DE102021110550A1 - Device and method for forming piece goods groups - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the formation of piece goods groups from a piece goods flow consisting of at least three partial flows, comprising a first dividing unit with at least one engagement element engaging in the piece goods flow, by means of which the piece goods can be grouped in the transport direction, and a drive unit arranged after the dividing unit with the piece goods groups push rods shifting in the direction of transport. Said engagement element can be moved through the transport plane from a disengaged position into an engaged position that groups the piece goods in the transport direction. According to the invention, the device comprises a second compartment unit arranged in front of the drive unit, having a first compartment unit with at least one engagement element effective over a first partial section of the width of the piece goods flow and a second compartment unit with at least one engagement element effective over a second partial section of the width of the piece goods flow. The engagement elements of the second compartment unit can be moved through the transport plane from a disengaged position into an engaged position that groups the piece goods in the transport direction. In addition, the engagement element of the first compartment unit can be controlled independently of the engagement element of the second compartment unit. Furthermore, the device comprises a merging unit, which merges the piece goods groups.

Description

• - eine den Stückgutstrom entlang einer Transportebene zuführende Fördereinrichtung mit mindestens drei zumindest abschnittsweise zueinander parallelen Transportmitteln zum Zuführen der Teilströme, wobei eine Oberseite der Transportmittel die Transportebene bildet,
• - eine erste Abteileinheit mit mindestens einem quer zur Transportebene in den Stückgutstrom eingreifenden Eingriffselement, mittels welchem die Stückgüter längs zur Transportrichtung gruppierbar sind, wobei die Abteileinheit unterhalb der Transportebene derart gegenüber den Transportmitteln angeordnet ist, dass das mindestens eine Eingriffselement durch die Transportebene hindurch aus einer Außereingriffsstellung in eine die Stückgüter längs zur Transportrichtung gruppierende Eingriffsstellung bewegbar ist, und
• - eine in Transportrichtung nach der Abteileinheit angeordnete Antriebseinheit mit die Stückgutgruppen in Transportrichtung verlagernden Schubstangen.

The invention relates to a device for forming piece goods groups from a piece goods flow consisting of at least three partial flows, comprising

• - a conveying device that feeds the piece goods flow along a transport plane with at least three transport means that are at least partially parallel to one another for feeding in the partial flows, with an upper side of the transport means forming the transport plane,
• - a first compartment unit with at least one engagement element that engages in the piece goods flow transversely to the transport plane and by means of which the piece goods can be grouped along the direction of transport, the compartment unit being arranged below the transport plane opposite the transport means in such a way that the at least one engagement element through the transport plane consists of a disengaged position is movable into an engaged position grouping the piece goods along the direction of transport, and
• - A drive unit arranged after the compartment unit in the transport direction, with push rods shifting the piece goods groups in the transport direction.

The invention also relates to a method for forming piece goods groups from a piece goods flow consisting of at least three partial flows.

Devices and methods of the type mentioned in the introduction are known in a variety of configurations from the prior art. The devices are used to form groups of goods from a continuously flowing piece goods stream in the transport direction, which are then fed intermittently to a downstream processing station. The piece goods can be, for example, individual packages, such as beverage cans or bottles, or individual packages that have already been put together to form bundles and/or are connected to one another.

Such grouping devices are found in particular in production plants in which piece goods are produced in large numbers. During the production process, the individual piece goods are located between the individual treatment machines in a more or less closed product flow. Due to the different capacities of the individual treatment machines and/or the processing to be carried out, such as the packaging, it is sometimes necessary to subdivide the general cargo into general cargo groups of different sizes. Such a subdivision is particularly necessary in the beverage industry. There is mainly the product flow of beverage containers such. B. Bottles or cans, or beverage containers that have already been put together and/or connected to one another to form individual containers, for example, are grouped before further processing by a tray packer or palletizer in order to produce packaging units that are ready for sale.

