WO1996032323A2

WO1996032323A2 - Process and device for packing and unpacking containers into and out of boxes

Info

Publication number: WO1996032323A2
Application number: PCT/EP1996/001522
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Metges; Hubert Kötzinger; Peter Lochbrunner
Original assignee: Christian Metges; Koetzinger Hubert; Peter Lochbrunner
Priority date: 1995-04-10
Filing date: 1996-04-09
Publication date: 1996-10-17
Also published as: DE19513552A1; AU5646096A; WO1996032323A3

Abstract

A process and device for packing containers (1) into boxes is disclosed. The containers (20) arranged in matrix-shaped groups on a first continuous conveyor (4) are gripped by corresponding packing means (18) and set into boxes (6) on a second continuous conveyor (8). The invention is characterised in that the packing means (18) are arranged on a carrousel (10) that rotates around a horizontal axis of rotation (11) that extends transversely to the common direction of displacement (5) of the first and second conveyors (4, 8). Besides carrying out a movement of rotation (9) around the axis of rotation (11), the packing means (18) carry out an additional linear movement parallel to the axis of rotation (11) between both conveyors (4, 8).

Description

description

Method and device for packing or unpacking containers to be packed or unpacked in boxes

The present invention relates to a method and a device for packing items to be packed in boxes

Containers in which or in which the containers arranged in groups in matrix form on a first rotating conveyor device are gripped by a packing set and placed in respective boxes on a respective second rotating conveyor device. The invention further relates to a method and an apparatus for unpacking containers to be unpacked from boxes, in which or in which the containers arranged in the boxes moving on a first rotating conveyor device are gripped by a respective packing set and placed on a second rotating conveyor device . In addition, the invention relates to auxiliary methods according to the

Claims 8 and 11 and auxiliary devices according to the

Claims 27, 34 and 38.

A method or a device of the type mentioned at the outset has been in practical use in several factories for several years. The highest hourly output in terms of the number of containers that can be packed and unpacked is currently achieved. For example, systems are currently being offered which should be able to handle up to 8100 boxes per hour, for example 150,000 bottles per hour. As in the present invention, these are so-called continuous packing and unpacking processes or devices. In the known method or in the known device, the two conveying devices run in opposite directions. The packing sets are moved around an elongated guide island, which is located between the two conveyors. During the circulation around this guide island, the packing sets are also moved in waves so that they first move down in the area of the first conveying device in order to grip the containers and then move up again in order to lift the containers from the first conveying device and towards them to transport the boxes located in the second conveyor. The amplitude of this lifting movement must be sufficient to subsequently move the groups of containers down and place them in the boxes. The packing sets must then be lifted off the crates and moved around the other end of the guide island so that they are able to move down again in order to take a new group of containers to be packed by the first conveyor.

The fact that the packing sets around an elongated guide island and along the undulating

Guideways must be moved, whereby changes in direction occur continuously, they must be constantly accelerated and slowed down, which ultimately the

Movement speed sets limits and limits the hourly output of the system. Furthermore, the continuously required braking and acceleration lead to increased wear, so that the system as a whole is prone to failure. A relatively large amount of effort is also required to accomplish the relatively complicated movements of the packing sets.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method or a device of the type mentioned at the outset with which a high hourly output - at least comparable to that of the prior art - can be achieved reliably and with less effort and in which in the case of accidents which lead to an interruption of operations and therefore to a reduction in the average

Hourly performance compared to the known

Plants, can be significantly reduced.

To solve this problem, it is provided both in the packing method and in the unpacking method that the packing sets are arranged on a circular axis rotating around a horizontal axis and transverse to the common running direction of the first and second conveying devices, and that the packing sets are in addition to the rotational movement about the rotating axis perform a linear movement parallel to the axis of rotation between the two conveyors. A device for carrying out this method when packing containers can be found in claim 12, while the corresponding device for unpacking containers can be found in claim 16.

In turn, the invention uses two conveying devices which, in contrast to the prior art, run in the same conveying direction. Above these two conveying devices, there is the circular disk rotating around a horizontal axis of rotation, this axis of rotation being transverse to the first and second conveying devices. Due to the fact that the rondel performs a continuous rotary movement, the acceleration and deceleration processes of the packing sets are minimized as far as possible in comparison with the known system. The linear movement of the packing sets parallel to the axis of rotation between the two conveying devices takes place during the rotary movement of the rondel and can be realized in such a way that no pronounced inertia forces occur here, which could lead to undesired wear and undesired accidents. The rotary movement of the rondelle as a whole is always somewhat balanced due to the symmetrical arrangement of the moving parts, so that the arrangement runs relatively free from vibrations. Because the rotational speed required is a high one, comparable to the hourly output of the most powerful systems to date Achieving hourly output, at around 10 rpm of the rondelle, is quite acceptable for a certain amount of time. The roundabout therefore forms the device which transfers the containers from one conveyor device to the other and, in the inventive concept, can also be operated at higher rotational speeds in order to further increase the hourly output, whereas in the prior art the speed limits of the transfer device are reached more quickly .

In connection with the creation of a powerful, continuously operating device for packing containers in boxes, the further task is to be able to convert the corresponding device to different container and box sizes as quickly as possible.

To achieve this object, the invention provides a method for grouping containers delivered on a first conveying device in accordance with an intended matrix shape, with several being arranged in the longitudinal direction along the first

Railings extending conveyor carry out the alignment of the containers in the transverse direction and the containers are transported in the alleys formed between the railings on the respective conveyor belts provided in the alleys, a circumferential bottle divider being provided in the inlet area of the first conveyor device, ie the conveyor belts, which is arranged in rows across to the direction of rotation and in the area of the conveyor belts, which move at a linear speed less than the revolution speed of the conveyor belts and successive rows of dividing pins have a mutual distance corresponding to the length of the respective container groups, characterized in that the respective rows of dividing pins arranged on carrier units and adjusted in the longitudinal direction along the carrier units dn in or opposite to the conveying direction, the bottle divider being either below b or is arranged above the upper debris of the conveyor belts. A corresponding device can be found in claim 27.

The invention thus provides a method and a device which use the dividing pins known per se according to the prior art, but which mount them on carrier units in such a way that they extend in the longitudinal direction along the carrier units, i.e. can be adjusted in or opposite to the conveying direction, the system being very fast, automatic and without manual work on the

Operation, different block lengths, i.e. the different lengths of the groups of containers can be adapted, these block lengths depending on the dimensions of the containers and the number of containers to be packed in an intended box.

