NL2000727C2 - Device for transporting products and a distributor. - Google Patents

Description

NL 10558-VH / vw

Device for transporting products and a distributor

The present invention relates to a device for transporting products which is provided with at least a first conveyor and a second conveyor, each of which comprises at least a first drivable conveyor track for carrying and transporting the products thereon; and at least a first transition between the first conveyor track of the first conveyor and the first conveyor track of the second conveyor over which first transition the products can be moved between the first conveyor and the second conveyor by means of a first control member, so that a pair of cooperating first conveyor tracks is formed, wherein at least the portions of the pair of first conveyor tracks adjacent the first transition are at least approximately parallel to each other and have at least approximately the same conveying direction.

Such a device is known from WO2005 / 102877. The known device has a first conveyor and a second conveyor, wherein a parallel transition is present between the first and the second conveyor. Such a transition prevents products from becoming easily unstable when passing, as is the case, for example, with a head transition between two conveyors. There is currently a need for increasing the transport capacity of the device.

The object of the invention is to provide a device that meets this need.

This object is achieved with the device according to the invention which is characterized in that the first and the second conveyor are each provided with at least a second conveyor track and second transition and second control member, respectively, in order to at least two pairs of mutually cooperating first conveyor tracks and with form mutually cooperating second conveyor tracks, wherein at least the first conveyor has a parallel part in which the first and second conveyor tracks of the first conveyor run parallel to each other and the mutual distance thereof in the transverse direction of the first and second conveyor tracks is smaller than the width of the first conveyor track of the second conveyor at the location of the first transition.

Due to these characteristics, a higher transport capacity can be achieved with the device according to the invention, while still offering the possibility of keeping the device compact. Because of the space required for lateral transitions in the lateral direction, the device according to the invention has not previously been considered to increase the transport capacity when this type of transition is used by means of a plurality of transport paths. Due to the small mutual distance between two conveyor tracks in the transverse direction thereof in the parallel part, the space occupied by the device is minimized. With the device according to the invention, a relatively high transport capacity can thus be achieved with several independent product flows.

Furthermore, due to the multiple parallel transitions, it is possible to provide each of the conveyor tracks of at least one product guide on one side of the transitions, which guide is not interrupted at the transition, so that the separation of product flows and an increased stability are ensured. asked.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least first and second conveyor track of the first and second conveyor are arranged parallel to each other such that the first and second transition are offset laterally in the conveying direction, and the first conveyor track of the second conveyor lies at the location of the first transition on the same side of the first conveyor track of the first conveyor as the second conveyor track of the second conveyor lies at the location of the second transition on the side of the second conveyor track of the first conveyor. Due to this arrangement, the device can also be built compactly at the location of the transitions in addition to the compact parallel part.

3

The device is even more compact at the location of the transitions when the first conveyor track of the second conveyor lies at least approximately in line with the second conveyor track of the first conveyor.

In a practical embodiment, the parallel portions of the at least first and second conveyor path of the first and second conveyor adjacent the first and second transition are curved. This offers the advantage that numerous forms of conveyors are possible, while the parallel transitions can be maintained.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the conveyors has at least partially a spiral shape. The first and the second conveyor may have a spiral shape before and after the first and second transition. The advantage of a spiral shape is the favorable ratio between the length of a conveyor track and the space occupied thereby. Spiral shape is here understood to mean the three-dimensional helical shape.

In an alternative embodiment of the device 20, the first and second conveyor comprises two pairs of first and second conveyor tracks, which are arranged such that the first conveyor track of the second conveyor is located at the location of the first transition on the second conveyor track of the first conveyor track. side of the first conveyor track of the first conveyor, and the second conveyor track of the second conveyor is situated at the location of the second transition on the side of the second conveyor track of the first conveyor remote from the first conveyor track of the first conveyor . This arrangement offers the possibility of allowing the conveyor tracks of the first conveyor in the direction of the second conveyor to adjoin each other for as long as possible.

Preferably, the two pairs of first and second conveyor tracks form a unit, wherein the parallel part extends directly from the first and the second transition, as seen from the second to the first conveyor, and wherein the device is provided with at least two of such units, wherein the units at the location of the first and 4 second conveyor tracks of the first conveyors run at least partially parallel to each other within a parallel portion of a parallel conveyor, and wherein the distance between the units beyond the parallel portion increases, as seen from the parallel part to the transitions. Furthermore, the parallel conveyor can have a spiral shape at least partially, the units possibly leaving the spiral shape at different levels, as seen along a central axis of the spiral shape.

In another embodiment, the at least first and second conveyor tracks of the first and second conveyor are arranged such that the at least first and second transitions, viewed in the transverse direction of the first and second conveyor tracks at the location of the first and second transition 15, at least approximately lie in line. This is a simple arrangement in which the first conveyor nevertheless ensures that the device is compact because of the parallel part.

