EP0594090A1 - Device for positioning articles - Google Patents

Abstract

During conveying with a conveyor (30), articles (2) are fed in at the reverse side (7) of angle profiles (16, 17) which are guided in oblique movement paths and accelerate the articles (2) with alignment of the rotational position and/or their transverse position, transfer them onto an upright base surface (11) and place them against a stop (12). The angle profiles (16, 17) and the stop (12) then form a slide shaft from which the aligned articles (2) can be ejected by means of a lift table (32), for example into a packaging station. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a positioning device with which piece goods in a predetermined movement path or a fixed position z. B. can be provided so that it is aligned with one, two or three orthogonal spatial axes with respect to a reference plane or a reference point or a base.

General cargo, seen in at least one of the spatial axes, can have an irregular or regular rounded or angular shape, in particular an external shape, for example triangular, rectangular, square and similar. Furthermore, the piece goods can be deformable, at least when they are in contact with a base area, and are essentially incompressible, but essentially deformable parallel to the base area, but can be deformed, as is the case, for example, with piece goods consisting of a large number of the same size and flush with one another in a stack Leaf layers is the case which can be shifted against each other parallel to their planes or can be lifted off each other transversely to their planes

In the state compressed by the weight of the sheet layers, however, the piece goods form a strictly rectangular cuboid, which can be highly resistant to deformation, although its individual layers have thicknesses of less than two or one tenth of a millimeter and are essential in the case of paper or paper-like materials higher flexibility than e.g. metallic materials have approximately the same dimensions.

General cargo is aligned especially for the purpose of subsequent processing. E.g. the piece goods are aligned with a packaging station, in which they are brought together in a precisely predetermined position with a flexible packaging wrapping that is still essentially spread out and this is then wrapped around the piece goods. This can e.g. in that the piece goods are aligned between box-shaped walls and their four sides can slide transversely to a base surface and at right angles and parallel to each other on the inside walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a positioning device in which disadvantages of known designs or of the type described are avoided and which ensures an increased working speed, in particular when the piece goods are subjected to low loads.

According to the invention, the alignment can take place in that alignment surfaces act on narrowly delimited zones of the piece goods and thereby introduce alignment forces into the piece goods, each approximately parallel to one, two or three of the spatial axes can act in opposite directions after deviation from the desired alignment state.

Two or three alignment movements approximately at right angles to one another or parallel to the spatial axes are advantageously superimposed on one another in such a way that a reduction ratio between 5: 1 and 18: 1, in particular between 10: 1 and 14: 1, exists between at least two alignment movements with regard to the movement path , where, depending on the level of the alignment resistances between these limit values, any integer multiple can be advantageous.

The alignment along the relatively longer movement path can simultaneously serve to transport the piece goods, for example to an aligned ready position determined by the stop and / or interruption of the drive. Simultaneously with this conveying movement, the general cargo is then aligned in a direction transverse to it by a relatively much smaller path and, if necessary, in a further direction transverse to both of the aforementioned directions by a relatively even smaller path, namely transverse to its base surface.

This last alignment can be done in a simple manner in that the piece goods are pushed with their base surface onto a correspondingly aligned base surface. With this design, the alignment base does not have to be moved relative to the device base, but the piece goods can be moved and thereby simultaneously transferred from one station, for example a stacking picture, to another work station, in which it then moves to the base area after two about parallel spatial axes arrives exactly aligned and is stopped.

The alignment movements are advantageously not in a vertical, but in a different, e.g. approximately horizontal direction, the base advantageously deviating from a vertical position, namely as a wing for receiving the weight on the underside of the piece goods. In the case of a piece of material which yields to thrust in one direction or plane, two alignment movements are expediently approximately parallel to this direction or plane or, in the case of stack layers, parallel to their planes. In this case, the alignment surfaces advantageously attack uniformly over the entire extent of the piece goods that lies transversely to the planes mentioned. The alignment surfaces are brought into engagement with the associated counter surfaces of the piece goods over its entire associated extent essentially simultaneously by transverse movements.

