EP0680883A1 - System for feeding and distributing articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a conveyor (5) which allows individual items (A), e.g. sweets, to be fed to a reception container (B). The conveyor is provided with a number of collection rails (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 22.2, 22.3), defining adjacent collection paths for the individual items, of given capacity, for providing a group of identical items fed into the reception container. Pref. the items are fed on to the transport conveyor in transverse rows (R), which are spaced apart by relative acceleration in the feed direction during transfer to the conveyor. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for feeding, arranging and distributing objects on a conveyor and for inserting the objects into containers. In particular, the method and the device of the invention are intended for feeding, arranging, distributing and inserting identical or similar products of the confectionery industry, such as so-called negro kisses or dominoes (monoproducts).

Basically, such objects can be fed and inserted with the aid of mechanical inserting units, including appropriately designed feeding systems or also with the aid of robots using visual or optical detection systems for robot control.

The mechanical insertion systems known to date are inflexible with regard to different pack formations and pack contents. In addition, the known feed devices are disadvantageous with regard to a mechanical load on the objects (storage systems with overflow).

The use of expensive robots with the necessary visual or optical detection systems for robot guidance is often not economically viable.

• Die Gegenstände, insbesondere Produkte der Süßwarenindustrie, kommen meist mehrbahnig auf Transportbändern von vorgeschalteten Produktionsanlagen (Öfen, Überzieh- oder Gießanlagen usw.), wobei die Anordnung zwischen den einzelnen Produktreihen durch betriebsbedingte Vorgänge (Übergabevorgänge oder wechselnde Förderbedingungen) häufig erheblich gestört ist.
• Auch die Produktionsmengen pro Zeiteinheit sind häufig unregelmäßig, beispielsweise durch Störungen bei den vorgeschalteten Maschinen. So können z.B. komplette Reihen von Gegenständen über relativ lange Zeiträume ausfallen, wenn eine von mehreren vorgeschalteten Maschinen eine Störung aufweist.
• Oft sind auch die zu verarbeitenden Gegenstände in ihrer Form oder Größe unregelmäßig und stellen somit für ein nachfolgendes automatisches Verpacken ganz spezielle Anforderungen an die Zuführeinrichtung.
• Darüber hinaus ergeben sich durch Störungen oder Fehlfunktionen bei vorgeschalteten Einrichtungen Beschädigungen oder anderweitige Qualitätsverluste, die nicht akzeptabel sind.
• Mechanische Belastungen der Gegenstände, insbesondere solcher der Süßwarenindustrie, aufgrund von Verteileinrichtungen, Übergabeeinrichtungen, Stauvorrichtungen u.dgl. beeinträchtigen oft die Qualität der verarbeiteten Gegenstände oder können diese so weit zerstören, daß die ganze Einlegevorrichtung stillgelegt werden muß.
• Bekannte Zuführ- und Einlegevorrichtungen konnten beispielsweise etwa 100 bis 150 Gegenstände der Süßwarenindustrie pro Minute verarbeiten, während im Interesse eines wirtschaftlichen Verfahrensablaufs Leistungen von 300 bis 400 Gegenständen pro Minute erreicht werden sollten, zumindest bei relativ regelmäßigen Produkten innerhalb bestimmter Toleranzen.

The aim of the invention is to create a sort of intelligent feeding device which, owing to its flexibility, either manages without a robot or, in which, depending on the application, the number of inserting units required is reduced to a minimum. The following requirements must be taken into account:

• The items, in particular products from the confectionery industry, usually come in multiple lanes on conveyor belts from upstream production systems (ovens, coating or casting systems, etc.), the arrangement between the individual product series often being considerably disrupted by operational processes (transfer processes or changing funding conditions).
• The production quantities per unit of time are also often irregular, for example due to malfunctions in the upstream machines. For example, entire rows of objects can fail over a relatively long period of time if one of several upstream machines has a fault.
• Often, the objects to be processed are also irregular in shape or size and therefore place very special demands on the feed device for subsequent automatic packaging.
• In addition, malfunctions or malfunctions in upstream equipment result in damage or other quality losses that are not acceptable.
• Mechanical loads on the objects, especially those of the confectionery industry, due to distribution devices, transfer devices, storage devices and the like. often affect the quality of the processed objects or can destroy them so far that the entire insertion device must be shut down.
• Known feeding and loading devices, for example, could process about 100 to 150 objects from the confectionery industry per minute, while in the interest of an economic process flow rates of 300 to 400 objects per minute should be achieved, at least for relatively regular products within certain tolerances.