In yet another embodiment, the first and second conveyor track of the first and second conveyor are arranged such that the first and second transition lie one above the other. As a result, little space is taken up in the transverse direction of the conveyor tracks at the location of the transitions.

At least a further transition can be provided between the at least first and second conveyor track of at least the second conveyor, over which the products can be moved between the first and the second conveyor track of the second conveyor by means of at least one displacement member in order to remove the first convey the products transported from the second to the first or from the first to second conveyor track of the second conveyor, or the products transported from the second conveyor to the first conveyor over the first and the second conveyor track of the second conveyor. carrier. This embodiment provides the option of having the second conveyor serve as a joining member or distributor of products. Because of the parallel transitions, the products can be moved in a stable manner from different conveyor tracks to a common track 5 or be distributed from adjacent joint tracks to a common track.

In order to maximize stability, the at least first and second conveying path of the second conveyor can be driven such that they have the same conveying speed.

In a favorable embodiment, the first conveyor path of the second conveyor, seen from the second conveyor to the first conveyor, extends beyond the first transition and has a first distal portion spaced apart from the first transition, while the first conveyor path of the second conveyor first conveyor has a second distal portion remote from the first transition, the distance between the first transition and the first distal portion being equal to the distance between the first transition and the second distal portion when the distance along a a straight line is measured, but wherein the length of the first conveyor path of the first conveyor between the first transition and the second distal portion is longer than the length of the first conveyor path of the second conveyor between the first transition and the first distal portion, so that the first conveyor path of the second conveyor is at least partially a bypass s for the first conveyor path of the first conveyor. This has an advantage in particular with a buffer device, because it may be desirable to be able to transport products via a bypass when buffering is not required.

The first control member associated with the first transition can be switchable for moving or not moving products between the first conveyor track of the second conveyor and the first conveyor track of the first conveyor. This is particularly desirable when the second conveyor is used as a distributor for distributing one product stream over different conveyor tracks.

The invention also relates to a distributor for distributing products from a common conveyor track to at least three conveyor tracks, which common conveyor track and conveyor tracks are drivable in a conveying direction, extend parallel to each other and adjoin each other, and wherein at least a first distributor transition is present between the common conveyor track and the first conveyor track adjacent thereto, over which first distributor transition the products can be moved between the common conveyor track and the first conveyor track by means of a first displacement member belonging to the first distributor transition, wherein at least the first displacement member is switchable for moving the products from the common transport path to the first transport path or not so as to enable two different paths for the products after the first displacement member and wherein the distributor is further provided with a number of further transitions and associated displacement members for further distribution of the products to the conveyor tracks, of which displacement members at least two are switchable and are arranged such that the one switchable displacement - the member can distribute the products from the one selected route over two adjacent conveyor tracks, while the other switchable displacement member can distribute the products from the other selected route over two adjacent conveyor paths.

The first displacement member is preferably switchable faster than the other switchable displacement members, because fast switchable displacement members are significantly more expensive than slowly switchable displacement members when products from very high product flows, for example 30,000 products per hour, have to be displaced sideways. By applying the above defined arrangement with one rapidly switchable displacement member and at least two slowly switchable displacement members, one of the slowly switchable displacement members can be switched over in the time period in which the rapidly switchable displacement member 35 is in such a position that along this slowly switchable displacement member no products flow.

The common conveyor track can pass beyond the first displacement member and optionally further displacement members, viewed in the direction of transport, into a conveyor track of the second conveyor. As a result, no additional common transport path needs to be arranged next to the second conveyor.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to drawings, which schematically show exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a portion of an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is one with FIG. 1 corresponding view of a first alternative embodiment.

FIG. 3 is one with FIG. 1 corresponding view of a second alternative embodiment.

FIG. 4 is one with FIG. 1 corresponding view of a third alternative embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a portion of an embodiment of the device according to the invention, wherein the second conveyor functions as a joining member.

FIG. 6a and 6b are schematic top views of alternative embodiments of those of Figs. 5.

FIG. 7a-7d are schematic top views of an embodiment of the device according to the invention, wherein the second conveyor functions as a distributor, which is illustrated in four different situations.

