WO2018103900A1

WO2018103900A1 - Transport device

Info

Publication number: WO2018103900A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/063476
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas JÖHREN; Stefan Wagner
Original assignee: Khs Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-12-07
Filing date: 2017-06-02
Publication date: 2018-06-14

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport device (10) comprising at least one endless conveyor element (12), which has an upper transport region (20) and a lower return region (24), wherein the transport and return regions are arranged between deflector regions (16, 18) in which the endless conveyor element (12) is guided on deflector rollers, wherein the endless conveyor element (12) has at least one carrying strand (14) extending in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveyor element (12), which strand has at least two carrying elements (40, 46a, 46b) running parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveyor element (12), which elements are each guided on a guide profile (32a, 32b) of a supporting guide (22), wherein the distance between the carrying elements (40, 46a, 46b) can be adjusted by way of the spacing between the guide profiles (32a, 32b). The carrying elements (40, 46a, 46b) are connected to each other by means of at least one reversible flexible contact area (48), which contact area (48) exerts a tractive force on the at least two carrying elements (40, 46a, 46b) of the carrying strand (14).

Description

transport device

The invention relates to a transport device at least one Endlosförderele- element, such. Transport chains or conveyor belts, which form an upper transport area and a lower return area, which are arranged between deflection areas, wherein the endless conveying element are guided on deflection rollers from the transport area in the return area and vice versa.

Such transport devices are used in particular in the beverage bottling industry for products of different sizes, e.g. from soda cans, to PET bottles of all sizes, to beverage crates. Thus, if small and large diameter products are processed on the same machine - e.g. Today products with a diameter of 40 mm and tomorrow products with a diameter of 80 mm, the designer must check whether both products can "run" on a single chain width.

The choice of a chain width made in this case usually always represents a compromise: either products with a small diameter are very safe on the chain and the products with a large diameter tend to tilt and attach themselves to the guide rails or the small products can in the extreme case only very poorly be divided, since the diameter is only slightly larger than the chain width.

Another problem is that usually the department of transport lanes on the transport device by rods, which are driven from below the transport plane up between the products and then hold the products back. The bars must fit through the distance between two conveyor belts / chains and push into the gap that forms in products between four adjacent products.

With decreasing diameter or shadow area of the bottom of the products, this gap becomes smaller and smaller, making insertion of the bars more difficult. In the construction of the transport device is usually determined which products with which diameter on which chain width can be transported. One topic in this case is the product itself: these are pressureless PET bottles, which are also very thin-walled or have a sturdy steel beverage can. The compartment segments (usually the above-mentioned rods) must have a sufficient attack surface on the product to prevent sagging of the products by the segments due to the back pressure on the feed belt. On the other hand, however, the segments must not cause any damage to the product itself. B. in aluminum cans with round bolts / bars as compartment segments can be very quickly the case.

In addition, the footprint plays a crucial role in the selection of the optimal chain width: Pentaloid floors, which have only one, consisting of several points footprint, are not as stable on today's chains such as a soda can with a complete ring as a stand. Too narrow a transport chain means an unstable stand on the transport chain. This can be detrimental to comparting: the product begins to lean against one of the guide rails after release from the compartment unit, is then held back due to product-rail friction, which can result in failure to enter an upper cam.

Another product group are the so-called prepackaged products: these can be film packs or carton packs that are partially or completely closed. In this case, the packs are separated by so-called roll segments: However, the arrangement here is such that the roll segment does not, as in loose products left and right of the lateral surface attacks, but is centered on the lateral surface, preferably with a product behind, ajar. The transport chains are then not centrally located under the product, but left and right of the roller segment. Until now, only the different products and their possibility of separation were considered, the problem is extended by a possible combination of different products and formats to each other.

One possible solution is to use chains with different widths on a packaging machine and to transport the products centrally through the machine, depending on the diameter of the product, on narrower chains or on wider chains left and right of the narrower chains on correspondingly wider chains. Looking now at the initially described product group of prepackaged products, it becomes clear very quickly which effort can exist in the design of the correct chain widths.

One way to mitigate the problem of choosing the right chain width is to increase the chain width by the temporary "widthwise" interconnection of two chains.

These are about the usual adjustment units of the lanes, two transport chains for single lanes z. B. two 28mm wide chains to a wide lane transverse to running direction to drive together, so that virtually creates a 56 mm wide chain. By a certain distance of the two mutually associated chains to each other, the chain width can be increased slightly. A disadvantage of this approach, however, is that the number of available lanes (halving the maximum possible number of lanes) is reduced and the adjustment is very complex.

