Device and method for transporting a large number of articles

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (2) and a method for transporting a plurality of articles (40), in particular for transporting a plurality of beverage containers. The device (10) comprises at least one first horizontal conveying section (3) for feeding the articles (40) in a mass flow in a conveying direction (TR). Furthermore, the device (10) comprises at least one second horizontal conveying section downstream of the first horizontal conveying section (3) for conveying the articles in one or more rows. The second horizontal conveying area comprises at least two guide elements (21) aligned parallel to the transport direction (TR) of the articles (40), which guide elements (21) are designed to guide the articles (40) transported between the guide elements (21) laterally via the second horizontal conveying area. The guide elements (21) are adjustable, allowing the distance between them to be set. Each guide element (21) is assigned its own adjustment drive (24).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for transporting a plurality of articles and a corresponding method for transporting a plurality of articles.

[0002] When transporting articles between consecutive processing devices, particularly in the infeed area of ​​packaging machines or similar devices, the articles or containers are usually transported in a so-called mass flow and divided into individual aisles before being transferred to a packaging machine. When referring to mass flow in this context, this refers to the largely random and / or ungrouped conveyance of a large number of articles on a conveyor belt or similar device, with the width of the conveyor belt being limited by at least two lateral limiting guides, so-called railing guides, parallel to the direction of travel of the articles.

[0003] Before further processing, the articles are then pushed into a number of parallel aisles, in which the articles are usually moved in a single row between guide elements.

[0004] Patent EP 1 507 722 B describes an adjustment device for guide rails of a transport device. The guide rails are arranged on a guide rod. In particular, several parallel guide rails aligned longitudinally to the transport direction are arranged on the guide rod so that they can be displaced transversely to one another. With the exception of the central guide rail, these guide rails are coupled to one another in terms of movement, so that during an adjustment, all aisles are adjusted together in the same way.

[0005] The published patent application WO 2020 / 020 493 A1 also describes a transport device with guide elements that are adjustable relative to one another, in particular transversely to the transport direction. In particular, it is provided that the guide elements are attached via clamping elements to cross rails arranged above the guide elements, transversely to the transport direction.

[0006] The published patent application DE 10 2008 039 970 A1 describes a transport device in which different aisle widths can be set simultaneously. For this purpose, the transport device provides at least one adjusting means with which the respective widths of the individual aisles can be adjusted transversely to a transport direction of the transport device. Preferably, the widths of the individual aisles and / or the widths of the aisle groups are continuously adjustable with the adjusting means. For this purpose, the adjusting means can, for example, comprise shafts, each with a plurality of spindles. The spindles are arranged on the shafts such that they are located between the respective aisle groups. In particular, the spindles can each consist of two counter-rotating sections. By rotating all spindles of a respective shaft in opposite directions, the widths of the respective aisle groups are reduced or increased.The widths of the lane groups of the respective shafts are uniformly the same. If this principle is applied to all lane groups with their respective shafts, the result is ultimately different widths of individual lanes within each group.

[0007] The mechanically coupled adjustment units known from the prior art allow coordinated, simultaneous adjustment of all aisles, whereby in some designs, different aisle widths can also be created. The disadvantage is that the design of such adjustment units is usually very complex and therefore expensive.

[0008] One object of the present invention is to improve the adjustment options for guide elements, especially for guide rails. In particular, the technical complexity for adjusting the guide elements should be reduced. Furthermore, the automation or automatability of the adjustment should be improved.

[0009] The above object is achieved by a device and a method for transporting a plurality of articles comprising the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0010] To achieve the above object, the invention proposes a device for transporting a plurality of articles. Furthermore, the invention proposes a method for transporting a plurality of articles.

[0011] The articles are preferably sealed containers containing liquid or pasty products, in particular containers made of plastic, glass, or metal. They are particularly preferred as beverage containers in the form of bottles or cans.

[0012] However, the items can also be finished packaging units in which several beverage containers are combined in an outer packaging. The outer packaging can, for example, consist of at least one strap, a shrink wrap, a cardboard outer packaging, a top-loading carton packaging, a so-called basket, or similar.

[0013] The device, which is also referred to below as a transport device, comprises at least one first horizontal conveyor area for feeding the articles in an ordered or disordered mass flow in a transport direction.

[0014] Furthermore, the transport device comprises at least one second horizontal conveying area arranged downstream of the first horizontal conveying area for conveying the articles within so-called aisles.

[0015] The second horizontal conveying area can preferably be used for single or multi-row conveying of the articles.

[0016] The second horizontal conveying area can preferably be directly connected to the first horizontal conveying area. However, in some embodiments, it may be advantageous if another area is arranged between the first horizontal conveying area and the second horizontal conveying area, for example, another horizontal conveying area, a buffer area, or similar.

[0017] The first horizontal conveying area can comprise a first horizontal conveying device, and the second horizontal conveying area can comprise a second horizontal conveying device. The horizontal conveying devices can each be formed by a conveyor belt or similar device suitable for continuous container transport in the transport direction. Alternatively, a single conveyor belt can be provided that extends over the first horizontal conveying area and the second horizontal conveying area. Alternatively, several conveyor belts can be provided, arranged parallel to one another, or together.

[0018] The second horizontal conveying area comprises at least two guide elements aligned parallel to the transport direction of the articles, which are designed to laterally guide the articles transported between the guide elements in the second horizontal conveying area. Particularly preferably, the second horizontal conveying area comprises a plurality of guide elements aligned parallel to the transport direction of the articles. In particular, a so-called aisle, transport aisle or transport track is formed between each two adjacent guide elements. The term aisle refers in particular to a laterally delimited transport track on the horizontal conveying device of the second horizontal conveying area, within which transport track the articles are moved individually in a row one after the other or within which transport track a few articles are moved partly next to each other and partly one after the other in the transport direction.

