Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a group of stacked, edge-wise standing flat items into a container includes a support for engaging opposite ends of the group; an arrangement for adjusting the support to the group length; a first holding unit; a second holding unit; and a drive for moving the first and second holding units in a first path along which one of the first and second holding units holds and lowers the group and for moving the first and second holding units in a second path along which one of the first and second holding units releases the group for allowing the group to fall and the other of the first and second holding units guides and pushes the group at an upper portion thereof downwardly into the container. The second path adjoins the first path and is situated thereunder.

Abstract: The products (12) are delivered in a plurality of columns (11) to a conveyor wheel (15) which has pivotably articulated carriers (26, 27). An axially stationary carrier (26) and an axially displaceable carrier (27) are alternately coordinated with every two input columns (11) in the direction of conveyance (A). Said two columns (11) are delivered at different heights according to the carrier distance. During conveyance into the output station (16), the displaceable carriers (27) are moved into the trajectory plane of the others with the result that common groups (18) of products (12) lying to be flat on each other are formed from two input columns (11). The device substantially avoids relative motion between products (12) and guides with the result that the products (12) are handled carefully.

Abstract: An arrangement for an endless belt includes an endless belt having an inside adapted to be driven by a transport wheel and an outside. Elastic fingers are attached to the outside of the endless belt. The elastic fingers are substantially evenly spaced from one another. Each elastic finger has a free end and another end that constitutes a fastening point to the endless belt. Each elastic finger has a curved shape between the free end and the fastening point and presents a clamping region between the free end and the fastening point.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for regrouping articles from parallel-arranged first columns to form parallel-arranged second columns includes a first conveyor carrying the first columns of articles; two horizontally spaced endless carrier elements circulating in a closed path having an ascending zone extending upwardly from the first conveyor and a horizonal zone; consecutively arranged article support members extending between the two carrier elements transversely thereto and each having opposite ends pivotally supported by the carrier elements to be advanced thereby through the ascending and horizontal zones; an actuating device for pivoting the article support members into a first pivotal position to support articles and for pivoting approximately simultaneously a plurality of the article support members in the horizontal zone into a second pivotal position in which the article support members are inclined such as to cause the articles to slide off therefrom; and a second conveyor extending below the article support

Abstract: An apparatus for charging receptacles with groups of stacked articles includes a first conveyor for advancing article groups thereon towards a discharge end thereof; a second conveyor, situated below the first conveyor, for advancing receptacles to a filling position, a third conveyor for receiving the article groups from the discharge end of the first conveyor and advancing the article groups to a container dwelling in the filling position on the second conveyor and a pusher for sequentially pushing article groups from the discharge end of the first conveyor into the third conveyor. The third conveyor comprises a plurality of positioning devices, each having article group holding means, travelling sequentially and intermittently from the discharge end of the first conveyor downwardly to a location immediately above the filling position. The article groups are introduced from a respective positioning device into a respective container then situated in the filling position.

Abstract: A method of grouping items comprises the steps of advancing the items in an edgewise supported, upright oriented, face-to-face series on a supply conveyor; and advancing the items from the supply conveyor on a receiving trough for forming thereon an item stack of a predetermined length measured parallel to the advance of articles on the receiving trough. Further, simultaneously with the last-named step, a collector slide is advanced on the receiving trough in engagement with a leading item of the article stack. The length of each item stack is determined jointly by first signals representing the length of travel of the collector slide on the receiving trough and by second signals representing the number of items on the receiving trough.

Abstract: An apparatus for toppling conveyed articles of rectangular outline (having opposite long sides and opposite short sides) has a travel surface; a discontinuity in the travel surface; first carrier elements traveling at a distance above and along the travel surface for advancing the articles by sliding them, on one of their short sides, on the travel surface up to the discontinuity and for advancing the articles by sliding them on one of their long sides, on the travel surface downstream of the discontinuity; and at least one second carrier element which is driven in a closed path and which engages the conveyed article or article stack as the latter reaches the discontinuity in the travel surface.