Abstract:
A conveyor line ( 10 ) for the transport of articles ( 20, 24 ) in an article stream ( 18 ) from a first processing line ( 50 ) to a second processing line ( 52 ). The conveyor line ( 10 ) includes a first conveyor section ( 11 ) and a second conveyor section ( 12 ). On the first conveyor section ( 11 ) the article stream ( 18 ) is formed by at least two articles ( 20, 24 ) arranged mostly side by side, whereby the second conveyor section ( 12 ) includes at least one lane dividing plate ( 30 ) for the separation of the articles ( 20, 24 ) into at least two lanes ( 31 ). A third conveyor section ( 13 ) is arranged between the first conveyor section ( 11 ) and the second conveyor section ( 12 ), the third conveyor section ( 13 ) including multiple deflections of the articles ( 20, 24 ) along a path with multiple curves.

Description:
[0001]    This claims the benefit of German Patent Applications DE 10 2010 019 797.1, filed May 6, 2010 that is incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a conveyor line for the transport of articles in an article stream from a first processing line to a second processing line. The conveyor line comprises a first conveyor section and a second conveyor section. The article stream in the first conveyor section comprises at least two articles arranged almost side by side. The second conveyor section comprises at least one lane dividing plate for the separation of the articles into at least two lanes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    During the transport of articles from a first processing line to a second processing line, especially in the in feed area of packaging machines, the articles/containers usually arrive in a so called mass flow and are separated into single lanes. 
         [0004]    Blockades during separation into the single lanes can occur. The blockages especially occur when the articles have a squared base area and are rotated around their longitudinal axis during transport. This happens for instance when articles are shifted laterally during transport and are arranged in the middle of a diagonal. This article then blocks the entrance of subsequent articles into the separate lanes, thereby hindering the further movement of these articles. This leads to massive disturbances. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,995 shows a so called chicane arranged at both sides of a conveyor line. The conveyor line narrows in the section just before the separation of the articles in single streams, so that the transported articles with a circular base area are arranged tightly packed into two rows. This arrangement facilitates the separation into single lanes. This device cannot be used to align shifted or distorted articles with a squared base area and prevent a blockade as described above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A task of the present invention is to arrange and align the transported articles, especially articles with a squared base area to prevent a blockade in the in feed area before the articles are separated into lanes. It is an alternate or additional object of the present invention to provide a conveyor line for the transport of articles in an article stream from a first processing line to a second processing line. 
         [0007]    The present invention provides a conveyor line that can for example be used between a labeling machine and a machine forming packs out of a plurality of articles or a machine that applies handles onto the articles or packs. Such a conveyor line can also be used in the in feed area of packaging machines or the like. 
         [0008]    The conveyor line comprises a first conveyor section and a second conveyor section. In the first conveyor section the articles are transported in an article stream, whereby at least two articles are arranged beside or almost side by side each other. The transported articles can be different containers, especially bottles that preferentially show a squared base area or form. The conveyor line can also be used for the transport of other articles, especially bottles with a circular base area or container form. 
         [0009]    In the second conveyor section the articles are separated by at least one lane dividing plate into at least two lanes. The at least one lane dividing plate is located centrally or almost centrally in the middle of the transport plane, parallel to the transport direction. According to the invention a third conveyor section is arranged between the first conveyor section and the second conveyor section. The third conveyor section comprises at least one curvature. Preferentially the articles are deflected along a curved path. According to a preferred embodiment the third conveyor section is a curve comprising at least two sections with opposite curvatures. 
         [0010]    The curvature or curvatures form a chicane in the transport process of the articles. The chicane orientates articles displaced into the middle of the transport plane that would later block the entrance of the articles into the separation lanes. Especially articles with a squared base area are realigned by the chicane and put back into the right transport position. For instance the longitudinal edges of distorted articles with a squared base area are realigned so that the longitudinal edges are arranged parallel to the transport direction. This prevents the blocking of the entrance or in feed area in front of the separation lanes which would otherwise block and prevent the separation of the two subsequently incoming neighboring articles into the lanes of the second conveyor section. 
