Abstract:
There is now provided a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles and like containers with a liquid beverage filling material and a conveyer arrangement for aligning and distributing packages containing filled bottles and like containers. The conveyer arrangement permits rotation of a package upon traveling from the conveyer input to the conveyer output.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles and like containers with a liquid beverage filling material and a conveyer arrangement for aligning and distributing packages containing filled bottles and like containers.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    Beverage bottling plants for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material are known.  
           [0005]    Such bottling plants can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine with a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position having a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. The filling devices may have apparatus being configured to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material, and the apparatus configured to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material comprising apparatus being configured to terminate the filling of beverage bottles upon liquid beverage filling material reaching said substantially predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provided a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move bottles, for example, from an inspection machine to the filling machine. Upon filling, a closing station closes filled bottles. There may further be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the filling machine to the closing station; as well as a loading station that is configured to load filled bottles into containers, for example, in a six-pack arrangement. There may also be provided a conveyor arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the closing station to the loading station.  
           [0006]    Such six-pack containers or packages may require a conveyer arrangement for aligning and distributing, which conveyer arrangement may be positioned next in succession, for example, to a packaging machine that gathers cans, bottles, etc. into bundles, and this package bundle is delivered to further processing stations and/or palletizing arrangements, packaging being, for example, in cardboard boxes.  
           [0007]    For this, it is required that the packages are delivered with a defined orientation, such as, for example, in the longitudinal direction or, for example, rotated by ninety degrees, as well as in a predetermined distribution, such as, for example, in a single-file arrangement or in double-file arrangement, to such further stations.  
           [0008]    Hitherto, this was carried out with two arrangements, with the required rotation being carried out in one arrangement, and the corresponding distribution is carried out in the other arrangement.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    One object of the present invention described below is to solve the problems encountered on similar apparatus of the prior art.  
           [0010]    It is also the aim and objective of the present invention to configure an arrangement of the type mentioned in the foregoing in such a way that orientation and distribution can be carried out simultaneously and a compact structure of the arrangement is made possible.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The invention teaches in one aspect that these objects can be accomplished by a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a beverage filling machine comprising a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position comprising a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material; said filling devices comprising apparatus being configured to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material; said apparatus configured to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material comprising apparatus being configured to terminate the filling of beverage bottles upon liquid beverage filling material reaching said substantially predetermined level in bottles; a first conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move bottles to said beverage filling machine; a closing station being configured to close filled bottles; a second conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to transfer filled bottles from said filling machine to said closing station; a loading station being configured to load filled bottles into containers; a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to transfer filled bottles from said closing station to said loading station; a fourth conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to remove containers containing filled bottles from said loading station; said fourth conveyer arrangement comprising: a conveyer input and a conveyer output; a conveyer frame; a chain being configured and disposed to cycle in said frame between said conveyer input and said conveyer output; a first guide rod, a second guide rod, and a third guide rod, all being connected to said chain; a first sled structure being connected to said chain by said first guide rod at a first location and being configured to travel with said chain and also being configured to move along said first guide rod; a second sled structure being connected to said chain by said second guide rod at a second location and being configured to travel with said chain anteriorly of said first sled structure and also being configured to move along said second guide rod; a third sled structure being connected to said chain by said third guide rod at a third location and being configured to travel with said chain anteriorly of said second sled structure and also being configured to move along said third guide rod; each sled structure comprising: a guide box structure being configured to receive and at least partially to surround a container containing filled bottles at said conveyer input and being configured to deposit a container containing filled bottles at said conveyer output; a first guide pin being connected to said guide box structure; a toggle-lever arrangement; said toggle-lever arrangement comprising: a linkage pin being connected to said guide box structure; said linkage pin having an axis of rotation; said guide box structure being configured to rotate about said axis of rotation of said linkage pin; a first lever having a first end and a second end remote from said first end of said first lever;  
