US20090252579A1 - Method and apparatus for transporting groups of filled beverage bottles to a beverage bottle packaging machine in a beverage bottling plant, and a method and apparatus for transporting groups of containers to a container handling machine in a container processing plant - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for transporting groups of filled beverage bottles to a beverage bottle packaging machine in a beverage bottling plant, and a method and apparatus for transporting groups of containers to a container handling machine in a container processing plant Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090252579A1
US20090252579A1 US12/410,999 US41099909A US2009252579A1 US 20090252579 A1 US20090252579 A1 US 20090252579A1 US 41099909 A US41099909 A US 41099909A US 2009252579 A1 US2009252579 A1 US 2009252579A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
rotating
transport track
elongated element
transport
engaging band
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/410,999
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English (en)
Inventor
Josef Dupper
Thomas LELIE
Ludger Pauls
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.)
KHS GmbH
Original Assignee
KHS GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by KHS GmbH filed Critical KHS GmbH
Assigned to KHS AG reassignment KHS AG ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: DUPPER, JOSEF, LELIE, THOMAS, PAULS, LUDGER
Publication of US20090252579A1 publication Critical patent/US20090252579A1/en
Assigned to KHS GMBH reassignment KHS GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KHS AG
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G19/00—Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors
    • B65G19/02—Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors for articles, e.g. for containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G35/00—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for
    • B65G35/06—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
    • B65G47/84—Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
    • B65G47/841—Devices having endless travelling belts or chains equipped with article-engaging elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G19/00—Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors
    • B65G19/18—Details
    • B65G19/22—Impellers, e.g. push-plates, scrapers; Guiding means therefor
    • B65G19/24—Attachment of impellers to traction element
    • B65G19/245—Attachment of impellers to traction element for article conveyors, e.g. for container conveyors

Definitions

  • the present application relates to a method and apparatus for transporting groups of filled beverage bottles to a beverage bottle packaging machine in a beverage bottling plant, and a method and apparatus for transporting groups of containers to a container handling machine in a container processing plant.
  • the present application relates to a transport system for transporting transport units that follow one another in a direction of transport of the system, having compartment elements that act on the transport elements or units and can be moved in the direction of transport by means of at least one drive element.
  • Some transport systems have various designs for transporting transport units, i.e. for transporting objects or products of various types, e.g. for transporting containers like bottles, cans, packs and groups or units compiled therefrom, with such systems widely used in the beverage industry. It is often necessary or desired to transport the individual transport units such that they have a defined spacing in the direction of transport. To maintain this spacing, it is essential to equip the corresponding transport tracks with a transport system having carriers, spacing elements or also compartment elements that act upon the transport units and essentially ensure or promote the desired spacing between the transport units. For purposes of simplification, the current application refers to compartment elements, even if these elements are designated as carriers or spacing elements in practice or other patent applications provided that they fulfill the identical or nearly identical function.
  • Such a transport track permits the optionally transport of transport units having a different length or size in the direction of transport, or if the distance between units, hereinafter “pitch spacing” varies, i.e. the units when viewed as a whole have a different format length
  • pitch spacing varies, i.e. the units when viewed as a whole have a different format length
  • such transport tracks require or desire that the spacing in the direction of transport between the compartment elements on this moving drive element must or should be chosen to at least equal the largest format length, which results in larger gaps or spacings between transport units with smaller format lengths.
  • the format length of a transport unit depends on the grouping of the products which make up the transport unit.
  • the format length of the group or unit is the length of two cans.
  • An object of the present application is to provide a transport system that avoids, restricts, and/or minimizes these disadvantages.
  • a transport system for achieving this object is disclosed as a transport system for transporting transport units or bundles that follow one another in a direction of transport of the system.
  • the transport system comprises compartment elements that act on the transport elements or bundles and can be moved in the direction of transport by means of at least one drive element.
  • the compartment elements can be moved between an effective state and an ineffective state, in one possible embodiment for setting their pitch spacing as they act on the transport units or bundles.
  • the pitch spacing of the compartment elements acting on the transport units is adjustable and can thus be adapted to the format length of the transport units so that the transport system or a transport track equipped with this transport system can be operated with optimal throughput and dead times during processing or handling of the transported transport units can be reduced to a minimum.
