WO2018089727A1

WO2018089727A1 - Device and method for distributing products conveyed in succession

Info

Publication number: WO2018089727A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/060991
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulrich BRINKSCHRODER
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
Priority date: 2016-11-10
Filing date: 2017-11-10
Publication date: 2018-05-17
Also published as: WO2018089727A8; DE102016121575B4; CN110121471A; DE102016121575A1

Abstract

A device for distributing products (Pi, P2, P3, P4,..., Pi) conveyed one after another on a first conveyor (1) in a first conveying direction (Fi) onto a second conveyor (2) traveling in a second conveying direction (F2), having a distributing unit ( 100), which is arranged at a first angle (a) relative to the first conveying direction (Fi) and at a second angle (β) relative to the second conveying direction (F2) and protrudes by a travel distance (S) into the conveying region (FB) of the second conveyor (2); at least the second angle (β) is constant and the travel distance (S) is variably adjustable.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING PRODUCTS CONVEYED

IN SUCCESSION

Description

The invention relates to a device and method for distributing products conveyed successively in a row of the kind that is known, for example, from DE 2012 111 920 Al.

Such a device is used to slide products such as juice-filled beverage cartons, which are conveyed one after another in a line, for example coming from the filling system transversely to their conveying direction in order to then group them and wrap the grouped products into bundles in a packaging machine. In this connection, these can be placed in a group of e.g. four or six products into packing boxes or can be shrink-wrapped in film to produce a bundle. The products, which are conveyed one after the other in a single row, must be slid in a controlled way transversely to the conveying direction in order to distribute them into a plurality of secondary rows that are conveyed parallel to one another. Naturally, there can inherently be any number of products in a bundle. In the known device for regrouping or resorting a number of products con^¬ veyed one after another in at least one row into an arrangement with products situated adjacent to one another transversely to the conveying direction, a stepped slider that is movable transversely to the conveying direction is provided, which in a pushing procedure transverse to the conveying direction slides the products, which are arranged one after another and are to be regrouped or resorted, one after the other by a different respective sliding distance transverse to the conveying direction. The slider has a step-like or stepped contour with contact surfaces that slide products, which are arranged one after another in the conveying direction, by a different respective sliding distance transverse to the conveying direction, which corresponds to at least the product width or product diameter. After the stepped formation is l produced, the products are then slowed down or sped up and the slowing down or speeding up then produces several groups of at least two products of an arrangement adjacent to one another and transverse to the conveying direction. DE 43 43 477 CI discloses a method for distributing the containers coming from a first, at least single-row conveyor section onto a second multi-row conveyor section; a lateral guide adjoining the first conveyor section is positioned with its guide orifice in front of the individual rows of the second conveyor section. In order to be able to distribute the containers into the individual rows of the second multi-row conveyor section without stopping the transported material or reducing the conveying speed, the guide orifice is moved in the conveying direction at least essentially synchronously with the transported material being moved in its vicinity and is positioned transversely to the conveying direction in front of the individual rows of the second con- veyor section. After the positioning, the guide orifice is moved back in opposition to the conveying direction in order to perform a subsequent change of track. In this way, the products conveyed one after another in a single row in the conveying direction can be distributed into a plurality of rows of products, which are situated next to and parallel to one another, by pivoting the guide orifice.

The products are conveyed in the middle of the conveyor and then distributed into nine rows running parallel to one another. In this case, it is problematic that when the last row has been produced, the guide orifice would have to be pivoted back across the entire width of the conveyor in order to form a new first row of products. Then a cyclical pivoting to the opposite side until the last row is produced. The entire pivoting movement from the right outside to the left outside takes a corresponding amount of time so that the conveying speed is limited. In order to reduce the pivoting time it could be the case that only every other row is filled so that the pivoting-back movement of the guide orifice does not have to be carried out across the entire width of the conveyor, but at first by only one "position" and then in turn only by two "positions" each time after that. Nevertheless, the conveying speed of the products is limited by the required amount of time for speeding up and slowing down the guide orifice. A conveying operation for handling 54,000 products (product packages) per hour with such a setup is only possible with a very large degree of mechanical complexity. The high acceleration and deceleration forces that occur in it generate a noise level that could lead to adverse health effects for the personnel operating the system.

Based on this statement of the problem, the know setup and the method for distributing or grouping products that are conveyed one after another in a row into a plurality of parallel of rows of products extending parallel and adjacent to one another.