           [0012]    said first end of said first lever being connected to said linkage pin and being configured to rotate said linkage pin about said longitudinal axis of said linkage pin and thus to effectuate rotation of said guide box structure and a container containing filled bottles; a second lever being configured and disposed to actuate said first lever for the rotation of said guide box structure; said second lever having a first end and a second end remote from said first end; said first end of said second lever being connected to said second end of said first lever; said second lever having a guide pin connected to said second end of said second lever; said first guide pin and said guide pin of said second lever being configured to be disposed in a first position, at a first distance from one another, adjacent said conveyer input; and said first guide pin and said guide pin of said second lever being configured to be disposed at a second position, at a second distance from one another, adjacent said conveyer output; said second distance being greater than said first distance and of sufficient length to effectuate the rotation of said guide box structure and a container containing filled bottles upon said first lever being actuated by said second lever; and said toggle-lever arrangement further comprising: a reset arrangement being configured and disposed to reposition said first guide pin and said guide pin of said second lever of said toggle-lever arrangement from the second position at said conveyer output to the first position at said conveyer input; said fourth conveyer arrangement further comprising: a first pair of guide rails being configured and disposed to guide said first sled structure and a first container containing filled bottles to a first location; a second pair of guide rails being disposed adjacent said first pair of guide rails and being configured and disposed to guide said second sled structure and a second container containing filled bottles to a second location adjacent said first location; a third pair of guide rails being disposed adjacent said second pair of guide rails and being configured and disposed to guide said third sled structure and a third container containing filled bottles to a third location adjacent said second location; each pair of guide rails being disposed stationary in reference to said conveyer frame and each pair of guide rails comprising: a first guide rail having a guide groove to guide said first guide pin; and a second guide rail having a guide groove to guide said guide pin of said second lever of a toggle-lever arrangement; each guide rail comprising an input end disposed adjacent said conveyer input; each guide rail comprising an output end disposed adjacent said conveyer output; each first guide rail being configured to guide the first guide pin of the corresponding sled structure in the corresponding first guide rail guide groove; each second guide rail being configured to guide the guide pin of the second lever of the corresponding toggle-lever arrangement of the corresponding sled structure in said second guide rail guide groove in the corresponding first guide rail guide groove; each pair of guide rails thus being configured to guide the corresponding guide box structure and a container containing filled bottles from said conveyer input to a location at said conveyer output; each pair of guide rails further comprising: a first apparatus being configured and disposed to position said first guide rail and said second guide rail in a first position with respect to one another and also in a second position with respect to one another: wherein in said first position said first guide rail and said second guide rail are disposed parallel with respect to one another to permit movement of a guide box structure and a package containing filled bottles without rotation from said conveyer input to said conveyer output; and wherein in said second position said first guide rail and said second guide rail are positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to one another and thus to dispose the input ends of each pair of guide rails with respect to one another at the first distance between the first guide pin and the guide pin of the second lever of the corresponding toggle-lever arrangement and also to dispose the output ends of each pair of guide rails with respect to one another at the second distance between the first guide pin and the guide pin of the second lever of the corresponding toggle-lever arrangement; said angle between each pair of guide rails, the first guide pin of the corresponding sled structure, and the guide pin of the second lever of the corresponding toggle-lever arrangement of the corresponding sled structure being configured to effectuate the rotating of the guide box structure and a container containing filled bottles upon transport of the corresponding sled structure and a container containing filled bottles from said conveyer input to said conveyer output; and each pair of guide rails yet further comprising: a second apparatus being configured and disposed to position the output ends of a pair of guide rails at a predetermined distance with reference to said conveyer chain.  
           [0013]    The invention also teaches that the objects can be accomplished by a container filling plant conveyer arrangement configured to transport packages containing a plurality of containers, such as, bottles and cans, said conveyer arrangement comprising: a conveyer input and a conveyer output; a conveyer frame; a plurality of conveying devices being configured and disposed to cycle in said conveyer frame between said conveyer input and said conveyer output; a plurality of guide rods; each of said guide rods being connected to said conveying devices and being configured to travel with said conveying devices; a plurality of sled structures; each of said sled structures being configured to move along the corresponding guide rod; each of said sled structures comprising: a guide box structure being configured to receive a package at said conveyer input and being configured to deposit a package at said conveyer output; an arrangement being configured and disposed to rotate said guide box structure; said conveyer arrangement further comprising: a plurality of pairs of guide rails being disposed stationary with respect to said conveyer frame and being configured to guide one of said plurality of guide box structures and a package held by the corresponding guide box structure from said conveyer input to said conveyer output and to deposit packages adjacent one another in a row transverse to said conveyer frame at said conveyer output; each of said pairs of guide rails comprising: a first guide rail and a second guide rail; and apparatus being configured and disposed to position said first guide rail and said second guide rail in a first position with respect to one another and also in a second position with respect to one another: wherein in said first position said first guide rail and said second guide rail are disposed parallel with respect to one another to permit movement of one of said plurality of guide box structures and a package held by the corresponding guide box structure without being rotated by said rotating arrangement upon movement of the corresponding guide box structure and a package from said conveyer input to said conveyer output; and wherein in said second position said first guide rail and said second guide rail are disposed at an angle with respect to one another to permit rotating of one of said plurality of guide box structures and a package held by the corresponding guide box structure by said rotating arrangement upon movement of the corresponding guide box structure and a package from said conveyer input to said conveyer output.  