  • this transport system can be used as a transport system as such, in one possible embodiment in the form that the compartment elements form of overhead carriers that act on the transport units from above a stand or transport plane or surface for the transport units, or as a compartment unit to bring the transport units moved along the transport track into a defined pitch spacing.
  • the transport system according to the present application is furthermore suitable for use as a function unit in a wide variety of processing and handling machines, such as in packing machines, machines for wrapping transport units or groups of transport units (packs) in film or shrink-wrap, or as a transport system in a synchronizing station, etc.
  • inventions or “embodiment of the invention”
  • word “invention” or “embodiment of the invention” includes “inventions” or “embodiments of the invention”, that is the plural of “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”.
  • inventions or “embodiment of the invention”
  • the Applicant does not in any way admit that the present application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention.
  • the Applicant hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respect to the other.
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the principle of the transport system according to the present application
  • FIG. 1A shows another perspective view of the principle of the transport system according to the present application
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a simplified view of a section of a transport element comprised of a belt
  • FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 5 shows schematically the main components of one possible embodiment example of a system for filling containers, in one possible embodiment, a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with at least one liquid beverage, in which system or plant could possibly be utilized with at least one aspect, or several aspects, of the embodiments disclosed herein.
  • 1 is a transport track for the transport of goods in the form of transport or product units 2 that follow one another in a direction of transport A, which units in the embodiment shown each comprise multiple containers or packs assembled into a group and are spaced and moved in the direction of transport A as a single or multi-lane flow of transport units.
  • the transport track 1 essentially comprises a transport system 3 , which affects the transport movement of the transport or product units 2 , as well as a carrier or transport unit 4 extending in the direction of transport A, which in the embodiment shown forms a horizontal or essentially horizontal transport or support surface 5 on which the bottom of transport or product units 2 rests and which forms a sliding or rolling surface, e.g. a roller track for the transport or product units 2 .
  • the transport or support surface 5 in one possible embodiment comprises at least one motor-driven transport element supporting the movement of the transport or product units 2 in the direction of transport A, the transport speed of which element in this embodiment is somewhat less than the transport speed, and by means of which the transport or product units 2 are input or removed.
  • the transport system 3 essentially comprises two belt, chain or band transport or drive elements 6 , each of which forms an independent and driven rotary loop, which is guided by means of deflector rollers or wheels, some of which are driven, so that the loops formed by the drive elements 6 are arranged on both sides of the transport surface 5 so as to be parallel or virtually parallel to one another in a vertical or nearly vertical plane and parallel or virtually parallel to the direction of transport A.
  • each drive element 6 forms a lower leg indicated in FIG. 1 as 6 . 1 , which is runs parallel or essentially parallel to the plane of the transport surface 5 and at a distance from this plane that is in one possible embodiment less than the height of the transport or product units 2 .
  • the loop of each drive element 6 also forms an upper leg indicated in FIG. 1 as 6 . 2 , which runs at a significantly greater distance above the plane of the transport surface 5 , or at a sufficient distance above the plain of the transport surface 5 .
  • the transitions between the lower leg 6 . 1 and the upper leg 6 . 2 at the inlet 1 . 1 or the outlet 1 . 2 of the transport track are indicated as 6 . 3 and 6 . 4 , respectively.
  • the two drive elements 6 are driven synchronously or substantially synchronously or independently and at the same speed in the direction of the arrow B so that the leg 6 . 1 moves in the direction of transport A and the leg 6 . 2 moves opposite the direction of transport, in the direction B.
  • the transport system 3 also comprises multiple carriers or compartment elements 7 in the form of transverse bars, which when in use, i.e. in the active or effective state, are connected at each end to a drive element 6 so that the two drive elements 6 and the transverse bars or compartment elements 7 form a ladder-like structure and the transport or product units 2 standing on the transport surface 5 are carried along by the compartment elements 7 on the legs 6 . 1 and moved in the direction of transport A when the rotary drive elements 6 are driven.
  • the two drive elements 6 are routed around deflecting rollers so that, at the inlet 1 . 1 , the individual compartment element 7 can freely engage the transport or product unit 2 waiting there and the individual compartment element 7 can move upward at the outlet 1 . 2 and freely disengage from the respective transport, product unit, or bundle of containers 2 .
