Apparatus for Delivering Product Carriers and Apparatus for Pivoting a Cover Section of a Product Carrier

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering product carriers, in particular L boards, to a conveying line for food products comprises a store for the product carriers and a conveying device for conveying the product carriers, in particular isolated product carriers, along a conveying direction to the conveying line, wherein each product carrier has at least one base section and at least one cover section connected to the base section; and wherein the apparatus comprises a pre-treatment device for the product carriers that is configured to pre-treat the cover section of a product carrier with respect to its base section.

Claims

1.-53. (canceled)

54. An apparatus for pivoting a cover section (15) of a product carrier (11) with respect to a base section (13) connected thereto, about a kink line (17) extending between the cover section (15) and the base section (13).

55. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus has at least one first conveyor (21); and one second conveyor (23) that is arranged downstream of the first conveyor (21) and whose support surface is arranged beneath the support section of the first conveyor (21) such that the cover section (15) of the product carrier (11) at the rear, viewed in the conveying direction (F), is pivoted upwardly with respect to the base section (13) by an end of the first conveyor (21) when the product carrier (11) is conveyed beyond the end from the support surface of the first conveyor (21) onto the support surface of the second conveyor (23) disposed thereunder.

56. An apparatus in accordance with claim 55, wherein a control is provided that only sets the second conveyor (23) into motion once the product carrier (11) lies on the support surface of the second conveyor (23).

57. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus comprises: a conveyor (27) on whose support surface the product carrier (11) can be conveyed in the conveying direction (F); and a pivoting device having at least one active element (31), wherein the active element (31) is configured and arranged to cooperate with the cover section (15) from above for pivoting the cover section (15) of the product carrier (11) disposed on the support surface.

58. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor (49) on whose support surface the product carrier (11) can be conveyed in the conveying direction (F); a feed (51) for delivering the product carrier (11) to the conveyor (49) such that the base section (13) comes to lie on the support surface and the cover section (15) moves into an active region of a co-moving folding element (53) arranged at the conveyor (49) or associated therewith; a product feed (55) for delivering a product (25) that is arranged downstream of the feed (55) of the product carrier (11), viewed in the conveying direction (F) of the conveyor (49) wherein a product (25) can be delivered by means of the product feed (55) such that it comes to lie on the base section (13); and wherein the folding element (53) is movable from a first position into a second position during the conveying procedure such that the cover section (15) is pivoted about the kink line (17) by the movement of the folding element (53).

59. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor on whose support surface the product carrier (11) can be conveyed along the conveying direction (F) with a cover section (15) disposed at the front viewed in the conveying direction (F); a pivoting device for pivoting the cover section (15) disposed at the front, viewed in the conveying direction (F), about the kink line (17), with the pivoting device being integrated in the conveyor or being arranged downstream thereof; and a rotational device for rotating the product carrier (11) about 180 degrees such that the cover section (15) is disposed at the rear viewed in the conveying direction (F).

60. An apparatus in accordance with claim 59, wherein the rotational device is arranged upstream or downstream of the conveyor and the pivoting device, viewed in the conveying direction (F); or wherein a respective rotational device is provided both in front of and behind the conveyor and the pivoting device viewed in the conveying direction (F).

61. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor (57) on whose support surface the product carrier (11) can be conveyed along the conveying direction (F); a pivoting device (59) for pivoting the cover section (15) about the kink line (17), wherein the pivoting device (59) pivots the cover section (15) while said cover section is conveyed on the conveyor (57); and a second conveyor (61) that is arranged downstream of the conveyor (57) and whose conveying direction extends perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first conveyor (57), wherein provision is made that the product carrier (11) is conveyed on the first conveyor (57) such that the kink line (17) is aligned at least substantially along the conveying direction (F).

62. An apparatus in accordance with claim 61, wherein a further, third conveyor (63) is arranged upstream of the first conveyor (57) and its conveying direction extends at least substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first conveyor (57).

63. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus has at least two consecutive conveyors (65, 67) for conveying the product carrier (11) along a conveying direction (F); wherein the product carrier (11) can be conveyed such that the base section (13) of the product carrier (11) is located on one of the conveyors (65, 67) and the cover section (15) is located at least partially above the other conveyor (65, 67); and wherein at least the end of the respective conveyor (65, 67) that faces the other conveyor (65, 67), said conveyor carrying the base section (13), is lowerable to pivot the cover section (15).