The respective alignment surface can be tilted at least by a few angular degrees about an axis that is approximately parallel to it or approximately perpendicular and at most at a short distance from it, so that it automatically adjusts itself to an essentially full-surface position under the contact forces can and not only lies in point or line form on the piece goods. Furthermore, the alignment surface can be deflected at least over part of its travel in a direction away from the piece goods against a restoring force, so that it acts relatively softly on the piece goods. It is only at the end of their travel that the alignment surface is expediently or positively supported against such deflection movements, so that the general cargo is in any case forced into its predetermined alignment position in this last phase. In this last phase, the alignment surface can move outward on an arch path, by means of which the reduction ratio mentioned is reduced in this last phase.

A particularly fast way of working can be achieved if the alignment surfaces take over the respective piece goods from a conveyor running at a uniform speed, which expediently forms a substantially continuous continuation of the base area and on which the piece goods can then be roughly pre-aligned transversely to the conveying direction before it slides onto the actual base area. The alignment surfaces can have a higher conveying speed than the conveyor, so that they catch up the piece goods in the manner of sliders on the back and after running onto the piece goods, they move them at a correspondingly higher speed relative to the transporter and the subsequent piece goods. When the aligned ready position is reached, the alignment surfaces are then stopped, so that they continue to secure the piece goods and form a slide guide lying transversely to the base area, along which the piece goods can be transferred to the processing position of the associated work station. During this process step, the following piece goods are conveyed further at the same speed, the intermediate distances between successive piece goods being selected such that the alignment surfaces of the piece goods transferred into the working position are already released before they have to be moved again in order to take over a subsequent piece goods.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Positioniervorrichtung in Draufsicht und vereinfachter Darstellung und

Fig. 2

einen Bewegungsablauf der Positioniervorrichtung in schematischer Darstellung.

These and further features emerge from the claims and also from the description and the drawings, the individual features being realized individually or in groups in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields and being advantageous and capable of being protected by themselves Can represent versions for which protection is claimed here. A Embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

Fig. 1

a positioning device according to the invention in plan view and simplified representation and

Fig. 2

a movement of the positioning device in a schematic representation.

The positioning device 1 is used to feed piece goods 2, e.g. Paper giant of at least one or more 100 sheets each, to a work station in which the piece goods 2 arrive precisely aligned in view of their underside or base surface 3, so that the work station associated with the work station can be carried out by moving them at right angles to their base surface. The piece goods 2 have, at right angles to the flat base surface 3 in pairs opposite one another and at right angles to one another, flat side surfaces 4 to 7 which adjoin one another in right-angled corner zones. The base surface 3 is parallel to a flat top surface 8 of the same size.

The device 1 has, for example, a frame-like device base 9, which determines an alignment base 10, against which the respective piece goods 2 are to assume a more precisely determined, fixed position, both in plan view and in view of each side surface 4 to 7. The height is determined by an essentially flat base surface 11, on which the piece goods 2 rests with the base surface 3. A precise alignment transversely to the side surfaces 6, 7 is determined by a continuously flat alignment surface 12, which is used for the full-surface contact of the side surface 6 and in a view of the base surface 11 at a distance of this lies, which can be in the order of a third of the distance between the side surfaces 6, 7.

In the ready position according to FIG. 1, the alignment surface 12 is opposite to approximately parallel and planar alignment surfaces 14, which are intended for the installation of the side surface 7 with areas that correspond to only half to a twelfth, in particular a fifth to a tenth, of the total surface area of the side surface 7 . Each alignment surface 14 is directly adjoined in a rigid assignment by an approximately flat, also flat alignment surface 13, which is intended for contacting the associated side surface 4 or 5 with an area component which can also be of the order of magnitude mentioned. Alignment surfaces 13 are provided only at a distance from the alignment surface 12, namely in the region of the corner zone of the piece goods 2 delimited by the side surface 7, so that this does not directly adhere to the side surfaces 4, 5 over most of its extent between the side surfaces 6, 7 Alignment surfaces. All alignment surfaces 12 to 14 extend at least over the total height of the piece goods 2.

