Oberkante des Werkstückträgers, eingestellt wird als wenn die Bodenplatte sich in der tiefstmöglichen unteren Position befindet (maximales Aufnahmevolumen).In relation to the above embodiment, the invention is based on a box-shaped workpiece carrier which has at least two essentially flat side walls. The workpiece to be conveyed, for example an empty or filled liquid pack of paper, lies between the two side walls and is precisely positioned and moved with the movement of the workpiece carrier. The workpiece, for example the liquid pack, is usually inserted into the Carrier inserted that the upper edge of both the carrier and the workpiece are at the same height. In the case of workpieces with a large holding volume, which are deep in the longitudinal direction of the side walls, the base plate supporting the workpiece from below is in a lower position. Instead of the poorly adjustable lifting rails, the invention assumes that the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier or its depth in the longitudinal direction of the side walls, which is to be thought of as vertical in the preferred application, can be changed by setting a base plate to different levels in each individual workpiece carrier . It is understandable that the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier is lower if the base plate is set at a higher level, i.e. closer to the upper edge of the workpiece carrier, than if the base plate is in the lowest possible lower position (maximum receiving volume).

Die Lehre der Erfindung besteht aber nicht allein aus dem Gedanken, das Aufnahmevolumen des Werkstückträgers durch Versetzen der Bodenplatte zu verändern, sondern befaßt sich vor allem mit den Einrichtungen, wie diese Bodenplatte mechanisch und möglichst selbsttätig oder gesteuert von einer Position in eine andere versetzt werden kann. Hierzu wird als Lösung das Verschieben der Bodenplatte mittels zweier Führungsplatten vorgeschlagen, die an beweglichen Schubstangen befestigt sind. Setzt man bei einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform die Lage der Bodenplatte horizontal voraus, dann ist die jeweilige Führungsplatte senkrecht dazu zu denken, wobei sich die Ebene jeder Führungsplatte parallel zur Förderrichtung erstreckt.However, the teaching of the invention does not consist solely of the idea of changing the holding volume of the workpiece carrier by moving the base plate, but is primarily concerned with the devices of how this base plate can be moved mechanically and, if possible, automatically or in a controlled manner from one position to another . For this purpose, the solution is proposed to move the base plate by means of two guide plates which are attached to movable push rods. If, in a preferred embodiment, the position of the base plate is assumed to be horizontal, then the respective guide plate is to be considered perpendicular to it, the plane of each guide plate extending parallel to the conveying direction.

Durch den vorgegebenen Abstand der zwei Führungsplatten ist es möglich, den Förderer unabhängig von der Verstellvorrichtung zu betreiben. Mit anderen Worten werden die Werkstückträger mit dem Strang durch die Verstellvorrichtung hindurchbewegt, wobei insbesondere jeweils ein Werkstückträger durch jeweils ein Paar von Führungsplatten hindurchbewegt wird. Dies kann als Nullposition der Führungsplatten angesehen werden.The predetermined distance between the two guide plates makes it possible to operate the conveyor independently of the adjustment device. In other words, the workpiece carriers are moved with the strand through the adjusting device, in particular one workpiece carrier being moved through a pair of guide plates. This can be seen as the zero position of the guide plates.

Ist die Verstellung des Aufnahmevolumens und damit das Versetzen der Bodenplatte von einer Ausgangsposition im Werkstückträger in eine Mittelposition oder dergleichen gewünscht, dann kann ohne jede Zeitverzögerung beim Stillstand des intermittierend sich bewegenden Förderers die Verstellvorrichtung eingeschaltet werden. Das Einschalten veranlaßt ein Bewegen der Schubstange derart, daß die lose von den Seitenwänden gehalterte Bodenplatte von der in Schubrichtung jeweils hinten angeordneten Führungsplatte seitlich, d.h. quer zur Förderrichtung, herausgeschoben wird.If the adjustment of the receiving volume and thus the displacement of the base plate from a starting position in the workpiece carrier into a central position or the like is desired, then the adjustment device can be switched on without any time delay when the intermittently moving conveyor is at a standstill. Switching on causes the push rod to move in such a way that the base plate, which is loosely held by the side walls, is pushed out laterally, ie transversely to the conveying direction, by the guide plate arranged in the pushing direction at the rear.

Ferner ist an einer Positionierungsstange eine Haltegabel seitlich neben der Schubstange angeordnet und innen mit Führungsmitteln derart versehen, daß die von der hinteren Führungsplatte in die Haltegabel eingeschobene Bodenplatte genau in die Führungsmittel zu liegen kommt. Die Verschiebung der Schubstange und damit der zwei Führungsplatten erfolgt in den Bereich der Haltegabel derart weit hinein, daß die Bodenplatte schließlich vollständig in der Haltegabel liegt und vom Werkstückträger freigeworden ist.Furthermore, a holding fork is arranged laterally next to the push rod on a positioning rod and provided on the inside with guide means such that the base plate inserted into the holding fork from the rear guide plate comes to lie exactly in the guide means. The push rod and thus the two guide plates are displaced into the area of the holding fork to such an extent that the base plate finally lies completely in the holding fork and has become free of the workpiece carrier.

Durch die vorzugsweise vertikale Bewegungsmöglichkeit der Haltegabel mit Hilfe ihrer Positionierungsstange kann die Bodenplatte nun auf ein anderes Niveau des kastenförmigen Werkstückträgers angehoben oder abgesenkt werden. Danach bewegt die Schubstange in umgekehrter Richtung die Bodenplatte aus der Haltegabel heraus in die Positionierungsmittel der Seitenwände des Werkstückträgers, und das Aufnahmevolumen des Werkstückträgers ist damit in gewünschter Weise verstellt.Due to the preferably vertical possibility of movement of the holding fork with the aid of its positioning rod, the base plate can now be raised or lowered to another level of the box-shaped workpiece carrier. The push rod then moves the base plate in the opposite direction out of the holding fork into the positioning means of the side walls of the workpiece carrier, and the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier is thus adjusted in the desired manner.

Man erkennt, daß durch die erfindungsgemäßen Maßnahmen die Bodenplatte an jeder beliebigen Stelle eines Förderers durch entsprechende Führungsplattenpaare aus dem Werkstückträger herausgenommen und an anderer Stelle desselben wieder hineingeschoben werden kann, so daß die Verstellung des Aufnahmevolumens an nahezu jeder Stelle eines Förderers mit einfachen Mitteln gewährleistet ist.It can be seen that the measures according to the invention can be used to remove the base plate from the workpiece carrier at any point on a conveyor by means of corresponding guide plate pairs and to push it back in at another point, so that the adjustment of the receiving volume is ensured by simple means at almost any point on a conveyor .

