EP0680883B1 - System for feeding and distributing articles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for feeding, arranging and distributing objects on a conveyor and for placing the objects in containers, according to the preambles of claims 1 and 6. In particular, the method and the device of the invention for feeding, sorting, Distribution and insertion of identical or similar products of the Confectionery industry, such as so-called black kisses or dominoes (mono products) serve.

In principle, such objects can be removed with the help of mechanical insertion units, including appropriately designed feeding systems or with the help of Robots using visual or optical recognition systems for robot control feed and insert.

A method and a device according to the preambles of claims 1 and 6 are known from DE-A-31 30 103. Here, the incoming objects on a conveyor belt using guide rails, each of which represents a channel, Item groups or item blocks within which the items in preselected numbers of columns and rows are arranged. The formation of object groups blocks are made with a stop above the corresponding one Conveyor belt or conveyor. The item groups are then opened one after the other a further conveyor belt following in the transport direction is transferred, wherein within the Rows a distance between the objects is created. The subject groups are then individually and while maintaining the distances by means of another Conveyor belt placed on container elements.

The mechanical insertion systems known up to now are inflexible with regard to different ones Pack information and contents. In addition, the known feeders with regard to a mechanical load on the objects (storage systems disadvantageous with overflow.

The use of expensive robots with the required 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 does not require 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 objects, in particular products from the confectionery industry, mostly 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, were able to process about 100 to 150 objects in 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 be a flexible and inexpensive system be created for feeding and inserting objects with the, if possible, without Modification or replacement of components and possibly with certain adjustment work objects similar to one another, but objects of different sizes and formats that can be processed.

The method according to the invention is characterized in claim 1, while the method according to the invention Device according to claim 6. The respective subclaims contain advantageous developments and refinements of the invention.

In short, according to the invention, the objects are more or less on a conveyor disorderly fed. The objects are held by means of one or more busbars collected on the conveyor in several lanes lying side by side in the conveying direction. This divides the entire set of items into subsets, with the respective Partial quantities are matched to the performance of each inserting unit. Subsequently the objects are counted from the individual tracks and put into one or several collecting shafts distributed, with organized groups of objects with the same Number of items to be formed on the conveyor. In the distribution facility or in the Collecting shafts are holding the item groups while the conveyor is continuous continues. The object groups can thus be picked up by the insertion unit will.

By counting the items introduced into the item groups and by one In comparison with the quantity taken off, a reversal is actuated, the excess Derives objects from one lane to an adjacent lane, the surplus ones and derived objects from the one path in the conveying direction before the point of the Counting, distributing and forming groups in the other lane are introduced into this. The item groups formed are sorted from the collecting shafts from each Web picked up and transferred to a container by means of an insert and into this inserted, the container being transported on a separate conveyor device next to the object conveyor is arranged parallel to this.

With the help of visual or optical recognition systems, it is possible to Sort out defective items from the individual lanes before forming a group or discharge. The separated or ejected products are made from the promoted further process flow, so are not packed. So that's it Possibility of automatic quality control.

The possibility of switching the flow of objects from one path to one Adjacent web is also useful if such an arrangement and insertion device a malfunction occurs, i.e. no objects are removed at all. All of the following items can then be changed automatically using the reversal fed to an adjacent web and processed there without the The entire system must be shut down.

This makes it possible to process objects side by side, for example on two tracks and feed two separate inserting units, while a third web and one third insertion unit only for automatic stand-by operation for emergencies To be available.

The entire system of feeding, arranging, distributing and inserting the items can be designed so that mechanical loads on the objects to a minimum be reduced.

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 come from a manufacturing machine on a feed conveyor 1 in more or less orderly order and aligned transverse rows R. Items A are attached to an accelerator 3 pass through 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 accelerated further apart in the direction of conveyance and on which they processed by means of three distribution and insertion devices I, II and III, as below is described in detail. The objects are then placed in empty containers Bl inserted, which arrive on a conveyor track 11.1 and on another, parallel to the Main conveyor 5 passing conveyor 11.2 are handed over. In addition to the conveyor track 11.2 A filling path 13 runs parallel to which the empty containers B1 are transferred and onto which they are filled with objects A, so that 13 empty containers Bl and filled containers Bf run. The filled containers Bf are opened from the filling section 13 hand over 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 delivery of the container B from one to the other conveyor track takes place by means of known devices, e.g. 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 Article A come into contact with a line of objects in a row be brought together. The items are distributed and distributed later Insert device I supplied. The distribution and insertion device I works independently from the further distribution and insertion devices II and III, so that different subsets, which are temporarily fed to the individual distribution and insertion devices cause no disruption to the operational process.

