TRANSPORTER HAVING A TILTABLE WEB

Abstract

A device for transporting stationary objects, such as containers, bottles, multipacks, packaged items, which comprises at least one transporting device having a first conveying speed and defines a transport plane for the standing transport of the objects, at least one web arranged parallel to the transporting device, the upper side of the web defines a support plane and the web has a length which is at least equal to double the diameter of the deck surface of the objects to be transported, and at least a lifting device, by which the relative tilting of the support plane of the web relative to the transport plane of the at least one transporting device can be changed, the lifting device allows a step-free tilting of the web and/or transporting device, so that the horizontal position of an intersection line between the support plane and the transport plane is continuously adjustable.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting standing objects, such as containers, bottles, multipacks and packaged items, comprising: at least one transporting device, which has a first conveying speed and defines a transporting plane for the standing transport of the objects, at least one web, which is arranged in parallel to the transporting device, wherein the upper side of the web defines a supporting plane and wherein the web has a length which corresponds to at least twice the diameter of the base of the objects to be transported, and a lifting device with which a tilt of the supporting plane of the web relative to the transporting plane of the at least one transporting device can be altered, wherein the lifting device makes a step-free tilting of the web and/or of the transporting device possible, with the result that the horizontal position of an intersection line between the supporting plane and the transporting plane is adjustable step-free in the transporting direction.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the at least one transporting device is adjustable.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two webs are provided on either side of the at least one transporting device and wherein the upper sides of the webs define the supporting plane.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of transporting devices and webs, which are in each case arranged in alternating sequence transversely to the transporting direction, wherein the width of the transporting devices in each case is approximately the same size and smaller than 50%, preferably smaller than 30% and still more preferably smaller than 20% of the width of the base of the objects to be transported.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of transporting devices and a plurality of height-adjustable webs arranged between the transporting devices, wherein the webs are movable in terms of the vertical position individually or in groups via their own lifting devices in each case.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lifting device comprises control elements, which are provided at the front and at the rear end of the webs and/or transporting device and which make a step-free vertical positioning of the respective ends of the webs and/or transporting device possible, with the result that the horizontal position of the intersection line between the supporting plane and the transporting plane, as well as the angle between the supporting plane and the transporting plane are adjustable independently of each other.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lifting device has mechanical, electromotive, pneumatic or hydraulic control elements.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lifting device, at the front and/or rear end of the webs, has eccentric rods, with which the vertical position of the webs relative to the transporting plane of the at least one transporting device can be adjusted.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transporting device has comb-like surface structures, the upper side of which defines the transporting plane, and wherein the webs extend between the comb-like surface structures in the transporting direction.

10. A method for transporting standing objects, such as containers, bottles, multipacks and packaged items, comprising: at least one transporting device, which has a conveying speed and defines a transporting plane for the standing transport of the objects, at least one web, which is arranged in parallel to the at least one transporting device, wherein the upper side of the web defines a supporting plane, and wherein the web has a length which corresponds to at least twice the diameter of the base of the objects to be transported, and wherein the tilt of the supporting plane of the web relative to the transporting plane of the at least one transporting device can be altered by means of a lifting device, and wherein the lifting device makes a step-free tilting of the web and/or of the transporting device possible, with the result that the horizontal position of the intersection line between the supporting plane and the transporting plane is adjustable in a step-free manner.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the lifting device makes a step-free vertical positioning of the web and/or transporting device possible, with the result that the horizontal position of the intersection line between the supporting plane and the transporting plane and the tilt angle between the supporting plane and the transporting plane are adjustable independently of each other.

12. The method according to claim 10, for accumulating objects transported on a transporting apparatus, wherein the supporting plane defined by the web is tilted relative to the transporting plane of the at least one transporting device at least in portions in the transporting direction, with the result that the objects are slid onto the supporting plane and raised off the at least one transporting device.

13. The method according to claim 10 for accumulating objects transported on a transporting apparatus, wherein the horizontal position of the intersection line between the supporting plane and the transporting plane is in each case updated corresponding to the current accumulation end of the objects already accumulated on the transporting apparatus.

14. The method according to claim 13 for accumulating objects transported on a transporting apparatus, wherein, in addition to the horizontal positioning of the intersection line, the angle which results between the supporting plane and the transporting plane can also be set to a predefined value.

Description

[0038] Embodiment examples of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. There are shown in:

[0039] FIG. 1 a top view of a transporting apparatus with height-adjustable webs and fixed transporting devices arranged in alternation;

[0040] FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of a transporting apparatus with height-adjustable transporting devices and height-adjustable webs;

[0041] FIG. 3 a side view of the transporting apparatus from FIG. 2;

[0042] FIG. 4 a top view and a side view of an accumulation section with adjustable webs;

[0043] FIG. 5 various web profiles;

[0044] FIG. 6 a cross section of an accumulation section according to FIG. 4 with transporting devices and webs arranged in a terraced manner;

[0045] FIG. 7 various friction profiles of the web upper side;

[0046] FIG. 8 a side view of an embodiment with a transporting device with comb-like structures; and

[0047] FIG. 9 a front view of the embodiment according to FIG. 8.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a portion of a transporting apparatus 10 with several transporting devices 12 arranged in parallel, on which a plurality of objects 16 are transported. In this example, the transporting devices 12 are circulating conveyor belts, and the objects 16 are drinks bottles. Instead of conveyor belts, however, link chain conveyors or other suitable transporting devices can be used just as well. Between the conveyor belts 12, height-adjustable webs 14 are arranged which are vertically movable via lifting devices 20.

