DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING CONTAINERS.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- MX · MX
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KHS GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2022-08-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
Smart Images
Figure MX433795B0
Abstract
Description
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING CONTAINERS FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to a container guide device with a rail having two guide elements which are separated from each other and which extend in the transport direction of a container transport device for guiding containers or packages, wherein at least one guide element can be adjusted transversely to the transport direction in relation to the other guide element by means of an adjustment device, said adjustment device comprising a drive body which can be rotated about a rotational axis, and a coupling element which is connected to at least one guide element and is connected to the drive body such that a rotation of the drive body produces an adjustment of the coupling element transversely to the transport direction. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In container handling systems, such as filling systems for filling liquids into containers like bottles, cans, or similar items, the containers are often transported over long distances by a conveyor with a container guidance device. Individual containers, and / or containers assembled to produce packages, are guided through the container handling system by a guardrail. This guardrail comprises guardrail elements provided on both sides of the container conveyor, the distance between which can be adjusted depending on the width of the containers or packages being guided between the guardrail elements, and / or the number of containers being guided simultaneously. Known container guidance devices, such as, for example, the known container guidance device of EP 3 063 081 B1, comprise complex, configured adjustment mechanisms that require a large amount of space to provide the required degree of adjustment. Furthermore, known adjustment devices are very expensive and complicated to maintain and install, and also require means to secure the fixed positions of the guide rails to prevent unwanted changes in the spacing between the guide elements during operation as a result of interaction with containers or packages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is based on the objective of providing a container guide device of the type referred to so far, which can be manufactured economically and exhibits a simple and compact structure. The invention solves the problem by means of a container guide device with the features of claim 1. Additional advantageous embodiments of the container guide device according to the invention are described in dependent claims 2 to 13. The invention further relates to a container transport device with at least one container guide device according to the invention, pursuant to claim 14, and to a method for adjusting the spacing interval between the guide elements of a railing, using a container guide device according to the invention, pursuant to claim 15. The defining feature of the container guide device according to the invention is that the drive body comprises a control element, which is in contact with the coupling element, which in turn is connected to the guide element, and which, at least in sections, exhibits a spiral path of movement around the rotational axis of the drive body. Ideally, the drive body is formed of two disc-shaped halves, between which the coupling element is received, such that its guide pins are mounted and guided in the aforementioned control elements in a displaceable manner. With the container guide device according to the invention, an adjustment of the coupling element relative to the adjustment device causes a displacement of the guide element connected to the coupling element. This displacement of the coupling element then results from a rotation of the drive body connected to the coupling element. For this purpose, the drive body comprises a control element, which exhibits a spiral path of movement extending at least in sections around the rotational axis. That is, the control element extends along a curve that shifts around the rotational axis and which, depending on the observer's perspective, moves away from or towards the rotational axis. Advantageously, the curve along which the spiral path of movement of the control element extends lies in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis.Preferably, the control element describes a curve around the rotational axis with a path of movement in the form of an Archimedean spiral, where the radius of the curve to the rotational axis changes continuously as a function of the rotation angle of the executing body, in particular proportionally to the rotation angle, i.e., it increases or decreases. The connection, according to the invention, of the control element to the coupling element thus results in the following: on the one hand, during a rotation of the drive body, the coupling element maintains its position in the circumferential direction of the drive body. On the other hand, a rotation of the drive body results in a displacement of the coupling element, directed in the axial direction of the coupling element, corresponding to the spiral path of the control element's movement. Consequently, as a function of the rotational direction of the drive body, the coupling element moves in the direction of the rotational axis or in the opposite direction, as a result of which a guide element connected to the coupling element can be adjusted linearly relative to the adjustment device arranged in a fixed position in a container transport device.By a corresponding arrangement of the adjustment device, taking into account the transport direction of the container transport device, this therefore allows at least one guide element of the railing, comprising two guide elements, to be adjusted transversely to the