Method and device for grouping articles

Abstract

Device (8) for grouping articles (14), comprising a first conveying device (18) and a second conveying device (22) downstream of it and moving faster than the first conveying device (18), and comprising a retaining and / or sliding device (26) associated with the second conveying device (22) for separating a defined number of articles (14) by forming a gap between successive groups of articles (28) and by delaying the separated group of articles (28) relative to the preceding group or by accelerating the separated group of articles (28) relative to the following group of articles (28), wherein the retaining and / or sliding device (26) associated with the second conveying device (22) is formed by sliding elements (30) engaging transversely in the conveying flow, which follow a predetermined closed circular path of movement (32), characterized in thatthat several thrust elements (30) each have separate drive elements (34) to realize different feed rates (v, V3 ) of the thrust elements (30) along the path of motion (32), wherein a maintenance or service mode is provided in which at least some thrust elements (30) can be moved out of an engagement and / or contact area with the articles (14) by positioning their respective drives on an upper section (38) of the path of motion (32).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for grouping articles with the features of the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for grouping articles with the features of the preamble of method claim 6.

[0002] In the continuous horizontal conveying of articles using belt conveyors or similar systems, the articles are conveyed in an uninterrupted line or in several parallel, uninterrupted lines to successive processing and / or handling stations. If the articles are to be processed in groups from a certain point onward, for example, to assemble a group of packages, it is necessary to separate the desired number of articles from the continuous and usually largely uninterrupted flow of articles. Known grouping elements include, for example, so-called divider fingers, which dip into the conveying flow from below and, by holding back a defined number of articles relative to a faster-moving conveyor belt or, if necessary, by accelerating them relative to a slower-moving conveyor belt, create a defined gap between the grouped articles. Such grouping methods are used, for example, in...These single-piece fingers are used in the conveying of beverage containers. They typically insert into gaps at the side edge between two adjacent beverage containers, as the rounded or rounded-cornered contour of the containers provides a space for positioning the fingers. Such single-piece fingers are not suitable for separating groups of items where several parallel rows of items are moved on wider conveyor belts, as there is insufficient space for the fingers to emerge and engage.

[0003] EP 2 298 651 A2 describes a method and a device for grouping articles, in which the articles are conveyed in a continuous line by means of a first conveying element moving at a first speed to a second conveying element moving at a second speed greater than the first speed of the first conveying element. The second conveying element is assigned a holding device and / or partitioning device for separating a defined number of articles, creating a gap between successive groups of articles and by delaying and / or accelerating the separated group of articles relative to the preceding and / or following group of articles. The holding devices can be formed by single-section dividers that are guided in a closed curve above a conveying plane of the conveying elements by means of continuous circulating traction elements.

[0004] For the variable adjustment of the division intervals of such single-section dividers, DE 10 2006 045 453 A1 provides a transport system with divider elements that can be moved in the transport direction and whose division interval is adjustable, thus enabling adaptation to different format lengths of the transport units. This is to be achieved by making the divider elements movable between an active and an inactive state.

[0005] Other grouping devices for forming groups of horizontally transported objects are known, for example, from DE 695 00 173 T2 and from EP 2 199 217 B1.

[0006] German patent DE 103 47 540 A1 describes a partitioning, synchronizing, and compacting device for packaging articles. The device comprises at least one circumferentially arranged pair of drive elements, with at least one crossbar arranged on each pair of drive elements. Each pair of drive elements is driven by a controlled drive motor. The device can be used to partition, synchronize, and compact the articles.

[0007] Furthermore, WO 2007 / 137 923 A1 discloses a machine for grouping packages. DE 10 2008 040 204 A1 discloses a device and a method for transporting products with a linear drive. Document DE 42 07 725 A1 describes a continuously operating device for packaging items prone to tipping.

[0008] One objective of the invention is to provide a method and a device for grouping articles, objects, containers, or the like, which allows for quick and easy adaptation to different grouping sizes, division distances, and / or article or container sizes, etc., with minimal setup and / or conversion effort.

