Device and method for conveying containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a container guide (1a, 1b, 1c) having a barrier (2) with two guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) arranged at a distance from one another and extending in the conveying direction of a container conveyor, for guiding containers or clusters, wherein at least one guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) can be adjusted transversely to the conveying direction relative to the other guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) by means of an adjusting device (4a, 4b, 4c), which has a drive body (5a, 5b) that can be rotated about a rotation axis and a coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) that is connected to the at least one guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) and is connected to the drive body (5a, 5b) in such a way that a rotation of the drive body (5a, 5b) causes an adjustment of the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) transversely to the conveying direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container guiding device having a railing having two guide elements arranged at a distance from each other and extending in the conveying direction of a container conveying device, the guide elements being used to guide containers or bundles, wherein at least one guide element can be adjusted transversely to the conveying direction relative to the other guide element by means of an adjusting device having a drive body rotatable about a rotation axis and a coupling element connected to at least one guide element, the coupling element being connected to the drive body such that rotation of the drive body causes adjustment of the coupling element transversely to the conveying direction. Background Technology

[0002] In container handling equipment, such as filling equipment for filling liquid media into containers, like bottles, cans, or the like, containers are typically conveyed over long transport paths by means of a conveyor with container guiding devices. Individual containers and / or bundles of containers are guided through the container handling equipment by means of railings of the container guiding devices. The railings here have railing elements on both sides disposed on the container conveying device, the spacing of which can be adjusted according to the width of the containers or bundles being guided through between the railing elements and / or the number of containers or bundles being guided through between the railing elements simultaneously.

[0003] Known container guiding devices, such as those known by EP 3 063 081 B1, have complexly constructed adjustment mechanisms that require significant space to provide the necessary adjustments. Furthermore, these known adjustment devices are very expensive and costly to maintain and assemble, and require means to fix the adjusted railing position to prevent undesirable changes in the spacing of the guiding elements during operation due to interaction with the container or bundle. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The objective of this invention is to provide a container guiding device of the type described at the beginning, which can be manufactured inexpensively and has a simple and compact structure.

[0005] The objective of the invention is achieved by a container guiding device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further embodiments of the container guiding device according to the invention are given in dependent claims 2 to 13.

[0006] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a container conveying device according to claim 14, having at least one container guiding device according to the invention and a method according to claim 15 for adjusting the spacing of guide elements of a railing by using the container guiding device according to the invention.

[0007] The container guiding device according to the invention is characterized in that the drive body has a control element that cooperates with a coupling element connected to a guide element, the control element having at least a segmental helical orientation about the rotation axis of the drive body. Ideally, the drive body is composed of two disc-shaped halves, with the coupling element received between the two halves, such that the guide pin of the coupling element is movably supported and guided within the aforementioned control element.

[0008] In the container guiding device according to the invention, adjustment of the coupling element relative to the adjusting device causes displacement of the guide element connected to the coupling element. This displacement is caused by rotation of a drive body connected to the coupling element, for which the drive body has a control element having a helical orientation extending at least sectionally around the axis of rotation. That is, the control element extends along a curve extending around the axis of rotation and, depending on the observer's perspective, moves away from or close to the axis of rotation. The helical orientation of the control element extends along a curve that advantageously extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Preferably, the control element has a curve around the axis of rotation with an orientation of the type of Archimedean spiral, wherein the radius of the curve relative to the axis of rotation changes continuously, particularly proportionally to, the rotation angle of the drive body, i.e., increases or decreases.

[0009] The connection between the control element and the coupling element according to the invention thus results in, on the one hand, the coupling element maintaining its position in the circumferential direction of the drive body as the drive body rotates. On the other hand, the rotation of the drive body causes a displacement of the coupling element in the axial direction, corresponding to the helical orientation of the control element. Related to the rotation direction of the drive body, this displacement of the coupling element toward or in the opposite direction of the rotation axis allows the adjustment device, in which the guide element connected to the coupling element is linearly arranged relative to its fixed position on the container conveying device, to be adjusted. By considering the conveying direction of the container conveying device, the corresponding arrangement of the adjustment device allows the railing, including at least one of the two guide elements, to be adjusted laterally in the conveying direction, thereby enabling the adjustment of the railing width by means of the adjustment device according to the invention.