transport direction, so that the width of the railing can be adjusted by means of the adjustment device according to the invention. In the meaning of the invention, the expression “railing width” (in specialist circles also partly designated as the transport width) is to be understood as the space interval z«nn Ln / zznz / E / YiAi between railing elements opposed to each other. The configuration according to the invention of the drive body, with a control element that extends spirally around the rotational axis, thus allows a particularly simple and compact structure of the adjustment device, by means of the configuration of the spiral path of the drive body, which is basically freely selectable, the linear adjustment capability can be determined as desired, as a dependence of the rotation of the drive body.The container guide device adjustment device according to the invention can in this situation be configured as particularly compact and simple, and also allows separate elements to be made without the contrary being required to ensure the position of the guide elements which have been fixed, because the coupling element essentially takes effect perpendicularly on the spiral-shaped control element, and therefore imposes a self-inhibiting effect on the position which has been fixed. The configuration of the control element and its connection to the coupling element, such that a rotation of the drive body causes a displacement of the guide element connected to the coupling element transversely to the direction of travel of the container transport device, is in principle freely selectable. According to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, however, the control element is configured as a control slot, which is provided for the displaceable reception of a control pin, connected to the coupling element and preferably aligned parallel to the rotational axis. According to this embodiment of the invention, the drive body comprises a control groove inserted on its upper side, which extends in a spiral shape around the rotational axis. To connect the coupling element to the drive body such that a rotation of the drive body causes a displacement of the guide element connected to the coupling element, the coupling element comprises a control pin, which is movably positioned within the control groove. Due to the spiral shape of the control groove, a rotation of the drive body about the control pin positioned in the control groove causes a displacement of the coupling element, the direction of which is dependent on the rotational direction of the drive body, and thus a rotation in the form of a control groove about the rotational axis. The use of a control groove as a control element in this situation is characterized by the fact that it can be formed particularly easily and economically within the drive body. Furthermore, the control groove allows for a particularly simple and straightforward coupling of the coupling element to the control groove by means of a control pin arranged within the groove. This pin can be arranged in either a hinged or torsionally rigid manner within the coupling element. The container guide device can therefore be manufactured particularly simply and economically, and exhibits high reliability. The configuration of the coupling element guide during this adjustment, as well as the arrangement of the drive body within the adjustment device, is in principle freely selectable. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, the drive body z«nn Ln / zznz / E / YiAi is arranged to rotate in a housing of the adjustment device, wherein the housing has a guide opening that secures the coupling element in the circumferential direction of the drive body. According to this further embodiment of the invention, the housing serves to receive the drive body in a rotatable manner, thus protecting it from external influences, thereby ensuring a high degree of operational reliability of the container guide device. The housing further comprises a guide opening, within which the axially displaceable coupling element is mounted. The guide opening thus secures the coupling element in the circumferential direction of the drive body and results in the conversion of the drive body's rotational direction into a linear movement of the coupling element within the guide opening, where the direction of movement of the coupling element is dependent on the drive body's rotational direction. This embodiment of the invention is characterized by a particularly compact structure and a particularly simple conversion of the rotational motion of the drive body into a linear motion of the coupling element, which is correspondingly transferred to the guide element connected to the coupling element. The direction of motion of the guide element of the container guide device relative to the container transport device can therefore be determined in a particularly simple and reliable manner. The function of the container guide device is essentially already ensured by the use of an actuating body, which is located above the control element in arrangement with the coupling element. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, the adjustment device comprises two actuating bodies with corresponding control slots, opposite each other in the direction of the rotational axis, each configured to receive opposing sections, projecting onto the coupling element, of the control pin connected to the coupling element. According to this embodiment of the invention, the adjustment device comprises two drive bodies with congruent control grooves, such that, by means of a control pin extending into both control grooves, the coupling element is mounted in an adjustable manner on both drive bodies. This embodiment of the invention ensures, in a particularly reliable manner, the initiation of a displacement, corresponding to the adjustment of the drive bodies, of the guide element connected to the coupling element. Problems due to the loosening of the connection between the control pin and the control groove can be avoided particularly reliably. An adjustment of the drive body, namely its rotation about its rotational axis, can in principle be brought about in any desired manner, for example by suitable drive elements or chain drives. