Method and device for distributing and/or grouping containers

1. A device ( 10 , 52 ) for distributing and/or grouping containers in a container treatment system, having:

an entry conveying apparatus ( 12 , 54 ) which is configured to convey a multiplicity of containers in a single-track container entry stream ( 18 , 46 );

an exit conveying apparatus ( 16 ) which is configured to discharge the containers in a multiple-track container exit stream ( 24 ); and

a transfer conveying apparatus ( 14 ) which has a guide track ( 28 ), which circulates parallel to or is oriented parallel to the multiple-track container exit stream ( 24 ), and a plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) which can be driven individually, preferably by a long stator linear motor ( 32 ), and are guided along the guide track ( 28 ), the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) having a conveying element ( 34 ) which is configured to transfer in each case a plurality of containers from the entry conveying apparatus ( 12 , 54 ) to the exit conveying apparatus ( 16 ).

2. The device ( 10 , 52 ) as claimed in claim 1 :

the conveying elements ( 34 ) being configured in each case to push a plurality of containers on the rear side and/or to support them on the front side during the transfer; and/or

it being possible for the conveying elements ( 34 ) to be retracted and extended parallel to the container entry stream ( 18 , 46 ) for container retardation in an entry conveying direction of the entry conveying apparatus ( 12 , 54 ), preferably at least partially by a slotted guide ( 36 ) and/or by a drive unit ( 44 ); and/or

the conveying elements ( 34 ) being configured as divider bars, preferably with a plurality of projections which are arranged at a predefined or adjustable spacing from one another.

3. The device ( 10 , 52 ) as claimed in claim 1 , having, furthermore:

a control unit ( 42 ) which is set up for the operation of the entry conveying apparatus ( 12 , 54 ), the transfer conveying apparatus ( 14 ), the exit conveying apparatus ( 16 ), the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) and/or the long stator linear motor ( 32 ).

4. The device ( 10 , 52 ) as claimed in claim 3 , the control unit ( 42 ) being set up to move the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) along the guide track ( 28 ) in such a way that:

the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) are retarded directly before the contacting of the plurality of containers by the conveying element ( 34 ), preferably in order to reduce a jolt in the case of the contacting of the plurality of containers and/or for the at least approximately jolt-free contacting of the plurality of containers; and/or

the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) are accelerated in the case of the transfer of the plurality of containers, preferably to a conveying speed of the exit conveying apparatus ( 16 ).

5. The device ( 10 , 52 ) as claimed in claim 3 , the control unit ( 42 ) being set up to move the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) along the guide track ( 28 ) in such a way that:

the conveying elements ( 34 ) of two movement devices, which preferably follow one another, of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) push the plurality of containers on the rear side and support them on the front side during the transfer; and/or

the conveying elements ( 34 ) of two movement devices, which preferably follow one another, of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) clamp the plurality of containers between them during the transfer.

6. The device ( 10 , 52 ) as claimed in claim 3 , the control unit ( 42 ) being set up to move the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) along the guide track ( 28 ) in such a way that:

a leading movement device of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) is moved back along the guide track ( 28 ), after the transfer of the plurality of containers by pushing on the rear side by way of the conveying element ( 34 ) of the leading movement device, until the conveying element ( 34 ) of the leading movement device makes contact on the front side with a plurality of following containers; and,

during the transfer of the plurality of following containers, the conveying element ( 34 ) of the leading movement device supports the plurality of following containers on the front side, and the conveying element ( 34 ) of a trailing movement device of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) pushes the plurality of following containers on the rear side.

7. The device ( 10 , 52 ) as claimed in claim 3 , the control unit ( 42 ) being set up to move the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) along the guide track ( 28 ) in such a way that:

at least two movement devices, which follow one another, of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) are moved along the guide track ( 28 ) relative to one another in such a way that the conveying elements ( 34 ) of the at least two movement devices group a plurality of container rows in the multiple-track container exit stream ( 24 ); and/or

a spacing and/or a speed of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) are/is increased in a return section of the guide track ( 28 ), in which return section the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) are returned for the renewed transfer of a plurality of containers.

8. The device ( 10 , 52 ) as claimed in claim 1 :

the device ( 10 , 52 ) having, furthermore, a grouping device ( 38 ) which is arranged downstream of the transfer conveying apparatus ( 14 ) and has a plurality of push bars ( 40 ), preferably driven by chain, belt or linear motor, for grouping the plurality of containers on the exit conveying apparatus ( 16 ); and/or

the entry conveying apparatus ( 12 , 54 ) having at least one dividing device ( 22 , 50 ) for specifying a preset spacing of the containers of the container entry stream ( 18 , 46 ), the at least one dividing device ( 22 , 50 ) preferably being configured as a dividing worm or having a plurality of dividing elements which can be driven individually by a long stator linear motor system.

9. The device ( 10 , 52 ) as claimed in claim 1 :

the entry conveying apparatus ( 12 ) being of single-track configuration; or

the entry conveying apparatus ( 54 ) being of multiple-track configuration, it preferably being possible for the single-track container entry stream ( 18 , 46 ) to be switched via the multiple-track entry conveying apparatus ( 54 ).

