Transport section for transporting at least two articles arranged side by side

Abstract

The utility model discloses a transportation part (1) used for transporting at least two articles arranged side by side in the transportation direction. The transport section (1) comprises a transport surface and at least one pushing element (15). The pushing element (15) is designed to abut against the rear faces of the at least two articles arranged next to one another and to move the at least two articles (20) arranged next to one another in the transport direction (50). The pushing element (15) comprises at least two different contact areas (4) for the article.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a transport section for transporting at least two articles arranged side by side in a transport direction. Background Art

[0002] When handling and packaging articles, they are usually assembled into groups of articles with a plurality of regularly arranged articles, and then these groups of articles are combined into a packaging unit or bundle using outer packaging such as shrink film, strapping, or an upper hand-held carton, so that they are held tightly together during subsequent transportation and storage.

[0003] Before being assembled into a group of articles or within the framework of the assembly of a group of articles, it is usually arranged that the articles are transported via a transport section in which the articles are held during transportation by a push rod abutting against the back of the article, or the articles are actively moved in the transport direction by a push rod abutting against the back of the article. Usually, such a transport section includes a push plate, and the articles are moved past the push plate in a pushing manner by a push rod abutting against the back of the article.

[0004] In this case, these push rods can have a profiled contact area. For example, according to the disclosure of the published document DE 102010 033 549 A1, profiled push rods are used to form a compressed or nested arrangement of articles to be packaged, and these articles are divided into groups, preferably arranged in multiple rows in sequence.

[0005] Traditionally, the push rods must be replaced according to the size and / or shape of the articles during production changeovers. The replacement of the push rods is usually carried out manually, which is a time-consuming process and also an undesirable cost factor due to the need for production stoppages. Summary of the Utility Model

[0006] The object of the utility model is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular to provide a simple and cost-effective solution for production changeovers for the above-mentioned transport tasks.

[0007] The above object is achieved by a transport section for transporting at least two articles arranged side by side.

[0008] The utility model provides a transport section for transporting at least two articles arranged side by side in a transport direction. The transport section includes a transport surface and at least one pushing element, which is designed to abut against the back of at least two articles arranged side by side and move the at least two articles arranged side by side in the transport direction.

[0009] In this case, it is arranged that the pushing element includes at least two different contact areas for these articles. Therefore, the pushing element is suitable for handling different articles, especially for moving different articles past the transport surface in the transport direction.

[0010] These articles are preferably beverage containers, in particular bottles made of PET or other suitable plastics or glass. Preferably, these articles can also be cans made of materials such as plastics, glass, aluminum or other metals.

[0011] However, these articles can also be other sundries, for example, an article group composed of at least two articles, and these article groups are combined into a packaging unit or a bundle, etc. by an outer package.

[0012] The transport surface is constituted by, for example, a pusher plate, on which the article is pushed in the transport direction by a pushing element, in particular, the article is moved in a sliding manner across the transport surface.

[0013] The first contact area is provided for a first article of a first size or shape, in particular for a first article having a first diameter. The second contact area is provided for a second article of a second size or shape, in particular for a second article having a second diameter. The pushing element can optionally provide more contact areas for more articles.

[0014] Preferably, it is arranged that the pushing element can occupy at least two different working positions, wherein in the first working position, the first contact area of the push rod constitutes the back abutment area for the first article, and in the second working position, the second contact area constitutes the back abutment area for the second article. Depending on the number of contact areas of the pushing element, the pushing element can optionally occupy more working positions.

[0015] In particular, in the first working position, the first contact area of the pushing element is arranged in front of the second contact area of the pushing element and, if appropriate, other contact areas of the pushing element in the transport direction.

[0016] According to one embodiment, it is arranged that the pushing element has a longitudinal axis and the pushing element is designed to be rotatably supported about the longitudinal axis. In particular, it is arranged that the pushing element can enter the second working position, and if appropriate, other working positions from the first working position by rotating about its longitudinal axis, and vice versa.