At the end of the busbar 21.1, a device for optical or visual recognition 23.1 of the objects. This is a quality control given for the arriving items. Using the detection device 23.1 is a control device or discharge device 25.1 following in the conveying direction controlled, which has, for example, a blow nozzle through which faulty or damaged Objects are laterally removed from the conveyor track, as indicated by arrows, specifically on a side of the main conveyor 5 provided for this purpose Objects continue to the end of the main conveyor 5 and can there be collected.

Following the previously described device parts is a preferably curved one or curved feed rail 27.1 is provided, along which the objects A closely behind one another be lined up. A curved feed rail 27.1 is better than a straight one running feed rail suitable for the articles A to those arranged below Sub-units to be handed over. By designing the radius of curvature accordingly End of the feed rail 27.1 can be the same even with uneven loading The minimum distance between the objects A has been reached or maintained will.

Unless the objects A delivered by the feed rail 27.1 are not by the following These items may or may not be included in the facility by a reversing device arranged behind the feed rail 27.1 in the conveying direction 29.1, which is again formed, for example, by a blowing nozzle, laterally across Direction of conveyance to a diverter rail 31.1, which is the derived objects feeds the next distribution and insertion device II. To avoid this Device is supplied with an excessively large or approximately doubled amount of objects, a reversing device 30.2 is also provided on the device II, for example again a blow nozzle, which is the object flow originally intended for the device II redirects in whole or in part to the following facility III. The control the reversing devices 29.1 and / or 30.2 or the corresponding blowing nozzles via a distance measurement, i.e. a pulse generator driven by the main conveyor 5 precisely controls 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. Hereby becomes a fast, product-friendly, shape-independent and inexpensive facility used.

The parts of the distribution and insertion device I described so far are enlarged in FIG. 2 shown, as well as the parts of the device to be described below. After the feed rail 27.1, the objects A get in with proper operation the insertion area of a collecting shaft 33.1. This is comb-like with partitions 33.1a, 33.1b and 33.1c. This enables a two-row object formation be formed. When arranging several partitions, multiple rows can be used Object formations are formed in the collecting shaft 33.1, see Fig. 3. This Item formations correspond to the contents of the pack or the picture of the pack to be filled Container Bf or, in the case of larger containers, part of the container content.

The objects A are driven in a traffic jam within the comb-shaped collecting shaft 33.1. Through an inclined arrangement of the collecting shaft 33.1 with respect to the conveying direction of the main conveyor 5, the dynamic pressure on the respective first objects A before a stop 41.1 reduced so that the risk of damage is reduced. The attack 41.1 practically forms a zero line for lining up the objects. A two Zero lines form the side partitions 33.1a, 33.1b and 33.1c, against which the objects due to the oblique arrangement. This results in two zero lines, the allow precise alignment of objects even in the event of size deviations. Farther This arrangement 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, for the Case that the items A are not properly removed from the collecting shaft 33.1 can, these objects by pivoting the stop 41.1 from the collecting shaft 33.1 released and how the ejected through the control device 25.1 Objects out on the side of the main conveyor 5 and at the end be collected.

At the inlet of the collecting shaft 33.1 is in the conveying direction behind the reversing device 29.1 a counter 35.1, e.g. in the form of a light barrier, provided that a distribution device 37.1, for example again in the form of a blow nozzle, controls such that the Items A in their number exactly on the individual rows of the collecting shaft 33.1 be distributed, which in turn avoids unnecessary back pressure in the individual rows or is reduced.

Between the reversing device 29.1 and the counting device 35.1 is advantageous a short guide 36.1 arranged for the objects A, these in the conveying direction feed to the collecting shaft 33.1.

A further counting device 39.1, e.g. a light barrier, arranged, which determines when the collecting shaft 33.1 is filled. The light barrier causes on the one hand, approval for picking up the items by the associated depositor E1, and on the other hand thereby the reversing device 29.1 for deriving further objects A controlled to the diverter rail 31.1. This is done e.g. then when through a Malfunction the objects were not removed from the collecting shaft 33.1.

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

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 depositor I has a laterally next to the container conveyors 11.2, 13 and 15 pivotally mounted Swivel arm 61, on which an insert arm 63 is pivotally mounted, on its free End carries an object holder 65. This is pivoted over the collecting shaft 33.1 and takes out the objects A that have accumulated there, for example by means of mechanical or pneumatic grippers. By pivoting the The swivel arm 61 and the insertion arm 63 are those removed from the collecting shaft 33.1 Objects A passed over an empty container Bl and placed in this by the objects are released from the object holder 65. The keep Objects in the filled container Bf the same mutual assignment as in that Collecting shaft 33.1. Basically, depending on the application, all known types from inserts such as mechanically driven or servo-driven two-axis units or robots can also be used.