Overall, the invention is intended to create a flexible and cost-effective system for feeding and inserting objects, with which objects of the same type, but objects of different sizes and formats, can be processed without changing or exchanging components and possibly with certain adjustment work .

The method according to the invention is characterized in claim 1, while the device according to the invention results from claim 7. The respective subclaims contain advantageous developments and refinements of the invention.

In short, according to the invention, the objects are fed on a conveyor more or less randomly. Using one or more busbars, the objects are collected on the conveyor in a plurality of lanes lying next to one another in the conveying direction. As a result, the entire quantity of items is divided into subsets, the respective subsets being matched to the performance of each inserting unit. The items are then counted from the individual tracks and distributed into one or more collecting shafts, with ordered groups of items with the same number of items being formed on the conveyor. The object groups are stopped in the distribution device or in the collecting shafts, while the conveyor continues to run. The object groups can thus be picked up by the inserting unit.

By counting the objects introduced into the object groups and by comparing them with the quantity taken off, a reversal is actuated which derives the surplus objects from one lane to an adjacent lane, the surplus and derived objects from the one lane in the conveying direction in front of the point counting, distributing and forming groups in the other lane. The object groups formed are picked up from the collecting shafts in an orderly manner from each lane and transferred to a container by means of an insert and placed therein, the container being transported on a separate conveying device which is arranged next to the object conveyor parallel to the latter.

With the help of visual or optical recognition systems, it is possible to separate out or remove defective objects from the individual webs before the groups are formed. The separated or rejected products are conveyed out of the further process, so they are not packed. This enables automatic quality control.

The possibility of reversing the flow of the objects from one path to an adjacent path also makes sense if a malfunction occurs in such an arrangement and insertion device, ie no objects are removed at all. All subsequent objects can then be automatically fed to an adjacent path with the aid of the reversing and further processed there without the entire system having to be shut down.

This makes it possible, for example, to process objects side by side on two lanes and to feed two separate inserting units, while a third path and a third inserting unit are only available for automatic stand-by operation in an emergency.

The entire system of feeding, arranging, distributing and loading the articles can be carried out in such a way that mechanical loads on the articles are reduced to a minimum.

Fig. 1

zeigt in Draufsicht schematisch die Gesamtanordnung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit drei Einlegevorrichtungen;

Fig. 2

zeigt schematisch in Draufsicht und vergrößert die Zuführung der Gegenstände zu einer Einlegevorrichtung, wobei im Interesse der klaren Darstellung Teile weggelassen sind;

Fig. 3

ist eine Darstellung ähnlich der Fig. 2, wobei jedoch die Gegenstände nicht auf zwei sondern auf vier Reihen verteilt werden;

Fig. 4 und Fig. 5

veranschaulichen die Flexibilität des Zuführsystems bei einer Zuführung der Gegenstände in vier Reihen zu einer Einlegevorrichtung und beim Einlegen der dadurch gebildeten Gegenstandsgruppen in Behälter.

Details and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1

shows a schematic top view of the overall arrangement of a device according to the invention with three insertion devices;

Fig. 2

shows schematically in plan view and enlarged the feed of the objects to an insertion device, parts being omitted in the interest of clarity;

Fig. 3

is a representation similar to Figure 2, however, the objects are not divided into two but four rows.

4 and 5

illustrate the flexibility of the delivery system when feeding the articles in four rows to an insertion device and when inserting the groups of articles formed thereby into containers.

As shown in FIG. 1 in particular, the objects or articles A to be processed arrive from a production machine on a feed conveyor 1 in more or less ordered and aligned transverse rows R. The objects A are transferred to an acceleration conveyor 3, by means of which the rows R are pulled apart in the conveying direction. Thereafter, the rows R of the objects A reach a main conveyor 5, on which they are pulled apart further in the conveying direction under acceleration and on which they processed by three distribution and insertion devices I, II and III, as described in detail below. The objects are then placed in empty containers B1, which arrive on a conveyor track 11.1 and are transferred to a further conveyor track 11.2 running parallel to the main conveyor 5. In addition to the conveyor track 11.2, a filling path 13 runs parallel to which the empty containers Bl are transferred and on which they are filled with objects A, so that empty containers Bl and filled containers Bf run on the filling path 13. The filled containers Bf are transferred from the filling section 13 to a collecting conveyor 15 for filled containers Bf. The conveyor tracks 11.2, 13 and 15 run parallel to each other next to the main conveyor 5. The transfer of the containers B from one to the other conveyor is done by means of known devices, such as cross slide devices.

