Horizontal conveying device and method for transporting containers

Abstract

Disclosed is a horizontal conveying device for transporting containers. The horizontal conveying device comprises a plurality of transport units (3) which provide planar contact surfaces (16) for containers. According to the invention, a respective transport unit (3) comprises a supporting element (7) and a bearing element (9). The supporting element (7) is circulatingly driven; the bearing element (9) sits on the respective supporting element (7) and provides the planar contact surface (16) for the container. Furthermore, according to the invention, the respective supporting element (7) and the respective bearing element (9) are interconnected such that in the region of a transport plane of the horizontal conveying device, the respective bearing element (9) substantially retains the horizontal orientation of its planar contact surface (16) when the respective supporting element (7) is tilted.

Description

[0001] Horizontal conveyor device and method for transporting containers

[0002] The present invention relates to a horizontal conveyor device and a method for transporting containers.

[0003] State-of-the-art horizontal conveyor systems for transporting containers comprise multiple transport units that are guided in a circulating manner and on which the containers rest during transport over the horizontal conveyor. Such transport units can, for example, be designed as individual links of a mat chain. Line distributors are also known from the state of the art, in which multiple transport units form a respective shuttle for transporting containers. One such line distributor is disclosed in WO 2019 / 063165 A1.

[0004] Experience has shown that the individual transport units of a horizontal conveyor system can tilt unintentionally during the transport of a container. Tilting of transport units can occur, for example, if a mat chain unintentionally stretches after prolonged operation and therefore shows signs of wear.

[0005] If the transport units are tilted, the containers resting on them may accidentally bounce or slip. This can cause container damage and also lead to a mismatch between the expected target position and the actual position of the containers.

[0006] If the individual transport units are designed as part of a line distributor and several transport units form a respective shuttle, the problems mentioned can also occur with such embodiments of a horizontal conveyor device if individual transport units tilt unintentionally.

[0007] For this reason, one object of the invention can be seen in providing a way to transport containers safely and with a reduced risk of damage via a horizontal conveyor. The above object is achieved by the subject matter comprising the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0008] The invention relates to a horizontal conveyor system for transporting containers. The containers can be beverage containers or beverage containers already combined into a package. The beverage containers or the beverage containers already combined into a package can be formed, for example, by beverage bottles and / or beverage cans.

[0009] The horizontal conveyor system comprises transport units that provide flat contact surfaces for containers. While flat contact surfaces are described in this context, it is not absolutely necessary for such contact surfaces to be completely flat or level.

[0010] For example, the flat contact surfaces may have grooves or recesses to minimize the risk of containers resting on them slipping. Flat contact surfaces may also have knobs or raised areas, which can also ensure that containers stand securely on the flat contact surfaces.

[0011] It is provided that a respective transport unit comprises a support element and a support element, which respective support element is driven in rotation and which respective support element sits on the respective support element and provides the flat contact surface for the container.

[0012] For example, each support element may be assigned exactly one support element, which rests on the respective support element and provides the flat contact surface for the container. For example, each transport unit may be formed by exactly one respective support element and exactly one respective support element.

[0013] Furthermore, it is provided that the respective support element and the respective support element are connected to one another in such a way that the support element essentially maintains a horizontal orientation of its flat contact surface in the region of a transport plane of the horizontal conveyor when the respective support element tilts or when the respective support element tilts about an axis oriented perpendicular to a transport direction of the horizontal conveyor. This can prevent containers from jumping or accidentally slipping on the horizontal conveyor due to an unintentional tilt of the respective support element. The risk of containers being damaged during transport via the horizontal conveyor can thus be kept very low.

[0014] The transport units may be connected to each other by hinges, forming a slatted belt chain or a mat chain. In this case, the support elements of the transport units may be connected to each other by hinges, forming a slatted belt chain. The support elements can thus form the hinges of the slatted belt chain, with the support elements resting on the support elements and also providing the flat contact surfaces for the containers.