  • the unique feature of the transport track 1 or the transport system 3 lies in the fact that the pitch spacing between two compartment elements 7 following one another in the direction of transport A, is not fixed, in one possible embodiment to the legs 6 . 1 , but rather can be optimally adapted to the format length of the transport or product units or bundles of bottles 2 , i.e. to the size of these transport or product units or groups 2 in the direction of transport A, so that, for example, one and the same pitch spacing is maintained between two transport or product units 2 following one another in the direction of transport A regardless of their format length, thus avoiding excessively large gaps between individual transport or product units 2 of smaller format lengths.
  • this enables an optimal utilization of the transport track 1 at high throughput (transported transport or product units 2 per unit time) and reduced transport speed.
  • the format length of a transport unit depends on the grouping of the products which make up the transport unit. For example, if a group of six cans are grouped to move along a conveyor with two rows of six cans each, or in the shape of a six-pack of cans, the format length of the group or unit is the length of two cans. As seen in FIG. 1 , the format length of each unit or group 2 is the length of two cans.
  • the compartment elements 7 are non-permanently attached to the two drive elements 6 so that the compartment elements 7 can be attached to the drive elements 6 with a pitch spacing corresponding to the format length of the transport or product units 2 to be processed prior to starting the transport track 1 .
  • the compartment elements 7 are repositioned on the drive elements 6 .
  • the conveying or transport speed of the transport system 3 and thus of the transport track 1 is determined by the speed at which the two rotary drive elements 6 are driven.
  • compartment elements 7 By means of the non-permanent attachment of the compartment elements 7 to the drive elements 6 , at least a portion of the compartment elements 7 can be moved from an active or effective state, in which they act upon the transport or product units 2 , to an inactive or ineffective state, in which the respective compartment elements 7 are removed from the drive elements 6 .
  • the compartment elements 7 are removed from the drive elements 6 at the end of each rotation of the same and reattached at the start of each rotation of the drive elements 6 with the pitch spacing required or desired for the optimal transport of the transport or product units 2 .
  • the transport system is therefore equipped with a magazine or collecting area or temporary storage area 8 for receiving the compartment elements 7 .
  • the first available compartment element 7 i.e. the bar 7 in the collecting area 8 closer to the inlet 1 . 1 , is removed from this magazine 8 by means of transfer wheels 9 and brought together with the two drive elements 6 at the inlet 1 . 1 of the transport track 1 so that the respective compartment element 7 is secured at the legs 6 . 1 by suitable means to the drive elements 6 and is carried along with these.
  • the compartment elements 7 are released by the drive elements and enter the magazine 8 .
  • the conveying or transport speed of the transport system 3 is determined by the speed at which the two rotary drive elements 6 are driven in.
  • the time interval between the removal of sets of two compartment elements 7 from the magazine 8 is determined as a factor of the rotational speed of the drive elements 6 , the pitch spacing between the compartment elements and/or the corresponding spacing of the compartment elements 7 on the drive elements 6 .
  • the magazine 8 is designed such that even with the shortest possible pitch spacing between two compartment elements 7 following one another in the direction of transport A, at least one compartment element 7 remains in the magazine 8 , and its capacity is sufficient to hold at least all of the compartment elements 7 .
  • the pitch spacing between the compartment elements is adjusted by machine control without manual manipulation of the device itself as a function of the speed of rotation of the drive elements 6 by controlling the transfer interval.
  • the pitch adjustment is set by manually entering a value in the machine controller when starting the transport track 1 , for example.
  • a suitable measuring instrument such as an optoelectric measuring section, measures the format length of the transport or product units 2 , from which a computer, for example, calculates and sets the optimal spacing for the compartment elements 7 .
  • the compartment elements 7 can be moved from an active or effective state, in which they act upon the transport or product units 2 and are connected to the drive elements 6 , to an inactive or ineffective state, in which the respective compartment elements 7 are removed from the drive elements 6 and placed in the magazine 8 , or temporarily stored in the collecting area 8 .
  • FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of the present application, similar to that seen in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 1A additionally shows a notch 9 a on the transfer wheel 9 .
  • the transfer wheel 9 rotates in a counterclockwise direction independently from the rotation of the bands 6 .
  • one bar or compartment element or elongated element 7 moves into the notch 9 a .
  • the transfer wheel 9 continues to rotate, the bar 7 comes into contact with the rotating, engaging bands 6 .
