# US 2009/0260952 A1 · Conveyor for transporting bottles or containers having varying diameters in lines to a bottle or container cleaning machine or packaging machine, and a method and apparatus for conveying bottles or containers

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- Number: US 2009/0260952 A1
- Document ID: US20090260952A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/413,512
- Filed: 2009-03-27
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2006-09-30
- Assignees: KHS GmbH
- Inventors: Klaus Jendrichowski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260952A1

## CPC

- B65G 21/2072: {Laterial guidance means}
- B65G 2047/685: {Devices for preventing jamming in converging flows}
- 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

Conveyor for transporting bottles or containers having varying diameters in lines to a bottle or container cleaning machine or packaging machine, and a method and apparatus for conveying bottles or containers. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A conveyor configured to transport bottles or containers having varying diameters in lines to a bottle or container handling machine comprising one of a bottle or container cleaning machine and a bottle or container packaging machine, said conveyor comprising:
at least one conveyor surface being configured and disposed to contact and move bottles or containers thereon in a direction of transport;
three elongated guide walls being disposed substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another to define two guide lanes there between in which bottles or containers being moved by said at least one conveyor surface are to be guided;
said three elongated guide walls being disposed above and to extend along at least a portion of said at least one conveyor surface in the direction of transport;
said three elongated guide walls comprising a first elongated guide wall, a second elongated guide wall, and a third elongated guide wall, said second elongated guide wall being disposed between said first elongated guide wall and said third elongated guide wall;
a first movable guide wall being disposed on a first side of said second elongated guide wall between said second elongated guide wall and said first elongated guide wall;
a second movable guide wall being disposed on a second side of said second elongated guide wall between said second elongated guide wall and said third elongated guide wall; and
each of said movable guide walls being configured to be moved back and forth to varying positions between a first position immediately adjacent said second elongated guide wall and a second position a distance away from said second elongated guide wall projecting into said guide lanes to thereby adjust the width of said guide lanes to substantially match the width of bottles or containers having varying diameters to be transported.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein:
each of said movable guide walls are configured to be moved across the guide lanes at a right angle to the direction of transport; and
each of said movable guide walls have, on their forward and/or rear end with reference to the direction of transport, a guide segment which forms a transition between its corresponding guide structure and said movable guide wall.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The conveyor according to claim 2, wherein:
said guide segments are provided in an articulated manner on said movable guide walls or on its corresponding elongated guide wall; and
said guide segments are prestressed for flexible contact against its corresponding elongated guide wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The conveyor according to claim 3, wherein:
said movable guide walls are configured to be adjusted symmetrically; and
said movable guide walls are provided solely on those guide walls which separate two other adjacent guide walls from each other.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The conveyor according to claim 4, wherein:
said second elongated guide wall comprises at least one adjustment element for the movement of each movable wall;
said movable walls are configured to be moved simultaneously by said at least one adjustment element disposed there between; and
said elongated guide walls are oriented vertically at a right angle or essentially a right angle to a horizontal transport plane of said conveyor.

### Claim 6

A conveyor configured to transport bottles or containers having varying diameters, said conveyor comprising:
at least one conveyor surface being configured and disposed to contact and move bottles or containers in a direction of transport;
at least two elongated guide walls being disposed to extend in the direction of transport;
said at least two elongated guide walls comprising a first elongated guide wall and a second elongated guide wall;
said first elongated guide wall and said second elongated guide wall being disposed substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another to define an elongated guide lane there between in which bottles or containers being moved by said at least one conveyor surface are to be guided;
a movable guide wall being disposed on a first side of said second elongated guide wall between said second elongated guide wall and said first elongated guide wall; and
said movable guide wall being configured to be moved to varying positions between a first position immediately adjacent said second elongated guide wall and a second position a distance away from said second elongated guide wall projecting into said guide lane to thereby adjust the width of said guide lane to permit bottles or containers having varying diameters to be transported.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The conveyor according to claim 6, wherein:
said at least two elongated guide structures comprise a plurality of elongated guide structures configured and disposed substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart at intervals from one another to define a plurality of elongated guide lanes there between in which bottles or containers being moved by said at least one conveyor surface are to be guided; and
said movable guide wall comprises a plurality of movable guide walls, wherein only one movable guide wall is disposed between each pair of adjacent elongated guide structures.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The conveyor according to claim 7, wherein:
each of said movable guide walls is configured to be moved across its corresponding guide lane at a right angle to the direction of transport; and
each of said movable guide walls have, on their forward and/or rear end with reference to the direction of transport, a guide segment which forms a transition between its corresponding guide structure and said movable guide wall.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The conveyor according to claim 8, wherein:
said guide segments are provided in an articulated manner on said movable guide walls or on its corresponding guide structure; and
said guide segments are prestressed for flexible contact against its corresponding guide structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The conveyor according to claim 9, wherein:
each of said guide structures comprises at least one adjustment element for the movement of each movable wall;
each of said adjustment elements are connected to a common drive arrangement; and
each of said guide structures comprises a wall which extends in the direction of transport and is oriented vertically at a right angle or essentially a right angle to a horizontal transport plane of said conveyor.