As a result of the ever-increasing performance of beverage bottling plants and constantly growing market requirements for small container sizes, new challenges in terms of production speed are emerging in the area of packaging plants. With regard to the machine speed of secondary packaging machines, e.g. so-called shrink packers, multi-lane, in particular three-lane processing is fundamentally of great advantage because this allows the transport speed of the individual lanes to be reduced. For example, the transport speed of three-lane processing can be reduced by 1/3 compared to two-lane processing while the machine output remains the same. In the case of three-lane processing, however, the use of a so-called combiner is often necessary in the case of subsequent processing of pack formations from a specified number of packs, which arranges the packs in the specified manner in order to ensure reliable processing of the subsequent processing stations, e.g. a tray packer or palletizer , to guarantee.

The invention is based on the object of providing a device and a method for forming groups of piece goods, which enables a simple compilation of pack formations.

The invention solves this problem by a device with the features of claim 1 and by a method with the features of claim 10. Advantageous developments of the device are specified in the dependent claims 2 to 9. An advantageous embodiment of the method is specified in the dependent claim 11.

The device according to the invention is characterized by a second dividing unit arranged in the transport direction in front of the drive unit and below the transport plane, which comprises a first dividing unit with at least one engagement element that is effective over a first partial section of the width of the piece goods flow and a second dividing unit with at least one over a second partial section of the width of the piece goods flow has effective engagement element, wherein the second compartment unit below the transport plane so opposite the transport means is arranged such that its engagement elements can be moved through the transport plane from a disengaged position into an engagement position that groups the piece goods along the transport direction, and wherein the at least one engagement element of the first compartment unit can be controlled independently of the at least one engagement element of the second compartment unit. Furthermore, the device according to the invention comprises a merging unit, which is designed to form a piece goods formation for the displacement of the piece goods groups perpendicular to the transport direction in the transport plane.

The device according to the invention has a total of two dividing units, each with at least one engagement element, by means of which the piece goods flow running in the direction of transport can be divided—viewed in the direction of transport. The engagement area of the at least one engagement element of the first compartment unit is preferably adjustable transversely to the transport direction. For example, it can be set in such a way that it can be brought into engagement with the piece goods over the entire width of the piece goods flow or only over a partial section. In combined operation with the second dividing unit provided according to the invention, the first dividing unit preferably only acts on a partial section of the piece goods flow.

The second dividing unit has two dividing units, each with at least one engagement element, which can each be brought into engagement with the unit good flow via subsections of the piece goods flow—viewed transversely to the transport direction—with the engagement areas of the engaging elements of the first dividing unit and of the two dividing units transverse to the transport direction preferably not overlap, so that defined areas are created in which parts of the piece goods flow can only be grouped in the transport direction by a compartment unit or compartment unit. The shape of the engagement areas of the first and second dividing unit transverse to the transport direction is preferably dependent on the effective area of the first dividing unit and the dimensions of the piece goods, in particular their extent transverse to the transport direction, and is selected in such a way that the piece goods grouped together by the two dividing units correspond to the number of piece goods , which are grouped by a compartment aggregate in combination with the first compartment unit.

According to the invention, it is provided that the engagement elements can be moved from their position below the transport plane through the transport plane from a disengaged position into the engaged position grouping the piece goods along the direction of transport. This enables a particularly simple and compact configuration of the device, with the transport means being configured in such a way that they enable the engagement elements to reach through into the conveying flow. For this purpose, the transport means can be designed, for example, as longitudinally divided conveyor belts, in the intermediate space of which the engagement elements can engage. In addition, the engagement elements acting through the plane of transport ensure reliable operation, with the piece goods being prevented in particular from jamming or falling over on the transport means.

To feed the packaged goods group provided by means of the device according to the invention in a smaller width compared to the packaged goods flow to the treatment plant downstream of the device, a drive unit provided with push rods and arranged after the compartment units and a merging unit arranged in the transport direction after the compartmented units, which is used to form a unit load formation to the vertical is formed to the transport direction in the transport plane taking place relocation of the cargo groups. The groups of packs are transported further in the direction of transport by means of the push rods, with the merging unit ensuring that the groups of piece goods are shifted transversely to the direction of transport.

