TRANSPORTING APPARATUS HAVING A RAILING WITH REINFORCING SEGMENTS

Abstract

An apparatus for transporting objects, preferably containers, which has a transporting device. The transporting device is designed to transport objects. The apparatus also has a railing which is designed to guide the objects transported on the transporting device. The railing has a guide element which is designed to guide the objects. In addition, the railing has a plurality of reinforcing segments which are arranged adjacent to the guide element and are designed to reinforce the guide element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting objects, preferably containers, the apparatus comprising: a transporting device which is configured to transport objects, and a railing which is configured to guide the objects transported on the transporting device, wherein the railing has an elastic guide element which is configured to guide the objects and extends over the entire length of the transporting device, and wherein the railing has a plurality of reinforcing segments spaced apart from each other, which are arranged adjacent to the guide element and are configured to reinforce the elastic guide element.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide element has a C-profile in cross section, and wherein the reinforcing segments are configured to be arranged in the C-profile of the guide element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing segments in each case have a C-profile in cross section, and wherein the reinforcing segments are configured to engage in grooves of the guide element.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing segments are made of metal, preferably of aluminum or steel.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide element consists of plastic, preferably of an extruded plastic.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further has at least one railing holder, to which the elastic guide element is fastened.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the railing holder is configured to define the spatial course of the railing.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing segments have a length of from 10 to 500 mm, preferably 50 mm, 100 mm or 200 mm.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein reinforcing segments configured to connect to the guide element.

10. A method for producing an apparatus for transporting objects, preferably containers, the method comprising the following steps: providing a transporting device which is designed to transport objects, and providing a railing which is designed to guide the objects transported on the transporting device, wherein the railing has an elastic guide element which is configured to guide the objects and extends over the entire length of the transporting device, and wherein the railing has a plurality of reinforcing segments not connected to each other, which are arranged adjacent to the guide element and are configured to reinforce the elastic guide element.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the precise course of the railing is not established until the transporting apparatus is being assembled.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the provision of a plurality of railing holders, to which the elastic guide element is fastened.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the elastic guide element is reinforced in the areas between the railing holders by means of a plurality of reinforcing elements.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reinforcing segments are configured to connect to each other, and wherein the reinforcing segments, after the elastic guide element has been reinforced with them, are rigidly connected to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Various embodiments are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 is an illustrative representation of the transporting apparatus according to an embodiment with a curved course;

[0035] FIG. 2 is an illustrative representation of the transporting apparatus according to an embodiment with a straight course and reinforcing segments;

[0036] FIG. 3 is an illustrative representation of the transporting apparatus according to an embodiment with a straight course and a reduced number of reinforcing segments;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a cross-section profile of a railing according to the disclosure with a guide element and a reinforcing segment; and

[0038] FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the guide element and the reinforcing segments of the railing with a different cross section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for transporting objects. The apparatus has a transporting device 10. The transporting device 10 is designed to transport objects. For this purpose, the transporting device 10 has a plurality of conveyor belts 12. Objects, such as for example glass bottles, are transported on the conveyor belts 12 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1.

[0040] In the case shown in FIG. 1, four conveyor belts 12 are shown, wherein objects transported on these conveyor belts 12 are to be guided onto a narrower course of the conveyor belts 12. The number of conveyor belts 12 is to be reduced from four to two. For this purpose, the apparatus has a railing 14. The railing 14 is arranged above the transport plane of the conveyor belts 12 and guides objects which are transported on the conveyor belts 12 along a path which leads to a narrowing of the stream of containers. For this purpose, the railing 14 has a curved shape.

[0041] In order to realize the curved shaping of the railing 14, railing holders 16 are provided, which are connected to the railing 14 by means of connecting axes 18.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows the transporting apparatus according to the disclosure with a straight course. In order to provide a railing 14 that is easy to install and to modify, the railing 14 has a guide element 20. A plurality of reinforcing segments 22 are provided for reinforcing the guide element 20. The plurality of reinforcing segments 22 are assigned to a single long guide element 20 and ensure a reinforcing of the guide element 20. In the event of the accumulation of many objects, the railing 14 is protected from an undesired deformation by the reinforcement. Moreover, the reinforcing segments 22 ensure that objects which are pressed against the railing 14 do not fall over. For this purpose, the reinforcing segments 22 increase the inertia of the railing 14 through their own weight.

[0043] In the case shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcing segments 22 are arranged directly adjacent to each other in the guide element 20. The reinforcing segments 22 thus fill the guide element 20. Alternatively, only isolated reinforcing segments 22 can also be provided in the guide element 20. This case is represented in FIG. 3. The number of reinforcing segments 22 can be selected dependent on the desired characteristic of the railing 14, in particular the desired rigidity and inertia of the railing 14.

[0044] The guide element 20 as well as the reinforcing segments 22 can have different cross-section profiles. Two example cross-section profiles are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the guide element 20 has a C-profile in cross section. The reinforcing segments 22 have a rectangular cross-section profile and are enclosed by the guide element 20. During the installation of the railing the reinforcing segments 22 can be pushed into the guide element 20.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the reinforcing segments 22 have a C-profile in cross section. The guide element 20 has grooves 24 into which the reinforcing segments can be inserted. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a positive locking is thus achieved between the guide element 20 and the reinforcing segments 22.

[0046] In order to prevent the reinforcing segments 22 from slipping with respect to the guide element 20, the railing holders 16 can for example be fastened to the guide element in that they are firmly connected to individual reinforcing segments 22 at connection points 26. This firm connection of the railing holders 16 to the reinforcing segments 22 is represented schematically in FIG. 2. In addition, the firm connection of the railing holders 16 to individual reinforcing segments 22 determines the shaping of the railing. For this purpose, the railing holders 16 are firmly mounted at the ends opposite the connection points 26, for example on the transporting device 10.

[0047] Alternatively or additionally, reinforcing segments 22 can be designed firmly connectable to the guide element 20. In this case, individual or all reinforcing segments 22 can be firmly connected to the guide element 20, whereby the reinforcing segments 22 are prevented from slipping with respect to the guide element 20. Preferably, it is possible both for railing holders 16 to be firmly connected to individual reinforcing segments 22 at connection points 26 and for reinforcing segments 22 to be firmly connected to the guide element 20.