阅读说明：本技术 用于容器的运输设施 (Transport facility for containers ) 是由 X·卡尔 马丁·西格 B·艾森塞尔 于 2019-11-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于容器的运输设施,所述容器诸如是瓶,所述运输设施具有：第一运输装置,其能够在颈部搬运区域中运输容器；第二运输装置,其能够在基部搬运区域中运输容器,其中第一运输装置在与第二运输装置不同的高度处运输容器,其中,在容器能够从第一运输装置被转移到第二运输装置的转移区域中,第二运输装置线性地运行并且设置有线性引导装置,所述引导装置平行于第二运输装置地运行并被设计成当容器从第一运输装置下降到第二运输装置时能够引导容器。(A transportation facility for containers, such as bottles, having: a first transport device capable of transporting containers in a neck handling area; a second transport device which can transport the containers in the base handling area, wherein the first transport device transports the containers at a different height than the second transport device, wherein, in a transfer area in which the containers can be transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device, the second transport device runs linearly and is provided with a linear guide device which runs parallel to the second transport device and is designed to be able to guide the containers when they are lowered from the first transport device to the second transport device.)

1. A transportation facility (100) for containers (130), such as bottles, having: a first transport device (101) capable of transporting transport containers by neck; a second transport device (102) capable of transporting transport containers by base handling, wherein the first transport device (101) transports the containers at a different height than the second transport device (102), wherein in a transfer area (110) where the containers can be transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device, the second transport device is linearly operated and provided with a linear guide device (103) which is operated parallel to the second transport device and is adapted to be capable of guiding the containers during their descent from the first transport device to the second transport device.

2. Transport facility (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least in the transfer area (110) the first transport device (101) and the second transport device (102) have a distance perpendicular to a transport plane of the containers which is greater than or at most equal to a length of a container which can be transported by the first transport device and the second transport device.

3. The transport facility (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second transport device (102) has a transfer plane (121) in the transfer area which is inclined downwards in the transport direction of the containers.

4. The transport facility (100) according to claim 3, wherein the transfer plane (121) is height-adjustable or replaceable.

5. The transport facility (100) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the guiding device (103) comprises at least one lead screw (231) arranged between the first transport device (101) and the second transport device (102) and located at a side of the second transport device in the transfer area for guiding the containers (130).

6. Transport facility (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the guiding device (103) comprises a second lead screw (232) for guiding the containers, wherein the second lead screw is arranged on the same side of the second transport device (102) and at a different distance from the second transport device than the first lead screw (231) is arranged from the second transport device (102), or the second lead screw (232) is arranged on the opposite side of the second transport device (102).

7. Transport facility (100) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the guiding device (103) comprises at least one gripping device (331- > 333), the gripping device (331- > 333) being arranged between the first transport device and the second transport device and being movable in the transport direction of the containers, the gripping device (331- > 333) being capable of guiding the containers by gripping the containers during their lowering from the first transport device (101) to the second transport device (102).

8. Transport facility (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second transport device (102) has a horizontal transport plane in the transfer area (110) and the guiding device (103) comprises at least one receiver (432), with which receiver (432) a container can be picked up from the first transport device and transferred to the second transport device in the transport direction of the container in the second transport device, wherein the receiver (432) is adapted to lower the container from the first transport device to the second transport device.

9. The transport facility (100) according to claim 8, wherein the guiding means comprises a long stator (433) and the receptacle (432) is configured as a shuttle (431) movable along the long stator and having a pick-up area for containers.