  • the bar 7 and the band 6 engage and connect.
  • the transfer wheels 9 are driven in rotation by the motor 60 .
  • the motor 60 is operatively controlled by the controller or control device 62 .
  • the pitch spacing of the bars 7 can be determined by the speed of the transfer wheels 9 .
  • each bar 7 is transferred from the magazine 8 to the rotating bands 6 at a high rate, which could produce short distances between the bars 7 and therefore short pitch spacing.
  • each bar 7 is transferred from the magazine 8 to the rotating bands 6 at a low rate, which could produce long distances between the bars 7 and therefore large pitch spacing.
  • each transfer wheel 9 comprises one notch 9 a for the transfer of a bar or compartment element 7 to the rotating, engaging band or bands 6 .
  • each transfer wheel 9 comprises a plurality of notches 9 a for the transfer of a bar or compartment element 7 to the rotating, engaging band or bands 6 .
  • the ramp 8 a of the magazine 8 is also seen in FIG. 1A .
  • the bar 7 is rotated to the leg 6 . 2 .
  • the ramp 8 a allows the bars 7 and the bands 6 to be disengaged.
  • the ramp 8 a comprises an incline, which allows the bars 7 to slide toward the inlet of the magazine 8 and toward the leg 6 . 3 .
  • FIG. 1A Further seen in FIG. 1A is a plurality of wheels or rotors or rollers 50 a , 50 b , 51 a , 51 b , 52 a , and 52 b around which the rotating bands 6 are driven.
  • the wheels or rotors or rollers 50 a , 50 b , 52 a , and 52 b are driven by a motor or motors 61 .
  • the motor 61 is operatively connected to the controller or control device 62 , which can vary the speed of the rotating bands or belts 6 .
  • one pair of wheels 50 a and 50 b may be driven while the other pairs of wheels 51 a , 51 b , 52 a , and 52 b are non-driven wheels.
  • the wheels 51 a , 51 b , 52 a , and 52 b are rollers which guide the rotation of the bands 6 .
  • a plurality of motors 61 may be utilized to drive the rotating, engaging bands 6 .
  • the pitch spacing of the bars or elongated elements 7 can be adjusted automatically or by the controller 62 . In such an embodiment with automatic adjustment of the pitch spacing, any the pitch spacing can be adjusted quickly and flexibly.
  • the pitch spacing can be set manually.
  • the transport system 1 may need to be shut down before an adjustment in pitch spacing can be made. This may desire more time to make an adjustment than the embodiment in which automatic adjustments of pitch spacing may be made.
  • changes in pitch spacing may not be made quickly
  • FIG. 2 shows by way of example a drive element 6 a in the form of a belt having on the outside of the loop which it forms a multiplicity of seats 10 , each of which accepts one end of a compartment element 7 .
  • a seat 10 could comprise a groove in the drive element or loop 6 , into which the bar or compartment element 7 is placed, and then the bar 7 is driven by the rotating drive element 6 .
  • 11 indicates the permanent or nonremovable or removable guide that prevents, restricts, and/or minimizes the respective compartment element 7 from sliding out of the seat 10 and extends for this purpose along each drive element 6 where the respective compartment element 7 is held to the drive element 6 .
  • auxiliary belts can be provided that rotate in the same direction and at the same speed as the respective drive element 6 a , which auxiliary belts are run such that they secure the compartment elements 7 in the seats 10 of the rotating drive elements 6 a until the magazine 8 is reached, upon which the compartment elements are released so that they can be removed from the drive elements 6 a .
  • the pitch spacing between the compartment elements 7 can be adjusted in steps.
  • FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the rotating drive elements 6 b are each formed by a smooth belt, and the compartment elements 7 have a clip 12 on both ends for clipping to a drive element 6 b .
  • the clips 12 are designed such that they clip onto the respective drive element 6 b upon transfer from the magazine 8 and detach from the respective drive element 6 b upon return to the magazine 8 , for example by means of an external control element provided on the path of motion of the drive element 6 b .
  • the pitch spacing between the compartment elements 7 can be adjusted steplessly.
  • compartment elements 7 are not permanently connected to the drive elements 6 , 6 a or 6 b , but rather the pitch spacing of the compartment elements on the drive elements can be adjusted appropriately to the format length of the transport or product lines 2 , whereby the compartment elements 7 on the drive elements 6 , 6 a , 6 b are then actively involved in the transport of the transport or product units 2 .