In order to solve the problem, the products are brought from products that are conveyed in a first conveyor in a first conveying direction onto a second conveyor traveling in a second conveying direction by virtue of the fact that a distributing unit, which is oriented at a first angle a relative to the first con- veying direction and is oriented at a second angle β to the second conveying direction and protrudes by a travel distance S into the conveying region of the second conveyor; at least the second angle β is constant and the travel distance S is variably adjustable.

Preferably, the two angles a and β are constant. The products are conveyed one after another in a row in a first conveyor and by means of the distributing unit, are delivered to a second conveyor. The distributing unit is a guide, which is oriented at the angle β across the con^¬ veyor belt of the second conveyor in a transverse direction and delivers the products to the conveyor. At this point, they are grasped by means of static friction by the second conveyor unit and transferred into the second conveying direction. At the transfer from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, the products are conveyed in a third conveying direction. At the end of the distributing unit, the products turn from the third conveying direction and then continue in a parallel orientation on the second conveyor in the second conveying direction. Through a linear sliding of the distributing unit in the third conveying direction (at the angle β), the products are transferred to the second conveyor either farther to the outside or farther toward the inside so that they are arranged in parallel rows relative to the second conveying direction. Depending on how long the distributing unit remains in its respective position, a corresponding number of products is introduced into a respective row so that in the parallel rows, one or a plurality of products can be grouped, which are conveyed offset ("stepped") from one another in relation to the second conveying direction. With a position change from the first outer position into the second outer position, the speeds of the second and third conveyor are matched to each other in such a way that a product maintains its position at the deflection point (deflecting roller). As a result, there are no dead times in a path change from the first outer position to the second outer position. The distributing unit is preferably at least composed of a pedestal part that is mounted in stationary fashion and a top part that is positioned on it in sliding fashion and in order to set the travel distance S, the top part is slid relative to the pedestal part in a third conveying direction.

The first conveyor can be arranged parallel to the second conveyor so that the first conveying direction and the second conveying direction are identical. Then the angles σ and β are also identical .

Preferably, the top part has a first belt driven in revolving fashion, on which the products rest. This embodiment ensures that the belt driven in revolving fashion can speed up the products in the third conveying direction and bring them to the speed of the second conveyor in the second transporting direction or the friction between the products, which are fed into second conveyor, and the distributing unit is reduced.

The required deflecting rollers for the driven belt are preferably connected to each other by means of a linear drive element and the sliding of the top part relative to the pedestal part is carried out by an electric motor via the drive element. The drive element can be a toothed rack, a toothed belt, or a linear motor.

The method for distributing products conveyed one after another in a first conveying direction into at least two rows that are offset from and parallel to each other, which are conveyed onward in a second conveying direction so that two products conveyed one after another in the first conveying direction are conveyed in the second transporting direction at least partially adjacent to one another and offset from one another features the fact that the prod- ucts are fed from a first conveyor by means of a distributing unit, which is arranged so that it can be slid in linear fashion at an angle β to the second conveying direction, into a second conveyor and in order to produce the rows, a travel distance S by which the distributing unit protrudes into the conveying region of the second conveyor is increased or decreased and the distributing unit can assume two outer positions in relation to the conveying region, i.e. it transfers the products into a row on the left outside or right outside.

The conveying speed in the second conveyor is preferably greater than in the first conveyor, which causes the products to be spaced apart from one an- other as they are transferred from the first conveyor into the second conveyor.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in greater detail below with the aid of the drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective depiction of a packaging machine; Fig. 2a shows the top view of the distributing unit in a first outer position;

Fig. 2b shows the top view of the distributing unit in a second outer position; Fig . 2c shows the perspective view of the distributing unit according to Fig .