A shifting of the engagement elements between the disengaged position and the engaged position ensures the grouping of the piece goods flow in the transport direction. According to the invention, the at least one engagement element of the first compartment unit can be controlled independently of the at least one engagement element of the second compartment unit, as a result of which the piece goods flow can be grouped with great variability in a particularly simple and convenient manner. The independent controllability, for example, makes it possible to offset the compartment units in the direction of transport, i. H. to be arranged at a distance from one another, with a function of the transport speed taking place control of the engagement elements also a transport direction adjacent transport of the cargo groups generated via the compartment units can be guaranteed.

With the device according to the invention, it is possible to subsequently provide piece goods formations from the piece goods flow by a combination of piece goods groups from two partial flows of a piece goods flow, which—viewed transversely to the transport direction—always have the same width. In particular when groups of packs are grouped from a stream of packs, there is thus the possibility of a wide, in particular three-lane, stream of packs To produce pack formations which have a constant width, namely a smaller width than the entire stream of packs.

The device according to the invention makes it possible, without the use of additional units such as combiners or the like, to group goods from a wide flow of goods and forward them together, the common width of which is suitable for a post-processing treatment station, e.g. a tray packer. The joint operation of the first and second compartment unit is preferably carried out when the piece goods supplied consist of bundles which are supplied via at least three transport tracks and from which piece goods formations with a defined width are to be separated and forwarded. This takes place via a separate control of the first compartment unit and the two compartment units of the second compartment unit, so that—seen in the transport direction—then the piece goods formations have a defined width that is suitable for the subsequent treatment plant. A release of the grouped piece goods, in particular bundles, by the compartment units or the individual compartment units is preferably carried out in such a way that the forwarded piece goods groups are adjacent and occupy the same position relative to one another in the transport direction, i. H. essentially have no offset in the transport direction.

In the case of the use of individual piece goods such. B. individual bottles or cans, the device according to the invention can be used in the usual way by deactivating the second compartment unit, in which case the first compartment unit is set in such a way that it interacts with the piece goods over an adjustable width of the piece goods flow with its engagement elements and thus required groups forms.

The device according to the invention is distinguished by its high flexibility, which makes it possible to group both individual packages and bundles in the desired manner. In particular, the device is suitable for separating bundles from a wide stream of piece goods, which - viewed in the transport direction - have a width that is smaller than the transport width and that is suitable for a subsequent treatment plant, so that intermediate units, such as a combiner, can be dispensed with.

The arrangement of the compartment units of the second compartment unit can in principle take place in any way. The compartment units are expediently arranged both in relation to one another and in relation to the engagement region of the engagement element of the first compartment unit in such a way that they can be brought into engagement with the piece goods together over the entire width of the piece goods flow. By forwarding the piece goods grouped from two partial flows, i. H. The width of the piece goods flow for a subsequent treatment system, e.g.

When using a suitable controller, it is not necessary for the compartment units to be arranged together in front of or behind the first compartment unit. The control makes it possible to offset an offset in the arrangement of the compartment units or compartment aggregates—seen in the direction of transport—by forwarding them at different times, so that the cargo groups are then arranged essentially in the same position in the direction of transport.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first dividing unit and the second dividing unit are arranged next to one another in a common plane running perpendicular to the transport direction, in relation to the transport direction, in front of or behind the first dividing unit.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the first and second compartment unit are arranged adjacent to one another in such a way that they group the piece goods to be grouped essentially in the same position—viewed in the transport direction—next to one another on the transport plane. A corresponding embodiment of the invention makes it possible, on the one hand, to design the device with two compartment units in a particularly compact manner. In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the second compartment unit such that it influences the outside piece goods flows, there is particularly good accessibility to the compartment units, in particular the drives, which makes it easier to carry out maintenance and repair work. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is provided that one of the two dividing units is arranged in front of the first dividing unit in the transport direction and the other of the two dividing units is arranged behind the first dividing unit in the transport direction.