Also disadvantageous is the occurring "very large" pitch jump, which can also result chain widths, which are then again "too wide" and thus are not suitable for the diameter to be processed. Also, it may come through the resulting gap between the chains that containers, such as those with pentaloid bottoms do not get up safely on the chains. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a transport device that is easily adaptable for the transport of products of different sizes. This object is achieved by a transport device with the features of claim 1 and by a support strand for an endless conveyor element according to claim 16. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the associated dependent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are also disclosed in the description and in the drawings.

According to the invention, the transport device comprises at least one endless conveyor element which has an upper transport area and a lower return area, wherein the transport and return area are arranged between deflection areas in which the endless conveyor element is guided on deflection rollers. The endless conveying element has at least one support strand extending in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveying element. The support strand, in turn, has at least two support elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveying element and parallel to one another, each being guided on a guide profile of a support guide. The mutual distance of the support elements is adjustable over the distance of the guide profiles. According to the invention, the support elements are connected to one another via a reversibly flexible support region, in particular resilient support struts, the reversibly elastic support region or the resilient support struts exerting a tensile force or a compressive force on or between the at least two support elements of the endless conveyor element. Thus, by the support elements and the reversible elastic support area a continuous width adjustable support surface of the support strand for the goods to be transported, in particular beverage containers formed. Due to the tensile force, the guide profiles must apply only a transversely directed to the transport direction outward force to increase the width of the support strand. The force for the provision of a smaller width of the support strand can preferably be applied by the spring force of the support area or the support struts, the guide profiles can be provided, for example, force-free, so that they are pulled towards each other by the tensile force of the support struts. The invention thus enables an endless conveyor with a simple executed width adjustable support strand and a simple running support guide the transport device.

The reversibly flexible support region, which justifies the width adjustability of the support strut, can preferably be formed by the reversibly flexible, in particular resilient support struts. The flexible support area can also be designed to be flexible in other ways, e.g. in the form of a region having other elastic elements or materials such as rubber, elastomers or hard textile materials or structures. Thus, one or more supporting struts are to be understood here consistently under display area, but which in the installation position can also end below the support or floor space for packaging materials to be conveyed, but these ideally represent a part of this supporting or standing area and dimensioned accordingly are. Preferably, the endless conveyor element has at least two support strands arranged parallel to one another, which are each width-adjustable. Preferably, the distance of the support strands is adjustable, so that an endless conveyor element is provided with a very variable transport width and relatively homogeneous transport surface or support surface.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least two guide profiles engage between downwardly projecting portions of the two support elements. In this way, the guide profiles need only exert an outwardly directed force on the support elements. The provision of mutually parallel support elements to a smaller distance can then take place via the restoring force of the support struts, which is an easy-to-implement technical solution.

Preferably, the support struts are accordion-like or scissor-like connected to the support elements. In this way, on the one hand regardless of the set width of the support strand, a homogeneous transport surface created with homogeneously distributed and relatively small free spaces. On the other hand, the support efforts can be so effective a transversely to the transport exercise directed direction of traction between the support elements of the support strand.

The support struts are preferably fastened rigidly to the supporting elements of the endless conveying element on horizontal ends facing away from one another, so that the mutual spacing of the support elements via the deformation of the support struts can be adjusted. This leads to an effective introduction of the tensile force of the support struts on the support elements. If a pressure force generated, appropriate guides are needed, which are provided as needed.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support struts are pivotable or deflectable about a vertical axis. In this way, the support struts can change the width of the support struts by deformation or deflection, the upper edge of the support struts always remains in the transport plane.

Preferably, the support strut is fastened with its front end in the transport direction to the one support element and with its rear end in the transport direction on the other support element. The support strut is then approximately parallel to the support elements in the smallest width adjustment, while with increasing width it extends at an increasingly greater angle between the support elements. This allows for a width adjustment with a large travel and on the other hand, the upper edge of the support strut remains in the transport plane. Preferably, the support struts contain or consist of spring steel. They are thus able to cover by reversible deformation the travel for width adjustment by change in shape or deflection, so that the support surface remains largely homogeneous in the transport plane, i. without big gaps and holes.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support strand has a central support element and at least one lateral or outer support element arranged on one side of the middle support element, wherein the middle rail is formed by chain links. The central support element can then be supported on a fixed part of the support guide, and only the lateral or outer support element is supported on a transversely adjustable to the transport direction guide profile. This solution can be realized with little effort.

