Apparatus for conveying products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11685608-B2
Application number	US-202016832835-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2020
Priority date	Mar 28, 2019
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for the single-track or multi-track conveying of objects along a conveying path extending in a conveying direction, wherein the conveying path for at least one track comprises at least one conveying device that takes over objects at the input side from a functional unit connected upstream and that transfers objects at the output side to a functional unit connected downstream; and wherein the conveying device as a whole and/or in an output-side end region is adjustable transversely to the conveying direction by means of an adjustment device such that the transverse position of objects to be transferred is changed within the respective track.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for the single-track or multi-track conveying of objects along a conveying path extending in a conveying direction, wherein the conveying path for at least one track comprises at least one conveying device, the conveying device taking over objects at an input side from a functional unit connected upstream and the conveying device transferring objects at an output side to a functional unit connected downstream; and wherein the conveying device as a whole and/or in an output-side end region is adjustable transversely to the conveying direction by means of an adjustment device such that a transverse position of objects to be transferred is changed within the respective track, wherein the adjustment device comprises a servomotor for adjusting the conveying device that is coupled to the conveying device, wherein the servomotor is movable together with the conveying device in the transverse direction.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the conveying path is of multi-track design and comprises a conveying device for each track, with the conveying devices of each track being arranged next to one another and being adjustable independently of one another in a transverse direction.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the conveying device comprises a revolving endless conveyor means, with an output-side deflector for the endless conveyor means being adjustable in the transverse direction by means of the adjustment device.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a rack and pinion gear that can be acted on by means of the servomotor is connected between the servomotor and the conveying device.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the servomotor is configured to drive an adjustment element in a rotational manner, with the adjustment element being guided in a guide device that is configured to convert a rotary movement of the adjustment element into a translatory movement of the servomotor and of the conveying device coupled thereto transversely to the conveying direction.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the adjustment element is configured as a toothed wheel that revolves in a gear rack extending transversely to the conveying direction.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the conveying path is of multi-track design and the adjustment device comprises a servomotor for each track.

8. An apparatus for the single-track or multi-track conveying of objects along a conveying path extending in a conveying direction, wherein the conveying path for at least one track comprises at least one conveying device, the conveying device taking over objects at an input side from a functional unit connected upstream and the conveying device transferring objects at an output side to a functional unit connected downstream; wherein the conveying device as a whole and/or in an output-side end region is adjustable transversely to the conveying direction by means of an adjustment device such that a transverse position of objects to be transferred is changed within the respective track, wherein the adjustment device comprises a servomotor for adjusting the conveying device that is coupled to the conveying device; and wherein a rack and pinion gear that can be acted on by means of the servomotor is connected between the servomotor and the conveying device.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the servomotor is configured to drive an adjustment element in a rotational manner, with the adjustment element being guided in a guide device that is configured to convert a rotary movement of the adjustment element into a translatory movement of the servomotor and of the conveying device coupled thereto transversely to the conveying direction.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the adjustment element is configured as a toothed wheel that revolves in a gear rack extending transversely to the conveying direction.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the conveying path is of multi-track design and the adjustment device comprises a servomotor for each track.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the conveying path is of multi-track design and comprises a conveying device for each track, with the conveying devices of each track being arranged next to one another and being adjustable independently of one another in a transverse direction.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the conveying device comprises a revolving endless conveyor means, with an output-side deflector for the endless conveyor means being adjustable in the transverse direction by means of the adjustment device.

14. An apparatus for the single-track or multi-track conveying of objects along a conveying path extending in a conveying direction, wherein the conveying path for at least one track comprises at least one conveying device, the conveying device taking over objects at an input side from a functional unit connected upstream and the conveying device transferring objects at an output side to a functional unit connected downstream; wherein the conveying device as a whole and/or in an output-side end region is adjustable transversely to the conveying direction by means of an adjustment device such that a transverse position of objects to be transferred is changed within the respective track; and wherein a controlling device is provided that is configured to detect the transverse position of objects on the conveying device and/or on a functional unit connected upstream of the conveying device and/or on a functional unit connected downstream of the conveying device.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the conveying path is of multi-track design and comprises a conveying device for each track, with the conveying device of each track being arranged next to one another and being adjustable independently of one another in a transverse direction.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the conveying device comprises a revolving endless conveyor means, with an output-side deflector for the endless conveyor means being adjustable in the transverse direction by means of the adjustment device.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the adjustment device comprises a movable element that is coupled to the conveying device.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 ,
wherein the movable element of the adjustment device is configured as a rotor of a linear motor.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 ,
wherein the movable element is drivable by means of a servomotor and/or comprises a servomotor.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the controlling device comprises at least one sensor that is arranged in a region of the conveying device or in a region of the functional unit and that determines information on the transverse positions of the objects within the track.

21. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the controlling device comprises an image recording device, by means of which a position of objects within a track and/or simultaneously within a plurality of tracks can be determined.

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the controlling device comprises a plurality of sensors that are arranged distributed along the conveying path to determine a position of objects at different locations.

23. The apparatus in accordance with claim

Assignees

• Weber Maschb Gmbh

Inventors

• SCHRÖDER Jens

Classifications

• B65G2207/14

  Combination of conveyors · CPC title

• B65G39/16

  for aligning belts or chains · CPC title

• B65G47/26

  arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles · CPC title

• B65G2203/0291

  Speed of the load carrier · CPC title

• B65G47/642

  in a horizontal plane · CPC title