Entgegen den im Betrieb teilweise verwendeten, bekannten Hebeschienen kann die Volumenverstellung erfindungsgemäß ohne Kapazitätsverlust jederzeit während des Förderns begonnen und wieder abgeschlossen werden. Man braucht also nicht einen Förderabschnitt - wie bei bekannten Einrichtungen - von Werkstücken leerlaufen zu lassen, um dann Hebeschienen oder dergleichen zu montieren, sondern man beginnt das Umstellen des Volumens an beliebiger gewünschter Stelle im Strang und zu beliebiger Zeit. Ohne Verstellung verläuft der Strang mit den Werkstückträgern durch die Verstellvorrichtung ohne Berührung und Beeinflussung hindurch.Contrary to the known lifting rails, which are sometimes used in operation, the volume adjustment according to the invention can be started and closed at any time during the conveying without loss of capacity. So you do not need to let a conveyor section - as in known devices - of workpieces empty in order to then assemble lifting rails or the like, but you start to change the volume at any desired location in the line and at any time. Without adjustment, the strand with the workpiece carriers runs through the adjustment device without touching or influencing it.

Es versteht sich, daß die Ebene der Seitenwände mit den Positionierungsmitteln bevorzugt vertikal und quer zur Förderrichtung des Stranges liegt. Dann kann die Bodenplatte von der in der beschriebenen Weise angeordneten Schubstange leicht herausgeschoben, in der Höhe verstellt und wieder in den Werkstückträger hineingeschoben werden.It goes without saying that the plane of the side walls with the positioning means is preferably vertical and transverse to the conveying direction of the strand. Then the base plate can be easily pushed out of the push rod arranged in the manner described, adjusted in height and pushed back into the workpiece carrier.

Die Positionierungsmittel können von den einander gegenüberliegenden Oberflächen der Seitenwände herausstehenden Vorsprüngen, Ansätzen, Knöpfen, Leisten, Schienen oder dergleichen gebildet werden.The positioning means can be formed by the projections, projections, buttons, strips, rails or the like protruding from the opposing surfaces of the side walls.

Erfindungsgemäß ist es aber besonders bevorzugt, wenn in den Seitenwänden des Werkstückträgers als Positionierungsmittel paarweise gegenüberliegende, parallele, gerade Nuten im Abstand übereinander vorgesehen sind und daß die Führungsmittel der in Draufsicht U-förmigen Haltegabel ebenfalls Nuten sind, deren offene Seiten sich einander gegenüberliegen. Eine solche U-förmige Haltegabel kann besonders fest aufgebaut werden, wenn die erwähnte Positionierungsstange für die Haltegabel an deren ihre freien Schenkel des U verbindendem Steg angebracht ist. Die von dem U der Haltegabel aufgespannte Ebene liegt dann senkrecht zu der Positionierungsstange, welche bei einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform vertikal verläuft. Die Hauptebene der Haltegabel ist dann also horizontal, wie auch die Bodenplatte im Werkstückträger angeordnet ist.According to the invention, however, it is particularly preferred if, in the side walls of the workpiece carrier, pairs of opposing, parallel, straight grooves are provided at a distance above one another as positioning means and that the guide means of the U-shaped holding fork are also grooves whose open sides are opposite one another. Such a U-shaped holding fork can be constructed particularly firmly if the mentioned positioning rod for the holding fork is attached to the web connecting its free legs of the U. The plane spanned by the U of the holding fork is then perpendicular to the positioning rod, which in a preferred embodiment runs vertically. The main plane of the holding fork is then horizontal, as is the base plate in the workpiece carrier.

Ist die Seitenwand des Werkstückträgers aus einem festen Material, vorzugsweise nicht rostendem Stahl, dann läßt sich bei der Herstellung einer Nut als Positionierungsmittel leicht einbringen. Wie eine Sicke versteift eine solche Positionsnut zugleich auch die Seitenwand. Vorzugsweise hat die Nut im Querschnitt gesehen V-Form mit der Spitze des V nach außen zeigend. Die jeweilige Bodenplatte kann dann wie in Schienen in die Nuten der gegenüberliegenden Seitenwände des Werkstückträgers eingeschoben werden. Auch schwere Werkstücke werden von einer solchen Bodenplatte in einem derart ausgestalteten Werkstückträger einwandfrei und präzise geführt.If the side wall of the workpiece carrier is made of a solid material, preferably stainless steel, then it can be easily introduced as a positioning means when producing a groove. Such a position groove also stiffens the side wall like a bead. The cross section of the groove preferably has a V shape with the tip of the V pointing outwards. The respective base plate can then be pushed into the grooves in the opposite side walls of the workpiece carrier as in rails. Even heavy workpieces are guided correctly and precisely from such a base plate in a workpiece carrier designed in this way.

Bei vorteilhafter weiterer Ausgestaltung der Erfindung besteht der Werkstückträger aus vier im wesentlichen ebenen und längs der vier Kanten des dadurch gebildeten Tubus miteinander verbundenen Seitenwänden und einem quer dazu angebrachten festen Boden, wobei zwei der vier Seitenwände, welche keine Positioniermittel aufweisen, unter Belassung eines Abstandes vom Boden verkürzt ausgebildet sind. Durch die verkürzte Form zweier gegenüberliegender Seitenwände kann nicht nur Material gespart und das Gewicht des Werkstückträgers verringert werden, sondern es ergeben sich auch bessere Bewegungsmöglichkeiten für das Herausschieben und Hereinschieben der jeweiligen Bodenplatte. Die Positionsnuten sollten nämlich in solchen Höhe in den zwei großen Seitenwänden angeordnet sein, daß keine Störung oder Blockierung durch die zwei quer dazu angeordneten Seitenwände gegeben ist, d.h. also außerhalb der Fläche der verkürzten Seitenwände. Neben oder unterhalb der verkürzten Seitenwände wird also mit anderen Worten ein sich durch den ganzen Werkstückträger hindurch erstreckendes Fenster gebildet, durch welches die oben erwähnten Führungsplatten hindurchgeschoben werden können.In an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, the workpiece carrier consists of four substantially flat side walls which are connected to one another along the four edges of the tube formed thereby and a fixed base which is arranged transversely thereto, two of the four side walls which have no positioning means being left at a distance from The floor is shortened. The shortened shape of two opposite side walls not only saves material and reduces the weight of the workpiece carrier, it also results in better movement options for pushing out and pushing in the respective base plate. The positioning grooves should namely be arranged at such a height in the two large side walls that there is no interference or blocking by the two side walls arranged transversely thereto, i.e. so outside the area of the shortened side walls. In other words, next to or below the shortened side walls, a window is formed which extends through the entire workpiece carrier and through which the guide plates mentioned above can be pushed.