[0017] For example, the pushing element can be designed as a push rod, and two different, substantially opposite contact areas are designed on the outer peripheral side surface of the push rod. By rotating (about) 180° about the longitudinal axis of the push rod, the push rod can be brought into two different working positions.

[0018] Another embodiment can be arranged such that the pushing element is designed as a push rod, and three different contact areas are designed on the outer peripheral side surface of the push rod. By rotating (about) 120° about the longitudinal axis of the push rod, the push rod can be brought into three different working positions.

[0019] Another embodiment can be configured such that the actuating element is designed as a push rod, and four different contact areas are designed on the outer peripheral side of the push rod. By rotating the push rod (approximately) 90° around its longitudinal axis, the push rod can be brought into four different working positions.

[0020] In order to set different working positions of the actuating element, according to one embodiment, it can be configured such that the transport section includes at least one stop element, and the at least one stop element is designed to cause rotation of the actuating element, and in particular, the at least one stop element is designed to be pushable.

[0021] The working principle of the at least one stop element will be described below by taking the actuating element designed as a push rod as an example. Preferably, several push rods are arranged between two parallel surrounding drive chains, and these push rods are moved via these drive chains. Those skilled in the art can apply the embodiments described below to actuating elements of other drive methods. When referring to a drive chain, it refers to the embodiment of a traction device. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that in principle, other traction devices such as drive belts or similar traction devices are also considered as drive transmission media.

[0022] If the push rods are located in the area of the descending section of the drive chain or traction device, they preferably abut against the back of the article or group of articles respectively by means of the contact surface and move these articles or groups of articles in the transport direction past the transport surface.

[0023] If it is necessary to use at least one other contact surface of the actuating element as the back abutting surface due to product change, it is necessary to change the position of one or several of the actuating elements arranged between the drive chain or traction device.

[0024] In continuous production operations, it can also be configured such that, for example, different articles alternately pass through the transport section and are fed into subsequent processing steps.

[0025] The position change of the actuating element is preferably carried out during the return stroke of the actuating element in the area of the ascending section of the drive chain or traction device, that is, at such a time point when the corresponding actuating element moves in the opposite direction of the transport direction of the article and does not abut against the back of the article.

[0026] The at least one stop element is designed to cause the actuating element to rotate around its longitudinal axis, so as to transfer the actuating element from the first working position to the second or other working positions, or vice versa.

[0027] One embodiment can be configured such that at least in part of the area, the at least one stop element moves synchronously with the corresponding actuating element to be repositioned in the opposite direction of the transport direction.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the at least one stop element is designed to be advanced towards the pushing element to be rotated in position. Thus, the pushing element does not rotate about its longitudinal axis during each return stroke. Instead, the at least one stop element for causing rotation is advanced only within the framework of a continuous production operation when different articles need to be processed or when other contact surfaces need to be abutted as back abutment surfaces within the framework of a production change, in order to cause the corresponding pushing element to rotate.

[0029] By transferring the pushing element to different working positions, different articles can be processed in sequence without stopping production due to the replacement of format parts. In this way, a very flexible production mode can be achieved, because the articles no longer need to pass through the transport section in a fixed order, but can flexibly respond to changes in the order of the articles.

[0030] In this context, one embodiment can be arranged such that the transport section is assigned sensors for the arriving articles. The data about the articles detected by the sensors is transmitted to the control device of the transport section or a control device operatively connected to the transport section, which evaluates the data and controls at least one stop element when there is a change in the articles or products delivered, in order to bring the corresponding pushing element to the required working position.

[0031] An alternative embodiment can be arranged such that the rotation of the pushing element about its longitudinal axis is caused by a drive device, which is constituted, for example, by a servo motor arranged at the longitudinal axis designed as the axis of rotation. Optionally, such a servo motor can also be coupled to the axis of rotation via a transmission, for example, via a traction device transmission.