2b;

Fig. 2d shows the perspective depiction of the distributing unit according to

Fig. 2a;

Fig . 3.1 shows a perspective depiction of a stacker in a first embodiment;

Fig. 3.2 shows a simplified depiction of the stacker according to Fig . 3.1; Fig. 4.1 shows a perspective depiction of a stacker in a second embodiment;

Fig . 4.2 shows the depiction according to Fig . 1 with products/product groups; Fig. 5 schematically depicts the sequence of the stacking in six images;

Fig . 6 shows the shrink-wrapping device;

Fig. 7 shows a schematic side view of the device according to Fig . 6;

Fig. 8 shows the section along the line VIII-VIII according to Fig. 7; Fig, 9 shows a schematic side view of the device according to Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 shows the section along the line X-X according to Fig. 9. The packaging machine is composed of conveyors 2, 3, 4, 5 arranged one after another that are composed of endlessly revolving conveyor belts 2.1, 3.1, 5.1 or a table 4.1 with sliders 4.2, 4.3 that are driven in endlessly revolving fashion in the conveying direction F2 and that convey products Pi, P2, P3, Pi to different stations in a conveying direction F2. The products, which are conveyed one after another in a line in a first conveying direction Fi, for example coming from the filling system, are transported by a first conveyor 1 to the distributing unit 100, which delivers them into the conveying region F3 of a second conveyor 2. Distributing unit

The distributing unit 100 is oriented at an angle a relative to the first conveyor 1 and the first conveying direction Fi and is oriented at a second angle β relative to the conveyor 2 and the conveying direction F₂. As is clear from Fig. 1, the first conveyor 1 and the second conveyor 2 are arranged parallel to each other so that the angles a and β are of equal magnitude and are approximately 20°. The distributing unit 100 is composed of a top part 110 and a pedestal part 120 that is mounted in stationary fashion. The top part 110 has two deflecting rollers 111, 112, that drive a belt 113 in an endlessly revolving fashion in a third conveying direction F3.

The top part 110 is arranged in sliding fashion relative to the pedestal part 120 and can be moved forward and backward in the conveying direction F3, as a comparison of Figs. 2a and 2b shows. To accomplish this, the deflecting rollers 111, 112 are connected to each other by a toothed rack 114. The toothed rack 114 could also be replaced with a toothed belt or a driven linear unit. A motor 115 positioned above the toothed rack 114 moves the top part 110 forward and backward in a linear direction and into the desired position. If the top part 110 is in the first outer position Si shown in Fig . 2a, then the products Pi, P₂, P , Pi coming from the conveyor 1 travel toward the belt 113 and are deflected onto the conveyor 2. The revolving belt 113 either lightly drives the products Pi, P2, ... and supports them as the speed of the conveyor 2 is being reached or, by revolving, reduces the sliding friction of the products Pi, P2, P3, Pi on the distributing unit 100. At the end of the distributing unit 100, the products Pi, P₂ reverse course in accordance with the angle β and are transported by the conveyor 2 from the conveying direction F3 into the conveying direction F₂ in the direction of the stacker 200.

Depending on how long the distributing unit 100 remains in this first outer position, this results in the number of products P3, P4, ... that are positioned one after another in the first row Ri (right, outside). In order to form the next row R₂, the top part 110 is moved in linear fashion farther in the direc- tion toward the inner region of the conveyor 2, thus increasing the travel distance S over which the distributing unit covers the second conveyor 2. This division into rows R3, R4 that are offset parallel to each other in the conveying direction F₂ repeats until the top part 110 has reached its second outer position (left, outside), which is shown in Fig. 2b and the products Pi, P₂ are then grouped into the last outer row R5.

The speed of the conveyors 1, 2 and the speed of the distributing unit 100 are determined by whether the products Pi, P₂, ... in the rows Ri, ... R₄ are to be conveyed in the conveying direction F₂ spaced apart from or resting against one another. If the products reach the conveyor 3, then they are collected until the desired number of products is arranged parallel and adjacent to one another. The conveyor 4 travels faster than the conveyor 3 by a desired number. If the stopper at the end of the conveyor 3 is released, then five products adjacent to one another are quickly transported in the convey- ing direction F₂, the first product group is lifted up, and its speed in the conveying direction F₂ is reduced so that the subsequent product group G₂ resting on the conveyor unit of the conveyor 4 is conveyed through under- neath the lifted product group Gi. If the two product groups Gi, G2 come into superposition with each other, then the first product group Gi is lowered and placed onto the second product group G2. Then the products Pi, P2, P3, PA, Pi that have been grouped into the two product groups Gi, G2 are wrapped in a film 60, which is supplied by means of a roller and are then transported by the fifth conveyor 5 into the shrink oven 400 in which the film is heated so that it shrinks and surrounds the grouped products so that a transportable bundle is produced. Stacker

The device 200 for stacking at least two products Pi, P2 or two product groups Gi, G2 composed of a plurality of products Pi adjacent to one another has an inlet region E and an outlet region A. The conveyor 4 provided for the stacker 200 has a table 4.1, across which sliders 4.2, 4.3, which are driven in a revolving fashion in the conveying direction F2, are moved in order to convey (slide) the products Pi, P2, P3, P4, ... , Pi in the conveying direction F₂. Positioned on a beam 201 situated above the table 4.1, frames 230, 240 are situated next to the conveyor 4 on both sides, which will be described in greater detail with the aid of Figs. 3.1 and 3.2. The frames 230, 240 are embodied mirror-symmetrically. The description is therefore predominantly based on the frame 230.