[0010] In the context of this invention, the term "rail width" (also referred to in the art as conveyor width in some respects) is understood as the spacing between opposing rail elements.

[0011] The configuration of the drive body, with a control element extending helically around the axis of rotation according to the invention, achieves a particularly simple and compact structural form of the adjusting device, wherein the linear adjustability according to the rotation of the drive body can be arbitrarily determined by the configuration of the helical orientation, which is in principle freely selectable. The adjusting device of the container guide according to the invention can be constructed in a particularly compact and simple manner, and further allows for the elimination of a separate element for fixing the adjusted position of the guide element, with the coupling element acting substantially perpendicular to the helical control element, thereby creating a self-locking mechanism for the adjusted position.

[0012] The configuration of the control element and its connection to the coupling element can, in principle, be freely chosen such that rotation of the drive causes displacement of the guide element connected to the coupling element transverse to the conveying direction of the container conveying device. However, according to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the control element is constructed as a control slot, which is configured to receive, displaceably, a control pin connected to the coupling element and preferably oriented parallel to the axis of rotation.

[0013] According to the configuration of the invention, the drive body has a control groove machined into its surface, the control groove extending helically about a rotation axis. For the coupling element to be connected to the drive body such that rotation of the drive body causes displacement of a guide element connected to the coupling element, the coupling element has a control pin disposed displaceably within the control groove. Based on the helical orientation of the control groove, rotation of the drive body thereby causes displacement of the coupling element via the control pin disposed in the control groove, wherein the direction of movement of the coupling element is related to the rotational direction of the drive body and thus the rotation of the helical control groove about the rotation axis.

[0014] The advantage of using a control slot as a control element is that it can be constructed on the drive body particularly simply and inexpensively. Furthermore, the control slot enables the coupling element to be coupled to the control slot in a particularly simple and uncomplicated manner via a control pin arranged within it, which can be hinged to the coupling element without relative rotation. The container guiding device can thus be manufactured particularly simply and inexpensively with high reliability.

[0015] The design of the coupling element during adjustment can be chosen as freely as the arrangement of the drive body within the adjustment device. However, according to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the drive body is rotatably arranged in the housing of the adjustment device, wherein the housing has a guide opening for fixing the coupling element in the circumferential direction of the drive body.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the invention, the housing is used to rotatably receive the drive body, thereby protecting the drive body from external influences and ensuring high operational safety of the container guiding device. The housing also has a guide opening in which a coupling element is axially movably supported. The guide opening thereby fixes the coupling element in the circumferential direction of the drive body and causes the rotational motion of the drive body to be converted into linear motion of the coupling element within the guide opening, wherein the direction of motion of the coupling element is related to the rotational direction of the drive body.

[0017] The configuration of this invention is characterized by a particularly compact structure and a particularly simple conversion between the rotational motion of the drive body and the linear motion of the coupling element, which is transmitted in a corresponding manner to the guide element connected to the coupling element. The direction of motion of the guide element of the container guiding device relative to the container conveying device can thus be determined particularly simply and reliably.

[0018] The function of the container guiding device is, in principle, ensured by the use of a drive body, which cooperates with a coupling element via a control element. However, according to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the adjusting device has two drive bodies, each having corresponding, opposing control slots in the direction of the rotation axis, each control slot being configured to receive opposing, protruding sections of the coupling element for receiving control pins connected to the coupling element.

[0019] According to the configuration of the invention, the adjusting device has two drive bodies with overlapping control slots, such that the coupling element is adjustably supported on the two drive bodies by control pins extending in the two control slots. This configuration ensures, in a particularly reliable manner, that adjustment of the drive bodies triggers displacement of the guide element connected to the coupling element. This configuration also particularly reliably prevents interference due to loosening of the connection between the control pins and the control slots.

[0020] The adjustment of the drive body, i.e., the rotation of the drive body about its axis of rotation, can in principle be achieved in any manner, for example, by a suitable transmission element or chain drive. However, according to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the drive body is connected to a drive shaft extending in the direction of rotation without relative rotation. According to this configuration of the invention, the drive shaft extends through the drive body in the direction of rotation, so that rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the drive body about its axis of rotation. The spacing of the guide elements can thus be adjusted in a particularly simple and comfortable manner according to the direction of rotation of the drive shaft.

