Method and apparatus for conveying flat products

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (10) for conveying at least flat products, in particular potato crisps, A and B, wherein, by means of the apparatus, an input conveyor line (19) with the flat products A and an input conveyor line (20) with the flat products B are combined to form an output conveyor line (25) with the products A and B, wherein, in the input conveyor line with the products A, the products A are arranged in spaced-apart product groups (21) with the products A, wherein, preferably in the input conveyor line with the products B, the products B are arranged in spaced-apart product groups (22) with the products B, wherein the input conveyor line with the products A and the input conveyor line with the products B are combined to form the output conveyor line with the products A and B in such a manner that, in the output conveyor line with the products A and B, the products B, preferably the product groups with the products B, are arranged between the product groups with the products A.

Description

[0001] July 23, 2025

[0002] Hastamat Verpackungstechnik GmbH + Co. KG G / HAS-023-WO 35633 Lahnau Scu / Bmu

[0003] Method and apparatus for conveying flat products

[0004] The invention relates to a method and a device for conveying at least flat products, in particular potato chips, A and B, wherein an input conveyor line with products A and an input conveyor line with products B are combined to form an output conveyor line with products A and B.

[0005] Methods for conveying flat products are used particularly in the filling or packaging of industrially manufactured flat products, with the portioned packaging of potato chips following their production serving as an example.

[0006] In the conventional industrial systems used here, the potato chips are conveyed from a frying station to packaging stations along a multitude of parallel product conveyor lines. Each conveyor line carries the flat products from the frying station to a packaging station along a single conveyor lane. In such systems, the packaging output—that is, the number of flat products that can be filled or packaged within a given time at the packaging station assigned to each conveyor lane—is determined by the conveying speed or cycle time at which the flat products move from the frying station to the conveyor lane. However, the packaging output of the packaging stations, determined by the cycle time, is generally significantly lower than the potential output of the packaging stations themselves.

[0007] Furthermore, the individual assignment of a packaging station to each conveyor lane necessitates a high level of equipment effort, which leads to correspondingly high costs for the overall system.

[0008] Finally, the design of conventional systems, in which each conveyor lane leading from the frying station is assigned an individual packaging station, results in an enormous space requirement for the installation of the systems, combined with correspondingly high costs for the buildings housing the systems.

[0009] From WO 2023 / 1561 19 Al, a method and a device for conveying flat products, in particular potato chips, A and B, along a product conveying line are known, wherein an input conveying line with products A and an input conveying line with products B are combined into an output conveying line with products A and B by means of a conveying line merging device. In the input conveying line with products A, the products A form a caterpillar of products A arranged in a shingled relative arrangement, and in the input conveying line with products B, the products B form a caterpillar of products B arranged in a shingled relative arrangement. Furthermore, in the output conveying line with products A and B, the products A and B form a caterpillar of products A and B arranged in a shingled relative arrangement.Therefore, two continuous input conveyors are combined to form the continuous output conveyor, whereby the combination of the input conveyors is carried out in such a way that the products A and B, which are conveyed side by side in a row arrangement in the input conveyors with a feed movement towards the conveyor merging device, are aligned against each other in the conveyor merging device by a first rotation superimposed on the feed movement along converging feed axes of the products A and B and are subsequently transformed into an overlapping arrangement of products A and B by a second rotation in the opposite direction to the first rotation.In practice, it has been shown that this type of joining regularly leads to product entanglement, particularly during twisting, especially with products that have a rough surface structure and / or an irregular, particularly roughened, edge contour. This hinders the production of the desired overlapping arrangement. The risk of such entanglement can be caused, for example, by an irregular surface structure of potato chips that have spice particles on the surface and / or the circumferential edge. Such entanglement regularly results in operational disruptions that must be rectified by manual intervention from a machine operator, consequently increasing operating costs.

[0010] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of proposing a method and a device for conveying flat products, in particular potato chips, which leads to a reduction in plant costs as well as the construction and operating costs associated with the installation and operation of corresponding plants.

[0011] To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 or a device according to claim 7 is proposed.

