Device for aligning products, more particularly for forming rows and/or groups of the products
The invention is based on a device for aligning products ( 14 ), more particularly products moved by means of a transport device ( 12 ), more particularly to form rows and/or groups of the products ( 14 ) running transverse to a main transport direction ( 16 ) of the transport device ( 12 ), having at least one aligning unit ( 18 ) having at least one alignment element ( 20, 22, 24 ) that can be introduced into a gap that exists, more particularly along the main transport direction ( 16 ), between at least two of the products ( 14 ) in order to align the products ( 14 ), and having at least one straightening drive unit ( 26 ), more particularly a linear drive unit, at least to drive the at least one alignment element ( 20, 22, 24 ), said straightening drive unit having at least one movement element ( 28, 30, 32 ) that can be driven in an individually speed- and/or position-controlled manner, on which movement element the at least one alignment element ( 20, 22, 24; 20, 22, 24 ) is arranged. The invention proposes that the at least one alignment unit ( 20, 22, 24 ) can be actively moved relative to the at least one movement element ( 28, 30, 32 ) by means of an interaction with an activation unit ( 40 ) of the alignment unit ( 18 ), said activation unit more particularly having a different design from a further movement element ( 34, 36, 38 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ), or that the alignment unit is arranged in an at least substantially non-movable manner on the at least one movement element ( 28, 30, 32 ).
1. A device for aligning products ( 14 ), the device comprising at least one alignment unit ( 18 ) which has at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) that is, for aligning the products ( 14 ), configured to be incorporated in a gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ), the device also comprising at least one alignment drive unit ( 26 ), the alignment drive unit ( 26 ) being a linear motor system, which at least for driving the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) has at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) which is configured to be individually driven in a speed-regulated and/or position-regulated manner and on which the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) is disposed, wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ), by interacting with an activation unit ( 40 ) of the alignment unit ( 18 ), is actively movable relative to the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ), the device further comprising at least one sensor unit ( 42 ) at least for detecting at least one gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ), wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) and/or the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) is/are movable as a function of the detected gap, wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) of the alignment unit ( 18 ) is assigned fewer than four motion elements ( 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ).
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) is mounted on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) so as to be movable in a translatory and/or rotary manner.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the alignment unit ( 18 ) has a multiplicity of alignment elements ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) which are disposed so as to be movable on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ).
4. The device as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that the alignment elements ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) that are disposed on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) are capable of being moved individually and/or collectively.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the alignment drive unit ( 26 ) has at least one, guide track ( 44 ) which has at least one arc ( 46 , 48 ), wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) as a function of a movement of the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) along the arc ( 46 , 48 ) is configured to be incorporated into the gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ).
6. A method for aligning products ( 14 ) with the device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in at least one method step for moving the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) of the alignment unit ( 18 ) into a gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ), the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ), by interacting with the activation unit ( 40 ), is actively moved relative to the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ).
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , characterized in that in at least one method step the at least one gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ; 14 ) is detected by means of the at least one sensor unit ( 42 ).
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , characterized in that in at least one method step the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) and/or or the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) are/is moved as a function of the detected gap.
9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said activation unit ( 40 ) is configured so as to be different from a further motion element ( 34 , 36 , 38 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ).
10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said activation unit ( 40 ) is disposed so as to be at least substantially immovable on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ).
11. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that each alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ), of the alignment unit ( 18 ) is assigned at most two motion elements ( 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ).
12. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the alignment drive unit ( 26 ) has at least one continuous guide track ( 44 ) which has at least one arc ( 46 , 48 ), wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) as a function of a movement of the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) along the arc ( 46 , 48 ) is configured to be incorporated into the gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ).
13. A device for forming, from products ( 14 ) that are moved by means of a transport device ( 12 ), rows and/or groups that run transversely to a main transportation direction ( 16 ) of the transport device ( 12 ), the device comprising at least one alignment unit ( 18 ) which has at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) that is, for aligning the products ( 14 ), configured to be incorporated in a gap that exists along the main transportation direction ( 16 ) between at least two of the products ( 14 ), the device also comprising at least one alignment drive unit ( 26 ), the alignment drive unit being a linear motor system, which at least for driving the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) has at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) which is configured to be individually driven in a speed-regulated and/or position-regulated manner and on which the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) is disposed, the device further comprising at least one sensor unit ( 42 ) at least for detecting at least one gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ), wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) and/or the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) is/are movable as a function of the detected gap, wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ), by interacting with an activation unit ( 40 ) of the alignment unit ( 18 ), is actively movable relative to the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ), said activation unit ( 40 ) being configured so as to be different from a further motion element ( 34 , 36 , 38 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ), or being disposed so as to be at least substantially immovable on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ).
14. A method for forming from products ( 14 ) rows and/or groups that run transversely to a main transportation direction ( 16 ), by means of a device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that in at least one method step for moving at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) of an alignment unit ( 18 ) into a gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ) the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ), by interacting with an activation unit ( 40 ), is actively moved relative to at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ), said activation unit ( 40 ) being configured so as to be different from a further motion element ( 34 , 36 , 38 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ), or the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ), as a function of a movement of the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) along an arc ( 46 , 48 ) of a guide track ( 44 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ), is moved into the gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ).
15. The device as claimed in claim 13 , characterized in that the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) of the alignment unit ( 18 ) is assigned fewer than four motion elements ( 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38 ) of the alignment drive unit ( 26 ).
16. The device as claimed in claim 13 , characterized in that the alignment unit ( 18 ) has a multiplicity of alignment elements ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) which are disposed so as to be movable on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ), wherein the alignment elements ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) that are disposed on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) are capable of being moved individually and/or collectively.
17. The device as claimed in claim 15 , characterized in that the alignment unit ( 18 ) has a multiplicity of alignment elements ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) which are disposed so as to be movable on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ), wherein the alignment elements ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) that are disposed on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) are capable of being moved individually and/or collectively.
18. A device for forming, from products ( 14 ) that are moved by means of a transport device ( 12 ), rows and/or groups that run transversely to a main transportation direction ( 16 ) of the transport device ( 12 ), the device comprising at least one alignment unit ( 18 ) which has at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) that is, for aligning the products ( 14 ), configured to be incorporated in a gap that exists along the main transportation direction ( 16 ) between at least two of the products ( 14 ), the device also comprising at least one alignment drive unit ( 26 ), the alignment drive unit ( 26 ) being a linear motor system, which at least for driving the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) has at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) which is configured to be individually driven in a speed-regulated and/or position-regulated manner and on which the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) is disposed, wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) being disposed so as to be at least substantially immovable on the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ), the device further comprising at least one sensor unit ( 42 ) at least for detecting at least one gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ), wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) and/or the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) is/are movable as a function of the detected gap, wherein the alignment drive unit ( 26 ) has at least one guide track ( 44 ) which has at least one arc ( 46 , 48 ), wherein the at least one alignment element ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) as a function of a movement of the at least one motion element ( 28 , 30 , 32 ) along the arc ( 46 , 48 ) is configured to be incorporated into the gap that exists between at least two of the products ( 14 ).