[0021] Furthermore, according to another configuration of the invention, the coupling element is configured to be bent, particularly in the region of the drive body, such that the coupling element engages with the drive body on the side opposite to the guide element about the axis of rotation.

[0022] According to the configuration of the invention, the guide element is not straight, but segmentally curved, for example, U-shaped, so that the guide element can be guided about the rotation axis. This allows the guide element to engage with the drive body on the side of the rotation axis opposite to the guide element, for example, by coupling with a control pin and a control slot. This configuration achieves particularly stable adjustment and fixation of the guide element's position relative to the adjustment device.

[0023] Furthermore, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device has two coupling elements that cooperate with the drive body such that adjustment of the drive body causes opposite adjustment of the coupling elements. According to this configuration, a single adjusting device having at least one drive body is used to adjust two coupling elements connected to the drive body. In, for example, an arrangement where control pins are opposite each other about the axis of rotation, i.e., radially facing, in a control slot, the opposite adjustment of the coupling elements is thus achieved based on the rotation of the drive body; that is, the guide elements connected to the coupling elements move toward or away from each other in relation to the direction of rotation of the drive body.

[0024] Thus, the configuration of the present invention is achieved by using a single adjustment device to adjust two coupling elements and two guide elements connected thereto relative to a container conveying device with container guides, wherein the two coupling elements are preferably arranged on opposite sides of each other when viewed in the direction of rotation axis of the drive body and are connected to control slots by control pins extending from the coupling elements in opposite directions.

[0025] The transmission of the adjusting movement of the coupling element to the guide element can, in principle, be performed in any manner. However, according to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, preferably, two coupling elements, each cooperating with only one drive body, are connected to an arcuate member, which in turn is connected to one of the guide elements arranged opposite each other. According to the embodiment of the invention, the arcuate member is connected not only to the coupling element but also to the guide element. This configuration of the arcuate member allows for a comfortable arrangement of the adjusting device relative to the railing of the container conveying device. Thus, for example, it is possible to construct the arcuate member so that the adjusting device can be arranged space-savingly below the conveying plane. The use of the arcuate member, in particular, allows for the simple connection of the guide element to only one adjusting device to displace two guide elements.

[0026] The arrangement of the container guide device on the container conveying device can be implemented in any manner based on this principle. However, according to a particularly advantageous configuration, the housing of the adjusting device has a retaining element for securing the adjusting device to the container conveying device. This configuration of the invention allows for the particularly simple and uncomplicated assembly of the container guide device onto the container conveying device. According to a further aspect of the invention, the container guide device can also be arranged as an add-on in an existing container conveying device in a simple and uncomplicated manner, wherein the retaining element can be provided with a corresponding retaining section.

[0027] When the width of the railing, resulting from the spacing of the guide elements, is sufficient, an adjusting device is used to adjust one of the two guide elements of the railing relative to the guide element that is fixedly arranged in position. However, according to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the two guide elements of the railing can be displaced laterally in the conveying direction by means of adjusting devices, wherein each adjusting device has a drive body with a control element that extends helically about the rotation axis of the drive body and cooperates with a coupling element.

[0028] According to the configuration of the present invention, the container guiding device has two adjusting devices, each connected to a guiding element of the railing, so that the two guiding elements of the railing can be adjusted relative to each other. This configuration of the present invention thus achieves particularly accurate and comfortable adjustment of the railing width, wherein, by using the two adjusting devices, both particularly narrow and wide railing widths can be adjusted.

[0029] The drive unit can be driven in principle in any manner, for example, by manual adjustment of the drive unit by an operator. However, according to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the drive shaft is advantageously driven by a motor. The use of a motor-driven drive shaft enables particularly accurate positioning of at least one guide element relative to other guide elements, thereby allowing for precise adjustment of the railing width. Furthermore, the use of a motor-driven drive shaft allows for particularly reliable position fixation of the adjusted guide element through the self-locking mechanism of the motor drive, thus eliminating the need for supplementary position fixing measures.

[0030] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the container guiding device has a plurality of adjusting devices arranged adjacent to each other in the conveying direction, the plurality of adjusting devices being connected to each other via a common drive shaft. According to this configuration of the invention, the container guiding device has a plurality of adjusting devices arranged spaced apart from each other in the conveying direction, the plurality of adjusting devices being respectively connected to a section of the guiding element. The use of multiple adjusting devices achieves the provision of stable railings over particularly long routes, the width of which can be adjusted by the adjusting devices.