[0019] The guide elements that separate the individual aisles from each other are also referred to as aisle plates. The aisle plates are preferably arranged suspended above the horizontal conveyor device of the second horizontal conveyor area, ideally arranged essentially parallel to each other.

[0020] The guide elements are designed to be adjustable so that the width of the aisles can be adapted to a changing width or size of the articles during a product change. Such adjustability may be necessary, in particular, if the articles to be processed subsequently may have varying diameters.

[0021] It is intended that each guide element be assigned its own actuator in the form of an adjustment drive. A servo motor or other suitable drive can be used as a suitable actuator, for example.

[0022] As described above, it is known from the prior art that the lane plates are mechanically coupled to one another and thus adjusted together. In contrast, the invention provides that the guide elements of the transport device are mechanically decoupled from one another and can thus be adjusted individually. In particular, the positioning of the guide elements can be individually adjusted orthogonally to the transport direction. Of course, individual positioning is only possible within a certain range, since a single guide element can only be moved within the area between two adjacent guide elements.

[0023] In the following, the combination of a guide element with the drive individually assigned to it is referred to as an adjustment element.

[0024] One embodiment provides for the transport device to include a control unit. Alternatively or additionally, the transport device can also be connected to a machine control system of a container processing plant or similar, in which the transport device forms a subsection.

[0025] The control unit or the machine control system comprises at least one first operating program containing control commands for individually controlling and adjusting each adjustment element. In particular, the control unit or the machine control system comprises a first operating program containing control commands for individually controlling and adjusting the respective drive of an adjustment element independently of the at least one other drive of another adjustment element or independently of the other adjustment elements.

[0026] Preferably, the control unit or the machine control system comprises a plurality of work programs containing product-specific control commands for individually controlling and adjusting the adjustment elements. The plurality of work programs are preferably each tailored to a specific article or to different specific articles.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, the control unit or the machine controller can be configured to retrieve additional work programs from a cloud storage, a central database, or similar. In particular, the control unit or the machine controller can thus also access information about other systems stored in the cloud storage, the central database, or similar.

[0028] It can also be provided that - as described in more detail below - the control unit or the machine control is designed to transmit data and / or information to the cloud storage or the central database and / or to store it there.

[0029] Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can comprise at least one second operating program containing control commands for the electronically coupled, synchronous control and adjustment of all adjustment elements. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can retrieve at least one second operating program from a cloud storage, a central database, or similar.

[0030] One embodiment of the transport device comprises at least one first sensor, which is arranged upstream of the second horizontal conveying area in the transport direction. For example, the first sensor can be arranged in the first horizontal conveying area.

[0031] The first sensor records information on the properties of the items fed into the first horizontal conveyor area and transmits the recorded information to the control unit or machine control system. This can include, for example, data on the size and / or shape and / or other physical parameters of the items.

[0032] Based on the data transmitted by the first sensor, the control unit or machine controller selects a suitable work program from its internal memory or retrieves a corresponding work program from cloud storage or the central database. The adjustment elements are individually controlled and adjusted according to the work instructions stored in the first work program.

[0033] In this case, it can be provided that all adjustment elements for forming the aisles are set at the same distance from one another, corresponding to the width of the articles being fed in. However, it can also be provided that aisles of different widths are created by appropriately adjusting the adjustment elements. Another embodiment can also provide for a smaller number of aisles to be formed by appropriately arranging some of the inner adjustment elements and arranging the unused adjustment elements laterally at the edge of the transport path formed by the horizontal conveyor.

[0034] The setting of different aisle widths may be desired, for example, when mixed containers are formed from different articles, wherein at least two inlets with different articles are provided, which articles are subsequently pushed into the aisles of the second horizontal conveying area of ​​the transport device, also referred to as the aisle area.

[0035] An embodiment of the transport device comprises at least one second sensor which is arranged in the second horizontal conveying area and which is preferably designed to detect incorrect settings of the adjusting elements.

[0036] For example, the second sensor could be a camera or similar device that detects when the items are not adequately guided between the guide elements due to an aisle width that is too large. The sensor can also detect when the aisle width is too narrow, slowing down the item transport due to the items tilting on the guide elements.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the second sensor can be designed, for example, as a contact sensor or the like integrated into one or more guide elements.

[0038] One embodiment of the second sensor determines position data of the guide elements after the product-dependent adjustment and transmits this position data to the control unit or the machine control system. The control unit compares the determined actual position data with the target position data stored in the control unit or the machine control system. If a deviation is detected, the control unit or the machine control system initiates a corresponding corrective adjustment of the adjustment elements.

[0039] In particular, it is intended that the control unit or the machine control system specifically controls an incorrectly positioned adjustment element to correct the incorrect positioning. If necessary, the control unit specifically controls several adjustment elements simultaneously or sequentially to make the necessary corrections.

[0040] According to a further embodiment, the transport device alternatively or additionally comprises at least one third sensor. Like the second sensor, this sensor is assigned to the second horizontal conveyor area. The third sensor is designed to monitor the article transport within the second horizontal conveyor area. For example, the third sensor is formed by a camera with image recognition. Alternatively, the third sensor can also be formed by a speed sensor that measures the transport speed of individual articles within the aisles.