[0049] The lifting devices 20 in FIG. 1 are two eccentric rods, which are provided at the respective end areas of the webs 14 and via which all webs 14 are coupled to each other. By rotation of the eccentric rods 20, the webs 14 are raised or lowered. If both eccentric rods are moved uniformly, the webs 14 are moved in parallel to the transporting plane defined by the transporting devices 12. By selective movement of only one of the two eccentric rods, the webs 14 can be tilted relative to the transporting plane.

[0050] A side view of a transporter which likewise has parallel transporting lanes 12 and height-adjustable webs 14 in alternating sequence is shown in FIG. 2. In the side view, in each case, only one conveyor belt 12 and one height-adjustable web 14 are represented. Of course, however, any desired number of conveyor belts 12 and webs 14 can be arranged in any desired, preferably alternating sequence. The actual arrangement and number of conveyor belts 12 and webs 14 used depends on the respective intended use. The bottles 16 are conveyed from left to right, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2.

[0051] In FIG. 2, the webs 14 are positioned over two pneumatic control elements 22, which are provided in each case at the end areas of the webs 14. The upper sides of the webs 14 define a supporting plane 18. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the two control elements 22 are extended to different extents, with the result that the supporting plane 18 is slightly tilted relative to the transporting plane. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the bottles 16 are slid onto the supporting plane 18 defined by the webs. The tilting makes it possible to slide the bottles 16 very gently onto the webs 14. The sliding is preferably a dynamic process, in which both the tilt angle and the extension height of the individual control elements can be adapted to the respective current transporting requirements.

[0052] To release the bottles 16, the webs 14 are then lowered at least at the end located downstream, with the result that the bottles 16 can then be deposited on the transporting apparatus 10 and transported further. In particular during the release, it is advantageous if the individual webs have their own control elements individually, with which the webs can be selectively moved. In this way, in each case a particular bottle can be released in a targeted manner for further transport.

[0053] As the bottles 16, as long as they stand on the webs 14, are not in contact with the conveyor belts 12, no friction also forms between the bottles 16 and the conveyor belts 12, with the result that with this embodiment, in particular in the implementation of accumulation sections, a substantial energy saving can be achieved.

[0054] The transporting apparatus 10 is shown in a cross-sectional view transverse to the conveying direction in FIG. 3. The transporting apparatus 10 comprises three fixedly arranged transporting devices 12 and two height-adjustable webs 14, which are arranged in a frame structure 24. Each conveyor belt 12 has lateral shoulders 26, with which the conveyor belts 12 lie on bearing surfaces 28 of the frame structure 24.

[0055] The two webs 14 can be moved in terms of height via a control member 20. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the control member 20 is extended, with the result that the supporting plane 18 of the webs protrudes above the transporting plane. The bottle base of the bottle 16 to be transported therefore stands exclusively on the webs and is not conveyed further in this situation.

[0056] In order that the bottle stands securely on the conveyor belts 12 and webs 14, the width of the conveyor belts 12 is approximately 40% of the diameter of the bottle 16 to be transported. The webs are designed significantly narrower in comparison.

[0057] In FIG. 4, an accumulation section is depicted for which the use of the webs 14 is particularly suitable. Accumulation sections are often required in filling systems in order to make intermediate storage of containers 16 possible during disruptions in the production sequence, with the result that units arranged upstream can continue to be operated despite the disruption. On accumulation sections, the containers 16 are held back in multiple tracks. In conventional systems, the conveyor belts 12 are pulled through under the accumulated containers 16, which leads to considerable friction losses, in particular if a large number of containers 16 are to be accumulated. In order to reduce these friction losses, in the accumulation section in FIG. 4 height-adjustable and tiltable webs 14 are provided, which are arranged in alternating sequence between the individual transporting devices 12. It can be seen from the side view in FIG. 4 that the webs 14 are tilted relative to the transporting plane, with the result that the conveyed containers 16 are slid gently onto the supporting plane 18 formed by the webs 14 in the central transition area. The height of the webs 14 is chosen such that the containers 16 located at the end of the webs 14 located downstream, which are already accumulated, are raised completely off the transporting plane.