[0009] This objective of the invention is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims. To achieve this objective, the present invention proposes a device for grouping articles, comprising a first conveying device and a second conveying device downstream of the first and moving faster than the first. A retaining and / or pushing device associated with the second conveying device serves to separate a defined number of articles, creating a gap between successive groups of articles, and either delaying the separated group of articles relative to the preceding group or accelerating the separated group of articles relative to the following group.The retaining and / or sliding device associated with the second conveying unit is formed by push elements that engage transversely in the conveyed flow and follow a predetermined closed, circular path of movement. The device according to the invention is characterized in that several push elements are each assigned separate drive elements to achieve different feed speeds of the push elements along the path of movement. Preferably, separate drive elements are provided for each individual push element, which can in particular be designed as linear motor drives. Preferably, linear motor drives with magnetic induction can be used as push elements. These are offered, for example, under the trade name Magnemotion.Such linear motor drives enable a largely decoupled drive of the individual thrust elements, so that their speeds can be adapted to the current requirements at any time, e.g. when forming very small gaps or when grouping different container sizes, which is made possible by adapting the drive control for the thrust elements and requires no conversion effort.

[0010] The movement path for the drives of the push elements typically lies in an approximately vertical plane, the surface of which is parallel to the conveying direction of the first and / or second conveying device. In particular, the movement path can largely correspond to the movement path of a circumferential traction guide of a conventional grouping device, which is no longer required here. In this conventional device, a plurality of single-section bars are anchored on both sides to traction drives and can ensure the desired grouping of the articles moved on the conveying devices.Compared to grouping devices with a fixed chain pitch and single-section bars whose drive speed is only adjustable collectively, the device according to the invention offers the advantage of individually controllable and adjustable pusher elements in their feed movements and speeds. This allows for easy adjustment of the settings for error-free grouping of the items, even when changing products, using different item sizes and / or combinations, or when items are very close together. To achieve this, the linear motor drives of the pusher elements are each assigned to and follow the path of movement. The pusher elements, which extend horizontally into the conveying area of ​​the second conveying device and engage between the items, are each suspended on one side by the drives and project almost perpendicularly from the plane in which the path of movement lies.Due to the use of individual drive technology and the resulting relatively low forces, the push elements or push beams can be designed to be cantilevered and suspended on one side, thus providing significantly better access to the conveyor systems and the articles and products transported on them than with single bars guided on both sides by endlessly rotating traction drives.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the linear motor drives of the push elements can each be assigned devices for detecting resistance forces during the feed and / or deceleration of the groups of articles. These devices can be used particularly advantageously for detecting resistance or overload, such as that which can occur with overturned or jammed articles or containers. These devices for detecting and / or measuring resistance forces during the drive and / or deceleration of the push elements can advantageously prevent jamming or damage to containers or articles, whereby all existing steps or even slight discontinuities in the conveying path can also be detected, so that no unnecessary error messages are issued. These devices can, for example,This can be achieved by evaluating the power consumption of the individual linear drives during their feed and / or deceleration movements and observing them for noticeable deviations, so that if an increased motor load occurs, a non-standard obstruction in the article transport can be inferred.

[0012] Overall, the grouping device according to the invention requires fewer push elements or push beams than conventional grouping devices operating with traction drives, since the push elements or push beams can be moved at a significantly increased speed during the return stroke, resulting in fewer push elements being located within a free-running section. One aspect of the invention is a readily implementable service or maintenance mode in which the push elements or push beams can be removed from the engagement area with the articles and, for example, collected in an upper section of the movement path and grouped together in blocks.This maintenance or service mode is easily achievable thanks to the individual drives of the sliding elements, as each individual sliding element can be moved individually and independently of the other sliding elements, with the only limitation being the non-branching movement path, meaning that the sliding elements or their drives can be lined up next to each other, but cannot be exchanged in their positions.

[0013] The pusher elements for accelerating and / or decelerating individual items or groups of items conveyed side by side feature gearless direct drives, which can be designed in particular by so-called electromagnetic linear drives or so-called Magnemotion drives (see above). Neither traction elements nor other gears are required to drive the pusher beams or pusher elements, so that they can be moved at different speeds and, in particular, at varying speeds. A relatively slow forward movement in one direction parallel to the items to be grouped enables precise division and grouping, while a rapid return movement against the conveying direction of the items and outside the engagement area allows for the rapid return of a smaller number of pusher elements to the starting point of engagement with the items.

