Device for transporting bottles

• US 6,516,939 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KHS Corpoplast Gmbh (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: GEA Beteiligungsgesellschaft III mbH (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Andreas, Niehr, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US09/806,217
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 198/426, 198/427, 198/429, 198/430, 198/432, 198/458, 198/681, 198/803.14, 198/803.15, 141/169, 141/170, 141/178, 141/237
• US Class Current: 198/458
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0244 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/5104 for articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/53 between conveyors which cross one another
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/242 engaging with bottle necks B67C3/26 takes precedence

Abstract

For transporting bottles with a carrying ring in the neck region, particularly PET bottles, along a specified path of motion through processing stations (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), of a processing installation particularly a bottle-filling installation, in each case a number of bottles (8), grouped in a row (9) transversely to the direction of transport (20), is transported by a carrier (13) and positioned relative to the latter. The carriers (13) can be moved by conveying chains (11) or similar driving means at uniform intervals consecutively from a bottle feeding station (1) past at least one processing station, especially a filling station, to a bottle delivery station (7) and, from there, empty back to the bottle feeding station. As carrier for a row (9) of bottles (8), a cellular board-like flat carrying strip (13) is provided. Each bottle (8) is supported suspended with its neck (25) in an opening (16; 30) of the carrying strip (13), the carrying ring (24), at the neck (25) of the bottles (8) overlapping the edge of the opening (16; 30) in the carrying strip (13). Above the plane of motion (15) of the carrying strips (13) on their way between the bottle feeding station (1) and the bottle delivery station (7), guiding strips (21, 22) are provided, which are disposed parallel next to one another, are parallel to the plane of motion (15) and, between themselves, form the boundaries of the guiding paths (23) for the necks parts (25) of the bottles (8), which protrude over the carrying strips (13) and extend between the guiding strips (21), (22).

Claims

1. A device for transporting bottles with a carrying ring in the neck region, particularly PET bottles, along a specified path of motion through processing stations (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), of a processing installation particularly a bottle-filling installation, for which in each case a number of bottles (8), grouped in a row (9) transversely to the direction of transport (20), is transported by a carrier (13) and positioned relative to latter, the carriers (13) being movable by conveying chains (11) or similar driving means at uniform intervals consecutively from a bottle feeding station (1) past at least one processing station, especially a filling station, to a bottle delivery station (7) and, from there, empty back to the bottle feeding station, wherein, as carrier for a row (9) of bottles (8), a cellular board-like flat carrying strip (13) is provided, each bottle (8) is supported suspended with its neck (25) in an opening (16;

30) of the carrying strip (13), the carrying ring (24), at the neck (25) of the bottles (8) overlapping the edge of the opening (16;

30) in the carrying strip (13) and wherein, above the plane of motion (15) of the carrying strips (13) on their way between the bottle feeding station (1) and the bottle delivery station (7), guiding strips (21, 22) are provided, which are disposed parallel next to one another, are parallel to the plane of motion (15) and, between themselves, form the boundaries of the guiding paths (23) for the necks parts (25) of the bottles (8), which protrude over the carrying strips (13) and extend between the guiding strips (21), (22).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the carrying strips (13) have a longitudinal slot (16), which extends essentially over their whole length, is open at one side and forms an opening for jointly accommodating the bottles (8) of a row (9).

3. The device of claim 2, wherein an adjustable stop (17′

), which defines the end position of the first of the first bottle (8) of the row (9), conveyed consecutively from the side into the longitudinal slot (16) of the carrying strip (13), is assigned to the closed end (17) of the longitudinal slot (16).

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the carrying strips (13) have a number of bottles (8) in a row (9) corresponding to the number of individual openings (30;

45, 46) for the bottles (8).