         [0011]    The third conveyor section is especially formed kind of sickle shaped or as a partial section of a circle. The partial section of the circle comprises a partial circumferential length that corresponds to at least the broadest width of three transported articles. 
         [0012]    The at least one curvature of the third conveyor section leads to a deflection of the articles compared to the first and/or second conveyor section about a certain distance. The distance is determined by the shape of the third conveyor section. The distance preferentially corresponds to at least half the width or length of the transported articles perpendicular to the transport direction. If articles with a circular base area are transported, the distance corresponds preferentially to at least half the diameter of the articles. The required distance can be adjusted according to the transported articles with the described possibilities to change the third conveyor section as described below. 
         [0013]    The chicane leads to a deflection of the containers perpendicular to the transport direction. In the case of containers with a circular base area, the chicane especially leads to a deflection of the containers from the transport path that corresponds to at least half of the width or diameter of the containers. This leads to the already described advantageous realignment of the containers. 
         [0014]    According to another embodiment of the invention the chicane is only formed by about half the partial circumferential length as described above. When the third conveyor section is formed only by half the radius or curved design, the containers do not return to a transport path that is in line with the first conveyor section. Therefore in this variant the second conveyor section is shifted and arranged parallel to the first conveyor section. 
         [0015]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the chicane comprises a linear section arranged after half the partial section described above. Preferentially the linear section is attached to the partial section in a way that the subsequently arranged second conveyor section is in line with the first conveyor section. 
         [0016]    In yet another embodiment of the invention the guiding elements of the second conveyor section are extending conically. Therefore the guidance rails of the second conveyor section only partially run in line with the guidance rails of the first conveyor section. 
         [0017]    Another preferred embodiment of the invention shows guiding elements of the third conveyor section that are connected bluntly with the guidance rails of the first and/or second conveyor section. 
         [0018]    The third conveyor section arranged between the first and the second conveyor section comprises lateral guiding elements for the restriction of the article stream. According to an embodiment of the invention the lateral guiding elements are composed of individual segments that are movable. The individual segments can be moved in an angle against each other, comparable to the links of a chain. It is therefore possible to adjust a variable radius. The chicane can be specially customized according to the transported articles. In this way an “S”-shaped deflection or something similar can be formed. 
         [0019]    The linkage between the segments can be restricted. Especially the mobility/flexibility of the individual segments in relation to each other can be restricted to a maximum angle of 180°, thereby limiting the adjustment possibilities of the individual segments. In this case the lateral guidance can only form a sickle shape chicane but not an “S” shaped chicane. 
         [0020]    The guidance rails of the three conveyor sections can be adjusted by shifting them parallel in relation to each other, especially by shifting them so that they are still arranged parallel. This also allows a flexible adjustment regarding the properties of the transported articles. 
         [0021]    To facilitate the transport of the articles the lateral guiding elements of the third conveyor section can show slip promoting properties. The guiding elements can comprise highly polished stainless steel side plates or a slip promoting coated surface, for example a Teflon coating, a sliding lacquer coating or the like. 
         [0022]    The inner side surfaces of the chicane enclosing the transport route can comprise further guiding elements that can be customized according to the transported articles. When changing the format or product, for instance when changing the bottle geometries (length, width or diameter), the basic guidance or basic chicane has not to be changed but can be adjusted by exchanging the guiding elements. The guiding elements are attached by means known to the expert in the technical field. The guiding elements are preferably detachably fastened for example by pinning, clipping, use of magnetic connecting elements, screws or the like. To allow a largely friction less transport of the articles, the guiding elements—like the guiding rails—preferably have slip promoting properties. They can for instance comprise rollers or the like. 