[0014] The aforementioned objective of the invention is further achieved by a method for grouping articles, in which the articles are conveyed by means of a first conveying device moving at a first speed in an uninterrupted row or several parallel uninterrupted rows to a second conveying device moving at a second speed – greater than the first speed – and are spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction there. Within the area of ​​the second conveying device, groups of articles are formed by pushing or delaying individual articles by means of push elements engaging transversely in the conveying flow, which follow a predetermined closed circular path of motion. The method is characterized in that several push elements are moved along the path of motion at different speeds and independently of one another.This is achieved by equipping each push element with a separate linear motor drive. The drives can follow the movement path at individual and / or varying speeds. This enables optimized, and in particular minimized, item or container speeds, thus allowing for format-dependent minimized machine spacing. The process can be designed according to the criterion of performance maximization, since, due to the individual drives of the push elements, little attention needs to be paid to the synchronization of conveyor speeds, the gaps between items or groups of items, and the feed speeds of the push elements.A return speed of the drives, in which they are returned to the beginning of the engagement area with the articles for grouping on an upper section of the movement path against the conveying direction of the first and / or second conveying devices, can be chosen to be significantly higher than a feed speed, in which the drives move parallel to the conveying direction of the first and / or second conveying devices in the engagement area with the articles for article grouping on a lower section of the movement path.

[0015] An advantageous variant of the method involves recording the resistance forces acting on the linear motor drives of the push elements during the feed and / or deceleration of the groups of items. These forces are then evaluated to detect the operating status of the grouping process and / or errors during grouping. This allows, for example, the detection of overloads by analyzing the motor loads. The near-pressureless container or item division enables a very sensitive response to such error detection. Furthermore, the near-pressureless container or item division is important when processing sensitive and / or high-value and / or very soft items or containers, such as those with very thin and flexible walls.

[0016] The method according to the invention easily enables the maintenance or service mode mentioned above, in which at least some, and in particular all, push elements are moved out of an engagement and / or contact area with the articles by positioning their respective drives on an upper section of the movement path. In such a parked position of the push elements, they can be easily moved out of the engagement area of ​​the conveyor drives and / or articles, for example, to perform machine maintenance or to gain unimpeded access to the conveyor equipment.

[0017] A further advantage of the grouping device and the method for grouping articles according to the invention is that no individual aisles are required for transporting the articles or containers. Instead, continuous conveyors can be used as conveying devices, allowing several articles or containers to be transported side by side in parallel and grouped together by means of the push elements. An advantage of such an arrangement is that a higher article throughput can be achieved with less drive and changeover effort during product changes, since the conveyor widths can be easily adapted to the respective customer programs. Due to the continuous width of the conveying devices, which can be formed in particular by mat conveyors or mat chains or continuous closed flexible belts, no width adjustments or modifications of aisle dividers, aisle plates, etc., are necessary.The same applies. Furthermore, bottom-mounted container dividers, such as so-called divider fingers, which would require individual narrow belts for their range of motion, are no longer necessary. In contrast, with the present invention, the conveying device and the push elements interacting with it perform the singulation process, making it easier and therefore more reliable to process even critical container shapes or sizes and containers with small corner radii.

[0018] The following exemplary embodiments of the invention and its advantages will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The relative sizes of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the actual relative sizes, as some shapes are simplified and others are enlarged for better illustration. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a multi-part transport route for the transport of articles or containers. Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the transport route according to Fig. 1 with a grouping unit for grouping the containers in pairs in the direction of transport. Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a variant design of a device for grouping articles or containers. Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective detail view of the device according to Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of the device according to Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic top view of the device according to Fig. 3 and Fig. 5. Fig. Figure 7 shows a perspective partial view of the device according to Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 8 shows a perspective detail view of the representation according to Fig. 7. Fig. Figure 9 shows a schematic side view of the representation according to Fig. 8. Fig. Figure 10 shows a schematic side view of the transport route according to Fig. 2 to illustrate a service mode of the grouping device.

[0019] Identical reference numerals are used for identical or equivalently functioning elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals necessary for describing the respective figure are shown in the individual figures. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the device or method according to the invention may be configured and do not constitute an exhaustive limitation.