           [0014]    The invention further teaches that the foregoing objects can be accomplished by a container filling plant conveyer arrangement configured to transport packages containing a plurality of containers, such as, bottles and cans, said conveyer arrangement comprising: a conveyer input and a conveyer output; a conveyer frame; a conveying device being configured and disposed to cycle in said conveyer frame between said conveyer input and said conveyer output; a plurality of guides; each of said guides being connected to said conveying device and being configured to travel with said conveying device; a plurality of package guiding structures connected to said conveying device and being configured to receive a package at said conveyer input and being configured to deposit a package at said conveyer output; each package guiding structure comprising: an arrangement being configured and disposed to rotate said package guiding structure; and a guide arrangement being configured and disposed to guide a corresponding one of said plurality of package guiding structures and a package held by the package guiding structure from said conveyer input to said conveyer output and to deposit packages adjacent to one another in a row transverse to said conveyer frame at said conveyer output; said guide arrangement also being configured and disposed to permit movement of one of said plurality of package guiding structures and a package held by the package guiding structure without being rotated by said rotating arrangement upon movement of the package guiding structure and a package from said conveyer input to said conveyer output; and said guide arrangement further being configured and disposed to permit movement of one of said plurality of package guiding structures and a package held by the package guiding structure and being rotated by said rotating arrangement upon movement of the package guiding structure and a package from said conveyer input to said conveyer output.  
           [0015]    Also, the invention teaches a plurality of carrier rods that are connected to conveying elements that are continuously circulating in frames disposed laterally along the delivered items, at which carrier rods is disposed and journalled, for rotation about a vertical axis, respectively at least one gripper element that can be moved in sliding motion along the carrier rod by means of a sled structure, which gripper element is guided in guide rails that are disposed stationary in relation to the conveyer element frame, with provision that the guide rails can be brought from a position in which they are disposed parallel with respect to one another, into an opened position in which they are disposed at an acute angle with respect to one another, and together they can be swung in a direction transversely with respect to the transport direction about the apex of this angle.  
           [0016]    With this, the spreading of the guide rails causes the rotation of the gripper, and with the swinging movement of the two guide rails, as a unit or together, the distribution of the packages to the left or to the right is effectuated.  
           [0017]    In the event that the guide rails are disposed parallel with respect to one another, the gripper and, accordingly, the package is not rotated.  
           [0018]    By means of the arrangement in accordance with one aspect of the invention, with which it is possible to achieve within in a short distance rotation, that is optional, as well as distribution all options namely, rotation and distribution, only rotation, only distribution, can be realized in a simple manner.  
           [0019]    The carrier rods, at which the grippers are located, as a rule one gripper is disposed at one carrier rod, are advantageously, in accordance with the claims, connected to chains, such chains comprising the conveying elements mentioned in the claims.  
           [0020]    These carrier rods, in accordance with the claims, are guided in guides that are disposed in the conveyer element frames, in such a way that the carrier rods and, accordingly, the gripper elements disposed at the carrier rods, are always disposed with the same orientation and parallel with reference to the conveying plane.  
           [0021]    Advantageously, this is carried out thereby that at the ends of the carrier rods there are arranged guide pins that are disposed in offset relationship with respect to one another, these guide pins being guided in corresponding guides in the conveyer element frames, in such a way that this horizontally offset arrangement can always be maintained.  
           [0022]    By being guided in this manner, the gripper reaches, in the feed-in region of the packages, from an upper inclined position, with its gripper fingers the respective package, with the packages being received, accordingly, in positive manner. On the further course, by way of the present position of the guide rails, the gripper is moved in a straight line, with a rotation being carried out, for example, through ninety degrees. However, the guide rails can also be disposed in such a way that the package that has been received is only distributed laterally, without a rotation being carried out. As a third possibility it is, of course, provided that both steps, a lateral distribution, as well as also a rotation, take place.  
           [0023]    The claims also suggest a structurally simple possibility, as to the manner in which the rotation process can be carried out in a predetermined, controlled, manner.  
           [0024]    It is suggested, that the gripper element is guided by way of a lever system, of which one end is guided in the one guide rail and the other end is linked to the gripper element, and in the other guide rail there is guided a guide pin that is positively connected to the sled structure; this being rotatable through an angle between zero degree and more than ninety degrees in conformity with the angle of opening of the guide rails.  
           [0025]    When the carrier rod or, respectively, the gripper disposed at the carrier rod, reaches the feed-in region of the arrangement, i.e., into the feed-in or input region of the two guide rails, the guided elements, on the one hand, the guide pin at the end of the lever system and, on the other hand, the guide pin at the sled structure, reach into the corresponding guide rail. In the case that the pair of guide rails have an angle of opening that is greater than zero degree, the two guide pins are moved, during transport, with respect to one another in the sense that they are moved apart, with the lever imparting torque to the gripper and, in conformity with the angle of opening, a rotation of from zero degree to more than ninety degrees is effectuated.  
           [0026]    The term “more than ninety degrees” is to indicate that an angle of rotation of exactly ninety degrees ist not necessarily always desired.  
           [0027]    For further conveying of the distributed and orientated packages, there are available a number of choices, including so-called curved continuous conveyers. In the case that the packages are transported on such curved continuous conveyers, the initially desired orientation is generally somewhat in misalignment. In order to alleviate this condition, the packages are controlled during orientation with an angle, which can be smaller or greater than ninety degrees, so as to compensate the “subsequent misalignment.” 