Zweckmäßig ist es gemäß der Erfindung ferner, wenn an oder neben einer der verkürzt ausgebildeten Seitenwände ein Halteblech zur Befestigung und Halterung des Werkstückträgers am Strang vorgesehen ist. Zwischen diesem Halteblech und der Außenkante der großen Seitenwand sollte sich bevorzugt ein quaderförmiger Raum befinden, d.h. ein Raum in Form eines sehr flachen Quaders, weil in diesem Raum in der Nullposition die Führungsplatten ohne Eingriff mit den Werkstückträgern angeordnet sind, stehen oder -bei laufendem Förderer - an den Werkstückträgern vorbeilaufen. Dieser Freiraum ergibt sich dadurch, daß das Halteblech parallel zum Werkstückträger bis auf dessen Längsmittenposition heruntergezogen ist. Dadurch kann die Befestigung des Werkstückträgers am Strang im Bereich seines Schwerpunktes erfolgen, so daß der Werkstückträger wesentlich kräftiger am Strang gehalten ist.It is also expedient according to the invention if a holding plate for fastening and holding the workpiece carrier on the strand is provided on or next to one of the shortened side walls. Between this bracket and the outer edge of the large one The side wall should preferably be a cuboid-shaped space, ie a space in the form of a very flat cuboid, because in this space in the zero position the guide plates are arranged without engagement with the workpiece carriers, or, when the conveyor is running, they run past the workpiece carriers. This free space results from the fact that the holding plate is pulled down parallel to the workpiece carrier to its longitudinal center position. As a result, the workpiece carrier can be attached to the strand in the region of its center of gravity, so that the workpiece carrier is held on the strand much more strongly.

Man erkennt also, daß durch die vorgesehene Ausgestaltung des Werkstückträgers dieser nicht nur in sich verwindungssteif ist sondern auch fest gehaltert ist und gleichwohl ein Vorbeilaufen an den Führungsplatten bei ausgeschalteter Verstellvorrichtung möglich ist.It can thus be seen that the intended design of the workpiece carrier is not only inherently torsionally rigid but is also firmly held and nevertheless it is possible to run past the guide plates when the adjusting device is switched off.

Zweckmäßig ist es gemäß der Erfindung ferner, wenn die im Werkstückträger lose gehalterte Bodenplatte in Draufsicht viereckig ist und wenigstens eine, von mindestens einem Rand sich zur Mitte hin erstreckende Ausnehmung aufweist und wenn vorzugsweise der Rand nach außen vorspringend, besonders bevorzugt im Querschnitt V-förmig mit nach außen weisender Spitze, ausgestaltet ist. Die Bodenplatte kann aus beliebigem hartem Material hergestellt sein, vorzugsweise einem harten Kunststoff, weil dessen Herstellung und Reibeigenschaften mit den Positionsnuten in den Seitenwänden des Werkstückträgers sehr günstig sind. Je nach dem Querschnitt des Werkstückträgers, der bei bevorzugter Ausführungsform ebenfalls quadratisch ist, sollte die Bodenplatte in Draufsicht ausgebildet sein, also auch z.B. quadratisch.It is also expedient according to the invention if the bottom plate loosely held in the workpiece carrier is square in plan view and has at least one recess which extends from at least one edge to the center and if the edge preferably projects outwards, particularly preferably V-shaped in cross section with an outwardly pointing tip. The base plate can be made of any hard material, preferably a hard plastic, because its production and friction properties with the position grooves in the side walls of the workpiece carrier are very favorable. Depending on the cross section of the workpiece carrier, which in the preferred embodiment is also square, the bottom plate should be formed in a top view, i.e. also e.g. square.

Das Einschieben der Bodenplatte in die Positionsnuten des Werkstückträgers wird weiter dadurch erleichtert, daß in Draufsicht gesehen die vier Ecken der Bodenplatte abgeschnitten sind, so daß an den Ecken kleine Dreiecke entfallen.The insertion of the base plate into the position grooves of the workpiece carrier is further facilitated in that the four corners of the base plate are cut off when viewed from above, so that small triangles are omitted at the corners.

Bevorzugt ist es gemäß der Erfindung ferner, wenn die Bodenplatte drei von gegenüberliegenden Rändern sich parallel zueinander und über die Mitte hinaus erstreckende längliche Ausnehmungen nebeneinander aufweist. Die sich vom Rand bis in den Mittelbereich der Bodenplatte erstreckende Ausnehmung dient allgemein der Federwirkung, weshalb man die hier zuletzt beschriebenen länglichen Ausnehmungen auch als Federnuten bezeichnen kann. Im Massenbetrieb einer Werkstückherstellungsmaschine muß nämlich das Herausschieben aus dem Werkstückträger und Hereinschieben nach Versetzen in der Höhe ohne jede Verkantung, Blockierung oder dergleichen einwandfrei funktionieren. Sollte wider Erwarten die Positionierung eines Werkstückträgers bezüglich der Haltegabel oder dergleichen nicht exakt genug vorgenommen sein, dann gleichen die Ausnehmungen in der Bodenplatte kleine Toleranzen aus, so daß in jedem Falle das Hereinschieben oder auch Herausführen der Bodenplatte in den Werkstückträger oder aus diesem heraus leichtgängig gewährleistet ist.According to the invention, it is also preferred if the base plate has three elongated recesses next to one another that lie parallel to one another and extend beyond the center. The recess extending from the edge to the central region of the base plate generally serves the spring action, which is why the elongated recesses last described here can also be referred to as spring grooves. In mass operation of a workpiece manufacturing machine, pushing out of the workpiece carrier and pushing in after moving in height must function perfectly without any tilting, blocking or the like. If, contrary to expectations, the positioning of a workpiece carrier with respect to the holding fork or the like is not carried out precisely enough, then the recesses in the base plate compensate for small tolerances, so that pushing in in any case or also guiding the base plate out into the workpiece carrier or out of it easily.