In an envelope curve 231, a drive mechanism 232 rotates in a vertical plane. Spaced apart and parallel to the envelope curve 231, there is a second enve- lope curve 238 in which a drive mechanism 237 rotates in a vertical plane. The envelope curves 231 and 238 are structurally identical. Grippers 220 that are spaced apart at regular intervals in the direction F₄ are attached to the drive mechanisms 232, 237 by means of rods 221 that protrude transversely thereto across almost the whole width of the table 4.1. The opposing frame 240 is likewise provided with two structurally identical envelope curves 241, 248 with drive mechanisms 242, 247 revolving therein in the direction F₄. In this case, grippers 210 that are spaced apart at regular intervals are attached to the drive mechanisms 242 and 247 by means of rods 211 that are oriented in the opposite direction and protrude across almost the whole width of the table 4.1. In the ends of the frames 230, 240 oriented toward the table 4.1, the drive mechanisms 232/237, 242/247 are guided in a meander-shaped fashion by means of three deflecting pulleys 234, 235, 236. In this region, the grippers 210, 220 execute a vertical movement and horizontal movement. In comparison to the speed of the conveyor 4 (of the sliders 4.2, 4.3), the grippers 210, 220 are slowed down by the vertical movement and at the deflecting pulley 235, are sped up again in the conveying direction F₂ so that they assume the same speed as the sliders 4.2, 4.3.

A control chain, which is not shown in detail here, travels in a third envelope curve 239, 249. This control chain can be used to rotate the grippers 210, 220 around their longitudinal axis B. A respective product group Gi is situat- ed between the grippers 210, 220. In the inlet region E of the stacking device 200, a stopper 202 is provided, with which the rows Rl, R2, R3, R4 formed by the distributing unit 100 come into contact and against which they are collected. The products Pi, P₂ ...Pi come to a stop while the conveyors 3, 4 continue to be driven. Sliders 4.2, 4.3 of different heights in alternation are fastened extending across the table 4.1. As shown in Fig. 3.2, the sliders 4.2, 4.3 are of different heights and are driven to revolve in a vertical plane and guided in the beams 201. After the inlet region E and above the table 4.1, two strip-shaped lateral guides 4.4, 4.5 are provided, which, by means of oblong holes 4.6, can be adjusted in their distance from each other and in their angle relative to the conveying direction. The purpose of these lateral guides 4.4, 4.5 is to push the products Pi, P₂, P3, P4 together transversely to the conveying direction F₂ and to align them on the table 4.1. The stopper 202 releases the first respective group Gi of products Pi, P2, P3, P4 in , rows adjacent to one another so that they travel onto the table 4.1. The next group G2 of products Pi, P₂, P3, P4 is then held back for a defined amount of time while the first product group Gi resting on the slider 4.2 continues to be conveyed. If the defined distance a between the product groups Gi, G₂ has been reached, then the stopper 202 releases the product group G2, which is then conveyed at the distance a behind the first product group Gi, resting on the higher slider 4.3 in the conveyor unit 4.1,4.2, 4.3. These two product groups Gi, G2 are formed into the stack St in the manner that will be de- scribed in conjunction with Fig. 5:

Image 1 shows the beginning of the gripping of the first product group Gi, which, resting on the slider 4.2 is conveyed under the stacker behind the product group G2 resting on the slider 4.3. The rear gripper 220 touches the front product group Gi first and disengages it from the slider 4.2. The front gripper 210 is likewise placed against the product group Gi. The grippers 210, 220 are square in cross-section and before the contact is produced, are slightly rotated around their longitudinal axis B by the control chain so that the orientation of the contact surfaces of the grippers 210, 220 is absolutely parallel in order to securely grip the product group Gi.