FIG. 8a-8d are shown in FIG. 7a-7d, corresponding views showing an alternative embodiment of the distributor.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of an alternative embodiment of a distributor according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a further alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device 1 for transporting products according to the invention. The embodiment is provided with a first conveyor 2 and a second conveyor 3. Both conveyors 2, 3 have 8 drivable conveyor tracks 4a-d and 5a-d respectively for carrying and transporting the products thereon. In the embodiment shown, the first and the second conveyor 2, 3 are each provided with four parallel and adjacent conveyor tracks 4a-d and 5a-d. The conveyor tracks 4a-d, 5a-d are driven by drive means, such as electric motors 6, which for the first conveyor 2 in Figs. 1 are illustrated. In this case, the first conveyor 2 has spiral-shaped conveyor tracks 4a-d with a linear outflow and the second conveyor 3 has linearly-running conveyor tracks 5a-d. The conveyor tracks 4a-d, 5a-d can for example be conveyor belts or slat belts.

Although the invention is not limited to a first conveyor 2 with a spiral shape, the spiral shape appears to be an advantageous embodiment because of the favorable ratio between the length of a conveyor track and the space occupied thereby. This is certainly important with buffer devices for which the present invention with the parallel-connected conveyor tracks is therefore very suitable.

The conveyor tracks 4a-d and 5a-d of the first and second conveyor 2, 3 respectively form pairs of conveyor tracks cooperating with each other. A first conveyor track 4a of the first conveyor 2 and a first conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3 cooperate for example with each other via a first transition 7a, which is also known as a parallel transition. This means that the portions of the pair of first conveyor tracks 4a, 5a adjacent to the first transition 7a are at least approximately parallel to each other and have at least approximately the same conveying direction. In FIG. 1, near the first transition 7a between the pair of first conveyor tracks 4a, 5a, a first control member in the form of a fixed guide 8a is shown, which during drive of the first conveyor tracks 4a and 5a the products present on the first conveyor track 4a to the first conveyor track 5a.

It appears that such a parallel first transition 7a is favorable for moving products from one conveyor track 4a to the other 5a in a stable manner. In practice, the speed of the adjoining parts of the first 9 conveyor tracks 4a and 5a at the location of the first transition 7a will also often be the same. In FIG. 1 indicates with arrows the path the products follow within the device 1.

Because there is a need in practice for high transport capacities, the device 1 according to the invention is provided with a plurality of cooperating pairs of conveyor tracks 4a-d and 5a-d. In FIG. 1 this is illustrated with, among other things, a second conveyor track 4b of the first conveyor 2, which cooperates via a second transition 7b and a second control member 8b with a second conveyor track (5b) of the second conveyor 3. A special feature of the invention is that, despite the use of the first and second parallel transitions 7a, 7b, at least the first conveyor 2 has a parallel part in which at least the first and second conveyor track 4a-b run parallel to each other and the mutual distance thereof the transverse direction of the conveyor tracks 4a-b is smaller than the width of the first conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3 at the location of the first transition 7a. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, all transport paths 4a-d, 5a-d of the same width and in the same manner as the first transport paths 4a-b, 5a-b are connected, but this is not necessary. The parallel part could then be defined as the part where the distance between the conveyor tracks 4a-d of the first conveyor 2 is smaller than the width of the narrowest conveyor track 5a-d of the second conveyor 3 at the junctions 7a-d .

Because the conveyor tracks 4a-d of the first conveyor 2 and the conveyor tracks 5a-d of the second conveyor 3 are in any case spaced apart from the transitions 7a-d, the device 1 can be of compact construction, which is not would be achieved if the parallel transitions 7 were simply placed side by side.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the parallel part at the first conveyor 2 is formed, inter alia, by the spiral-shaped part, while the second conveyor 3 only has a linear parallel part. Moreover, the parallel part starts at both conveyors 2, 3 at least approximately directly on either side of the transitions 7a-7d.

In the embodiment, the conveyor tracks 4a-d, 5a-d of the first and second conveyor 2, 3, respectively, are positioned relative to each other and are designed in parallel such that the first and second transition 7a, 7b laterally in the conveying direction are staggered. Furthermore, the first conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3 is situated at the location of the first transition 7a on the same side of the first conveyor track 4a of the first conveyor 2 as the second conveyor track 5b of the second conveyor 3 at the location of the second transition 7b the side of the second conveyor track 4b of the first conveyor 2 lies. Such a positioning also applies to the other conveyor tracks, so that a stepped shape is created, as can be seen in FIG. 1. This arrangement can be achieved by providing the transitions 7a-d between two conveyor tracks 4a-d and 5a-d cooperating with each other of end portions of the conveyor tracks. As a result, there is room, for example, at the head end 20 of the second conveyor track 4b of the first conveyor 2 for arranging the first conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3 in line with the second conveyor track 4b of the first conveyor 2.

It is noted that according to FIG. 1 the products are moved from the spiral-shaped first conveyor 2 in the direction of the linear second conveyor 3. Of course, the reverse direction is also conceivable, wherein the guides 8a-d must of course be placed on the opposite sides of the transitions 7a-d. In that case, the conveyor tracks 4a-d, 5a-d move in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1.