  • the transport system such that a multiplicity of compartment elements follow one another in the direction of rotation of one or more drive elements, the pitch spacing of which compartment elements corresponds to the optimal spacing for the transport of the transport or product units with the smallest format length.
  • those compartment elements are activated for the transport of the transport or product units, i.e. brought into a position to affect the transport of the transport or product units, whose spacing optimally corresponds to the format length of the transport or product units being processed.
  • at least a portion of the compartment elements can be moved from an active or effective state, in which they act upon the transport or product units, to an inactive or ineffective state, in which they do not act upon the transport or product units.
  • the drive elements 6 , 6 a or 6 b forming the transport system each form loops arranged in vertical or virtually vertical planes so that the compartment elements 7 descend from above onto the transport or product units 2 at the inlet 1 . 1 and move up and away from the transport and product units 2 at the outlet 1 . 2 .
  • compartment elements 7 of the appropriate form and number it is also possible given compartment elements 7 of the appropriate form and number to provide said compartment elements on rotating drive elements, whereby, for example, the compartment elements 7 approach the transported materials from the side at the inlet of the transport track and move laterally away from the transport or product units again at the end of the transport track.
  • the compartment elements 7 can be configured as tubes or bushings with an extensible internal element that can be locked into a first, inactive position and in a second, active position. These can be activated when reconfiguring the device, for example, by extending a selection of elements, whereby these are evenly spaced relative to one another.
  • the compartment elements 7 form carriers that push the transported goods, i.e. the product groups 2 in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , in the direction of transport A.
  • the transport system 3 is also possible to use the transport system 3 as a grouping or compartment unit, in one possible embodiment as a transport track configured as a grouping line.
  • the transported goods are moved in the direction of transport A on the transport surface of the carrier system 4 , which transport surface comprises at one least conveyor, at a somewhat higher speed than the compartment elements 7 , so that the transported goods come to rest against the compartment element 7 ahead of the transported goods, thus assuring the necessary or desired spacing between the transported goods.
  • FIG. 5 shows schematically the main components of one possible embodiment example of a system for filling containers, specifically, a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles 130 with at least one liquid beverage, in accordance with at least one possible embodiment, in which system or plant could possibly be utilized at least one aspect, or several aspects, of the embodiments disclosed herein.
  • FIG. 5 shows a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101 , to which the containers, namely bottles 130 , are fed in the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow 131 , by a first conveyer arrangement 103 , which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linear conveyor and a starwheel.
  • a first conveyer arrangement 103 which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linear conveyor and a starwheel.
  • the rinsed bottles 130 are transported to a beverage filling machine 105 by a second conveyer arrangement 104 that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels that introduce bottles 130 into the beverage filling machine 105 .
  • the beverage filling machine 105 shown is of a revolving or rotary design, with a rotor 105 ′, which revolves around a central, vertical machine axis.
  • the rotor 105 ′ is designed to receive and hold the bottles 130 for filling at a plurality of filling positions 113 located about the periphery of the rotor 105 ′.
  • a filling arrangement 114 having at least one filling device, element, apparatus, or valve.
  • the filling arrangements 114 are designed to introduce a predetermined volume or amount of liquid beverage into the interior of the bottles 130 to a predetermined or desired level.
  • the filling arrangements 114 receive the liquid beverage material from a toroidal or annular vessel 117 , in which a supply of liquid beverage material is stored under pressure by a gas.
  • the toroidal vessel 117 is a component, for example, of the revolving rotor 105 ′.
  • the toroidal vessel 117 can be connected by means of a rotary coupling or a coupling that permits rotation.
  • the toroidal vessel 117 is also connected to at least one external reservoir or supply of liquid beverage material by a conduit or supply line. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , there are two external supply reservoirs 123 and 124 , each of which is configured to store either the same liquid beverage product or different products.
  • These reservoirs 123 , 124 are connected to the toroidal or annular vessel 117 by corresponding supply lines, conduits, or arrangements 121 and 122 .
  • the external supply reservoirs 123 , 124 could be in the form of simple storage tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers, in at least one possible embodiment.