At least one, namely the alignment surface 12, is larger than the associated side surface 6, so that it protrudes beyond the base surface 3, the top surface 8 and / or the side surface 4 or 5 and the side surface 6 rests essentially over its entire surface. The alignment surface 12 is formed by a plate surface of a plate-shaped alignment body 15, which is advantageously essentially vertical. In each case a pair of two alignment surfaces 13, 14 delimiting a protruding corner zone is formed by an alignment body 16 or 17 which is angular in cross section, which is designed as an angularly continuous profile bar which is constant over its entire length and is approximately at right angles to the base surface 11 or extends approximately parallel to the alignment surface 12. The angle leg forming the wider alignment surface 13 is longer than the angle leg forming the narrower alignment surface 14. Each alignment surface 14 lies in a top view with a lateral distance from the base surface 11, while each alignment surface 13 lies in the ready position with a considerably greater distance from the alignment surface 12. The angle between the alignment surfaces 13, 14 essentially corresponds exactly to the angle between the associated side surfaces 4, 7 and 5, 7 in the region of the corner zone of the piece goods 2.

In the manner of an end stop, the alignment surface 12 is not moved by a direct drive or is arranged essentially stationary, while the alignment surfaces 13, 14 can each be moved transversely against the alignment surface 12 by the drive with the piece goods 2. For this purpose, the respective alignment body 16 or 17 is fastened to two essentially identical support members 18 which are spaced apart from one another transversely to the base surface 11 or parallel to the alignment surface 12 and in the longitudinal direction of which the respective alignment body 16 or 17 is essentially rigid or is positively attached.

The support members 18 are expediently formed by roller chains, toothed belts or the like. So that they can be driven without slippage. The strand 19 of each support element 18 facing the piece goods 2 lies in a view of the base surface 11 according to FIG. 1 at an acute angle of less than 30, 20, 15 or 10 ° with respect to a plane or plane approximately perpendicular to the surfaces 11, 12 or to the associated side surface 4 or 5 and approaches the center of the alignment surface 12. This position of the strand 19 determines the respectively effective movement path of the associated alignment surface 13, 14.

The support members 18 are in each case endlessly guided around two deflections 20, 21 lying one behind the other transversely to the alignment surface 12 in the form of chain wheels, of which the deflection closer to the alignment surface 12 has a deflection radius which is approximately one third smaller. Compared to the center plane of the alignment base 10, which is perpendicular to the surfaces 11, 12, the axes 22 of the front deflections 20, which are closer to the alignment surface 12, are at a smaller distance than the axis 23 of the respective rear deflection 21, although the common axial plane of the deflections 22, 23 to the strand 19 lies at an angle of a few degrees of angle closing to the alignment surface 12. On each support member 18, two or more alignment bodies 16, 17 can be distributed at equal intervals along its length, which act successively for aligning successive piece goods 2, so that a rapid work sequence is possible at relatively low speeds and always the same direction of rotation.

The support members 18 and the deflections 20, 21 are mounted on a bracket 24, which can be continuously adjusted on the base 9 transversely to the alignment surface 12 or approximately parallel to the base surface 11 and can be fixed in the respectively set position. Furthermore, the support members 18 or dreams 19 including the deflections 20, 21 can be adjusted and fixed transversely to the aforementioned central plane or approximately parallel to the surfaces 11, 12 in a corresponding manner. As a result, the device 1 can be set for piece goods 2 of different sizes. The transverse adjustability can be oppositely synchronized, for example by linkage or the like. In such a way that both strands 19 are always at the same distance from the aforementioned central plane.

The shafts of the deflections 20, 21 are each mounted in bearings 25, 26, which are adjustable in the manner described. The respective rear bearing 26 is assigned a tensioning device 27, by means of which the associated support member 18 can be continuously tensioned in tension and secured in the respectively set tensioning state. Between the two end deflections 20, 21, the respective strand 19 is not supported on the inside, but rather can be pressed inward against its tension into a flat sheet position, such a sheet position being indicated by dash-dotted lines on the left in FIG. 1. The resilient force acting against the deflection is greatest directly adjacent to the respective deflection 20, 21 and decreases steadily towards the middle of the length of the run 19, where it is the smallest. This length is greater than the corresponding length of the piece good 2 and less than double it.

The alignment body 15 is transversely or approximately at right angles to the alignment surface 12 in a bearing 28 of the base 9, e.g. characterized in that a plurality of spaced-apart slide rods are provided on the back of the alignment body 15, which run in slide bushes. However, the alignment body 15 can only be moved against a relatively large resistance by pressure against the outer surface 12, because this pressure is counteracted by a counterforce 29, e.g. a spring arrangement which self-resets the alignment body 15 when released. This arrangement can e.g. formed by one or more pneumatic piston springs and their resistance or spring characteristics to adapt to the weight, the frictional resistances or the like.