[0041] Based on the sensor-transmitted data, the control unit or machine control system detects disruptions in the article transport within the second horizontal conveyor area. For example, the third sensor can also measure back pressure acting on the articles guided in the aisles.

[0042] Alternatively or additionally, a fourth sensor arranged in the first horizontal conveyor area can measure a back pressure acting on the articles fed in the mass flow.

[0043] In both cases of dynamic pressure measurement, the adjustment elements can be adjusted based on the determined dynamic pressure to reduce the dynamic pressure at the corresponding location. Excessive dynamic pressure in the first horizontal conveyor section can indicate that the distance between the guide elements in the second horizontal conveyor section is too small. If the aisle width is too narrow, the items cannot be pushed into the aisles and thus accumulate in front of the second horizontal conveyor section.

[0044] Excessive back pressure in the second horizontal conveyor section can also indicate insufficient spacing between the guide elements. The items should be guided between the guide elements with as little or no friction as possible, as friction between the items and the guide elements due to insufficient spacing between the guide elements leads to a reduction in the speed of the items. This causes the items to back up within the aisles, which, after a time delay, leads to a back-up in the first horizontal conveyor section.

[0045] If excessive back pressure is detected in the first horizontal conveying area and / or in the second horizontal conveying area, at least one adjusting element is controlled in such a way that the respective width of the aisle delimited by the guide element of the adjusting element is at least slightly increased, so that there is a larger tolerance with regard to the article width.

[0046] Disruptions in the infeed to the second horizontal conveyor area or in the second horizontal conveyor area can also be caused by items that have fallen over or become jammed. The control unit or machine control system can contain instructions on how to handle such article blockages or similar. With the help of suitable sensors, malfunctions are detected, and by controlling individual adjustment elements, aisles can be widened or narrowed, at least temporarily, to correct errors and clear blockages.

[0047] If necessary, appropriate removal devices or similar devices can be activated to remove a blocked article from the aisle-guided second horizontal conveyor area and thus resolve the blockage so that the transport can continue unhindered after appropriate correction by adjusting the position of at least one adjusting element.

[0048] With its sensor-supported system of individually adjustable adjustment elements, the transport device is capable of autonomously detecting and correcting errors and malfunctions in the first horizontal conveyor section and / or the second horizontal conveyor section. The individual adjustment elements react to malfunctions within the transport device – preferably under the control of the control unit or the machine control system. The situation is regulated and corrected according to a program stored in the control unit or machine control system or retrieved from a cloud storage or a central database. If, for example, jammed articles are detected within the aisles in the second horizontal conveyor section, the affected guide elements open by correcting the positioning of the adjustment elements to resolve the malfunction.The control unit or machine control can respond better over time due to the integrated machine learning described below.

[0049] One embodiment provides that the control unit or the machine control system is designed as a self-learning system. In particular, the sensor-determined data is used to enrich and / or supplement the data collected by the control unit or the machine control system and / or the data retrieved from a cloud storage system with information on the actual state of the transport device, and thus to control and / or regulate the transport device taking into account the information thus utilized.

[0050] In this case, it can be provided that the transport device learns continuously and automatically, preferably using tools that rely on artificial intelligence or machine learning.

[0051] Preferably, the control unit or machine control system learns based on adjustments or adjustment movements of the guide elements, particularly in conjunction with predefined or sensor-determined information about the respective product. For example, the control unit or machine control system can independently adapt the work programs for the next product-dependent adjustment based on necessary corrections to the positioning of the guide elements.

[0052] For example, if a certain setting of a defined first distance between two guide elements detects a first number of faults per week in this lane, the setting is changed to a defined second distance. If the number of faults subsequently decreases, the setting is changed again, if necessary, to a third distance until a minimum number of faults per week is reached. If, however, the number of faults increases, the distance is adjusted accordingly.

[0053] Here's a concrete example: for bottles with a capacity of 1.5 liters each, the first lane plate is at a position of 200 mm and the second lane plate at a position of 400 mm. Around 30 faults are detected in this lane per week, primarily due to jammed bottles. The settings are first changed so that the first lane plate is now at a position of 198 mm and the second lane plate at a position of 202 mm. This increases the lane width in the affected lane by a total of four millimeters. If the number now drops to, for example, only 20 jamming occurrences per week, then the position of 197 mm for the first lane plate and the position of 203 mm for the second lane plate may be tried.If the number of jamming occurrences increases to 35 per week, the next setting is to try the 202mm position for the first lane plate and the 198mm position for the second lane plate until the minimum number of jamming occurrences in each week under consideration is found.

[0054] Particularly in connection with access by the control unit or machine control to the cloud storage or a central database, it can be provided that information about the correction adjustment made is transmitted from the control unit back to the cloud storage or central database and stored there. In this context, the work programs stored in the cloud storage or central database can be adjusted accordingly, so that the next time the work program is called up for the same products, the corrective positioning is already taken into account when adjusting the guide elements.

[0055] Furthermore, the cloud storage or central database can also contain or continuously receive information about other systems, which is also taken into account the next time a work program is requested by the control unit. Due to the larger data volume, the system's learning time is shortened, and optimized versions of the work programs can be generated in a shorter time.

[0056] The modular design of the aisle adjustment system, in which each guide element is assigned its own actuator, eliminates the need for mechanical coupling of the guide elements. This saves considerable space within the transport device.

[0057] The standardized modular design of the adjustment elements, consisting of a guide element and actuator, allows them to be pre-assembled cost-effectively or to be retrofitted to existing transport systems with little effort, easily and cost-effectively.