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, the drive body is provided to be connected in a torsionally resistant manner to a drive shaft projecting in the direction of the rotational axis. According to this embodiment of the invention, the drive shaft extends, in the direction of the rotational axis, through the drive body, such that a rotation of the drive shaft results in a rotation of the drive body about its rotational axis. Depending on the direction of rotation of the drive shaft, the spacing between the guide elements can therefore be adjusted in a particularly simple and convenient manner. According to an additional embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the coupling element is configured in such a way, in particular being curved in the region of the drive body, that, in relation to the rotational axis, it is arranged with the drive body on the opposite side to the guide element. According to this embodiment of the invention, the guide element is not straight but curved in sections, such as in a U-shape, so that it can be guided around the rotational axis. As a result, the guide element can be engaged with the drive body on the side of the rotational axis opposite the guide element, for example, by means of a control pin, to engage the control slot. This embodiment allows for a particularly stable adjustment and secure positioning of the guide elements, which are fixed relative to the adjustment device.According to a further embodiment of the invention, the adjustment device further comprises two coupling elements positioned in interaction with the drive body such that an adjustment of the drive body causes an adjustment in the opposite direction of the coupling elements. According to this embodiment of the invention, a simple adjustment device with at least one drive body serves to adjust two coupling elements connected to the drive body.With an opposite arrangement, i.e., diametrically opposite, of the control pin in the control slot, related to the rotational axis, a rotation of the drive body thus results in an opposite adjustment of the coupling elements, i.e., as a dependence of the rotational direction of the drive body, the guide elements connected to the coupling elements move towards each other or away from each other. This embodiment of the invention thus allows the use of a simple adjustment device for two coupling elements, and therefore two guide elements connected to the coupling elements, which are to be adjusted in relation to a container transport device arranged with the container guide device, wherein the two coupling elements, viewed in the direction of the rotational axis of the drive body, are preferably arranged on opposite sides of each other, and are connected by control pins, which extend in opposite directions, to the slot, in each case coming out of the coupling element. The transfer of adjustment movements from the coupling elements to the guide elements can, in principle, take place in any desired manner. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, the two coupling elements, preferably located in interaction with only one drive body, are each connected to links, which in turn are each connected to guide elements arranged opposite each other. According to this embodiment of the invention, the links are connected to the coupling elements as well as to the guide elements. The configuration of the links thus allows for a convenient arrangement of the adjustment devices relative to the rails of the container transport device.This allows, for example, the links to be configured so that the adjustment devices can be arranged between a transport plane in a space-saving manner. In particular, the use of these links enables a simple connection of the guide elements to a single adjustment device for the movement of both guide elements. The arrangement of the container guide device on a container transport device can, in principle, be modified in any desired manner. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, however, the housing for an adjustment device comprises a clamping element for securing the adjustment device to the container transport device. This embodiment of the invention allows for the particularly simple and straightforward mounting of the container guide device to a container transport device. The container guide device according to this embodiment of the invention can therefore also be retrofitted to existing container transport devices in a simple and straightforward manner, where, for this purpose, the clamping element can be provided with corresponding clamping sections. For adjusting the railing width, determined by the spacing between the guide elements, it is sufficient to use an adjustment device to adjust one of the two railing guide elements relative to the fixed-position guide element. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, both railing guide elements are movable in each case by means of an adjustment device, transversely to the direction of travel, wherein each adjustment device comprises an actuating body, which includes a control element, positioned with the coupling element and extending in a spiral shape around the rotational axis of the actuating body. According to this embodiment of the invention, the container guide device comprises two adjustment devices, each connected to a railing guide element, such that both railing guide elements can be adjusted relative to each other. This embodiment of the invention thus allows for a particularly precise and convenient configuration of the railing width, where, due to the use of two adjustment devices, in particular, the railing widths can be adjusted to narrow or wide sections. The drive mechanisms can, in principle, be actuated in any desired manner, for example, even by manual adjustment of the drive mechanisms by operating personnel. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, the advantageously provided drive shaft is motor-driven. The use of a motor-driven drive shaft allows for the particularly precise positioning of at least one guide element relative to another, enabling accurate adjustment of the railing width.Furthermore, by using a motor-driven drive shaft, and by means of self-restraint of the motor drive, a particularly reliable assurance of the position of the adjusted guide element can be achieved, so that supplementary position assurance measures can be avoided. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the container's guide device comprises several adjustment devices arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of transport, which are connected to each other by means of a common drive shaft. According to this embodiment of the invention, the container guide device comprises several adjustment devices, spaced apart from each other in the direction of transport, each of which is connected to a section of the guide element. The use of several adjustment devices makes it possible to provide a stable railing over particularly large spans, the width of which can be adjusted by means of the adjustment device. Adjustment by means of a common drive shaft ensures a particularly reliable and consistent adjustment of the drive body, and therefore of the coupling elements connected to the guide element, so that any divergent positioning of the guide element observed in the direction of transport can be effectively eliminated. In the case of a transport direction that extends along a curve, the drive shaft can be connected by a cardan shaft arranged between the adjustment devices, so that the curved sections of the container transport device can be provided with a corresponding guardrail. The path of the container guide device is aligned with the arrangement of the other processing stations assigned to the containers, which are interconnected by the container guide device. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the guide elements exhibit a curved path, at least in some sections, in the direction of transport, where it is anticipated - an adjustment device with a coupling element, connected in a fixed position in the direction of transport to the guide elements, and - at least one additional adjustment device, with a coupling element adjustablely connected in the transport direction to the same guide element. According to this embodiment of the invention, in order to adjust the width of the railing in a curved section, the container guide device comprises at least two adjustment devices arranged one behind the other in the transport direction, but only one of which comprises, in the container transport direction, a fixed position connection to the coupling element to the guide element. In addition to this adjustment device, which is fixed to the guide element, the container guide device further comprises, in the curved section, at least one additional adjustment device. The coupling element is adjustable in the direction of transport and is slidably connected to the guide element. The adjustable connection of the coupling elements of this second adjustment device, and / or of each additional adjustment device, to the guide elements in the curved section eliminates the need for special measures to compensate for changes in the length of the curved section when the guide elements are adjusted. To ensure the fixed position of the coupling elements to the guide elements, clamping jaws can be used, for example. An adjustable connection in the transport direction of the coupling elements to the guide elements can be implemented by means of suitable sliding bodies, which are connected appropriately to the guide elements in such a way as to allow sliding movement in the transport direction. In order to form the railings, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the guide elements are configured for the detachable reception of railing elements. The use of railing elements that can be arranged on the guide elements makes it possible to select the railing elements according to the containers to be transported and to exchange them if necessary. It is also possible to replace damaged railing elements particularly easily in the event of failure, where they are then separated from the guide elements and replaced with new, repaired railing elements. Particularly advantageous, it is anticipated that in this situation the guardrail elements will be configured to be telescopic in the direction of transport. The use of telescopic guardrail elements is particularly well-suited for the arrangement of container guide devices in the curved section of the route, where changes in the length of the curved section due to adjustments in the guide elements can be reliably compensated for by the telescopic capability of the guardrail elements, thus creating a continuous guide arrangement for the containers to be transported. The method according to the invention for configuring the space interval between the guide elements comprises the following steps: - rotation of the drive body in order to displace at least one guide element of the railing in relation to its guide element, transversely to the direction of transport, and - Finish the rotation after achieving the space interval which will be fixed, in order to ensure the guide elements are in relation to each other. The method according to the invention is possible, with the use of the container guide device presented so far, by means of a simple rotation of the drive body, for the width of the railing to be fixed, and then securing the position to be fixed, after achieving the intended width configuration, ending the rotation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained hereafter by reference to the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 in a perspective view, a part of a region of a first exemplary modality of a container guide device; Fig. 2a is a perspective view, a part region of a second exemplary modality of an exemplary guide device; Fig. 2b an additional perspective view of the container guide device of Fig. 2a; Fig. 3a a perspective view of an adjustment device of the container guide device of Fig. 1 in a first final position; Fig. 3b a perspective view of an adjustment device of Fig. 3a in an intermediate position, and Fig. 3c an additional perspective view of the adjusting device of Fig. 3a, in a second final position; z«nn Ln / zznz / E / YiAi Fig. 4a a perspective view of a third mode of the adjustment device, in a first railing position; Fig. 4b a perspective view of the adjustment device of Fig. 4a, in a second railing position; Fig. 4c a perspective view of the adjustment device of Fig. 4a, in a third railing position; Fig. 5 a perspective view of a fourth modality of the adjustment device, and Fig. 6 an additional perspective view of the adjustment device of Fig. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 shows, in a perspective view, a first embodiment of a section of a container guide device 1a, which is suitable for being placed on a container transport device, not shown here, which transports, for example, by means of a conveyor belt, containers, such as bottles or packages of bottles, along a container handling system, which is also not shown here. The container guide device 1a comprises curved guide elements 3a, arranged at intervals between each other, which are configured to receive a curved rail 2. The rail width in this situation depends on the interval between opposing guide elements 3a. In order to adjust the interval between the guide elements 3a, the container guide device 1a comprises several adjustment devices 4a, which are arranged adjacent to each other along the transport direction and can be displaced transversely to the transport direction by means of their opposing guide elements 3a. In order to adjust the position of the guide elements 3a, the adjustment devices 4a each comprise an actuating body 5a, rotatably arranged inside half 10a of a housing 9a, which includes a control element extending in a spiral shape around the rotational axis, which is configured as a control groove 7a. The control groove 7a serves to receive a control pin 8, which extends parallel to the rotational axis through a coupling element 6a, which can be displaced inside the spirally shaped control groove 7a. The coupling element 6a extends in turn through a guide opening 11 of the housing half 10a, and is connected at its end opposite the control pin 8, by means of a connecting element 18, to a section of the guide element 3a. Rotation of the drive body 5a within half of the housing 10a thus causes, as a function of the rotational direction, an axial displacement of the coupling element 6a within the guide opening 11, where, dependent on the rotational direction of the drive body 5a, the guide element 3a is adjusted either in the direction of the opposing guide element 3a or in the opposite direction. By analogy, an adjustment of the opposing guide element 3a of a railing 2 takes place, such that, by means of actuating the adjustment devices 4a of the opposing guide elements 3a, an adjustment of the width of the railing 2 can be effected. For the rotation of the drive bodies 5a of the adjacently arranged adjusting devices 4a, a drive shaft 12a extends through shaft receivers 14a of the drive bodies 5a of the adjacent adjusting devices 4a. The cardan shafts 15, arranged between the adjusting devices 4a, ensure in this situation the transfer of rotary motions of the individual segments of the drive shaft 12a, which are at an angle to each other. For the defined configuration of the railing width, the coupling elements 6a comprise a scale 17, which allows the operating personnel to carry out a predetermined configuration of the guide elements 3a, which are secured between clamping jaws 16 of the connecting element 18, in an exact manner relative to the housing 9a. To arrange the container guide device 1a, or the individual adjustment devices 4a of the container guide device 1a, the adjustment devices 4a each comprise a clamping element, formed as a carrier 13, which makes it possible for the adjustment devices 4a to be positioned in a desired position on the container transport device. Figures 2a and 2b depict a portion of a container transport unit, where, as an example of the exemplary configuration shown in Figure 1, the guide element 3a follows a straight path. The housings 9a are shown in the open state, allowing one half of the drive body 5a, with the spiral control groove 7a, to be identified. In the complete state, the drive body 5a consists of two opposing disc-shaped halves, between which the coupling element 6a is located. As an example of the exemplary configuration shown in Figure 1, the guide element 3a follows a straight path.1, the drive shaft 12a comprises a one-piece configuration, and extends, in the manner so far represented, through the shaft receivers 14a of the drive bodies 5a of the individual adjusting devices 4a, wherein a configuration of the drive shaft 12a as quadratic in cross section ensures a reliable transfer of the rotational motion of the drive shaft 12a in the drive bodies 5a. In Fig. 2b, the adjusting devices 4a, shown in Fig. 2a, are represented with a closed housing 9a, wherein the housing 9a of the adjusting device 4a is formed from a first housing half 10a and a second housing half 10b. The second housing half 10b, in this situation, comprises, analogously to the housing half 10a, an actuating body 5a, which corresponds to the actuating body 5a in the housing half 10a. The control pin 8 of the coupling element 6a is therefore, in the closed state of the housing 9a, guided in the control grooves 7a of the two actuating bodies 5a arranged in the housing 9a. The operating mode of the adjusting devices 4a is further illustrated in Figs. 3a to 3c, where, in Fig. 3a, the coupling element 6a is arranged in a first end position, in Fig. 3b the coupling element 6a is arranged in an intermediate position, and in Fig. 3c the coupling element 6a is arranged in a second end position relative to the adjusting device 4a. In the first end position, the control pin 8 is in the position closest