[0015] In this case, adjacent support elements may be at least approximately flush with one another, so that the flat contact surfaces of the support elements form a substantially uninterrupted standing surface for containers. Furthermore, the transport units may comprise a respective bolt, which is inserted into at least one opening of the respective support element and into at least one opening of a respective adjacent support element, so that these support elements are articulated to one another via the respective bolt.

[0016] The horizontal conveyor may also comprise a plurality of bars oriented parallel to one another and guided in a circumferential direction, two of which pass through two corresponding openings of a respective support element, so that the respective support element can be displaced along the respective two bars perpendicularly or obliquely to a transport direction of the horizontal conveyor and is driven in a circumferential direction via the respective two bars. A respective longitudinal extension of the plurality of bars oriented parallel to one another can therefore be oriented perpendicular to a transport direction of the horizontal conveyor. The horizontal conveyor can thus be designed as a linear distributor.

[0017] Furthermore, the horizontal conveyor system can comprise a plurality of shuttles, each of which is formed by at least two transport units, whose flat contact surfaces form a base for transporting a common container. The plurality of shuttles can be displaceable along the respective circumferentially guided rods perpendicular to the transport direction of the horizontal conveyor system.

[0018] It is conceivable that the horizontal conveyor device comprises a positive guide with which the shuttles come into surface contact during a circular movement of the plurality of bars oriented parallel to one another. This positive guide moves the shuttles along the respective bars, on which respective bars the respective transport units are arranged that form the respective shuttle. The positive guide can be arranged below the previously mentioned transport level.

[0019] It is also conceivable for a respective transport unit to comprise a groove and a pin guided in the groove, via which the respective support element and the respective bearing element interact to maintain the horizontal orientation of the bearing element. Such embodiments make it easy for a respective bearing element to maintain the horizontal orientation of its flat contact surfaces when the respective support element tilts.

[0020] It is also conceivable that a respective transport unit comprises a cushion filled with a viscous medium, via which the respective support element is mounted in a floating manner on the respective support element in order to maintain the essentially horizontal orientation.

[0021] The viscous medium can be water. However, it does not necessarily have to be pure water; the viscous medium can essentially contain water, i.e., it can be a water-based mixture or a water-based solution.

[0022] The respective cushion filled with viscous medium can be arranged between the respective support element and the respective support element and can be in surface contact with the respective support element and the respective support element.

[0023] The invention also relates to a method for transporting containers via a horizontal conveyor having a plurality of transport units, each of which comprises a support element and a support element, with the respective support element resting on the respective support element. The horizontal conveyor described above can be configured to implement the embodiments of the method according to the invention described below. The embodiments of the method described below can also be implemented using the embodiments of the horizontal conveyor described above.

[0024] The method provides for the support elements to be driven in rotation, with containers resting on the contact surfaces of the support elements. It is also provided that the respective support element executes a compensating movement in the region of a transport plane of the horizontal conveyor, during which the respective support element essentially maintains a horizontal orientation of its flat contact surface when the respective support element tilts in the region of the transport plane.

[0025] The multiple transport units may be connected to each other via hinges and transport containers together as a hinged belt chain. Each container can rest on several flat contact surfaces, which are provided by several support elements of several transport units.

[0026] Several shuttles can be provided, each of which consists of at least two transport units, the flat contact surfaces of whose support elements together form a base for a respective container. A container can rest on the respective base of the respective shuttle during transport. Furthermore, individual or all of the shuttles can be moved perpendicularly or diagonally to the transport direction in order to distribute containers across multiple lines, multiple outfeed conveyors, or multiple aisles.

[0027] A respective transport unit may comprise a groove and a pin, wherein the pin is guided and moved in the groove when the respective support element performs a compensating movement.

[0028] It may also be the case that a respective transport unit comprises a cushion filled with a viscous medium, which supports the respective support element, so that the respective support element carries out a compensating movement while deforming the cushion.

