# US 10,479,616 B2 · Transport device for transporting at least one product, in particular for forming rows and/or groups of products

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- Number: US 10,479,616 B2
- Document ID: US10479616B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/919,696
- Filed: 2018-03-13
- Published: 2018-09-13
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-13
- Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH
- Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH
- Inventors: Alfred Wipf; Philipp Kathan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479616B2

## CPC

- B65G 47/28: during transit by a single conveyor
- B65G 17/24: comprising a series of rollers which are moved {, e.g. over a supporting surface, by the traction element to effect conveyance of loads or load-carriers}
- B65G 17/42: Attaching load carriers to traction elements
- B65G 47/268: {by means of belt or chain conveyor}
- B65G 2811/0631: by varying the spacing between individual articles
- 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)

## Abstract

A transport device for transporting at least one product (12a; 12b), with at least one guide unit (14a; 14b), with at least one conveyor unit (16a; 16b), which has at least one continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) mounted movably relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), which comprises at least one movably mounted conveyor element (20a; 20b), and at least one further movably mounted conveyor element (22a; 22b), which are connected to each other to form the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) and are at least jointly movable relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), and with at least one conveyor drive unit (24a; 24b) for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), in particular for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) in rotation about the guide unit (14a; 14b).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transport device for transporting product (12a; 12b), the transport device comprising
at least one guide unit (14a; 14b),
at least one conveyor unit (16a; 16b), which has at least one continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) mounted movably relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), the at least one continuous conveyor unit (18a, 18b) configured to transport the products along a main transport direction (50a, 50b) and including at least one movably mounted conveyor element (20a; 20b) and at least one further movably mounted conveyor element (22a; 22b), wherein the conveyor elements are connected to each other to form the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) and are at least jointly movable relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b),
at least one conveyor drive unit (24a; 24b) for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), and
at least one individual drive unit (26a; 26b) which is provided at least to individually drive at least the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b), wherein the individual drive unit (26a, 26b) includes at least one actuator (78a, 78b, 48a, 48b) for driving the at least one conveyor element (20a, 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a, 22b) so as to adjust a spacing between the products along the main transport direction (50a, 50b), wherein the at least one conveyor element (20a, 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a, 22b) each extend along an axis that is perpendicular to the main transport direction (50a, 50b) of the continuous conveyor unit (18a, 18b).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) is assigned to a conveyor group (30a; 30b) of the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b), and the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b) is assigned to a further conveyor group (32a; 32b) of the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b), wherein the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) is provided at least to individually drive the conveyor group (30a; 30b) and/or the further conveyor group (32a; 32b).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) has at least one form-fit and/or force-fit drive element (34a, 36a; 34b, 36b) which, in order to drive the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b), interacts with the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and/or with the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The transport device according to claim 3, characterized in that the form-fit and/or force-fit drive element (34a, 36a; 34b, 36b) is a toothed belt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The transport device according to claim 3, characterized in that the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) has at least one drive element (38a, 40a, 42a, 44a; 38b, 40b, 42b, 44b) which is arranged on the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) or on the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The transport device according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one drive element (38a, 40a, 42a, 44a; 38b, 40b, 42b, 44b) is a toothed element, which is provided to interact with a form-fit and/or force-fit drive element (34a, 36a; 34b, 36b) of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) has at least one coupling unit (46a; 46b) which is provided to move at least one drive element (38a, 40a, 42a, 44a; 38b, 40b, 42b, 44b) of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) and/or a form-fit and/or force-fit drive element (34a, 36a; 34b, 36b) of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) for coupling them to each other or for uncoupling them.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) is arranged at least partially on two mutually remote sides of the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and/or of the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The transport device at least according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator of the individual drive unit is one of an electric motor (78a, 78b) or a magnetic drive element (48a; 48b), which interacts with the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and/or with the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b) in order to drive the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The transport device according to claim 1, characterized by at least one vacuum unit (28a; 28b) for generating an underpressure in order to draw the at least one product (12a; 12b) in a direction of the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b) have/has a maximum circumferential surface extent along a direction extending transversely with respect to the main transport direction (50a; 50b) of the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b), which maximum circumferential surface extent corresponds at least substantially to a maximum transverse extent (54a; 54b) of the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b).