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the individual openings have an inlet and outlet part (31;

47), starting from a longitudinal edge (13′

) of the carrying strip (13) and an end part (32;

48) for accommodating the neck parts (25) of the bottles (8) during the transport.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the individual openings are constructed L-shaped in plan view and have a first leg (31), which is aligned parallel to the direction of motion (20) of the carrying strips (13) during the transport and adjoins a longitudinal edge (13′

) of the carrying strip (13), as inlet and outlet part and a second leg (32), extending transversely to the direction of motion (20) of the carrying strip (13) as end part.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the open end of the first leg (31) of the L-shaped individual openings (30) faces the longitudinal edge (13′

) of the carrying strip (13), which is the front edge in the direction of motion (20).

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the end part (48) is constructed as a semicircular transporting seat, the closed side of which faces a front end (50, 51) of the carrying strip (13), and the inlet and outlet part is bounded by opening edges (54, 55), leading to a longitudinal edge (13′

) of the carrying part (13) and forming an arched slot.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the one inner opening edge (54), starting out on the side of the closed longitudinal edge (13″

) of the carrying strip (13) from the end part (48) of the individual openings (45, 46), is taken in an extended arched line to the open longitudinal edge (13′

) of the carrying strip (13).

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the open longitudinal edge (13′

) of the carrying strip (13), this extended arched line of the inner opening edge (54) goes over into an oppositely oriented arched line (56), which runs towards the outer opening edge (55) of the inlet and outlet part (47) of the adjacent individual opening (45, 46) and, in the vicinity of the end part (48), goes over into the outer opening edge (55).

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the individual openings (30) are assigned to two groups (52, 53), which are aligned in mirror-image fashion to one another, the closed sides (49) of the end parts (48) of the one groups (52) facing the one front end (50) and the other group (53) the other front end (51) of the carrying strip (13).

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the guiding strips (21, 22) form the boundary of guiding paths (23) which, at their inlet ends adjacent to the bottle feeding station (1), lie opposite the necks (25) of mutually adjoining bottles (8) in the row (9), the guiding paths (23), in the region adjoining the inlet ends of the guiding strips (21, 22), due to an arched course, change over to mutual distances from one another, which corresponds to a specified distance between the necks (25) of the bottles (8) of a row (9) in the processing station and wherein, in the region (27) of the outlet ends of the guiding strips (21, 22) adjoining the bottle delivery station (7), the guiding paths (23) are brought together by an arched course, so that the bottles (8) of a row (9) once again assume an adjoining position during the delivery.

13. A device for transporting bottles having a neck and a carrying ring arranged at the neck through at least one processing station, comprising:

carrying strips each arranged to carry a row of bottles, each of said carrying strips including at least one opening for supporting bottles by their necks such that edges of said at least one opening are adapted to underlie the carrying rings of the bottles;

driving means for moving said carrying strips in a direction of motion through the at least one processing station in a plane of movement, said rows of bottles being oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of motion; and

pairs of guiding strips arranged above the plane in which said carrying strips move, said guiding strips of each pair being parallel to one another and parallel to the plane in which said carrying strips move, said guiding strips of each pair forming a guiding path therebetween for guiding the necks of the bottles when said at least one opening of said carrying strips supports bottles.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said driving means comprise conveying chains.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said driving means are arranged to move said carrying strips at uniform intervals through the at least one processing station.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said carrying strips are flat.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein said at least one opening of each of said carrying strips is a longitudinal slot extending inward from one transverse edge toward an opposite transverse edge such that said slots are open at one side and closed at an opposite side.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising an adjustable stop arranged at said closed side of said slots and at a preselected end position relative to said carrying strips, said adjustable stop determining the position of a first one of the bottles in each of said slots.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings, each of said openings being adapted to support a respective one of the bottles.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein each of said openings has an inlet and outlet part adjoining a longitudinal edge of said carrying strip and an end part for accommodating the neck of a bottle.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein each of said openings has an L-shape having a first leg oriented parallel to the direction of motion of said carrying strip and adjoining a longitudinal edge of said carrying strip and a second leg adjoining said first leg and extending transverse to the direction of motion of said carrying strip for accommodating the neck of a bottle.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said first leg has an opening facing said longitudinal edge of said carrying strip, said longitudinal edge being a front edge of said carrying strip in the direction of motion of said carrying strips.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein each of said openings has a semicircular transporting seat for accommodating the neck of a bottle, said seat having a closed side facing a lateral edge of said carrying strip, each of said openings further having opening edges leading to a front, longitudinal edge of said carrying strip and forming an arched slot.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein each of said opening edges includes an inner opening edge extending in an arched line from said front edge of said carrying strip.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said carrying strips include arched lines oriented in an opposite direction to said inner opening edges and arranged between adjacent ones of said openings.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein each of said opening edges further includes an outer opening edge adjoining each of oppositely oriented arched lines.