           [0028]    Particularly simple has been found to configure this system of levers as thrust crank system.  
           [0029]    For adjusting the angle of opening of the guide rails for the gripper elements, in accordance with the claims, there is provided a transmission, that, in accordance with the claims, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a spindle-and-spindle-nut transmission, with, in accordance with the claims, this transmission being manually actuatable, or, however, in accordance with the claims, being actuatable by a stepper or stepping motor.  
           [0030]    In the same manner, the swinging movement, as a unit, of the pair of guide rails is realized by means of a transmission, for example, in accordance with the claims, by means of a spindle.  
           [0031]    Up till now, the arrangement has been described to comprise only a single-file operation, i.e., that packages are delivered in a single row and are only passed on in a single row.  
           [0032]    However, the customers also desire that a double-file distribution can be realized by the arrangement in accordance with one aspect of the invention.  
           [0033]    This object is realized, in accordance with the claims, thereby that two pairs of guide rails are provided for gripper elements that are disposed in mirror-image configuration with respect to one another.  
           [0034]    Packages that are delivered in a single row are alternatingly, by way of this variant of the arrangement, orientated or, respectively distributed by the one pair of guide rails and by the other pair of guide rails.  
           [0035]    In accordance with the claims, there is provided for this that successive carrier rods are respectively associated to a different pair of guide rails.  
           [0036]    In this, the guide pins of the grippers are disposed in such a way that, for example, the first, third, fifth or, respectively, each uneven-numbered gripper either moves in a straight path or delivers the package to the left, while the second, fourth or, respectively, each even-numbered gripper also moves in a straight path or, however, distributes the package to the right.  
           [0037]    The main advantages of the arrangement in accordance with the invention may be summarized as follows:  
           [0038]    compact structure, i.e., rotation and distribution can be carried out simultaneously,  
           [0039]    handling with permanent contact of the package during the steps of rotation and distribution, and free positioning of the packages with single-file and double-file capability.  
           [0040]    A further major advantage of the arrangement in accordance with one aspect of the present invention is the feature of reversibility thereof. That is, for example, packages delivered in two rows can be received at the rear end of the arrangement and can be gathered so as to be disposed in single-file. As a continuation hereof, there is provided that also in the case of a delivery in three rows, an output delivery transport in double-file arrangement, in consideration of the option of rotation, can be realized.  
           [0041]    The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention will be described further hereinbelow. When the word “invention” is used in this specification, the word “invention” includes “inventions”, that is the plural of “invention”. By stating “invention”, the Applicants do not in any way admit that the present application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicants hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respect to the other. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0042]    The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a bottling plant plant in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of a bottling plant plant in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and showing a conveyer arrangement for rotating packages;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective illustration the arrangement in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, in partial presentation;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 2 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 1 in a top plan view;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 3 shows the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a side elevation;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 4 shows the arrangement according to FIGS.  1  to  3  in a front elevation, this FIG. 4 appears on the sheet with FIG. 1;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 5 illustrates in a schematic representation the handling of containers with positioning of three containers at the conveyer output in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the position of packages at the conveyer arrangement in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a guide box structure approaching a package for transport;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 is a detail view showing the engagement of guide pins at the guide rails in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0053]    In the following with reference to FIG. 1A, this figure generally illustrates a bottling plant with a rinser  101  or cleaning station to which the containers, namely bottles B, are fed in the direction indicated by the arrow A 1  by means of a conveyer line  103 , and downstream of which, in the direction of travel, the rinsed bottles B are transported by means of a conveyer line  104  formed by a star-wheel conveyer to a filling machine  105  or its inlet star-wheel conveyer. Downstream of the filling machine  105 , in the direction of travel of the bottles B, there can preferably be a closer  106  which closes the bottles B. The closer  106  can be connected directly to a labelling device or station  108  by means of a conveyer line  107  formed by a plurality of star-wheel conveyers. In the illustrated embodiment, the labelling device  108  has three outputs, namely one output formed by a conveyer  109  for bottles B which are filled with a first product, from product mixer  123  through conduit  121  and are then labelled corresponding to this product, a second output formed by a conveyer  110  for those bottles B which are filled with a second product from product mixer  124  through conduit  122  and are then labelled corresponding to this product, and a third output formed by a conveyer  111  which removes any bottles B which have been incorrectly labelled.  
         [0054]    In FIG. 1A, 112 is a central control unit or, expressed differently, controller or system which includes a process controller which, among other things, controls the operation of the above-referenced system.  