         [0023]    The articles aligned in the third conveyor section are then moved into the second conveyor section, where they are separated into lanes by at least one lane dividing plate. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one lane dividing plate comprises a roller in the in feed area for the articles, especially in the border area between the third and the second conveyor section. This roller is movably supported, preferably free running and facilitates the feeding of the articles into the lanes. The free running roller is arranged at the front of the lane dividing plate facing the third conveyor section. Preferably the roller is arranged about the whole height of the lane dividing plate. The lane dividing plate itself is preferably mounted in the middle of the second conveyor section, parallel to the transport direction. 
         [0024]    In the conveyor line the articles are preferably transported on an endless belt conveyor, especially a modular conveyor belt comprising a number of chain links which is also called mat conveyor or the like. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a conveyor line according to the known state of the art. 
           [0026]    The attached  FIGS. 2 to 5  illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and their advantages. The size ratios of the individual elements in the figures do not necessarily reflect the real size ratios. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a conveyor line. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic representation of a transporting device comprising a plurality of conveyor lines. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a conveyor line. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a conveyor line. 
       
    
    
       [0031]    The same or equivalent elements of the invention are designated by identical reference characters. Furthermore and for the sake of clarity, only the reference characters relevant for describing the respective figure are provided. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples of the device according to the invention, while indicating preferred embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic top-view representation of a conveyor line  1  according to the known state of the art. The conveyor line  1  comprises a first conveyor section  11  and a second conveyor section  12 , whereby the articles  20  are transported in transport direction BR. 
         [0033]    In the first conveyor section  11  the articles  20  are transported in an article stream  18  in multiple rows on a mat conveyor  2  or the like. The article stream  18  is limited by lateral guidance rails  3 . The second conveyor section  12  comprises a lane dividing plate  30  for the separation of the articles  20  of the incoming article stream  18  into individual lanes  31 . The lane dividing plate  30  can comprise a roller  32  to facilitate the guidance of the articles  20 . The lane dividing plate  30  is preferentially arranged in the middle between the lateral guidance rails  3 . The roller  32  is arranged at the front of the lane dividing plate  30  facing the incoming articles  20  and preferentially extending about the whole height of the lane dividing plate  30 . 
         [0034]    During the transport of the articles  20  on the first conveyor section  11  the articles  20  might shift or rotate, thereby arranging themselves diagonally. A twisted article  22  blocks the entrance of subsequently following articles  20  into the lanes  31  which leads to a massive disturbance. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic top-view representation of a conveyor line  10  according to the present invention, where articles  20  are transported from a first processing device  50  to a second processing device  52  and thereby get separated into single lanes  31 . The conveyor line  10  comprises a first conveyor section  11 , a second conveyor section  12  and according to the invention a third conveyor section  13  arranged between the first conveyor section  11  and the second conveyor section  12 . 
         [0036]    The third conveyor section  13  forms a chicane in the transport direction BR of the articles  20  leading to a realignment of the articles  20 , especially leading to a realignment of twisted articles  22 . 
         [0037]    The articles  20  fed into the third conveyor section  13  are rotated because of the sickle shaped curvature of the lateral guidance  4  in the third conveyor section  13  of the conveyor line  10 . Especially when articles  20  with a squared base area are transported on the conveyor line  10  they are rotated in the third conveyor section  13  whereby their long side L is aligned almost parallel to the lateral guidances  4 . When the articles  20  leave the third conveyor section  13  and are fed into the second conveyor section  12  the adjusted orientation of the articles  20  is maintained. Because of this adjusted orientation a correct separation of the articles  20  into the lanes  31  is possible and therefore the occurrence of blockage is prevented. 
         [0038]    According to the preferred embodiment of the chicane formed by the third conveyor section  13 , the articles  20  deviate from their transport route by at least half an article width B or in the case of articles  24  with a circular base area (see  FIG. 3 ) by at least half the diameter D of the article  24  which leads to the realignment of the twisted articles  22  as described above. 
         [0039]    The represented third conveyor section  13  is preferably a partial segment of a circle TS that comprises a partial circumferential length TL. The partial circumferential length TL corresponds to at least the broadest width B or length L of three transported articles  20  or in the case of articles  24  with a circular base area the partial circumferential length TL corresponds to at least the diameter of three transported articles  24 . 