[0058] Furthermore, sensor-assisted automated troubleshooting is possible, especially since each guide element can be individually aligned and positioned.

[0059] In the event of malfunctions in individual adjustments or adjustment ranges, suitable sensors, such as a camera, an inductive sensor, or similar, can be used to precisely determine the number of errors and the number of guide elements causing the malfunction. Furthermore, the guide element causing the malfunction can be precisely identified with minimal effort and corrected accordingly.

[0060] With the system described here, in which the transport areas are designed with aisle guidance within a container handling system, it is possible to have the entire system react automatically to different tolerances of the articles or containers during production by briefly adjusting individual guide elements.

[0061] The ability to move each guide element individually also makes it possible to integrate additional assembly functions, such as a vibrator or similar, into the guide elements or into the adjustment of the guide elements. The vibrator function is particularly suitable for clearing an article jam within the second horizontal conveyor area of ​​the transport device through a vibrating movement.

[0062] With suitable sensors, a corresponding work or adjustment program can be calculated during a product changeover, and at least one guide element can be specifically controlled by controlling the corresponding actuator. The control unit or machine control system can also take information from upstream machines into account. It may be necessary to set different aisle widths, i.e., neighboring aisles with different widths, which can be accomplished quickly and easily using the individual adjustment system according to the invention.

[0063] The transport device according to the invention can be used in various systems in which articles are transported at least partially along aisles. A transport device according to the invention is preferably used within a container processing system and / or a packaging system for beverage containers.

[0064] Such a container processing system, for example, consists of a wet section and a packaging section. A wet section consists of at least the components of a filling module, a closing module, and, if applicable, a labeling module. If the beverages are filled into PET bottles, for example, the wet section can additionally include modules for producing the PET bottles, in particular a heating module for preforms and a stretch blow molding module.

[0065] In the packaging section, the beverages filled into corresponding containers are combined into packaging units. In this case, it can be provided to combine a plurality of beverage containers using at least one strapping system or an upper gripping cardboard packaging or shrink film. Alternatively, it can be provided to arrange a plurality of beverage containers, for example, in a beverage crate or cardboard outer packaging, or similar.

[0066] For example, bottle or can sets are formed in a grouping module, which are then wrapped with shrink film in a film wrapping module. The shrink-wrapped bottle or can sets are fed to a shrinking device. Within the shrinking device, the shrink film is shrinked onto the bottles or cans, producing finished packaging units in the form of shrink packs.

[0067] A carrying handle application module can be provided downstream of the packaging part, which, for easier handling, attaches a carrying handle to the packaging units produced in the packaging part, for example by gluing it to them or welding it to the packaging material, for example with the shrink film.

[0068] The packaging units or shrink-wrapped containers can then be assembled into palletizable layers or unit load layers in a layer-forming module, for example, using suitable gantry robots, tripods, articulated robots, or other suitable equipment. The palletizable layers are fed to a palletizing device and combined into pallet stacks. Within the container handling system and / or a packaging system, the items are transported from one module to the next via suitable transport systems. The transport systems can be equipped with suitable buffer systems if necessary.

[0069] At least two guide elements can be arranged between at least two adjacent lanes, and if necessary also between all adjacent lanes.

[0070] The invention could alternatively or additionally also be used for adjusting transport tracks. Thus, it could also be directed to a device for transporting a plurality of articles, in particular a plurality of beverage containers.

[0071] A suitable device for this purpose comprises at least one first horizontal conveyor section for feeding the articles in a mass flow in one transport direction and at least one second horizontal conveyor section arranged downstream of the first horizontal conveyor section for conveying the articles. The second horizontal conveyor section comprises at least two conveyor belts aligned parallel to the transport direction of the articles. The conveyor belts are designed for the upright transport of the articles transported via the second horizontal conveyor section; preferably, the transport takes place between the above-mentioned guide elements.

[0072] According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the conveyor belts are adjustable so that a distance between the conveyor belts is adjustable.

[0073] Each conveyor belt is assigned its own adjustment drive. By individually adjusting individual conveyor belts, two or more conveyor belts can be run directly next to each other, for example, to transport larger items on the two or more conveyor belts together, for which one conveyor belt would be too narrow.

[0074] Each conveyor belt can also be driven by its own drive to transport the items. Alternatively, all conveyor belts can be driven by a common drive.

[0075] A conveyor belt can comprise a chain, a mat, a link belt, or the like. Additionally, a conveyor belt can be guided by an adjustable guide.

[0076] The adjustment drives for the conveyor belts are preferably arranged below the guide level.

[0077] Conveyor belts not required in a particular production mode can be moved to the edge of the device using the adjustment drive. Maintenance work, etc., can also be performed there.

[0078] It should be expressly stated at this point that all aspects and embodiments explained in connection with the device according to the invention equally relate to, or can be, partial aspects of the method according to the invention. Therefore, if certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned at any point in the description or in the claim definitions for the device according to the invention, this equally applies to the method according to the invention. The same applies in reverse, so that all aspects and embodiments explained in connection with the method according to the invention equally relate to, or can be partial aspects of the device according to the invention.Therefore, if at one point in the description or in the claim definitions for the method according to the invention certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned, this applies equally to the device according to the invention.

[0079] In the following, exemplary embodiments will explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The relative sizes of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the actual sizes, as some shapes are simplified and others are enlarged relative to other elements for better illustration. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a transport line integrated in a container treatment plant. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a transport device. Fig. 3 shows a detail of a transport device.