27. The device of claim 19, wherein said openings comprises first and second groups of openings aligned in mirror-image fashion to one another, each of said openings having an end part having a closed side for supporting the neck of a bottle, said openings in said first group being arranged such that said closed sides of said openings face a first lateral edge of said carrying strip and said openings in said second group of openings being arranged such that said closed sides of said openings face a second lateral edge of said carrying strip opposite to said first lateral edge.

28. The device of claim 13, wherein at least some of said guiding strips have a first arcuate portion proximate a bottle inlet end of said guiding strips, a second arcuate portion proximate a bottle outlet end of said guiding strips and a straight portion between said first and second arcuate portions, said straight portions of said guiding strips being substantially parallel to one another.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein said first arcuate portions of said guiding strips are arranged to increase the spacing between bottles from the bottle inlet end of said guiding strips to said straight portion of said guiding strips and said second arcuate portions of said guiding strips are arranged to reduce the spacing between the bottles from said straight portions of said guiding strips to the bottle outlet end of said guiding strips.

30. A bottle processing installation;

comprising;

a bottle feeding station in which bottles having a neck and a carrying ring arranged at the neck are supplied to the installation;

a bottle delivery station in which bottles are removed from the installation;

at least one processing station arranged between said bottle feeding station and said bottle delivery station in which the bottles are processed; and

a transporting device for transporting bottles from said bottle feeding station to said bottle delivery station through said at least one processing station,

said transporting device comprising;

carrying strips each arranged to carry a row of bottles, each of said carrying strips including at least one opening having edges adapted to underlie the carrying rings of the bottles to thereby support the bottles;

driving means for moving said carrying strips in a direction of motion from said bottle feeding station to said bottle delivery station, said rows of bottles being oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of motion; and

guiding means for forming a plurality of guiding paths each arranged to guide one bottle of each row of bottles when carried by said carrying strips.

31. The bottle processing station of claim 30, wherein said guiding means comprise pairs of guiding strips, said guiding strips of each pair being parallel to one another and forming one of the guiding paths therebetween for guiding the bottles when said carrying strips carry bottles.

32. The bottle processing installation of claim 30, wherein said at least one processing station is one of a bottle sterilization station, a bottle drying station, a bottle filling station, a bottle lid placement station and a closing station.

33. The bottle processing installation of claim 30, wherein said driving means comprise an endless conveyor comprising chain wheels and conveyor chains running around said chain wheels.

34. The bottle processing installation of claim 33, further comprising connecting pieces for connecting said carrying strips to said conveyor chains.

35. The bottle processing installation of claim 30, wherein said carrying strips are elongate and extend in the direction transverse to the direction of motion of said carrying strips.

36. The bottle processing installation of claim 30, wherein said driving means are arranged to move said carrying strips at uniform intervals from said bottle feeding station to said bottle delivery station.

37. The bottle processing installation of claim 30, wherein said carrying strips are flat.

38. The bottle processing installation of claim 30, wherein said at least one opening of each of said carrying strips is a longitudinal slot extending inward from one transverse edge toward an opposite transverse edge such that said slots are open at one side and closed at an opposite side.