The side of the base surface 11 remote from the alignment surface 12 is approximately in the said central plane lying conveyor 30 for the piece goods 2, which can be formed, for example, by the upper run of a belt conveyor, and whose supporting surface, which is associated with the base surfaces 3, lies at least in the region adjacent to the base surface 11 with the latter approximately in one plane or, in contrast, slightly higher. The base surface 11 is formed by a lifting table 32 which can be moved transversely or at right angles to it and which can be raised from the supply position which is approximately level with the transporter 30 by an amount which is greater than the distance between the base surface 3 and the top surface 8 of the piece goods 2 is. The sliding surfaces 12 to 14 protrude approximately the same distance and further than the piece goods 2 from the base 11, but the lifting table 32 or the base 11 can be moved beyond the associated ends of the sliding surfaces.

The front end of the conveyor belt runs over a deflection 31 that it has only a small gap distance from the associated edge of the base 11 in the view according to FIG. 1, and thereby a transfer station 33 is formed, at which the piece goods 2 from the moving conveyor 30 so can be moved to the fixed base 11 that it is completely released from the transporter 30. In the ready position, the base surface 11 or the lifting table 32 is offset inward from one to all side surfaces 4 to 7 of the piece goods 2, the distance from the side surfaces 4, 5 being smaller than the distance from the side surface 6 and the associated outer edge can align with the side surface 7 so that it does not protrude beyond it. The width of the supporting surface of the conveyor 30 is also narrower than that of the piece goods 2 and also that of the base area 11, so that the piece goods 2 on both sides laterally about the same distance free or unsupported protrudes, which is exaggerated in Fig. 1. The base surface 11 or the table 32 is expediently composed of flat parts of the same or adjoining format. By removing or adding such format parts, the base 11 can be adapted to different layouts of piece goods 2.

The conveyor 30 conveys the piece goods 2 in the conveying direction 34 at right angles to the alignment surface 12 at a constant speed and at equal intervals, which correspond approximately to one to two times the associated extent of the piece goods 2 or the length of the strands 19, the being approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction 34 lying side surface 6 forms the front and the parallel side surface 7 facing away from it forms the rear side surface, while the side surfaces 4, 5 lie approximately parallel to the conveying direction 34. As soon as the material to be conveyed 2 has reached the area between the two opposing deflections 21, the support members 18, which had been stationary until then, are set in motion by drive in the sense that they run in the area of the dreams 19 in approximately the same direction as the transporter 30. The alignment bodies 16, 17 intended for alignment are moved over most of the deflections 21 in such a way that the alignment surfaces 14 are initially at a distance behind the rear side surface 7. During the run around the deflections 29, the alignment surfaces 13, 14 initially approach the piece goods 2 at a speed laterally or transversely to the conveying direction 34, which is greater than the speed component parallel to the conveying direction 34, this speed component initially being less than the conveying speed of the transporter 30.

In the further course, the approach speed decreases and the conveying component of the alignment surfaces 13, 14 increases until when they have left the deflection 21 they have reached that value which corresponds to the direction and speed of movement of the strand 19 and is essentially constant over its length. When leaving the deflection 21, the alignment surfaces 13, 14 are still at a distance behind the side surface 7, but their speed in the conveying direction 34 is greater than that of the conveyor 30.

2 shows the movements or movement components as speed vectors, namely the oblique actuating movement of the alignment surfaces 13, 14 in the region of the run 19 with the arrow 35, the conveying movement of the conveyor 30 with the vector 36, the movement component lying parallel to the conveying direction 34 the alignment surfaces 13, 14 with the vector 37 and the movement component lying transversely to the conveying direction 34 with the vector 38. Because of the movement 37, which is faster than the movement 36, the alignment surfaces 14 fetch the rear side surface 7 in the region between the first half after leaving the deflections 21 and the first third of the strands 19 and lie against them, initially resting only over part of their width, while the alignment surfaces 13 are still at a distance from the side surfaces 4, 5.