64. An apparatus in accordance with claim 63, wherein a gap is provided between the conveyors (65, 67) whose extent, viewed in the conveying direction (F), is smaller than the length of the cover section (15), measured from the kink line (17) up to the edge of the cover section (17) disposed remotely from the kink line (17); and/or wherein a folding means is provided that is configured to move through a gap created between the conveyors (65, 67) due to the lowering with a lowered conveyor (67) and to pivot the cover section (15).

65. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus comprises: a first conveyor (73) and a second conveyor (75) arranged above the first conveyor (73), wherein the two conveyors (73, 75) form a gap (77) through which the product carrier (11) can be conveyed; and a feed (79) for delivering the product carrier (11) into the gap (77) with the cover section at the front, wherein the product carrier (11) is delivered to the gap (77) with an already pre-folded cover section (15).

66. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor (85) on whose support surface the product carrier (11) can be conveyed along the conveying direction (F) with the cover section (15) disposed at the front or at the rear in the conveying direction (F); and at least one pivoting device (81) having at least one active element (83) that is configured to grasp the cover section (15) at at least one of its two lateral margins, wherein the active element (83) is movable about the kink line (17) at least from a first position into a second position to pivot the cover section (15).

67. An apparatus in accordance with claim 66, wherein the active element (83) is movable in the transverse direction to the conveying direction (F) and/or can be brought into engagement with the cover section (15).

68. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor (111) having a support surface for the product carrier (11), wherein the conveyor (111) is rotatable in a revolution direction (U) about a horizontal axis of rotation (113) disposed outside the conveyor (111); wherein, in a first rotational position (A) of the conveyor (111), the product carrier (11) can be delivered to the conveyor (111) such that the base section (13) comes to lie on its support surface; wherein, in a further, second rotational position (B) of the conveyor (111) that is arranged downstream of the first rotational position (A), viewed in the revolution direction (U), a product (25) can be placed on the base section (13); and wherein a pivoting apparatus (117) is arranged for pivoting the cover section (15) about the kink line (17) downstream of the second rotational position (B) viewed in the revolution direction (U).

69. An apparatus in accordance with claim 54, wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor (105) having a support surface for the product carrier (11); and an element (107) arranged downstream of the conveyor (105) in the conveying direction (F) and having a support surface (109) for the product carrier (11), wherein the support surface (109) of the element (107) has a length, viewed along the conveying direction (F), that substantially corresponds to the length of the base section (13), measured from the kink line (17) up to the edge of the base section (13) disposed remotely from the kink line (17), with the support surface (109) of the element (107) being movable away.

70. An apparatus for pivoting a cover section (15) of a product carrier (11) with respect to a base section (13) connected thereto, about a kink line (17) extending between the cover section (15) and the base section (13), wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor (27) on whose support surface the product carrier (11) can be conveyed in the conveying direction (F); and a pivoting device having at least one active element (31), wherein the active element (31) is configured and arranged, for the pivoting of the cover section (15) of the product carrier (11) disposed on the support surface, to cooperate with the cover section (15) from below, in particular through gaps in the support surface of a conveyor (27) or through a gap (37) between two conveyors (27, 35) arranged behind one another.

71. An apparatus in accordance with claim 70, wherein a suction rail (33) extending transversely to the conveying direction (F) is provided that grasps the base section (13) from below.

72. An apparatus for pivoting a cover section (15) of a product carrier (11) with respect to a base section (13) connected thereto, about a kink line (17) extending between the cover section (15) and the base section (13), wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor (43) on whose support surface the product carrier (11) can be conveyed in the conveying direction (F), wherein, for pivoting the cover section of a product carrier (11), at least one folding element (45) and, spaced apart therefrom in the conveying direction (F), a stop (45) for the product carrier (11) are arranged on the support surface of the conveyor (43); and a feed (47) for delivering a product carrier (11) to the conveyor (43) such that the end of the base section (13) remote from the cover section (15) comes into contact with the stop (45) and the cover section (13) is pivoted by the folding element (45) about the kink line (17).

73. An apparatus in accordance with claim 72, wherein a plurality of folding elements (45) are arranged offset from one another along the conveying direction (F), with a respective adjacent folding element (45) forming the stop cooperating with a following folding element (45).