[0031] By adjusting a common drive shaft, consistent adjustment of the drive body and the coupling element connected to the guide element is ensured in a particularly reliable manner, making it impossible to effectively position the guide element differently in the conveying direction. In the case of a conveying direction extending in an arc, the drive shaft can be connected by universal joints arranged between the adjusting devices, so that the curved sections of the container conveying device can also be equipped with corresponding railings.

[0032] The orientation of the container guiding device is determined by the relative arrangement of the processing stations configured for the containers, which are connected to each other via the container guiding device. According to an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, the guiding element has an at least partially arcuate orientation in the conveying direction, wherein:

[0033] - An adjusting device having a coupling element that is fixedly connected to one of the guide elements in the conveying direction, and

[0034] - At least one additional adjusting device having a coupling element that is adjustablely connected to the same guiding element in the conveying direction.

[0035] According to the configuration of the present invention, the container guiding device has at least two adjusting devices arranged sequentially in the conveying direction on the arc-shaped section for adjusting the width of the railing; however, only one of the adjusting devices has a coupling element and a guiding element that are fixedly connected in the conveying direction of the container.

[0036] In addition to the adjusting device that is fixedly connected to the guide element, the container guide device has at least one additional adjusting device in the arc-shaped section, in which the coupling element is adjustable in the conveying direction, and is particularly slidably connected to the guide element. The adjustable connection between the coupling element, the second adjusting device, and / or each additional adjusting device to the guide element in the arc-shaped section eliminates the need for special length compensation measures due to changes in the arc length of the arc-shaped section when adjusting the guide element.

[0037] To fix the coupling element in a fixed position on the guide element, a gripper can be used, for example. An adjustable connection between the coupling element and the guide element in the conveying direction can be achieved by a suitable slider connected accordingly to the guide element, thereby enabling the slider to slide in the conveying direction.

[0038] According to another configuration of the invention, in order to form a railing, the guide element is configured to releasably receive railing elements. The use of railing elements that can be arranged on the guide element allows for selection of railing elements corresponding to the container to be guided and replacement as needed. Railing elements damaged in the event of disturbance can also be replaced particularly easily, wherein the damaged railing element is separated from the guide element and replaced by a new or repaired railing element.

[0039] It is particularly advantageous to configure the guardrail elements here so that they are telescopically oriented in the conveying direction. The use of telescopic guardrail elements is especially suitable for use in areas where the container guide device has an arcuate orientation, wherein changes in the length of the arcuate section due to adjustment of the guide element are reliably compensated by the telescopicity of the guardrail elements, thereby forming a continuous guide device for the containers to be conveyed.

[0040] The method for adjusting the spacing of guide elements according to the present invention includes the following steps:

[0041] - Rotate the drive body to displace at least one guide element of the railing transversely to the conveying direction relative to another guide element of the railing, and

[0042] - Stop rotating after reaching the desired spacing to fix the guide elements relative to each other.

[0043] According to the method of the present invention, when using the aforementioned container guiding device, the width of the railing is adjusted by easily rotating the drive body, and the position to be adjusted is fixed by stopping the rotation after the desired width of the railing is reached. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0045] Figure 1 A partial area of ​​the first embodiment of the container guiding device is shown in a perspective view;

[0046] Figure 2a A portion of the second embodiment of the container guiding device is shown in a perspective view;

[0047] Figure 2b Show Figure 2a Another perspective view of the container guiding device;

[0048] Figure 3a Indicating the location of the first terminal Figure 1 A perspective view of the adjustment device of the container guide device;

[0049] Figure 3b Show Figure 3a A perspective view of the adjusting device in the middle position; and

[0050] Figure 3c Show Figure 3a Another perspective view of the adjustment device in the second terminal position;

[0051] Figure 4a A third embodiment of the adjustment device is shown in a perspective view at the first railing position;

[0052] Figure 4b Show Figure 4a A perspective view of the adjustment device in the second railing position;

[0053] Figure 4c Show Figure 4a A perspective view of the adjustment device located at the third railing position;

[0054] Figure 5 A perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the adjusting device; and

[0055] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 Another perspective view of the adjustment device. Detailed Implementation

[0056] Figure 1 A first embodiment of a section of a container guiding device 1a is shown in perspective. The container guiding device is adapted for arrangement on a container conveying device (not shown here), which conveys containers, such as bottles or bundled containers, along a container handling device (also not shown here) by means of a conveyor belt.

