# US 11,027,926 B2 · Conveying apparatus for transporting individual products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,926 B2 - Document ID: US11027926B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/760,317 - Filed: 2016-07-04 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-24 - Assignees: Espera-Werke GmbH - Applicants: ESPERA-Werke GmbH - Inventors: Winfried Vicktorius; Mario Wiegel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027926B2 ## CPC - B65G 21/06: constructed to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling - B65C 1/02: Affixing labels to one flat surface of articles, e.g. of packages, of flat bands - B65C 9/02: Devices for moving articles, e.g. containers, past labelling station - B65G 21/00: Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors - B65G 43/00: Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting - 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) - B65C: LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES (nailing or stapling in general B25C, B27F; applying labels for packaging purposes B65B; labels, name-plates G09F ){(series-printing machines B41L; containers for the storage or transport of packages B65D)} ## Abstract The disclosure relates to a conveying apparatus for transporting individual products, having a feed device comprising a transport means for transporting the respective product in a direction of transport which runs at an angle to the direction of gravity, wherein the transport means has a resting surface for the respective product, having a control device comprising at least one electronic component, and having a frame bearing a holder which is movable between an operating position and a maintenance position and which bears at least one electronic component, wherein the at least one electronic component, in the operating position of the holder, is ready for operation. The disclosure proposes that the control device is ready for operation also in the maintenance position. The disclosure also relates to a labeling apparatus having such a conveying apparatus and having an applicator for applying a label to the respective product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conveying apparatus for transporting individual products, comprising: a feed device comprising a transport element for transporting the respective product in a direction of transport which runs at an angle to the direction of gravity, wherein the transport element has a resting surface for the respective product; a control device comprising at least one electronic component; and a frame bearing a holder which is movable between an operating position and a maintenance position and which bears at least one electronic component; wherein the at least one electronic component, in the operating position of the holder, is ready for operation; wherein the at least one electronic component is ready for operation also in the maintenance position; wherein, in the vertical direction, the maintenance position is higher than the operating position; and wherein the at least one electronic component lies, in the operating position, primarily vertically below an upper plane which is orthogonal to the direction of gravity and which is coplanar to the resting surface of the transport element of the feed device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a center of gravity and/or a midpoint of a surface of the at least one electronic component which is facing away from the holder lies, in the operating position, respectively in a first plane orthogonal to the direction of gravity and, in the maintenance position, respectively in a second plane orthogonal to the direction of gravity, which second plane is distanced from the respectively first plane counter to the direction of gravity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder and/or the at least one electronic component lies, in the operating position, mostly within an outer boundary of the frame and/or, in the maintenance position, mostly outside the outer boundary of the frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic component lies, in the maintenance position, mostly vertically above the upper plane which is orthogonal to the direction of gravity and in which runs parallel to the resting surface of the transport element of the feed device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder and/or the at least one electronic component lies, in the maintenance position, outside a projection of the resting surface of the transport element of the feed device which faces counter to the direction of gravity, the shortest horizontal distance between the holder and the projection being less than 150 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder and/or the at least one electronic component, in the maintenance position, lies closer to the transport element than in the operating position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder is translationally movable and/or pivotable and in the maintenance position, is shifted by an angle of 75-105° in relation to the operating position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a front end and/or a rear end of the holder is movable between the operating position and the maintenance position along a motional path which has at least one curved and/or at least one straight portion, wherein the motional path runs in particular in a plane which runs parallel to the direction of gravity and orthogonally to the direction of transport. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder is guided with its rear half, in at least one guide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the guide is connected immovably to the frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder has at least one guide in which a guide counterpart is guided. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the guide counterpart is connected movably to the frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guide counterpart is a pin or a roller, which is connected to the frame via a lever. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein a spring acts on the guide counterpart and/or the lever and/or the holder and pretensions the guide counterpart or the lever or the holder in the direction from the operating position to the maintenance position or counter to the direction of gravity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guide counterpart is connected pivotably to the frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has at least one support arm, which bears the transport element of the feed device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein in the direction of gravity beneath the transport element of the feed device, with the exception of the at least one support arm, no further components of the frame and/or of the conveying apparatus are arranged. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame forms a housing, and the holder and/or the at least one electronic component lies, in the operating position, mostly within the housing and/or, in the maintenance position, mostly outside the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A labeling apparatus, comprising: a conveying apparatus for transporting individual products, as claimed in claim 1, and an applicator for applying labels to the respective product. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder and/or the at least one electronic component lies, in the maintenance position, outside a projection of the resting surface of the transport element of the feed device which faces counter to the direction of gravity, the shortest horizontal distance between the holder and the projection being less than 50 mm.