Bei weiterer vorteilhafter Ausgestaltung der Erfindung ist vorgesehen, daß der Strang eine in sich geschlossene Reihe von über Stirnflächen aneinanderliegenden Gliedern aufweist, in denen Ausnehmungen für den Eingriff mit Führungsschienen vorgesehen sind, welche die Glieder in den Abschnitten abstützen, wobei an jedem Glied wenigstens ein Werkstückträger unlösbar angebracht ist. Man kann sich auch vorstellen, daß jedes Glied auf seinen beiden Querseiten je einen Werkstückträger haltert, so daß die Werkstückträger also immer paarweise in Förderrichtung bewegt werden. Auch in einem solchen Falle können die Führungsplatten paarweise an der bewegbaren Schubstange befestigt werden und liegen in der außerbetrieblichen Stellung so neben dem Förderstrang, daß die Werkstückträger ungehindert durch die Verstellvorrichtung hindurchlaufen; andererseits können bei eingeschalteter Verstellvorrichtung die Führungsplatten nach jeder Seite jeweils eine Bodenplatte herausschieben und nach Versetzen wieder in die jeweiligen Werkstückträger zurückbewegen.In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the strand has a self-contained row of links abutting one another over end faces, in which recesses are provided for engagement with guide rails which support the links in the sections, with at least one workpiece carrier on each link is inextricably attached. It can also be imagined that each link holds a workpiece carrier on its two transverse sides, so that the workpiece carriers are always moved in pairs in the conveying direction. Even in such a case, the guide plates can be fastened in pairs to the movable push rod and lie in the non-operational position next to the conveyor line in such a way that the workpiece carriers run freely through the adjusting device; on the other hand, with the adjustment device switched on, the guide plates can slide out a base plate on each side and move them back into the respective workpiece carriers after being moved.

Die Verstellvorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung kann auch bei einer Fördereinrichtung verwendet werden, bei welcher der Strang um zwei Umlenkräder endlos umlaufend angetrieben ist, so daß sich zwei gerade und zwei gekrümmte Abschnitte bilden, wobei die Werkstückträger über die Glieder mittels der Führungsschienen gestützt werden. Die Führungsschienen stützen die Glieder in den geraden Abschnitten von gegenüberliegenden Seiten und in den gekrümmten Abschnitten von außen ab. Die Verstellvorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung kann sowohl im geraden als auch im gekrümmten Abschnitt der Fördereinrichtung eingesetzt werden.The adjusting device according to the invention can also be used in a conveyor device in which the strand is driven endlessly rotating around two deflection wheels, so that two straight and two curved sections are formed, the workpiece carriers being supported via the links by means of the guide rails. The guide rails support the links in the straight sections from opposite sides and in the curved sections from the outside. The adjusting device according to the invention can be used both in the straight and in the curved section of the conveyor.

Besonders eignet sich die erfindungsgemäße Verstellvorrichtung für die Verwendung beim Transport oder der Förderung von einseitig offenen, tubusförmigen Fließmittelpackungen in einer Maschine zum Herstellen und/oder Füllen und/oder Verschließen derartiger Packungen. Damit können viele Vorteile, teilweise auch gleichzeitig, bei derartigen Packungsmaschinen erreicht werden, die mit bekannten Fördervorrichtungen und bei diesen vorgesehenen Verstellvorrichtungen nur unvollständig, einzeln oder gar nicht erreicht werden konnten.The adjustment device according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in the transport or conveyance of tubular plastic flux packs which are open on one side in a machine for producing and / or filling and / or closing such packs. In this way, many advantages can be achieved, in part also simultaneously, in such packing machines which could only be achieved incompletely, individually or not at all with known conveying devices and with adjusting devices provided for these.

Weitere Vorteile, Vorteilhafte Merkmale und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten der vorliegenden Erfindung ergeben sich aus der folgenden Beschreibung bevorzugter Ausführungsbeispiele in Verbindung mit den anliegenden Zeichnungen. Es zeigen:

Figur 1
perspektivisch ein von Führungsschienen gehaltertes Glied eines Förderstranges mit beidseitig am Glied befestigten Werkstückträgern,
Figur 2
die eigentliche Verstellvorrichtung mit zwei Schubstangen und zwei Paaren von Führungsplatten, um das Aufnahmevolumen beider in Figur 1 gezeigter Werkstückträger gleichzeitig verstellen zu können,
Figur 3
perspektivisch eine Kombination der in den Figuren 1 und 2 gezeigten Teile, nämlich die Ruheposition der Verstellvorrichtung der Figur 2 neben dem die zwei Werkstückträger tragenden Glied des Förderstranges,
Figur 4
die gleiche Ansicht wie Figur 3, wobei sich jedoch die Führungsplatten der Verstellvorrichtung in der Verstellposition befinden mit in der Haltegabel oben eingeführter Bodenplatte,
Figur 5A und 5B
perspektivisch jeweils einen Werkstückträger mit einer Bodenplatte in mittlerer Position,
Figur 6
die Draufsicht auf eine Bodenplatte,
Figur 6A
die Querschnittsansicht der Bodenplatte und
Figur 7
die Draufsicht auf eine andere Ausführungsform der Bodenplatte.
Further advantages, advantageous features and possible applications of the present invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the attached drawings. Show it:
Figure 1
in perspective a link of a conveyor track held by guide rails with workpiece carriers attached to the link on both sides,
Figure 2
the actual adjusting device with two push rods and two pairs of guide plates, in order to be able to adjust the holding volume of both workpiece carriers shown in FIG. 1 at the same time,
Figure 3
in perspective, a combination of the parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, namely the rest position of the adjusting device of FIG. 2 next to the link of the conveyor line carrying the two workpiece carriers,
Figure 4
3 the same view as FIG. 3, but with the guide plates of the adjustment device in the adjustment position with the base plate inserted into the holding fork at the top,
Figure 5A and 5B
perspectively a workpiece carrier with a base plate in the middle position,
Figure 6
the top view of a base plate,
Figure 6A
the cross-sectional view of the base plate and
Figure 7
the top view of another embodiment of the base plate.