[0032] Another alternative embodiment can be arranged such that the rotation of the pushing element about its longitudinal axis is caused by a stationary or mobile robot, or the rotation is carried out manually by an operator.

[0033] Another alternative embodiment can be arranged such that the pushing element can be moved from a first working position to a second working position by rotation about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport plane, and vice versa. In this embodiment, it can be meaningful for this to be carried out manually by an operator who removes the pushing element from the transport section, rotates it and puts it back again. In this case, although the factor of time advantage is lost, the number of format parts to be stocked is reduced, because two or more different production operations can be achieved with only one pushing element in this variant. Alternatively, it can be arranged that there is a stationary or mobile robot which rotates the pushing element about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport plane.

[0034] The robot can in particular be part of the transport section, or the robot can be at least temporarily assigned to the transport section. The robot is preferably designed to set at least two different working positions of at least one pushing element, in particular based on information predefined by a control device of the transport section or by a control device assigned to or operatively connected with the transport section.

[0035] To handle different articles, according to one embodiment, at least two different contact areas of the pushing element have different profiles.

[0036] For example, the different profiles can be adapted to different article sizes or article diameters, so that for example the first contact area has a profile for a first article with a first diameter, while the second contact area has a profile for a second article with a smaller second diameter.

[0037] It can also be provided that, for example, the first contact area is designed to abut against the back of the article in order to subsequently bring the articles into a so-called nested or staggered arrangement. Furthermore, the second contact area can be designed to abut against the back of the articles which are in a spaced-apart arrangement or which are transported in such a way that no subsequent nested arrangement (compact sphere packing) is formed.

[0038] Another embodiment can be provided such that different contact areas of the pushing element are designed to abut against the back of articles of different shapes. For example, the first contact area can be designed to abut against the back of first articles in the form of bottles provided with gripping grooves, while the second contact area is for example arranged to abut against the back of second articles which are cylindrical and for example consist of cans.

[0039] Another embodiment can be provided such that different contact areas of the pushing element are designed to abut against the back of the articles at respective different heights above the transport surface.

[0040] The corresponding pushing element includes a first contact area which, in a first working position, provides a back abutment area for the article at a first height. The pushing element also includes a second contact area and, if appropriate, other contact areas. In a second working position, the second contact area provides a back abutment area for the article at a second height different from the first height.

[0041] With such a pushing element, it is possible, for example, to reliably guide articles of different heights through the transport section. For example, if the pushing element acts in the region of the gripping recess of a bottle, then it is possible, for example, to move a small 0.5-litre PET bottle through the transport section in a first working position with such a pushing element (in which a first contact region is arranged at a first height). If the pushing element is, conversely, in a second working position, in which a second contact region is ready to abut against the rear side of the article at a higher second height, then it is possible, for example, to reliably move a larger 1.0-litre or 1.5-litre PET bottle through the transport section.

[0042] These contact regions arranged at different heights are in this case specifically adapted to the respective centre of gravity of articles of different sizes or different heights.

[0043] A method for transporting at least two articles arranged side by side in the transport direction is further described. In this case, at least two articles arranged side by side are moved in the transport direction past a transport surface via at least one pushing element. The pushing element abuts against the rear sides of the at least two articles arranged side by side and thus pushes these articles in the transport direction.

[0044] It is provided that the pushing element comprises at least two different contact regions for these articles, with one of these contact regions abutting against the rear side of the article during transport.

[0045] Which of the at least two contact regions abuts against the rear side of the article here depends in particular on the article being transported each time.

[0046] Preferably, it is provided that the control device brings the pushing element to a specific working position, in which the respective contact region of the pushing element corresponding to the abutment surface of the article forms an abutment region for the rear side of the article.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the method, the contact region abutting against the article is selected based on the defined article characteristics. In particular, the contact region abutting against the article is selected based on this information about the article characteristics, which is stored in or assigned to the control device of the transport section, or which can be retrieved by such a control device from a database.