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

The second distribution and insertion device II is constructed in the same way in principle the first distribution and insertion device I. The second device II thus points first a busbar 22.2 and the reversing device 30.2 already mentioned, from which surplus objects are diverted to a diverter rail 32.2. The one in the facility II remaining objects pass along a guide 34.2, together with if necessary. objects coming from the busbar 31.1, to a busbar 21.2 which the Busbar 21.1 corresponds to the first device I. From here on, the facility II is in designed in the same way as the device I. It thus has a device 23.2 for visual or optical detection of the objects and a control device 25.2, which is followed by a, preferably again curved, feed rail 27.2. This follows a reversing device 29.2, for objects A to a second diverter in the event of faults 31.2 to be able to derive. Then follows for the actual stream of objects Device II again a collecting shaft 33.2, in front of a counter 35.2 and one Distribution device 37.2 are arranged. The collecting shaft 33.2 is constructed in the same way like the collecting shaft 33.1. The insert II is constructed and in the same way works in the same way as depositor I.

Fig. 1 finally shows a third distribution and insertion device III, which is analogous to the two previous devices I and II is formed. The facility III therefore instructs a busbar 22.3, a reversing device 30.3 for a diverter rail 32.3 and a guide 34.3. This is followed by the actual one Busbar 21.3, followed by an optical detection device 23.3 and one Actuating device 25.3 as well as a, preferably again curved, feed rail 27.3. By means of a reversing device 29.3, surplus objects can be made into one Discharge rail 31.3 promoted and collected at the end of the main conveyor 5. The main stream of articles, however, arrives at a collecting shaft 33.3, which is another Counting device 35.3 and a distribution device 37.3 are arranged upstream. After all, is one Insert III available, which is designed and works in the same way as the previous two Depositors 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 when 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 has to cover 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 distribution and Inlay devices I and II with the inserts E I and E II. The third distribution and insertion device III with the insert E III only works in stand-by mode for excess items A, which is not processed by the two previous facilities I and II can be or be derived from these.

Fig. 3 shows a device in which the collecting shaft 33.1 not two rows, but four rows of items A. The same parts have the same reference numbers designated as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. However, here are for the four rows of items in total five partitions 33.1a, 33.1b, 33.1c, 33.1d and 33.1e are provided. Besides, is additional a second one for each of the counting device 35.1 and the distribution device 37.1 Counter 55.1 and a second distributor 57.1 on the opposite Side provided at the inlet of the collecting shaft 33.1. Each of these facilities controls thus the objects for two of the four tracks of the collecting shaft 33.1. Before this arrangement are a further counting device 45.1 in the inlet area of the collecting shaft 33.1, a distribution device 47.1 and a V-shaped guide 49.1 are provided. With these components the incoming objects A are first on two tracks along the guides 38.1 and 40.1 divided. 3 corresponds to the above device described with reference to FIG. 2. The items can be from the four Tracks of the collecting shaft 33.1 of FIG. 3 by means of an insert E I in the same way removed and placed in containers, as already described above.

Finally, Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the flexibility of the delivery system. As an an example a four-lane article feed according to FIG. 3 was chosen. By different Programming and control of the distribution and insertion device can be carried out in the collecting shaft 33.1 and thus the feeder E I in each case partial quantities of a container Bf to be filled fed and made available for insertion. Denote points M 1 to M 10 in each case the center points of the above the collecting shaft 33.1 or above a container B1 or B 2 standing gripper of the insert E I.

This can be done without changing the device itself, just by changing it programming and control, different pack formations are generated. The only interchangeable part here is to replace the gripping elements or grippers 65 on the insert E I.

Claims (16)

1. Method for feeding, arranging and distributing articles (A) on a conveyor (5) and for inserting the articles (A) in receptacles (B), with the steps of

   feeding the articles (A) on the conveyor (5),

   collecting and apportioning the incoming articles (A) into partial quantities roughly corresponding to the capacity of downstream removal and transfer steps in individual lanes located juxtaposed on the conveyor (5) in the direction of conveyance,

   counting and distributing the articles (A) from the individual lanes to form regular groups having equal numbers of articles on the conveyor (5),

   halting the groups of articles on the continuously running conveyor (5),

   removing the groups of articles from the conveyor (5),

   transferring the groups of articles in a regular formation into one receptacle (B) each,
   characterized by the following steps:

   diverting excess articles from one lane to a neighbouring lane at a position before forming the groups in the lanes,

   the excess articles (A) diverted from the first lane are collected on a neighbouring second lane, where they are merged with articles (A) incoming directly on the second lane, and

   the merged articles (A) are counted on the second lane and distributed for forming groups.
2. Method as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the articles (A) are fed to the conveyor (5) in cross rows (R) and that the rows (R) prior to or during feeding to the conveyor (5) are elongated in the direction of conveyance by acceleration.
3. Method as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that the cross rows (R) prior to being fed to the conveyor (5) are additionally elongated in the direction of conveyance by means of an acceleration conveyor (3).
4. Method as set forth in claim 1, characterized by