A shifting of the engagement elements between the disengaged position and the engaged position ensures the grouping of the piece goods flow in the transport direction. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is before seen that the first dividing unit and the second dividing unit each have drives that are independent of one another and can be controlled separately for displacing the engagement elements, with the drives being particularly preferably designed as servo drives.

The use of separate drives for the compartment units, in particular the use of servo drives, makes it possible to group the piece goods flow in a particularly simple and convenient manner. There is also the possibility, via the independently possible activation, in a particularly simple manner, of shifting the compartment units in the transport direction, i. H. to be arranged at a distance from one another, with activation of the engagement elements taking place as a function of the transport speed, adjacent transport in the transport direction of the piece goods grouped via the compartment units and/or the compartment units and the first compartment unit can be ensured.

The number of further compartment units in addition to the first compartment unit, as well as the number of compartment units of the second and further compartment units, can in principle be freely selected, with suitable control of the first compartment unit and the second and, if applicable, further compartment units and their compartment units resulting in a unit load formation from a wide flow of unit goods Width can be formed, which has a reduced width compared to the total width of the piece goods flow. This makes it possible to use the device according to the invention to provide the piece goods in a piece goods group that is sufficiently wide for the subsequent treatment plant.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conveyor device is designed as a three-track conveyor device with three transport tracks and the first compartment unit, the second compartment unit and the first compartment unit are each in operative connection with one of the transport tracks of the conveyor device. According to a development of the invention, it is particularly preferred that the first dividing unit and the second dividing unit are each operatively connected to one of the two outer transport tracks of the conveyor device.

Devices designed according to these configurations of the invention are particularly suitable for grouping packs, e.g. packs made up of a total of six beverage cans or bottles in a 2x3 formation, into groups of two in the direction of transport and then placing two of these groups of two in the same position next to one another in the direction of transport to promote in the direction of a subsequent treatment plant. The devices developed according to these configurations make it possible to reduce the machine speed of a system upstream of the device, e.g. The further developed devices make it possible in particular to separate two piece goods groups, each with two containers, from the three-lane piece goods flow in such a way that these are conveyed adjacent to one another in the transport direction to the subsequent treatment system, e.g. a tray packer, which is used to combine four packs of six in the arrangement 6x4 or 4x6 in a 24 formation.

The merging unit serves to shift the piece goods groups transversely to the transport direction and can basically be designed in any way for this purpose. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the merging unit comprises two railings that converge in the direction of transport. According to this embodiment of the invention, the distance between the railings decreases--viewed in the transport direction--so that the cargo groups are guided into their predetermined position perpendicular to the transport direction in accordance with the alignment of the railings.

The configuration of the at least one engagement element can in principle be freely selected. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first compartment unit has a plurality of engagement elements and the piece goods can be grouped by means of the engagement elements of the first compartment unit along the transport direction over an adjustable width of the piece goods flow. The use of several engagement elements increases the possibility of setting the width over which the grouped turning should be done in a particularly convenient way.

Using the device according to the invention, there is in particular the possibility of forming container groups, e.g two groups of a predetermined number of containers grouped in the transport direction can be released via the two compartment units in such a way that there are always two container groups adjacent to one another in the direction be conveyed on to a treatment plant downstream of the device, the drive unit with the push rods, which extend transversely to the transport direction, preferably being used for this purpose. The merging unit, by means of which the two groups of containers are brought together to form a container formation, preferably serves to bring the two groups of containers together in the transport plane perpendicularly to the direction of transport.

• - bei einem ersten Gruppier- und Formiervorgang über das erste Abteilaggregat und das zweite Abteilaggregat der zweiten Abteileinheit jeweils mindestens zwei Stückgüter in Transportrichtung hintereinander gruppiert, die Stückgüter weitergeleitet und mittels der Antriebseinheit sowie der Zusammenführeinheit zu einer Stückgutformation zusammengeführt werden,
• - bei einem zweiten Gruppier- und Formiervorgang über die erste Abteileinheit und das erste Abteilaggregat der zweiten Abteileinheit jeweils mindestens zwei Stückgüter in Transportrichtung hintereinander gruppiert, diese Stückgüter weitergeleitet und mittels der Antriebseinheit sowie der Zusammenführeinheit zu einer Stückgutformation zusammengeführt werden und
• - bei einem dritten Gruppier- und Formiervorgang die erste Abteileinheit und das zweite Abteilaggregat der zweiten Abteileinheit jeweils mindestens zwei Stückgüter in Transportrichtung hintereinander gruppiert, diese Stückgüter weitergeleitet und mittels der Antriebseinheit sowie der Zusammenführeinheit zu einer Stückgutformation zusammengeführt werden.