[0048] In this method, it can be provided that the control device controls the setting of at least one pushing element during a production changeover and sets a working position of the pushing element, where in a first working position, a first contact region forms an abutment region for the rear side of a first article, and where in a second working position, a second contact region forms an abutment region for the rear side of a second article.

[0049] Alternatively or additionally, the method can be configured such that the control device causes at least one pushing element to switch positions during successive production operations, so that in a first working position, the first contact area forms a back abutment area for a first article, and so that in a second working position, the second contact area forms a back abutment area for a second article. Thus, different articles, such as bales, can be transported in the same production run by the pushing elements set up differently, via the transport section.

[0050] Preferably, different working positions are set by rotation of the pushing element, as has been described in detail above.

[0051] An advantage of the transport section or method according to the present invention is that since each pushing element can handle at least two or even several different article formats depending on the working position it occupies, the number of format parts to be stocked is reduced.

[0052] The above transport section can preferably be part of a beverage packaging device. Such a beverage packaging device includes, for example, a wet end having can and / or bottle ejectors, a filling module, a closing module assigned to the filling module, and optionally a labeling module. A pasteurizer can be arranged between the filling module and the labeling module or other subsequent processing modules.

[0053] It is also conceivable that the beverage packaging device includes, for example, a blow molding module for manufacturing PET bottles, which are then filled, sealed, and labeled.

[0054] Subsequently, the beverages contained in cans or bottles are combined into packaging units in a packaging device or a so-called production module, or produced as general cargo in the form of bales.

[0055] For example, several articles are assembled into article groups, which are wrapped with shrink film and combined into shrink bales by applying a shrinking medium.

[0056] These articles are preferably beverage containers, especially bottles made of PET or other suitable plastics or glass. Preferably, these articles can also consist of cans made of materials such as plastics, glass, aluminum, or other metals.

[0057] Alternatively, several articles are assembled into article groups and combined into strapped bales by at least one strapping band. It can further be configured such that several articles are arranged within an outer packaging, such as within a cardboard box, a basket, on a pallet, or a similar packaging. General cargo can also consist, for example, of glued bales, or of article groups combined using upper packaging cutouts. Even a single article can constitute general cargo, for example, a single beverage container, can, bottle, etc. can represent general cargo.

[0058] The packaging units are then assembled in a processing module designed as a grouping or layering module into layers that can be stacked on a pallet, and these layers are stacked on the pallet in a pallet stacking device.

[0059] Within the beverage packaging equipment, articles and packaging units or general cargo are transported from one processing module to the next via a suitable transport system, optionally equipped with a suitable buffer system. In particular, the articles are moved in sections via the transport section according to the present utility model within the beverage packaging equipment.

[0060] The components of the beverage packaging equipment are only examples. Other configurations including the transport section described within the framework of this application are also included in this application.

[0061] In this regard, it should be explicitly mentioned that all aspects and implementation variants related to the device of the present utility model equally relate to or may be partial aspects of the described method. Thus, if at a certain point in the description of the device of the present utility model certain aspects and / or connections and / or effects are mentioned, the same applies to the described method. In the opposite way, the same applies, and thus all aspects and implementation variants related to the described method also equally relate to or may be partial aspects of the device according to the present utility model. Therefore, if at any point in the description of the method certain aspects and / or interrelationships and / or effects are mentioned, this equally applies to the device of the present utility model. Description of the Drawings

[0062] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present utility model and their advantages will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The dimensional ratios of individual elements to each other in the drawings do not always correspond to the actual dimensional ratios, because some shapes are represented in a simplified manner, and other shapes are represented enlarged compared to other elements for better illustration.

[0063] Figure 1 A first embodiment of the transport section according to the present utility model is shown.

[0064] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 the first working position of the pushing element of the transport section according to

[0065] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 the second working position of the pushing element of the transport section according to

[0066] Figure 4 A cross-section through the pushing element is shown, which is designed as a push rod with two contact areas.

[0067] Figure 5Shows a cross-section through a pushing element designed as a push rod with three contact areas.