[0057] The container guiding device 1a has arc-shaped guide elements 3a arranged at intervals between each other, the guide elements being configured to receive arc-shaped railings 2. The width of the railings is related to the spacing between the opposing guide elements 3a. To adjust the spacing of the guide elements 3a, the container guiding device 1a has a plurality of adjusting devices 4a arranged adjacent to each other along the conveying direction, and by means of these adjusting devices, the opposing guide elements 3a can be shifted laterally in the conveying direction.

[0058] To adjust the position of the guide element 3a, the adjusting device 4a has a drive body 5a rotatably arranged inside the housing half 10a of the housing 9a. The drive body has a control element extending spirally around a rotation axis, the control element being constructed as a control groove 7a. The control groove 7a receives a control pin 8 extending parallel to the rotation axis through a coupling element 6a, the control pin being movable within the spiral control groove 7a. The coupling element 6a itself extends through a guide opening 11 of the housing half 10a and is connected to a section of the guide element 3a via a connecting element 18 at its end opposite to the control pin 8.

[0059] The rotation of the drive body 5a within the housing half 10a causes, in relation to the direction of rotation, axial displacement of the coupling element 6a within the guide opening 11. This, in relation to the direction of rotation of the drive body 5a, adjusts the guide element 3a toward or away from the opposing guide element 3a. Similarly, the opposing guide element 3a of the railing 2 is adjusted, thereby allowing the width of the railing 2 to be adjusted by manipulating the adjusting device 4a of the opposing guide element 3a.

[0060] In order to rotate the drive bodies 5a of the adjustment devices 4a arranged adjacent to each other, the drive shaft 12a extends through the shaft receiving portion 14a of the drive bodies 5a of the adjustment devices 4a arranged adjacent to each other. The universal joint 15 arranged between the adjustment devices 4a here ensures the transmission of rotational motion of the respective sections of the drive shaft 12a that extend relatively curved to each other.

[0061] To precisely adjust the width of the railing, the coupling element 6a has a scale 17 that allows the operator to make a predetermined adjustment of the guide element 3a relative to the housing 9a, which is fixed between the jaws 16 of the connecting element 18.

[0062] In order to arrange the container guide device 1a or each of the adjustment devices 4a of the container guide device 1a, each adjustment device 4a has a retaining element configured as a carrier 13, which enables the adjustment device 4a to be positioned at a desired location on the container conveying device.

[0063] exist Figure 2a and 2b The image shows a portion of the container conveying unit, wherein the guide element 3a and Figure 1 The embodiment shown differs in that it has a straight orientation. The housing 9a is shown in the open state, revealing a half of the drive body 5a with a helical control groove 7a. In its complete state, the drive body 5a consists of two opposing disc-shaped halves, with a coupling element 6a arranged between the two halves. Figure 1Unlike the embodiment shown, the drive shaft 12a therefore has a one-piece configuration and extends through the shaft receiving portion 14a of the drive body 5a of each adjustment device 4a in the manner shown above. The square configuration of the drive shaft 12a in cross-section ensures that the rotational motion of the drive shaft 12a is reliably transmitted to the drive body 5a.

[0064] exist Figure 2b The middle shows Figure 2a The regulating device 4a shown has a closed housing 9a, wherein the housing 9a is composed of a first housing half 10a and a second housing half 10b. The second housing half 10b here has a drive element 5a, corresponding to the drive element 5a in the housing half 10a. The control pin 8 of the coupling element 6a is thus guided in the control slots 7a of the two drive elements 5a arranged in the housing 9a in the closed state of the housing 9a.

[0065] exist Figures 3a to 3c The operation mode of the regulating device 4a is further illustrated in the figure, wherein, in Figure 3a The intermediate coupling element 6a is arranged in the first terminal position relative to the adjustment device. Figure 3b The intermediate coupling element 6a is arranged in the middle position relative to the adjustment device, and... Figure 3c The coupling element 6a is arranged in the second terminal position relative to the adjusting device 4a. In the first terminal position, the control pin 8 is located inside the control slot 7a, in the position closest to the rotation axis. Figure 3b In the intermediate position shown, the control pin 8 is positioned between the first and second terminal positions within the area of ​​the control slot 7a. Figure 3c In the middle, the control pin 8 is located at the point in the control groove 7a that is farthest from the rotation axis.