[0029] The following explanations summarize some aspects of the invention already explained in various embodiments, specifying some aspects in more detail. However, they should not be seen as contradicting the explanations already made, but rather as a summary, and in cases of doubt, possibly as more specific embodiments and / or modifications. Thus, as already mentioned several times above, the horizontal conveyor device according to the invention can be equipped with at least one transport unit, but in particular with several transport units. Normally, the horizontal conveyor device comprises a plurality of transport units, in particular of a similar design. Each of these transport units comprises a support element and a bearing element that sits on the support element.

[0030] Rods can pass through openings in the respective support elements, particularly when the horizontal conveyor is designed as a variant of a linear distributor. The respective support elements provide flat contact surfaces on which, for example, beverage containers can stand. Such containers can, for example, comprise four or six beverage bottles held together, thus being able to stand as a combined container on the support elements, which provide the flat contact surface for this purpose. In practice, one beverage container is carried jointly across several transport units, whereby the beverage container can stand on the flat contact surfaces of the respective multiple transport units.

[0031] The respective rods, which can preferably be guided through the openings of the support element, are driven in rotation. The respective support element and the respective support element are moved in rotation together with the respective rods to convey a respective beverage container in a defined transport direction. The rods also move in the same transport direction.

[0032] In horizontal conveyor systems known from the prior art, it can happen that individual transport units tilt around an axis oriented perpendicular to the transport direction. Such a tilt can occur suddenly during transport and can cause a beverage container to jump or slip unintentionally if it rests on a transport unit that inadvertently performs such a tilting movement. This can result in a beverage container being damaged or no longer being in the expected position after transport.However, for the further handling of beverage containers, it may be necessary for the position of the beverage container to correspond very precisely to an expected target position, since any position deviation of a beverage container can lead to subsequent problems in the further handling of the beverage container already transported via the horizontal conveyor system.

[0033] The transport units designed according to the invention are capable of performing a compensating movement in order to maintain a substantially horizontal orientation of their flat contact surface throughout the entire movement of the beverage container along a transport plane. For this purpose, the transport units each comprise a support element and a support element which rests on the support element. The respective support element and the respective support element can perform a relative movement to one another or a compensating movement. In this case, the support element can remain in its respective rotational position when the support element performs an inclining movement. Thus, the respective support element and the respective support element can be rotated relative to one another about an axis, which axis is oriented perpendicular to the transport direction of the horizontal conveyor device.

[0034] Advantageously, this results in the contact surfaces of the support elements consistently maintaining their horizontal orientation when a beverage container rests on a respective support element or on a contact surface of the respective support element. The risk of the beverage container bouncing or slipping, as previously described, can thus be eliminated. This ensures that the expected target position of the respective beverage container corresponds to the actual position throughout its entire transport across the transport units, so that the beverage container can be processed further without problems after the corresponding transport.

[0035] In order to enable such a compensating movement, designs have proven successful in practice in which a cushion is filled with a viscous medium between a respective support element and a respective support element and deforms elastically when the support element and the support element rotate relative to one another. The viscous medium can be water or a gel, for example. The respective cushion can be glued to the respective support element and the respective support element, for example. Alternatively, designs have also proven successful in which a respective transport unit comprises a groove and a pin guided in the groove. For example, a pin can protrude from the respective support element in the direction of the respective support element and engages in a corresponding groove in the support element.If the respective support element is rotated relative to the respective support element, the respective pin is forced over the respective groove, whereby a relative rotational movement is specified for the respective support element and the respective support element.

[0036] Optionally, the horizontal conveyor system can be designed as a linear distributor. Each shuttle can be provided via two transport units, each transporting a respective beverage container in a predetermined transport direction. Each transport unit is arranged on two bars. The bars are guided in a rotating motion, with the transport units moving along with the bars. The rotating motion can be specified and influenced, in particular, via a suitable and appropriately configured control and / or regulating device.

[0037] The beverage containers can be provided, for example, via an infeed conveyor. The shuttles pick up the beverage containers from the infeed conveyor and then distribute them to several lines, which can be formed, for example, by two outfeed conveyors. In addition to moving in the transport direction, individual shuttles or all shuttles can be moved perpendicular to the transport direction along the respective bars to distribute the beverage containers to the outfeed conveyors.