[0068] Figure 6 Shows a cross-section through a pushing element designed as a push rod with four contact areas.

[0069] Figure 7 Shows a second embodiment of the transport section with its pushing element arranged in the first working position.

[0070] Figure 8 Shows according to Figure 7 the transport section, with its pushing element arranged in the second working position.

[0071] Figure 9 Shows a third embodiment of the transport section with its pushing element arranged in the first working position.

[0072] Figure 10 Shows according to Figure 9 the transport section, with its pushing element arranged in the second working position.

[0073] Figure 11 Shows a fourth embodiment of the transport section. Detailed implementation

[0074] The same elements or elements with the same functions in the present utility model are generally denoted by the same reference numerals. Additionally, for clarity, only the reference numerals necessary for the description of the corresponding drawing are depicted in a single drawing. The embodiments shown are merely examples of the design of the present utility model and do not represent conclusive limitations.

[0075] The embodiments, examples, and variations of the preceding paragraphs or the following descriptions and drawings, including their various views or corresponding individual features, can be used independently of each other or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment apply to all embodiments, unless these features are contradictory.

[0076] Figure 1 A highly schematic diagram shows a first embodiment of the transport section 1 according to the present utility model. Figure 2 A highly schematic diagram shows according to Figure 1 the first working position 11 of the pushing element 15 designed as a push rod 3 of the transport section 1. Figure 3 An equally highly schematic diagram shows according to Figure 1 the second working position 12 of the push rod 3 of the transport section 1.

[0077] The transport section 1 is used to transport at least items 20 arranged side by side in the transport direction 50 (seeFigure 2 and 3 )。

[0078] The transport section 1 includes a transport surface 2 and at least one push rod 3 which is designed to abut against the back of at least two items 20 arranged side by side and to move the at least two items 20 arranged side by side in the transport direction 50.

[0079] The transport surface 2 is formed, for example, by a push plate 14 on which the item 20 is pushed and slid in the transport direction 50 by a pushing element 15.

[0080] In this case, it is provided that the push rod 3 includes at least two different contact areas 4 for the item 20. The first contact area 5 is provided for the first item 21, in particular for the first item 21 having a first diameter 22. The second contact area 6 is provided for the second item 23, in particular for the second item 23 having a second diameter 24.

[0081] Figure 2 The first working position 11 of the push rod 3 of the transport section 1 is shown, in which, in the first working position 11, the first contact area 5 of the push rod 3 is arranged in front of the second contact area 6 in the transport direction 50. In this case, the first contact area 5 forms a back abutment area 7 for the first item 21.

[0082] Figure 3 The second working position 12 of the push rod 3 of the transport section 1 is shown, in which, in the second working position 12, the second contact area 6 of the push rod 3 is arranged in front of the first contact area 5 in the transport direction 50. In this case, the second contact area 6 forms a back abutment area 7 for the second item 23.

[0083] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 it is provided that the push rod has a longitudinal axis 8 and the push rod is designed to be rotatably supported about the longitudinal axis 8, which is shown by the direction arrow indicating rotation in Figure 1 .

[0084] By rotating the push rod 3 about the longitudinal axis 8, the push rod 3 can be moved from the first working position 11 (as shown in Figure 1 and 2 ) into the second working position 12 (as shown in Figure 3 ), and vice versa.

[0085] If the push rod 2 includes two differently designed contact areas 4, it is particularly provided that the push rod 3 can be moved from the first working position 11 into the second working position 12 by a 180-degree rotation, and vice versa.

[0086] Figure 4The schematic diagram shows a cross-section through the push rod 3-1, which has two contact areas 4 as in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 , namely in particular a first contact area 5 and a second contact area 6. By rotating (approximately) 180° about the longitudinal axis 8, the push rod 3-1 can be brought into two different working positions 11, 12 (see Figure 2 and 3 ).