39. The bottle processing installation of claim 38, wherein said transporting device further comprises an adjustable stop arranged at a preselected end position relative to said carrying strips for determining the position of a first one of the bottles in each of said slots.

40. The bottle processing installation of claim 38, further comprising conveyors arranged to deliver bottles into said slots in said carrying strips when said carrying strips are situated in said bottle feeding station.

41. The bottle processing installation of claim 31, wherein said guiding strips are arranged above a plane in which said carrying strips move when carrying bottles.

42. The bottle processing installation of claim 31, wherein at least some of said guiding strips have a first arcuate portion arranged in said bottle feeding station, a second arcuate portion arranged in said bottle delivery station and a straight portion between said first and second arcuate portions, said straight portions of said guiding strips being substantially parallel to one another.

43. The bottle processing installation of claim 42, wherein said first and second arcuate portions are arranged to increase the spacing between bottles from said bottle feeding station to said at least one processing station and reduce the spacing between the bottle from said at least one processing station to said bottle delivery station.

44. The bottle processing installation of claim 30, further comprising conveyors arranged to remove bottles from said carrying strips when said carrying strips are situated in said bottle delivery station.

45. The bottle processing installation of claim 30, wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings, each of said openings having edges adapted to underlie the carrying rings of a respective one of the bottles.

46. The bottle processing installation of claim 45, wherein each of said openings has an inlet and outlet part adjoining a longitudinal edge of said carrying strip and an end part for accommodating the neck of a bottle.

47. The bottle processing installation of claim 45, wherein each of said openings has an L-shape having a first leg oriented parallel to the direction of motion of said carrying strips and adjoining a longitudinal edge of said carrying strip and a second leg adjoining said first leg and extending transverse to the direction of motion of said carrying strips for accommodating the neck of a bottle.

48. The bottle processing installation of claim 47, wherein said first leg has an opening facing said longitudinal edge of said carrying strip, said longitudinal edge being a front edge of said carrying strip in the direction of motion of said carrying strips.

49. The bottle processing installation of claim 47, further comprising a transfer gripper for transferring bottles into connection with said carrying strips when said carrying strips are situated in said bottle feeding station such that the necks of the bottles are situated in said first leg of said openings.

50. The bottle processing installation of claim 47, wherein said guiding means comprise pairs of guiding strips, said guiding strips of each pair being parallel to one another and forming one of the guiding paths therebetween for guiding the bottles when said carrying strips carry bottles, said guiding strips including an arcuate portion arranged in said bottle feeding station to move bottles in said second leg in the direction transverse to the direction of motion of said carrying strips.

51. The bottle processing installation of claim 45, wherein each of said openings has a semicircular transporting seat for accommodating the neck of a bottle, said seat having a closed side facing a lateral edge of said carrying strip, each of said openings further having opening edges leading to a front, longitudinal edge of said carrying strip and forming an arched slot.

52. The bottle processing installation of claim 45, wherein said edges of said openings each include an inner opening edge facing a front longitudinal edge of said carrying strip and an outer opening edge facing a rear longitudinal edge of said carrying strip.

53. The bottle processing installation of claim 52, wherein said inner opening edges are arcuate, said carrying strips including arcuate portions oriented in an opposite direction to said inner opening edges and arranged between adjacent ones of said openings.

54. The bottle processing installation of claim 45, wherein said openings comprises first and second groups of openings aligned in mirror-image fashion to one another, each of said openings having an end part having a closed side for supporting the neck of a bottle, said openings in said first group being arranged such that said closed sides of said openings face a first lateral edge of said carrying strip and said openings in said second group of openings being arranged such that said closed sides of said openings face a second lateral edge of said carrying strip opposite to said first lateral edge.

55. The bottle processing installation of claim 30, further comprising a carrier arranged in said bottle delivery station onto which bottles are transferred from said carrying strips and a conveyor arranged to receive the bottles from said carrier and remove the bottles from the installation.