10. Method for transferring containers (130) from a first transport device (101) to a second transport device (102) in a transfer area (110), wherein the first transport device and the second transport device transport the containers at different heights from each other and the first transport device transports the containers by neck handling and the second transport device transports the containers by base handling, wherein the containers are transported linearly in the second transport device and a linear guide device (103) is provided, which linear guide device (103) runs parallel to the second transport device and guides the containers during their lowering from the first transport device to the second transport device.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the first and second transport device (101, 102) have, at least in the transfer area (110), a distance perpendicular to the transport plane of the containers that is greater than or at most equal to the length of the containers transported by the first and second transport device.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the second transport device has a transfer plane (121) in the transfer area (110) which is inclined downwards in the transport direction of the containers, wherein the transfer plane (121) is height-adjustable and the height is set according to the length of the containers.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the guiding device (103) comprises at least one lead screw (231) arranged between the first and second transport devices and located at one side of the second transport device in the transfer area, which lead screw guides the containers during their lowering from the first transport device to the second transport device.

14. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the guiding device (103) comprises at least one gripping device (331) arranged between the first transport device and the second transport device and movable in the transport direction of the containers, which gripping device guides the containers by gripping the containers during their lowering from the first transport device to the second transport device.

15. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the second transport device has a horizontal transport plane in the transfer area and the guiding device (103) comprises at least one receiver (432), which receiver (432) is movable in the second transport device in the transport direction of the containers and by means of which a container is picked up from the first transport device and transferred to the second transport device, wherein the receiver (432) lowers the container from the first transport device onto the second transport device in the transfer area.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a transport facility for containers, such as bottles, and a method according to scheme 10 for transferring containers from a first transport device to a second transport device in a transfer area.

Background

Transportation facilities are well known in the art of container production and handling. For recyclable and non-recyclable PET bottles, such a transportation facility is constituted by the following individual container handlers, which are usually operated as complete block machines. The preforms are heated in a heating feeder and then formed into containers in a stretch blow molding machine. Thereafter, the containers can be provided with labels in the labelling machine. Thereafter, the container is filled with the product by a filling machine and then sealed by a capper. It is also conceivable that the containers are filled immediately after the stretch blow molding machine and then sealed and labeled by the above-described machine. Different concepts exist for transporting containers, including different ways of handling the containers to be transported.

On the one hand, it is known to transport containers using the so-called "neck handling" method, in which the containers are gripped or in some other suitable manner gripped in the head region by means of their usually provided support rings and transported "hanging" through a transport device and/or a container handler. This has the advantage that the remaining container volume, in particular the base region of the container, is accessible and can be viewed, for example, as part of a container inspection. An alternative to this is to transport the containers in the so-called "base-handle" method, in which the containers are either transported upright on a conveyor belt or are gripped at least in the lower region (base region) of the containers.

The transfer of containers from neck to base handling is particularly problematic here. For a given container size, this can typically be done by transferring the container to a chute (channel), e.g., along which the container is slid onto a transport device in transport alignment with the base. However, this becomes difficult when the entire container handling facility is intended to handle containers of different sizes.

In this case, the concept of such a transfer by means of a rotating star wheel has been developed. However, during the transfer by the rotating star wheel, due to the high centrifugal forces generated by the rotational speed of the containers as they are transported with a high container throughput, so that the lowering of the containers onto the transport device for base handling is still possible for certain container sizes, but due to the centrifugal forces occurring, it is no longer possible for other container sizes.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Based on the state of the art known, the technical problem to be solved is therefore to provide a transport facility for containers, such as bottles, with which a reliable transfer of the containers from neck to base handling can be ensured, while at the same time a high container throughput is achieved, even for different sizes of container formats (formats).

Means for solving the problems

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a transport facility for containers according to variant 1 and a method according to variant 10 for transferring containers from a first transport device to a second transport device in a transfer area. Preferred further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The transport installation for containers (such as bottles) according to the invention comprises: a first transport device capable of transporting the transport container by the neck; a second transport device which is capable of transporting the transport containers by means of the base, wherein the first transport device transports the containers at different heights from the second transport device, the second transport device runs linearly in a transfer area in which the containers can be transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device, and a linear guide device is provided which runs parallel to the second transport device and is adapted to guide the containers during the lowering of the containers from the first transport device to the second transport device.