[0087] Figure 5 The schematic diagram shows a cross-section through the push rod 3-2, which has three different contact areas 4, in particular a first contact area 5, a second contact area 6 and a third contact area 9. By rotating (approximately) 120° about the longitudinal axis 8, this push rod 3-2 can be brought into three different working positions.

[0088] Figure 6 The schematic diagram shows a cross-section through the push rod 3-3, which has four different contact areas 4, in particular a first contact area 5, a second contact area 6, a third contact area 9 and a fourth contact area 10. By rotating (approximately) 90° about the longitudinal axis 8, this push rod 3-3 can be brought into four different working positions.

[0089] One embodiment can be arranged such that the rotation of the push rod 3 is caused by a drive device 13, which is constituted, for example, by a servo motor 31 arranged at the longitudinal axis 8 designed as the rotation axis of the push rod 3, as Figure 1 exemplarily shown in

[0090] An electric motor type direct drive device is particularly suitable for use as such a servo motor 31, but this does not exclude other drive devices selected by professionals in the field according to suitability, such as a hydraulic direct drive device or a drive device with a transmission device or a traction device speed increasing and decreasing device, etc.

[0091] Another embodiment can be arranged such that the rotation of the push rod 3 about the longitudinal axis 8 is caused by a mobile or fixed robot (not shown).

[0092] Another embodiment not shown can be arranged such that the push rod 3 can be brought into different working positions by rotating about a rotation axis 8 perpendicular to the transport surface 3. In this embodiment, it can be meaningful for this to be performed manually by a person who takes out the push rod 3 from the transport part 1, rotates it and puts it back into the rotated position. In this case, although the factor of time advantage is lost, the format parts to be stocked are reduced, because in this variant only one single pushing element can be used to achieve two or more different production operations.

[0093] Alternatively, it can be arranged that the pusher 3 is caused to rotate about a rotation axis 8 perpendicular to the transport surface 3 by a mobile or stationary robot (not shown).

[0094] Thus, the robot can be an integral part of the transport section 1, or the robot can be assigned to the transport section 1 at least temporarily. The robot is preferably designed to assume at least two different working positions of at least one pushing element, in particular based on information which is predetermined by a control device of the transport section (not shown, see Figure 11 ), or by a control device assigned to the transport section.

[0095] Figure 7 The schematic side view of Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of the transport section 1, in which the pushing element 15 is arranged in the first working position 11. Figure 7 The schematic side view of

[0096] Figure 7 and 8 show that the different contact areas 5 and 6 can also be designed such that, by means of a suitable pushing element 15, it is possible to process articles 20 having different diameters in the longitudinal extension direction, and also articles 20 having different shapes, not only in the respective working positions 11 or 12. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first contact area 5 is provided for first articles 21 which are in the form of bottles 25 provided with gripping grooves (see Figure 7 ), while the second contact area 6 is provided for second articles 23 which are cylindrical and are formed, for example, by cans 26 (see Figure 8 ).

[0097] As described in connection with Figure 2 and Figure 3 , in this case, the pushing element 15 is also preferably transferred from the first working position 11 shown in Figure 7 to the second working position 12 shown in Figure 8 by rotation about its longitudinal axis 8, and vice versa.

[0098] Figure 9 The schematic side view of Figure 10 shows a third embodiment of the transport section 1, in which the pushing element 15 is arranged in the first working position 11. Figure 9 The schematic side view of

[0099] In the third embodiment shown here ( Figure 9 and 10)In [description], the contact regions 5 and 6 are designed such that the contact regions 5, 6 each constituting the back contact region 7 are arranged at different heights h above the transport surface 2.

[0100] For example, in the first working position 11, the first contact region 5 provides the back contact region 7 at the first height h1, so that in particular, the pushing element 15 can be used to process the first articles 21 at the first working position 11, and these first articles 21 have the first height 27. Further, in the second working position 12, the second contact region 6 provides the back contact region 7 at the second height h2, so that in particular, the pushing element 15 can be used to process the second articles 23 at the second working position 12, and these second articles 23 have the second height 28.