FIG. 2 shows a first alternative embodiment of the device 1, wherein the transitions 7a-c are located in the spiral-shaped part of the first and second conveyor 2, 3. The parallel portions of conveyors 4a-c, 5a-c of the first and second conveyors 2, 3 adjacent the transitions 7a-c are thus curved here. In this case, the first and second conveyors 2, 3 each have three parallel 11 conveyors 4a-c and 5a-c, respectively. In this embodiment too, the transitions 7a-c are offset laterally in the conveying direction of the conveyor tracks 4a-c, 5a-c. FIG. 2 is a clear illustration of the compactness 5 of the device 1 in the case of spiral conveyors 2, 3.

A second alternative embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG. 3. In this case the first conveyor 2 is partly formed by four parallel spiral conveyor tracks 4a-d. The parallel part of the first conveyor 2 is now spaced from the transitions 7a-d, because only at a distance from the transitions 7a-d is the mutual distance between two adjacent conveyor tracks 4a-d smaller than the width of the trans-15 port tracks 5a-d of the second conveyor 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor tracks 4a-d of the first conveyor 2 from the transitions 7a-d run closer to each other in the direction of the parallel part. The second conveyor 3 comprises four parallel tracks 5a-d.

In this embodiment, the transitions 7a-d lie at least approximately in line in the transverse direction of the conveyor tracks 4a-d, 5a-d at the location of the transitions 7a-d. With the second conveyor 3, the conveyor tracks 5a-d continue to run parallel from the transitions 7, so that in this case the second conveyor 3 does not have a parallel part, as defined above. It is of course conceivable that these tracks Sari also approach one another in the direction seen from the transitions 7a-d in order to be able to build the second conveyor 3 more compactly.

FIG. 4 shows a third alternative embodiment. In this case, the first conveyor 2 is spiral-shaped and the device 1 is made up of three units 9, 9 'and 9' 'of two pairs of transport tracks 4a-b, 5a-b cooperating with each other. The units 9, 9 ", 9" are in one part. of the spiral form PA-35 rallely together. The device 1 according to this embodiment is made up of three first-connected conveyors 2 connected in parallel, which together form a parallel conveyor which partially has a spiral or helical shape. At the location of the first and second conveyor tracks 4a, 4b, the units 9, 9 ', 9' 'run parallel to each other in a parallel portion of the parallel conveyor. The distance between the units 9, 9 ', 9' 'beyond the parallel part increases, as seen from the parallel part to the transitions 7a, 7b of the units 9, 9', 9 ''. In the embodiment shown, the conveyor tracks 4a, 4b of each unit 9, 9 ', 9' 'leave the parallel conveyor at different spaced locations, as seen in the longitudinal direction 10 of the first and second conveyor tracks 4a, 4b of the first conveyors 2. It is possible that the conveyor tracks 4a, 4b of each unit 9, 9 ', 9' 'leave the spiral shape at a different level, as seen along a central axis of the spiral shape. However, it is also possible that a last part of the parallel conveyor near the transitions 7a, 7b of the units 9, 9 ', 9' 'extends, for example, in a horizontal plane, so that the first and second conveyor tracks of the second conveyors 3 of units 9, 9 ', 9' 'in different directions' fan out in a horizontal plane.

With reference to FIG. 4, the construction of one unit 9 will be explained. The unit 9 comprises two pairs of cooperating first and second conveyor tracks 4a, 5a and 4b, 5b, respectively. The first and second conveyor tracks 5a and 5b of the second conveyor 3 of the unit 9 are located on either side of the conveyor tracks 4a, 4b of the first conveyor 2. This means that products that pass over the conveyor tracks 4a and 4b to conveyor tracks 5a and 5b are transported, are moved in the opposite direction at the location of the transitions 7a-b by means of the guides 8a and 8b.

FIG. 5 shows a spiral-shaped first conveyor 2 with linearly extending conveyor tracks 4a-d and a linear second conveyor 3. In this embodiment of the device 1, the second conveyor 3 functions as a joining member, the from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 3 products conveyed are combined to one common conveyor track 10. In this embodiment, all conveyor tracks 5a-d of the second conveyor 2 are preferably driven by one electric motor 6 ', so that all conveyor tracks 5a-d have the same conveyor speed.

In this case, for example, the two adjacent first and second conveyor tracks 5a and 5b of the second conveyor 3 are provided with at least one transition 11b over which the products can be moved from the conveyor tracks 5b to the conveyor track 5a by means of a displacement member 12b to be. Such a transition 11b and associated displacement member 12b are also present at the other conveyor tracks 5b-5c and 5c-5d of the second conveyor 3 (for illustration, the transition member and associated control member 12d are indicated with reference numerals), so that all of the first conveyor 2 products from the second conveyor 3 conveyed to the conveyor track 5a. From there, the products are moved via a parallel transition to the common conveyor track 10. In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the displacement members or guides 12a-12d extend over all conveyor tracks 5a-d of the second conveyor 3. For the sake of clarity, the reference numerals with respect to the displacement members 12a and 12c, and the transitions 11a and 11c have been omitted.