The container can be any common container, and can be not only a bottle, but also a can and the like. The container, in particular the bottle, may be made of or comprise PET. Other materials, such as glass, are also contemplated. They may also be disposable or reusable bottles (or containers in general).

It goes without saying that the handling of the transport container by means of the first transport device via the neck takes place at a higher level than the handling of the transport container in the second transport device via the base. The first transport device and the second transport device must be configured relative to each other only such that the containers can be transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device by lowering the containers in the transfer area. Otherwise, the relative positions of the first and second transportation devices are not related to each other.

A "linear" transport device is understood to mean essentially a transport device which runs straight or in a straight line (preferably runs in a horizontal plane) and therefore has no curvature. However, in some embodiments it may also be provided that the transport means are only "substantially" linear and therefore have a certain deviation from a straight line. The deviation may be 5% to 15% relative to the total length of the transport device, for example corresponding to a curvature of up to about 3 ° or up to about 7 °.

Furthermore, the term linear transporter may also include transporters having a slope or incline, i.e. not running horizontally, for example.

In all exemplary mentioned embodiments, therefore, linear and "substantially" linear transport devices having the described curvature and/or having a slope and/or having a bevel are to be understood as belonging to "linear" transport devices.

In addition, the transport direction of the example second transport device may be different from the transport direction of the example first transport device. In other words, for example, the transport direction of the second transportation device may or may not be parallel to the transport direction of the exemplary first transportation device, i.e. the transport directions of the two transportation devices may be at a non-zero angle to each other and/or may be located in different spatial planes.

The same applies to the linear guide.

In one embodiment, a transport facility according to the present invention may transport PET returnable bottles or non-returnable bottles via successive individual container handlers, which are typically operated as complete block machines. The preforms are transported, for example by neck handling, and heated in a heating feeder before being formed into containers in a stretch blow molding machine. Subsequently, the containers, which can still be transported to the labelling machine by neck handling, can be labelled in the labelling machine by base handling. The containers are then transported by neck handling from the labelling machine to the filling machine, filled with product at the filling machine, then transferred by base handling and sealed by the sealing machine.

It is also conceivable to fill the containers immediately after the stretch blow molding machine and then to seal and label them by means of the machine described above.

The above embodiments should not be considered as fundamental limitations of the present invention. Other machines in or between which the transport facility according to the invention transports containers are also conceivable.

In one embodiment, a transportation facility for containers (such as PET returnable bottles or non-returnable bottles) is provided as follows: the arrangement ends with a filling machine, which is a first transport device, in which the containers are transported by neck handling and transferred to a second transport device, which can handle the transport containers by a base, such as a conveyor belt, wherein in a transfer area where the containers can be transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device, the second transport device runs linearly, and linear guide means are provided which run parallel to the second transport device and are adapted to guide the containers during lowering from the first transport device to the second transport device.

Another embodiment provides a transportation facility for containers (such as PET returnable bottles or non-returnable bottles) as follows: the arrangement ends with a sealing machine, which is a first transport device, wherein the containers are transported by neck handling and transferred to a second transport device, which may handle the transport containers by a base, such as a conveyor belt, wherein the second transport device runs linearly in a transfer area where the containers may be transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device, and linear guide means are provided, running parallel to the second transport device and adapted to guide the containers during lowering from the first transport device to the second transport device.

The guidance of the container during lowering is to be understood as contact with the container, whereby a tilting in the direction of transport of the container in the second transport device is at least prevented. The guidance of the containers thus at least compensates for a torque acting in the direction of transport of the containers in the second transport device, which torque can act on the containers when they are transferred by descent from the first transport device to the second transport device.

In the region of the second conveying device, in particular in the transfer region, a conveying channel can always be formed on both sides, which ensures the lateral guidance of the containers. This may also be done in combination with (additional) guide rails, depending on the embodiment.

By means of the transport facility, it can be ensured that also containers of different sizes can be transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device without tipping over, while a high container throughput is achieved.

