1. Method of preparing confectionary products for packaging in a side-
loader packaging machine, where the confectionary products are conveyed one by one on a first pocket conveyor, and where a picking
robot is arranged for picking up a predetermined number of
ice cream products from said first pocket conveyor and transferring the confectionary products to a bulking conveyor, said bulking conveyor having compartments suitable to accommodate a predetermined number of confectionary products in one or more
layers in each compartment, where the picking
robot can be in a first position above one or more compartments to be filled, and a second position above the pocket conveyor, where a) in a first step the picking
robot, pick up a predetermined number of confectionary products corresponding to the number of confectionary products in a first layer from the pocket conveyor and thereafter positions the picking robot above one or more empty compartments on the bulking conveyor; b) in a further step determine that a further predetermined number of confectionary products corresponding to the total number of confectionary products needed for filling all consecutive
layers are available on the pocket conveyor, ready to be picked up; c) releases the picked up confectionary products into the one or more compartment, and d) the picking robot moves to pick up the further predetermined number of confectionary products from the pocket conveyor, and e) transfers the further predetermined number of products to the compartment creating a further layer of confectionary products, and f) repeat steps d) and e)) until the desired number of
layers are arranged in the compartment, whereafter g) repeat steps a) to f).