### Claim 12

A method for transporting products (12a; 12b) along a main transport direction (50a, 50b), wherein, in at least one method step, at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) is driven and rotated about an axis that is perpendicular to the main transport direction (50a, 50b) by means of an individual drive unit (26a; 26b) with a rotational speed and/or a rotational direction (56a, 58a; 56b, 58b) which differs from a rotational speed and/or a rotational direction (56a, 58a; 56b, 58b) of at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b), wherein the at least one further conveyor element (22a, 22b) additionally is driven about an axis that is perpendicular to the main transport direction (50a, 50b).

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, in at least one method step, the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b) are driven in opposite rotational directions (56a, 58a; 56b, 58b) by means of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b), such that a spacing between the products along the main transport direction (50a, 50b) is adjusted.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, in at least one method step, a rotational movement of the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and of the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b), generated by means of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b), superposes a driving movement, generated by means of a conveyor drive unit (24a; 24b), of the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b).

### Claim 15

A transport device for forming rows and/or groups of products (12a; 12b), the transport device comprising
at least one guide unit (14a; 14b),
at least one conveyor unit (16a; 16b), which has at least one continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) mounted movably relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), wherein the continuous conveyor unit is an endless conveyor roller transport belt that moves the products along a main transport direction (50a, 50b), and which includes at least one movably mounted conveyor element (20a; 20b), wherein the at least one movably mounted conveyor element is a conveyor roller, and wherein the continuous conveyor unit further includes at least one further movably mounted conveyor element (22a; 22b), wherein the at least one further movably mounted conveyor element is a further conveyor roller, wherein the conveyor elements are connected to each other to form the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) and are at least jointly movable relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b),
at least one conveyor drive unit (24a; 24b) for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) in rotation about the guide unit (14a; 14b), and
at least one individual drive unit (26a; 26b) which is provided at least to individually drive at least the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b), in addition to driving of the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), wherein the individual drive unit (26a, 26b) includes at least one electric motor (78a, 78b) for driving the at least one conveyor element (20a, 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a, 22b) so as to adjust a spacing between the products along the main transport direction (50a, 50b), wherein the at least one conveyor element (20a, 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a, 22b) each extend along and rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to the main transport direction (50a, 50b) of the continuous conveyor unit (18a, 18b).

### Claim 16 (depends on 5)

The transport device according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one drive element (38a, 40a, 42a, 44a; 38b, 40b, 42b, 44b) is a toothed wheel, which is provided to interact with a form-fit and/or force-fit drive element (34a, 36a; 34b, 36b) of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b).

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A method for forming rows and/or groups of products (12a; 12b) using a transport device according to claim 1, wherein, in at least one method step, the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) is driven by means of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) with a rotational speed and/or a rotational direction (56a, 58a; 56b, 58b) which differs from a rotational speed and/or a rotational direction (56a, 58a; 56b, 58b) of the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b), so as to adjust the spacing between the products along the main transport direction 50a, 50b).

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, in at least one method step, the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b) are driven in opposite rotational directions (56a, 58a; 56b, 58b) by means of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b).

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, wherein, in at least one method step, a rotational movement of the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) and of the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b), generated by means of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b), superposes a driving movement, generated by means of a conveyor drive unit (24a; 24b), of the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b).

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein, in the at least one method step, the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) is driven and rotated about the axis by means of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) with a rotational speed which differs from a rotational speed of the at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b).

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, wherein, in the at least one method step, the at least one conveyor element (20a; 20b) is driven and rotated about the axis by means of the individual drive unit (26a; 26b) with a rotational speed which differs from a rotational speed of at least one further conveyor element (22a; 22b).

### Claim 22 (depends on 3)

The transport device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one form-fit and/or force-fit drive element (34a, 36a; 34b, 36b) is a form-fit drive element.