Description

[0100] The invention will be explained by way of example in the following with reference to preferred embodiments. There are shown, schematically in each case,

[0101] FIG. 1 a lateral view of a product carrier;

[0102] FIGS. 2 and 3 a lateral view of a variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0103] FIG. 4 a plan view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0104] FIG. 5 a perspective view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier having a suction rail for fixing a product carrier;

[0105] FIGS. 6 to 8 lateral views of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0106] FIG. 9 a lateral view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0107] FIG. 10 a plan view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0108] FIG. 11 a lateral view of the variant of FIG. 10;

[0109] FIG. 12 a plan view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0110] FIG. 13 a plan view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0111] FIG. 14 a lateral view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0112] FIG. 15 a lateral view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0113] FIG. 16 a lateral view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0114] FIG. 17 a perspective view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0115] FIG. 18 a plan view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0116] FIG. 19 a plan view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0117] FIG. 20 a lateral view of a product carrier for illustrating the extent of a preferred direction of an axis of rotation in the variant of FIG. 19;

[0118] FIG. 21 a lateral view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier;

[0119] FIG. 22 a lateral view of a further variant of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section of a product carrier; and

[0120] FIG. 23 a lateral view of a product carrier and of a product that are upside down.

[0121] The product carrier 11 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a base section 13 onto which a product is placed and a cover section 15 connected to the base section 13. In this respect, a kink line (also known as a folding line) 17 is provided between the cover section 15 and the base section 13, about which the cover section can be pivoted or folded, and indeed in the arrow direction P drawn in FIG. 1, such that the originally upwardly facing side of the cover section 15 is disposed opposite the upwardly facing side of the base section 13 and a product lying on the base section 13 is in particular at least partially covered.

[0122] As is furthermore shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus for the delivery of product carriers 11 to a conveying line for food products or an apparatus for pivoting the cover section 15 of the product carrier 11 with respect to the base section 13 can have a folding rail 19 that is lowerable from above onto the product carrier 11 such that the folding rail 19 fixes the product carrier 11 along the kink line 17.

[0123] A perforation or the like can be provided beneath the product carrier 11 in the support surface that extends along the kink line 17. The pivoting procedure can thereby be improved in combination with the folding rail 19.

[0124] The cover section 15 can be pivoted in the direction of the arrow P by a pivoting device, in particular for covering a product disposed on the base section 13, while fixing the product carrier 11. The pivoting device can have a sliding metal sheet or a guide rail that serves as a base for the product carrier 11 and sets the cover section 15 at least a little upright while the product carrier 11 is conveyed over it.

[0125] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13. The apparatus has a first conveyor 21 that—as is shown in FIG. 2—is configured in the manner of a conveyor belt and has a second conveyor 23 that is arranged downstream of the first conveyor 21 and is likewise configured as a conveyor belt. The support surface provided by the second conveyor 23 for the product carrier 11 is arranged at an adjustable spacing beneath the support surface of the first conveyor 21.

[0126] The product carrier 11 is delivered by the first conveyor 21 along a conveying direction F, and indeed such that the cover section 15 is disposed at the rear viewed in the conveying direction F. When the product carrier 11 is conveyed by the support surface of the first conveyor 21 beyond the end of the conveyor 21 at the front, viewed in the conveying direction F, onto the support surface of the second conveyor 23 disposed thereunder, the cover section 15 is pivoted upwardly by the mentioned end of the first conveyor 21 with respect to the base section 13. In this respect, the weight of the product 25 disposed on the base section 13 assists the pivoting procedure. The pivoting procedure is furthermore assisted in that the second conveyor 23 is only taken into operation after the base section 13 has come to lie on its support surface and the pivoting of the cover section 15 has thus taken place, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0127] The cover section 15 is pivoted upwardly by approximately 90° from a position in which it lies on the support surface. To pivot the cover section 15 even further in the direction of the product 25, it can be advantageous if the second conveyor 23 is first operated opposite to the conveying direction F, whereby the mentioned end of the first conveyor 21 serves as an abutment for the cover section 15 and pivots it further, as is shown in FIG. 3 by way of example.

[0128] It can be advantageous if the upper, first conveyor 21 can be moved as a whole in a translatory manner in the direction of the lower, second conveyor 23 (cf. the arrow Q in FIG. 3) and/or if the second conveyor can be moved in the direction of the first conveyor 21 (cf. the arrow in FIG. 3). A further pivoting of the cover section 15 with respect to the base section 13 can thereby likewise be effected.

[0129] The vertical spacing between the support surface of the first conveyor 21 and of the second conveyor 23 can be adjustable, whereby an adaptation to differently dimensioned product carriers or differently long cover sections 15 of the product carriers 11 is possible.