[0066] The force acting on the coupling element 6a in the longitudinal direction of the coupling element due to the load caused by the guided bundle or container may cause the guide element 3a connected to the coupling element 6a to not adjust because the force is perpendicular to the orientation of the control groove 7a, thus resulting in the self-locking of the guide element 3a in the position adjusted by the drive body 5a.

[0067] exist Figures 4a to 4c The third embodiment of the container guide device 1b is shown in different positions of the railing elements 19a, 19b, which are releasably arranged on the guide elements 3b, 3c, and which determine the width of the railing.

[0068] In the arc-shaped region of the container guide 1b, on the outer side of the container guide 1b, three adjusting devices 4b are connected to the arc-shaped guide element 3c. Here, only the middle adjusting device 4b is fixedly connected to the guide element 3c in the middle section of the arc-shaped path in the conveying direction via a gripper 16 constituting a connecting element. The adjusting device 4b adjacent to this one, connected to the guide element 3c in the arc-shaped section, is coupled to the guide element 3c via a connecting element 20, which is capable of sliding along the guide element 3c in the conveying direction.

[0069] In the conveying direction, in the arc-shaped sections adjacent to the container guide device 1b on both sides, the arc-shaped guide element 3c is connected to the straight-extending guide element 3b by a connecting element 20, the connecting element realizing length compensation.

[0070] The rotation of the drive body 5a arranged in the housing 9b achieves the maximum spacing between the railing elements 19a, 19b connected to the guide elements 3b, 3c in the container guide device 1b, where the maximum spacing between the railing elements 19a, 19b is achieved. Figure 4a The positions shown have the minimum spacing between the railing elements 19a and 19b. Figure 4c Shift between the positions shown. Figure 4b In the middle, the middle position is Figure 4a and 4c Between the terminal positions shown.

[0071] exist Figure 5 The diagram shows another embodiment of a section of the container guide device 1c. In the configuration of the container guide device 1c, a single drive body 5b of the adjusting device 4c is used to adjust the spacing between the two guide elements 3a. The adjusting device 4c has two coupling elements 6b, 6c that are connected from opposite sides via control pins 8 to control slots 7b when viewed in the conveying direction. The two control pins 8 are arranged radially facing each other on the drive body 5b and engage with the control slots 7b when viewed perpendicularly in the conveying direction. The control pins 8 arranged on the drive body 5b toward the guide elements 3a are connected to the coupling elements 6b, which extend longitudinally through guide openings 26 on two retainers 24, which are spaced apart from each other and connected to the base rails 25. Control pins 8 arranged at a larger spacing relative to the guide elements 3a are connected to the coupling elements 6c, which also extend longitudinally through the guide openings 26 on the retainers 24.

[0072] The rotation of the drive body 5b, caused by the extension of the drive shaft 12b through the shaft receiving part 14b, causes longitudinal adjustment of the coupling elements 6b and 6c. The drive shaft is rotatably arranged on the carrier 23 connected to the retainer 24. The connecting elements 18 move toward or away from each other in relation to the rotation direction of the drive body 5b. The connecting elements 18 are respectively connected to the coupling elements 6b and 6c via the bow-shaped member 22.

[0073] List of reference numerals

[0074] Container guiding devices 1a, 1b, 1c

[0075] 2. Railing

[0076] 3a, 3b, 3c guide elements

[0077] Adjustment devices 4a, 4b, 4c

[0078] 5a, 5b driving units

[0079] Coupler elements 6a, 6b, and 6c

[0080] 7a, 7b Control elements / control slots

[0081] 8 Control pins

[0082] 9a, 9b casing

[0083] 10a, 10b Housing halves

[0084] 11 Guide opening

[0085] 12a, 12b drive shafts

[0086] 13 Retaining elements / carriers

[0087] 14a, 14b shaft receiving section

[0088] 15 universal joints

[0089] 16 grippers

[0090] 17 graduations

[0091] 18 Connecting elements

[0092] 19a, 19b Railing elements

[0093] 20 Connecting elements

[0094] 21 Guide Body

[0095] 22 Bow-shaped parts

[0096] 23. Bearing components

[0097] 24 Retaining parts

[0098] 25 Basic Rails

[0099] 26. Guide opening.