FIG. 6a and 6b show two embodiments of a spiral-shaped first conveyor 2, but now with three linearly extending conveyor tracks 4a-c and a linear second conveyor 3. In these embodiments of the device 1, the conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3 is a long conveyor track which, seen from the second conveyor 3 to the first conveyor 2, extends beyond the transition 7a. In this case, the conveyor track 5a functions as a bypass for the first conveyor 2, which is an advantage when the first conveyor 2 is used as a buffer. If buffering is not necessary at a certain moment, the products do not have to follow an unnecessarily long route and they can follow the short route via bypass 5c. Optionally, the bypass 5c is driven separately, so that it can assume a different speed in the case that it is not necessary to buffer, for example.

14

With reference to FIG. 6a and 6b, this bypass configuration is defined as follows. The first conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3, seen from the second conveyor 3 to the first conveyor 2, extends beyond the first transition 7a. Furthermore, the first conveyor track 5a has a first distal portion 13 remote from the first transition 7a, while the first conveyor track 4a of the first conveyor 2 has a second distal portion 14 remote from the first transition 7a. The distance between the first transition 7a and the first distal portion 13 is equal to the distance between the first transition 7a and the second distal portion 14, when the distance is measured along a straight line, but the length of the first transport path 4a of the first conveyor 2 is between the first transition 7a 15 and the second distal portion 14 longer than the length of the first conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3 between the first transition 7a and the first distal portion 13. In other words, when a product from the second distal section 14 follows the first conveyor track 4a of the first conveyor 2, a longer path is traveled than in the case that the product from the first distal section 13 enters the first conveyor track 5a from the second conveyor 3 to the first transition 7a follows.

Furthermore, in this embodiment the products 25 as well as in the embodiment according to FIG. 5 is moved over the conveyor tracks 5a-c via the transitions 11a-11c and by means of the respective associated displacing members 12a-12c. In this case, the displacement members 12a-12c are also static guides which have a fixed position relative to the second conveyor 3, but which may be active in themselves, for example by means of a driven belt or driven rollers.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6a, the products are joined to conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3, while in the embodiment according to FIG. 6b the products are merged to. conveyor track 5c from the second conveyor 3 and from there via the parallel transition 11c to the common conveyor track 10. In FIG. 6a it is illustrated that the products are transported on the conveyor track 4b of the spiral first conveyor 2 via the transition 7b, respectively, the transition 11a to the conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3, as indicated by arrows. In FIG. 6b, the products are moved via transition 7b to conveyor track 5b and again in opposite direction via transition 11b to conveyor track 5a. From there, the products are transported via the parallel transition 11c to the common conveyor track 10.

FIG. 7a-7d show an embodiment of the device 1 with a partially helical first conveyor 2 and a straight-line second conveyor 3. In this embodiment of the device 1, the second conveyor 3 functions as a distributor, the products over one common conveyor track. 10 from the second conveyor 3 in the direction of the first conveyor 2. In this case, the common conveyor track 10 passes into the conveyor track 5d of the second conveyor 3, so that the products are distributed over the conveyor tracks 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and transported to the first conveyor 2. Between the two adjacent conveyor tracks 5d and 5c there is a first distributor transition 11a over which the products can be moved between the conveyor tracks 5d and 5c by means of a first switchable displacement member 12a. When the switchable displacement member 12a is activated, as illustrated in FIG. 7a, the products present on conveyor track 10 can be transported via the first distributor transition 11a to the adjacent conveyor track 5c. On the conveyor track 5c, when the control member 12b is reached, the products are moved via the transition 11b to the conveyor track 5b of the second conveyor 3.

The adjacent conveyor track 5d and conveyor track 5c are furthermore provided with a second distributor transition 11c, over which the products can be moved between the conveyor track 5d and the conveyor track 5c by means of a second switchable displacement member 12c. When the second switchable displacement member 12c is activated, as illustrated in FIG. 7b, the products present on the common conveyor track 10 in front of the second displacement member 12c are conveyed via the second distributor transition 11c to the adjacent conveyor track 5c. There the products meet the control member 8c which guides the products via the transition 7c to conveyor track 4c.

Products which have ended up on conveyor track 5b via the first distributor transition 11a can be kept on conveyor track 5b by a third switchable displacement member 12d or guided to conveyor track 5a. It will be clear that the number of transport tracks 4a-d, 5a-d, transitions 7a-d, 11a-d and control and displacement members 8a-d, 12a-d can be further expanded.