[0130] Provision can be made in a modification of the variant shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the support surface of the second conveyor 23 is first located at the same level as the support surface of the first conveyor 21 such that the base section 13 can be moved directly from the first conveyor 21 onto the support surface of the second conveyor 23. Subsequently, the second conveyor 23 can be lowered, whereby, as has been described above, the cover section 15 is pivoted by the end of the first conveyor 21 disposed at the front viewed in the conveying direction F.

[0131] FIG. 4 shows an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13. The apparatus comprises at least one conveyor 27 having a plurality of parallel conveyor bands 29 that extend in the conveying direction F and that form a support surface on which the product carrier 11 can be conveyed along the conveying direction F. A pivoting device is furthermore provided having active elements 31 that are configured and arranged, for the pivoting of the cover section 15 of the product carrier 11, to cooperate with the cover section 15 from below, in particular through gaps between the conveyor bands 29, to pivot said cover section about the kink line 17.

[0132] As FIG. 4 shows, a respective three active elements 31 can, for example, be arranged in a row extending transversely to the conveying direction F and can pivot the cover section 15 from below. Every active element 31 can in this respect be configured as a kind of lever that is moved upwardly through the support surface and in this respect carries out a pivot movement that takes along the cover section 15 and pivots it about the kink line 17. The active elements 31, for example three active elements, arranged in a row extending transversely to the conveying direction F can be moved along with the product carrier 11 over a part distance along the conveying direction F such that—as is indicated in FIG. 4—the pivoting procedure is carried out while the product carrier 11 is conveyed along the conveying direction F. At the end of the conveyor line (cf. the left side of FIG. 4), the active elements 31 release the cover section 15 and the product carrier 11 is conveyed with the product 25 lying thereon further in the conveying direction F. The active elements 31 again dip downwardly or they are moved downwardly beneath the support surface and are moved back opposite to the conveying direction F to the start of the conveyor line to carry out the same treatment step at subsequent product carriers 11.

[0133] The product carrier 11 can be held by the product 25 disposed on the base section 13. In addition, however, a holder (not shown in FIG. 4) can also be provided for holding and/or fixing the base section 13 on the support surface of the conveyor 27. The holder is lowered onto the base section 13 from above such that the holder cooperates with the base section 13 from above.

[0134] Provision can alternatively be made that the holder cooperates with the base section 13 coming from beneath the support surface. FIG. 5, for example, shows a suction line 33 that extends over the width of the conveyor 27 and that can suck and fix the base section 13 from beneath the support surface of the conveyor 27, in particular in the region of the kink line 17 (not shown in FIG. 5).

[0135] FIGS. 6 and 8 show an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor 27 on whose support surface the product carrier 11 is conveyed in the conveying direction F and can be delivered to a second conveyor 35 arranged downstream. In this respect a gap 37 is provided between the two conveyors 27, 35 in which gap an active element 31 of a pivoting device is arranged.

[0136] An abutment 39 that is movable up and down is arranged downstream of the second conveyor 35 viewed in the conveying direction F. The abutment 39 is provided to fix or hold down the base section 13 at its end disposed opposite the cover section 15.

[0137] The second conveyor 35 is dimensioned such that, when the base section 13 of the product carrier 11 abuts the abutment 39, the cover section 15 is located above the active element 31. The active element 31 can be pivoted upward and to the side through the gap 37, whereby a pivoting of the cover section 15 about the kink line 17 is achieved such that the cover section 15 at least partially covers the product disposed on the base section 13.

[0138] Once the folding procedure for the cover section 15 has been concluded, the abutment 39 can be moved away to the bottom such that the product carrier 11 can be transported further in the conveying direction F together with the product 25 disposed on the base section 13, in particular by means of a third conveyor 41 arranged downstream of the second conveyor 35.

[0139] FIG. 9 shows an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13. The apparatus comprises a conveyor 43 that is configured as a conveyor belt and on whose support surface a respective product carrier 11 can be conveyed in the conveying direction F. To pivot the cover section 15 of a product carrier 11, a plurality of folding elements 45 spaced apart, viewed in the conveying direction are arranged on the support surface of the conveyor 43.

[0140] In addition, a feed 47 for delivering the product carriers 11 is provided that is formed by a conveyor arranged upstream viewed in the conveying direction F. As can furthermore be seen from FIG. 9, a product carrier 11 is delivered by the feed 47 such that the end of the base section 13 of the product carrier 11 remote from the cover section 15 comes into contact with the rear side of a folding element 45 and/or is fixed thereat and such that the cover section 15 is grasped and pivoted about the kink line 17 by a folding element 45 that is arranged downstream and that has just moved upwardly into the plane of the support surface at the rear end of the conveyor 43 viewed in the conveying direction F. It is particularly advantageous for this purpose if—as FIG. 9 shows—each folding element 45 is configured in the manner of a hook and thus has a first section that extends upwardly perpendicularly away from the support surface of the conveyor 43 and has a second section that extends to the front, starting from the end of the first section remote from the support surface, viewed in the conveying direction F.