### Claim 11

A method of transporting bottles or containers having varying diameters, said method comprising the steps of:
moving bottles or containers in a direction of transport between two elongated guide structures being disposed to extend in the direction of transport;
contacting and guiding bottles or containers with guide surfaces of said elongated guide structures; and
adjusting the distance between said guide surfaces and thus the width of said guide lane by varying the position of at least one of said guide surfaces with respect to the other of said guide surfaces to permit bottles or containers having varying diameters to be transported.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A conveyor for performing the method of transporting bottles or containers having varying diameters according to claim 11, said conveyor comprising:
at least one conveyor surface being configured and disposed to contact and move bottles or containers in a direction of transport;
at least two elongated guide structures being disposed to extend in the direction of transport;
said at least two elongated guide structures comprising at least a first elongated guide structure and a second elongated guide structure;
said first elongated guide structure and said second elongated guide structure being disposed substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another to define an elongated guide lane there between in which bottles or containers being moved by said at least one conveyor surface are to be guided;
said first elongated guide structure comprising a guide surface being configured and disposed to contact and guide bottles or containers;
said second elongated guide structure comprising a guide surface being configured and disposed to contact and guide bottles or containers;
said guide surfaces being disposed to face one another;
at least one of said guide surfaces being configured to be varied in position with respect to the other of said guide surfaces to permit adjustment of the distance between said guide surfaces and thus the width of said guide lane to permit bottles or containers having varying diameters to be transported.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The conveyor according to claim 12, wherein:
said at least two elongated guide structures comprise a plurality of elongated guide structures configured and disposed substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart at intervals from one another to define a plurality of elongated guide lanes there between in which bottles or containers being moved by said at least one conveyor surface are to be guided; and
each of said elongated guide structures comprises at least one guide surface being configured and disposed to contact and guide bottles or containers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The conveyor according to claim 13 in combination with a guide lane adjustment kit, wherein:
each of said elongated guide structures comprises a guide wall; and
said kit comprises at least two sets of moldings having different thicknesses and being configured to be placed over said guide walls of said elongated guide structures to permit adjustment of the thickness of said elongated guide structures and thus the widths of said guide lanes to permit bottles or containers having varying diameters to be transported.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The combination according to claim 14, wherein said guide walls are oriented vertically at a right angle or essentially a right angle to a horizontal transport plane of said conveyor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The conveyor according to claim 13, wherein:
said plurality of guide structures are disposed in pairs on opposite sides of a corresponding guide lane defined by each pair; and
at least one of each pair of guide structures comprises a movable guide wall configured to be moved to vary the position one of said guide surfaces with respect to the other of said guide surfaces.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The conveyor according to claim 16, wherein:
each of said movable guide walls is configured to be moved across its corresponding guide lane at a right angle to the direction of transport; and
each of said movable guide walls have, on their forward and/or rear end with reference to the direction of transport, a guide segment which forms a transition between its corresponding guide structure and said movable guide wall.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The conveyor according to claim 17, wherein:
said guide segments are provided in an articulated manner on said movable guide walls or on its corresponding guide structure; and
said guide segments are prestressed for flexible contact against its corresponding guide structure.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The conveyor according to claim 18, wherein:
each of said guide structures comprises at least one adjustment element for the movement of each movable wall; and
each of said adjustment elements are connected to a common drive arrangement.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The conveyor according to claim 19, wherein:
each of said guide structures comprises a wall which extends in the direction of transport and is oriented vertically at a right angle or essentially a right angle to a horizontal transport plane of said conveyor; and
each of said guide structures comprises a pair of movable walls disposed on either side of said wall, which pair of movable walls are configured to be moved simultaneously by at least one of said adjustment elements disposed there between.