# US 10,766,708 B2 · Guide rail configuration, conveyor and method for conveying containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,708 B2 - Document ID: US10766708B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/469,116 - Filed: 2017-11-08 - Published: 2020-01-16 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-12 - Assignees: Sicpa Holding SA - Applicants: Sicpa Holding SA - Inventors: Diego De Carvalho Costa; Raynier Douglas Barbosa Gomes; Nilton Marchetto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766708B2 ## CPC - B65G 21/2072: {Laterial guidance means} - B65G 47/766: {Adjustable ploughs or transverse scrapers} - B65G 47/82: Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)} - B65G 2203/0233: Position of the article - B65G 2203/042: Sensors - B65G 2207/08: Adjustable and/or adaptable to the article size - 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 The present invention refers to a guide rail configuration for a conveyor and conveyor comprising a guide rail configuration, wherein the conveyor may, for example, be used for conveying products, packages or containers. The guide rail configuration may comprise a detector, in particular a distance sensor or a camera, configured to detect a distance to a lateral side of a container conveyed by the conveyor, or a lateral dimension of the container, wherein the actuator is activated on the basis of a measurement signal from the detector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guide rail configuration suitable for guiding containers in a conveyor, the guide rail configuration comprising at least one guiding structure, including: a guide element for guiding a container, the guide element comprising a guiding portion, a support and a carrier, wherein end portions of the guiding portion are connected to the support; wherein the guide rail configuration further comprises: an attachment member providing a mounting portion for mounting the guiding structure to a portion of the conveyor, an electric actuator, configured to move the guide element relatively to the attachment member, wherein the guiding portion comprises, in the conveying direction, an inclined portion which is inclined in the conveying direction, a substantially flat portion and a portion declining towards the support, such that the guiding portion is partially distanced from the support, and wherein the guide rail configuration further comprises: a first shaft and a second shaft connecting the attachment member and a vertical support supporting the guide element, wherein the carrier is mounted to a support body of a vertical support via screws such that, the guide element and the vertical support are movable together, wherein the support body of the vertical support comprises longitudinal through holes for the screws to be inserted through them upon mounting, the guide element is shiftable in a vertical direction by partially releasing the screws so as to position the guide element in a vertical direction, and a detector, in particular a distance sensor or a camera, configured to detect a distance to a lateral side of a container conveyed by the conveyor or a lateral dimension of the container, wherein the electric actuator is activated on the basis of a measurement signal from the detector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guide rail configuration according to claim 1, wherein the first shaft and/or the second shaft is provided with a gear which is in engagement with a gear or the actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The guide rail configuration according to claim 1, wherein the electric actuator is a stepping motor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The guide rail configuration according to claim 1, wherein the electric actuator is configured to provide a rotational movement converted to a linear movement of the guide element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The guide rail configuration according to claim 1, wherein the electric actuator is mounted on the attachment member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The guide rail configuration according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is mounted on a vertical support. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The guide rail configuration according to claim 6, wherein the guide element is mounted on the vertical support in a releasable manner so that the guide element may be rearranged relatively to the vertical support. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The guide rail configuration according to claim 1, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft connect the attachment member and the carrier of the guide element via the vertical support, wherein the first shaft and/or the second shaft is provided with a bevel gear which is in engagement with a bevel gear of the electric actuator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The guide rail configuration according to claim 8, wherein one of the shafts, in particular the second shaft, extends through a spindle nut. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The guide rail configuration according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail configuration comprises a controller, in particular a programmable logic controller, wherein the controller is configured to compare a measurement signal from the detector with one or more previous measurement signals of the detector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The guide rail configuration according to claim 1, comprising two guiding structures arranged opposite to each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The guide rail configuration according to claim 11, further comprising two distance sensors arranged opposite to each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A conveyor for conveying containers, the conveyor comprising a supporting structure and a conveying element, in particular a conveyor belt, one or more conveying chains, one or more conveying straps or a plurality of conveying rolls, wherein the conveyor further comprises at least one guide rail configuration according to claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The conveyor according to claim 13, further comprising a main controller, in particular a programmable logic controller, wherein the main controller is configured to compare a measurement signal from the detector with one or more previous measurement signals, and/or the conveyor further comprising a printer or a labeling device for applying a marking or a label to a container guided by the guide element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method of guiding a container in a conveyor according to claim 13, comprising the following steps: moving a container in a conveying direction, detecting a lateral side or a lateral dimension of the container, in which method detecting preferably takes place either by means of a distance sensor and/or a camera, and moving a guide element on the basis of a measurement signal from the detector, in particular in a horizontal direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the measurement signal from the detector is compared with one or more previous measurement signals and the guiding element is moved on the basis of a deviation between the current measurement signal and the one or more previous measurement signals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein moving the guide element is performed by converting a rotational movement of an electric actuator, in particular a stepping motor, to a linear movement of the guide element, and/or the method is characterized by instructing a printer or labeling device for applying a marking or a label to the container guided by the guide element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of detecting refers to detecting a distance to the container in a direction traverse the conveying direction, in particular a horizontal direction, and/or detecting a lateral dimension of the container, the lateral dimension being a dimension in a direction traverse the conveying direction.