[0141] As has been explained above, a respective folding element 45 serves as an abutment for a product carrier 11 delivered via the feed 47 such that, in the variant shown in FIG. 9, a folding element 45 thus also forms a respective stop for a product carrier 11 whose cover section 15 is folded by a folding element 45 arranged downstream of a folding element 45 forming the stop. The spacing between adjacent folding elements 45 thus advantageously approximately corresponds to the length of a base section 13, measured from its end remote from the cover section 15 up to the kink line 17.

[0142] The folding elements 45 can be arranged, viewed along the conveying direction F, adjustably at the conveyor 43, whereby an adaptation to differently long base sections 13 is possible. Folding elements 45 can also be removed from the conveyor 43 so that the folding elements 45 are advantageously releasably attached to the conveyor 43.

[0143] FIGS. 10 and 11 show an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13. The apparatus comprises a conveyor 49 that is preferably configured as a revolving conveyor belt and on whose support surface the product carrier 11 can be conveyed in the conveying direction F. In addition, a feed 51 is provided for the product carriers 11 that provides or delivers the product carriers 11 one by one in a direction transversely to the conveying direction F to the conveyor 49, and indeed such that the base section 13 of each product carrier 11 comes to lie on the support surface of the conveyor 49 and such that the cover section 15 moves into an angular range of a folding element 53 arranged at or associated with the conveyor 49 and co-rotating.

[0144] A product feed 55 is provided above the conveyor 49 for delivering products 25 and is arranged, viewed in the conveying direction F of the conveyor 49, downstream of the feed for the product carriers 11. A respective product 25 can be delivered by means of the product feed 55 such that it comes to lie on the base section 13 of a product carrier 11 disposed on the conveyor 49.

[0145] Provision is made in the apparatus that the folding element 53 is pivoted from a first position into a second position after or while the product 25 comes to lie on the base section 13 such that the cover section 15 is pivoted about the kink line 17 by the movement of the folding element 53. As is indicated in FIG. 11, a respective folding element 53 can in this respect be pivoted about a pivot axis extending transversely to the conveying direction F.

[0146] FIG. 11 furthermore shows that a plurality of spaced apart folding elements 53 are arranged at the conveyor 49 along the conveying direction F. A cycle chain is thereby so-to-say implemented by the conveyor 49 along which a plurality of product carriers 11 together with the products 25 disposed thereon can be conveyed and whose respective cover section 15 can be pivoted by one of the folding element 53 for the at least partial covering of the products 25.

[0147] FIG. 12 shows an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor 57, configured for example as a revolving conveyor belt 57, on whose support surface the product carrier 11 can be conveyed along the conveying direction F, and indeed such that the kink line 17 of the product carrier 11 extends in parallel with the conveying direction F.

[0148] A pivoting device 59 that is formed by a folding rail, for example, is arranged over a part distance of the conveyor 57. The pivoting device 59 is located, as FIG. 12 shows, on that side of the conveyor 57 which is outwardly disposed transversely to the conveying direction F and on which the cover section 15 also lies. The pivoting device 59 is configured to pivot the cover section 15 about the kink line 17 while said cover section is conveyed on the conveyor 57 and passes through the part distance along which the pivoting device 59 is provided.

[0149] A further, second conveyor 61 whose conveying direction F extends perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first conveyor 57 is arranged downstream of the first conveyor 57. In this respect, the second conveyor 61 furthermore extends relative to the first conveyor such that the kink line 17 is disposed at the rear viewed in the conveying direction F of the second conveyor 61. This has the advantage that the kink line 17 or the cover section 15 are remote from a packaging machine when the product carrier 11 together with the product 25 disposed on the base section 13 is delivered to a packaging machine (not shown).

[0150] As FIG. 12 shows, a further, third conveyor 63 by means of which the product carriers 11 are delivered together with the product 25 disposed thereon can be arranged upstream of the first conveyor 57.

[0151] FIG. 13 shows a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 12. In the apparatus of FIG. 13, the product carriers 11 are delivered via the first conveyor 57 while the products 25 are delivered only via the third conveyor 63. In this respect, a respective product 25 is placed on a base section 13 of a product carrier 11.

