Apparatus for conveying suspended bottles

Abstract

An apparatus for conveying bottles that each have an annular bead on the neck of the bottle. A conveyor line, which extends over the respectively desired conveying path, is provided with a bottle carrier that extends along the conveying path, extends below the bead on the neck of the bottle, and guides the bottles in a suspended state, via the beads, with play, through a guide slot that extends along the conveying path. The conveyer line is also provided with mechanisms for providing the bottles with a feed movement for conveying the latter. To provide a considerably more uniform conveying speed, avoid bottles striking one another, reduce the consumption of energy, and reduce manufacturing expenses, the mechanisms provide the feed movement parallel to the guide slot for the bottle necks, with the guide slot being formed on the bottle carrier. The mechanisms are provided with at least one mechanically movable driving element that mechanically engages the bottles that are to be conveyed. The mechanisms are also provided with mechanical drives and guides for the driving element. Particularly advantageous is the combination of the bottle carrier and the feed mechanism via two conveyers that are guided parallel to one another and at a lateral distance from the guide slot. The beads of the bottle necks rest directly on the side edge regions of these conveyers, which side edge regions are disposed on both sides of the guide slot.