Abstract: The invention comprises a transfer unit (34) for horizontal movement of a group or layer of articles (10) between at least two adjacent modules (12, 14, 30) while substantially maintaining the relative positions of a plurality of articles (16) constituting the group or layer of articles (10).

Abstract: A device and a method are disclosed for loading and/or restacking a plurality of palleted containers. The device (2) comprises an apparatus (6) for partially raising the containers of an uppermost layer of palleted containers and for transferring said containers to a conveying table of a moving transport head (8). The apparatus (6) is made up of a driven conveyor roller (10) that is integrated into the transport head (8). In a preferred embodiment, the transport head (8) is designed as a shutter head (9). The method shows that the conveyor roller (10) of the transport head (8) holds at least one row of a layer of containers in the transport head. The transport head (8) is provided with an apparatus (6) that at least partially raises one row of containers of at least one uppermost layer of palleted containers.