  • each filling arrangement 114 could be connected by separate connections to each of the two toroidal vessels and have two individually-controllable fluid or control valves, so that in each bottle 130 , the first product or the second product can be filled by means of an appropriate control of the filling product or fluid valves.
  • a beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 Downstream of the beverage filling machine 105 , in the direction of travel of the bottles 130 , there can be a beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 which closes or caps the bottles 130 .
  • the beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 can be connected by a third conveyer arrangement 107 to a beverage bottle labeling arrangement or labeling station 108 .
  • the third conveyor arrangement may be formed, for example, by a plurality of starwheels, or may also include a linear conveyor device.
  • the beverage bottle labeling arrangement or labeling station 108 has at least one labeling unit, device, or module, for applying labels to bottles 130 .
  • the labeling arrangement 108 is connected by a starwheel conveyer structure to three output conveyer arrangements: a first output conveyer arrangement 109 , a second output conveyer arrangement 110 , and a third output conveyer arrangement 111 , all of which convey filled, closed, and labeled bottles 130 to different locations.
  • the first output conveyer arrangement 109 is designed to convey bottles 130 that are filled with a first type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 123 .
  • the second output conveyer arrangement 110 in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles 130 that are filled with a second type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 124 .
  • the third output conveyer arrangement 111 in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey incorrectly labeled bottles 130 .
  • the labeling arrangement 108 can comprise at least one beverage bottle inspection or monitoring device that inspects or monitors the location of labels on the bottles 130 to determine if the labels have been correctly placed or aligned on the bottles 130 .
  • the third output conveyer arrangement 111 removes any bottles 130 which have been incorrectly labeled as determined by the inspecting device.
  • the beverage bottling plant can be controlled by a central control arrangement 112 , which could be, for example, computerized control system that monitors and controls the operation of the various stations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.
  • Transport system for transporting transport units that follow one another in a direction of transport of the system having compartment elements that act on the transport units, can be moved in the direction of transport by means of at least one drive element, and the pitch spacing of which can be adjusted.
  • One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a transport system for transporting transport units 2 that follow one another in a direction of transport A of the system, having compartment elements 7 that act on the transport elements 2 and can be moved in the direction of transport A by means of at least one drive element 6 , 6 a , 6 b , wherein the compartment elements 7 can be moved between an effective state and an ineffective state, in one possible embodiment for setting their pitch spacing as they act on the transport units 2 .
  • FIG. 1 Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a transport system for transporting transport units 2 that follow one another in a direction of transport A of the system, having compartment elements 7 that act on the transport elements 2 and can be moved in the direction of transport A by means of at least one drive element 6 , 6 a , 6 b , wherein the compartment elements 7 can be force connected at least temporarily to the at least one drive element 6 , 6 a , 6 b , in one possible embodiment for setting their pitch spacing as they act on the transport units 2 .
  • compartment elements 7 can also be mechanically connected at least temporarily to the at least one drive element 6 , 6 a , 6 b.
  • Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the transport system, wherein the compartment elements 7 form rests for a trailing end of the transport units 2 relative to the direction of transport A.
  • a further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the transport system, wherein the compartment elements 7 form rests for a leading end of the transport units 2 relative to the direction of transport A.
  • compartment elements 7 can be moved with the at least one drive element 6 , 6 a , 6 b in the direction of transport A between an inlet 1 . 1 and an outlet 1 . 2 of a transport track 1 .
  • Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the transport system, wherein the pitch spacing of the compartment elements 7 on the at least one drive element 6 , 6 b can be adjusted steplessly.
  • a further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the transport system, wherein the pitch spacing of the compartment elements 7 on the at least one drive element 6 , 6 a , 6 b can be adjusted manually.
  • compartment elements 7 are separated from the at least one drive element 6 , 6 a at a section 6 . 2 of the rotational path of the same downstream of the outlet 1 . 2 of the transport track 1 and directed into the at least one magazine 8 , from which the compartment elements 7 are removed one at a time and in the region of the inlet 1 . 1 of the transport track 1 are at least force reconnected in the pitch spacing to the at least one rotating drive element 6 , 6 a , 6 b.
  • a further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the transport system, wherein at the outlet of the magazine 8 , there is transfer unit, for example in the form of at least one transfer wheel 9 for bringing the compartment elements 7 together with the at least one drive element 6 , 6 a , 6 b.