The distribution and insertion device I is described below with reference to FIG. 1.

A busbar 21.1 is arranged above the main conveyor 5, on which the objects or articles A come to rest and are brought together to form a path of objects lying one behind the other. The articles are fed to the distribution and insertion device I in the further course. The distribution and insertion device I works independently of the further distribution and insertion devices II and III, so that different partial quantities, which are temporarily supplied to the individual distribution and insertion devices, do not lead to any disruption of the operating sequence.

At the end of the busbar 21.1, a device for optical or visual recognition 23.1 of the objects can preferably be arranged. This provides a quality control for the incoming items. By means of the detection device 23.1, a control device or discharge device 25.1 following in the conveying direction is controlled, which, for example, has a blowing nozzle through which defective or damaged objects are discharged from the side of the conveying path, as indicated by arrows, to an area of the main conveyor 5 provided laterally for this purpose These separated objects continue to the end of the main conveyor 5 and can be collected there.

Following the previously described device parts, a preferably curved or curved feed rail 27.1 is provided, along which the objects A are lined up closely one behind the other. A curved feed rail 27.1 is better suited than a straight feed rail for moving the articles A to those arranged below Sub-units to be handed over. By appropriately designing the radius of curvature at the end of the feed rail 27.1, even with uneven loading, a constant minimum distance between the objects A delivered can be achieved or maintained.

If the objects A discharged from the feed rail 27.1 cannot or cannot be picked up by the subsequent device, these objects A can be moved laterally transversely to the conveying direction by means of a reversing device 29.1 arranged in the conveying direction behind the feed rail 27.1, which in turn is formed, for example, by a blowing nozzle a deflection rail 31.1 are deflected, which feeds the derived objects to the next distribution and insertion device II. In order to prevent this device from being supplied with an excessively large or roughly doubled amount of objects, a reversing device 30.2 is also provided on the device II, for example again a blowing nozzle, which wholly or partly leads the article flow originally intended for the device II to the subsequent device III redirects. The control of the reversing devices 29.1 and / or 30.2 or the corresponding blowing nozzles takes place via a distance measurement, i.e. a pulse generator driven by the main conveyor 5 controls precisely the position of the individual objects A and thus creates the conditions for a corresponding control of the reversing devices 29.1 and 30.2.

The use of blow nozzles is preferable for reversing objects A. As a result, a quick, product-friendly, shape-independent and inexpensive facility is used.

The parts of the distribution and insertion device I described so far are shown enlarged in FIG. 2, as are the parts of the device to be described below. After the feed rail 27.1, the objects A arrive in the insertion area of a collecting shaft 33.1 when properly operated. This is comb-like with partitions 33.1a, 33.1b and 33.1c. In this way, a two-row object formation can be formed. If several dividing walls are arranged, corresponding multi-row object formations can be formed in the collecting shaft 33.1, see FIG. 3. These object formations correspond to the package contents or package image of the containers Bf to be filled or, in the case of larger containers, to part of the container contents.

The objects A are driven in a traffic jam within the comb-shaped collecting shaft 33.1. By arranging the collecting shaft 33.1 obliquely with respect to the conveying direction of the main conveyor 5, the dynamic pressure on the respective first objects A in front of a stop 41.1 is reduced, so that the risk of damage is thereby reduced. The stop 41.1 practically forms a zero line for lining up the objects. A second zero line is formed by the side partitions 33.1a, 33.1b and 33.1c, against which the objects rest due to the oblique arrangement. This results in two zero lines that allow the objects to be precisely aligned even in the event of size deviations. Furthermore, this arrangement also allows the processing of different article shapes within certain limits without changing the collecting shaft.

The stop 41.1 is rotatably mounted on a pivot axis 43.1. Thus, in the event that the objects A cannot be removed properly from the collecting shaft 33.1, these objects can be released from the collecting shaft 33.1 by pivoting the stop 41.1 and, like the objects discharged by the actuating device 25.1, onto the lateral area of the main conveyor 5 managed and collected at the end.