Ein allgemein mit 4 bezeichnetes Glied eines Stranges 3, bei dem man sich auch mehrere Glieder 4 hintereinander angeordnet denken kann, wird von äußeren Führungsschienen 1 mit Schienenversteifung 1a oben und 1b unten sowie von inneren Führungsschienen 1′ gehaltert und geführt. Die Glieder 4 liegen in hier nicht gezeigter Weise über Stirnflächen 16 aneinander und haben für den Eingriff mit den Führungsschienen 1, 1′ in Längsrichtung bzw. Förderrichtung 2 verlaufende, nutenförmige Ausnehmungen 10 und 15. Anden ebenen Seitenwänden 22 sind über das jeweilige Halteblech 39 mittels Bohrungen 21 allgemein mit 5 bezeichnete Werkstückträger befestigt, welche herausgenommen für sich perspektivisch in den Figuren 5A und 5B dargestellt sind.A generally designated 4 link of a strand 3, in which one can also think of several links 4 arranged one behind the other, is held and guided by outer guide rails 1 with rail reinforcement 1a above and 1b below and by inner guide rails 1 '. The links 4 lie in a manner not shown here over end faces 16 and have for the engagement with the guide rails 1, 1 'in the longitudinal direction or conveying direction 2, groove-shaped recesses 10 and 15. And the flat side walls 22 are via the respective holding plate 39 by means of Bores 21, generally designated 5, are attached to the workpiece carriers, which, taken out, are shown in perspective in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

In Figur 1 ist die Förderrichtung der Transportträger 5 mit ihrem sie verbindenden Glied 4 gemäß Pfeil 2 nach rechts unten dargestellt, während im Bereich der Verstellvorrichtung der Figur 3 die Förderrichtung 2 nach links oben zu sehen ist. Dies liegt daran, daß Figur 1 eine Darstellung des oberen geraden Trums eines Förderers herausgeschnitten ist und bei den Figuren 3 und 4 ein Teil aus dem unteren geraden Förderabschnitt herausgeschnitten ist. Deshalb sind die parallel nebeneinander angeordneten inneren Führungsschienen 1′ in Figur 1 unten und in den Figuren 3 und 4 oben im Verhältnis zum Glied 4 angeordnet gezeigt.FIG. 1 shows the conveying direction of the transport carriers 5 with their link 4 connecting them to the bottom right according to arrow 2, while in the region of the adjusting device of FIG. 3 the conveying direction 2 can be seen to the top left. This is due to the fact that FIG. 1 shows an illustration of the upper straight run of a conveyor and in FIGS. 3 and 4 a part is cut out of the lower straight conveyor section. Therefore, the parallel parallel side guide rails 1 'are shown in Figure 1 below and in Figures 3 and 4 above in relation to the link 4 shown.

Als nächstes wird zum Verständnis der Volumenverstellung der in den Figuren 5A und 5B gezeigte Werkstückträger 5 erläutert. Dieser besteht aus vier Ebenen und längs des dadurch gebildeten Tubus verlaufenden Kanten miteinander verbundenen Seitenwänden 35, 36, 37, 38, von denen die dem Strang 3 zugewandte Fläche 38 eine verkürzte Wandung ist, die sogar in ein Halteblech 39 übergeht. Dieses Halteblech 39 liegt im Abstand d in Querrichtung (Pfeil 8) zur Förderrichtung 2 von der Innenkante 6 der Seitenwand 35 bzw. 37. Dieser Abstand d ist erforderlich, daß die Führungsplatte 9, 9′ bei der Darstellung der Figur 3 in der Ruheposition der Verstellvorrichtung neben dem Werkzeugträger 5 hindurchbewegt werden kann. Am jeweils unteren Ende ist der kastenförmige Werkstückträger 5 durch einen Boden 32 verschlossen, der beider Darstellung der Figuren 3 bis 5B oben zu sehen ist, weil der Werkstückträger hier auf den Kopf gestellt ist. Das im Boden 32 gezeigte Loch dient einerseits der Material- und Gewichteinsparung; es dient aber auch der Verkleinerung der Oberfläche, an welcher sich Bakterien bei einer Herstellungsmaschine für Milchpackungen bilden und sammeln könnten. Durch dieses Loch kann man besser Reinigungsmittel einsprühen oder sogar Werkzeuge einführen, welche Arbeiten innerhalb des Werkstückhalters 5 durchführen müssen. Mit den Löchern 21 des Haltebleches 39 werden die Werkstückträger 5 an dem jeweiligen Glied 4 befestigt, d.h. über Bolzen.Next, in order to understand the volume adjustment, that of FIGS. 5A and 5B Workpiece carrier 5 shown explained. This consists of four levels and side walls 35, 36, 37, 38 connected to one another along the edges of the tube formed thereby, of which the surface 38 facing the strand 3 is a shortened wall, which even merges into a holding plate 39. This holding plate 39 is at a distance d in the transverse direction (arrow 8) to the conveying direction 2 from the inner edge 6 of the side wall 35 and 37. This distance d is necessary that the guide plate 9, 9 'in the illustration of Figure 3 in the rest position of the Adjustment device can be moved next to the tool holder 5. At the lower end, the box-shaped workpiece carrier 5 is closed by a base 32, which can be seen at the top in the illustration of FIGS. 3 to 5B, because the workpiece carrier is turned upside down here. The hole shown in the bottom 32 serves on the one hand to save material and weight; but it also serves to reduce the surface area on which bacteria could form and collect in a milk packaging machine. Through this hole one can spray cleaning agents better or even insert tools which have to carry out work within the workpiece holder 5. With the holes 21 in the holding plate 39, the workpiece carriers 5 are fastened to the respective link 4, that is to say by means of bolts.