The alignment surfaces 14 then advance the piece goods 2 on the conveyor 30, which acts as a sliding surface and continues to run at the lower speed 36, at the higher speed 37, sliding inwards along the side surface 7. The piece goods 2 are already pre-aligned on the conveyor 30, but only within larger tolerances with respect to the lateral orientation transverse to the conveying direction 34 and with respect to its rotational position about an axis perpendicular to the conveying plane.

If the piece goods 2 are slightly twisted on the conveyor 30, only one of the two alignment surfaces 14 comes into engagement with the side surface 7 and rotates the piece goods 2 on the conveyor 30 until the other alignment surface 14 also comes into engagement, so that the first alignment is done laterally. If the piece goods 2 lie transversely to the side surfaces 4, 5 offset on the conveyor 30, only one of the alignment surfaces 13 comes into engagement with the associated side surface 4 or 5 in the region of the unsupported free run 19 and displaces the piece goods 2 on the conveyor 30 sliding in the direction of the other side surface 5 or 4, in which case no static friction has to be overcome, because due to the faster conveying movement 37 or the rotary movement there is already a relative movement between piece goods 2 and conveyor 30.
During this alignment phase, the alignment body 16 or 17, which runs freely between the deflections 20, 21, can deviate slightly under the alignment resistance emanating from the piece goods 2, because the strand 19 can be transferred under the pressure against the alignment surface 13 into the arc path indicated by dash-dotted lines, from which it is when released, resiliently returns to the straight, straight position.

Due to the oblique track of the alignment body 16, to which the alignment surface 13 is approximately parallel and the alignment surface 14 is approximately at right angles, the alignment surface 14 can initially only engage with the side surface with part of its width, namely following the side surface 4 or 5 7, while the alignment surface 13 initially only engages with a part of its width adjoining its front end with the associated side surface 4 or 5. Due to the internal flexibility of the support member 18 or due to the articulation between the chain links the alignment body 16, 17 can also be mounted such that it adjusts itself to the respective side surface 4, 5, 7 in such a way that its alignment surfaces 13, 14 are aligned parallel to the respectively associated side surface when they are first touched. For this purpose, the alignment body 16 or 17 can, for example, be pivotably mounted in a self-adjusting manner with respect to the support member 18 about a tilt axis 40 approximately parallel to the two alignment surfaces 13, 14 or approximately perpendicular to the base surface 11, this tilt axis 40 expediently in a range between the center of the width the alignment surface 13 and its transition into the alignment surface 14.

In the ready position, however, the alignment body 16 or 17 does not lie in the area of the free run 19, but rather approximately on the circumference of the associated deflection 20, so that it is supported here in a form-fitting manner against movements away from the piece goods 2. In the last phase of movement, the aligning body 16, 17 runs under the progressively increasing resilient force on the deflection 20, so that it is possibly moved form-fittingly from the arc path indicated by dash-dotted lines with an increased alignment speed 38 along the circumference of the deflection 20 to the mentioned central plane and in this last phase of movement the exact alignment is inevitable. Like the rear deflections 21, the front deflections 20 also lie in a common axial plane 44 which is approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction 34, and in the ready position the axial plane 44 passes through the alignment surfaces 13, in particular approximately through the middle of their width, which is why the axial plane 44 is opposite the side surface 7 in the ready position is slightly offset to the front.

The aligning bodies 16, 17 are synchronized by a common drive 39 and mutually in the conveying direction 34 driven exactly aligned, the drive acting appropriately on the front deflections 20 so that the strands 19 are drawn. The drive 39 can lie approximately in the axis of a front deflection 20, and the deflections 20 can be connected to one another in a drive-free manner via a transmission (not shown in more detail).

A drive device 41 is assigned to the drive 39, which stops the movement of the alignment bodies 16, 17 which are in engagement with the piece goods 2 when the aligned ready position is reached. In this position, the general cargo has its front side surface 6 against the alignment surface 12. If the piece goods 2 may still be slightly twisted during this casserole, it initially runs onto the alignment surface 12 only on one side and slides along this with a sliding, possibly further rotation, on the base surface 11 until the side surface 6 is in full contact with the alignment surface 12. At the same time, the side surface 6 takes the alignment surface 12 against the counterforce 29, by means of which the piece goods 2 are pressed against the alignment surfaces 14. The counterforce 29 can already act on the alignment surface 12 in the form of, for example, a prestressed spring force in the starting position, in which the alignment surface 12 is not yet loaded by the piece goods 2. A cam controller or cam gear with a standstill phase is also conceivable for drive control. A control signal can be derived from the position of the alignment surface 12, on the basis of which the control device 41 stops the alignment bodies 16, 17 exactly when the aligned ready position is reached, so that this shutdown does not take place through a resistance emanating from the piece goods 2.