At the inlet of the collecting shaft 33.1 in the conveying direction behind the reversing device 29.1 there is a counting device 35.1, e.g. in the form of a light barrier, which controls a distribution device 37.1, for example again in the form of a blowing nozzle, in such a way that the number of items A are distributed precisely over the individual rows of the collecting shaft 33.1, which in turn avoids unnecessary dynamic pressure in the individual rows or is reduced.

A short guide 36.1 for the objects A is advantageously arranged between the reversing device 29.1 and the counting device 35.1 in order to feed them to the collecting shaft 33.1 exactly in the conveying direction.

A further counting device 39.1, for example a light barrier, is arranged on the collecting shaft 33.1, which detects when the collecting shaft 33.1 is filled. The light barrier on the one hand triggers the release for picking up the objects by the associated insert E1, and on the other hand controls the reversing device 29.1 to divert further objects A to the diverter rail 31.1. This occurs, for example, if the objects have not been removed from the collecting shaft 33.1 due to a malfunction.

The stop 41.1 at the end of the collecting shaft 33.1 can be pivoted automatically, for example, by pneumatic or electronic means, if necessary, but also by hand, in order to allow objects A to run out of the collecting shaft 33.1 in the event of a fault.

As shown in FIG. 1, an insert I is assigned to the collecting shaft 33.1, with which the objects A are transferred from the collecting shaft 33.1 into a container B. The insert I has a swivel arm 61 which is pivotally mounted laterally next to the container conveyors 11.2, 13 and 15 and on which an insert arm 63 is pivotably mounted, which carries an object holder 65 at its free end. This is pivoted over the collecting shaft 33.1 and takes the objects A which have accumulated there upwards out of it, for example by means of mechanical or pneumatic grippers. By pivoting the swivel arm 61 and the insertion arm 63, the objects A removed from the collecting shaft 33.1 are guided over an empty container B1 and inserted therein by the objects being released from the object holder 65. The objects in the filled container Bf keep the same mutual assignment as in the collecting shaft 33.1. Basically, depending on the application, all known types of inserts, such as mechanically driven or servo-driven two-axis units or even robots, can be used.

In order to enable the objects to be inserted into the containers B, the insert I on the filling section 13 is assigned suitable stop and centering devices for the empty containers B1 to be filled. These devices are not shown in the drawing. The length of the filling section 13 also forms an intermediate buffer for empty containers Bl, as is expedient or necessary for the allocation of the empty containers Bl from the conveyor track 11.2 to the filling section 13. The transfer of the filled containers Bf from the filling section 13 to the collecting conveyor 15 again takes place by transverse displacement in a known manner. By means of suitable stop and control devices, an area for the transfer of a filled container Bf is kept free at the right time on the collecting conveyor 15.

In principle, the second distribution and insertion device II is constructed in the same way as the first distribution and insertion device I. The second device II thus initially has a busbar 22.2 and the reversing device 30.2 already mentioned, from which excess objects are derived to a discharge rail 32.2 become. The objects remaining in the device II pass along a guide 34.2, together with if necessary. objects coming from the busbar 31.1 to a busbar 21.2 which corresponds to the busbar 21.1 of the first device I. From here on, the device II is designed in the same way as the device I. It thus has a device 23.2 for the visual or optical recognition of the objects and a control device 25.2, which is followed by a, preferably again curved, feed rail 27.2. This is followed by a reversing device 29.2 in order to be able to discharge objects A to a second diverter rail 31.2 in the event of faults. For the actual article flow, a collection shaft 33.2 then follows in the device II, in front of which a counting device 35.2 and a distribution device 37.2 are arranged. The collecting shaft 33.2 is constructed in the same way as the collecting shaft 33.1. The insert II is constructed in the same way and works in the same way as the insert I.

1 finally shows a third distribution and insertion device III, which is designed analogously to the two preceding devices I and II. The device III therefore has a busbar 22.3, a reversing device 30.3 for a diverter rail 32.3 and a guide 34.3 at its inlet end. This is followed by the actual busbar 21.3, followed by an optical detection device 23.3 and a control device 25.3 and by a feed rail 27.3, which is preferably again curved. By means of a reversing device 29.3, surplus objects can be conveyed to a discharge rail 31.3 and collected at the end of the main conveyor 5. However, the main stream of articles arrives at a collecting shaft 33.3, which is again preceded by a counting device 35.3 and a distribution device 37.3. Finally, there is an insert III, which is designed and works in the same way as the two previous insert I and II.