Preferably, the support strand on both sides of the central support member arranged lateral and / or outer support elements, whereby the adjustment range for the width adjustment of the support strand is extended. On the other hand, then the guide profiles for supporting the outer support elements can be executed gegensinning synchronously adjustable, which is technically simple drive.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, an upper portion of the central support element and an upper portion of the at least one lateral and / or outer support elements form or receive the transport surface of the endless conveyor element.

Preferably, the outer edge of the outer support member are formed by extending in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveyor element link members which are held and / or guided on extended axes of the formed of chain links central support member. This embodiment allows a width-adjustable design of the support strand, in which only the central support element has a chain shape. It can be realized with little effort.

Preferably, the lateral and / or external support element has in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveyor element extending link elements, which are connected to each other in the transverse direction of the endless conveyor by the support struts, wherein the orientation and / or shape of the support struts between the link elements is variable. These members are on the one hand able to join the deflection in the deflection of the endless conveyor and, if they are designed in the form of vertically extending plates, limit the edge of the support strand continuously and serve for guidance by means of the guide profiles. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the outer edge of the outer support element, preferably the link element, has a downwardly extending guide section, which is guided by the guide profile of the transport device from the side of the central support element. This allows a simple width adjustment of the support strand.

Preferably, the support struts contain elastic connecting elements, in particular rubber-elastic connecting elements or are formed from these. This allows a wide Breitenverstellbereich the support strand.

The invention also relates to an endless conveying element or a supporting strand of an endless conveying element of a transporting device, in particular in accordance with the above statements. The support strand contains at least two extending in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveying element supporting elements whose mutual distance is adjustable. According to the invention, the support elements are connected to one another via a reversibly elastic support region, in particular elastic support struts. The reversibly elastic support region or support struts exert a tensile force between the at least two support elements. With regard to the advantages of such a support strand, reference is made to the above embodiments.

The transport device has a support guide for supporting and guiding the at least one support strand. It can be provided, for example, a support guide for several support strands. Preferably, however, a support guide is provided for each a support strand. The support guide in turn has at least one guide profile whose position is adjustable transversely to the transport direction of the transport device. In this case, the guide profile can also be integrated in the support guide itself. That is: The support guide itself can be designed in several parts, and thus form the guide profiles. A support guide may for example consist of, for example, two guide profiles whose distance from each other is adjustable transversely to the transport direction, so as to be able to guide a width adjustable in its support strand. Otherwise, the support guide may also have a base carrier, which has two relative to the base carrier has adjustable guide profiles for supporting the support strand. Preferably, the support strand itself or a part of the support strand is supported and guided by the guide profile of the support guide. In this way, the support strand or a support element arranged in the transport region on its upper side for supporting products is supported in a width-adjustable manner over its entire width and length.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a first support element of the support strand is guided by the support guide and at least a second support element of the support strand of the guide profile. Thus, for example, the support strand - seen transversely to the transport direction - be supported in the middle on a base support of the support guide, while the two lateral edges are supported by guide profiles, which are held adjustable on a base support of the support guide transversely to the transport direction. By disassembling or moving together of the two guide profiles on the base support thus the support width of the support guide can be adjusted while, for example, a central support element of the support strand is supported by the base support itself.

Of course, only the guide profiles, which are held adjustable on the base support of the support guide, form the complete support and guide surface for the support strand or its support element. The support and guide width of the support and guide surface formed by the guide profiles then corresponds to the width of the support strand or its support surface. In general, the support surface will be formed by a through the top of the support strand, for example a support chain. However, it is possible that a support element, for example made of plastic, is held on the support strand, which is adjustable in width. In this case, the support strand or the support chain itself need not be adjustable in its / its width, but only their support element. In this case, of course, the respective side edges of the support element are supported and guided by the base support or the guide profiles of the support guide, so that they are able to take over the entire width of the load of an erected product, eg container. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support strand contains flexible support struts. In this way, the two side edges of the support strand, for example, by the guide profiles of the support guide, apart or be merged, according to the required width of the support surface of the support strand.