In one embodiment, a first transport device and a second transport device are provided, which have a distance perpendicular to the transport plane of the containers at least in the transfer area which is greater than or at most equal to the length of the containers which can be transported by the first and second transport devices.

In this case, the lowering therefore comprises "dropping" from the first transport device onto the second transport device during the transfer. In this case, provision may be made for the guide device not only to prevent the container from tipping over in the transport direction in the second transport device, but at the same time or in addition to this, to effect a delayed lowering of the container relative to the free fall. This means that the transport facility can be used for containers of various sizes.

Furthermore, the second transport device can have a transfer plane in the transfer region which is inclined downwards in the transport direction of the containers.

With this transfer plane, containers of different sizes can be reliably transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device and finally stopped in the second transport direction.

The height of the transfer plane is adjustable.

The transfer plane can also be constructed as an exchangeable component, which takes into account the height difference and must be exchanged accordingly, depending on the container size.

Different deceleration curves are also conceivable. For example, the following curves are conceivable: its initial region has a low slope, followed by a linear middle portion, and then a descending terminal curve.

In addition, the transfer plane may preferably be configured as a travelling conveyor belt. In this way, speed differences between the container and the outfeed are avoided as much as possible during the arrangement.

Thus, the transfer plane can be adapted to different container sizes.

Furthermore, the guiding device may comprise at least one lead screw (guiding screw) for guiding the containers arranged between the first and second transport devices and located at one side of the second transport device in the transfer area.

Preferably, the threaded spindle is configured such that its axis of rotation runs parallel to the transport direction of the containers along the second transport device at least in the transfer region. By rotating the threaded spindle, the containers can be guided in the transfer region in the container transport direction in the second transport device, and the containers can also be prevented from tipping over with the speed set by the threaded spindle.

In a further development of this embodiment, the guiding means comprise a second threaded spindle for guiding the containers, wherein the second threaded spindle is arranged on the same side of the second transport means and at a distance from the second transport means which is different from the distance of the first threaded spindle from the second transport means, or wherein the second threaded spindle is arranged on the opposite side of the second transport means.

If both screws are arranged on the same side, the guidance during lowering can also be reliably carried out for containers of different sizes throughout the lowering process. If the threaded spindle is arranged on both sides of the second transport device in the transfer region, it is possible not only to avoid tipping over in the second transport device in the container transport direction, but at the same time to avoid tipping over laterally from the second transport device.

The lead screw may also be used to reduce the distance between the containers. For this purpose, the threaded spindle is configured with an initial inclination compatible with the first transport device. The inclination is the distance between the containers measured from the start of the first container to the start of the next container (container diameter plus gap). In the further course of these screws, this distance is then continuously reduced. This results in a reduction of the transfer speed at the outlet of the screw compared to the inlet.

In addition, it can be provided that the guiding device comprises at least one gripping device which is arranged between the first transport device and the second transport device and which is movable in the container transport direction, the guiding device being able to guide the container by gripping around the container during the lowering of the container from the first transport device to the second transport device.

The gripping means may for example grip and contact the container below the support ring, so that when the container is lowered, the container is preferably lowered through the gripping means.

It can also be provided that the second transport device comprises a horizontal transport plane in the transfer region, and that the guide device comprises at least one receptacle which can be moved in the second transport device in the container transport direction and with which a container can be picked up from the first transport device and transferred to the second transport device, said receptacle being configured to lower the container from the first transport device onto the second transport device.

A movable receptacle is understood to be a receptacle which can pick up a container such that the lowering of the container in the transfer area is determined solely by the movement or lowering of the receptacle. The containers are therefore preferably not slid through the receptacles, but are actively lowered by the receptacles in the transfer zone until they are placed on the second transport device. Therefore, an inclined plane for sliding down the container according to the size of the container is not necessary. At the same time, the container can be lowered in a controlled and flexible manner.

The guiding means may comprise a long stator and the receptacle may be provided as a shuttle movable along the long stator with a container pick-up area.