[0058] In the case of increasing filling of the accumulation section, the height and/or the tilt of the webs 14 is adjusted such that in each case the conveyed containers can be slid onto the webs, and that the already accumulated containers 16 are raised completely off the transporting plane. The horizontal position of the intersection line between the transporting plane and the supporting plane is ideally adjusted such that it lies approximately in the area of the accumulation end of the objects already accumulated on the supporting plane. The objects are then conveyed on the transporting device until they reach the accumulation end. At the accumulation end, the objects are then decelerated by being gently slid onto the supporting plane, and line up against the already accumulated objects. As the position of the accumulation end changes constantly, for optimal operation the precise alignment of the supporting plane, as well as the position of the intersection line between the transporting plane and the supporting plane, must likewise be continuously re-adjusted.

[0059] The configuration shown in FIG. 4 represents the start of the accumulation development. In the case of complete accumulation, the rotationally symmetrical containers arrange themselves according to a 2-dimensional, cubic close-packing. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the intersection line SL is located in the area of the accumulation end of the group of bottles already accumulated on the webs 14. As the accumulation length increases, the intersection line can be shifted in the direction of the end of the transporting device lying upstream. By adjustment of the height and of the tilt of the webs 14, the intersection line SL is always updated to the current position of the accumulation end.

[0060] At the end of the accumulation sections located downstream, it is often necessary to form the multi-track container stream into a single-track container stream. For this, at the end of the accumulation section located downstream, guide plates (not represented) are provided which typically guide the containers 16 in the direction of a boundary rail of the transporting apparatus 10. During this forming, the containers 16 are also shifted with a component transverse to the transporting direction on the transporting apparatus 10. However, in the arrangement of FIG. 4, this also means that the containers 16 have to be pushed transversely over the possibly slightly elevated webs 14. Webs 14 with a rectangular profile would act like step edges, and could cause the containers 16 to tip over. In order to prevent such a tipping over, the webs 14 expediently have a rounded or faceted profile. Possible profile shapes for the upper sides of the webs 14 are depicted in FIG. 5.

[0061] During the forming of a multi-track container stream, the transporting devices 12 arranged in parallel are often arranged in a terraced manner and/or with an angle of inclination, in order to support the transverse movement of the containers 16 relative to the transporting plane on the basis of gravity. A terraced arrangement can also be achieved with the present invention, as represented in FIG. 6. There, a cross-sectional view is shown, wherein height-adjustable webs 14 are again provided between the individual transporting devices 12. The transporting devices 12 arranged lying lower down are usually operated at a higher speed, in order to transport all of the accumulated containers 16 away quickly on these transporting devices 12. By targeted individual adjustment of the height of the webs 14 between the transporting devices 12 arranged in a terraced manner, a supporting plane sloping down transversely to the transporting direction is defined, on which the containers 16 move during the forming. In the arrangement according to FIG. 6 as well, it is recommended to choose one of the rounded or faceted profiles for the webs 14.

[0062] In FIG. 7 upper sides of webs are depicted which each have a different friction profile. The friction profile can consist, for example, of strips of a friction coating. The profile can also be formed by slots arranged diagonally. If the webs are extended only so far that, although the objects are still conveyed, a friction is generated between the surface of the webs and the objects, then a deflection of the objects can be achieved due to the friction profile. The direction of the friction profile indicates in which direction the objects to be transported are deflected. The deflection direction is represented by the respective arrows in FIG. 7.

[0063] In FIGS. 8 and 9 a further embodiment of the invention is depicted, in which the transporting device 12 has comb-like structures 30, the upper side of which forms the transporting plane 15 for the objects 16 to be transported. The webs 14 in this embodiment are stationary and are arranged in the intermediate spaces 32 between the comb-like structures 30 of the transporting device 12. The transporting device 12 is designed height-adjustable via the control elements 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b, which are provided in each case at the front and rear deflection rollers of the transporting device 12. In FIGS. 8 and 9 the control elements 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b are adjusted in such a way that the transporting plane 15 is located in parallel above the supporting plane 18 defined by the webs 14. In this configuration, the objects 16 are conveyed on the transporting device 12 without being influenced by the webs 14. The positioning of the transporting plane 15 of the transporting device 12 is adjustable by the total of four independently actuatable control elements 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b. By lowering of the front 34a, 34b or rear 36a, 36b control elements, the transporting plane 15 of the transporting device 12 can be moved in terms of height and/or tilted relative to the supporting plane 18, wherein the comb-like structures 30 are lowered between the webs 14, with the result that objects 16 are deposited on the supporting plane 18 defined by the webs 14 in portions or over the entire length of the transporting device 12. Not only are the relative vertical positioning and the angle between the transporting plane 15 and the supporting plane 18 adjustable, but the horizontal position of the intersection line between the transporting plane 15 and the supporting plane 18 can also be altered. In the case of accumulation sections, for example, the transporting device can thus always be precisely positioned such that the intersection line is located in the area of the accumulation end.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0064]

TABLE-US-00001 10 transporting apparatus 12 transporting device 14 height-adjustable web 15 transporting plane 16 object 18 supporting plane 20 lifting device 22 pneumatic control elements 24 frame structure 26 lateral shoulders 28 bearing surfaces 30 comb-like surface structures 32 intermediate spaces 34a, b front control elements 36a, b rear control elements