• 1. Die Vorrichtung ist flexibel hinsichtlich der Bildung von unterschiedlichen Gegenstandsgruppen.
• 2. Die Vorrichtung ist flexibel hinsichtlich der Verarbeitung von unterschiedlichen, jedoch untereinander gleichen Gegenständen.
• 3. Durch die Bereitstellung abgezählter Gegenstands- oder Produktgruppen ist eine hohe Einlegeleistung erreichbar. Dadurch kann die Anzahl der vorzusehenden Einleger I bis III erheblich reduziert werden. Der Einsparungsfaktor kann in der Größenordnung von 2 oder 3, je nach Einsatzfall, liegen. Die Mehrkosten für das hier beschriebene Zuführsystem stehen in keinem Verhältnis zu den Kosten, die durch eine hohe Zahl von Einlegern verursacht werden.
• 4. Durch die reduzierte Zahl von Einlegern kann der gesamte Platzbedarf für die komplette Einlegevorrichtung größenordnungsmäßig ebenfalls um einen Faktor 2 bis 3, bezogen auf die Länge der Anlage, reduziert werden.
• 5. Im Gegensatz zu Robotern mit visuellen Erkennungseinrichtungen, bei denen mindestens vier gesteuerte Achsen erforderlich sind, genügen für die Einleger I bis III nach der Erfindung Aggregate, die in zwei Achsrichtungen arbeiten können (mechanisch angetriebene, pneumatisch angetriebene oder servomotorangetriebene Geräte).
• 6. Auch bei einem denkbaren Einsatz von Robotern, z.B. wenn Teilmengen einer Behälterfüllung eingelegt werden müssen, reduziert sich die erforderliche Anzahl der Roboter, da die Gegenstände dem Roboter bereitgestellt werden und somit der Roboter nur noch die Strecken zwischen dem Aufnahmepunkt und dem jeweiligen Abgabepunkt innerhalb des Behälters zurücklegen muß. Hingegen müssen beim Einsatz von Robotern mit visuellem Erkennungssystem zur Roboterführung und Mehrfachgreifvorrichtung alle Gegenstände zuerst einzeln aufgenommen werden, bevor sie gemeinsam eingelegt werden können.

The device described above and its procedure offer the following advantages in comparison with known mechanical insertion devices or devices with robots:

• 1. The device is flexible with regard to the formation of different groups of objects.
• 2. The device is flexible with regard to the processing of different, but mutually identical objects.
• 3. A high insertion rate can be achieved by providing counted object or product groups. As a result, the number of inserts I to III to be provided can be considerably reduced. The saving factor can be of the order of 2 or 3, depending on the application. The additional costs for the feed system described here are disproportionate to the costs caused by a large number of inserts.
• 4. Due to the reduced number of inserts, the total space required for the complete insertion device can also be reduced by a factor of 2 to 3 in relation to the length of the system.
• 5. In contrast to robots with visual recognition devices, in which at least four controlled axes are required, aggregates which can work in two axis directions (mechanically driven, pneumatically driven or servomotor-driven devices) are sufficient for inserts I to III according to the invention.
• 6. Even with a conceivable use of robots, for example if partial quantities of a container filling have to be inserted, the required number of robots is reduced, since the objects are made available to the robot and thus the robot only the distances between the pick-up point and the respective delivery point within of the container. On the other hand, when using robots with a visual recognition system for robot guidance and multiple gripping devices, all objects must first be picked up individually before they can be inserted together.

In normal operation of the device according to the invention, only the distributing and inserting devices I and II work with the inserts EI and E II. The third distributing and inserting device III with the insert E III only works in stand-by mode for excess items A which cannot be processed by or derived from the two preceding devices I and II.

