Machine for processing and/or packaging objects and method for modifying a conveying section of this machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9394113-B2
Application number	US-201113883448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2011
Priority date	Nov 8, 2010
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

A machine for processing and/or packaging objects, said machine having horizontal conveying section for conveying articles, packages, and/or packaging units, which conveying section includes a first horizontal conveying device with a conveyor for a first operating mode and replaceable by a further horizontal conveying device with a second conveyor different from the first conveyor to establish a further operating mode. A method for modifying a conveying section of a machine for processing and/or packaging objects, wherein articles, packages, and/or packaging units are conveyed essentially horizontally on the conveying section using of a first horizontal conveying device with at least one conveyor in a first operating mode, and wherein at least one further operating mode is established by replacing the first horizontal conveying device with a further horizontal conveying device including at least one second conveyor which is different from the first conveying means conveyor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for processing and/or packaging objects comprising:
a horizontal conveying section for conveying articles, packages and/or packaging units, the conveying section including a first horizontal conveying device with at least one first conveyor for a first operating mode, the first horizontal conveying device replaceable by a second horizontal conveying device with at least one second conveyor different from the first conveyor in order to establish at least one second operating mode, the second horizontal conveying device taking a second horizontal conveying device position in the second operating mode that replaces a first horizontal conveying device position of the first horizontal conveying device during the first operating mode; the at least one first conveyor including circulating conveyor chains adapted for conveying the articles, packages or packaging units in groups on support pads, with flap folding fingers capable of emerging from below a level of conveyance, the second conveyor being different from the first conveyor and having a flat conveyor support surface capable of transporting the articles, packages or packaging units without the support pads in the groups; and
a hoist setting aside the second horizontal conveying device in a rest position above a conveying level in the first operating mode.

2. The machine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor is removable in a horizontal and/or vertical direction from the conveying section and then replaceable by the second horizontal conveying device including an endlessly circulating support surface which takes a position of a conveyance route and forms part of the conveying section in the second operating mode.

3. The machine as recited in claim 2 , wherein the second horizontal conveyor device is multi-part so as to include a second endlessly circulating support surface.

4. The machine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first horizontal conveying device includes at least two parts and includes a parting line in a longitudinal or conveying direction.

5. The machine as recited in claim 4 , the at least two parts of the first horizontal conveying device are joined at the parting line or placed at a distance from each other to permit the articles, packages and/or packaging units to be conveyed over the parting line or the distance in the first operating mode.

6. The machine as recited in claim 4 , wherein the at least two parts of the first horizontal conveying device are pulled apart at the parting line in both directions to sides of the conveying section and placed at a distance from each other for the second operating mode.

7. The machine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second horizontal conveying device is separated in a conveying direction and formed by two or more parts joined to each other in the second operating mode.

8. The machine as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least two parts of the second horizontal conveying device are vertically stacked on top of each other and/or connected to each other.

9. The machine as recited in claim 8 , wherein the at least two parts of the second horizontal conveying device are coupled into or out of the rest position by a hoist for vertically lifting and lowering the second horizontal conveying device.

10. The machine as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least one part of the second horizontal conveying device is slidable in a conveying direction in order to establish the second operating position.

11. The machine as recited in claim 1 , wherein two or more parts of the second horizontal conveying device are spaced apart from each other in the second operating mode, forming a gap with the curvature radiuses of the belt tracks facing toward each other, the gap sized to permit the articles, packages and/or packaging units to be conveyed thereover.

12. The machine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first horizontal conveying device and the second horizontal conveying device are each couplable to a same drive of the conveying section.

13. A method for modifying a conveying section of a machine for processing and/or packaging objects, the method comprising:
conveying articles, packages and/or packaging units horizontally on the conveying section via a first horizontal conveying device with at least one first conveyor in a first operating mode, the at least one first conveyor including circulating conveyor chains adapted for conveying the articles, packages or packaging units in groups on support pads, with flap folding fingers capable of emerging from below a level of conveyance; and
establishing at least one second operating mode by replacing the first horizontal conveying device with a second horizontal conveying device including at least one second conveyor different from the first conveyor, the second conveyor having a flat conveyor support surface capable of transporting the articles, packages or packaging units without the support pads in the groups, the second horizontal conveying device taking a second horizontal conveying device position in the second operating mode that replaces a first horizontal conveying device position of the first horizontal conveying device during the first operating mode;
the second horizontal conveying device being set aside in a rest position above a conveying level in the first operating mode,
the circulating conveyor chains of the at least one first conveyor being displaced to at least one of the right and left longitudinal sides of the conveying section in the second operating mode, the at least one second conveyor being installed beside or between the circulating conveyor chains of the at least one first conveyor in the second operating mode.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the conveying section is at least in parts formed by the first horizontal conveying device in a first operating mode, said first horizontal conveying device being formed by at least one endlessly circulating conveyor belt which, for the purpose of switching to a second operating mode, is removed in a horizontal and/or vertical direction from a conveyance route for the articles, packages, and/or packaging units and replaced by a second horizontal conveying device including at least one endlessly circulating support surface, the second horizontal conveying device taking the position of the conveyance route and forming at least a part of the conveying section in the second operating mode.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first horizontal conveying device is formed by multiple parts and comprises a parting line in a longitudinal or conveying direction, the at least two parts of the first horizontal conveying device being joined together or spaced only slightly apart at the parting line and functioning as a single horizontal conveying device for the first operating mode, the at least two parts of the first horizontal conveying device being pulled apart at the parting line in both directions to the sides of the conveying section and placed at a distance from each other for the second operating mode.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the second horizontal conveying device is separated in a conveying direction and formed by two or more parts in the second operating mode, which parts are joined to each other, wherein the at least two parts of the multi-part second horizontal conveying device being vertically stacked on top of each other and/or connected to each other, and the at least two parts of the multi-part second horizontal conveying device being coupled into or out of the rest position by a hoist for vertically lifting

Assignees

• Werner Juergen
• Spindler Herbert
• Wimmer Thomas
• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Werner Juergen
• Spindler Herbert
• Wimmer Thomas

Classifications

• B65G21/10

  movable, or having interchangeable or relatively movable parts; Devices for moving framework or parts thereof · CPC title

• B65B21/245

  in flexible wrappers, e.g. foils (B65B21/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B43/26

  Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks · CPC title

• B65B35/44

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

• B65G2207/16

  Convertible to another type of conveyor · CPC title