[0020] The schematic side views of the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a multi-part transport section 10 for transporting articles or containers, as well as a grouping unit 12 for grouping the containers 14 in pairs in the transport direction 16. The transport section 10 is part of a device 8 for grouping articles or containers 14, as shown in the Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8 to Fig. 9 is explained in more detail. The transport section 10 comprises at least one first conveying device 18, which can, for example, form a horizontally conveying container inlet 20 of the device 8. The first conveying device 18 conveys the containers 14, which are closely spaced and / or directly adjacent to one another in the transport direction 16, at a first conveying velocity v. F1The first conveying device 18, or the container inlet 20, is immediately followed by a second conveying device 22, which can, for example, be formed by a horizontally conveying conveyor belt 24 in the device 8. The second conveying device 22, or the conveyor belt 24, conveys the containers 14 at a second conveying speed v. F2 promotes, which is greater than the first conveying velocity v F1 , the containers 14, which are initially spaced a short distance apart and / or directly adjacent to each other in the transport direction 16, are spaced apart from each other by a certain amount on the second conveying device 22, which is in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is labelled D1. As the schematic representation of the Fig. As can be seen from Figure 2, the grouping unit 12 comprises a retaining and / or sliding device 26 assigned to the second conveying unit 22, which serves to separate a defined number of articles or containers 14, forming larger gaps between successive groups of articles or containers 28. These gaps D2 between the now formed container groups 28, each consisting of two containers 14 pushed together, are larger than the gaps D1 between the individual containers 14 formed by the faster conveying second container belt 24 and are caused by the action of the retaining and / or sliding device 26 of the grouping unit 12.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, every second container 14, which is transported at the second conveying speed v F2On the second conveyor 22, the container is moved and pushed against the preceding container 14, thereby forming regularly spaced container groups 28, each consisting of two containers 14, on the second conveyor 22. Alternatively, the container groups 28 could also be formed by delaying one of the preceding containers 14, so that the following container 14 catches up with the preceding container 14, thus reducing their distance to approximately zero. If, in connection with the Fig. 1 and Fig. When reference is made to individual containers 14 or articles that are accelerated and / or decelerated and whose distances D1 and D2 are changed, this does not necessarily refer to individual rows of containers 14. In principle, several parallel rows can be moved, decelerated, accelerated and / or displaced relative to each other in the same way, as can be seen from the Fig. 3 ff. is illustrated using the example of three parallel rows of containers.

[0022] The grouping unit 12 associated with the second conveying device 22, including the retaining and / or sliding device 26, is formed by push elements 30 that engage transversely in the conveying flow of the containers 14, which are spaced apart from each other by the first distances D1 and each follow a predetermined closed circular path of movement 32. Each of the push elements 30 has a separate drive element 34, which, in conjunction with drive elements of the path of movement 32, enables different feed speeds of the push elements 30 along the path of movement 32.In the illustrated embodiment, the drive elements 34 of the individual push elements 30 are each formed by linear motor drives, which interact with corresponding drive elements in the path of motion 32 and thereby enable the largely decoupled movements of the individual push elements 30 to form the container groups 28 on the second conveying device 22. As the... Fig. As can be seen from Figure 2, the movement path 32 has a lower section 36 running parallel to the transport direction 16 and to the top of the second conveying device 22, in which the push elements 30 move parallel to the transport direction 16 at a feed rate v V3 to be moved, which is greater than the second conveying speed v F2the second conveying device 22, so that the respective lagging containers 14 of a group 28 can catch up to the leading containers of the group 28 by forming the increased distances D2 between successive container groups 28.

[0023] The upper section 38 of the movement path 32, in which the push elements 30 together with their driving drive elements 34 are returned in a direction opposite to the transport direction 16, can optionally also run parallel to the transport direction 16, but is spaced at least far enough above the conveying device 22 that the push elements 30 cannot under any circumstances come into contact with or collide with the containers 14. In the upper section 38, the push elements 30 can optionally travel at a return velocity v. R4 are returned, which can be significantly higher than the feed rate V V3, since there is no contact with the containers 14 and since the push elements 30 and their associated drive elements 34 can be moved at variable speeds and independently of each other. In this way, significantly fewer push elements 30 can be used than is the case with conventional grouping units with chain-driven single-section bars.