10. The device ( 52 ) as claimed in claim 1 , having, furthermore:

a first entry conveyor ( 56 ), preferably with a container buffer store ( 60 ) and/or a section ( 64 ) with a stream cross section which tapers in a container stream direction, the first entry conveyor ( 56 ) being arranged upstream of the entry conveying apparatus ( 54 ) and being connected to a first track of the entry conveying apparatus ( 54 ); and

a second entry conveyor ( 58 ), preferably with a container buffer store ( 62 ) and/or a section ( 66 ) with a stream cross section which tapers in a container stream direction, the second entry conveyor ( 58 ) being arranged upstream of the entry conveying apparatus ( 54 ) and being connected to a second track of the entry conveying apparatus ( 54 ).

11. The device ( 52 ) as claimed in claim 10 , having, furthermore:

a container treatment device ( 68 ) which is arranged upstream of the first entry conveyor ( 56 ) and upstream of the second entry conveyor ( 58 ), and has an exit ( 70 ) for the selective output of containers to the first entry conveyor ( 56 ) or to the second entry conveyor ( 58 ); or

a first container treatment device ( 68 ) which is arranged upstream of the first entry conveyor ( 56 ) and has an exit for the output of containers to the first entry conveyor ( 56 ), and a second container treatment device ( 76 ) which is arranged upstream of the second entry conveyor ( 58 ) and has an exit for the output of containers to the second entry conveyor ( 58 ).

12. A method for distributing and/or grouping containers in a container treatment system, preferably for operating a device ( 10 , 52 ) as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

transferring in each case of a plurality of containers of a single-track container entry stream ( 18 , 46 ) to a multiple-track container exit stream ( 24 ) by a transfer conveying apparatus ( 14 ) which has a guide track ( 28 ), which circulates parallel to or is oriented parallel to the multiple-track container exit stream ( 24 ), and a plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) which can be driven individually, preferably by a long stator linear motor ( 32 ) and are guided along the guide track ( 28 ), the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) having a conveying element ( 34 ) which is configured to transfer in each case a plurality of containers from the single-track container entry stream ( 18 , 46 ) to the multiple-track container exit stream ( 24 ).

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , the transferring comprising:

retarding of the respective movement device during the movement along the guide track ( 28 ) directly before contacting of the respective plurality of containers by the conveying element ( 34 ), preferably in order to decrease a jolt during the contacting of the respective plurality of containers and/or for the at least approximately jolt-free contacting of the respective plurality of containers; and/or

accelerating of the respective movement device during the movement along the guide track ( 28 ) during the transfer of the respective plurality of containers, preferably to a conveying speed of the container exit stream ( 24 ).

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 , the transferring comprising:

rear-side pushing and front-side supporting of the plurality of containers during the transfer by way of the conveying elements ( 34 ) of two movement devices, which preferably follow one another, of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) which move along the guide track ( 28 ); and/or

clamping of the plurality of containers during the transfer by way of the conveying elements ( 34 ) of two movement devices, which preferably follow one another, of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) which move along the guide track ( 28 ).

15. The method as claimed in claim 12 , the transferring comprising:

after the conveying element ( 34 ) of a leading movement device of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) has transferred the plurality of containers by way of rear-side pushing, moving back of the leading movement device along the guide track ( 28 ) until the conveying element ( 34 ) of the leading movement device contacts a plurality of following containers on the front side; and

front-side supporting of the plurality of following containers by way of the conveying element ( 34 ) of the leading movement device during the movement along the guide track ( 28 ), while the conveying element ( 34 ) of a trailing movement device of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) pushes the plurality of following containers on the rear side during the movement along the guide track ( 28 ).

16. The method as claimed in claim 12 , the transferring comprising:

extending of the conveying element ( 34 ) of the respective movement device counter to the container entry stream ( 18 , 46 ) before contacting of the respective plurality of containers, preferably by a slotted guide ( 36 ) and/or a drive unit; and

container retarding in an entry conveying direction by means of retracting and braking of the conveying element ( 34 ) of the respective movement device in a manner which is opposed with respect to the extending in the case of rear-side pushing of the respective plurality of containers during the moving of the respective movement device along the guide track ( 28 ), preferably by a slotted guide ( 36 ) and/or a drive unit ( 44 ).

17. The method as claimed in claim 12 , comprising, furthermore:

grouping of a plurality of containers in the multiple-track container exit stream ( 24 ) by way of the conveying elements ( 34 ) of at least two movement devices, which preferably follow one another, by way of movement of the at least two movement devices relative to one another along the guide track ( 28 ); and/or

enlarging of a spacing and/or increasing a speed of the respective movement devices in a return section of the guide track ( 28 ) for the return of the plurality of movement devices ( 30 ) for the renewed transfer of in each case a plurality of containers; and/or

shifting of a track of the single-track container entry stream ( 18 , 46 ) on a multiple-track entry conveying apparatus ( 54 ); and/or

changing of a spacing of the single-track container entry stream ( 18 , 46 ) by individually drivable dividing elements of a dividing device; and/or

changing of a spacing between projections of the conveying elements ( 34 ) in the case of a format change.

18. The method as claimed in claim 12 , comprising, furthermore:

interruption-free shifting of a container feed to the transfer conveying apparatus ( 14 ) from a first entry conveyor ( 56 ) to a second entry conveyor ( 58 ), preferably in order to change the container sort; and optionally:

changing over of the first entry conveyor ( 56 ) to a new container sort, while the second entry conveyor ( 58 ) feeds containers to the transfer conveying apparatus ( 14 ), and/or changing over of the second entry conveyor ( 58 ) to a new container sort, while the first entry conveyor ( 56 ) feeds containers to the transfer conveying apparatus ( 14 ).