The invention also achieves the above-mentioned object with a method for forming piece goods groups from a piece goods flow consisting of at least three partial flows using the device according to the invention or a further development described above, in which the piece goods flow is fed to the conveyor via the transport means, wherein:

• - in a first grouping and forming process, at least two piece goods are grouped one behind the other in the transport direction via the first dividing unit and the second dividing unit of the second dividing unit, the piece goods are forwarded and brought together to form a piece good formation by means of the drive unit and the merging unit,
• - in a second grouping and forming process, at least two piece goods are grouped one behind the other in the transport direction via the first dividing unit and the first dividing unit of the second dividing unit, these piece goods are forwarded and brought together to form a piece good formation by means of the drive unit and the merging unit, and
• - In a third grouping and forming process, the first compartment unit and the second compartment unit of the second compartment unit group at least two piece goods one behind the other in the transport direction, these piece goods are forwarded and brought together to form a piece goods formation by means of the drive unit and the merging unit.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to form and align cargo groups in a particularly convenient manner from a cargo flow consisting of at least three partial streams through the interaction of the first compartment unit and the second compartment unit, so that these are then brought together to form a cargo formation which is similar in width to one another subsequent treatment system, e.g. a tray packer, are adapted. The sequence of the grouping and forming processes provided according to the method according to the invention, which differ from one another due to the different interaction of the first dividing unit, the first dividing unit and the second dividing unit, can in principle take place in any order adapted to the piece goods flow, with an implementation of all three possible grouping and forming processes, these are carried out repeatedly in order to continuously provide piece goods groups for further processing.

The method according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that it offers the possibility, in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, of forming piece goods formations which can then be reliably processed in the downstream treatment system, for example a tray packer.

• - beim ersten Gruppier- und Formiervorgang nur über das erste Abteilaggregat und das Abteilaggregat sowie der zweiten Abteileinheit gruppierte Stückgüter zu einer Stückgutformation zusammengeführt werden,
• - beim zweiten Gruppier- und Formiervorgang nur über die erste Abteileinheit und das erste Abteilaggregat der zweiten Abteileinheit gruppierte Stückgüter zu einer Stückgutformation zusammengeführt werden,
• - beim dritten Gruppier- und Formiervorgang nur über die erste Abteileinheit und das zweite Abteilaggregat der zweiten Abteileinheit gruppierte Stückgüter zu einer Stückgutformation zusammengeführt werden.

According to a particularly advantageous development of the method according to the invention, it is provided that

• - during the first grouping and forming process, only the first compartment unit and the compartment unit as well as the second compartment unit grouped general cargo are brought together to form a general cargo formation,
• - during the second grouping and forming process, only the first compartment unit and the first compartment unit of the second compartment unit group goods together to form a piece goods formation,
• - During the third grouping and forming process, only the first compartment unit and the second compartment unit of the second compartment unit grouped goods are brought together to form a piece goods formation.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a machine, in particular a packaging machine. The machine according to the invention comprises the device according to the invention or a further development presented above and a control unit which is set up to control said device in such a way that the device executes the method according to the invention or a further development presented above during operation.

Preferably, the control unit of the machine is enabled by control software to control the device in the aforesaid manner. The control unit expediently comprises a data memory in which the control software is stored and a processor for executing or processing the control software.