FIG. 3 shows a device in which the collecting shaft 33.1 accommodates not four rows but four rows of objects A. The same parts are designated with the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, however, a total of five partition walls 33.1a, 33.1b, 33.1c, 33.1d and 33.1e are provided for the four rows of items. In addition to the counting device 35.1 and the distribution device 37.1, there is also a second one Counting device 55.1 and a second distribution device 57.1 are provided on the opposite side at the inlet of the collecting shaft 33.1. Each of these devices thus controls the objects for two of the four tracks of the collecting shaft 33.1. Before this arrangement, a further counting device 45.1, a distribution device 47.1 and a V-shaped guide 49.1 are provided in the inlet area of the collecting shaft 33.1. With these components, the incoming objects A are first divided into two tracks along the guides 38.1 and 40.1. Otherwise, the device according to FIG. 3 corresponds to the device described above with reference to FIG. 2. The objects can be removed from the four tracks of the collecting shaft 33.1 of FIG. 3 in the same way by means of an insert EI and placed in containers, as already described above.

Finally, Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the flexibility of the delivery system. A four-lane article feed according to FIG. 3 was chosen as an example. Through different programming and control of the distribution and insertion device, partial quantities of a container Bf to be filled can be supplied to the collecting shaft 33.1 and thus the insert E I and made available for insertion. The points M 1 to M 10 each designate the center points of the gripper of the insert E I standing above the collecting shaft 33.1 or above a container B 1 or B 2.

With this, different pack formations can be generated without any changeover work on the device itself, simply by changing the programming and the control. The only interchangeable part here is to replace the gripping elements or grippers 65 on the insert EI.

REFERENCES

A

Objects, articles

B

container

Bf

filled container

Bl

empty container

R

Lateral rows of objects

I.

1. Distribution and insertion device

II

2. Distribution and insertion device

III

3. Distribution and insertion device

E I

Depositor I

E II

Depositor II

E III

Depositor III

M

Centers

1

Feed conveyor

3rd

Accelerator

5

Main sponsor

11.1

Conveyor path for empty containers, part 1

11.2

Conveyor path for empty containers, part 2

13

Filling line for containers

15

Collective conveyor for filled containers

21.1

Busbar I

21.2

Busbar II

21.3

Busbar III

22.2

Busbar II

22.3

Busbar III

23.1

optical-visual recognition I

23.2

optical-visual recognition II

23.3

optical-visual recognition III

25.1

Level I

25.2

Level II

25.3

Level III

27.1

Feed rail I

27.2

Feed rail II

27.3

Feed rail III

29.1

Reversal I

29.2

Reversal II

29.3

Reversal III

30.2

Reversal II

30.3

Reversal III

31.1

Discharge bar I

31.2

Discharge rail II

31.3

Discharge rail III

32.2

Discharge rail II

32.3

Discharge rail III

33.1

Collecting shaft I

33.2

Collecting shaft II

33.3

Collecting shaft III

33.1a

partition wall

33.1b

partition wall

33.1c

partition wall

33.1d

partition wall

33.1e

partition wall

34.2

Leadership II

34.3

Leadership III

35.1

Counter I

35.2

Counter II

35.3

Counter III

36.1

Leadership I

37.1

Distribution device I

37.2

Distribution device II

37.3

Distribution device III

38.1

guide

39.1

Photoelectric barrier

40.1

guide

41.1

Stop, swiveling

43.1

Swivel axis

45.1

Counting device

47.1

Distribution device

49.1

guide

55.1

Counting device

57.1

Distribution device

61

Swivel arm

63

Inlay arm

65

Object pick-up, gripper

Claims (17)