In this case, the conveyor tracks 5a-d are driven by one electric motor 6, so that all conveyor tracks 5a-d have the same conveying speed. The conveyor tracks 4a-d of the first conveyor 2 can be driven separately, because the products are only transported to one of the conveyor tracks 4a-d each time by selecting the position of the switchable displacement members 12a, 12c, 12d. In this embodiment, the control members 8a-d and the displacement member 12b are static guides and the displacement members 12a, 12c, 12d are switchable guides. Incidentally, the guides 8, 12 may themselves comprise, for example, movable rollers or belts.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7a-7d, a combination of one rapidly switchable guide 12a and two slowly switchable guides 12c, 12d is used. In FIG.

7a is the quickly switchable guide. 12c and the products are moved by means of the slowly switchable guide 12d via transition member to conveyor track 4a of the first conveyor 2. In the meantime, the slowly switchable guide 12c may optionally change position to take the correct position before the quickly switchable guide 12a changes position. In FIG. 7b, the fast switchable guide 12a is deactivated and the products follow the conveyor track 5d and are guided through the slow switchable guide 12c to the conveyor track 5c. There, the products are then moved via the transition 7c and by means of the control member 8c to the conveyor track 4c of the first conveyor 2. Meanwhile, the slow-switchable guide 12d is set in another position so that when the fast-switchable guide 12a is activated, the products are moved via conveyor tracks 5d and 5c via transition 11b to conveyor track 4b, as illustrated in FIG. 7c. The advantage of using the slowly switchable guides 12c, 12d is that they are significantly cheaper compared to a fast switchable guide. This circuit of switchable guides 12a, 12c, 12d is particularly attractive for fast product flows.

Quickly switchable guides are known in the art, such as multi-segment valves. Such valves are capable of changing from a fast product flow only one randomly selected product from the flow of direction of movement. . For example, a fast product flow over a conveyor track is 30,000 products per hour.

FIG. 8a-8d shows a partially spiral-shaped first conveyor 2 and a straight-line second conveyor 3. In this embodiment of the device 1, the second conveyor 3 also functions as a distributor, such as that according to FIG. 7a-7d. In this case, three rapidly switchable guides 12a, 12c, 12d are provided. move the products from a common conveyor track 10, which in this case passes into the conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3, directly to the conveyor track 4a of the first conveyor 2 (with guide 12d) or indirectly to the conveyor tracks 4b and 4a via the conveyor tracks 5b and 5c (by means of guides 12c and 12a). In this case, a switchable guide 12d belongs to the first transition 7a instead of a transition with a static guide as in the above-mentioned embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic top view of an alternative embodiment of a distributor according to the invention. In this embodiment, the distributor is provided with a common conveyor track 10 and three conveyor tracks 5a-c. The common conveyor track 10 and 18 conveyor tracks 5a, 5b, 5c are drivable in the same conveying direction with the same speed. A first distributor transition 11a is present between the common conveyor track 10 and the adjacent conveyor track 5c.

The products are movable between the common conveyor track 10 and the conveyor track 5c over the first distributor transition 11a by means of a first switchable displacement member 12a associated with the first distributor transition 11a. The products can hereby be guided to the conveyor track 5c or be passed through. At the end of the common conveyor track 10 there is a static guide 12e which guides the passed products through the transition 11e to the conveyor track 5c. The distributor is further provided with two transitions 11c, lid and associated switchable displacement members 12c, 12d. With this, the products can be further distributed to the conveyor tracks 5a, 5b and 5c, as illustrated with the help of arrows in Figs. 9. The switchable displacement members 12c and 12d thus divide the products from the conveyor track 5c or the common conveyor track 10 over two adjacent conveyor tracks 5a, 5b or 5b, 5c. Of course, many other configurations and expansions of conveyor tracks, transitions and switchable or non-switchable moving members are conceivable.

FIG. 10 shows a further alternative embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention. In this case the first conveyor 2 has a spiral shape and a first part of the second conveyor 3 is designed as a linear conveyor. The first and second conveyors 2, 3 each have two conveyor tracks 4a-b, 5a-b. The conveyor tracks 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b can each have a separate drive. The first conveyor track 4a of the first conveyor 2 cooperates via the transition 7a with the first conveyor track 5a of the second conveyor 3; and the second conveyor track 4b of the first conveyor 2 cooperates via the transition 7b with the second conveyor track 5b of the second conveyor 3. Further, in FIG. 10 shows the first control member 8a schematically. The parallel part is shown in FIG. 10 is not shown. Optionally, the embodiment according to FIG. 10 also conceivable without a parallel part.