In a preferred embodiment, for example, the support strand in the middle have a central support element and on the two sides in each case a lateral support element, which lateral support members are connected to the central support element then by means of the flexible support struts. The two lateral support elements can be supported by the guide profiles of the support guide, while the central support element can be supported, for example, on the support guide, for example on the base support of the support guide itself. Instead of flexible support struts, a flexible block can also be formed between the middle and the lateral support elements.

Due to the flexible support struts a width adjustment of the support surface of the support strand is easy to implement. Preferably, the flexible support struts exert a restoring force on the side edges of the support string, for example on the side support members, towards the center of the support string, for example the center support member. In this way, the width of the support surface of the support strand always adapts quickly to the guide width of the support guide, for example, when the two guide profiles are moved towards each other, which reduces the width of the support strand or its support surface. It suffices in this case for the guide profiles that they can pull apart the support elements in order to increase the width of the support surface. The contraction to a small width then takes place due to the restoring force of the flexible support struts.

The width adjustment of the support surface of the support strand via flexible support struts is a way to realize the width adjustment. An additional way is that the support string contains several support struts or support parts whose mutual orientation is variable. Thus, for example, the support struts may be connected to one another like a scissor or concertina, so that the distance between the first support strut and the last support strut is easily changeable. One end of the support strut is then connected, for example, to the center of the support strand, while the other end is connected to a side edge of the support strand. It may also be the support struts connected to the two side edges of the support string and thus form a continuous support surface. In this way, an easy realization of the width adjustment of the support surface of the support strand is possible.

Preferably, the guide profiles are held by means of an adjusting mechanism transversely to the conveying direction of the transport device movable on the support guide, for example on a base support of the support guide. In this way, the width of the support strand via the adjustment of the distance of the guide profiles by means of the adjusting mechanism or a plurality of adjusting mechanisms is easy to implement. Of course, preferably over the length of the transport area at intervals several adjusting mechanisms are provided, e.g. at a distance of half a meter, whereby the leadership and width adjustment of the support string over the entire length of the transport area takes place.

This adjusting mechanism is preferably and easily realized when the adjusting mechanism has a transverse to the conveying direction of the transport device adjusting axis - with a preferably non-circular base surface - which is actuated by a servomotor. A rotational movement of the adjusting axis is then e.g. very easily converted into a linear movement via worms and gears, which defines the distance between the guide profiles.

Preferably, the transport device has an endless conveying element, which has a plurality of parallel supporting strands, of which at least one support strand, preferably all supporting strands, are width-adjustable. In this way, the cover of the transport surface can be covered very individually with the support surface of the support strands. Preferably, in this case, the mutual distance between at least two of the support strands, preferably all support strands, a adjustable, whereby not only the width of the support surface of each support strand, but also the distance between the support strands and thus the gap between the support strands is adjustable. For example, if the support strands are set narrow, the support strands can be placed closer together, whereas as the support strands are extended to their greatest possible width, the support strands must also be spaced further apart to allow this support member to increase in width without adjacent ones Touch supporting strands. If, in this case, the carrying cords were not adjustable in their distance, the supporting cords would have to be arranged at a distance which allows the maximum width of each catenary without them touching each other. In this way, relatively large gaps between the support strands would arise when the support strands are adjusted to their narrowest width. Due to the adjustability of the width of the support surface of the support strands as well as the distance between the support strands to each other thus a homogeneous support surface for transporting products or containers can be created. Here, "homogeneous" is to be understood to the effect that between the bearing surfaces of adjacent support strands no gaps with excessive width occur, in which edges of the products could sink. Preferably, an adjusting mechanism for the mutual adjustment of the guide profiles for width adjustment of the support strand is connected to a control of the transport device, which control has a memory with products to be conveyed and correlated widths of the supporting strands or their bearing surfaces. And the controller is designed to set the corresponding width of the endless conveyor elements or their contact surfaces automatically via the detection of a product ID of the container to be conveyed. In this way, only a product ID or container ID must be detected, and the transport device adjusts automatically to a width of the bearing surfaces of the endless conveyor elements, which is optimal for the corresponding product or container type.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second actuating mechanism is connected to a control of the transport device, which control a memory with products to be conveyed and correlated intervals of Supporting strands of the endless conveyor element has. The controller is designed to automatically set the corresponding distance of the support strands to each other via the detection of a product or container ID of the products to be conveyed. In this way, not only the width of each support strand, but also the mutual distance of the support strands can be optimally adapted to the product type or container type to be transported.