This solution according to the invention can expediently be used as a supplement to the method according to the invention, but can also be used advantageously in existing plants which operate on a different principle.

Another part of the task described above is to be able to vary the block widths or width of the groups of containers to be packed in boxes fully automatically during operation in order to accommodate different container dimensions and box dimensions. For this purpose, a device for railing adjustment is preferably used in a conveyor for

Container provided, the railings being moved at least at one point by respective adjusting bodies arranged in a row, and the respective adjusting bodies being adjustable in the transverse direction by rotating a continuous adjusting shaft, characterized in that each adjusting body is seated on a sleeve rotatable by the adjusting shaft, wherein one of the sleeves is not displaceable in the axial direction of the adjusting shaft, but the others are displaceable, a screw drive being provided between each actuating body and the associated sleeve, such that a

Twisting the sleeve to shift the twist secured actuator along the adjusting shaft, and that each actuator is coupled via a bearing to the sleeve of the adjacent actuator for driving the same, whereby the adjusting movement of each actuator depending on the direction of rotation of the adjusting shaft is added to or subtracted from the adjusting movement of the previous actuator. Because with a railing adjustment also one

Adjustment of the dividing pins in the transverse direction is required, the device according to claim 27 is developed in a corresponding manner, as is apparent from claim 30.

This device for handrail or one-piece pin adjustment in the transverse direction of the conveyor is again a device which can either be regarded as a supplement to the first-mentioned method according to the invention or the device according to the invention, but is also useful in itself and also for use in conventional systems or processes.

After all, a continuously working, powerful device for packing containers in boxes requires a well-thought-out strategy for handling faulty boxes or faulty packing processes that works quickly and reliably and prevents long-term malfunctions and damage to the system. to

To solve this subtask, the invention provides a method for avoiding damage caused by accidents when packing containers into damaged or improper boxes, in which a sensor device detects a buffer movement of the packing set, which indicates an impending accident, and triggers a switch-off process, characterized in that in the event of the sensor device responding, part of the second conveyor device carrying the boxes in the region of the roundel is moved downward. A corresponding support device for supporting boxes when packing containers into the boxes can be found in claim 38. The fact that the table of the support device can be moved down very quickly in the event of a fault, it is possible to prevent damaged or not

proper crates can damage or cause a long-term failure of the system. According to the invention, these defective or improper crates are simply moved quickly downward out of the area of the packing sets, so that the circular wheel can run unimpeded when braking, until the defective or improper crates are removed from the table and moved upwards again by the support device is. The sensor signal announcing the fault can also be used to switch off the system as a whole.

This device can also be used expediently with the method or with the device of the invention mentioned here first, but can also be used with conventional ones

Plants are used to remedy faults there.

Further preferred embodiments of the methods and devices according to the invention can be found in the subclaims.

The invention is described below using a practical

Example and the drawing explained in more detail, in which show:

1 is a schematic view of the first conveyor and the roundel of a machine according to the invention for packing containers in boxes, roughly as this view is shown on the plane I-I of FIG. 3,

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the second conveyor and the rondel of the machine according to the invention for sacking water in boxes, in roughly as this view is shown on plane II-II of FIG. 3,

Fig. 3 shows a cross section through the rondel of Fig. 1 and

2 at the cutting plane III-III,

4 shows an enlarged illustration of the bottle divider on the right-hand side of FIG. 1 in the same side view, but with simultaneous illustration of the link control for the circulating movement of the carrier units carrying the dividing pins,

Fig. 5 shows a cross section through the bottle divider

4, seen on the cross-sectional plane V-V, specifically viewed over the entire width of the first conveyor,

6A to E different details of the carrier units of the

Bottle divider according to FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein

6A shows a further link control for adjusting the dividing pins along the support units, as on the sectional plane Vla-VIa of FIG. 5,

FIG. 6B shows the revolving chain of the adjusting device of FIG. 6A, specifically as can be seen on the cutting plane VIb-VIb of FIGS. 6C and 6D,

6C shows a view of the device of FIG. 6A in the direction VIc,

Fig. 6D is an open side view of the device of Fig. 6C, and

Fig. 6E shows a section through Fig. 6b on the

Section plane VIe-VIe represents :, 7 is a partially broken-away representation of the transverse adjustment of the dividing pins of a row of pins of the bottle divider of FIG. 1, as can be seen approximately at the cutting plane VII-VII,

8 is an enlarged view of part of FIG.

7, from which the mechanical arrangement clearer

emerges

9A and 9B view of the pin row of Fig. 7, namely

Fig. 9A is a view corresponding to the arrow IXa of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9B is a section of the same on the plane

IXb-IXb of FIG. 7.

10 is an enlarged, partially broken away illustration of the railing adjustment device of FIG. 1, as can be seen on the plane X-X,

11 is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 9,

12A and 12B sectional view according to the levels

Xlla-XIIa and Xllb-XIIb of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 13 is a schematic representation of the adaptation of the

Railings on different container diameters.

The machine according to the invention was designed to either pack containers 2, which are supplied by the first conveyor 4 according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, into boxes 6 on the second conveyor 8 or containers 2 from boxes 6 on the first conveyor 4 can be removed and placed on the second conveyor 8. That is, the machine according to the invention can be implemented and used either as a packaging machine and / or as an unpacking machine. Here is a continuously operating principle, in which the first conveyor 4 and the second conveyor 8 are arranged side by side. Above the parallel conveyors 4 and 8, the roundel 10 is attached, which rotates in a similar form to a ferris wheel in the direction of arrow 9 (FIG. 1) about the horizontal axis of rotation 11. Spread over the circumference are preferably five, linearly movable gripper units 12, of which only three are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of which can serve four boxes 6 (up to six boxes are possible) and thus the actual one

Carry out the packing process. The goods to be transported (containers 2 and boxes 6) do not come to a standstill during the packing process.

Due to the undefined distances and positions of the containers 2 on the upstream conveying device, the empacking machine is considerably more complicated than the unpacking machine and is therefore taken as a reference for the description. The regulated arrangement of the containers 2 in the boxes 6, which are located on the first conveyor 4 when unpacking, immensely simplifies the unpacking process. The unpacking machine is thus also realized by dispensing with several assemblies. To describe the process, we pick out a gripper unit 12 and follow a complete packing cycle in the case of packing, based on certain boundary conditions.