In this embodiment, the pairs of conveyor tracks 4a-b and 5a-b are superimposed at the transitions 8a, 8b, so that the first and the second transition 7a, 7b also lie above each other. This saves space in the lateral direction of the conveyor tracks 4a-b, 5a-b. In FIG. .10 furthermore, return paths 4a 'and 4b' are shown for the first conveyor track 4a and second conveyor track 4b, respectively, which tracks do not run parallel to the spiral portion of the first conveyor 2 and follow a relatively short path back to an initial portion of the spiral shape.

With the first conveyor 2 according to FIG. 10, the conveyor tracks 4a, 4b are intertwined. Viewed in the longitudinal direction along the central axis of the spiral shape, the first conveyor track 4a and second conveyor track 4b alternate with each other with this so-called double twist spiral, see FIG. 10. In fact, several parallel conveyor tracks located above one another are wrapped together in a helical form and the first conveyor 2 need not be limited to two conveyor tracks 4a, 4b. It is possibly conceivable that each conveyor track 4a, 4b again has parallel subways, which may optionally be driven independently of each other.

It will be clear from the foregoing that a high transport capacity between two conveyors is achieved with the device according to the invention, wherein parallel transitions ensure a stable transition of the products between the conveyors, while moreover the device can be kept compact.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments represented in the drawings and described above, which can be varied in various ways within the scope of the invention. For example, features of different embodiments can be combined. Furthermore, many variations are conceivable with regard to the positioning of the transitions between two adjacent parallel conveyor tracks of the second conveyor. Furthermore, a device is conceivable in which not a single product stream is transported per web, but a mass of product stream; possibly the mass of product flow is guided over several parallel paths.

Claims (21)