Image 2 shows that the grippers 210, 220 have lifted the first product group Gi up from the table 4.1 because the drive mechanisms 232/237, 242/247 are guided in a meander-shaped fashion in the envelope curves 231/238, 241/248 and are at first guided predominantly in the vertical direction F so that they are slowed down in relation to the conveying direction F2 and the slider 4.2 travels through underneath the first group Gi.

As the process continues, image 3 shows that the next product group G₂ begins to be conveyed by the conveyor unit 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 underneath the raised front product group Gi, which is further clarified in image 4. Due to the reversal of the arc in the envelope curve, now the raised product group Gi also executes a movement in the conveying direction F₂ so that it is sped up again in terms of its horizontal speed. With the reversal, as shown in Fig. 5, the upper product group Gi is set down in the direction of the lower prod^¬ uct group G₂, which rests on the slider 4.3 as before. Image 6 shows the stack St that is formed. As this image shows, the higher slider 4.3 is higher than the thickness of the product group G₂ so that it also rests against the upper product group Gi and has the ability to potentially center it if this should be needed. To disengage the grippers 210, 220 from the stack St, they are once again rotated around their longitudinal axis B by means of the control chain, with the front gripper 210 being rotated clockwise and the rear gripper 220 being rotated counterclockwise. The rotation is slight and its only purpose is to ensure that the grippers 210, 220 can disengage from the stack St when they are taken away, positively driven in the vertical direction F . By means of the conveyor unit 4, the stack St is then conveyed onward to the shrink-wrapping device 300 and subsequent shrinking in the shrink oven 400.

An alternative exemplary embodiment of a stacker is shown in Figs. 4.1 and 4.2. This stacker differs in comparison to the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 3 in that grippers (250, 260) that are spaced apart from one another in parallel fashion are fastened to the drive mechanisms (232, 242) and are supported so that they can be slid transversely to the conveying direction (F2). The grippers (250, 260) extend in the longitudinal direction relative to the table (4.1). If they are moved toward each other by a sliding of the rods (251, 261) at whose free ends they are positioned, they can grip and lift a product group (Gi, G2) in a laterally clamping fashion, as described above in conjunction with the sequence in Fig. 5. The sliding of the rods (251, 261) can be induced by means of a control cam (not shown) or by raised areas (not shown) provided at the ends (233, 243). Just like the length of the grippers (210, 230), the length of the grippers (250, 260) is adapted to the products (Pi).

Shrink-wrapping device

The shrink-wrapping device 300 is situated after the stacker 200 at the end of the conveyor 5 on which the stacks St are transported in the conveying direction F₂ on a film web 60 resting on the conveyor belt 5.1. Instead of the stacks St, product groups G, or individual products P, can be conveyed one after another and shrink-wrapped. Before the shrink-wrapping device 300, a second film web 61 is placed onto the top of the stacks St, which is to be welded to the first film web 60 so that the film webs 61, 60 are severed, thus producing individual packages. The welding device 300 is composed of the frame 320 and the holder 310, which is supported therein so that it can move in the vertical direction V and is supported in the frame 320 so that it can be rotated around a rotation axis D. The holder 310 is composed of two parts 311, 312 that are arranged parallel to the rotation axis D and whose distanc- es ai, a₂ from the rotation axis D are adjustable. In the simplest case, the welding units 318, 319, which act on the outside, can be heatable wires for welding the films 60, 61 to each other.

The two parts 311, 312 are connected to each other by means of longitudinal guides 313, 314 and by sliding the parts 311, 312 toward the rotation axis D and toward each other, the distances ai, a₂ are adjusted so that it is possible to set a large operating diameter (rotation diameter) as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 or to set a small operating diameter (rotation diameter) as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. A comparison of Figs. 7 and 9 to each other reveals that with the large operating diameter of the welding device 300, as shown in Fig. 7, larger and longer stacks St can be shrink-wrapped in the two films 60, 61, whereas with the smaller operating diameter, as shown in Fig. 9, smaller and shorter bundles G, can be shrink-wrapped in the films 60, 61. The electric motor 330 drives the holder 310 in rotary fashion around the rotation axis D. The adjustment of the distances ai, a₂ can be carried out by electric motor or manually.