The use of an electric drive by means of a long stator or the like allows a very flexible, even independent control of the movement of the individual receivers.

Electrical drives may also be used to reduce the distance between the containers. To this end, the electric drive is synchronized with the initial speed adapted to the first transportation means, and in the further course of the long stator the speed of the electric drive is continuously reduced to the minimum distance between the containers. This results in a reduced transfer speed at the outlet of the second transport device compared to the inlet.

The method according to the invention for transferring containers from a first transport device to a second transport device in a transfer area provides for: the first transport device and the second transport device transport the containers at mutually different heights, and the first transport device transports the containers by neck handling, and the second transport device transports the containers by base handling, wherein the containers are transported linearly in the second transport device, and a linear guide device is provided which runs parallel to the second transport device and guides the containers during the lowering of the containers from the first transport device to the second transport device.

The method allows for reliably lowering containers from neck handling to base handling with high throughput.

In addition, at least in the transfer area, the first transport device and the second transport device may have a distance perpendicular to the transport plane of the containers that is greater than or at most equal to the length of the containers transported by the first and second transport devices.

In the case of this embodiment, containers of various sizes can ultimately be lowered onto the second transport device in the transfer area without inadvertent contact with the first transport device.

In one embodiment, the second transport device has a transfer plane in the transfer area which is inclined downwards in the transport direction of the containers, wherein the transfer plane is height-adjustable and its height is set according to the length of the containers.

The transfer plane may assist in lowering the container onto the second transport device by ensuring permanent contact with the container base to prevent tipping.

In a further development of this embodiment, provision is made for the guide device to comprise at least one threaded spindle which is arranged between the first transport device and the second transport device and which is located on the side of the second transport device in the transfer region, said guide device guiding the containers during their lowering from the first transport device onto the second transport device.

By appropriately controlling the rotational speed of the threaded spindle, the threaded spindle can reduce the torque acting on the containers in the transfer region at least in the container transport direction in the second transport device and prevent the containers from tipping over.

The guiding means may comprise at least one gripping device arranged between the first transport means and the second transport means and movable in the container transport direction, which gripping device guides the container by gripping the container during lowering of the container from the first transport means to the second transport means.

By gripping the container during lowering, the container is effectively prevented from tipping over in any conceivable direction.

In one embodiment, the second transport device has a horizontal transport plane in the transfer region, and the guide device comprises at least one receptacle which can be moved in the second transport device in the container transport direction and by means of which the container is picked up from the first transport device and transferred to the second transport device, wherein the receptacle lowers the container from the first transport device onto the second transport device in the transfer region.

This allows a reliable and at the same time very flexible lowering of the container onto the second transportation device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a transport facility according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a transport facility with a lead screw.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a transport facility with a clamping device as a guide device.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a transport facility having a receiver according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a transport facility 100 according to an embodiment of the invention in a schematic side view and a top view. In one aspect, a first transport device 101 can be seen which transports containers by neck handling. The first transport device 101 can be configured, for example, as a star wheel with a series of grippers 111 which grip the support ring itself or the container below its support ring in such a way that the support ring is placed on the grippers. Other variants are also conceivable here, for example the entire head region of the container being gripped by the gripper 111.

The embodiment of the first transport device as a star wheel is not mandatory. The first transportation device may also be configured as a linear machine for transporting containers by neck handling. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the first transport device is a container handler, for example realized as a carousel (like a star wheel) or a linear machine. At the same time, the containers are transported in the respective container handler, so that the container handler also fulfills the purpose of the first transport device.

As can be seen in the side view, the container is transported by the first transportation means at a height h.

Furthermore, the transport facility 100 comprises a second transport device 102, the second transport device 102 being configured as a linear transport device and a transport device for transporting containers using the base handling method. Base handling means that the container is transported on a conveyor belt and/or at least in the base area of the container is brought into contact with a second transport means for transport by the second transport means. This also includes embodiments such as providing a clamp or receiver that engages on the base of the container 130 rather than on the support ring of the container.