[0080] Identical reference numerals are used for identical or equivalently functioning elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the invention can be configured and do not constitute an exhaustive limitation.

[0081] The embodiments, examples, and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and figures, including their various views or respective individual features, may be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless the features are incompatible.

[0082] The schematic view of the Fig. Figure 1 shows, by way of example, a first embodiment of a transport device 2 of a container treatment plant 1. Such a container treatment plant 1 comprises, for example, a wet part 18, the wet part 18 comprising at least the components of a filling module and a closing module, as well as, if appropriate, a labeling module. If the beverages are filled into PET bottles, for example, the wet part 18 can additionally comprise modules for producing the PET bottles, in particular a heating module for preforms and a stretch blow molding module.

[0083] The beverages, filled into corresponding containers, are then combined into packaging units in a packaging module 19. For example, bottle or can combinations are formed in a grouping module, which are then wrapped with shrink film in a film-wrapping module. Alternatively, the containers can also be combined into packaging units using strapping, carton grip packaging, or similar. The article combinations wrapped with shrink film are fed to the shrinking device. Within the shrinking device, the shrink film shrinks onto the articles, and finished packaging units in the form of shrink packs are produced.

[0084] A carrying handle application module can be provided downstream of the packaging module 19, for example downstream of the shrinking device, which attaches a carrying handle to packaging units or shrink packages for easier handling, for example by gluing it to them or welding it to the shrink film or similar.

[0085] The packaging units or shrink packs can then be assembled into palletizable layers or unit load layers in a layer-forming module, for example, using suitable gantry robots, tripods, articulated robots, or other suitable equipment. The palletizable layers are fed to a palletizing device and combined into pallet stacks. Within the beverage packaging system, the items are transported from one module to the next via suitable transport systems. These transport systems can be equipped with suitable buffer systems if required.

[0086] The transport device 2 comprises a so-called mass flow area 3 with at least one first horizontal conveyor 14 for feeding the articles in a mass flow in a transport direction TR. For example, previously manufactured and filled beverage bottles or beverage cans are transported in the mass flow area 3.

[0087] The mass flow area 3 forms in particular a first horizontal conveying area.

[0088] Subsequently, the articles or containers (not shown here) are pushed into aisles 6 in a first aisle area 4, which here forms a first transport section 5. The first aisle area 4 comprises at least one second horizontal conveyor 15 adjoining the first horizontal conveyor 14 for transporting the articles. The articles are conveyed in single or multiple rows within the aisles 6. Preferably, the aisles 6 are designed as first wide transport aisles 10, within each of which several articles or containers are moved at least partially next to one another in the transport direction TR.

[0089] The articles are then transferred to a second aisle area 7, in which the articles are pushed into parallel individual aisles 8. This means that the containers are transported in a single row, one behind the other, in each individual aisle 8. The second aisle area 7 comprises, in particular, a third horizontal conveyor 16 arranged in alignment with the second horizontal conveyor 15.

[0090] The first lane area 4 and the second lane area 7 each comprise lane plates 9, which separate the individual lanes 6 and individual lanes 8 from each other. The lane plates 9 are arranged suspended above the respective horizontal conveyor device 15, 16, preferably in a parallel arrangement to each other. The horizontal conveyor devices 15, 16, which are only schematically indicated here, can be formed, for example, by a conveyor belt or similar, which is suitable for continuous container transport in the transport direction TR, which in the graphic representation of the Fig. 2 runs from left to right, after first entering the transport device 2 of the container treatment plant 1 diagonally from the top left and then pointing to the right.

[0091] The articles, now arranged in parallel rows, are then fed via a discharge area 11 for further processing, e.g., the packaging of container groups within a film wrapping module or similar. Preferably, the containers in the discharge area 11 are also guided in individual aisles 12 between aisle plates 13.

[0092] In this case, it can be provided that the articles are transported within the first aisle area 3, the second aisle area 7 and, if applicable, within the subsequent removal area 11 via a common horizontal conveyor device 30.

[0093] In the transport device 2 described here, it is provided that the first aisle area 4 and the second aisle area 7 as well as the discharge area 11 each comprise at least two guide elements 21 in the form of aisle plates 9, 13 aligned parallel to the transport direction TR of the articles.

[0094] The guide elements 21 are designed for the lateral guidance of the articles transported between the guide elements 21 via horizontal conveyor devices 15, 16, 17, 30.

[0095] The guide elements 21 are adjustable, in particular a distance between the guide elements 21 can be adjusted and thus adapted to a changed article size when changing the product.

[0096] At least in one of the three aforementioned areas, i.e., either in the first lane area 4 and / or in the second lane area 7 and / or in the discharge area 11, it is provided that each of the guide elements 21 within this area is assigned its own adjustment drive (not shown). The corresponding area forms, in particular, a second horizontal conveying area according to the present invention.

[0097] Preferably, a first sensor 53 is provided, which is arranged upstream of the aisle area 20 of the transport device 2 and detects, for example, the articles in the mass flow area 3. The sensor-determined data is transmitted to the control unit 50 or the machine control 51, which selects the corresponding work program or retrieves it from the cloud storage 52 or another central database and controls the adjustment elements 26 accordingly.

[0098] In this case, it can be provided that all adjustment elements 26 for forming the aisles 22 are set at the same distance from one another, corresponding to the width of the articles being fed in. However, it can also be provided that aisles 22 of different widths are created by appropriately adjusting the adjustment elements 26. Another embodiment can also provide for a few aisles 22 to be formed by a corresponding arrangement of some inner adjustment elements 26 and for the unused adjustment elements 26 to be arranged laterally at the edge of the transport path.