         [0055]    The filling machine  105  is possibly of the revolving design, with a rotor  105 ′ which revolves around a vertical machine axis. On the periphery of the rotor  105 ′ there are a number of filling positions  113 , each of which consists of bottle carriers or container carriers, as well as a filling element or filling device  114  located above the corresponding container carrier. The toroidal vessel  117  is a component of the revolving rotor  105 ′. The toroidal vessel  117  can be connected by means of a rotary coupling and by means of an external connecting line  121  to an external reservoir or mixer  123  to supply the product, that is, product mix from reservoir  123 , for example.  
         [0056]    As well as the more typical filling machines having one toroidal vessel, it is possible that in at least one possible embodiment of the present invention, a filling machine could possibly be utilized wherein each filling element or filling device  114  is preferably connected by means of two connections to a toroidal vessel  117  which contains a first product (by means of a first connection, for example,  121 ) and to a second toroidal vessel which contains a second product (by means of the second connection, for example,  122 ). In this case, each filling element  114  can also preferably have, at the connections, two individually-controllable fluid or control valves, so that in each bottle B which is delivered at the inlet of the filling machine  105  to a filling position  113 , the first product or the second product can be filled by means of an appropriate control of the filling product or fluid valves.  
         [0057]    It will be understood that while a two-product assembly is illustrated in FIG. 1A, that the invention is equally applicable to single-product installations, or other commensurate embodiments.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 1B illustrates a bottling plant substantially similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1A. In FIG. 1B a location  40  is configured to place bottles B in packages or containers  19 . The containers  19  are then rotated or turned by conveyer arrangements  1  that are described in greater detail with reference to FIGS.  1  to  4 .  
         [0059]    Thus, in FIGS.  1  to  4 , the arrangement in accordance with the invention is illustrated with its essential components and is generally identified by reference numeral  1 . For reasons of clarity, a lateral guide structure is omitted.  
         [0060]    The arrangement comprises conveyer element frames  2 , that are disposed to the left and the right at a transport band that is not shown in further detail, in which respectively a continuously circulating chain  3  is guided. Driving motion of the chains is by way of a motor  4  that is connected to the chains  3 ; carrier rods  5  are connected to the chains, with only one being shown for reasons of clarity. The carrier rod  5  is composed of two rails that are disposed parallel with respect to one another, and a sled structure  6 , or slide, is disposed in such a way on said rails so as to be capable of being moved in the longitudinal direction of the rails. A gripper element  7  is disposed at the sled structure  6 , this gripper element  7  being directed in downward direction towards the transport band and it is capable of rotation about a vertical axis. The gripper element  7  has fingers  8  at its four corner points.  
         [0061]    The carrier rods  5  comprise two guide pins at the ends, which are horizontally off-set to a minor extent with respect to one another. The guide pins are guided in guide paths or guide structures  9  that extend in such a way that the horizontal orientation of the carrier rods  5  and, consequently, of the gripper element  7 , is maintained during each circulation or cycle.  
         [0062]    Two guide rails  10  and  11  are disposed above the transport plane and they are stationary with respect to the conveyer element frames  2 , with the corresponding guide groove being directed towards the transport plane. The guide rails  10  and  11  are configured to be moved, by means of a manually actuatable spindle  12 , from a position in which they are disposed parallel with respect to one another, into a position in which they are spread from one another and embrace an angle having the magnitude a. A further spindle drive  13  provides that the guide rail pair  10 ,  11 , as a unit, can be swung about the point of intersection of the guide rails  10  and  11 .  
         [0063]    A further spindle  14  can be provided that can serve to vary the position of this point of intersection or point of rotation.  
         [0064]    A guide pin  15  is provided on the sled structure  6 , as well as a joint point or linkage point  16 , this linkage point being provided by the axis of rotation of the gripper elements  7  and at this linkage point  16  is then connected a lever system  17 , this being embodied by a thrust crank or slider-crank mechanism. The free end of the toggle lever  18  also has a guide pin.  
         [0065]    The guide pin  15  is associated with the guide rail  10  and the guide pin  18  is associated with the guide rail  11 .  
         [0066]    The drawing illustrates the condition wherein the sled structure  6 , having approached in an inclined path from above, has entered into the feed-in region of the packages  19 . The fingers  8  of the gripper element  7  grasp the package  19  in positive manner and transport them further beneath the guide rails  10 ,  11 . During this event, the guide pins  15  and  18  are moved in the associated guide rails  10 ,  11 . In the shown example, the guide pins  15  and  18 , due to the magnitude of angle α, are drawn away from one another, this causing the provision of force of torque by the lever system  17  to the gripper  7 , such that the gripper  7 , the gripper element  7 , and the package  19  that has been grasped, are rotated about an angle that is of a magnitude in conformity with the magnitude of angle α. During this, the forward movement of the package  19  is parallel with respect to the direction of transportation.  
         [0067]    By way of swinging of the pair of guide rails  10 ,  11 , swinging being effectuated by means of spindle  13 , there can be effectuated in the just described process also a distribution, that is, a lateral shifting of the package  19 .  