Method for feeding, arranging and distributing objects (A) on a conveyor (5) and for inserting the objects (A) into containers (B),
characterized by the following steps: - feeding the objects (A) on the conveyor (5), - Collecting and dividing the incoming objects (A) into partial quantities approximately according to the capacity of subsequent removal and transfer steps in individual lanes lying next to one another in the conveying direction on the conveyor (5), - Counting and distributing the objects (A) from the individual tracks to form organized groups with the same number of objects on the conveyor (5), - stopping the object groups on the continuously running conveyor (5), Deriving surplus objects from one lane to an adjacent lane at a point before group formation in the lanes, Removing the groups of items from the conveyor (5), - Transfer the groups of items in an orderly form into a container (B). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the objects (A) are fed to the conveyor (5) in transverse rows (R) and the rows (R) are pulled apart before or during feeding onto the conveyor (5) by acceleration in the conveying direction. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the transverse rows (R) are additionally pulled apart in the conveying direction by means of an acceleration conveyor (3) before being fed onto the conveyor (5). A method according to claim 1, characterized by - visual recognition of the objects (A) in the individual tracks, - Sort out defective objects (A) from the lanes before counting and before forming groups. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - that the surplus objects (A) derived from the first path are collected on an adjacent second path, where they are brought together with objects (A) which arrive directly on the second path, - And that the merged objects (A) are counted on this second path and distributed to form groups. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that a number of objects (A) arriving directly on the second path corresponding to the number of the surplus objects (A) derived is derived on a further adjacent path. Device for feeding, arranging and distributing objects (A) on a conveyor (5) and for inserting the objects into containers (B),
characterized by the following features: - A conveyor (5) for the objects (A) is provided, - Busbars (21.1., 21.2, 21.3, 22.2, 22.3) are arranged side by side in the conveying direction above the conveyor (5) to form object tracks, - In the conveying direction behind the busbars there is a counting and distribution device (35.1, 35.2, 35.3, 37.1, 37.2, 37.3; 45.1, 47.1; 55.1, 57.1) with a collecting shaft (33.1, 33.2, 33.3) for the formation of an orderly one Group of objects (A) arranged, - In front of the counting and distributing device, a reversing device (29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 30.2, 30.3) is provided for diverting surplus objects (A) to an adjacent path, this reversing device being arranged in the conveying direction in front of the counting and distributing device of the adjacent path , - In the area of the collecting shaft (33.1, 33.2, 33.3) of each lane, a device (65) for receiving the groups of objects in an orderly form from the collecting shaft and for inserting these groups of objects into a respective container (insert EI, E II, E III) is provided , - In addition to the object conveyor (5) a parallel conveyor (11.2, 13, 15) for the container (B) is arranged. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that in front of the counting and distributing device (35.1, 35.2, 35.3, 37.1, 37.2, 37.3) of each lane an optical device (23.1, 23.2, 23.3) for recognizing the objects (A) and a control device (Ejection device 25.1, 25.2, 25.3) is arranged for separating out defective objects (A). Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a particularly curved feed rail (27.1, 27.2, 27.3) is arranged between the control device (25.1, 25.2, 25.3) and the reversing device (29.1, 29.2, 29.3). Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that - that two busbars (21.1, 22.2, 21.2), two feeder rails (27.1, 27.2), two reversing devices (29.1, 29.2, 30.2) and two counting and distribution devices (35.1, 35.2, 37.1, 37.2) are provided for two object tracks, - That the busbar (22.2, 21.2) of the second track is divided into two partial busbars (22.2, 21.2), of which the first (22.2) in the conveying direction next to the busbar (21.1) of the first track and the second (21.2) in the conveying direction behind the busbar (21.1) of the first track lies - In the area of the reversing device (29.1) of the first track, a discharge rail (31.1) is provided for the objects (A) to be discharged from the first track to the second track, which leads to the second partial busbar (21.2), - And that the counting and distribution device (35.2, 37.2) and possibly the feed rail (27.2) of the second track with its insert (E II) are arranged in the conveying direction behind the corresponding devices of the first track. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that a third similar device (35.3, 37.3, EIII) is provided in the conveying direction behind the second counting and distributing device (35.2, 37.2) and the second insert (E II), which is in stand-by Operation works. Device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that a control device (discharge device 25.2, 25.3) is provided in front of the second and / or in front of the third counting and distribution device (35.2, 35.3, 37.2, 37.3). Device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that a connecting rail (31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 32.2, 32.3) for the objects (A) is provided after each reversing device (29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 30.2, 30.3) . Device according to one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the collecting shaft (33.1, 33.2, 33.3) is comb-like with partition walls (33.1a to 33.1e) which are at an angle of approximately 30 ° to 45 ° to the conveying direction of the conveyor (5th ) stand. Device according to one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the counting and distributing device (35.1 ff) and the collecting shaft (33.1 ff) are designed in such a way that different amounts of objects (A) in pre-programmable in accordance with the packaging of a container (B) different arrangement (eg two-row or four-row) can be accommodated and made available for the associated insert (EI ff). Device according to one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that a common continuous container conveyor (11.2, 13, 15) is provided for all the object inlays (EI, E II, E III). Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the container conveyor has a conveyor track (11.2) for empty containers (B1), a parallel filling path (13) for the containers (B) and a parallel conveyor (15) for the filled containers (Bf).

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