Während zwei der vier Seitenwände, nämlich die Seitenwand 36 und die Wand 38 verkürzt ausgestaltet sind, haben die senkrecht dazu liegenden großen Seitenwände 35 und 37 eine größere Höhe, nämlich vom Boden 32 bis zur Oberkante 12 des Werkstückträgers. Im Höhenbereich der verkürzten Seitenwände 36 und 38 sind die großen Seitenwände 35 und 37 glatt ohne Positionsnuten. Dann aber erkennt man in den Figuren 5A und 5B von unten nach oben (weil der Werkstückträger auf den Kopf gestellt ist) die oberen Positionsnuten 13, die mittleren Nuten 13′ und die unteren Positionsnuten 13˝. Im Hinblick auf die richtige Anordnung der Werkstückträger 5 gemäß Darstellung in Figur 1 ist leicht ersichtlich, daß das Aufnahmevolumen des Werkstückträgers 5 halbiert wird, wenn die Bodenplatte 14 von den mittleren Positionsnuten 13′ gehalten wird (im Verhältnis zum Gesamtvolumen, wo die lose verschieblich gehalterte Bodenplatte 14 etwa in den unteren Positionsnuten 13˝ liegt).While two of the four side walls, namely the side wall 36 and the wall 38 are of shortened design, the large side walls 35 and 37 lying perpendicular thereto have a greater height, namely from the bottom 32 to the upper edge 12 of the workpiece carrier. In the height range of the shortened side walls 36 and 38, the large side walls 35 and 37 are smooth without position grooves. But then you can see in Figures 5A and 5B from bottom to top (because the workpiece carrier is upside down) the upper position grooves 13, the middle grooves 13 'and the lower position grooves 13˝. In view of the correct arrangement of the workpiece carrier 5 as shown in Figure 1 it can easily be seen that the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier 5 is halved when the base plate 14 is held by the central position grooves 13 '(in relation to the total volume where the loosely slidably held Bottom plate 14 is approximately in the lower position grooves 13˝).

Zum Verständnis des Aufbaues des Werkstückträgers 5 kann man sich vorstellen, daß von Hand die lose verschieblich in den Positionsnuten 13, 13′, 13˝ liegende Bodenplatte 14 herausgezogen und auf anderer Höhe wieder hineingeschoben wird.To understand the structure of the workpiece carrier 5 can be imagined that the loosely displaceable in the position grooves 13, 13 ', 13' lying bottom plate 14 is pulled out by hand and pushed back in at a different height.

Zweck der Verstellvorrichtung ist aber das selbsttätige Verschieben und Umsetzen der Bodenplatte 14. Dies geschieht mit der Vorrichtung, die für sich allein in Figur 2 gezeigt ist.The purpose of the adjustment device is, however, the automatic displacement and relocation of the base plate 14. This is done with the device, which is shown in FIG. 2 alone.

Zum einfacheren Verständnis wird zunächst die linke Hälfte mit der hinteren Schubstange 17 erläutert. Die rechte Hälfte ist analog aufgebaut, und die entsprechenden Teile sind mit einem Abostroph an denselben Bezugszahlen versehen. Beide Schubstangen 17, 17′ liegen parallel zueinander. Am Ende der Schubstange 17 ist ein Haltewinkel 18 befestigt, an welchem eine äußere Führungsplatte 11 angebracht ist, zu welcher parallel die innere Führungsplatte 9 über den Haltewinkel 19 angebracht ist.For easier understanding, the left half with the rear push rod 17 is first explained. The right half is structured analogously, and the corresponding parts are provided with a subscription verse with the same reference numbers. Both push rods 17, 17 'are parallel to each other. At the end of the push rod 17, a bracket 18 is attached, to which an outer guide plate 11 is attached, to which the inner guide plate 9 is attached in parallel via the bracket 19.

Beide Schubstangen 17, 17′ sind in Richtung des Doppelpfeiles 8, also quer zur Förderrichtung 2 derart bewegbar - und zwar die Schubstange 17 gegenläufig zur Schubstange 17′ - daß das Paar der linken Führungsplatten 9, 11 nach links und dabei gleichzeitig das Paar der rechten Führungsplatten 9′, 11′ nach rechts bewegt werden. Die Schubstangen 17, 17′ sind in Führungshülsen 23 gehaltert und geführt und werden von einer Antriebseinrichtung 24 angetrieben.Both push rods 17, 17 'can be moved in the direction of the double arrow 8, that is to say transversely to the conveying direction 2, namely the push rod 17 in the opposite direction to the push rod 17' - that the pair of left guide plates 9, 11 to the left and at the same time the pair of the right Guide plates 9 ', 11' are moved to the right. The push rods 17, 17 'are held and guided in guide sleeves 23 and are driven by a drive device 24.

Außerhalb des in der Ruheposition und in Figur 2 stehend gezeigten Paares der Führungsplatten 9, 11 bzw. 9′, 11′ befindet sich eine Haltegabel 25, 25′ in der Form eines U mit innen angeordneten Führungsnuten 26. In der Mitte des die beiden freien Schenkel des U der Haltegabel 25 verbindenden Steges ist eine vertikal angeordnete Positionierungsstange 27 bzw. 27′ in Führungshülsen 28 bzw. 28′ gehaltert geführt.Outside the pair of guide plates 9, 11 and 9 ', 11' shown in the rest position and standing in FIG. 2 there is a holding fork 25, 25 'in the shape of a U with guide grooves 26 arranged on the inside. In the middle of the two free ones Leg of the U of the holding fork 25 connecting web is a vertically arranged positioning rod 27 and 27 'held in guide sleeves 28 and 28'.

Die Positionierungsstangen 27, 27′ können in vertikaler Richtung gemäß Doppelpfeil 29 angehoben bzw. abgesenkt werden, um bei der Verstellung des Aufnahmevolumens die jeweilige Bodenplatte 14 auf ein anderes Niveau von Positionsnuten 13 anzuheben, z.B. von 13 nach 13′; von 13′ nach 13˝; oder umgekehrt.The positioning rods 27, 27 'can be raised or lowered in the vertical direction according to double arrow 29 in order to raise the respective base plate 14 to a different level of position grooves 13 when adjusting the receiving volume, e.g. from 13 to 13 ′; from 13 ′ to 13˝; or the other way around.