In the ready position, the alignment surfaces 12 to 14 form a conveying shaft which is perpendicular to the base surface 11 and is considerably longer than the thickness of the piece goods 2 and which is in the region of two mutually opposite corner zones by relatively narrow angular guides, namely the alignment surfaces 13, 14, and in the region thereof distant transverse surface 6 is limited by a flat sliding surface, namely the alignment surface 12. The piece goods 2 are completely exposed between these sliding surfaces, which occupy only a fraction of the side surfaces 4, 5, 7.

A device can be provided at a distance above the piece goods 2, by means of which packaging paper or the like can be held ready in a position that is approximately flat, such that it is approximately parallel to the base surface 3 or the cover surface 8 at a distance above the upper end of the shaft lies. When the aligned piece goods 2 are lifted with the lifting table 32, its top layer 8 abuts against the underside of the wrapping paper and takes it upwards, so that it can be knocked down laterally over the side surfaces 4 to 7 and then onto the base surface 3, which is exposed due to the limited size of the base 11 in the edge area. The piece goods 2 completely lifted out of the open end of the conveying shaft and thus encased are then supported in the edge area, so that the lifting table 32 can be lowered back into its starting position and then takes over the next following piece goods 2 in the manner described. The aligning bodies 15 to 17 thus form a slide shaft which can be converted from an expanded state into a narrowed ready state, the narrowing movement of the aligning bodies 16, 17 being oriented obliquely in the manner described and the shaft boundaries 12 to 14 being pretensioned on at least two side surfaces 6, 7 facing away from one another can concern.

The support members 18 and the deflections 20, 21 can lie behind or below the plane of the base 11 or the conveying plane of the transporter 30, so that only the alignment bodies 16, 17 protrude freely above this plane. The components mentioned are expediently essentially encapsulated in a housing 42, separate housings being expediently provided on both sides of the conveyor track for the two alignment units.

If the components mentioned lie completely below the conveying plane, the alignment bodies 16, 17 can protrude through openings in end walls of these housings. However, it is also conceivable to design the respective housing 42 such that it has a passage 43 in the form of an opening in its peripheral wall, through which the respective alignment body 16 or 17 exits the housing 42 when it passes over the deflection 21 moved into the area of the strand 19, so that the alignment body 16 or only over the effective travel for alignment is outside the housing. After part of the circulation via the deflection 20, the alignment body 16 or 17 then re-enters the housing 42, in which it lies during the entire return along the opposite run.

Each of the named components or each of the arrangements can only be provided once, two or more times, e.g. in order to align several piece goods 2 simultaneously and / or in succession in a single positioning device in one or more conveying levels or in one or more alignment stations.

Claims (10)