• 1 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Gruppierung von Stückgütern;
• 2a in einer schematischen Darstellung eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung von 1;
• 2b in einer schematischen Darstellung die Vorrichtung von 1 ohne die Transportbänder ihrer Fördereinrichtung;
• 3a in einer Prinzipdarstellung eine erste Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zur Bildung von Stückgutgruppen;
• 3b in einer Prinzipdarstellung eine zweite Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zur Bildung von Stückgutgruppen;
• 4a in einer Prinzipdarstellung eine dritte Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zur Bildung von Stückgutgruppen;
• 4b in einer Prinzipdarstellung eine vierte Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zur Bildung von Stückgutgruppen;
• 5a in einer Prinzipdarstellung eine fünfte Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zur Bildung von Stückgutgruppen und
• 5b in einer Prinzipdarstellung eine sechste Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zur Bildung von Stückgutgruppen.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 in a perspective view a schematic representation of a device for grouping piece goods;
• 2a in a schematic representation a plan view of the device of FIG 1 ;
• 2 B in a schematic representation the device of 1 without the conveyor belts of their conveyor;
• 3a in a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the device for the formation of cargo groups;
• 3b in a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the device for the formation of cargo groups;
• 4a in a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the device for the formation of cargo groups;
• 4b in a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the device for the formation of cargo groups;
• 5a in a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the device for the formation of cargo groups and
• 5b in a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of the device for the formation of cargo groups.

In 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device 1c for the formation of cargo groups 11 is shown in perspective. The device 1c comprises a conveyor device 2 with three transport means 3 arranged parallel to one another, via which the piece goods 10 are fed. In the present exemplary embodiment, the piece goods 10 are bundles that each consist of six beverage packaging/containers in a 2×3 arrangement. In the present exemplary embodiment, the transport means 3 are each designed as three-part conveyor belts. For the sake of simplicity, the means of transport 3 are referred to below as conveyor belts and the piece goods 10 as containers.

The device 1 c for forming pack groups 11 from the packs 10 supplied has a first compartment unit 4 and a second compartment unit 5 , viewed in the transport direction 9 , upstream of the first compartment unit 4 . The second dividing unit 5 is constructed in two parts transversely to the transport direction 9 and has a first dividing unit 6 and a second dividing unit 7 which are arranged next to one another transversely to the transport direction 9 . The arrangement of the second compartment unit 5 in relation to the conveyor belts 3 of the conveyor device 2 is such that the engagement elements 8 of the first and second compartment unit 6, 7, which can be passed through the conveyor belts 3 from below and are arranged on adjustment elements 14 with respect to the transport plane 16, can be connected to the on the outer transport tracks or conveyor belts 3 supplied packs 10 can be brought into engagement to group them, the first compartment unit 6 in a first section 17 and the second compartment unit 7 in a second section 18 engaging with the pack flow.

The first compartment unit 4 downstream of the second compartment unit 5--viewed in the transport direction 9--extends over the entire width of the conveyor device 2 (and beyond). In joint operation with the second separating unit 5, the first separating unit 4 acts on the flow of containers in such a way that it acts on the bundles 10 guided through there in a group-forming manner via its engagement elements 8 only in a central subsection lying between the first subsection 17 and the second subsection 18.

By suitably controlling the engagement elements 8 of the first separating unit 6, the second separating unit 7 and the first separating unit 4 using a control unit (not shown), the packs 10 grouped via the first separating unit 4 and the second separating unit 5 can be positioned in the transport direction 9 in such a way that always two pack groups 11, each consisting of two packs 10—seen in the transport direction 9—are transported further next to one another in the transport direction 9 in essentially the same position.

The two groups of packs 11 are brought together in the transport plane 16, with the groups of packs 11 arranged next to one another being arranged either on the two outer transport tracks or on an outer transport track and the middle track, via the merging unit 12 connected to the conveyor device 2. This relocates the groups of packs 11 transversely to the transport direction 9 in such a way that the pack groups 11 are assembled into a pack formation 15 . For this purpose, the merging unit 12 has two railings 13, the distance between which—seen in the transport direction 9—reduces until the distance between them essentially corresponds to the width of two pack groups 11 arranged next to one another. A displacement of the groups of packs 11 in the transport direction 9 takes place via revolving driven push rods 16 that move in the transport direction 9 and are aligned transversely to the transport direction 9 and that bear against the groups of packs 11 . The pack formation 15 formed in this way can then be further processed in a downstream processing unit, for example a tray packer, not shown here.

