Transport section, method for adjusting and/or readjusting at least one transport track within a transport section, and packaging facility

1. A transport section ( 17 ) for feeding article arrangements ( 5 ) in a transport direction (TR) to a packaging module ( 18 ) for the article arrangements ( 5 ), the transport section ( 17 ) comprising:

a transfer plate ( 15 ), on which the articles ( 2 ) of the article arrangements ( 5 ) are movable in transport direction (TR) in a sliding manner, wherein at least one area of the transfer plate ( 15 ) has openings that are formed to be orthogonal to the transport direction (TR) of the articles ( 2 );

one or more pushing devices ( 16 ) disposed above the transfer plate ( 15 ), for moving the articles ( 2 ) on the transfer plate ( 15 ), wherein the one or more pushing devices ( 16 ) are movable in transport direction (TR);

one or more outer guide elements ( 20 ) disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ), with the one or more outer guide elements ( 20 ) laterally delimiting the transport section ( 17 ); and

one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ), wherein the inner guide elements ( 21 ) are readjustable by at least one readjustment mechanism that is disposed at least partly below the transfer plate ( 15 ), and wherein at least a portion of the readjustment mechanism is movable within the openings of the transfer plate ( 15 ).

2. The transport section ( 17 ) of claim 1 , wherein the one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) each comprise a first magnet ( 42 ), and wherein the at least one readjustment mechanism comprises a second magnet ( 43 ), wherein, by transferring the second magnet ( 43 ) from a first operating position into a second operating position, each of the one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) is transferred from a first position and/or arrangement on the transfer plate ( 15 ) into a second position and/or arrangement on the transfer plate ( 15 ).

3. The transport section of claim 2 , wherein the second magnet ( 43 ) of the at least one readjustment mechanism is guided within the openings.

4. The transport section of claim 3 , wherein a non-magnetic coating ( 41 ) is disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ), with the non-magnetic coating ( 41 ) covering the openings.

5. The transport section as recited in claim 4 , wherein the transport section ( 17 ) is divided in transport direction into a plurality of segments, wherein each segment is assigned two inner guide elements ( 21 ).

6. The transport section of claim 5 , wherein the two inner guide elements ( 21 ) of a segment is coupled to the at least one readjustment mechanism such that the two inner guide elements ( 21 ) of one segment are adjustable together, or wherein each of the inner guide elements ( 21 ) of a segment is coupled to its own readjustment mechanism such that the two inner guide elements ( 21 ) of a segment are adjustable independently of one another.

7. The transport section of claim 5 , wherein two first inner guide elements ( 22 ) are disposed at an angle to the transport direction (TR) in a first segment in an infeed area of the transport section ( 17 ), wherein the angle of the two first inner guide elements ( 22 ) is adjustable relative to the transport direction (TR).

8. The transport section as recited in claim 7 , wherein two second inner guide elements ( 23 ) are disposed parallelly to the transport direction (TR) at least in a segment disposed downstream from the infeed area of the transport section ( 17 ), wherein the two second inner guide elements ( 23 ) are formed to be movable perpendicular to the transport direction (TR).

9. The transport section of claim 8 , wherein each first inner guide element ( 22 ) is disposed swivelably movable by a swivel joint ( 25 ) at a second inner guide element ( 23 ).

10. The transport section of claim 5 , wherein an expansion wedge ( 70 ) is disposed in a first segment in an infeed area of the transport section ( 17 ), and wherein two readjustable inner guide elements ( 21 ) are disposed at least in a segment arranged downstream from infeed area of the transport section ( 17 ), wherein the inner guide elements ( 21 ) are adjustable to be parallel to the transport direction (TR) and/or at an angle to the transport direction (TR).

11. A method for adjusting and/or readjusting at least one transport track within a transport section ( 17 ) for feeding article arrangements ( 5 ) in a transport direction (TR) to a packaging module ( 18 ) for the article arrangements ( 5 ), comprising:

moving the articles ( 2 ) of the article arrangements ( 5 ) in transport direction (TR) on a transfer plate ( 15 ) in a sliding manner, wherein at least one area of the transfer plate ( 15 ) has openings that are formed to be orthogonal to the transport direction (TR) of the articles ( 2 ); and

adjusting at least one transport track by adjusting one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) that are disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ) by at least one readjustment mechanism that is disposed at least partly below the transfer plate ( 15 ), wherein at least a portion of the readjustment mechanism is movable within the openings of the transfer plate ( 15 ).

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the adjusting step comprises transferring a second magnet ( 43 ) of the at least one readjustment mechanism from a first operating position into a second operating position which transfers each of the one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) from a first position and/or arrangement on the transfer plate ( 15 ) into a second position and/or arrangement on the transfer plate ( 15 ).

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising guiding the second magnet ( 43 ) of the at least one readjustment mechanism within the openings.

14. A packaging facility ( 1 ) for article arrangements ( 5 ), comprising:

a grouping unit for assembling the articles ( 2 ), and

a packaging module ( 18 ),

wherein the grouping unit comprises a transport section ( 17 ) comprising:

a transfer plate ( 15 ), on which the articles ( 2 ) of the article arrangements ( 5 ) are movable in transport direction (TR) in a sliding manner, wherein at least one area of the transfer plate ( 15 ) has openings that are formed to be orthogonal to the transport direction (TR) of the articles ( 2 );

one or more pushing devices ( 16 ) disposed above the transfer plate ( 15 ), for moving the articles ( 2 ) on the transfer plate ( 15 ), wherein the one or more pushing devices ( 16 ) are movable in transport direction (TR);

one or more outer guide elements ( 20 ) disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ), with the one or more outer guide elements ( 20 ) laterally delimiting the transport section ( 17 ); and

one or more inner guide elements ( 21 ) disposed on the transfer plate ( 15 ),

wherein the inner guide elements ( 21 ) are readjustable by at least one readjustment mechanism that is disposed at least partly below the transfer plate ( 15 ), and wherein at least a portion of the readjustment mechanism is movable within the openings of the transfer plate ( 15 ).