[0152] Alternatively to a feed of the product 11 via the conveyor belt, an additional further conveyor belt can also be provided that delivers the product carriers 11 (not shown), for example also at the point at which the products 25 are delivered to the conveyor 57. The delivery of the product carriers 11 and of the products 25 can be synchronized in this respect such that a respective product 25 is placed on the base section 13 of a respective product carrier 11.

[0153] FIG. 14 shows an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 of the product carrier 11 about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 17 and the base section 13 and illustrates the pivoting procedure. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor 65 and a second conveyor 67 which is arranged downstream of the first conveyor 65, viewed in the conveying direction F and a further, third conveyor 69 is arranged downstream thereof.

[0154] Provision is made with the apparatus of FIG. 14 that the product carrier 11 is conveyed with a cover section 15 disposed at the rear viewed in the conveying direction F. Provision is furthermore made that the product carrier 11 is conveyed onto the second conveyor 67 such that the base section 13 lies completely on the support surface provided by the second conveyor 67 while the cover section 15 still lies at least partially above the first conveyor 65.

[0155] In the apparatus of FIG. 14, the end of the second conveyor 67 facing the first conveyor 65 is lowerable. This is achieved in that the first conveyor 65 can be pivoted about a pivot axis S that extends through the end of the first conveyor 65 facing the third conveyor 69. On the lowering of the end of the second conveyor 67 facing the first conveyor 65, the cover section 15 abuts the first conveyor 65, whereby it is pivoted upwardly, as is shown in FIG. 14.

[0156] A gap can be provided between the two conveyors 65 and 67 whose extent, viewed in the conveying direction F, is smaller than the length of the cover section 15, measured from the kink line 17 up to the edge of the cover section 15 remote from the kink line 17. The gap can be bridged by means of a metal sheet 71 or by webs extending in parallel with one another along the conveying direction F, with the metal sheet 71 or the webs being arranged at the lowerable end of the second conveyor 67.

[0157] FIG. 15 shows a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 14. In the apparatus of FIG. 15, the first conveyor 65 can be moved, after the lowering of the second conveyor 67, in the conveying direction F or in the direction of the second conveyor 67, whereby a further pivoting of the cover section 15 can be effected.

[0158] FIG. 16 shows an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor 73 and a second conveyor 75 arranged above the first conveyor 73, wherein the two conveyors 73, 75 form a gap 77 through which the product carrier 11 can be conveyed. A feed 79 in the form of a further conveyor arranged upstream in the conveying direction for delivering the product carrier 11 with the cover section 15, that has in particular already been pre-folded, at the front into the gap 77 such that the cover section 15 is further folded by the two conveyors 73, 75 on entry into the gap 77 and is brought into contact with the base section 13. At the end of the gap 77 remote from the feed 79, the product carrier 11 can leave the gap 77 and can, for example, be delivered to a further conveyor arranged downstream in the conveying direction F.

[0159] FIGS. 17 to 19 show different variants of an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13 in which at least one conveyor 85, in particular a conveyor belt, is provided on whose support surface the product carrier 11 can be conveyed along the conveying direction F with a cover section 15 disposed at the front or at the rear viewed in the conveying direction F. In addition, at least one pivot device 81 is provided having at least one active element 83 that is configured to grasp the cover section 15 at at least one of its two lateral margins. The active element 83 is movable, in particular pivotable, at least from a first position into a second position about the kink line 17 for pivoting the cover section 15.

[0160] The active element 83 can also be movable in the transverse direction to the conveying direction F for the grasping and release of the cover section 15 such that it can be moved away to the outside or can be brought into active connection or into engagement with the cover element 15 from late rally outside. The active element 83 can in this respect have a gripper by which the cover section 15 can be gripped.

[0161] The active element 83 can be moved along a part piece of the conveyor line with the product carrier 11 such that the pivoting of the cover section 15 can take place while the product carrier 11 is conveyed.

[0162] As is shown in the variant of FIG. 18, the active element 83 can be arranged at a separate conveyor 87, 89 that is arranged in parallel with and laterally beside the conveyor 85 for the product carriers 11 and that revolves. Two differently configured conveyors are shown on each side of the conveyor 85 in FIG. 18 for illustration purposes; the conveyor 87 at the right and the conveyor 89 at the left. It is understood that the same kind of conveyor is preferably arranged at both of the two sides.