[0038] In practice, a positive guide can be arranged below a transport level intended for the beverage containers, with which the shuttles come into contact when they convey beverage containers in the transport direction. The positive guide can move individual shuttles or all shuttles in a predetermined direction of movement, so that each shuttle reaches a respective line or discharge conveyor and can transfer the respective beverage container to the respective discharge conveyor.

[0039] Instead of the forced guidance, embodiments can also be provided in practice in which a transfer unit and a rod together form a linear motor, wherein the respective transfer unit is moved as a runner along the respective rod in the direction of movement in order to transfer a respective beverage container to one of the outlet belts.

[0040] As mentioned above, the horizontal conveyor system can have support elements. These support elements can, for example, accommodate support elements that can perform a compensating movement if a particular support element tilts unintentionally. These support elements can be hinges, for example. Adjacent hinges are connected to each other via a pin. The hinges, together with the pins and support elements, form a hinged belt chain.

[0041] Furthermore, the method according to the invention, which can comprise several useful method steps, has already been explained above. For example, a first method step can be characterized by transporting beverage containers via a horizontal conveyor. This horizontal conveyor has several transport units, a support element, and a support element. Each support element rests on the respective support element, and the support elements are driven in rotation. During the rotational drive, the beverage containers rest on the contact surfaces of the support elements, so that the beverage containers are transported via the transport units.

[0042] In a further process step, a support element in the area of ​​a transport plane unintentionally performs an inclination movement. In a subsequent or essentially simultaneous process step, the support element performs a compensating movement during which the support element essentially maintains a horizontal orientation of its flat contact surface. This step can prevent a beverage container resting on the respective support element from accidentally bouncing and potentially becoming damaged or slipping on the horizontal conveyor.

[0043] The invention essentially aims to prevent unevenness in the area of ​​piece goods conveying from leading to inaccuracies in the positioning and / or alignment of the piece goods or packages being conveyed and / or distributed. Possible causes for unevenness or irregularities in transport include tolerances in the components of the conveyor systems, signs of wear, e.g., due to chain elongation, etc. Curved guides and their associated phenomena can also lead to such unevenness or irregularities in the transport process, as the bars or support elements of the conveyor systems can be slightly tilted or tip over, contributing to the bouncing of the conveyed products.

[0044] The smooth conveying achieved by the invention ensures that the piece goods, packages, parcels, etc. no longer jump, as the support on the chain can effectively prevent this. The conveyor chain can, for example, be a mat chain, in which the upper run is formed by supporting bars on which support elements are mounted in a floating manner.

[0045] A useful application could be a distribution system for piece goods, parcels, containers or similar goods.

[0046] 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.

[0047] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a transport unit as it can be provided in various embodiments of a horizontal conveyor device according to the invention.

[0048] Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of a transport unit according to Fig. 1, illustrating further aspects.

[0049] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a horizontal conveyor device according to the invention, which is designed as a line distributor.

[0050] Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of several support elements as they can be provided in various embodiments of a horizontal conveyor device.

[0051] Fig. 5 shows in a flowchart steps as they can be provided individually or according to the number and sequence shown in Fig. 5 in various embodiments of a method according to the invention.

[0052] 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.

[0053] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a transport unit 3, as can be provided in various embodiments of a horizontal conveyor device 1 according to the invention (see Fig. 3). Such a horizontal conveyor device 1 comprises a plurality of transport units 3, whereby only one transport unit 3 is shown in Fig. 1 for better clarity. The transport unit 3 comprises a support element 7 and a support element 9, which rests on the support element 7.

[0054] The reference numbers 2 and 4 in Fig. 1 refer to openings of the support element 7, through which rods 17 pass when the horizontal conveyor device 1 is designed as a line distributor 10, as shown for example in Fig. 3 and described below.