There is the respective one, but not shown

Gripper unit, initially on the side of the first conveyor 4 in the three o'clock position 12a of Fig. 1 des

Rondells 10. In front of the bottle divider 16, the first

Includes conveyor 4, there is a large

Number of pent-up and filled containers 2 on a storage belt, not shown. Due to the effect of the

The filled containers 2 are distributed in various alleys 14 on the first conveyor 4 and move in the direction of the arrow 5 towards the bottle divider 16 located in the first conveyor. With that the containers 2 are arranged in rows corresponding approximately to the box matrix.

Now the containers 2 have to be divided along the rows into containers or block groups according to the required number of bottles of the given box matrix. The bottle divider 16 gives the container group in the direction of arrow 5

(Fig.1) free and holds the surplus container 2 back. The gripper unit (not shown) in the three o'clock position 12a of FIG. 1 lowers as a result of the rotation of the roundel 10

Arrow direction 9 over the divided container group and then holds it. The gripper unit 12 has one

Packing tulips 20 existing gripper set 18, which is vertically displaceable, so that the packing tulips 20 do not have to close exactly in the lower turning point of the rondelle 10, but can then close as soon as they have placed on the containers 2. The vertical component of the

Rondelle movement buffered, whereby the gripper assembly 18 describes a path flattened at the lower quadrant of the orbit of the rondelle 10. In order to ensure that the gripper assembly 18 in the gripper unit 12 lowers exactly above the containers 2, these are moved by moving

Positioning pins 22 out.

When turning further, the gripper unit 12 also lifts the container group off. As soon as the nine o'clock position of the rondel 10 in FIG. 1 has been reached (which corresponds to the three o'clock position in FIG. 2), a linear movement of the gripper unit 12 is initiated parallel to the axis of rotation 11, the linear movement after further rotation of the rondel 10 in the direction of arrow 9 in the three o'clock position in Fig. 1 (which corresponds to the nine o'clock position in Fig. 2) is complete. The gripper unit 12 is thus in the nine o'clock position in FIG. 2 above the second conveyor device 8. So that the containers 2 can be placed precisely in the boxes 6, they are positioned along the box positioner 28 with positioning pins after they have also first been divided prepositioned, which the second conveyor 8 contains. The exact position of the boxes when inserting the container is achieved by the centering frame 24, which, with the gripper assembly 18 and guided over a control cam 26 (FIG. 2), lowers onto the boxes 6 before the containers 2 are inserted.

After the packing tulips 20 in the gripper set 18 have been opened and the gripper unit 12 has lifted off the boxes 6 again in the direction of arrow 9 (FIG. 2), a further linear movement of the gripper unit 12 from the second conveyor 8 to the side of the first conveyor can 4 the starting position is taken up again to begin the next packing cycle. This further linear movement takes place most easily during a further rotation of the rondelle. The released boxes 6 are now provided with containers 2 and can, according to

Leave arrow direction 5 (Fig. 2). Since this sequence, which is illustrated here using the example of a gripper unit 12, requires two rotations, five gripper units 12 are preferably provided in order to achieve a harmonious sequence.

In order to be able to move the crate positioner 28 downward in the second conveyor 8 in the case of a bottle cradle in order to avoid collisions, two cylinders 30 and four guides 32 were provided for the latter. During the

The crate positioner 28 is normally operated by the

Cylinder 30, as can be seen in FIG. 2, is supported in the upper end position. Double-acting pneumatic cylinders were chosen, on the one hand because only two defined positions are required, on the other hand so that they can accelerate very quickly and the speed in the lower area can be comfortably absorbed (end position damping). Serve as guides 32

Roller guides that prevent the box positioner 28 from tilting or tilting. This is necessary because tilting could lead to jamming during the descent process. On the other hand, the operating position of the crate positioner 28 is not as exact. It would also be conceivable to replace the downward movement of the second conveyor 8 by the fact that the lever plates 48, which carry the gripper units 12 at the two opposite ends of the linear guides 42, are made in several parts, the parts of the lever plates being displaceable relative to one another thus the necessary stroke

To be able to implement faults.

The prepositioning of the boxes 6 by the box positioner 28 can be replaced by constructive measures on the roundel 10 by running the boxes 6 onto corresponding components of the roundel 10.

In order to meet the requirement of being able to drive different box matrices, and this results in different box widths, a corresponding railing adjustment unit 34 (FIG. 2) is provided for the boxes. The box railing 36 is moved perpendicular to the belt direction by a scissor mechanism which is driven by an electric motor. This railing adjustment unit can be driven by a motor (not shown), which enables a defined positioning and maintains a specific position due to its holding torque.

Due to the kinematic principle used for the machine, there is a direct correlation between the size of the clothing, the round diameter and the packing capacity. For a given packing or unpacking performance there is a maximum permissible rotational speed of the rondel, ie the maximum permissible linear gripper units 12 or the gripper sets 18 located therein. It has been found that the optimal solution for the design of the roundel is reached when the roundel diameter is kept as small as possible. As a result, the required amount of material and the possible balancing forces are kept as small as possible. It has also been found that the optimal number of gripper units is five. The use of more gripper units leads to larger ones Diameters and additional costs, while less than five

Gripper units seem to find it more difficult to achieve a harmonious packing and unpacking procedure. Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to the use of just five gripper units. More or fewer gripper units can be used. If the above-mentioned circulation speed were too high, there would be the danger that the containers 2 would fall over on the first conveyor 4 when entering the machine due to excessive acceleration of the all-round hinged belt chains 38 of the first conveyor 4. Therefore, the gripper units 12 must be kept as small as possible in the conveying direction. The hinge belt chains 38 of the first conveyor 4 run namely faster than the one-piece fingers 160 of the bottle dividers and the positioning fingers 22 of the bottle positioners 94, which each move at the same speed as the gripper units 12.