In the 3a and 3b an alternative embodiment is shown, in which the two compartment units 6, 7 of the second compartment unit 5 - considered in the transport direction 9 - not next to each other, ie at the same distance in front of or behind the first th compartment unit 4 are arranged. in the in 3a In the exemplary embodiment of the device 1a shown, both dividing units 6, 7 act on the packs 10 fed on the outer transport tracks, with the first dividing unit 6 being arranged in front of and the second dividing unit 7 behind - viewed in transport direction 9 - of the first dividing unit 4, which is on acts on the bundles 10 fed in the central transport path.

This in 3b illustrated embodiment of the device 1b deviates from that in 3a illustrated embodiment in that the second dividing unit 7 acts on the bundles 10 supplied on the middle transport path and the first dividing unit 4 on the bundles 10 supplied on one of the two outer transport paths. The first dividing unit 4 acts on the container 10 fed on the right-hand outer transport path, viewed in transport direction 9, while the first dividing unit 6 acts on the container 10, viewed in transport direction 9, on the left-hand outer transport path.

This in 4b illustrated embodiment of the device 1d, in which, as in the in the 1 , 2a , 2 B and 4a illustrated embodiment, the second compartment unit 5 - viewed in the transport direction 9 - is arranged in front of the first compartment unit, differs from that in 4a illustrated embodiment in that the second dividing unit 7 is not on one of the outer transport tracks, but on the middle transport track and the first dividing unit 4 instead on the bundles 10 supplied on one of the two outer transport tracks, namely on the - seen in the transport direction 9 - right outer transport track.

Another alternative structure to that in the 1 , 2a , 2 B and 4a of the second compartment unit 5 and its arrangement relative to the first compartment unit 4 is shown in FIG 5a shown. in the in 5a illustrated embodiment of the device 1 e is the second compartment unit 5 in modification to the in 1 illustrated embodiment - viewed in the transport direction 9 - arranged behind the first compartment unit 4. The compartment units 6, 7 of the second compartment unit 5 act on the packs 10 fed on the outer transport tracks, whereas the first compartment unit 4 acts only on the packs 10 fed on the middle transport track.

in the in 5b In the embodiment of the device 1f shown, the first and second compartment units 6, 7 act in a modification to that in 5a illustrated embodiment acts on the packs 10 fed on one of the outer transport tracks and the middle transport track, whereas the first compartment unit 4 acts on the packs 10 fed on one of the outer transport tracks.

reference list

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f

Device for forming piece goods groups

2

conveyor

3

Means of transport/conveyor belt

4

first compartment unit

5

second compartment unit

6

first compartment unit

7

second compartment unit

8th

engagement element

9

transport direction

10

bundles/piece goods

11

Container group/General cargo group

12

merge unit

13

railing

14

adjustment element

15

Pack formation/package formation

16

transport level

17

first section

18

second section

19

push rod

Claims (12)

