Patent ID: 9403668
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: B65D,B65G,B67C

Claim Text:
1. Device for production of drinks containers, comprising: a forming device which transforms plastic preforms into plastic containers; a filling device which is arranged after the forming device in the transport direction of the plastic containers and fills the plastic containers with a fluid; a transport device which receives the plastic containers individually from the forming device and transports the plastic containers in the direction of the filling device along a prespecified transport path; and an alignment device provided along the transport path, the alignment device aligning the plastic containers received from the transport device at least partially in relation to a rotary position about their longitudinal axis, wherein the alignment device comprises a turning device which rotates the plastic containers at a predetermined rotary angle, wherein the alignment device includes an alignment unit which is constructed and arranged after the turning device in the transport direction of the plastic containers and which rotates the plastic containers at least partially in relation to a longitudinal direction of the plastic containers, wherein the alignment unit has a pair of contacting elements for aligning the plastic containers, wherein the contacting elements contact the plastic containers to align the containers on their outer surface, and wherein the pair of contacting elements is constructed and arranged in a configuration including a first rail on one side of the outer surface of the containers and a second rail on another side of the containers so that the transport path extends between the first and second rails, and wherein the contacting elements are arranged to have a hopper configuration so that at least one contacting element of the contacting elements has a first radius that is greater at an end receiving the containers, and has a second radius at the other end of the at least one contacting element, or has a distance between the first and second contacting elements at the end receiving the containers that is greater than a distance at the other end, and wherein the at least one contacting element is movable in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.