In a further advantageous development, the support strand on at least one support area, which is connected via a film hinge with the at least one support member.

The invention likewise relates to a method for operating a transport device according to the above description, wherein in the method a product ID of the products to be conveyed is fed to a controller of the transport device, which automatically adjusts the mutual distance and the width of the carrier strands or their bearing surface according to to be conveyed products, wherein a memory is accessed, in which product IDs of the products to be conveyed and corresponding mutual distances of the support strands of the endless conveyor element and corresponding widths of the bearing surfaces of the support strands are stored. In this way, the transport device can automatically adjust to the products to be conveyed such that for these products an optimal homogeneous bearing surface is formed with little gaps and distances between the bearing surfaces of the support strands. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above described embodiments may be combined with one another in any manner.

The following expressions are used synonymously: transport surface - bearing surface - transport plane - support element; Support area - support struts - flexibly elastic support area - flexibly elastic support struts - resilient support area - spring-elastic support struts; The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the schematic drawing. In this show:

1 is a side view of a transport device for bottles,

2 is a detail II of FIG. In perspective view,

3 is another perspective view of the detail II of FIG. 1 obliquely from the front,

4 shows a section IV-IV of FIG. 1,

5 is a side view of the detail II of FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a plan view of two support strands according to FIG. 2,

7 shows a perspective view of a support strand with a minimum width, FIG. 8 shows a perspective and side view of a support strand with maximum width,

9 shows a plan view of the support strand from FIG. 7 with a minimum width, FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the support strand according to FIG. 8 with maximum width, FIG.

Fig. 1 1 is a vertical cross section through the support strand of FIG. 7 with minimum width and

12 is a vertical cross section through the support strand of FIG. 8 with maximum width, and Fig. 13a-d different embodiments of support guides.

1 shows a transporting device 10 with an endless conveying element 12, which is supported by a plurality of spaced supporting strands 14, e.g. Supporting chains, is formed. The endless conveying element 12 extends between a first deflection region 16 and a second deflection region 18. An upper transport region 20 is formed between these two deflection regions 16, 18, in which the endless conveying element 12 is supported by support guides 22. Under the deflecting regions 16, 18, a return region 24 is formed, with which the endless conveying element 12 is returned. The first deflection region 16 comprises a drive motor 26 for driving the endless conveying element 12. Products, for example bottles 28, are transported on the transport region 20 of the transport device 10.

FIGS. 2 to 6 show a detail II of the support guides 22a, 22b and supporting strands 14a, 14b of the transport device 10, which are designed as carrying chains. The support guides 22a, 22b preferably extend over the entire length of the transport region 20 between the two deflection regions 16, 18. The support strands 14 are described in more detail in FIGS. 7 to 12. In the figures, identical or functionally identical parts are provided with the identical reference numerals.

Each support guide 22a, 22b consists of a base support 30a, 30b, on each of which two guide profiles 32a, 32b are held in their spacing - preferably mirror-symmetrically - adjustable relative to each other. The distance between the two guide profiles 32a, 32b is adjustable via an adjusting mechanism 34. In the first support strand 14a, the guide profiles 32a, 32b are closely spaced, so that the first support strand 14a forms a narrow support surface, while it forms a broad support surface in the second support strand 14b. The width of the support surface of the supporting strands 14a, 14b is thus adjusted solely via the adjusting mechanism 34, which sets the mutual distance of the two guide profiles 32a, 32b to each other. Over the length of the support guide 22a, 22b are preferably a plurality of adjusting mechanisms 34 arranged at a preferably regular distance. The two guide profiles 32a, 32b are preferably adjusted symmetrically to the longitudinal center axis of the basic carrier 30a, 30b, so that the center between the two guide profiles 32a, 32b always lies in the center of the associated basic carrier 30a, 30b. The adjusting mechanism 34 for the spacing of the guide profiles 32a, 32b is preferably actuated by means of a motor, not shown, via a control axis 38 extending transversely to the transport direction, which preferably has a non-circular profile, whereby this is easily rotated by a motor, not shown.