[0012] In the inventive method for conveying at least flat products, in particular potato chips, A and B by means of a device, an input conveyor line with products A and an input conveyor line with products B are combined by means of the device to form an output conveyor line with products A and B, wherein in the input conveyor line with products A the products A are arranged in spaced-apart product groups with products A, wherein preferably in the input conveyor line with products B the products B are arranged in spaced-apart product groups with products B, wherein the input conveyor line with products A and the input conveyor line with products B are combined to form the output conveyor line with products A and B, such that in the output conveyor line with products A and B the products B, preferably the product groups with products B,are arranged between the product groups containing products A.

[0013] Products A and B can each be potato chips. Products A and B can each be disc-shaped.

[0014] Using the method according to the invention, two independent conveyor lines can be combined into a single conveyor line, so that for products A and B, which were originally conveyed in separate conveyor lines, only one common packaging station downstream of the output conveyor line is required. This results in a significant reduction in equipment complexity, since the number of output conveyor lines can be reduced to half the number of input conveyor lines, and with a doubling of the packaging capacity of each packaging station, only half the number of packaging stations are needed to operate the system.

[0015] The resulting positive effect in terms of reducing plant costs and the building costs associated with the construction and operation of the plant is naturally greater the more conveyor lines are planned between a frying station and a packaging station. For example, in a plant with 24 conveyor lines originating from the frying station, the method of combining two conveyor lines from the frying station into one output conveyor line reduces this to 12 conveyor lines, each of which is assigned to a packaging station.

[0016] The merging of the input conveyor line with products A and the input conveyor line with products B to form the output conveyor line with products A and B can be achieved by means of a merging device of the apparatus.

[0017] At least in the input conveyor line containing products A, the products A are arranged in spaced-apart product groups, such that gaps are formed between the product groups. A gap is formed between each pair of adjacent product groups containing products A. Each product group containing products A can contain multiple products A. A product group containing products A is understood to be a bundle or package of products A. To combine the input conveyor line containing products A and the input conveyor line containing products B into the output conveyor line containing products A and B, the products B can be arranged or positioned in the gaps formed between the product groups containing products A.Because at least the infeed conveyor containing products A is discontinuous, entanglement of products A and B can be avoided, particularly since no rotations are required, as in the prior art. Operational disruptions can thus be prevented, thereby reducing operating costs. Preferably, in the infeed conveyor containing products B, the products B are arranged in spaced product groups. Each product group containing products B can comprise a plurality of products B. A product group containing products B is understood to be a bundle or package of products B.To combine the input conveyor line with products A and the input conveyor line with products B into the output conveyor line with products A and B, the product groups containing products B can be arranged or positioned in the gaps formed between the product groups containing products A. Because both the input conveyor line with products A and the input conveyor line with products B are discontinuous, entanglement of products A and B can be even more reliably prevented. Furthermore, the products B, as separate product groups, can be positioned particularly easily in the gaps formed between the product groups containing products A. Depending on the size of the gaps formed between the product groups containing products A and, if applicable, the number of products B in the product groups containing products B, a corresponding number of products B or products B can be placed in the respective product groups.The number of product groups containing products B is determined by the number of spaces formed between the product groups containing products A. Preferably, exactly one product group containing products B is placed in each space formed between the product groups containing products A. The output conveyor containing products A and B can be fed to a packaging station, by which portions separated from the output conveyor containing products A and B can be packaged in a package containing products A and B.

[0018] In the process according to the invention, at least one input conveyor line containing products A and one input conveyor line containing products B are combined to form at least one output conveyor line containing products A and B, wherein, at least in the input conveyor line containing products A, the products A are arranged in spaced-apart product groups. The output conveyor line containing products A and B can contain exclusively products A and B. If more than two input conveyor lines are combined to form the output conveyor line, the output conveyor line can contain, in addition to products A and B, flat products from at least one further input conveyor line.For example, an input conveyor line with products A, an input conveyor line with products B, and an input conveyor line with products C can be combined to form an output conveyor line with products A, B, and C, wherein, at least in the input conveyor line with products A, the products A can be arranged in spaced-apart product groups. Furthermore, the method according to the invention does not require that all products B of the input conveyor line subsequently reappear in the output conveyor line with products A and B.For example, an input conveyor containing products A, an input conveyor containing products B, and an input conveyor containing products C can be combined into an output conveyor containing products A and B, and an output conveyor containing products C and B, whereby in the input conveyor containing products A, the products A can be arranged in spaced-apart groups, and in the input conveyor containing products C, the products C can be arranged in spaced-apart groups. In this case, products B can therefore be present in both the output conveyor containing products A and B and the output conveyor containing products C and B.

