# US 10,246,268 B2 · Container conveyor comprising connecting elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,268 B2 - Document ID: US10246268B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/781,852 - Filed: 2016-11-14 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-10 - Assignees: KHS GmbH - Applicants: KHS GmbH - Inventors: Michael Beisel; Marcus Krauth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246268B2 ## CPC - B65G 47/846: {Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements} - B67C 3/22: Details - F16B 7/048: {for rods or for tubes without using the innerside thereof} - B65G 2207/30: Modular constructions - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B67C: CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A container conveyor has a conveying elements and a connecting elements. The connecting element has a cut-out opening that receives a portion of the conveyor element's housing and clamps to it. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising a container conveyor for conveying suspended containers, wherein said container conveyor comprises a first conveying element and a first connecting element, wherein said first conveying element comprises a housing and an advancing wheel, wherein said housing is selected from the group consisting of a columnar housing and a tubular housing, wherein said advancing wheel is driven such as to rotate about a machine axis, wherein said advancing wheel comprises container receptacles, wherein said first connecting element is projects laterally, wherein said first connecting element is tubular, wherein said first connecting element is clamped to said housing at a first connection to support said housing and to connect said housing to a structure, wherein said structure is selected from the group consisting of a second conveying element and a machine frame, wherein said connecting element comprises a first end and a first cut-out opening, wherein said first cut-out opening is disposed at said first end, wherein said connecting element forms said first connection using said first cut-out opening, wherein said connecting element is located laterally such as to fit onto a circumferential surface of said housing, wherein said connecting element has a longitudinal extension that is oriented tangential to said circumferential surface, and wherein said connecting element is secured to said housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises, at least in a region of the first connection, a circular-cylindrical outer surface or casing surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clamping bar, wherein the clamping bar clamps the first connecting element to the housing and wherein the clamping bar engages around the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure with which the housing is to be connected is selected to be the second conveying element, wherein the first and second conveying elements follow one another in a container-conveying direction, wherein the second conveying element has the same features as the first conveying element, wherein the first connecting element comprises a second end at which there exists a second cut-out opening, wherein the first connecting element uses the second cut-out opening to form a second connection, and wherein the second connection connects the first connecting element to the housing of the second conveying element, whereby the first connecting element connects the housings of the first and second conveying elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pin guide at said first connection, wherein the pin guide defines an orientation of the first connecting element relative to the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pin guide comprises a centering pin and a centering opening, wherein the centering pin engages the centering opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a clamping bar, wherein the centering pin is provided at the clamping bar and wherein the centering opening is provided at the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a clamping screw for said clamping bar and a spacing element inside said first connecting element, wherein the spacing element forms a threaded element, wherein said clamping screw engages through an opening in said first connecting element into a thread of said threaded element, and wherein said spacing element is connected to said first connecting element at an end remote from said clamping screw. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a clamping bar, wherein the centering pin is provided at the housing and the centering opening is provided at the clamping bar. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of lines and cables, wherein the housing comprises an opening in a region of the first connection, where said opening connects an interior of said first connecting element with an interior of said housing, wherein said first connecting element guides said at least one of lines and cables into said housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a separation insert, wherein said separation insert is in said first connecting element, and wherein said separation insert extends between said first connection and a second connection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising second and third conveying elements, wherein said first, second, and third conveying elements connect to one another in a container-conveying direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second connecting element, wherein said first connecting element connects said housing of said first conveying element to a second conveying element, wherein said second connecting element connects said housing of said first conveying element to a third conveying element, wherein said first and second connecting elements are offset from each other along said machine axis, and wherein said first and second connecting elements are oriented such that said longitudinal extension of said first connecting element forms an angle relative to a longitudinal extension of said second connecting element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises, at least in a region of the first connection, is formed from a tube piece with a circular-cylindrical outer surface or casing surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a cover, wherein said cover closes ends of said tube piece. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising seals for sealing said first connection in a region of said first cut-out opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connecting element is a single piece. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connecting element is a multi-part connecting element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connecting element comprises a first end piece, a second end piece, an intermediate piece, and a second cut-out opening, wherein said intermediate piece is between said first and second end pieces, wherein said intermediate piece is tubular, wherein said first cut-out opening is on said first end piece, and wherein said second cut-out opening is formed on said second end piece. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a seal, a centering pin, and a centering opening, wherein said seal seals said centering pin and said centering opening, wherein said seal is configured such that, when forming said first connection, clamping said connecting element to said housing causes said centering pin to perforate said seal.