Transport section, method for adjusting and/or readjusting at least one transport track within a transport section, and packaging facility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10336557-B2
Application number	US-201815911522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2018
Priority date	Mar 6, 2017
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to device, method and packaging facility having a transport section ( 17 ) for feeding article arrangements ( 5 ) in a transport direction (TR) to a packaging module ( 18 ). The transport section ( 17 ) comprises a transfer plate ( 15 ), on which the articles ( 2 ) of the article arrangements ( 5 ) are movable in a sliding manner. Located above the transfer plate ( 15 ) are pushing devices ( 16 ) for moving the articles ( 2 ) on the transfer plate ( 15 ), with the pushing devices ( 16 ) being movable in transport direction (TR) at least in some areas. The transport section ( 17 ) furthermore comprises outer guide elements ( 20 ) and inner guide elements ( 21 ) disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ), with the outer guide elements ( 20 ) laterally delimiting the transport section ( 17 ) and, with the inner guide elements ( 21 ) being readjustable by at least one readjustment mechanism that is disposed at least partly below the transfer plate ( 15 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transport section ( 17 ) for feeding article arrangements ( 5 ) in a transport direction (TR) to a packaging module ( 18 ) for the article arrangements ( 5 ), the transport section ( 17 ) comprising:
a transfer plate ( 15 ), on which the articles ( 2 ) of the article arrangements ( 5 ) are movable in transport direction (TR) in a sliding manner, wherein at least one area of the transfer plate ( 15 ) has openings that are formed to be orthogonal to the transport direction (TR) of the articles ( 2 );
one or more pushing devices ( 16 ) disposed above the transfer plate ( 15 ), for moving the articles ( 2 ) on the transfer plate ( 15 ), wherein the one or more pushing devices ( 16 ) are movable in transport direction (TR);
one or more outer guide elements ( 20 ) disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ), with the one or more outer guide elements ( 20 ) laterally delimiting the transport section ( 17 ); and
one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ), wherein the inner guide elements ( 21 ) are readjustable by at least one readjustment mechanism that is disposed at least partly below the transfer plate ( 15 ), and wherein at least a portion of the readjustment mechanism is movable within the openings of the transfer plate ( 15 ).

2. The transport section ( 17 ) of claim 1 , wherein the one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) each comprise a first magnet ( 42 ), and wherein the at least one readjustment mechanism comprises a second magnet ( 43 ), wherein, by transferring the second magnet ( 43 ) from a first operating position into a second operating position, each of the one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) is transferred from a first position and/or arrangement on the transfer plate ( 15 ) into a second position and/or arrangement on the transfer plate ( 15 ).

3. The transport section of claim 2 , wherein the second magnet ( 43 ) of the at least one readjustment mechanism is guided within the openings.

4. The transport section of claim 3 , wherein a non-magnetic coating ( 41 ) is disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ), with the non-magnetic coating ( 41 ) covering the openings.

5. The transport section as recited in claim 4 , wherein the transport section ( 17 ) is divided in transport direction into a plurality of segments, wherein each segment is assigned two inner guide elements ( 21 ).

6. The transport section of claim 5 , wherein the two inner guide elements ( 21 ) of a segment is coupled to the at least one readjustment mechanism such that the two inner guide elements ( 21 ) of one segment are adjustable together, or wherein each of the inner guide elements ( 21 ) of a segment is coupled to its own readjustment mechanism such that the two inner guide elements ( 21 ) of a segment are adjustable independently of one another.

7. The transport section of claim 5 , wherein two first inner guide elements ( 22 ) are disposed at an angle to the transport direction (TR) in a first segment in an infeed area of the transport section ( 17 ), wherein the angle of the two first inner guide elements ( 22 ) is adjustable relative to the transport direction (TR).

8. The transport section as recited in claim 7 , wherein two second inner guide elements ( 23 ) are disposed parallelly to the transport direction (TR) at least in a segment disposed downstream from the infeed area of the transport section ( 17 ), wherein the two second inner guide elements ( 23 ) are formed to be movable perpendicular to the transport direction (TR).

9. The transport section of claim 8 , wherein each first inner guide element ( 22 ) is disposed swivelably movable by a swivel joint ( 25 ) at a second inner guide element ( 23 ).

10. The transport section of claim 5 , wherein an expansion wedge ( 70 ) is disposed in a first segment in an infeed area of the transport section ( 17 ), and wherein two readjustable inner guide elements ( 21 ) are disposed at least in a segment arranged downstream from infeed area of the transport section ( 17 ), wherein the inner guide elements ( 21 ) are adjustable to be parallel to the transport direction (TR) and/or at an angle to the transport direction (TR).

11. A method for adjusting and/or readjusting at least one transport track within a transport section ( 17 ) for feeding article arrangements ( 5 ) in a transport direction (TR) to a packaging module ( 18 ) for the article arrangements ( 5 ), comprising:
moving the articles ( 2 ) of the article arrangements ( 5 ) in transport direction (TR) on a transfer plate ( 15 ) in a sliding manner, wherein at least one area of the transfer plate ( 15 ) has openings that are formed to be orthogonal to the transport direction (TR) of the articles ( 2 ); and
adjusting at least one transport track by adjusting one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) that are disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ) by at least one readjustment mechanism that is disposed at least partly below the transfer plate ( 15 ), wherein at least a portion of the readjustment mechanism is movable within the openings of the transfer plate ( 15 ).

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the adjusting step comprises transferring a second magnet ( 43 ) of the at least one readjustment mechanism from a first operating position into a second operating position which transfers each of the one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) from a first position and/or arrangement on the transfer plate ( 15 ) into a second position and/or arrangement on the transfer plate ( 15 ).

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising guiding the second magnet ( 43 ) of the at least one readjustment mechanism within the openings.

14. A packaging facility ( 1 ) for article arrangements ( 5 ), comprising:
a grouping unit for assembling the articles ( 2 ), and
a packaging module ( 18 ),
wherein the grouping unit comprises a transport section ( 17 ) comprising:
a transfer plate ( 15 ), on which the articles ( 2 ) of the article arrangements ( 5 ) are movable in transport direction (TR) in a sliding manner, wherein at least one area of the transfer plate ( 15 ) has openings that are formed to be orthogonal to the transport direction (TR) of the articles ( 2 );
one or more pushing devices ( 16 ) disposed above the transfer plate ( 15 ), for moving the articles ( 2 ) on the transfer plate ( 15 ), wherein the one or more pushing devices ( 16 ) are movable in transport direction (TR);
one or more outer guide elements ( 20 ) disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ), with the one or more outer guide elements ( 20 ) laterally delimiting the transport section ( 17 ); and
one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ),
wherein the inner guide elements ( 21 ) are readjustable by at least one readjustment mechanism that is disposed at least partly below the transfer plate ( 15 ), and wherein at least a portion of the readjustment mechanism is movable within the openings of the transfer plate ( 15 ).

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Wittmann Stephan
• Werner Juergen
• Spindler Herbert
• Wimmer Thomas

Classifications

• B65B35/44

  by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/405 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65G47/261

  Accumulating articles · CPC title

• B65B35/30

  Arranging and feeding articles in groups · CPC title

• B65G21/20

  Means incorporated in, or attached to, framework or housings for guiding load-carriers, traction elements or loads supported on moving surfaces (arrangements for supporting belts B65G15/60; rollers or roller arrangements B65G39/00) · CPC title

• B65G47/71

  the articles being discharged {or distributed} to several {distinct separate} conveyors {or to a broader conveyor lane} · CPC title