[0024] A curved section 40 of the movement path 32, on which the push elements 30 are guided from the upper section 38 to the lower section 36 and brought into engagement with the containers 14, slopes downwards, with the incline decreasing in the transport direction 16. The angle of the curved section 40 to the horizontal or to the transport direction 16 of the transport path 10 can vary, but should expediently be chosen to be relatively steep so that the elements can be engaged at a sufficiently high engagement speed v. E5The sliding elements 30 between the containers 14 do not interfere with their transport, so that the conveying speed v F2 The second conveying unit 22 is almost entirely unaffected by the grouping unit 12. The intervention speed v E5 can, for example, be approximately the return velocity v R4 correspond or may be slightly higher or lower.

[0025] As the schematic representations of the Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen from 2, the speeds of the drive elements 34 of the push elements 30 moving on the movement path 32 can be adjusted at any time to the current requirements, e.g. when forming very small gaps or when grouping different container sizes, which is easily made possible by adjusting the drive control for the push elements 30 and does not require any conversion effort.

[0026] As the schematic representations of the Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8 to Fig. As illustrated in Figure 9, the device 8 according to the invention for grouping articles or containers 14 and its transport path 10 can, for example, have a container inlet 20 with three or more parallel single-lane drives 42. This container inlet 20 forms the first transport device 18 according to Figure 9. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. On each of the individual lane drives 42 of the container inlet 20, an uninterrupted series of minimally spaced containers 14 is conveyed in the transport direction 16 to the second conveying device 22, which here is formed by a continuous container belt 24, e.g., a mat conveyor. Due to its higher conveying speed v F2 The containers in each of the three parallel rows are spaced apart from each other, as shown in Fig. 4 is clearly recognizable. In the area of ​​the container belt 24 of the second conveying device 22, the containers 14, thus spaced apart from each other, come into the engagement area of ​​the grouping unit 12 (cf. Fig. 5), which ensures the grouping of the containers 14 in the manner described.

[0027] As the top view of the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 6, the push elements 30 of the grouping unit 12 each comprise push rods or push beams 44 suspended on one side from the drive elements 34. These engage transversely in the rows of spaced-apart containers 14 moving along the transport direction 16 and, as required, advance or decelerate them relative to the transport speed of the container belt 24. The one-sided suspension of the push beams 44 of the push elements 30 on the drive elements 34 following the path of movement 32 is further illustrated by the perspective views of the Fig. 7 and the Fig. Figure 8 illustrates this.

[0028] The schematic side view of the Fig. Figure 9 clearly shows an exemplary progression of the interconnected and overlapping sections of the motion path 32. Thus, the motion path 32 encompasses the section already associated with the Fig. 2. Parallel lower and upper sections 36 and 38, which are connected by the front and rear curve sections 40 and 46, are described. The rear curve section 46, which moves the drive elements 34 with the guided push elements 30 or push beams 44 out of engagement with the grouped containers 14 and guides them to the upper section 38, where they are accelerated back to the front curve section 40, is arranged at an angle, like the front curve section 40, with the gradient in the transport direction 16 being greater than that of the front curve section 40, since the push elements 30 are to be moved out of engagement with the container groups 28 as quickly as possible.

[0029] As the Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8 to Fig. As can be seen from Figure 9, the grouping device 8 according to the invention requires a smaller number of push elements 30 or push beams 44 than conventional grouping devices operating with traction drives, since the push elements 30 or push beams 44 move at a significantly increased speed v during the return stroke 38. R4 can be moved so that there are fewer thrust elements 30 within this upper idle travel section 38 overall.

[0030] Another aspect of the invention will be demonstrated using the Fig.Figure 10 illustrates this. Here, a service or maintenance mode is indicated in which the drive elements 34, with the attached push elements 30 or push beams 44, are moved out of the engagement area with the containers and collected and grouped together in blocks in the upper section 38 of the movement path 32. This maintenance or service mode is easily implemented due to the individually driven drive elements 34 of the push elements 30, since each individual push element 30 can be moved individually and independently of the other push elements 30. The only limitation is the non-branching movement path 32, meaning that the push elements 30 and their drives 34 can be lined up next to each other, but their positions cannot be exchanged. In the service or maintenance mode shown, both the containers 14 and the components of the transport track 10 can be accessed without the push elements 30 interfering.