to the rotational axis, inside the control slot 7a. In the intermediate position shown in Fig. 3b, the control pin 8 is located in a region of the control slot 7a between the z«nn Ln / zznz / E / YiAi 1 first end position and the second end position. In Fig. 3c, the control pin 8 is located at the point of the control slot 7a which is furthest from the rotational axis. Possible forces acting on the coupling element 6a in its longitudinal direction, as a consequence of a load incurred by packages or containers being guided, will not lead to any incorrect movement of the guide elements 3a connected to the coupling element 6a, due to their perpendicular alignment in relation to the control slot 7a, so that a self-limiting effect is produced on the position which has been fixed of the guide elements 3a, by means of the drive bodies 5a. In Figs. 4a to 4c, a third modality of a container guide device 1b is represented in different positions of the railing elements 19a, 19b, determining the railing width, arranged in a detachable manner on the guide elements 3b, 3c. In the curved region of the container guide device 1b, three adjusting devices 4b are connected to the guide element 3c, on the outside of the container guide device 1b. In this situation, the middle adjusting device 4b is alone, in the middle section of the curved path in the transport direction, and is connected to the guide element 3c in a fixed position by means of clamping jaws 16 forming a connecting element. Conversely, the adjusting devices 4b connected to the guide element 3c, adjacent to this adjusting device 4b in the curved section, are coupled by means of connecting elements 20 to the guide element 3c, which can be slidably displaced in the transport direction along the guide element 3c. On both sides in the direction of transport, adjacent to the curved section of the container guide device 1b, the curved guide elements 3c are connected by means of the connecting elements 20 to the guide elements 3b, extending in a straight line, which allows for length compensation. By rotating the drive bodies 5a arranged in the housing 9b, the railing elements 19a, 19b connected to the guide elements 3b, 3c are displaced between the position shown in Fig. 4a, where the container guide device 1b shows the largest gap between the railing elements 19a, 19b, and the position of the railing elements 19a, 19b shown in Fig. 4c, where they show the smallest gap between them. An intermediate position between the extreme positions shown in Figs. 4a and 4c is depicted in Fig. 4b.An additional embodiment of a section of a container guide device 1c is shown in a perspective view in Fig. 5. With this embodiment of the container guide device 1c, a single drive body 5b of an adjustment device 4c serves to adjust the space interval of the two guide elements 3a. For this purpose, the adjustment device 4c comprises, viewed from the transport direction, two coupling elements 6b, 6c, on opposite sides, functionally connected to the control slot 7b by means of control pins 8, wherein the two control pins 8 are arranged, viewed from the transport direction, diametrically opposite the drive body 5b, interacting with the control slot 7b.The control pin 8, arranged in the drive body 5b facing the guide elements 3a, is connected to a coupling element 6b, which extends in a longitudinally displaceable manner through guide openings 26 in the two clamping elements 24, which are connected, at a space interval between each other, in each case to a base rail 25. The control pin 8, arranged in the larger space interval of the guide elements 3a, is connected to the coupling element 6c, which likewise extends in a longitudinally displaceable manner through guide openings 26 in the clamping elements 24. A rotation of the drive bodies 5b by means of a drive shaft 12b, extending through shaft receivers 14b, which are arranged in a rotatable manner on carrier elements 23, connected to clamping elements 24, causes a longitudinal displacement of the coupling elements 6b, 6c, wherein, as a dependence of the rotational direction of the drive body 5b, the connecting elements 18 are moved relative to each other or away from each other, wherein the connecting elements 18 are connected in each case by means of a link 22 to the coupling elements 6b, 6c. List of reference numbers 1a, 1b, 1c Container guide device 2 Handrail 3a, 3b, 3c Guide element 4a, 4b, 4c Adjustment device 5a, 5b Drive body 6a, 6b, 6c 7a, 7b Coupling element Control element / Control slot 8 Control pin 9a, 9b Housing 10a, 10b Housing half 11 Guide opening 12a, 12b Drive shaft 13 Clamping / carrier element 14a, 14b Shaft receiver 15 Cardan shaft 16 Clamping jaw 17 Scale 18 Connecting element 19a, 19b Handrail element 20 Connecting element 21 Guide body 22 Link 23 Carrier element 24 Clamping element 25 Base handrail 26 Guide openings
Claims
1. A container guide device (1a, 1b, 1c) with a rail (2), having two guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) arranged within a space interval between them and extending in the transport direction of a container transport device, for guide containers or packages, wherein at least one guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) can be adjusted transversely relative to the other guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) by means of an adjustment device (4a, 4b, 4c), which comprises a drive body of one or more parts (5a, 5b), which is rotatable about a rotational axis, and a coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c), connected to at least one guide element (3a, 3b, 3c), which are connected to the drive body (5a, 5b) such that a rotation of the drive body (5a, 5b) causes an adjustment of the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) transversely to the direction of transport,characterized in that a drive body of one or more parts (5a, 5b) comprises a control element (7a, 7b) which is arranged with the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c), which shows at least in sections a spiral path around the rotational axis of the drive body (5a, 5b).