Die Bodenplatte 14 ist in einer ersten Ausführungsform in Draufsicht in Figur 6 und in einer zweiten Ausführungsform in Draufsicht in Figur 7 gezeigt. Die allgemeine Gestalt der Bodenplatte 14 in Draufsicht ist quadratisch mit abgeschnittenen Ecken. Die Bodenplatte 14 weist in der Darstellung der Figuren 6 und 7 einen jeweils oberen Rand 30 und einen unteren gegenüberliegenden Rand 31 auf. Bei der Ausführungsform der Figur 7 erstreckt sich nur vom oberen Rand 30 zur Mitte der Bodenplatte 14 hin eine allgemein mit 33 bezeichnete Ausnehmung, die zunächst als längliche Ausnehmung 33′ beginnt und dann in eine kreisrunde Öffnung mündet. Es versteht sich, daß der obere Rand 30 bei der Ausführungsform der Bodenplatte 14 nach Figur 7 durch Biegen verkürzt oder auseinandergezogen werden kann.The base plate 14 is shown in a first embodiment in plan view in FIG. 6 and in a second embodiment in plan view in FIG. 7. The general shape of the bottom plate 14 in plan view is square with cut corners. In the illustration of FIGS. 6 and 7, the base plate 14 has an upper edge 30 and a lower opposite edge 31. In the embodiment of Figure 7 extends only from the upper edge 30 to the center of the bottom plate 14 towards a generally designated 33 recess, which first begins as an elongated recess 33 'and then opens into a circular opening. It goes without saying that the upper edge 30 in the embodiment of the base plate 14 according to FIG. 7 can be shortened or pulled apart by bending.

Bei der Ausführungsform der Figur 6 erstreckt sich vom oberen Rand 30 nur eine längliche Ausnehmung 33′ bis etwa zur Mitte hin. Hier erstrecken sich dabei aber auch von dem gegenüberliegenden unteren Rand 31 im Abstand nebeneinander zwei weitere parallele längliche Ausnehmungen 33˝ von unten nach oben und sogar über die Mitte der Bodenplatte hinaus, d.h. über die in Figur 6 horizontal liegende Linie 34.In the embodiment of Figure 6, only an elongated recess 33 'extends from the upper edge 30' to approximately the middle. Here, however, they also extend from the opposite one lower edge 31 at a distance next to each other two further parallel elongated recesses 33˝ from bottom to top and even beyond the center of the base plate, ie over the line 34 lying horizontally in FIG.

Die Seitenansicht der Bodenplatte 14, wenn man z.B. bei der Darstellung der Figuren 6 und 7 von links nach rechts blickt, sieht wie bei Figur 6A dargestellt aus. Die geraden Ränder sind nach außen vorspringend gestaltet, und haben im Querschnitt V-Form mit nach außen weisender Spitze.The side view of the bottom plate 14, e.g. 6 and 7 looking from left to right looks like that shown in FIG. 6A. The straight edges are projecting outwards and have a V-shaped cross-section with the tip pointing outwards.

Bei abgeschalteter Verstellvorrichtung befinden sich die Führungsplatten 9, 11 bzw. 9′, 11′ in der Position der Figur 3, so daß die Werkstückträger 5 in Pfeilrichtung 2 durch die Verstellvorrichtung hindurchgefördert werden können. Es wird angenommen, daß die Werkstückträger 5 die Bodenplatten 14 im untersten Positionsnutenpaar 13˝ tragen. Vor dem Einschalten zum Umsetzen der Bodenplatten 14 sind die Positionierungsstangen 27, 27′ in Richtung des Doppelpfeiles 29 nach oben in die höchste Stellung gefahren. Hier liegen nun ersichtlich die Führungsnuten 26 der Haltegabeln 25, 25′ dem Positionsnutenpaar 13˝ in richtiger Höhe genau gegenüber.When the adjustment device is switched off, the guide plates 9, 11 and 9 ', 11' are in the position of FIG. 3, so that the workpiece carriers 5 can be conveyed through the adjustment device in the direction of the arrow 2. It is assumed that the workpiece carriers 5 carry the base plates 14 in the lowest pair of position grooves 13˝. Before switching on to implement the base plates 14, the positioning rods 27, 27 'in the direction of the double arrow 29 are moved up into the highest position. Here are now the guide grooves 26 of the holding forks 25, 25 'the position groove pair 13˝ at the correct height exactly opposite.

Wird nun der Antrieb 24 eingeschaltet, dann bewegt sich die hintere Schubstange 17 nach links und die vordere Schubstange 17′ nach rechts jeweils in Querrichtung des Doppelpfeiles 8, so daß die Position der Figur 4 erreicht wird. Hierbei hat das Paar der Führungsplatten 9, 11 auf der linken Seite bzw. 9′, 11′ auf der rechten Seite die jeweilige Bodenplatte 14 ergriffen und aus den Positionierungsnuten 13˝ heraus- sowie in die Führungsnuten 26 der Haltegabeln 25, 25′ hineingeschoben. Längs der Führungsplatten 9, 11, 9′, 11′ können die Bodenplatten 14 vertikal in Richtung des Doppelpfeiles 29 nach unten und oben ohne Störung verschoben werden. Erfolgt die Verschiebung aus der Position der Figur 4 nach unten z.B. in das Paar der Positionsnuten 13′, dann genügt ein Zurückschieben durch die Führungsplatten 9, 11 nach rechts bzw. 9′, 11′ nach links aus der Position der Figur 4 in die der Figur 3, um die Bodenplatten 14 in der in den Figuren 5A und 5B gezeigten Mittelposition anzuordnen. Dies ist das Versetzen der Bodenplatten, wodurch das Aufnahmevolumen des Werkstückträgers 5 verstellt ist.If the drive 24 is now switched on, the rear push rod 17 moves to the left and the front push rod 17 'to the right in each case in the transverse direction of the double arrow 8, so that the position in FIG. 4 is reached. Here, the pair of guide plates 9, 11 on the left side or 9 ', 11' on the right side gripped the respective base plate 14 and out of the positioning grooves 13 'and into the guide grooves 26 of the holding forks 25, 25'. Along the guide plates 9, 11, 9 ', 11', the bottom plates 14 can be moved vertically in the direction of the double arrow 29 down and up without interference. If the shift from the position of FIG. 4 downwards occurs e.g. in the pair of position grooves 13 ', then it is sufficient to push back through the guide plates 9, 11 to the right or 9', 11 'to the left from the position of Figure 4 in that of Figure 3 to the bottom plates 14 in the in the figures 5A and 5B to position shown. This is the displacement of the base plates, whereby the receiving volume of the workpiece carrier 5 is adjusted.