The aim of the roundel 10 is that the five gripper units 12 are attached to the smallest possible diameter. This requires a design that is optimized in terms of shape and space saving. The roundel 10 must ensure that the gripper units 12 can be moved between the first conveyor 4 and the second conveyor 8. The vertical component of the rotational movement is responsible for lifting the containers 2 from the first conveyor 4 on the one hand and lowering them into the boxes 6 on the second conveyor 8 on the other hand. In order for the packing tulips 20 to have sufficient time to open and close, the circular path must, as already mentioned, be flattened at the lower quadrant of the circular movement of the rondelle 10. A centering frame 24 must ensure that the boxes 6 are in the correct position before the containers 2 are lowered. The equipment should enable a fully automatic changeover. Appropriate sensors must be installed to detect malfunctions. These functions come with energy in the form of dry compressed air and

Realized low voltage. For this purpose, the rondelle 10 is composed of radially extending supporting parts, the so-called rondelle stars 46, and a central hollow shaft 58, on which the plate-shaped rondelle stars 46 are welded. To

Attachment of the main bearings 78, the roundel 10 can be completely assembled outside the machine and only has to be inserted into the machine frame 80 during the final assembly. The number of star arms of the rondelle stars 46 corresponds to the number of gripper units 12 provided. The entire rondelle 10 is divided into separate assemblies which can be exchanged as desired. It is therefore very easy to repair because individual assemblies can be exchanged and repaired. In addition to the connection screws, only the corresponding energy systems have to be interrupted. This means that there is little downtime (in the event of any damage).

The gripper units 12 are with their guides 42 and

Lever plates 48 and with the storage 82 and already

pressed-on connection flanges 84 installed in the Rondellsterstern 46. Compressed air and lubricant are provided in the gripper units 12 by rotary transmitters 86. The control signals and the control current are transmitted by telemetry 88. The control signals are transmitted in the central hollow shaft by telemetry 90, the control current can take place via slip rings 92 or likewise via telemetry. The gripper unit 12 contains the clothing carriage 40 which carries the gripper clothing 18. The entire clothing carriage 40, which is designed as a welded sheet metal construction, is connected to the gripper unit 12 via two column guides, not shown, and four short-stroke cylinders, also not shown. The required height compensation for the pick-up and drop-off positions is thus achieved. The short-stroke cylinders only travel in idle mode during normal operation; however, they are essential for an automatic changeover.

Each clothing slide 40 is carried and guided by two linear guides 42. The linear guides 42 are at their opposite ends on cranks, the so-called Lever plates 48 are attached, which are mounted on the star arms of the circular star 46 via the bearing pin 66 and the bearing 82 seated in the pressed-on connecting flange 84. As explained in more detail later, the lever plates 48 are always held in a vertical position by gear trains during the orbital movement of the rondelle 10. The linear movement of each clothing slide 40, along the two linear guides 42 assigned to it, is accomplished by a rodless pneumatic cylinder 44, which is also attached to the lever plates 48. In a possible modification, the rodless pneumatic cylinders 44 can be replaced by electromotive systems.

Each clothing carriage 40 receives a compressed air reservoir (not shown) which supplies the gripper assembly 18, a lubricant distributor (not shown) for the linear guides 42 and a valve terminal (not shown) on which the electrically operated pneumatic valves (not shown) are seated. The valve terminal, not shown, has the advantage that it can be controlled with only one interface cable, not shown.

As already mentioned, five of these gripper units 12, which must always be aligned exactly vertically, are now located between the two rondelle stars 46. For this reason, they are controlled via gear trains which are seated on the rondelle stars 46. Each gear train is structured as follows.

The central ring gear 68 (FIG. 3) is fixed to the frame and meshes via two gear stages with five ring gears 70, each of which is seated on a corresponding journal 66 of the lever plates 48. The gear train is designed so that no translation takes place, that is, that the outermost sprockets 70 have no self-rotation. Since the gripper units 12 are located on the inside of the circular star 46, but the central ring gear 68 (sun gear fixed to the frame) can only be realized on both sides on the outside, the imprinted movement must pass through the circular star 46 be conducted, which is realized for reasons of space by the gear intermediate stages 72.

The control cam 26 (Fig. 2), which forces the movement of the centering frame 24 during the settling process, must also be attached to the frame. However, since it is located on the inside of the star wheel 46, on the side of the second conveyor device 8, the rolling motion of the idler gear 74 of the first intermediate gear stage 72 is carried out on the inside of the star wheel 46, and with the same gear pairing, a sun gear stationary to the frame 76 realized on the inside to which the control cam is attached.

As already mentioned, the centering frame 24 has the

Task to align the boxes 6 relative to the gripper set 18. Since the centering frame 24 is only allowed to lower during the working stroke, it is held at the top by a spring assembly 50 (FIG. 3), which is overcome by a pneumatic cylinder 52 if necessary. If the compressed air fails or in the rest position, all centering frames 24 are retracted. The centering frame 24 is supported by two telescopic linear guides 54 in the lever plate 48. The two linear guides 54 are connected at the top with a yoke 56 on which the spring assembly 50 and the

Pneumatic cylinders 52 are suspended. The linear guides 54 are located on the axially inner side of the lever plates 48, while the spring assemblies 50 and the pneumatic cylinders 52 are arranged on the axially outer side of the lever plates 48.

Since the centering frame 24 is retracted in the event of a settling and must pass under the central hollow shaft 58 of the roundell 10, the yoke 56 can only perform a certain stroke. However, since the centering frame 24 has to travel a much larger distance, it is necessary to make the linear guide 54 telescopic. The stroke is forced on the centering frame 24 by a tel lexzuges 60 attached to the inner telescopic tube of the centering frame 24 and on the lever plate 48. The Teleflexführung 62 as a deflection unit is fixed like a loose roller on the yoke 56 of the centering frame 24, which is fixed with the outer telescopic tube of the linear guide 54 is connected. This doubles the stroke. In trouble-free operation, the pneumatic cylinder 52 extends in a corresponding position and presses the cam roller 64, which is attached to the yoke 56 (and is only indicated in FIG. 2 by its axis of rotation), on the control cam 26. The control cam 26, which is the vertical position of the centering frame 24 in the lower region of the rondelle 10 is arranged between the lever plates 48 and the axially inner side of the Rondellsternes 46 on the side of the second conveyor 8 and, as already mentioned, attached there to the sun gear 76, which ensures that the control cam is arranged fixed to the frame, ie always has the same position. The pneumatic cylinder thus presses the roller 64 against the horizontal flange of the control cam 26, so that it determines the vertical position of the respective yoke 56 and therefore of the respective centering frame during the orbital movement in the lower region of the roundel.

In the case of a crate, the centering frame 24 is not controlled by the control cam 26, but the inner telescopic tube of the linear guide 54 is pressed upwards. An electro-mechanical switch, which is interposed on the lever plate side of the Teleflexzug 60, registers the

Relief of the Teleflexzug 60 and can thus forward the error message to the programmable logic controller (PLC), not shown.