2. The container guide device (1a, 1b, 1c) according to claim 1, further characterized in that the control element is configured as a control slot (7a, 7b), which is provided for the movable reception of a control pin (8) connected to the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c).
3. The container guide device (1a, 1b, 1c) according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the actuating body (5a, 5b) is arranged so as to rotate in a housing (9a, 9b) of the adjusting device (4a, 4b, 4c), which comprises a guide opening (11) which secures the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c) in the circumferential direction of the actuating body (5a, 5b).
4. The container guide device (1a,1b,1c) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the adjustment device (4a,4b,4c) comprises two drive bodies (5a,5b), with corresponding control slots (7a,7b) opposite each other in the rotational axis direction, which in each case are configured to receive the control pin (8) connected to the coupling element (6a,6b,6c).
5. The container guide device (1a,1b,1c) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the drive body (5a,5b) is connected in a torsion-resistant manner to the drive shaft (12a,12b), extending in the rotational axis direction.
6. The container guide device (1a,1b,1c) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the coupling element (6a,6b,6c) is configured in such a way that, relative to the rotational axis, it is in interaction with the drive body (5a,5b) on the side away from the guide element (3a,3b,3c).
7. The container guide device (1c) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the adjustment device (4a, 4b, 4c) comprises two coupling elements (6a, 6b, 6c) interacting with the drive body (5a, 5b) such that an adjustment of the drive body (5a, 5b) causes an opposite adjustment of the coupling elements (6a, 6b, 6c).
8. The container guide device (1c) according to claim 7 further characterized in that the two coupling elements (6a,6b,6c) are connected in each case by a link (22), which are connected in each case to one of the guide elements (3a,3b,3c) arranged opposite each other.
9. The container guide device (1a, 1b) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further characterized in that both guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) of the railing (2) can be moved in each case by means of an adjustment device (4a, 4b, 4c) transversely to the direction of transport, wherein the adjustment devices (4a, 4b, 4c) each comprise a drive body (5a, 5b), which comprises a control element (7a, 7b) that extends spirally around the rotational axis of the drive body (5a, 5b) and interacts with the coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c).
10. The container guide device (1a,1b,1c) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the drive shaft (12a,12b) is driven by means of a motor.
11. The container guide device (1a,1b,1c) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further characterized in that several adjustment devices (4a,4b,4c) arranged adjacent to each other, which are connected to each other by a common drive shaft (12a,12b).
12. The container guide device (1b) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) comprise a path which is curved at least in sections in the transport direction, wherein - an adjustment device (4a, 4b, 4c) is provided for, with a coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c), which are connected in the transport direction, in a fixed position, to one of the guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c), and - at least one additional adjustment device (4a, 4b, 4c) is provided for, with a coupling element (6a, 6b, 6c), which is adjustablely connected in the transport direction to the same guide element (3a, 3b, 3c).
13. The container guide device (1a,1b,1c) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the guide elements (3a,3b,3c) are configured for the detachable reception of the handrail elements (19a,19b).
14. A container transport device for transporting containers along a transport direction, characterized in that it comprises at least one container guidance device (1 a,1 b,1 c) in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims.
15. A method for configuring the space interval of the guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) of a railing (2), using a container guide device (1a, 1b, 1c) according to (claims 1 to 13), characterized by the following steps: - Rotation of the drive body (5a, 5b) in order to displace at least one guide element z«nn Ln / zznz / E / YiAi (3a, 3b, 3c) of the railing (2) in relation to its other guide element (3a, 3b, 3c) transversely to the transport direction, and - completion of the rotation after achieving the space interval which is to be fixed, in order to secure the guide elements (3a, 3b, 3c) in relation to each other.