Device for transporting bottles

US6516939B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• GEA Finnah GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Andreas Schmidt · Braunschweig, DE
• Thomas Niehr · Bad Kreuznach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 1, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 11, 2003
• Expiry date: Jun 1, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G2201/0244
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

For transporting bottles with a carrying ring in the neck region, particularly PET bottles, along a specified path of motion through processing stations (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), of a processing installation particularly a bottle-filling installation, in each case a number of bottles (8), grouped in a row (9) transversely to the direction of transport (20), is transported by a carrier (13) and positioned relative to the latter. The carriers (13) can be moved by conveying chains (11) or similar driving means at uniform intervals consecutively from a bottle feeding station (1) past at least one processing station, especially a filling station, to a bottle delivery station (7) and, from there, empty back to the bottle feeding station. As carrier for a row (9) of bottles (8), a cellular board-like flat carrying strip (13) is provided. Each bottle (8) is supported suspended with its neck (25) in an opening (16; 30) of the carrying strip (13), the carrying ring (24), at the neck (25) of the bottles (8) overlapping the edge of the opening (16; 30) in the carrying strip (13). Above the plane of motion (15) of the carrying strips (13) on their way between the bottle feeding station (1) and the bottl…