Since after collision considerations the centering frame 24 must not remain in the upper extreme position during the idle stroke, the unit, consisting of the suspension of the telex train with sensors, is mounted on a cylinder, not shown, which can lower the centering frame 24 by changing the suspension point.

In the embodiment just described, the centering frames 24 always remain on the side of the roundel 10 associated with the second conveyor 8. However, it would also be conceivable to combine the centering frames 24 with the clothing slides 40 ren, and to be able to move back and forth with them from one side of the roundel 10 to the other side of the roundell 10.

The bottle transport system of the system generally has the task in this process section of distributing the filled containers 2, which drive to the packaging machine in a completely random arrangement on a conveyor, onto the alleys 14. This is accomplished in that the container 2 in front of the first conveyor 4 in the so-called bottle inlet on the previously mentioned, but not shown

Congestion band in the alleys 14 lying in the band direction. This then forms the interface to the first conveyor 4 of the packaging machine.

Since there is a certain variety of containers in the area of reusable containers, it is also important to be able to adjust the alleys 14 to the different diameters of the containers. The first conveyor 4 is structurally to be as small as possible with respect to the length in the conveying direction. The reasons for this are to be as small as possible in relation to the machine frame 80. A design that is as short as possible has a positive influence on the mass of the revolving hinge belt chains 38, on which the containers 2, which have already been mentioned more often, are transported over bottle dividers 16, bottle positioners 94 and devices 96 for railing adjustment.

In the preferred embodiment shown here, ten flat top chains 38 are provided side by side, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1 (all flat top chains being shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 10). The drive of the first conveyor device 4 is not synchronized with the main movement of the rondel 10, but a control loop is provided which strictly couples the drive of individual components, for example the bottle divider 16, with the main movement of the rondel 10. A control loop is not absolutely necessary here, it can even be advantageous to everyone Allowing drives to be driven by a common motor, with the desired coupling being implemented using appropriate gearboxes.

4 and 5, the bottle divider 16, with the aid of a device 98 for adjusting the divider fingers 160, divides the flow of the containers 2 over the entire width of the first conveyor 4 into blocks. The main movement of the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 is realized by the double chains 100 arranged on both sides of the first conveyor 4 (FIG. 5), such that the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 are connected to the double chains 100 by means of carrier units 102 . The containers 2 are stowed on the slower moving device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 by the hinge belt chains 38 (conveyor belts) which rotate faster than the double chains 100 and are guided centrally in the alleys 14 in the hinge belt chain guide 138.

So that the one-piece fingers 160 controlled by the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 can easily emerge between the tightly sealed containers 2, they must assume a vertical position during the ascending process. This is ensured by the main links 104, which are also arranged on both sides of the first conveyor 4 (FIG. 5), which drive the cam rollers 106. These are each rigidly connected to the carrier unit 102, which is rotatably suspended on the double chain 100, via a lever 108. Since the main link 104 to the right during the ascent process by the amount of the length of the lever

is offset, the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 assumes a vertical position. Through the

Elevation in the upstream area of the main backdrop 104, i.e. on the left side of Fig. 4, the respective

Cam rollers 106 and the respective carrier units 102 are pushed upwards.

After overcoming this elevation of the control link 104 they drop off steeply, which ensures that the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 swings away quickly and forwards. This prevents the containers 2 from tipping over the submerged one-piece fingers 160 of the device 98. Since the direction of movement is not defined at the two vertices, which are located in the regions 103 and 105 of the main link 104,

Here, two auxiliary links 110 and 111 take over the guiding of the carrier units 102 in these areas 103, 105 and thus of the device 98 mounted in between for adjusting the

One-piece finger 160. So that a defined guidance

is guaranteed, the main scenes 104 in the

Areas 103 and 105 expanded.

In order to be able to drive different container sizes, the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 must be able to assume different positions along the first conveying device 4 during the ascending process, depending on the type of bottle. A movement of the one-piece fingers 160 is therefore generated in the carrier unit 102, so that the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 can move relatively with respect to the carrier unit 102. As will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6, the movement is initiated by the link 112, which is mounted in the forward region around a fixed point. If, for example, the smallest group of containers is moved, the link 112 is pivoted upwards by the maximum angle, and the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 is in the forward end position during the ascending process. Then, while the carrier unit 102 is moving forward, it begins its relative movement backwards until it has reached its rear end position.

This ensures that the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 appears at different locations depending on the container size, but always at the same time or at the same location along the first

Conveyor 4 releases the container group and delivers it to the bottle positioner 94, so that the synchronization between bottle divider 16 and bottle positioner 94 is correct.

According to FIG. 6, a cam roller 114 is driven by the backdrop 112 mentioned in FIGS. 4 and 5. The cam roller 114 is fastened to a toothed rack 116, which is held in the upper end position by the spring assembly 118 (FIG. 6A) without cam actuation. The rack 116 is guided in the linear guide 120 and controls the gear 122. The gear wheel 122 is arranged in front of the sprocket wheel 124 visible in FIG. 6B and is rigidly connected to it. The sprocket 124 controls, i.e.

drives the chain 126, which is connected to a carriage 128 and is guided in a groove by two roller bearings 130. The device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 is connected to the carriage 128 via the angle 132 visible in FIG. 6E. Since the rack 116 is arranged to the right of the center point of the sprocket 124, the carriage 128 is normally in the forward end position according to FIG. 6 B. If the rack 116 is now pulled down from the cam roller 114, the carriage 128 begins and thus the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 its relative movement until it has reached the rear end position, not shown.

The device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 (FIG. 7), according to FIGS. 5 and 1, is used in the transverse direction of the first conveying device 4, both in the bottle divider 16 and in the bottle positioner 94. Due to the rotation of the double chains 100 and 136 (see FIG. 1), the one-piece fingers 160, which are coupled to the device 98 for adjusting the same, mesh with the fixed flat top chain guides 138 (FIG. 8). The device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 is identical to the device 140 for adjusting the positioning pins 22. The device 140 and the device 98 can be adjusted to different diameters and are to be regarded as identical in construction.