Positioning device for piece goods (2), in particular stacked goods from stack layers which are not connected to one another, the essentially freely accessible and transverse good surfaces (3 to 7), namely a good base surface (3) and first and second good side surfaces (4 to 7), with a device base (9), characterized in that the device (1) has at least one of arrangements which are formed by a running direction (34) lying transversely to the second good side surface (6, 7) ) determining route (30) for the piece goods (2), an alignment section (35) for the piece goods (2), an arrangement for transverse alignment of the piece goods (2) in at least one alignment direction (38), an arrangement for the standing provision of the piece goods ( 2) in at least one alignment position, at least one engagement member (15 to 17) with at least one engagement surface (12 to 14) for engagement in at least one of the good side surfaces ( 4 to 7 with an engagement force, an arrangement for transverse alignment of the piece goods in an alignment direction (38) and an arrangement for yielding the device by and against the engagement force of an intervention in the piece goods (2) by substantially more than a tolerance-movement game. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the alignment section (35) at the location of the first engagement of at least one engagement surface (12 to 14) in the piece goods (2) determines a route start or at the location associated with an alignment position determines a route end, which in particular in the area of the beginning of the route at least one of the engagement surfaces (13, 14) can be moved against the alignment direction (38) by the engagement force or is immovably supported against the alignment direction (38) in the area of the stretching end and that preferably at least one engagement area (12 to 14) is resiliently movable via an escape path, and / or that at least one engagement surface (12 to 14) can be moved simultaneously along the alignment path (35) and in and against an alignment direction (38), in particular that at least one engagement surface (12 to 14) in one Alignment direction (38) is loaded with an alignment force, which in b increases against the direction of travel (34) and that preferably at least one engagement surface (13, 14) is essentially free of the alignment force or tension-free in the case of non-intervention in the piece goods (2) in an alignment direction (38). Positioning device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one engagement surface (11 to 14) of at least one engagement member (15 to 17) is designed as at least one of surfaces which are formed by a first engagement surface (13) for engagement in a first good side surface (4, 5), a second engagement surface (12, 14) for engaging in a second good side surface (6, 7), and a third Engagement surface (11) for the engagement in the good base surface (3), that in particular at least one engagement surface (12 to 14) is movably mounted for an alignment that adapts itself to a minimum specific engagement force, preferably at least one of the first, second and third The engagement surfaces (11 to 14) are essentially dimensionally stable and / or that at least one engagement member (15 to 17) can be moved essentially as a whole against an alignment direction (38), in particular that at least one engagement member (15 to 17) on at least one is arranged together with it approximately parallel to an alignment direction (38) or to the direction of travel (34) movable engagement carrier (19), and that preferably at least one engagement surface (12 to 14) as a conveying surface for conveying the piece goods in the direction of travel (34) 2) is formed. Positioning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two first and second engaging surfaces of at least one engaging member (15, 32; 16, 17) lying transversely to one another are formed in a substantially fixed position or in one piece with one another at least in one connecting area, that at least one the first good side surface (4, 5) is a substantially flat, laterally outermost good surface of the piece goods (2), in particular at least one engagement surface (13) for only partial surface engagement in this outermost good surface and for the release of a larger remaining surface of this good surface from Engagement forces during the movement between the beginning of a route and the end of a route of the running or aligning route (30, 35) is designed such that at least one engagement member (15 to 17, 32) is preferably provided on or formed by at least one engagement carrier (19) and the intruder (19) defining a longitudinal extension approximately in the running direction (34) and at least on part of this longitudinal extension together with the engagement member (16, 17) can be moved approximately parallel to an alignment direction (38), and / or that at least one engagement surface (13, 14) can be moved between the ends of an engagement carrier (19) by means of a bending deflection, that in particular at least one engagement surface (13, 14) in the area of at least one end of an engagement carrier (19) against movements against the direction of alignment (38) is approximately form-fitting by means of a curved support surface ( 20, 21) is supported, and that preferably a start of the alignment section (35) is offset from the associated end of the engagement carrier (19) approximately in the running direction (34), with in particular at least one engagement surface (13, 14) on the the beginning of the route associated end of the engagement carrier (19) moves over a curvature path (21), the e has a larger radius of curvature than a path of curvature (20) at the other end of the engagement carrier (19). Positioning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one engagement surface (12 to 14) is connected to at least two engagement carriers (19) offset with respect to one another transversely to the direction of travel (34) and to the good base surface (3), in particular at least one engagement member (15 to 17) or at least one engagement surface (12 to 14) forms a freely protruding engagement end that is free of direct transverse support, that preferably at least one engagement carrier (19) is provided by an at least approximately endless, at least one, essentially fixed counter support for at least one engagement surface (13, 14) forming return deflection (20, 21) guided or biased by a flexible and in the longitudinal direction independently of the engagement in the piece goods (2) Support member (19) is formed and / or that at least one engagement surface (11 to 14) can be moved in a direction