[0099] The Fig. 2 shows a cross section through a lane area 20 of a transport device 2. For example, this can be a second lane area 7 or the discharge area 11 according to the embodiment of the Fig. 1. The aisle area 20 serves the parallel transport of a plurality of articles 40 in individual rows. This means that the articles are guided in single rows in the aisles 22.

[0100] The articles 40 are preferably sealed containers 41 containing liquid or pasty products, in particular containers made of plastic, glass, or metal. They are particularly preferably beverage containers 42 in the form of bottles or cans.

[0101] The aisles 22 are formed by guide elements 21 arranged suspended above a horizontal conveyor device 23, between which the articles 40 are guided.

[0102] Each guide element 21 is assigned a drive 24, for example a servo motor 25 or the like. While in the prior art guide elements designed as sheet metal lanes are mechanically coupled to one another and are thus adjusted together, the guide elements 21 of the transport device 2 according to the invention are mechanically decoupled from one another and can be adjusted individually and independently of one another.

[0103] The combination of a guide element 21 with associated drive 24 forms an adjustment element 26.

[0104] Furthermore, it can be provided that the transport device 2 comprises a control unit 50. The control unit 50 can specifically control the functions of the transport device 2. Alternatively, it can be provided that the transport device 2 is controlled by an overall control 51 of the container treatment plant 1 (see also Fig. 1) is controlled.

[0105] The control unit 50 or the machine control 51 comprises at least a first operating program containing control commands for individually controlling and adjusting each adjustment element 26. In particular, the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 comprises a first operating program containing control commands for individually controlling and adjusting each adjustment element 26 independently of the other adjustment element 26 or the other adjustment elements 26.

[0106] In particular, it is provided that the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 comprises a plurality of work programs containing product-specific control commands for the individual control and adjustment of each adjustment element 26. The majority of the work programs are each tailored to a specific article 40.

[0107] Alternatively or additionally, the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 can be designed to retrieve additional work programs from a cloud storage 52, a central database or the like.

[0108] Furthermore, the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 can comprise at least one second work program or retrieve it from a cloud storage 52, which contains control commands for the electronically coupled, synchronous control and adjustment of all adjustment elements 26.

[0109] A further embodiment of the invention can provide at least one second sensor 54, which second sensor 54 in the lane area 4 (see Fig. 1 or in the alley area 20 (compare Fig. 2). The second sensor 54 can, in particular, determine data on the basis of which the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 detects incorrect settings of the adjustment elements 26. In this case, it is particularly provided that the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 detects an incorrectly positioned adjustment element 26 and controls it to correct the incorrect positioning.

[0110] The second sensor 54 is formed, for example, by a camera with image recognition.

[0111] The second sensor determines, in particular, position data of the guide elements 21 after an adjustment, for example, after an adjustment during a product changeover or similar, and transmits this data to the control unit 50 or the machine control unit 51. This compares the determined actual position data with the target position data stored in the control unit 50 or the machine control unit 51. If a deviation is detected, the control unit 50 or the machine control unit 51 initiates a corresponding corrective adjustment.

[0112] Alternatively or additionally, at least one third sensor 55 can be provided, which third sensor 55 is located in a lane area 4, 7, 11 (see Fig. 1) or lane area 20 (compare Fig. 2). This third sensor 55 can be designed, in particular, to monitor the article transport within the aisles 6, 8, or 22. In this case, the control unit 50 or machine control 51 is designed to detect disturbances in the article transport within the aisle areas 4, 7, 11, 20 based on the data transmitted by the third sensor 55 and to resolve disturbances within the aisle areas 4, 7, 11, 20 by controlling at least one adjustment element 26.

[0113] The third sensor 55 can, for example, detect an excessive distance between adjacent guide elements 21. In this case, the articles 40 are not sufficiently guided between the guide elements 21 or the aisle plates 9, 13, but may possibly move laterally, which may cause the transport speed of individual articles 40 to decrease at certain points. In this case, a corrective adjustment of the adjustment elements 26 is provided by controlling them via the control unit 50 or the machine control system 51.

[0114] Furthermore, it can be provided that the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 is designed as a self-learning system. In this case, the sensor-determined data is used to enrich and / or supplement the data collected by the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 and / or the data retrieved from a cloud storage 52 or the central database with actual information about the transport device 2 or with so-called correction data, and thus to control and / or regulate the transport device 2 taking into account the information thus utilized.

[0115] Correction data refers in particular to information on correction adjustments which were necessary as part of a product changeover in order to ensure uninterrupted transport of article 40 within the transport device 2.

[0116] In particular, it can be provided that the transport device 2 learns continuously and automatically, preferably using tools that rely on artificial intelligence or machine learning.

[0117] Preferably, the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 learns based on the adjustments made to the aisle plates 9, 13 or the guide elements 21. For example, the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 can independently adapt the work programs for the next adjustment based on necessary corrections to the positioning of the guide elements 21.

[0118] Particularly in connection with access to the cloud storage 52 or a central database, it can be provided that the corrective adjustments made by the system are stored in the cloud storage 52 or the central database. Furthermore, it can be provided that the cloud storage 52 or the central database also contains or continuously receives information about other systems, which are also taken into account by the control unit 50 or the machine control 51.

[0119] A sensory determination of the back pressure of the article 40 in the mass flow area 3 or in the aisle area 4, 7, 11, 20 can also be provided, since a high back pressure in both the mass flow area 3 and the aisle area 4, 7, 11, 20 is an indication of an insufficient aisle width.