The adjustment movement, orthogonal to the direction of movement of the first conveyor 4 is initiated with the aid of a mounted hexagon shaft 142. The details can be seen better in FIG. 8, a representation of FIG. 7 enlarged on one side. On this hexagonal shaft 142 sits a threaded sleeve 144, with left and right hand threads, which is firmly pinned there. On both sides of this threaded sleeve 144, five screw drives, also called actuators, are connected in series (FIG. 7). Such an actuating unit consists of an actuating body 146 and a threaded sleeve 148, which are connected via a bearing 150. Due to the rotation of the hexagonal shaft 142, the first actuating body 146a experiences a linear movement perpendicular to the conveying direction after the centrally fixed threaded sleeve 144 (FIG. 7). The threaded sleeve 148a of the first actuating body 146a not only transmits the displacement of the first actuating body 146a to the adjacent actuating body 146b, but additionally, due to the still existing rotation of the hexagon shaft 142, induces a linear movement in the actuating body of the second actuating body 146b. This means that the threaded sleeve 148 has a central opening with approximately the same cross section as the hexagonal shaft 142, so that the threaded sleeve 148 unscrews with the hexagonal shaft 142, but is axially displaceable relative to the latter. The bearing 150 thus enables the relative rotational movement between each threaded sleeve 148 and the actuating body 146 connected to it via the bearing 150, which maintains its orientation but transmits the axially directed adjusting forces between adjacent actuating bodies 148. This fact, ie the

Linear movements of the actuators along the hexagonal shaft continue to propagate outwards from the center. The necessary adjustment distances are dependent on the direction of rotation

Hexagon shaft 142 thereby added or subtracted.

So-called support bodies 152 are screwed to the actuating bodies 146, which redirect the linear movements to the top of the tubular and slotted housing 154 of the device 98. There the support bodies 152 run on attached plastic slide rails 156. The tubular one

Housing 154 fulfills the purpose of the supporting function and the Protection against the constantly dripping soft soap suds. As can be seen from FIG. 9B, the one-piece fingers 160 or positioning pins 22 (identical in construction to 160) are screwed modularly into the pin carriers 162 on the support bodies 152, so that in

In the event of damage, the pin carrier 162 can be easily removed without dismantling the first conveyor 4. 9A shows the installation position with respect to FIGS. 1 and 4.

The device 96 for railing adjustment (FIG. 10) represents a central element in the first conveyor 4. It serves for adjusting the alley railings 164 and the hinged belt chain guide 138. Four devices 96 for railing adjustment are preferably arranged in the first conveyor 4 (FIG . 1).

The device 96 for the railing adjustment of FIG. 10, a section of which is shown enlarged in FIG. 11, is based on the same functional principle as the device 98 or device 140 (FIG. 7). The devices 98, 140 and 96 actually differ only in the number and geometry of the adjusting bodies 146 used and to be adjusted. The adjusting movement, orthogonal to the conveying direction, is also carried out with the aid of a hexagon shaft 142

initiated. A threaded sleeve 144 (FIG. 11) with left-hand and right-hand thread sits centrally on this hexagonal shaft 142, which is firmly pinned there. On both sides of this threaded sleeve there are a total of ten screw drives or adjusting units

called, connected in series. Such an actuating unit consists of an actuating body 146 and a threaded sleeve 148, which are connected via a bearing 150. By rotating the

Hexagonal shaft 142, the first actuating body 146a, after the centrally fixed threaded sleeve 144, experiences a linear movement perpendicular to the conveying direction. The threaded sleeve 148a of the first actuating body 146a not only transmits the displacement of the first actuating body 146a, but also induces a linear movement into the second actuating body 146b due to the still existing rotation of the hexagon shaft 142.

This situation is also planted from the middle, outward. Depending on the direction of rotation of the hexagonal shaft 142, the necessary adjustment distances result from addition or subtraction.

So-called support bodies 152 are also screwed to the actuating bodies 146, which the linear movements on the top, the tubular and bottom slotted housing 154, the

Redirect device 96. There the support bodies 152 run on plastic slide rails 156

Attachments 158 for alley railings 164 and the hinged chain chain guides 138 are screwed on (FIG. 12). The tubular

Housing 154 fulfills the purpose of the supporting function and the protection against the constantly dripping liquid soap suds. The larger mass resulting from the larger number of actuating bodies 146 is irrelevant in this case, since the

Devices 96 for railing adjustment, as already mentioned, are fixedly mounted in the first conveyor 4 and do not circulate.

The support bodies 152 of the device 96 for railing adjustment, viewed from the center, alternately carry hinge band chain guides 138 (FIG. 12 b) and attachments 158 for alley railings 164 (FIG. 12 a). The modular equipping of devices 96, 98 and 140 offers the advantage of being able to carry out almost all of the components, apart from attachments 158 for alley railings 164, screwed-on hinged belt chain guides 138 and pin carriers 162, in the case of devices 98 and 140.

In order to be able to carry out the fully automatic adjustment to the different container diameters, the

Hexagon shaft 142 with an electric motor 166 and upstream spur gear 168 controlled via the PLC, not shown. This can best be seen from the front view of the device 98 for adjusting the one-piece fingers 160 (FIG. 9 a). Fig. 13 shows a schematic plan view like that

Alley railings 164, which are mounted on the device 96 for adjusting the alley railings 164 and the hinge band chain guides 138, are positioned during an adjustment at locations which take into account the different possible diameters of the containers.

Claims

claims

1. Procedure for packing boxes to be packed

Containers (1) in which the containers (2) arranged in groups in matrix form on a first rotating conveyor (4) are gripped by a respective packing set (18) and placed in respective boxes (6) on a second rotating conveyor (8), characterized in that the packing sets (18) are arranged on a circular disc (10) which rotates about an axis of rotation (11) lying horizontally and transversely to the common running direction (5) of the first and second conveying means (4), and in that the packing sets ( 18) in addition to the rotary movement (9) about the axis of rotation (11), perform a linear movement parallel to the axis of rotation (11) between the two conveyor devices (4, 8).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the packing sets (18) during the rotary movement (9) about the axis of rotation (11) are always held in a vertical position.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the linear movement takes place parallel to the axis of rotation (11) during the upper part of the rotary movement (19).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized

characterized in that the packing sets (18) in the area of the second conveyor (8) are inserted into respective centering frames (24) which can be pressed down with respect to the respective guide (42) for the linear movement, the centering frames (24) being the Align the boxes (6) when inserting the containers (2).