   visual identification of the articles (A) in the individual lanes,

   rejection of defective articles (A) from the lanes prior to counting and grouping.
5. Method as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that a number of articles incoming directly on the second lane corresponding to the number of diverted excess articles (A) is diverted on to a further neighbouring lane.
6. Device for feeding, arranging and distributing articles (A) on a conveyor (5) and for inserting the articles into receptacles (B), with the following features:

   a conveyor (5) is provided for the articles (A),

   above the conveyor (5) gathering rails (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 22.2, 22.3) for forming lanes of articles are arranged in juxtaposition in the direction of conveyance,

   in the direction of conveyance downstream of the gathering rails for each lane of the articles a gathering chute (33.1, 33.2, 33.3) for forming a regular group of articles (1) is arranged,
   characterized by the following features:

   the gathering chute (33.1, 33.2, 33.3) is associated with a counting and distributing means (35.1, 35..2, 35.3, 37.1, 37.2, 37.3; 45.1, 47.1; 55.1, 57.1),

   upstream of the counting and distributing means a control means (29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 30.2, 30.3) is provided for diverting excess articles (A) to a neighbouring lane, the control means being arranged in the direction of conveyance upstream of the counting and distributing means of said neighbouring lane,

   in the region of the gathering chute (33.1, 33.2, 33.3) of each lane a means (65) for receiving the groups of articles in regular formation from the gathering chute and for inserting these groups of articles into one receptacle each (inserter E I, E II, E III) is provided,

   alongside the article conveyor (5) a conveyor (11.2, 13, 15) for the receptacles (B) is arranged running parallel thereto.
7. Device as set forth in claim 6, characterized in that upstream of the counting and distributing means (35.1, 35.2, 35.3, 37.1, 37.2, 37.3) of each lane an optical means (23.1, 23,2, 23.3) for identifying the articles (A) and a selecting means (means for outward transfer 25.1, 25.2, 25.3) for rejecting defective articles (A) is arranged.
8. Device as set forth in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that between the selecting means (25.1, 25.1, 25.3) and the control means (29.1, 29.2, 29.3) a - particularly curved - feeder rail (27.1, 27.2, 27.3) is arranged.
9. Device as set forth in one of the claims 6 to 8, characterized in that

   for two lanes of articles two gathering rails (21.1, 22.2, 21.2), two feeder rails (27.1, 27.2), two control means (29.1, 29.2, 30.2) and two counting and distributing means (35.1, 35.2, 37.1, 37.2) are provided,

   the gathering rail (22.2, 21.2) of the second lane is divided into two partial gathering rails (22.2, 21.2), of which the first one (22.2) is located in the direction of conveyance alongside the gathering rail (21.1) of the first lane and the second one (21.2) is located in the direction of conveyance downstream of the gathering rail (21.1) of the first lane,

   in the region of the control means (29.1 of the first lane a diverter rail (31.1) for the articles (A) to be diverted from the first lane to the second lane is provided, which leads to the second partial gathering (21.2) rail,

   and the counting and distributing means (35.2, 37.2) and, where provided, the feeder rail (27.2) of the second lane together with their inserter (E II) are located in the direction of conveyance downstream of the corresponding means of the first lane.
10. Device as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that in the direction of conveyance downstream of the second counting and distributing means (35.2, 37.2) and the second inserter (E II) a third such means (35.3, 37.3, E III) of the same kind is provided which operates in the standby mode.
11. Device as set forth in one of the claims 6 to 10, characterized in that upstream of each of the second and/or the third counting and distributing means (35.2, 35.3, 37.2, 37.3) a selecting means (means for outward transfer 25.2, 25.3) is provided.
12. Device as set forth in one of the claims 6 to 10, characterized in that subsequent to each control means (29.1, 29.3, 29.3, 30.2, 30.3) a diverter rail (31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 32.2, 32.3) for the articles (A) is provided.
13. Device as set forth in one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the gathering chute (33.1, 33.2, 33.3) is formed comb-shaped with partitions (33.1a to 33.1e) located at an angle of approximately 30° to 45° to the direction of conveyance of the conveyor (5).
14. Device as set forth in one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the counting and distributing means (35.1 ff) and the gathering chute (33.1 ff) are configured such that, in keeping with the packing pattern of a receptacle (B), preprogrammable, differing quantities of the articles (A) are receivable in differing arrangements (e.g. two-row or four-row) and held in readiness for the corresponding inserter (E I ff).
15. Device as set forth in one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that a common through-running receptacle conveyor (11.2, 13, 15) is provided for all article inserters (E I, E II, E III).
16. Device as set forth in claim 15, characterized in that the receptacle conveyor has a conveyor path (11.2) for empty receptacles (B l), a filler section (13) running parallel thereto for the receptacles (B) and a gathering conveyor (15) running parallel thereto for the filled receptacles ( B f).

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