[0055] A beverage container 5, which may, for example, comprise four or six beverage bottles held together, rests partially on a support element 9, which provides a flat contact surface 16 for this purpose. In practice, a respective beverage container 5 is therefore carried jointly by several transport units 3, wherein the beverage container 5 rests on flat contact surfaces 16 of the respective plurality of transport units 3.

[0056] The respective rods 17, which are guided through the openings 2 and 4 of the support element, are driven in rotation. The respective support element 7 and the respective support element 9 are moved in rotation together with the respective rods 17 in order to transport a respective beverage container 5 in the transport direction TR. The rods 17 also move in the transport direction TR.

[0057] The schematic representation of Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of a transport unit 3 according to Fig. 1, clarifying further aspects. Fig. 2 shows two transport units 3, which can be designed as part of a horizontal conveyor device 1, which is a line distributor 10. The two transport units 3 have an identical structure and therefore each form two openings 2 and 4, through which rods 17 are guided, which rods 17 are driven in rotation. The two transport units 3 follow one another in the transport direction TR, so that the transport unit 3 shown on the right precedes the transport unit 3 shown on the left.

[0058] The beverage container 5 shown on the right-hand side stands during its transport on several transport units 3 or on the flat contact surfaces 16 of the two transport units 3 shown.

[0059] In horizontal conveyor systems known from the prior art, it is often the case that individual transport units 3 unintentionally tilt about an axis oriented in the direction of the image plane, which runs perpendicular to the transport direction TR. Such an inclination can occur suddenly during transport and cause a beverage container 5 to jump or unintentionally slip when resting on a transport unit 3 that unintentionally performs such an inclination movement.

[0060] This can result in a beverage container 5 being damaged or no longer being in the expected target position after transport. However, for further handling of beverage containers 5, it may be necessary for the position of the beverage container 5 to correspond very precisely to the expected target position.

[0061] If a respective beverage container 5 jumps or slips due to an inclination of a transport unit, this can lead to subsequent problems in the further handling of the beverage container 5 already transported via the horizontal conveyor device 1.

[0062] As can be seen from Fig. 2, a transport unit 3 according to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 is capable of performing a compensating movement in order to maintain a substantially horizontal orientation of its flat contact surface 16 throughout the entire movement of the beverage container 5 along a transport plane. For this purpose, the transport units 3 each comprise a support element 7 and a support element 9, which rests on the support element 7.

[0063] The respective support element 7 and the respective support element 9 can perform a relative movement to one another or a compensating movement. Fig. 2 illustrates that the support element 9 remains in its respective rotational position when the support element 7 performs an inclination movement. Thus, the respective support element 7 and the respective support element 9 can be rotated relative to one another about an axis, which axis is oriented perpendicular to the transport direction TR of the horizontal conveyor device 1.

[0064] Advantageously, this results in the contact surfaces 16 of the support elements 9 consistently maintaining their horizontal orientation when a respective beverage container 5 rests on a respective support element 9 or on a contact surface 16 of the respective support element 9. The risk of the respective beverage container 5 cracking or slipping, as previously described, can thus be eliminated.

[0065] During the entire transport of a beverage container 5 via the transport units 3, an expected target position of the respective beverage container 5 therefore corresponds to an actual position, so that the beverage container 5 can be further processed without problems after a corresponding transport.

[0066] In order to enable such a compensating movement, embodiments have proven successful in practice in which a cushion is located between a respective support element 7 and a respective support element 9, which cushion is filled with a viscous medium and deforms elastically when the support element 7 and the support element 9 rotate relative to one another.

[0067] The viscous medium can be, for example, water or a gel. The respective cushion can be glued to the respective support element 9 and the respective support element 7. Alternatively, embodiments in which a respective transport unit 3 comprises a groove and a pin guided in the groove have also proven successful.

[0068] For example, a pin may protrude from the respective support element 7 in the direction of the respective support element 9 and engage in a corresponding groove in the support element 9. If the respective support element 9 is rotated relative to the respective support element 7, the respective pin is positively guided via the respective groove, thereby predetermining a relative rotational movement for the respective support element 9 and the respective support element 7. The schematic plan view in Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a horizontal conveyor device 1 according to the invention, which is designed as a line distributor 10. The line distributor 10 comprises a plurality of transport units 3, which are designed according to the previous description of Figs. 1 and 2.