[0101] As combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 described, the pushing element 15 is preferably transferred from the first working position 11 shown in Figure 9 to the second working position 12 shown in Figure 10 by rotating around its longitudinal axis 8, and vice versa.

[0102] Figure 11 The schematic side view of [figure] shows a fourth embodiment of the transport section 1, in which the pushing element 15 can be converted in position via at least one stop element 17, so that it can be transferred to different working positions 11, 12.

[0103] Several pushing elements 15 are arranged, for example, between two surrounding parallel traction devices, which are constituted by, for example, a surrounding drive chain 16. The pushing elements 15 arranged in the region of the downstream section 18 each abut against the back of the article 20 and thus move these articles in the transport direction 50.

[0104] The position conversion of the pushing element 15 is preferably carried out when the pushing element 15 returns; in particular, the position conversion of the pushing element 15 is carried out in the region of the upstream section 19 of the drive chain 16.

[0105] The stop element 17 is designed to rotate the pushing element 15 around its longitudinal axis 8, so as to transfer the pushing element from the first working position 11 to the second working position 12, or vice versa. In Figure 11 the process of the position conversion of the pushing element 15 is exemplarily shown, and this position conversion is achieved by the stop element 17, which is designed to move together with the pushing element 15 in the opposite direction 51 of the transport direction 50.

[0106] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that several pushing elements 15 are preferably arranged between the drive chains 16 respectively.

[0107] It is preferably provided that the stop elements 17 are designed to be pushable and that they act on the corresponding push elements 15 only when different objects 20 need to be processed within the framework of a continuous production operation and thus the contact areas need to be changed.

[0108] exist Figure 11 2 shows by way of example that, in the second working position 12, six groups of objects 23 are moved in the transport direction 50 by means of a push element 15, each group of objects being arranged in two rows of three. The second objects 23 may be, for example, cans 26. Preferably, the cans 26 are held together by an outer packaging (not shown), such as a strapping tape, an upper packaging cutout designed as a tote box, a shrink film or the like.

[0109] In contrast, in the first working position 11, two first objects 21 arranged side by side are moved in the transport direction 50 by means of a push element 15. The first objects 21 are, for example, bottles 25 provided with gripping recesses. The bottles 25 are preferably held together by an outer packaging (not shown), for example a strapping tape, an upper packaging cutout designed as a tote box, or the like.

[0110] By transferring the push element 15 to different working positions 11, 12, different articles 20 can be processed in sequence without stopping production for changing the format components. This allows a very flexible production mode to be achieved, because the articles 20 no longer need to pass through the transport section 1 in a fixed order, but can flexibly respond to changes in the order of the articles 20.

[0111] For example, it can be provided that a sensor 30 for the arriving articles 20 is arranged in front of the transport section 1. The data about the articles 20 detected by the sensor 30 are transmitted to a control device 35 operatively connected to the transport section 1, which evaluates the data and controls at least one stop element 17 when the delivered articles 20 or products change, so as to bring the corresponding push element 15 to the desired working position 11 or 12.

[0112] At this point, the last indication of the description of the implementation variants of the present utility model is given, where these description paragraphs respectively refer to the attached drawings. When "schematic" figures and views are generally mentioned in the context of the figures and their descriptions, this in no way means that the illustrations and their descriptions are considered subordinate in the disclosure of the present utility model. A person skilled in the art is fully capable of obtaining sufficient information from the schematically and abstractly drawn illustrations, which helps him understand the present utility model in terms of the technical solutions of the transport part 1, the pushing element 3 and its contact areas 4, 5, 6 and their interactions, without being affected in any way in understanding, for example, due to the drawn and possibly not fully to-scale dimensional relationships. Therefore, these drawings enable a person skilled in the art as a reader to better understand the idea of the present utility model put forward in a more general and / or more abstract way in the claims and the general part of the description, by means of the implementation manner of the specific explanation of the method of the present utility model and the functional principle of the specific explanation of the device of the present utility model, that is, the transport part 1, the pushing element 3 and its contact areas 4, 5, 6 and their interactions.