Device (1) for transporting products which is provided with at least a first conveyor (2) and a second conveyor (3), each carrying at least a first drivable conveyor track (4a, 5a) for carrying it thereon and include transporting the products; and at least a first transition (7a) between the first conveyor track (4a) of the first conveyor (2) and the first conveyor track (5a) of the second conveyor (3) over which first transition (7a) the products between the first conveyor (2) and the second conveyor (3) are displaceable by means of a first control member 15 (8a), so that a pair of first conveyor tracks (4a, 5a) cooperating with each other is formed, wherein at least the first transition at the first transition (7a) adjacent portions of the pair of first conveyor tracks (4a, 5a) are at least approximately parallel to each other and have at least approximately the same conveying direction, characterized in that the first (2) and the second conveyor (3) are each provided with at least a second conveyor track (4b-d, 5b-d) and second transition (7b-d) and second control member (8b-d) respectively for at least two pairs of mutually cooperating first conveyor tracks and second cooperating second conveyor tracks ( 4b-d, 5b-d) wherein at least the first conveyor (2) has a bead part in which the first and second conveyor tracks (4a-d) of the first conveyor (2) run parallel to each other and the mutual distance thereof transversely of the first and second transport path (4a-d) is smaller than the width of the first transport path (5a-d) of the second conveyor (3) at the location of the first transition (7). 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least first and second conveyor track (4a-d, 5a-d) of the first and the second conveyor (2, 3) are arranged parallel to each other such that the first and second transition (7a -d) are laterally staggered in the conveying direction, and the first conveying track (5a) of the second conveyor (3) at the location of the first transition (7a) on the same side of the first conveying track (4a) of the first conveyor (2) lies when the second conveyor track (5b) of the second conveyor (3) lies at the location of the second transition (7b) on the side of the second conveyor track (4b) of the first conveyor (2). Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first conveyor track (5a) of the second conveyor (3) is at least approximately in line with the second conveyor track (4b) of the first conveyor (2). 4. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least the parallel parts of the at least first and second conveyor track (4a-d, 5a-d) adjacent to the first and second transition (7a-d) of the first and second conveyor (2, 3) are curved. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the conveyors (2, 3) has at least partially a spiral shape. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and the second conveyor (2, 3) have a spiral shape before and after the first and second transition (7a, 7b). 7. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first (2) and second conveyor (3) comprise two pairs of first and second conveyor tracks (4a-b, 5a-b), which are arranged such that the first conveyor track (5a) ) of the second conveyor (3) at the location of the first transition (7a) on the side of the first conveyor track (4a) of the first conveyor (2) remote from the second conveyor track (4b) of the first conveyor (2) and the second conveyor track (5b) of the second conveyor (3) is located at the location of the second transition (7b) on the side of the second side remote from the first conveyor track (4a) of the first conveyor (2). conveyor track (4b) of the first conveyor (2). Device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two pairs of first and second conveyor tracks (4a-b, 5a-b) form a unit (9, 9 ', 9' '), in which the parallel part extends directly from the first and the second transition (7a-b) as viewed from the second (3) to the first conveyor (2), and wherein the device (1) is provided with at least two such units (9, 9 ', 9' '), wherein the units (9, 9 ', 5' ') at the location of the first and second conveyor tracks (4a-b) of the first conveyors (2) run at least partially parallel to each other within a parallel part of a parallel conveyor, and wherein the distance between the units beyond the parallel portion increases, as seen from the parallel portion to the transitions (7a, 7b). Device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the parallel conveyor has at least partially a spiral shape. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the units (9, 9 ', 9' ') leave the spiral shape at different levels, as seen along a central axis of the spiral shape. 11. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least first and second conveyor tracks (4a-d, 5a-d) of the first and second conveyor (2, 3) are arranged such that the at least first and second transitions (7a-d) seen in the transverse direction of the first and second conveyor tracks (4a-d, 5a-d) at the location of the first and second transition (7a-d), at least approximately aligned. 12. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second conveyor track (4a-d, 5a-d) of the first and second conveyor (2, 3) are arranged such that the first and second transition (7a-d) lie one above the other. 13. Device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least a further transition (11a-e) is provided between the at least first and second transport path (5a-d) of at least the second conveyor (3), over which the products between the first and second conveyor track (5a-5d) of the second conveyor (3) can be displaced by means of at least one displacement member (I2a-e) in order to transport the products from the first conveyor (2) to the second conveyor (3) bringing the second to the first or from the first to the second conveyor track (5a-d) from the second conveyor (3) 0/1 e-j, or the from the second conveyor (3) to the first conveyor (2) ) distributing transported products over the first and the second conveyor track (5a-d) of the second conveyor (3). Device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least first and second transport path (5a-5d) of the second conveyor (3) are driven such that they have the same transport speed. Device according to claim 13, wherein the first conveyor track (5a) of the second conveyor (3), seen from the second conveyor (3) to the first conveyor (2), extends beyond the first transition (7a) and a first distal portion (13) spaced from the first transition (7a), and wherein the first conveyor path (4a) of the first conveyor (2) has a second distal portion spaced from the first transition (7a) (14), wherein the distance between the first transition (7a) and the first distal portion (13) is equal to the distance between the first transition (7a) and the second distal portion (13) when the distance is measured along a straight line, but wherein the length of the first conveyor track (4a) of the first conveyor (2) between the first transition (7a) and the second distal section (14) is longer than the length of the first conveyor track ( 5a) of the second conveyor (3) between the first transition (7a) and the first distal portion (13), so that the first conveyor track (5a) of the second conveyor (3) forms at least partially a bypass for the first conveyor track (4a) of the first conveyor (2). Device according to claim 15, wherein a first control member (12d) associated with the first transition (7a) is switchable for displacing or not moving products between the first conveyor track (5a) of the second conveyor (3) and the first conveyor track (4a) of the first conveyor 35 (2). Device as claimed in any of the claims 13-15, wherein at least one of the displacement members (12a-d) is switchable for displacing or not displacing products between two adjacent conveyor tracks (5a-d) of the second conveyor ( 3). 18. Distributor for distributing products from a common conveyor track (10) to at least three conveyor tracks (5a-d), which common conveyor track (10) and conveyor tracks (5a-d) are drivable in a conveying direction. extend parallel to each other and adjoin each other, and wherein at least a first distributor transition (11a) is present between the common conveyor track (10) and an adjacent first conveyor track (5c, 5d), over which first distributor transition (11a) the products are movable between the common transport path (10) and the first transport path (5c, 5d) by means of a first displacement member (12a) associated with the first distributor transition (11a), wherein at least the first displacement member (12a) is switchable for moving or not moving the products from the common conveyor track (10) to the first conveyor track (5c, 5d) in order for the products to be two different to be able to select different pathways after the first displacement member (12a), and wherein the distributor is further provided with a number of further transitions (11b-e) and associated displacement members (12b-e) for further distributing the products to the conveyor tracks 25 (5a-5c), of which displacement members (12b-e) at least two (12c, 12d) are switchable and are arranged such that the one switchable displacement member (12c) connects the products from the one selected path over two to each other adjacent conveyor tracks (5a-d) can distribute, while the other switchable displacement member (12d) can distribute the products from the other selected path over two adjacent conveyor tracks (5a-d). 19. A distributor according to claim 18, wherein the first displacement member (12a) is switchable faster than the other switchable displacement members (12c, 12d). A distributor according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the common transport path (10) passes beyond the first displacement member (12a) and optionally further displacement members seen in the transport direction into a transport path (5a, 5d) of the second conveyor (3) ). Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the parallel part is located at a distance from the at least first and second transitions (7a-d).