         [0068]    When the pair of guide rails  10 ,  11  is doubled in mirror image fashion and by provision of each second carrier rod  5  to the respectively same guide rail pair  10 ,  11 , it is feasible to realize a two-file delivery or output from a single-file input.  
         [0069]    With the aid of the just illustrated arrangement also the opposite case can be accomplished, namely, the distribution or, respectively, the gathering, while simultaneously rotating the package, in the reverse direction, can be carried out, such that a multiple-file product stream or input stream can be converted into a single-file output stream.  
         [0070]    With reference to FIG. 5, it is suggested that the containers,  19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c , etc., arrive at the conveyer input end  20 , on the right hand side in FIG. 5, of the arrangement  1  in a single-file sequence and the containers,  19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c , always arrive in the same attitude and at the same input location  20  for the arrangement  1 .  
         [0071]    It is further suggested that three pairs of guide rails,  10   a ,  11   a ;  10   b ,  11   b ,  10   c ,  11   c , extend longitudinally from the input ends,  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c , thereof, on the right hand side in FIG. 5, to the output ends,  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c , thereof, on the left hand side in FIG. 5, of the arrangement  1 . In other words, the output end  26   a , left hand side in FIG. 5, of the first pair of guide rails  10   a ,  11   a  is disposed to deliver the first container  19   a  to a first location at the output end  22  of the arrangement  1 . The output end  26   b  of the second pair of guide rails  10   b ,  11   b  is disposed to deliver the second container  19   b  to a second, different, position alongside the first container  19   a . The output end  26   c  of the third pair of guide rails  10   c ,  1   c  is disposed to deliver the third container  19   c  to a third, yet different, location alongside the second container  19   b  to arrive at the arrangement of three containers,  19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c , along one another as is illustrated in FIG. 5.  
         [0072]    The arrangement  1  illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises three sleds,  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c , each with guide pins  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c , as well as joint points or linkage points  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c , and guide or toggle pins  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c . The sleds,  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c , are connected to the chain  3  by means of carrier rods,  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c . The position of each sled,  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c , can be moved on its carrier rod,  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c.    
         [0073]    The operation of the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 5 is as follows.  
         [0074]    The first sled  6   a  grips the first container  19   a  at the input end  20  of the arrangement  1 . The first sled  6   a  delivers the first container  19   a  to the input end  24   a  of the first pair of guide rails  10   a ,  11   a  that guide the sled  6   a  along the path provided by the first pair of guide rails  10   a ,  11   a . The guide pin  15   a  of the first sled  6   a  engages the groove  28   a  in the guide rail  10   a . The guide pin  18   a  of the first sled  6   a  engages the groove  30   a  in the guide rail  11   a . At the output end  22  of the arrangement  1 , the first container  19   a  is deposited upon release from the first sled  6   a . The second sled  6   b  grips the second container  19   b  at the input end  20  of the arrangement  1 .  
         [0075]    The second sled  6   b  delivers the second container  19   b  to the input end  24   b  of the second pair of guide rails  10   b ,  1   b  that guide the second sled  6   b  along the path provided by the second pair of guide rails  10   b ,  1   b . The guide pin  15   b  engages the groove  28   b  in the guide rail  10   b . The guide pin  18   b  of the second sled  6   b  engages the groove  30   b  in the guide rail  1   b . At the output end  22  of the arrangement  1 , the second container  19   b  is deposited alongside the first container  19   a  upon release from the second sled  6   b.    
         [0076]    The third sled  6   c  grips the third container  19   c  at the input end  20  of the arrangement  1 . The third sled  6   c  delivers the third container  19   c  to the input end  24   c  of the third pair of guide rails  10   c ,  1   c  that guides the third sled  6   c  along the path provided by the third pair of guide rails  10   c ,  1   c . The guide pin  15   c  engages the groove  28   c  in the guide rail  10   c . The guide pin  18   c  engages in the groove  30   c  in guide rail  1   c . At the output end  22  of the arrangement  1 , the third container  19   c  is deposited alongside the second container  19   b  upon release from the third sled  6   c.    
         [0077]    The first group of three containers,  19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c , is then removed to make room for the next group of three containers.  
         [0078]    The foregoing cycle is repeated for the following containers  19  at the input end of the arrangement.  
         [0079]    Turning of the containers  19  while the sleds,  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c , move along the pairs of guide rails,  10   a ,  11   a ;  10   b ,  1   b ;  10   c ,  1   c , is accomplished by each set of guide rails,  10   a ,  11   a ;  10   b ,  1   b ;  10   c ,  1   c , being disposed at an angle α.  