[0120] The perspective view of the Fig. 3 shows a detail of an alley area 20, for example a detail of an alley area 20 according to Fig. 2. In particular, only the drives 24 of several adjustment elements 26 are shown.

[0121] In particular, it is possible to arrange each guide element 21 (see Fig. 2) can be individually adjusted and moved via the respective drive 24. In this case, a single adjustment element 26 (see Fig. 2) controlled by an actuator assigned to it, for example by a drive 24 in the form of an electric motor or similar. Via a sensor system, for example by a second sensor 54 designed as an absolute encoder (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) the position of the adjustment element 26 in space is determined and maintained. Fig. 2 and Fig.Figure 3 shows that the drives 24 of several adjustment elements 26 are located on an axis 27 and can be moved along this axis. Alternatively, at least two parallel axes can be provided, each of which houses a portion of the adjustment elements 26.

[0122] The adjustment of the adjustment elements 26 takes place in particular in connection with a product changeover within the container treatment plant 1.

[0123] Due to the illustrated modular design of the adjustment elements 26, in which each guide element 21 or each lane sheet 9, 13 is assigned its own actuator, the mechanical coupling of the guide elements 21 or lane sheets 9, 13 is eliminated. This allows a great deal of installation space to be saved within the transport device 2.

[0124] The standardized modular design of the adjustment elements 26 allows them to be pre-assembled or retrofitted easily and cost-effectively. This allows the transport device 2 to be retrofitted flexibly and easily with little effort.

[0125] Automated error correction is also possible. Furthermore, each guide element 21 or each lane plate 9, 13 can be individually aligned and positioned.

[0126] In the event of malfunctions in the individual adjustments, suitable sensors, such as a camera, an inductive sensor, or similar, can be used to precisely determine the number of errors and the number of adjustment elements 26 causing the malfunction. Furthermore, the adjustment element 26 causing the malfunction can be precisely identified.

[0127] In particular, when the control unit 50 or machine control 51 is connected to a cloud storage 52 or a central database or similar, it can be provided that corrections during adjustment are reported back to the cloud storage 52 or the central database. In this case, within the framework of machine learning, it can be provided that such corrections are taken into account when selecting the appropriate work program, for example in the event of a product change. In addition, when connected to a cloud storage 52 or a central database, the data from other systems that are also stored in the cloud storage 52 or the central database and that also have access to the cloud storage 52 or the central database can also be taken into account when selecting and / or calculating the appropriate work program.

[0128] With the system described here, in which the transport areas are designed with aisle guidance within a container handling system 1, it is possible to have the entire system react automatically to different tolerances of the articles 40 or containers during production.

[0129] The ability to move each adjustment element 26 individually also makes it possible to integrate additional assembly functions, such as a vibrator or similar, into the adjustment of the guide elements 21 or the aisle plates 9, 13. The vibrator function is particularly suitable for clearing an article jam within the transport device through a vibrating movement.

[0130] With suitable sensors, the corresponding adjustment program can also be calculated during a product changeover, and the adjustment elements can be controlled accordingly. In this case, the control unit 50 or the machine control 51 can also take into account information from upstream machines. It may be necessary to set different aisle widths, i.e., neighboring aisles with different widths, which can be accomplished quickly and easily using the individual adjustment according to the invention.

[0131] It can also be provided that the adjustment is adjusted depending on the dynamic pressure acting on the articles. For example, in the case of high dynamic pressure, the aisle width can be increased at least slightly, thus allowing for a greater tolerance with respect to the article width.

[0132] Disruptions in the infeed are caused, in particular, by fallen or jammed articles 40. Instructions on how to handle such blockages can be contained in the control unit 50 or the machine control 51. With the help of suitable sensors, malfunctions are detected, and the control of individual adjustment elements 26 allows aisles 22, 6, 10, 12 to be widened or narrowed, at least temporarily, to correct errors.

[0133] The machine, in particular the transport device 2, is capable of autonomously detecting and correcting errors and malfunctions thanks to the system of individually adjustable adjustment elements 26. The individual adjustment elements 26 react to malfunctions within the transport device 2 and regulate the situation according to a pattern stored in the control unit 50 or machine control 51 or retrieved from a cloud storage 52 or a central database. If, for example, jammed articles 40 are detected within aisles 6, 8, 12, 20, the affected guide elements 21 or aisle plates 9, 13 open automatically to correct the malfunction. The control unit 50 or the machine control 51 can react increasingly better over time thanks to integrated machine learning.

[0134] A final note should be given at this point regarding the descriptions of embodiments of the invention, whereby these descriptive passages each refer to the attached drawings. When reference is generally made to "schematic" representations and views in the context of the figures and their descriptions, this in no way means that the figures and their descriptions are of secondary importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. A person skilled in the art will be perfectly capable of deriving sufficient information from the schematic and abstractly drawn representations to facilitate their understanding of the invention, without their understanding being in any way impaired by the drawn proportions, which may not be exactly to scale.The figures thus enable the skilled reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive concept formulated in a more general and / or abstract manner in the claims and in the general part of the description on the basis of the more concretely explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more concretely explained functioning of the device according to the invention.