Claims (9)

  1. An apparatus for adjusting the accommodation volume of a substantially tubular workpiece carrier (5) supported on a conveyor line (3) and having side walls (35 to 38), characterised in that a bottom plate (14) is disposed in the side walls (35, 37) of the workpiece carrier (5) and is loosely displaceable in position means (13, 13′, 13˝), the positioning means (13, 13′, 13˝) extending transversely to the direction of the conveyance (2) of the line (3) and in that on at least one positioner (27, 27′) adapted for translatory movement at right-angles to the direction of conveyance (2) of the line (3) there is a means (25, 25′) for picking up and displacing the bottom plate (14) by pulling it out, repositioning it and then reinserting it into positioning means (13, 13′, 13˝) at a different height, guide means (26) for the pick-up means (25, 25′) being adjustable opposite the positioning means (13, 13′, 13˝) in the side walls (35, 37) of the workpiece carrier (5).
  2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that pairwisely oppositely disposed parallel straight grooves at a distance (c) above one another are provided in the side walls (35, 37) of the workpiece carrier (5) to serve as positioning means (13, 13′, 13˝) and in that the guide means (26) of the pick-up means (25, 25′) are likewise grooves the open sides of which are opposite to one another.
  3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that on or beside one of the shortened side walls (38) there is a supporting plate (39) for the attachment and supporting of the workpiece carrier (5) on the line (3).
  4. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the bottom plate (14) loosely supported in the workpiece carrier (5) is rectangular in plan view and has at least one recess (33, 33′, 33˝) extending from at least one edge (30, 31) towards the middle and in that preferably the edge (30, 31) is constructed so that it projects outwardly and particularly preferably has a V-shaped cross-section with an outwardly directed point.
  5. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the bottom plate (14) has three elongate recesses (33′, 33˝) extending parallel with one another and extending beyond the centre.
  6. The use of an adjusting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5 for transporting unilaterally open tube-shaped packages for flowable media in a machine for producing and/or filling and/or sealing such packages.
  7. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the workpiece carrier (5) takes the form of a box having substantially plane side walls (35 to 38) and in that on at least one push rod (17, 17′) extending transversely to the direction of conveyance (2) and engaging over the line (3) and adapted for rectilinear reciprocating and/or rotary movement in the direction (8) of extension there are two guide plates (9, 11; 9′, 11′) which are parallel with each other and which are fixed at a distance (a) from each other which is greater than the width (b) of the side walls (35, 37) of the workpiece carrier (5) which support the bottom plate (14) and in that the means (25, 25′) for picking up and displacing the bottom plate (14) are constructed as a supporting fork (25, 25′) which is fixed on the positioner which is constructed as a positioning rod (27, 27′), the positioning rod (27, 27′) extending at right-angles to the push rod (17, 17′) and in that the guide plates (9, 11; 9′, 11′) can be moved into and out of the region in plan view U-shaped supporting fork (25, 25′).
  8. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the workpiece carrier (5) consists of four substantially plane side walls (35 to 38) connected to one another along the four edges of the resultant tube and, provided transversely thereto, a fixed bottom (32) and in that two of the four side walls (36, 38) which have no positioning means (13, 13′, 13˝) are shortened by leaving a gap (e) from the bottom (32).
  9. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the line (3) has closed in itself a row of members (4) which abut one another through end faces (16) and in which there are provided recesses (10, 15) for engagement with guide rails (1, 1′) which support the members (4) in the rails (1, 1′) and in that on each member (4) there is at least one immovably fitted work-piece carrier (5).
EP92100643A 1991-02-06 1992-01-16 Device for adjusting the receiving volume of an object supporting-means Expired - Lifetime EP0498181B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4103479 1991-02-06
DE4103479A DE4103479C2 (en) 1991-02-06 1991-02-06 Device for adjusting the volume of a good carrier

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0498181A1 EP0498181A1 (en) 1992-08-12
EP0498181B1 true EP0498181B1 (en) 1994-06-08

Family

ID=6424437

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92100643A Expired - Lifetime EP0498181B1 (en) 1991-02-06 1992-01-16 Device for adjusting the receiving volume of an object supporting-means

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US5216955A (en)
EP (1) EP0498181B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3222911B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE106823T1 (en)
AU (1) AU648139B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2060774A1 (en)
DE (2) DE4103479C2 (en)
DK (1) DK0498181T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2054511T3 (en)

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DE4137098C2 (en) * 1991-11-12 1996-06-05 Tetra Pak Gmbh Device for adjusting the volume of a good carrier
US7250582B2 (en) 2002-10-08 2007-07-31 Lockheed Martin Corporation Method and system for sequentially ordering objects using a single pass delivery point process
EP2163498B1 (en) * 2008-09-11 2011-04-06 Motor Power Company S.r.l. A device for moving and positioning products and a machine equipped with the device
CN107775734A (en) * 2016-08-31 2018-03-09 浙江粤强家具科技有限公司 A kind of cutting machine and its application method
CN107826717B (en) * 2017-11-17 2023-11-07 贵阳普天物流技术有限公司 Smoke pushing mechanism of smoke box
CN108147112B (en) * 2017-12-18 2021-01-08 广东科达洁能股份有限公司 Double-speed brick moving mechanism
CN112009922A (en) * 2019-05-31 2020-12-01 河南许继仪表有限公司 Columnar material extraction device
CN110203685B (en) * 2019-06-03 2020-10-27 浙江镭众科技有限公司 Waste paper and debris mixture receiving and carrying mechanism
CN111085460B (en) * 2019-12-19 2021-08-10 安徽工程大学 Automatic packing box sorting device of production line
CN111332560B (en) * 2020-03-13 2022-02-08 集美大学 Storage bin width adjusting clamping device of packaging equipment
CN111960322B (en) * 2020-08-10 2021-09-14 嘉兴久珥科技有限公司 Manual formula supports lifting thrust structure based on machinery
CN113184929B (en) * 2021-04-20 2022-09-27 江西四季景观建设有限公司 Environment-friendly engineering wastewater treatment recycling system

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US5104277A (en) * 1989-04-06 1992-04-14 Hewlett-Packard Company Method and apparatus for automatically changing printed circuit board test fixtures

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0656127A (en) 1994-03-01
DE59200210D1 (en) 1994-07-14
DE4103479A1 (en) 1992-08-13
ES2054511T3 (en) 1994-08-01
DE4103479C2 (en) 1995-04-20
DK0498181T3 (en) 1994-08-15
CA2060774A1 (en) 1992-08-07
ATE106823T1 (en) 1994-06-15
AU648139B2 (en) 1994-04-14
AU1050992A (en) 1992-09-10
US5216955A (en) 1993-06-08
EP0498181A1 (en) 1992-08-12
JP3222911B2 (en) 2001-10-29

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