[0163] The revolution speed of the respective separate conveyor 87, 89 can be adjustable relative to the revolution speed of the conveyor 85 for the product carriers 11. A plurality of active elements 83 that are arranged offset from one another along the conveyor 85, 87 are attached to each conveyor 85, 87. A respective active element 83 can take along and pivot a grasped cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 conveyed on the conveyor 85 by a suitable adjustment of the movement speed of the active elements 83 that is, for example, slightly above the conveying speed.

[0164] As FIG. 18 shows, the conveyor 87 comprises a conveyor belt 103 that revolves around two pulleys 99, 101 that are offset, viewed in the conveying direction F, and whose axis of rotation extends at least approximately perpendicular to the support surface for the product carriers 11. The upper side of the part of the conveyor belt 103 faces the conveyor 85 such that the active elements 83 attached to the upper side come into contact with the cover sections 15 and can pivot them, in particular when they are already slightly upwardly pivoted. The upper side of the part of the conveyor belt 103 running opposite to the conveying direction F is remote from the conveyor 85, whereby the active elements 83 can again be led back in the region of the total arrangement without them coming into contact with the cover sections 15.

[0165] The conveyor 89 likewise comprises a conveyor belt 91 that revolves around two pulleys that are offset, viewed in the conveying direction F, and whose axis of rotation extends at least approximately in parallel with the support surface for the product carriers 11 and perpendicular to the conveying direction F. The upwardly running part of the conveyor belt 91 is located at least a little above the support surface for the product carriers 11 while the downwardly running part 93 of the conveyor belt is disposed beneath the support surface. The active elements 83 project away from the conveyor belt 91 toward the side in the direction of the conveyor 85 for the product carriers 11, as FIG. 18 shows.

[0166] A respective active element 83 dips from below out of the support surface for the product carriers 11 at the end of the conveyor belt 91 at the rear, viewed in the conveying direction F, and moves from the bottom into contact with a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11. A pivoting of the cover section 15 takes place by the further movement of the active element 83 in the conveying direction F. At the front end of the conveyor belt 91, the respective active element 83 again dips downwardly away and is again transported back against the conveying direction F in a plane beneath the support surface for the product carriers 11.

[0167] As FIG. 19 shows, in a further modified variant, a plurality of active elements 83 can be arranged offset from one another over at least one section of the outer periphery of a rotary disk 97. The rotary disk 97 can be rotatable about an axis of rotation 95 disposed laterally next to the support surface or to the conveyor 85 and in particular adjustable in height and/or inclination angle such that the active elements 83 can be brought into operative connection with a respective cover section 15 by rotation about the axis of rotation 95.

[0168] Such pivoting devices 81 are arranged at both sides of the conveyor 85 for the product carriers 11 in the apparatus of FIG. 19. The size of the active region of an active element 83 can be set via the radius and via the kind of the rotary disk 97. The rotary disk 97 can in this respect be configured as an eccentric disk.

[0169] The active elements 83 can also e.g. be moved up and down in the manner of a rocker, for example by a pivotable suspension at the rotary disk 97. The movement can be effected by a control by a vertical contour on or at the rotary disk 95.

[0170] The axis of rotation 95 can optionally be adjustable in the horizontal direction, in particular also during operation. The axis of rotation 95 can also extend slightly obliquely to the vertical direction, whereby a good engagement beneath the cover sections 15 can be made possible. They are preferably slightly pre-folded. The slightly oblique axis of rotation 95 preferably has a right angle to a plane E (cf. FIG. 20 in which the pivoted cover sections 15 should lie after their pivoting. The same applies to simple downholder elements 105a that can be arranged along the conveyor line.

[0171] FIG. 20 shows the desired position of a cover section 15 after the pivoting and a plane E in which the pivoted cover section 15 is at least approximately disposed. The axis of rotation 95 extends at least approximately perpendicular to the plane E.

[0172] FIG. 21 shows an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13. The apparatus comprises at least one conveyor 105, in particular a conveyor belt, having a support surface for the product carrier 11. The apparatus comprises an element 107 arranged downstream of the conveyor 105, viewed in the conveying direction F, and has a support surface 109 for the product carrier 11, wherein the support surface 109 has a length, viewed along the conveying direction F, that substantially corresponds to the length of the base section 13, measured form the kink line 17 up to the edge of the base section 13 disposed remotely from the kink line 17. The support surface 109 is lowerable with respect to the support surface of the conveyor 105.