Claims

1. A container guide (1a, 1b, 1c) having a barrier (2) with two guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) arranged at a distance from one another and extending in the conveying direction of a container conveying device for guiding containers or clusters, wherein At least one guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) can be adjusted relative to a further guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) transversely to the conveying direction by means of an adjusting device (4a, 4b, 4c), which has a one-piece or multipart drive body (5a, 5b) that can be rotated about an axis of rotation and a coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) that is connected to the at least one guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) and is connected to the drive body (5a, 5b) in such a way that a rotation of the drive body (5a, 5b) causes an adjustment of the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) transversely to the conveying direction, characterized in that The one-piece or multipart drive body (5a, 5b) has a control element that cooperates with the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c), which control element has a helical course about the axis of rotation of the drive body (5a, 5b) at least in sections, wherein the helical course of the control element extends in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

2. Container guiding device (1 a, 1 b, 1 c) according to claim 1, characterized in that The control element is configured as a control groove (7a, 7b), which is provided for displaceably receiving a control pin (8) that is connected to the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c).

3. Container guiding device (1 a, 1 b, 1 c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The drive body (5a, 5b) is arranged rotatably in a housing (9a, 9b) of the adjusting device (4a, 4b, 4c), which housing has a guide opening (11) that fixes the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) in the peripheral direction of the drive body (5a, 5b).

4. Container guiding device (1 a, 1 b, 1 c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The adjusting device (4a, 4b, 4c) has two drive bodies (5a, 5b) that have respective, oppositely arranged control grooves (7a, 7b) in the direction of the axis of rotation, which control grooves are respectively configured for receiving a control pin (8) that is connected to the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c).

5. Container guiding device (1 a, 1 b, 1 c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The drive bodies (5a, 5b) are connected without relative rotation to a drive shaft (12a, 12b) that extends in the direction of the axis of rotation.

6. Container guiding device (1 a, 1 b, 1 c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) is configured in such a way that it cooperates with the drive body (5a, 5b) on a side that faces away from the guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) about the axis of rotation.

7. Container guiding device (1 c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The adjusting device (4a, 4b, 4c) has two coupling elements (6a, 6b, 6c) that cooperate with the drive body (5a, 5b) in such a way that an adjustment of the drive body (5a, 5b) causes an opposite adjustment of the coupling elements (6a, 6b, 6c).

8. Container guiding device (1 c) according to claim 7, characterized in that The two coupling elements (6a, 6b, 6c) are respectively connected to an arcuate element (22) that is respectively connected to one of the guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) that are arranged opposite one another.

9. Container guiding device (1 a, 1 b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The two guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) of the railing (2) can be displaced transversely to the conveying direction by means of adjusting devices (4a, 4b, 4c), respectively, wherein the adjusting devices (4a, 4b, 4c) have a drive body (5a, 5b) with a control element which extends helically around the rotation axis of the drive body (5a, 5b) and cooperates with the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c).

10. Container guiding device (1 a, 1 b, 1 c) according to claim 5, characterized in that The drive shaft (12a, 12b) is driven by a motor.

11. Container guiding device (1 a, 1 b, 1 c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A plurality of adjusting devices (4a, 4b, 4c) arranged next to one another in the conveying direction are provided, which are connected to one another by a common drive shaft (12a, 12b).

12. Container guiding device (1 b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) have an at least sectionally arcuate course in the conveying direction, wherein there are provided: - an adjusting device (4a, 4b, 4c) having a coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) which is connected to one of the guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) in a positionally fixed manner in the conveying direction; and - at least one further adjusting device (4a, 4b, 4c) having a coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) which is connected to the same guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) in an adjustable manner in the conveying direction. The guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) are configured for releasable reception of a railing element (19a, 19b).

13. Container guiding device (1 a, 1 b, 1 c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that 14. Container conveying device for conveying containers along a conveying direction, comprising at least one container guide device (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. Method for adjusting the spacing of guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) of a railing (2) by using a container guide device (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by the following steps: - rotating the drive body (5a, 5b) to displace at least one guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) of the railing (2) transversely to the conveying direction relative to a further guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) of the railing, and - ending the rotation after the spacing to be adjusted has been reached to fix the guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) relative to one another. ​

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