         [0080]    It is further suggested by the example shown in FIG. 5 that the first sled  6   a  has the guide pin  15   a  located at a first position so as to align the guide pin  15   a  with the first guide rail  10   a  of the first pair of guide rails  10   a ,  11   a . The second sled  6   b  has the guide pin  15   b  located at a second, different, position so as to align the guide pin  15   b  with the first guide rail  10   b  of the second pair of guide rails  10   b ,  1   b . The third sled  6   c  has the guide pin  15   c  located at a third, yet different, position so as to align the guide pin  15   c  with the first guide rail  10   c  of the third pair of guide rails  10   c ,  11   c . In other words, there are three different locations for the guide pins,  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c , on the three sleds,  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c.    
         [0081]    It is also suggested in FIG. 5 that the guide pins,  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c , and the guide or toggle pins,  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c , are modified and displaced. Thus, the guide pin  15   a  is aligned with the guide rail  10   a . The guide pin  15   b  is aligned with the guide rail  10   b . The guide pin  15   c  is aligned with the guide rail  10   c . The toggle pin  18   a  is aligned with the guide rail  11   a . The toggle pin  18   b  is aligned with the guide rail  1   b . The toggle pin  18   c  is aligned with the guide rail  11   c.    
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 6 illustrates the rotation of a package or container  19  from the a first position at the conveyer input  20  to a second, rotated or turned position at the conveyer output  22 . This is accomplished by the guide pin  18  of lever system  17  and the guide pin  15  of a guide box structure  7  being displaced from distance D1 to distance D2 upon movement in the guide rails  10 ,  11  from the conveyer input  20  to the conveyer output  22 . It will be appreciated that a reset will be employed, such as, a spring, to reset the lever system from the position D2 to the position D1.  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 6A illustrates the guide box structure  7  moving in downward direction towards a package  19  at the conveyer input  20 .  
         [0084]    [0084]FIG. 7 shows a portion a sled  6  and a portion of lever system  17 . Guide pin structure  15  is part of sled  6 . Guide pin  15  is engaged in groove  28  of guide rail  10 . Similarly, guide pin  18  which is part of lever system  17  is engaged in groove  30  of guide rail  11  upon movement of sled  6  from the conveyer input  20  to conveyer output  22 .  
         [0085]    One feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement for aligning and distributing of items, particularly items that have a rectangular configuration, that are delivered in at least one row and that have a uniform distance between one another, characterized in that a plurality of carrier rods  5  that are connected to conveying elements  3  that are continuously circulating in frames  2  disposed laterally along the delivered items, at which carrier rods is disposed and journalled for rotation about a vertical axis  16  respectively at least one gripper element  7  that can be moved in sliding motion along the carrier rod  5  by means of a sled structure  6 , which gripper element  7  is guided in guide rails  10 ,  11  that are disposed stationary in relation to the conveyer element frame, with provision that the guide rails can be brought from a position in which they are disposed parallel with respect to one another, into an opened position in which they are disposed at an acute angle with respect to one another, and together they can be swung in a direction transversely with respect to the transport direction about the apex of this angle.  
         [0086]    Another feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized in that the conveying elements comprise chains.  
         [0087]    Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized in that the carrier rods  5  are guided in guides  9  that are disposed in the conveyer element frames  2 , in such a way that the carrier rods  5 , and, consequently, the gripper elements  7  that are disposed thereat, are always disposed in the same orientation parallel with respect to the transport plane.  
         [0088]    Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized in that the gripper element  7  that is guided by means of a lever system  17 , of which one end  18  is guided in the one guide rail  11 , and the other is connected at the gripper element  7 , and in the other guide rail  10  there is guided a guide pin  15  that is rigidly connected to the sled structure  6 , as a function of the angle of opening of the guide rails  10 ,  11 , is rotatable through an angle of from zero degree to more than ninety degrees.  
         [0089]    A further feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized in that the lever system  17  comprises a thrust crank.  
         [0090]    Another feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized in that the magnitude of the angle of opening of the guide rails  10 ,  11  for the gripper elements  7  is adjustable by means of a transmission  12 .  
         [0091]    Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized therein that the transmission  12  comprises a spindle-and-spindle-nut transmission.  
         [0092]    Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized in that the transmission  12  is manually actuatable.  
         [0093]    A further feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized in that the transmission  12  is actuatable by a motor.  
         [0094]    Another feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized therein that the swinging movement of the guide rails  10 ,  11  for the gripper elements  7  is carried out by means of a spindle  13  that is disposed transversely with respect to the transport direction.  
         [0095]    Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized in that two guide rail pairs  10 ,  11  for gripper elements  7  are provided, which are disposed in mirror-image arrangement with respect to one another.  
         [0096]    Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in an arrangement characterized therein that successive carrier rods  5  are respectively associated with one differing guide rail pair  10 ,  11 .  
         [0097]    The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may be used in the embodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalents thereof.  