[0031] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable to a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes to the invention can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims. Reference symbol list 8 Device 10 Transport route 12 Group unit 14 items, containers 16. Direction of transport or conveying direction 18 first funding institution 20 Container inlet 22 second funding institution 24 Container belt 26 Restraint and / or sliding device 28 Item or container group 30 shear elements 32 Movement path 34 drive elements 36 lower section 38 upper section 40 front curve section 42 individual lane drives 44 push rods or push beams 46 rear section of the curve D1 distance D2 increased distance v F1 first conveying speed v F2 second conveying speed v V3 feed rate v R4 Return speed V E5 Intervention speed

Claims

[1] Device (8) for grouping articles (14), comprising a first conveying device (18) and a second conveying device (22) downstream of it and moving faster than the first conveying device (18), and comprising a retaining and / or sliding device (26) associated with the second conveying device (22) for separating a defined number of articles (14) by forming a gap between successive groups of articles (28) and by delaying the separated group of articles (28) relative to the preceding group or by accelerating the separated group of articles (28) relative to the following group of articles (28), wherein the retaining and / or sliding device (26) associated with the second conveying device (22) is formed by sliding elements (30) engaging transversely in the conveying flow, which follow a predetermined closed circular path of movement (32), characterized by, that several thrust elements (30) each have separate drive elements (34) to realize different feed rates (v) V3 ) of the thrust elements (30) along the path of motion (32), wherein a maintenance or service mode is provided in which at least some thrust elements (30) can be moved out of an engagement and / or contact area with the articles (14) by positioning their respective drives on an upper section (38) of the path of motion (32). [2] Device according to claim 1, in which separate drive elements (34) are provided for each individual push element (30), each being formed by linear motor drives. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movement path (32) for the drives of the push elements (30) lies in an approximately vertical plane, the surface of which is arranged parallel to the conveying direction (16) of the first and / or second conveying device (18,22). [4] Device according to claim 3, wherein the linear motor drives of the push elements (30) are assigned to and follow the path of motion (32), wherein the push elements (30) extending horizontally into the conveying area of ​​the second conveying device (22) and engaging between the articles (14) are each suspended on one side by the drives and project approximately perpendicularly from the plane in which the path of motion (32) lies. [5] Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the linear motor drives of the thrust elements (30) are each assigned a device for detecting resistance forces during the advance and / or deceleration of the article groups (28). [6] Method for grouping articles(14) in which they are grouped by means of a method that moves at a first velocity (v F1) moving first conveying device (18) in an uninterrupted series or several parallel uninterrupted series to a moving at a second velocity (v F2 ) moving second conveying device (22) and spaced apart from each other in the conveying direction (16) there, wherein in the area of ​​the second conveying device (22) groups (28) of articles (14) are formed by pushing or delaying individual articles (14) by means of push elements (30) engaging transversely in the conveying flow, which follow a predetermined closed circular movement path (32), characterized by, that several thrust elements (30) are moved at different speeds and independently of each other on the motion path (32), each thrust element (30) having a separate linear motor drive, and wherein a maintenance or service mode is provided in which at least some thrust elements (30) are moved out of an engagement and / or contact area with the articles (14) by positioning their respective drives on an upper section (38) of the motion path (32). [7] Method according to claim 6, wherein the drives each follow the path of motion (32) at individual and / or varying speeds. [8] Method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the resistance forces acting on the linear motor drives of the push elements (30) via the push elements (30) are detected during the feed and / or deceleration of the article groups (28) and evaluated to detect an operating state of the grouping method and / or errors in the grouping. [9] Method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a return velocity (v R4 ) of the drives, in which these are returned to the beginning of the engagement area with the articles (14) for grouping against the conveying direction (16) of the first and / or second conveying devices (18, 22) on an upper section of the movement path (32) is greater than a feed rate (v V3), in which the drives move parallel to the conveying direction (16) of the first and / or second conveying devices (18,22) in the engagement area with the articles (14) for article grouping on a lower section (36) of the movement path (32).

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