5. Method for unpacking packed in boxes (6). Container (21) in which the containers (2) arranged in groups in matrix form in boxes on a rotating conveyor (4) are gripped by a respective packing set (18) and placed on a further rotating conveyor (8), characterized in that the Packing sets (18) are arranged on a circular disc (10) which rotates around a rotational axis (11) lying horizontally and transversely to the common running direction (5) of the first and second conveying means (4, 8), and that the packing sets (18) are in addition to the Rotate (9) around the axis of rotation (11) to perform a linear movement parallel to the axis of rotation (11) between the two conveying devices (4, 8).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the packing sets (18) during the rotary movement (9) about the axis of rotation (11) are always held in a vertical position.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the linear movement takes place parallel to the axis of rotation (11) during the upper part of the rotary movement (9).

8. A method for grouping containers (2) delivered on a first conveyor (4) according to an intended matrix shape, wherein a plurality of railings (164) extending in the longitudinal direction along the first conveyor make the alignment of the containers (2) in the transverse direction and the containers (2) are transported in the alleys (14) formed between the railings on respective conveyor belts (38) provided in the alleys, a circumferential bottle divider (16) being provided in the inlet region of the first conveyor device (4), ie the conveyor belts (38) which carries dividing pins (160) arranged in rows transversely to the direction of rotation and in the region of the conveyor belts (38) and which move at a linear speed move less than the rotational speed of the conveyor belts (38) and successive rows of dividing pins (160) have a mutual distance corresponding to the length of the respective container groups, characterized in that the respective rows of dividing pins (160) are arranged on carrier units (102) and in The longitudinal direction along the carrier units (102), ie in or opposite to the conveying direction (5), can be adjusted, the bottle divider (16) being arranged either below or above the upper debris of the conveyor belts (38).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the adjustment is made during the circulating movement of the bottle divider (16) by a link control (112, 114) and that the link (112) of the link control is adjusted to adapt to different block lengths.

10. A method for avoiding damage due to accidents when packing containers into damaged or improper boxes (6), in which a sensor device detects a buffer movement of the packing set (18) indicating an impending accident and triggers a switch-off process, characterized in that in the event of the sensor device responding, a part (28) of the second conveyor device (8) carrying the boxes (6) in the region of the roundel (10) is moved downward.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said portion (28) of the second conveyor is raised to its operating position by at least one pneumatic cylinder piston assembly (30) and this cylinder piston assembly (30) is vented, whereby said portion (28) moves downward under the influence of gravity.

12. Device for packing in boxes (6) the containers (2), in which the containers (2) arranged in groups in matrix form on a first rotating conveyor (4) are gripped by a respective packing set (18) and in each case in urgent boxes (6) on a second rotating conveyor (8) are stored, characterized in that the packing sets (18) are arranged on a circular disc (10) which rotates about an axis of rotation (11) lying horizontally and transversely to the common running direction of the first and second conveying devices (4, 8), and in that a device ( 42, 44) is provided to move the packing sets (18) in addition to the rotary movement (9) about the axis of rotation (11) linearly and parallel to the axis of rotation (11) between the two conveyor devices (4, 8).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that a device (68, 70, 72, 74) is provided which keeps the packing sets (18) during the rotary movement (9) about the axis of rotation (11) always in a vertical position.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the device (42, 44) for accomplishing the linear movement of the packing sets (18) parallel to the axis of rotation (11) is designed to this linear movement during the upper part of the rotary movement (9th ) to accomplish.

15. The device according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that in the region of the second conveyor (8) carries the rondelle (10) centering frame (24), and that a further device (52) is provided to the centering frame (24th ) down to align the crates when inserting the containers.

16. Device for unpacking containers (2) packed in boxes (6), in which the groups are arranged in groups in matrix form in boxes (6) on a rotating conveyor device (4) arranged containers (2) are gripped by a respective packing set (18) and placed on a further rotating conveyor (8), characterized in that the packing sets (18) are arranged on a horizontal and transverse to the common running direction (5) of the first and second conveyor (4, 8) lying axis of rotation (11) circumferential rondel (10) is arranged, and that a device (42, 44) is provided to the packing set (18) in addition to the rotary movement about the axis of rotation (11) linear and parallel to the axis of rotation (11) between the two conveyors (4, 8)

move.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in

that a device (68, 70, 72, 74) is provided which always holds the packing sets (18) during the rotary movement (9) about the axis of rotation (11) in a vertical position.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the device (42, 44) for accomplishing the linear movement of the packing set (18) parallel to the axis of rotation (11) is designed to this linear movement during the upper part of the rotary movement (9th ) to accomplish.

19. The device according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that in the region of the second conveyor (8) carries the rondel (10) centering frame (24), and that a further device (52) is provided to the centering frame (24th ) to push down to align the boxes (6) when inserting the containers (2).

20. Device according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 19, characterized in that the roundel (10) has a central tube axis (58) which is supported at its opposite ends in bearings (78) of a support frame (80) and that the tube axis (58) also at opposite ends has respective, radially extending support parts (46), on which a plurality of stub axles (66) each supporting a crank (48) are rotatably mounted, which by means of respective gear systems (68, 70, 72, 74) that are supported by the radially extending support parts (46) are always kept in the same orientation with respect to the vertical direction when the rondelle (10) rotates, whereby the crank (48) also maintains this vertical orientation and that cranks ( 48) at least one and preferably two

Linear guides (42) are provided, along which the packing sets (18) can be moved back and forth in the axial direction (11) of the round plate (10).

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the centering frame (24) on the cranks (48) on the packing side of the rondel (10) are attached and can be pressed down by respective adjusting devices (52).

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the actuating devices are formed by pneumatic cylinders (52).

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that preferably on four sides closed centering frame are provided, each supported on two extending between mutually opposite cranks guide rails and carried by a respective packing set, and that the guide rods provided on the cranks Stel Oil equipment can be raised and lowered.

24. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that the linear movement of the packing sets (18) accomplishing devices (44) consist of rodless cylinders, which with a on the carriage (40) Packing sets (18) attached magnets work together and are preferably arranged between the two longitudinal guides (42) for the respective packing sets (18).

25. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that the packing sets (18) have individual, the neck portions of the container preferably present as bottles receiving tulips (20) which can be pneumatically controlled for gripping and releasing the individual bottles (2).

26. Device according to claims 20 and 25, characterized

characterized in that the central tube axis (58) of the roundel (10) serves as a compressed air reservoir.