[0113] List of reference numerals

[0114] 1 Transport part

[0115] 2 Transport surface

[0116] 3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 Pushing rod

[0117] 4 Contact area

[0118] 5 First contact area

[0119] 6 Second contact area

[0120] 7 Back abutment area

[0121] 8 Longitudinal axis

[0122] 9 Third contact area

[0123] 10 Fourth contact area

[0124] 11 First working position

[0125] 12 Second working position

[0126] 13 Driving device

[0127] 14 Cover plate

[0128] 15 Pushing element

[0129] 16 Pushing element drive chain

[0130] 17 Stopping element

[0131] 18 Downward section

[0132] 19 Upward section

[0133] 20 Article

[0134] 21 First article

[0135] 22 First diameter

[0136] 23 Second article

[0137] 24 Second diameter

[0138] 25 Bottle with a gripping groove

[0139] 26 Jar

[0140] 27 First height

[0141] 28 Second height

[0142] 30 Sensor

[0143] 31 Servo motor

[0144] 35 Control device

[0145] 50 Transport direction

[0146] 51 Opposite direction of the transport direction

[0147] h Height

[0148] h1 First height

[0149] h2 Second height.

Claims

1. A transport section (1) for transporting at least two articles (20) arranged side by side in a transport direction (50), the transport section (1) comprising a transport surface (2) and at least one pushing element (15), the pushing element (15) being designed to abut against the rear faces of the at least two articles (20) arranged side by side and to move the at least two articles (20) arranged side by side in the transport direction (50), and the pushing element (15) comprising at least two different contact areas (4) for the articles (20).

2. The transport section (1) according to claim 1, wherein in a first working position (11), a first contact area (5) of the pushing element (15) forms a rear face abutment area (7) for a first article (20), and wherein in a second working position (12), a second contact area (6) forms a rear face abutment area (7) for a second article (20).

3. The transport section (1) according to claim 2, wherein the pushing element (15) has a longitudinal axis (8) and the pushing element is designed to be rotatably supported about the longitudinal axis (8), wherein the pushing element (15) can be moved from the first working position (11) into the second working position (12) by rotation about its longitudinal axis (8), or wherein the pushing element (15) can be moved from the second working position (12) into the first working position (11) by rotation about its longitudinal axis (8).

4. The transport section (1) according to claim 3, wherein the transport section (1) comprises at least one stop element (17), the at least one stop element (17) being designed to cause rotation of the pushing element (15).

5. The transport section (1) according to claim 4, wherein the transport section (1) comprises at least one stop element (17), the at least one stop element (17) being designed to be pushable.

6. The transport section (1) according to claim 3, wherein a drive device (13) is assigned to the pushing element (15), the drive device (13) being designed to cause rotation of the pushing element (15).

7. The transport section (1) according to claim 2, wherein the pushing element (15) can be moved from the first working position (11) into the second working position (12) by rotation about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport surface (2), or wherein the pushing element (15) can be moved from the second working position (12) into the first working position (11) by rotation about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport surface (2).

8. The transport section (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the first contact area (5) is arranged at a first height (h1) above the transport surface (2) in the first working position (11), and wherein the second contact area (6) is arranged at a second height (h2) above the transport surface (2) in the second working position (12), where the second height (h2) is different from the first height (h1).

9. The transport section (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the at least two contact areas (4) has a different profile.

10. The transport section (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the transport section (1) comprises a robot, or wherein a robot is assigned to the transport section (1), the robot being designed to set the at least two different working positions (11, 12) of the pushing element (15).

11. The transport section (1) according to claim 10, wherein the robot is designed to set the at least two different working positions (11, 12) of the pushing element (15) based on information predefined by the control device (35) of the transport section or by a control device (35) assigned to the transport section (1).

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