of alignment (38) in a direction of alignment (38), depending on the course of the piece goods (2), the alignment direction (38) at least one is associated with movements which are defined by a movement parallel to at least one alignment surface (11 to 14), a movement approximately perpendicular to at least one alignment surface (11 to 14), a pivoting movement about a pivot axis (40), and a movement transversely to the direction of travel (34), that in particular at least one engagement surface (11 to 14) is formed by a sliding surface progressively increasing by sliding into engagement with the piece goods (2), which subsequently essentially engages with the piece goods with its entire surface extent ( 2), and that preferably at least one third engagement surface lying transversely to the running direction (34) che (13) and means for lateral alignment of the piece good (2) and for the subsequent alignment of the piece good (2) by its engagement in at least one third engagement surface (12) are provided with continuous running of the piece good (2) in the running direction (34). Positioning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that drive means are provided for the essentially positive or slip-free drive of at least one engagement surface (12 to 14) approximately in the running direction (34), that in particular at least one engagement surface (12) has a stop surface (12) for the final, form-fitting stopping of a running movement (34) of the piece goods (2), that preferably opposing engagement members (15, 16, 17; determining an engagement width or a narrowing angle of an engagement width) 16, 17) and adjusting means (24) for jointly oppositely directed adjustment of the opposing engagement members for a change in the engagement width by a linear adjustment or the narrowing angle by a swivel adjustment are provided, and / or that are movable relative to it during the transition to an alignment position Inclusion of the good base surface (3) at least one support base surface (30, 11) is provided that in particular at least one base surface (11) together with the piece goods (2) in the aligned position for the complete removal of the piece goods (2) from the running path (30) can be moved transversely to the running direction (34), and that the piece goods (2) in the alignment section (35) or in an alignment position preferably protrude substantially freely at least laterally over at least one base area (30, 11) on at least one side . Positioning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for aligning the piece goods (2) in an alignment position at least one centering shaft which can be narrowed at least over part of its shaft length in the shaft width during the alignment operation is provided, in particular that at least one shaft delimitation by at least one engagement surface (11 to 14) is formed or can be moved back elastically, that at least one centering shaft preferably has a conveying shaft for the piece goods (2) or a shaft boundary defining a transfer direction transverse to the running direction (34) or at least one shaft boundary, a conveying sliding surface for the piece goods (2) forms, and / or that a base area (30) is formed by at least one drivable transporter (30) connected via at least one transfer station (33) to at least one piece goods receptacle (11), in particular a piece goods receptacle (11) during the transition the piece goods (2) is substantially stationary in an alignment position and that the piece goods (2) in an alignment position are preferably freed from the intervention of a transporter (30) or the base area (30), the transfer station (33) and the piece goods receptacle (11) are substantially level with one another in at least one operating position. Positioning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one motor-driven conveyor (30) is provided for feeding the piece goods (2) to the alignment section (35), that in particular a conveyor (30) essentially continuously up to an approximately opposite direction of travel (34) at a distance from the beginning of the conveyor (35) or at least partially over the alignment (35) passes through that preferably control means (41) for engaging at least one engagement surface (11 to 14) during the approximately continuous conveying of the piece goods (2) with a transporter (30) or with at least one engagement surface (13, 14) are provided, and / or that a transporter (30) is both a transport surface for the movement with the piece goods (2) approximately synchronous as well as Sliding surface for the relative displacement of the St Ckgutes (2) approximately parallel to the running direction (34), that in particular at least one feed conveyor (30) is provided for feeding the piece goods (2) to the positioning device (1) and that preferably adjusting means for changing the position of the piece goods (2) relative to one Feed conveyor (30) with at least one engagement surface (11 to 14) in a direction transverse to the running direction (34) or approximately parallel to the running direction (34) are provided. Positioning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an alignment section (35) in the direction of travel (34) adjoining and laterally flanked with alignment angles which are flanked with respect to the direction of travel (34), that in particular the alignment angles in the direction of travel (34) become larger or are constantly changing that the alignment angles in the running direction (34) are preferably changed progressively or determine flatter and steeper alignment movements of at least one alignment surface (13, 14), and / or that an alignment section (35) apart from at least one engagement surface in the alignment position (13), is free of parallel to the running direction (34) or stationary side sections to essentially any sliding movement corresponding to the speed of the running movement of the piece goods (2), at least one of the good side surfaces (4 to 7) or one from the good base area (3) to avoid returning the good head surface. Positioning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that control means (41) are provided for essentially completely stopping any alignment or running movement of at least one engagement surface (11 to 14) when the item (2) reaches an alignment position, in particular that Control means (41) are provided for driving at least one engagement surface (11 to 14) in intermittent running steps, and that the respective running step is preferably provided for aligning a single, a series of piece goods (2) which are successively spaced apart in an alignment position.

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