[0069] A respective shuttle 13 is provided via two such transport units 3, which transports a respective beverage container 5 in the transport direction TR. Each transport unit 3 is arranged on two rods 17. The rods 17 are guided in a rotating manner, with the transport units 3 being moved along with the rods 17. The rotating movement is specified by a control and / or regulating device S.

[0070] The beverage container packs 5 are provided in Fig. 3 via an infeed belt 15. The shuttles 13 pick up the beverage container packs 5 from the infeed belt 15 and then distribute the picked beverage container packs 5 to several lines, which in this case are formed by two outlet belts 20 and 30. In addition to the movement in the transport direction TR, individual shuttles 13 or all shuttles 13 are moved perpendicular to the transport direction TR along the respective bars 17 in order to distribute the beverage container packs 5 to the outlet belts 20 and 30. A direction of movement which the shuttles 13 follow in this case is indicated in Fig. 3 by reference BR.

[0071] In practice, a positive guide can be arranged below a transport level provided for the beverage container packs 5, with which the shuttles 13 come into contact when they convey beverage container packs 5 in the transport direction TR. The positive guide can displace individual shuttles 13 or all shuttles 13 in the direction of movement BR, so that a respective shuttle 13 reaches a respective line or a respective discharge belt 20 or 30 and can transfer the respective beverage container pack 5 to the respective discharge belt 20 or 30.

[0072] Instead of the forced guidance, there are also embodiments in practice in which a transfer unit 3 and a rod 17 together form a linear motor, wherein the respective transfer unit 3 is moved as a runner along the respective rod 17 in the direction of movement BR in order to transfer a respective beverage container 5 to an outlet belt 20 or 30.

[0073] The schematic perspective view of Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of several support elements 7, as can be provided in various embodiments of a horizontal conveyor device. Arranged on the support elements 7 are support elements 9, which are not shown in Fig. 4 and, according to the previous description of Figs. 1 and 2, can perform a compensating movement if a respective support element 7 tilts unintentionally.

[0074] The support elements 7 in this case are hinges 8. Adjacent hinges 8 are connected to one another via a pin 14. The hinges 8, together with the pins 14 and the support elements 9 (not shown), form a hinged chain 12.

[0075] Finally, Fig. 5 shows in a flow chart useful method steps as they can be provided individually or according to the number and sequence shown in Fig. 5 in various embodiments of a method 100 according to the invention.

[0076] In step 110, beverage containers 5 are transported via a horizontal conveyor 1. The horizontal conveyor 1 has several transport units 3, a support element 7, and a support element 9. Each support element 9 rests on the respective support element 7, and the support elements 7 are driven in rotation. During the rotational drive, beverage containers 5 rest on contact surfaces 16 of the support elements 9, so that the beverage containers 5 are transported via the transport units 3.

[0077] In step 120, a support element 7 unintentionally performs an inclination movement in the area of ​​a transport plane.

[0078] In step 130, which occurs substantially simultaneously with step 120, the support element 9 performs a compensating movement in which the support element 9 substantially maintains a horizontal orientation of its planar contact surface 16.

[0079] By means of step 130, it can be prevented that a beverage container 5, which stands on the respective support element 9, jumps unintentionally and is thereby possibly damaged or slips on the horizontal conveyor device 1.