Through the adjustable distances ai, a₂ of the welding units, it is possible to set the pattern repeat distance in concert with the movable mounting (vertical direction V) that is required by the respective product group. A U-shaped design of the welding units permits the packages to travel into the welding plane between the two welding tools. As a result, the bundles can be positioned closer together, which achieves a reduced film consumption. This also produces a more attractive bundle. Reference Numeral List

1 conveyor 220 gripper

2 conveyor 221 rod

3 conveyor 230 frame

4 conveyor

4.1 table 231 envelope curve

232 drive mechanism

4.2 slider 233 wall

4.3 slider 234 deflecting pulley

4.4 lateral guide 235 deflecting pulley

4.5 lateral guide

4.6 oblong hole 236 deflecting pulley

237 drive mechanism

5 conveyor 238 envelope curve

5.1 conveyor belt 239 envelope curve

60 film 240 frame

61 film

100 distributing unit 241 envelope curve

242 drive mechanism

110 top part 243 wall

111 deflecting roller 247 drive mechanism

112 deflecting roller 248 envelope curve

113 belt

114 toothed rack/toothed belt 249 envelope curve

250 gripper

115 drive motor 251 rod

120 pedestal part 260 gripper

200 stacker 261 rod

201 beam

202 stopper 300 device/

shrink-wrapping device 210 gripper 400 shrink oven

211 rod 310 holder

311 half R₄ row

312 half S travel distance

313 longitudinal guide 51 first outer position

314 longitudinal guide 52 second outer position

318 welding unit St stack

319 welding unit

320 frame a distance

ai distance

330 electric motor a2 distance

a angle

A outlet region β angle

B longitudinal axis

D rotation axis

E inlet region

FB conveying region Fi conveying direction

F2 conveying direction

F3 conveying direction

F4 conveying direction

Gi group

G2 group

Pi product

P₂ product

P3 product

P₄ product

Pi product

Ri row

R₂ row

R3 row

Claims

1. A device for distributing products (Pi, P₂, P3, P4, ... , Pi) conveyed one after another on a first conveyor ( 1) in a first conveying direction (Fi) onto a second conveyor (2) traveling in a second conveying direction (F₂), having a distributing unit (100), which is arranged at a first angle (a) relative to the first conveying direction (Fi) and at a second angle (β) relative to the second conveying direction (F₂) and protrudes by a travel distance (S) into the conveying region (FB) of the second conveyor (2); at least the second angle (β) is constant and the travel distance (S) is variably adjustable.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the distributing unit (100) is at least composed of a pedestal part (120) that is mounted in stationary fashion and a top part ( 110) that is positioned on it in sliding fashion and in order to set the travel distance (S), the top part ( 110) is slid relative to the pedestal part ( 120) in a third conveying direction (F3).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the angle (a) is constant.

4. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angles (a) and (β) of equal magnitude.

5. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the top part ( 110) has a belt ( 113) that is driven in revolving fashion onto which the products (Pi, P₂, P3, P4, ... , Pi) can be placed .

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that two deflecting rollers ( 1 11, 112) provided for the belt (113) are connected to each other by means of a linear drive element ( 114) and the sliding of the top part (110) is carried out by an electric motor via the drive element (114).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive element (114) is a toothed rack, a toothed belt, or a linear motor.

8. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the drive element (114) is connected to a motor (115).

9. A method for distributing products (Pi, P₂, P3, P4, ... , Pi) conveyed one after another in a row in a first conveying direction (Fi) into at least two rows (Ri, R₂, R3, Ri) that are offset from and parallel to each other, which are conveyed onward in a second conveying direction (F₂); the products (Pi, P2) in the parallel rows (Ri, R_2/ R3, ... , Ri) can be arranged one after another individually or in groups, characterized in that the products (Pi, P₂, P3, P4, ... , Pi) are fed from a first conveyor (1) by means of a distributing unit (100), which is arranged so that it can be slid in linear fashion at an angle (β) to the second conveying direction (F₂), into a second conveyor (2) and in order to form the rows (Ri, R2), a travel distance (S) by which the distributing unit (100) protrudes into the conveying region (FB) is increased or decreased and the distributing unit (100) can assume two outer positions (Si, S2).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that a plurality of products (Pi, P₂, P3, P4, ... , Pi) is fed into each row (Ri, R2, R3, ... , Ri) so that respective groups of products form offset from one another in steps in the second conveying direction (F2).

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that with a position change from the first outer position (Si) into the second outer position (S₂), the speeds of the second (3) and third conveyor (3) are matched to each other in such a way that a product (Pi, P₂, P3, P4, ■ Pi) maintains its position at the redirection point (deflecting roller 112).