         [0098]    It is to be understood that any degrees of angles listed herein are examples of the dimensions that may be utilized in at least one embodiment according to the present invention. It is to be further understood that one skilled in the art to which the present invention most nearly pertains would be able to modify any or all of the above dimensions in at least one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0099]    For example, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, the angle α between guide rail  10  and guide rail  11  is in the range of from about zero degree to about 90 degrees or more. Such range can possibly include increments of at least about 1 degree, that is the range includes at least 0 degree, 1 degree, 2 degrees, 3 degrees and so forth to 90 degrees, 91 degrees, 92 degrees, and 93 degrees. It will be appreciated that smaller increments are included within the range and that the limits of the range may vary.  
         [0100]    Thus, the invention relates, in one aspect, to an arrangement for aligning and distributing of items, particularly items that have a rectangular configuration, that are delivered in at least one row and that have a uniform distance between one another.  
         [0101]    The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference into this specification.  
         [0102]    Some examples of bottling systems, which may be used or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present invention may be found in the following U.S. patents assigned to the Assignee herein, namely: U.S. Pat. No.  4 , 911 , 285 ; No. 4,944,830; No. 4,950,350; No. 4,976,803; No. 4,981,547; No. 5,004,518; No. 5,017,261; No. 5,062,917; No. 5,062,918; No. 5,075,123; No. 5,078,826; No. 5,087,317; No. 5,110,402; No. 5,129,984; No. 5,167,755; No. 5,174,851; No. 5,185,053; No. 5,217,538; No. 5,227,005; No. 5,413,153; No. 5,558,138; No. 5,634,500; No. 5,713,403; No. 6,276,113; No. 6,213,169; No. 6,189,578; No. 6,192,946; No. 6,374,575; No. 6,365,054; No. 6,619,016; No. 6,474,368; No. 6,494,238; No. 6,470,922; and No. 6,463,964.  
         [0103]    All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein.  
         [0104]    Some examples of methods and apparatuses for closing bottles and containers and their components which may possibly be used or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present invention may be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,485; No. 5,402,623; No. 5,419,094; No. 5,425,402; No. 5,447,246; and No. 5,449,080.  
         [0105]    All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, and the references recited in such patents, patent applications and publications that are recited herein and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.  
         [0106]    Some examples of filling machines that utilize electronic control devices to control various portions of a filling or bottling process and which may possibly be utilized in connection with the present invention may be found in the following U S. Pat. No. 4,821,921; No. 5,056,511; No. 5,273,082; and No. 5,301,488.  
         [0107]    The corresponding foreign patent application publications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. DE P 103 01 178.1, filed on Jan. 15, 2003, having inventors Stefan WAGNER, Hans-Peter KUHLMANN, and Hans-Gerd RIPKENS, and DE-OS 103 01 178, having inventors Stefan WAGNER, Hans-Peter KUHLMANN, and Hans-Gerd RIPKENS, and DE-PS 103 01 178.1, having inventors Stefan WAGNER, Hans-Peter KUHLMANN, and Hans-Gerd RIPKENS, as well as their published equivalents, and other equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding cases in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the references and documents cited in any of the documents cited herein, such as the patents, patent applications and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.  
         [0108]    Some examples of conveyer chains, features of which may possibly be used or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present invention, may be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,204; No. 5,335,768; No. 5,375,697; No. 5,678,583; No. 6,250,457; and No. 6,634,491.  
         [0109]    All of the references and documents, cited in any of the documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited anywhere in the present application.  
         [0110]    Some examples of thrust crank arrangements, features of which may possibly be used or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present invention, may be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,149; No. 4,470,318; No. 4,586,682; No. 4,809,418; No. 5,697,627; and No. 6,257,131.  
         [0111]    The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant&#39;s option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.  
         [0112]    Some examples of toggle-lever arrangements, features of which may possibly be used or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present invention, may be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,834; No. 5,562,026; No. 5,823,519; No. 5,845,897; No. 6,016,691; and No. 6,076,816.  
         [0113]    The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b):  
         [0114]    A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.  
         [0115]    Therefore, the abstract is not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.  
         [0116]    Some examples of spindle-and-spindle-nut drive arrangements that may possibly be used or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present invention, may be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 3,673,886; No. 4,070,921; No. 6,158,557; No. 6,370,978; No. 6,490,942; and No. 6,612,208.  
         [0117]    It will be understood that the examples of patents, published patent applications, and other documents which are included in this application and which are referred to in paragraphs which state “Some examples of . . . which may possibly be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present invention.” may possibly not be used or useable in any one or more embodiment of the invention.  
         [0118]    Some examples of stepper motors, features of which may possibly be used or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present invention, may be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,283; No. 6,281,615; No. 6,246,205; No. 6,329,729; No. 6,384,566; No. 6,467,150; and No. 6,509,663.  
         [0119]    All of the foregoing U.S. patents are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.  
         [0120]    The invention as described hereinabove in the context of the preferred embodiments is not to be taken as limited to all of the provided details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.