[0135] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or variations of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims. List of reference symbols 1 container treatment plant 2 Transport device 3 Mass flow range 4 first alley area 5 first transport section 6 Alley 7 second alley area 8 single lane 9 Gassenblech 10 wide transport lanes 11 Discharge area, aisle area 12 single lane 13 alley sheets 14 first horizontal conveyor 15 second horizontal conveyor 16 third horizontal conveyor 17 fourth horizontal conveyor 18 Wet part 19 Packaging module 20 alley area 21 Guide element 22 Alley 23 Horizontal conveyor system 24 drive 25 servo motor 26 Adjustment element 27 Axis 30 Horizontal conveyor system 40 articles 41 containers 42 beverage containers 50 control unit 51 Machine control 52 Cloud storage 53 first sensor 54 second sensor 55 third sensor QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 1 507 722

[0004] WO 2020 / 020 493 A1

[0005] DE 10 2008 039 970 A1

[0006]

Claims

[1] Device (2) for transporting a plurality of articles (40), in particular a plurality of beverage containers, the device (2) comprising at least one first horizontal conveying area (3) for feeding the articles (40) in a mass flow in a transport direction (TR), at least one second horizontal conveyor section arranged downstream of the first horizontal conveyor section (3) for conveying the articles, which second horizontal conveying area comprises at least two guide elements (21) aligned parallel to the transport direction (TR) of the articles (40), which guide elements (21) are designed for laterally guiding the articles (40) transported between the guide elements (21) via the second horizontal conveying area, wherein the guide elements (21) are adjustable so that a distance between the guide elements (21) is adjustable, characterized by , that each guide element (21) is assigned its own adjustment drive (24). [2] Device (2) according to claim 1, wherein a guide element (21) and an adjustment drive (24) each form an adjustment element (26). [3] Device (2) according to claim 2, wherein the device (2) comprises a control unit (50), wherein the control unit (50) comprises at least a first work program containing control commands for individually controlling and adjusting each adjusting element (26), in particular wherein the control unit (50) comprises a first work program containing control commands for individually controlling and adjusting each adjusting element (26) independently of the other adjusting element (26) or the other adjusting elements (26). [4] Device (2) according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (50) comprises a plurality of work programs which contain product-specific control commands for the individual control and adjustment of each adjustment element (26). [5] Device (2) according to claim 4, wherein the device (2) comprises a first sensor (53), which first sensor (53) is arranged in the transport direction (TR) in front of the second horizontal conveying area, in particular which first sensor (53) is arranged in the first horizontal conveying area (3) and which first sensor (53) is designed to detect information on properties of the articles (40) fed into the first horizontal conveyor area (3) and to transmit this information to the control unit (50), wherein the control unit (50) is designed to select a suitable work program based on the data transmitted by the first sensor (53) and to carry out the control and adjustment of each adjustment element (26) according to the data contained in the work program. [6] Device (2) according to one of claims 3 to 5, comprising at least one second sensor (54), which second sensor (54) is arranged in the second horizontal conveying area and which second sensor (54) is designed to detect incorrect settings of the adjusting elements (26) wherein the control unit (50) is designed to detect incorrect settings of the adjustment elements (26) on the basis of the data transmitted by the second sensor (54), and wherein the control unit (50) controls the incorrectly positioned adjustment element (26) to correct the incorrect positioning. [7] Device (2) according to one of claims 3 to 5, comprising at least one third sensor (55), which third sensor (55) is arranged in the second horizontal conveying area and which third sensor (55) is designed to monitor the article transport, wherein the control unit (50) is designed to detect faults within the article transport on the basis of the data transmitted by the third sensor (55) and to resolve faults by controlling at least one adjusting element (26). [8] Device (2) according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the control unit (50) is designed as a self-learning system, in particular wherein sensor-determined data for correcting the positioning of at least one guide element (21) are stored in the control unit (50) and wherein, in the context of a product changeover, the correction data are taken into account in the calculation and / or selection of a work program. [9] Method for transporting a plurality of articles (40), in particular a plurality of beverage containers, wherein the method provides that the articles (40) are conveyed in at least one first horizontal conveying area (3) in the mass flow in a transport direction (TR), that the articles (40) are conveyed further in one or more rows in the transport direction (TR) in at least one second horizontal conveying area arranged downstream of the first horizontal conveying area (3), wherein the articles (40) are guided in the second horizontal conveying area between at least two guide elements (21) aligned parallel to the transport direction (TR), wherein the guide elements (21) are adjusted depending on a size of the articles (40), in particular wherein a distance between the guide elements (21) is adjusted, characterized by , that each guide element (21) is assigned an adjustment drive (24), via which adjustment drive (24) the guide element (21) is individually adjusted and / or positioned. [10] Method according to claim 9, wherein the control and adjustment of each adjustment element (26) formed from a guide element (21) and an adjustment drive (24) is carried out via at least one control unit (50), which control unit comprises at least one first work program, which work program contains control commands, in particular wherein the control and adjustment of each adjustment element (26) is carried out independently of the other adjustment elements (26). [11] Method according to claim 10, wherein the control unit (50) selects the work program from a plurality of work programs, which work program contains product-specific adapted control commands for the individual control and adjustment of each adjustment element (26). [12] Method according to one of claims 10 to 11, wherein in the first horizontal conveyor area (3) properties of the articles fed in are detected by sensors and transmitted to the control unit (50), wherein a suitable work program is selected on the basis of sensor-transmitted data and the setting of each adjustment element (26) is controlled according to the data contained in the work program. [13] Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein in the second horizontal conveying area, faulty settings of the adjusting elements (26) are detected by sensors and / or wherein the article transport in the second horizontal conveying area is detected by sensors. [14] Method according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the control unit (50) independently adapts the work programs for the next adjustment based on adjustments of the guide elements (21) carried out and / or on the basis of necessary corrections to the positioning of the guide elements (21).

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