27. Device for grouping containers (2) delivered on a first conveyor (4) in accordance with an intended matrix shape, wherein a plurality of railings (164) extending in the longitudinal direction along the first conveyor carry out the alignment of the containers (2) in the transverse direction and the containers (2) can be transported in the alleys (14) formed between the railings (164) on respective conveyor belts (38) provided in the alleys, in the inlet region of the first conveyor device (4), ie the conveyor belts (38) are provided with a circulating bottle divider (16) which carries dividing pins (160) arranged in rows transversely to the direction of rotation and in the region of the conveyor belts (38), the linear speed of the dividing pins (160) less than the circulating speed of the conveyor belts ( 38), and successive rows of dividing pins (160) are at a mutual distance corresponding to the length of the respective container groups, characterized in that the respective rows of dividing pins (160) are arranged on support units (102) and in the longitudinal direction along the

Carrier units (102), ie in or opposite to Direction of conveyance (5) for adaptation to different

Block lengths of the container (2) are adjustable.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that the adjustment pins (160) are adjustable by a further link control (112) in the longitudinal direction of the carrier units (102) to adapt to different block lengths.

29. The device according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that the carrier units (102) of preferably arranged to the left and right of these circumferential chains (100) movable and preferably in the immediate vicinity of the chains (100) arranged, designed as closed loops backdrops (104, 110, 111) are orientable.

30. Device according to one of claims 27 to 29 with a device (98) for adjusting the adjusting pins

(160) in the transverse direction, i.e. transverse to the conveying direction of the first conveying device, the dividing pins (160) of each row being moved by respective adjusting bodies (146) also arranged in a row, and the respective adjusting bodies (146) being adjustable in the transverse direction by rotating a continuous adjusting shaft (142), characterized in that each actuator

(146) sits on a sleeve (148) rotatable by the adjusting shaft, one of the sleeves (144) not being displaceable in the axial direction of the adjusting shaft, but the others being displaceable, with each adjusting body (146) and the associated sleeve (148) A threaded drive is provided in such a way that a rotation of the sleeve (148) leads to a displacement of the respective non-rotating actuating body along the adjusting shaft (142), and that each actuating body (146) via a bearing (150) to the sleeve (148) of the adjacent actuating body (146) is coupled to take the same, whereby the adjusting movement of each actuating body (146) depending on Direction of rotation of the adjusting shaft (142) is added to or subtracted from the adjusting movement of the preceding adjusting body (146).

31. The device according to claim 30, characterized in that

that the adjusting shaft (142) has a polygonal cross section or longitudinal grooves and the sleeves (148) each have a central opening with a complementary shape, whereby the sleeves (148) can be moved along the adjusting shaft (142), but are not connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner.

32. Apparatus according to claim 30 or 31, characterized in that the adjusting shaft (142) on a steep, for example in the middle with a double sleeve (144) is firmly connected, which has two opposing threads and the screw drives left and right of have corresponding directions of thread of the double sleeve (144).

33. Device according to one of claims 30 to 32, characterized in that the actuating bodies (146) are arranged in a tubular housing (154) which extends between opposing carrier insides (102), is connected at its ends to this and below has a longitudinal slot that on the actuating bodies (146) there are provided fixed supporting bodies (152) which carry the dividing pins (160) so that the connection between each adjusting body (146) and the associated supporting body (152) is achieved by the

Slot extends, and that the support body (152) are preferably displaceable on provided on the outer side of the housing (156) according to the movements of the actuating body (146).

34. Device (96) for railing adjustment at one

Conveyor for Benalter (2), the railings (164) at at least one point in front of each a row of adjusting bodies (146) are moved, and the respective adjusting bodies (146) can be adjusted in the transverse direction by rotating a continuous adjusting shaft (142), characterized in that each adjusting body (146) sits on a sleeve (148) which can be rotated by the adjusting shaft , wherein one of the sleeves (144) is not displaceable in the axial direction of the adjusting shaft (142), but the others are displaceable, a threaded drive being provided between each actuating body (146) and the associated sleeve (148) in such a way that a rotation of the Sleeve (148) leads to a displacement of the respective non-rotating actuating body (146) along the adjusting shaft, and that each actuating body (146) is coupled via a bearing (150) to the sleeve (148) of the adjacent actuating body for entrainment thereof, as a result of which the adjusting movement each actuator (146) depending on the direction of rotation of the adjusting shaft (142) to the adjustment movement of the previous actuator rs (146) is added or subtracted from this.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, characterized in that the adjusting shaft (142) has a polygonal cross-section or longitudinal grooves and the sleeves (148) each have a central opening with a complementary shape, whereby the sleeves (148) can be displaced along the adjusting shaft (142) , however, are connected to this turning test.

36. Apparatus according to claim 34 or 35, characterized in that the adjusting shaft (142) at one point, for example in the middle with a double sleeve (144) is fixedly connected, which has two mutually opposite threads and the screw drives left and right of have corresponding directions of thread of the double sleeve (144).

37. Device according to one of claims 34 to 36, characterized in that the actuating body (146) in a tube Shaped housing (154) are arranged, which has a longitudinal slot at the bottom, and that on the adjusting bodies (146) there are provided respective fixed support bodies (152) which hold the railings (164) and / or conveyor belt guides (138) of the conveyor device (4). wear that the connection between each actuator (146) and the associated support body (152) extends through the slot, and that the support body (152) preferably on the outer side of the housing (154) provided guides (156) according to the Movements of the actuating body are displaceable.

38. Support device (28) for supporting boxes (6) when packing containers (2) into the boxes (6), in which the support device (28) forms a conveyor track for the boxes (6) along which the boxes (6 ) can be moved according to the appropriate division below the packing sets (18) carrying the containers (2), characterized in that the support device (28) is in the form of a table raised by at least one pneumatic device (30), a sensor being provided which in the event of a buffer movement of the packing set (18) indicating a corresponding malfunction, a signal is generated, as a result of which the table (28) can be moved downwards via the pneumatic device (30) and the lowering height preferably corresponds at least to the height of the respective boxes (6).

39. Support device according to claim 38, characterized in that in the event of a fault, the pneumatic device (30) can be vented, as a result of which the table (28) moves downward under the action of gravity.

40. Device according to one of claims 38 or 39, characterized in that a safety device for damping the lowering movement of the support table (28) is provided, but only becomes effective after the prescribed lowering height.