Thus, during the transport of the container 130 by the second transport device, the container is not gripped in the region of the support ring.

Enclosed in dashed lines in fig. 1 is a transfer area 110 for transferring containers from the first transportation device 101 to the second transportation device 102. The second transport device is obviously located below the first transport device, so that the containers have to be lowered for further transport by the second transport device.

For this purpose, as shown here, a downwardly sloping or downwardly inclined transfer plane 121 can be arranged in the transfer area 110, which can be brought into contact with the base of the container during the lowering of the container from the first transport device onto the second transport device. The transfer plane may be considered as part of the second transport device.

In order to prevent the containers from tipping over in the transport direction during the lowering, according to the invention, at least in the transfer region, a linear guide is provided which preferably runs parallel to the second transport device and is configured such that the containers can be guided during the lowering from the first transport device onto the second transport device and can thus at least be prevented from tipping over in the transport direction in the second transport device 102. The guiding means 103 are only schematically shown in fig. 1, but will be explained in more detail below.

As can be seen from fig. 1, the distance between the second transportation device 102 and the first transportation device 101 is a height h. Preferably, the height is at least equal to, but possibly greater than, any container transported by the transport device. The container has a length l, so preferably h > l. This leads to the fact that the container has to be lowered by a distance d-l when lowering the container from the first transport device to the second transport device.

Since the height at which the container is gripped during transport in the first transport device by the neck handling is always the same, the position of the base varies according to the length l of the container.

It can thus be provided that the height of the downwardly inclined transfer plane is adjustable, in particular that the angle of inclination α is adjustable. This allows the transfer plane to be inclined so that it always contacts the base of the container during the descent and thus can control the descent of the container onto the second transport means. If the transfer region has a length b in the horizontal direction and the transfer plane extends over the entire length b, it can be assumed below that tan α is equal to₍h-l)/b. The base of the container to be transferred will thus be in contact with the transfer plane at any time during the transfer, and thus the second transportation means is in contact with the base of the container.

Fig. 2a to 2c show a first possible embodiment of the guide device of fig. 1. In this embodiment, the guide means 231 is formed by a lead screw which is rotatable about a rotational axis R parallel to the transport direction of the containers in the second transport device 102. Preferably, the lead screw has a series of recesses 235 that can contact and partially pick up the containers. By adjusting the rotational speed of the screw, the lowering and/or at least the advancing of the container during lowering can be controlled by the screw. The container is thus effectively prevented from tipping in the direction of the container transport direction in the second transport direction.

Fig. 2b shows a side view of the embodiment illustrated in fig. 2 a. As can be seen from fig. 2b, two lead screws 231 and 232 can also be arranged on the same side of the second transportation device 102. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the height difference bridged by the container is large. By using at least two threaded spindles (there may also be more than two threaded spindles), it is thus possible to guide the containers, for example, along a downwardly inclined transfer plane 121, during the entire lowering from the first transport device to the second transport device.

As shown in fig. 2b, the lead screws 231 and 232 may be arranged spaced apart from each other in such a way that their rotational axes have a distance m. It may be provided that the distance of the screw is adjustable. For example, the lead screws may be arranged in a support structure with a guide rail along which the lead screws may be moved perpendicular (vertical) to the second transportation means 102, preferably independently of each other, in order to adjust their distance m from each other. This ensures that even short containers (relatively short length) are always guided by at least one lead screw. This embodiment is also applicable to an embodiment in which more than two lead screws are provided, and may also be used when: only one lead screw is used in order to adjust the position of one or more lead screws in such a way that it is possible to ensure permanent guidance of containers of any length by means of at least one lead screw.

Fig. 2c shows another embodiment, in which again at least two lead screws are used. However, in this embodiment, at least one lead screw is arranged on each side of the second transport device in the transfer area. The direction of rotation of the threaded spindle may be opposite, or the direction of the circumferentially arranged concave surfaces may be opposite and the direction of rotation may be the same, so that the containers are guided in the same direction (container transport direction in the second transport device) on both sides in the transfer region when the threaded spindle rotates.