The distance of the support guides 22a, 22b and their base support 30a, 30b is adjustable via a second adjusting mechanism 36. By this, the distance of the support strands 14a, 14b can be adjusted to each other. The second actuating mechanism 36 is preferably formed by transversely to the transport direction extending threaded rods and motors which rotate a complementary internal thread, which is in engagement with the threaded rod. Hereby, the distance of the base support 30 a, 30 b, and thus the support guides 22 a, 22 b and thus ultimately the support strands 14 a, 14 b adjusted to each other in a simple manner. In practice, the distances of the base support 30a, 30b in coordination with the width of the support surface of the supporting strands 14a, 14b set according to the mutual distance of the guide profiles 32a, 32b, so that the most homogeneous transport or contact surface is formed without large distances between the individual carrying strands 14a, 14b. FIGS. 7 to 12 show a more detailed view of the support strands 14a, 14b from the previous figures. In Fig. 7, the endless conveying element is set to its smallest width, in Fig. 8 to its maximum width. The width adjustment of the support strands 14a, 14b or their support surface is realized as follows. Each support strand 14a, 14b contains a central support element 40, these middle elements being connected in the transport direction of the conveyor via connection shafts 44 and first loops 42 and second loops 43, so as to form a complete support strand or support chain. Laterally, with the central support element 40 lateral or outer support members 46a, 46b of plate-shaped Link members 45 are connected, wherein adjacent to both sides of the central support member 40 lateral support members 46a and then on the outer sides plate-shaped outer support members 46b are arranged. The lateral or outer support elements 46a, 46b are connected to one another and to the central support element 40 via a reversibly elastic support region, preferably in the form of resilient support struts 48, which are folded somewhat together in FIG. 7, while they are diagonal in FIG extend between each two support elements 40, 46a, 46b. In this way, it is possible that the distance between the support elements 40, 46a, 46b and thus the width of the support strand is variable. The support elements are guided on the guide profiles 32a, 32b. Since the support struts 48 are elastic, they adapt to one of the width of the support strand and on the other hand form a homogeneous bearing surface.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the plan view of the support strands 14a, 14b from FIGS. 7 and 8, whereas FIGS. 11 and 12 show a vertical cross section through the support strands 14a, 14b according to FIGS. 7 and 8. The lower edge of the link members 45 of the outer support members 46b forms a guide portion 47 which abuts the guide profiles 32a, 32b on the outside. The two guide profiles 32a, 32b thus push the outer support elements 46b outwards when they move apart, the additional width of the support surface of the support element being provided by the reversibly elastic support regions 48, in particular the resilient support struts 48.

Finally, FIG. 13 shows a number of alternative embodiments for realizing the width adjustment of the support strands 14. The reference numeral 48 in these figures shows that the area of the support strand 14 containing the support struts 48 is adjustable in width.

Thus, in FIG. 13a, corresponding to the previous figures, two guide profiles 32a, 32b are arranged on each base support 30, which support and guide the support strand 14 completely. The guide sections 47 of the link elements 45 of the outer support elements 46b of the support strand 14 rest against the outer edges of the guide profiles 32a, 32b. The width of the supporting strands can thus be nanderfahren the guide profiles 32a, 32b are increased. When the guide elements 32a, 32b are adjusted to one another, the width of the support strand 14 preferably decreases via the restoring effect of the flexible support struts 48 or of the differently configured flexible support region 48.

FIG. 13b shows a somewhat modified base support 49 which has an upper extension 53 on which the central support element 40 of the support strand 14 rests. On both sides of the central support member 40 of the support strand 14 guide plates 55 are arranged, which surround on both sides of the extension 53 and thus set the support strand 14 centered on the base support 49. The outer support members 46b are again guided over the guide profiles 32a, 32b, which are arranged in their mutual distance adjustable on the base support 49.

FIG. 13c shows a two-part base support 50a, 50b, whose two parts 50a, 50b, which preferably have identical or mirror-inverted shapes, form the guide profiles of the support guide 22. The support strand is here only on the two parts 50a, 50b of the base support.