Device (1a - 1f) for forming piece goods groups (11) from a piece goods flow consisting of at least three partial flows, comprising - a conveyor device (2) feeding the piece goods flow along a transport plane (16) with at least three transport means (3) parallel to one another at least in sections for Feeding in the partial flows, with an upper side of the transport means (3) forming the transport plane (16), - a first compartment unit (4) with at least one engagement element (8) which engages in the piece goods flow transversely to the transport plane (16) and by means of which the piece goods (10 ) along the direction of transport (9) can be grouped, the compartment unit (4) below the transport plane (16) being opposite in this way the transport means (3) is arranged such that the at least one engagement element (8) can be moved through the transport plane (16) from a disengaged position into an engagement position grouping the piece goods (10) along the transport direction (9), and - one in the transport direction ( 9) drive unit arranged after the compartment unit (4) with push rods (19) displacing the piece goods groups (11) in the transport direction (9), characterized by - a second compartment unit ( 5), having a first compartment unit (6) with at least one engagement element (8) effective over a first partial section (17) of the width of the piece goods flow and a second compartment unit (7) with at least one over a second partial section (18) of the width of the piece goods flow effective engagement element (8), wherein the second compartment unit (5) below the transport plane (16) in such a way relative to the transport means (3) is arranged such that its engagement elements (8) can be moved through the transport plane (16) from a disengaged position into an engagement position that groups the piece goods (10) along the transport direction (9), and wherein the at least one engagement element (8) of the first dividing unit (6) can be controlled independently of the at least one engagement element (8) of the second dividing unit (6), and - a merging unit (12) which, in order to form a piece goods formation (15) perpendicular to the transport direction (9) in the transport plane ( 16) taking place shifting of the cargo groups (11) is formed. device after claim 1 , characterized in that the first dividing unit (6) and the second dividing unit (7) are arranged next to one another in a common plane running perpendicularly to the transport direction (9), in relation to the transport direction (9), in front of or behind the first dividing unit (4). are. device after claim 1 , characterized in that one of the two dividing units (6, 7) is arranged in front of the first dividing unit (4) in the transport direction (9) and the other of the two dividing units (6, 7) in the transport direction (9) behind the first dividing unit (4 ) is arranged. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first dividing unit (6) and the second dividing unit (7) each have independent, separately controllable drives for displacing their engagement elements (8). device after claim 4 , characterized in that the drives are designed as servo drives. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor device (2) is designed as a three-track conveyor device with three transport tracks and the first compartment unit (6), the second compartment unit (7) and the first compartment unit (4) each with one the transport paths of the conveyor (2) are in operative connection. device after claim 6 , characterized in that the first dividing unit (6) and the second dividing unit (7) are each operatively connected to one of the two outer transport tracks of the conveyor device (2). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the merging unit (12) comprises two railings (13) running towards one another in the transport direction (9). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first compartment unit (4) has a plurality of engagement elements (8) and the piece goods (10) are transferred by means of the engagement elements (8) of the first compartment unit (4) along the transport direction (9). an adjustable width of the cargo flow can be grouped. Method for forming piece goods groups (11) from a piece goods flow consisting of at least three partial flows using a device (1a - 1f) according to one or more of Claims 1 until 9 , in which the piece goods flow is fed to the conveyor device (2) via the transport means (3), characterized in that - during a first grouping and forming process via the first dividing unit (6) and the second dividing unit (7) of the second dividing unit (5 ) at least two piece goods (10) are grouped one behind the other in the transport direction (9), these piece goods (10) are forwarded and brought together to form a piece good formation (15) by means of the drive unit and the merging unit (12), - in a second grouping and forming process via the first dividing unit (4) and the first dividing unit (6) of the second dividing unit (5) each group at least two piece goods (10) one behind the other in the transport direction (9), these piece goods (10) are forwarded and, by means of the drive unit and the merging unit (12) are brought together to form a piece goods formation (15) and - in a third grouping and forming process via the first compartment unit it (4) and the second Compartment unit (7) of the second compartment unit (5) groups at least two piece goods (10) one behind the other in the transport direction (9), these piece goods (10) are forwarded and brought together to form a piece good formation (15) by means of the drive unit and the merging unit (12). procedure after claim 10 , characterized in that - in the first grouping and forming process, piece goods (10) grouped only via the first dividing unit (6) and the second dividing unit (7) of the second dividing unit (5) are brought together to form a piece good formation (15), - in the second grouping and forming process only via the first dividing unit (4) and the first dividing unit (6) of the second dividing unit (5) grouped piece goods (10) are brought together to form a piece good formation (15), - in the third grouping and forming process only via the first Compartment unit (4) and the second compartment unit (7) of the second compartment unit (5) grouped piece goods (10) are brought together to form a piece goods formation (15). Machine with a device (1a - 1f) according to one or more of Claims 1 until 9 and a control unit which is set up to control said device in such a way that the device operates according to the method claim 10 or 11 executes

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