This embodiment offers the advantage that the container is not only prevented from tipping in the container transport direction in the second transport device, but also in a direction perpendicular to the container transport direction in the plane shown here.

Similar to the illustration in fig. 2b, more than one spindle, for example two, three or more spindles, can be arranged on each side of the second transport device, which are also arranged at an adjustable distance from each other, similar to fig. 2 b.

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment, in which the guide device 330 comprises a series of gripping devices 331 to 333, which rotate, for example, along a chain and run parallel to the second transportation device 102 at least in the transfer area 120. In this embodiment, the gripping device can grip around the container from at least two sides in the following manner: so that the containers are still vertically displaced and thus lowered relative to the gripping device in the transfer zone 120, at least due to the gravitational force acting on the containers. The gripping device can thus be transported in the second transport device 102 in the transport direction together with the container and guide the lowering of the container.

Furthermore, even if the gripping device does not grip the container firmly, the gripping device can achieve a delay in the lowering if, for example, an inclined transfer plane 121 is not provided in the transfer area 120. The delay of the descent can be achieved, for example, by the gripping means having a friction surface with a high friction coefficient on the side facing the container, so that the descent of the container is prevented. In this context, it may be advantageous to provide that the friction surface has a soft outer surface which is softer than the surface of the container, in order to prevent scratching of the surface of the container during descent.

Preferably, the opening width of the gripping device is adjustable, so that the gripping device can also grip containers of different widths to be transported in the first and second transport devices.

Instead of a clamping device, a conventional compartment chain (component chain) is also conceivable. This involves a rotating transverse belt drive to which a vertical web is mounted at equal distances. These webs thus form a bag-like container receptacle in which the containers can slide downwards guided by a descending chute running underneath.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the guide device 103 of fig. 1. In this embodiment, it is provided that the guiding means is formed by a series of shuttles (shuttle)431, the shuttles 431 preferably rotating along a long stator 433. Each shuttle 431 comprises at least one movable receptacle, preferably for a container, wherein the receptacle 432 is movable at least in the lowering direction (and thus vertical) of the container. The receptacle may pick up the container. In contrast to the embodiment of fig. 3, this pick-up is performed in such a way that the container, once picked up by the receptacle, is no longer free to move relative to the receptacle (under the influence of gravity). This can be achieved, for example, by means of suitable chamber elements that grip the container below its support ring.

In this embodiment, provision is made for the receptacle to be movable in a vertical direction relative to the shuttle, so that the receptacle can lower a container from the first transport device onto the second transport device, as can be seen in the schematic side view of fig. 4. In this embodiment, the second transportation device does not have to have a downwardly inclined transfer plane 121 in the transfer area, since the lowering is effected by the receptacle and the shuttle. It is particularly preferred if the lowering of the containers through the receptacle can be controlled by a control unit, such as a computer, so that the containers have been lowered onto the second transport device irrespective of the size of the containers at the end of the transfer area.

Alternatively, the shuttle may also form a pocket in which the container may in turn be lowered in a guided manner. These pockets are either embedded directly in the shuttle, or the shuttle forms the pockets due to the distance between the shuttles, or a septum is attached to the shuttle, or two short shuttles are always used to form the pockets. The advantage is then that flexible bag sizes can be adapted to the respective container diameter.

Instead of a long stator, the receiver may also be rotated along the chain and permanently mounted on the chain. However, the use of a long stator allows each shuttle to move independently, so that it is also possible to react to gaps in the flow of containers from the first transport means, for example, and set the shuttle in motion only when containers are transferred from the first transport means to the second transport means. For this reason, when a long stator is used, it is possible that, in addition to collision monitoring and collision avoidance, appropriate control of the movement of the respective shuttles can be performed independently of each other.