[0173] As FIG. 21 shows, provision is made that the product carrier 11 is conveyed onto the support surface 109 with a cover section 15 disposed at the rear, viewed in the conveying direction F, and with a product 25 disposed on the base section 13 such that at least a part of the cover section 15 is located above the conveyor 105b. When the support surface 109 is lowered and a falling of the product carrier 11 through the associated opening is permitted, the cover section 15 abuts the conveyor 105b and is pivoted by it about the kink line 17.

[0174] In addition, a folding apparatus (not shown) can be provided that, with a lowered support surface 109, further pivots the cover section 15, in particular until it comes into contact with the product 25.

[0175] FIG. 22 shows an apparatus for pivoting a cover section 15 of a product carrier 11 with respect to a base section 13 connected thereto about a kink line 17 extending between the cover section 15 and the base section 13. The apparatus comprises four short conveyors 111, in particular conveyor belts, having a support surface for a respective product carrier 11. The conveyors 111 are arranged rotatably in a rotational direction U about a horizontal axis of rotation 113 and indeed such that the alignment of the conveyors 111 at least does not substantially change.

[0176] In a first rotational position A, a respective conveyor 111 can take up a product carrier 11 that is provided by a feed, not shown, and comes to lie on the conveyor 111.

[0177] In a further, second rotational position B, that is arranged downstream of the first rotational position A, viewed in the rotational direction U, a respective conveyor 111 can take up a product 25, wherein the product 25 comes to lie on the base section 13 of the product carrier 11 taken up in the rotational position A. The product 25 can in this respect be delivered by means of a product feed 115.

[0178] When the respective conveyor 111 is rotated further in the rotational direction U from the second rotational position B, it moves past a pivoting device 117 that pivots the cover section 15 of the product carrier 11 about the kink line 17. The pivot device 117 can in this respect comprise at least one active element 119 that can be moved from radially outside into the movement path of the cover section 15 and can thus be brought into operative connection with the cover section 15. The active element 119 can, however, also be attached in a fixed position and has a corresponding association with the movement path of the cover section 15.

[0179] In a further, third rotational position C of the respective conveyor 111 serving for the transfer, a conveying device 121 is arranged downstream of the conveyor 111 by means of which the product carrier 11 can be transported off together with the product 25 and the pivoted product section 15 disposed thereon.

[0180] The selected number of four conveyors 111 is arbitrary. More or fewer than four conveyors 111 can also be provided.

[0181] FIG. 23 serves for the illustration of the idea that a product carrier 11 with a product 25 and a pivoted cover section 15 is introduced into a packaging upside down, that is with the product carrier 11 disposed at the top. The cover section 15 thereby remains fixed. A flipping apparatus can be provided before the introduction into the packaging that flips the product carrier 11 together with the product 25, that is arranges them upside down.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0182] 11 product carrier [0183] 13 base section [0184] 15 cover section [0185] 17 kink line [0186] 19 pre-treatment device, folding rail [0187] 21 first conveyor [0188] 23 second conveyor [0189] 25 product [0190] 27 conveyor [0191] 29 conveyor band [0192] 31 active element [0193] 33 suction rail [0194] 35 second conveyor [0195] 37 gap [0196] 39 abutment [0197] 41 third conveyor [0198] 43 conveyor [0199] 45 folding element [0200] 47 feed [0201] 49 conveyor [0202] 51 feed [0203] 53 folding element [0204] 55 product feed [0205] 57 first conveyor [0206] 59 pivoting device [0207] 61 second conveyor [0208] 63 third conveyor [0209] 65 first conveyor [0210] 67 second conveyor [0211] 69 third conveyor [0212] 71 metal sheet [0213] 73 first conveyor [0214] 75 second conveyor [0215] 77 gap [0216] 79 feed [0217] 81 pivoting device [0218] 83 active element [0219] 85 conveyor [0220] 87 conveyor [0221] 89 conveyor [0222] 91 conveyor belt [0223] 93 conveyor belt part [0224] 95 axis of rotation [0225] 97 rotary disk [0226] 99 pulley [0227] 101 pulley [0228] 103 conveyor belt [0229] 105 conveyor [0230] 105a downholder element [0231] 105b conveyor [0232] 107 element [0233] 109 support surface [0234] 111 conveyor [0235] 113 axis of rotation [0236] 115 product feed [0237] 117 pivoting device [0238] 119 active element [0239] 121 conveying device [0240] F conveying direction [0241] P arrow direction [0242] Q arrow [0243] R arrow [0244] S pivot axis [0245] E plane [0246] U rotational direction [0247] A first rotational position [0248] B second rotational position [0249] C third rotational position