[0080] 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 changes to the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

[0081] 1 horizontal conveyor

[0082] 2 Opening

[0083] 3 transport units

[0084] 4 Opening

[0085] 5 beverage containers

[0086] 6 Opening

[0087] 7 Support element

[0088] 8 Hinge

[0089] 9 Support element

[0090] 10 line distributors

[0091] 12 Slat band chain

[0092] 13 Shuttle

[0093] 14 bolts

[0094] 15 Infeed conveyor

[0095] 16 Contact surface, flat contact surface

[0096] 17 staff

[0097] 20 Outfeed conveyor

[0098] 30 Outfeed conveyor

[0099] BR direction of movement

[0100] S Control and / or regulating device

[0101] TR transport direction

Claims

Claims 1. Horizontal conveyor device (1) for transporting containers, which comprises several transport units (3) which provide flat contact surfaces (16) for containers, characterized in that - a respective transport unit (3) comprises a support element (7) and a support element (9), which respective support element (7) is driven in rotation and which respective support element (9) sits on the respective support element (7) and provides the flat contact surface (16) for the container and wherein - the respective support element (7) and the respective support element (9) are connected to one another in such a way that the respective support element (9) essentially maintains a horizontal orientation of its planar contact surface (16) in the region of a transport plane of the horizontal conveyor device (1) when the respective support element (7) tilts.

2. Horizontal conveyor device (1) according to claim 1, in which the transport units (3) are connected to one another in an articulated manner and form a hinged belt chain (12).

3. Horizontal conveyor device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the support elements (7) of the transport units (3) are connected to one another in an articulated manner and the transport units (3) form a hinged belt chain (12).

4. Horizontal conveyor device (1) according to claim 1, which horizontal conveyor device (1) comprises a plurality of bars (17) oriented parallel to one another and guided in a circumferential manner, of which two bars (17) in each case pass through two corresponding openings (2, 4) of a respective support element (7).

5. Horizontal conveyor device (1) according to claim 4, in which the respective support element (7) is displaceable along the respective two bars (17) perpendicularly or obliquely to a transport direction (TR) of the horizontal conveyor device (1) and is driven in rotation via the respective two bars (17).

6. Horizontal conveyor device (1) according to claim 4 and / or claim 5, comprising a plurality of shuttles (13), of which a respective shuttle (13) is formed by at least two transport units (3) whose flat contact surfaces (16) together form a standing surface for transporting a common container.

7. Horizontal conveyor device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which a respective transport unit (3) comprises a groove and a pin guided in the groove, via which the respective support element (7) and the respective support element (9) cooperate to maintain the horizontal orientation of the respective support element (9).

8. Horizontal conveyor device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which a respective transport unit (3) comprises a cushion filled with viscous medium, via which the respective support element (9) is mounted in a floating manner on the respective support element (7) in order to maintain the substantially horizontal orientation.

9. Horizontal conveyor device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the viscous medium is water or a water-based liquid mixture or a water-based liquid solution.

10. Method (100) for transporting containers via a horizontal conveyor device (1) which has a plurality of transport units (3), of which a respective transport unit (3) comprises a support element (7) and a support element (9), wherein the respective support element (9) rests on the respective support element (7), and in which method (100) it is provided that - the support elements (7) are driven in rotation and containers stand on contact surfaces (16) of the support elements (9), and wherein - the respective support element (9) executes a compensating movement in the region of a transport plane of the horizontal conveyor device (1), in which the respective support element (9) essentially maintains a horizontal orientation of its planar contact surface (16) when the respective support element (7) inclines in the region of the transport plane.

11. Method (100) according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of transport units (3) are connected to one another in an articulated manner and transport containers to one another as a hinged belt chain (12) transport.

12. Method (100) according to claim 10 or claim 11, with several shuttles (13), of which a respective shuttle (13) is formed by at least two transport units (3), of which the flat contact surfaces (16) of their support elements (9) together form a base for a respective container and wherein a each container rests on the respective base of the respective shuttle (13) during transport, and wherein individual or all of the shuttles (13) are moved perpendicularly or obliquely to the transport direction (TR) in order to distribute containers over several lines.

13. Method (100) according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein a respective Transport unit (3) comprises a groove and a pin, wherein the pin is guided and moved in the groove when the respective support element (9) executes a compensating movement.

14. Method (100) according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein a respective transport unit (3) comprises a cushion filled with viscous medium, which cushion supports the respective support element (9), so that the respective support element (9) carries out a compensating movement while deforming the cushion.

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