Finally, Fig. 13d shows a base support 51 a, the only carries a guide profile 51 b transversely to the transport direction adjustable. The width adjustment is done here on the adjustment of the position of the guide profile 51 b relative to the base support 51 a. The support strand 14 is located both on the base support 51 a and on the guide profile 51 b. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but may be varied as desired within the scope of the following claims. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 transport device

12 endless conveyor element

14 Supporting strand - carrying chain

16 first deflection area - first deflection roller

18 second deflection - second pulley

20 transport area

22 support guide

24 return area

26 drive motor

28 bottle - product to be delivered

30 basic beams

32 guide profile

34 actuating mechanism

36 second actuating mechanism

38 positioning axis

40 middle support element

42 first eyelet

43 second eyelets

44 connection axes

45 plate-shaped link elements of the lateral and outer support member

46a lateral support element

46b outer support element

47 under the upper edge of the guide profile projecting guide portion of the link member of the outer support member

48 flexible support struts - reversible, spring-proof support area of the support strand

49 basic carrier (second embodiment)

50a, b basic carrier (third embodiment)

51 a basic carrier (fourth embodiment)

51 b guide profile (second embodiment) Upper extension of the base carrier Guide plates of the support strand

Claims

claims

1 . Transport device (10) comprising at least one endless conveyor element (12) which has an upper transport area (20) and a lower return area (24), the transport and return area being arranged between deflection areas (16, 18) in which the endless conveyor element (12 ) is guided on deflection rollers, wherein the endless conveyor element (12) at least one in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveyor element (12) extending support strand (14), the at least two in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveyor element (12) and mutually parallel support elements (40, 46a, 46b ), each guided on a guide profile (32a, 32b) of a support guide (22), wherein the mutual distance of the support elements (40, 46a, 46b) over the distance of the guide profiles (32a, 32b) is adjustable, characterized that

the support elements (40, 46a, 46b) are connected to one another via at least one reversibly flexible support region (48), which support region (48) exerts a tensile force on the at least two support elements (40, 46a, 46b) of the support strand (14).

2. Transport device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the reversibly flexible support region (48) is formed by reversibly flexible, in particular resilient support struts (48).

3. Transport device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least two guide profiles (32a, 32b) engage between downwardly projecting guide portions (47) of the two support elements (40, 46a, 46b).

4. Transport device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the support struts (48) accordion-like or scissor-like manner with the support elements (40, 46 a, 46 b) are connected.

5. Transport device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support struts (48) at opposite ends rigidly to the support elements (40, 46 a, 46 b) of the support strand (14) are attached, so in that the mutual spacing of the support elements (40, 46a, 46b) can be set via the deformation of the support struts (48).

6. Transport device (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the support struts (48) are pivotable about a vertical axis or deflected.

7. Transport device (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the support strut (48) is fastened with its front end in the transport direction to the one support element (40, 46 a, 46 b) and with its rear end in the transport direction to the other Support element (40, 46a, 46b).

8. Transport device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support struts (48) contain spring steel or consist thereof.

9. Transport device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support strand (14) has a central support element (40) and at least one on one side of the central support element (40) arranged lateral or outer support member (46 a, 46 b) , wherein the central support element (40) is formed by chain links.

10. Transport device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the support strand (14) on both sides of the central support member (40) arranged lateral and / or outer support members (46 a, 46 b).

1 1. Transport device (10) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that an upper portion of the central support member (40) and an upper portion of the at least one lateral and / or outer support members (46a, 46b) form the transport surface of the support strand (14) or take up.

12. Transport device (10) according to one of claims 9 to 1 1, characterized in that the outer edge of the outer support member (46 b) by in Lengthwise of the endless conveyor element (12) extending link elements (45) is formed, which are held and / or guided on extended axes (44) of the formed of chain links central support member (40).

13. Transport device (10) according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the lateral and / or outer support element (46a, 46b) in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveyor element (12) extending link elements (45) which in the transverse direction of the endless conveyor element (45). 12) are interconnected by the support struts (48), wherein the orientation and / or shape of the support struts (48) between the link members (45) is variable.

14. Transport device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer edge of the outer support member (46b) has a downwardly extending guide portion (47) by the guide profile (32a, 32b) of the transport device (10 ) is executed from the side of the central support element.

15. Transport device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support struts (48) contain elastic connecting elements, in particular rubber-elastic connecting elements or are formed from these.

16. supporting strand (14) for an endless conveyor element (12) of a transport device (10), which Trags- strand (14) at least two in the longitudinal direction of the endless conveyor element (12) extending support elements (40, 46a, 46b ), whose mutual distance is adjustable, characterized in that the support elements (40, 46 a, 46 b) via at least one reversibly flexible support area (48) are interconnected.

17. Supporting strand according to claim 16, characterized in that the support region (48) exerts a tensile force on the at least two support elements (40, 46 a, 46 b).

18. Supporting string according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that at least one support region (48) via a film hinge with the at least one support element (40, 46 a, 46 b) is connected.