  • the at least one drive element is an endless, driven rotary belt, chain or band element 6 , 6 a , 6 b forming a closed loop, and one leg 6 . 1 of the loop having the effective compartment elements 7 acting on the transport units moves in the direction of transport A.
  • Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the transport system, wherein the at least one magazine 8 is provided at a leg 6 . 2 of the loop formed by the drive element 6 , 6 a leading back to the inlet 1 . 1 of the transport track 1 .
  • a further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the transport system, comprising a support or transport surface 5 for the transport units 2 .
  • the support or transport surface 5 comprises at least one transport element, for example at least one rotary driven transport band or at least one transport chain.
  • Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the transport system, wherein the compartment elements 7 are brought from an ineffective state to an effective state for setting their pitch spacing automatically and without manual intervention.
  • a further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the transport system, wherein the compartment elements 7 are manually brought from an ineffective state to an effective state for setting their pitch spacing.
  • shrink wrapping machines or machines for wrapping items in plastic film which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,826,893, entitled “Apparatus for wrapping products with plastic film;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,115, entitled “Equipment for wrapping groups of products in plastic film;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,555, entitled “Apparatus for wrapping articles in plastic film;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,691, entitled “Apparatus for wrapping articles in plastic film;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,983, entitled “Shrink wrap packaging system with an ultrasonic side sealer;” U.S. Pat. No.
  • the Innopack packaging machine manufactured by KHS Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG, is an example of a packaging machine which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment.
  • Some other examples of packaging machines which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,260, entitled “Packaging machine for cardboard boxes and process for packaging articles in cardboard boxes;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,610, entitled “Automatic machine for packaging products of different kinds in boxes;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,398, entitled “Automatic counting and boxing machine;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,847, entitled “Packaging machine for multi-packs;” U.S. Pat. No.
US12/410,999 2006-09-26 2009-03-25 Method and apparatus for transporting groups of filled beverage bottles to a beverage bottle packaging machine in a beverage bottling plant, and a method and apparatus for transporting groups of containers to a container handling machine in a container processing plant Abandoned US20090252579A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102006045453.7 2006-09-26
DE102006045453A DE102006045453A1 (de) 2006-09-26 2006-09-26 Transportsystem
PCT/EP2007/007811 WO2008037336A1 (de) 2006-09-26 2007-09-07 Transportsystem

Related Parent Applications (1)

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PCT/EP2007/007811 Continuation-In-Part WO2008037336A1 (de) 2006-09-26 2007-09-07 Transportsystem

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EP (1) EP2074047A1 (ru)
JP (1) JP2010504262A (ru)
CN (1) CN101516748B (ru)
BR (1) BRPI0715295A2 (ru)
DE (1) DE102006045453A1 (ru)
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NO20220030A1 (no) * 2022-01-08 2023-07-10 Novaretail AS En lagerkassebane og et lagerkassesystem

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CN101982385B (zh) * 2010-11-02 2012-10-24 钟锦唐 条状食品的理料装置
DE102011081705A1 (de) 2011-08-29 2013-02-28 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Gruppierung von Artikeln
CN103144970B (zh) * 2013-03-21 2016-06-29 苏州凯磊胜自动化科技有限公司 成品笔自动分拣上料装置
CN107187856A (zh) * 2017-05-31 2017-09-22 苏州首达机械有限公司 一种自动出杯机构
CN109250417B (zh) * 2018-08-20 2021-09-28 浙江全佳服科技有限公司 一种自动上衣装置
RU2746558C1 (ru) * 2020-11-02 2021-04-15 Акционерное общество "ТАУРАС-ФЕНИКС" Устройство и способ транспортирования и формирования групп плоских изделий на конвейере
CN117886272A (zh) * 2024-03-13 2024-04-16 淄博维希尔生物技术有限公司 药品生产用输送系统

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DE102006045453A1 (de) 2008-04-03
MX2009003104A (es) 2009-04-02
RU2410319C2 (ru) 2011-01-27
WO2008037336A1 (de) 2008-04-03
RU2009115670A (ru) 2010-11-10
CN101516748A (zh) 2009-08-26
BRPI0715295A2 (pt) 2013-06-11
JP2010504262A (ja) 2010-02-12
EP2074047A1 (de) 2009-07-01
CN101516748B (zh) 2013-06-05

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