         [0040]    The curvature or curvatures of the third conveyor section  13  lead to a deviation of the articles  20 ,  22  from the first and/or second conveyor section  11 ,  12  about a certain distance V. The maximum deviation V is determined by the exact arrangement or curvature of the third conveyor section  13 . Preferentially the distance V corresponds to at least half the width B or half the length L of the transported articles  20 ,  22  depending on the orientation of the article, especially depending on their orientation perpendicular to the transport direction. If the transported articles  24  have a circular base area (see  FIG. 3 ) then the distance V corresponds preferably to at least half the diameter of the base area of the article  24 . 
         [0041]    The inner sides of the lateral guidances  4  in the third conveyor section  13  can comprise additional guiding elements  40  that can be adapted or customized to the different sizes of the transported articles  20 ,  24 . When changing the format or product, for instance when changing the bottle geometries (length, width or diameter), the curvature of the basic guidance or lateral guidance  4  of the third conveyor section  13  has not to be changed or exchanged but can be adjusted by exchanging the guiding elements  40 . The guiding elements  40  are detachably fastened for example by pinning, clipping, use of magnetic connecting elements, a rail connection system, screws or the like. To allow a largely friction less transport of the articles the guiding elements  40  can have slip promoting properties. They can for instance comprise rollers or the like. 
         [0042]    The guiding elements  40  can be attached to the entire lateral guidances  4  of the third conveyor section  13  or just to a part of it. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic representation of a transporting device  5  comprising a plurality of conveyor lines  10 .  FIG. 3  especially shows that a conveyor line  10  according to the invention is especially suitable for the transport of articles  20  with a squared base area. The conveyor line  10  prevents the blockade problems in the in feed area just before the articles  20  are separated into the lanes  31  in the second conveyor segment  12 . A conveyor line  10  according to the invention can also be used for the transport of articles  24  with a circular base area. If other articles  20 ,  24  shall be transported no conversion of the conveyor line  10  is necessary. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  also shows that the chicane or lateral guidances  40  of the third conveyor segment are connected bluntly with the guidance rails  3  of the first and second conveyor section  11 ,  12 . The drawing furthermore shows that the third conveyor section  13  comprises lateral guiding elements  4  for the restriction of the article stream  18  that are composed of individual movable segments  42 . The individual segments  42  can be moved in an angle against each other, comparable to the links of a chain. It is therefore possible to adjust a variable radius. The chicane can be specially customized according to the transported articles  20 ,  24 . In this way a “S”-shaped deflection or something alike can be formed. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a conveyor line  10 . According to this embodiment the third conveyor section  13  is only formed by about half the partial circumferential length TL (compared to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and is directly connected to the second conveyor section  12 . In this embodiment the second conveyor section  12  runs parallel to the first conveyor section  11 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a conveyor line  10 . In this embodiment the third conveyor section  13  comprises a linear section arranged after half the partial section TL as described in  FIG. 4 . The second linear part of the third conveyor section  13  is attached to the first partial circle segment of the third conveyor section  13  in an angle in such a way that the subsequently arranged second conveyor section  12  is in line with the first conveyor section  11 . 
         [0047]    The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  conveyor line 
           2  mat conveyor=modular conveyor belt comprising a number of chain links 
           3  guidance rails 
           4  lateral guidance in the third conveyor section 
           5  transporting device 
           10  conveyor line 
           11  first conveyor section 
           12  second conveyor section 
           13  third conveyor section 
           18  article stream 
           20  articles/article with squared base area 
           22  twisted article with squared base area 
           24  article with circular base area 
           30  lane dividing plate 
           31  (individual) lane 
           32  roller 
           40  guiding element 
           42  individual segments 
           50  first processing device 
           52  second processing device 
         B article width 
         BR transport direction 
         D article diameter 
         L long side/article length 
         TL partial circumferential length 
         TS partial segment of a circle 
         V distance/maximum deviation