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AssigneeIPT Weinfelden AG
InventorsThomas Mueller, Ernst Kuenzler
Estimating the term…
The conveying method comprises a flying takeover of containers (1) being fed into a takeover area (U.1) in a container stream, hanging conveyance of the containers along a conveying path (FS) with a freely selectable course and delivery of the containers in a delivery area (U.2). For taking over the containers, a sequence of individual and equidistant holding means (5) is supplied to the takeover area (U.1) along a descending curved path (7′) joining a container feeding path (8) tangentially at the end of the takeover area (U.1) and the holding means (5) are introduced into the container stream each between two containers (1). At the beginning of this introduction, the holding means have a speed (v′) greater than the container speed (v) and during introduction they are decelerated to the container speed (v). Thereby, the feeding of containers and holding means is matched such that each holding means (5) reaches the container feeding speed (v) when it encircles the container downstream, i.e. when it is in an at least potential holding position relative to this container. At the latest in the delivery area, the holding means are turned by 180° around a vertical axis such that for delivery the containers to a container removing means (11), the holding means (5) can be conveyed away along an upward curved path. The curved path of the holding means in the takeover area (U.1) and/or in the delivery area (U.2) may also be realized by individual pivoting of the holding means (5).
A method for conveying containers (1) in a hanging position, the containers (1) having a bottom and, substantially opposite to the bottom, an opening area with an open or closed opening, wherein the containers (1) are taken over by holding means (5) in a takeover area (U.1) to which takeover area the containers (1) are fed with the aid of a conveying force acting on a bottom area of the containers (1) in a container stream having a predetermined container feeding speed (v) and a predetermined distance (d) between the containers, wherein the containers are conveyed along a conveying path (FS) in a hanging position while being held by the holding means (5) in their opening area and wherein the containers (1) are separated from the holding means (5) in a delivery area (U.2), wherein, in the takeover area (U.1), the holding means (5) are introduced into the container stream along a descending curved path (7′), wherein at the end of the takeover area (U.1) the descending curved path (7′) joins a container feeding path (8) tangentially, wherein on being introduced into the container stream, the holding means at the beginning have a speed (v′) different from the container feeding speed (v) and are then decelerated or accelerated to reach the container feeding speed (v) and wherein feeding of the containers (1) and of the holding means (5) into the takeover area (U.1) is such that on reaching the container feeding speed, each holding means encircles a container (1) from upstream or from downstream, wherein the holding means (5) are conveyed into the takeover area (U.1) from above and along a path (7′) curved towards the container stream and the position of the holding means (5) in the takeover area relative to the curved path (7′) stays substantially unchanged;
A method for conveying containers (1) in a hanging position, the containers (1) having a bottom and, substantially opposite to the bottom, an opening area with an open or closed opening, wherein the containers (1) are taken over by holding means (5) in a takeover area (U.1) to which takeover area the containers (1) are fed with the aid of a conveying force acting on the bottom area of the containers (1) in a container stream having a predetermined container feeding speed (v) and a predetermined distance (d) between the containers, wherein the containers are conveyed along a conveying path (FS) held by the holding means (5) in their opening area and wherein the containers (1) are separated from the holding means (5) in a delivery area (U.2), characterized in that in the takeover area (U.1), the holding means (5) are introduced into the container stream along a descending curved path (7′), wherein at the end of the takeover area (U.1) the descending curved path (7′) loins a container feeding path (8) tangentially, wherein on being introduced into the container stream, the holding means at the beginning have a speed (v′) different from the container feeding speed (v) and are then decelerated or accelerated to reach the container feeding speed (v) and wherein feeding of the containers (1) and of the holding means (5) into the takeover area (U.1) is such that on reaching the container feeding speed, each holding means encircles a container (1) from upstream or from downstream, the holding means (5) are conveyed into the takeover area (U.1) from above and along a path (7′) curved towards the container stream or on a path substantially parallel to the container stream and, in the takeover area (U.1), each holding means (5) is pivoted individually;
A device comprising a plurality of holding means (5) and a transport means for conveying the holding means (5) equidistantly along a predetermined path (7′) through a takeover area (U.1) then along a conveying path (FS) to a delivery area (U.2) and away from the delivery area (U.2), the device further comprising a container feeding means (3) acting on the bottom area of the containers (1) for conveying the containers (1) along a container feeding path (8) through the takeover area (U.1), wherein the predetermined path (7′) on which the holding means (5) are conveyable through the takeover area (U.1) is curved and descending towards the container feeding path (8) and joins the container feeding path (8) at the end of the takeover area (U.1) tangentially, and wherein, on being conveyed along the curved path (7′), the holding means (5) are distanced from the transport means radially or are pivotable relative to the transport means in conveying direction or opposite to the conveying direction in a controlled manner and in that the transport means and the container feeding means (3) are driveable at the same speed and wherein the holding means are adapted to deliver the containers to a removing means (11) in the delivery area (U.2) in a controlled manner, operation of the holding means at the delivery area corresponding to a relative speed of the container as compared to a speed of the removing means, such that the structure of the device is selected from the group consisting of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.