[0019] Advantageously, in the initial conveyor line containing products A and B, products A and B can form a caterpillar of products A and B arranged in a staggered relative arrangement. The initial conveyor line with the caterpillar-forming products A and B is then continuous. In the product groups containing products A, the products A can be arranged in a staggered relative arrangement. Furthermore, in the product groups containing products B, the products B can be arranged in a staggered relative arrangement. A staggered relative arrangement is understood to mean an overlapping arrangement.

[0020] Advantageously, the device can be used to form the input conveyor with products A from a conveyor string containing products A, in which the products A can form a caterpillar of products A arranged in a shingled relative arrangement, preferably by successive separation of end sections of the conveyor string containing products A, which after separation form the product groups with products A, from the conveyor string containing products A, wherein the device can preferably be used to form the input conveyor with products B from a conveyor string containing products B, in which the products B can form a caterpillar of products B arranged in a shingled relative arrangement, preferably by successive separation of end sections of the conveyor string containing products B, which after separation form the product groups with products B, from the conveyor string containing products B.The device can be used to create a discontinuous input conveyor containing products A and B by singulating or separating them from the continuous conveyor containing products A and B, respectively. This singulation can be achieved using a singulation unit within the device. Subsequently, the input conveyor containing products A and B, formed from the conveyor containing products A, and the input conveyor containing products B, formed from the conveyor containing products B, can be combined to form the output conveyor containing products A and B. The input conveyor containing products A and B can comprise one or more product groups. This merging can also occur immediately after singulation.The end sections of the conveyor string containing products A can be separated from the conveyor string containing products A by ensuring that the conveying speed of the conveyor string containing products A is higher in a region of the end sections or of the respective end section of the conveyor string containing products A than in a region of remaining sections or of a respective remaining section of the conveyor string containing products A, wherein preferably the end sections of the conveyor string containing products B can be separated from the conveyor string containing products B by ensuring that the conveying speed of the conveyor string containing products B is higher in a region of the end sections or of the respective end section of products B than in a region of remaining sections or of a respective remaining section of the conveyor string containing products B.The products A can be conveyed by means of a first conveying device and a second conveying device arranged downstream of the first conveying device in one conveying direction, wherein the second conveying device can have a higher conveying speed than the first conveying device, at least temporarily. The first conveying device can be used to convey the conveying line containing the products A, and the second conveying device can be used to convey the input conveying line containing the products A.When the conveyor string containing products A, conveyed by the first conveyor, reaches the second conveyor with an end section, this end section can be conveyed temporarily at a higher speed than the rest of the conveyor string. As a result, the end section can be separated from the rest of the conveyor string. The conveying speed of the second conveyor can be temporarily increased relative to the speed of the first conveyor. Alternatively, the conveying speed of the first conveyor can be temporarily decreased relative to the speed of the second conveyor. In particular, the first conveyor can be temporarily stopped.Similarly, the products B can be conveyed by means of a first conveying device and a second conveying device arranged downstream of the first conveying device in one conveying direction, wherein the second conveying device can have a higher conveying speed than the first conveying device, at least temporarily. The first conveying device can be used to convey the conveying line containing the products B, and the second conveying device can be used to convey the input conveying line containing the products B.When the conveyor string containing products B, conveyed by the first conveyor, reaches the second conveyor with an end section, this end section can be conveyed temporarily at a higher speed than the rest of the conveyor string. As a result, the end section can separate from the rest of the conveyor string. The conveying speed of the second conveyor can be temporarily increased relative to the speed of the first conveyor. Alternatively, the conveying speed of the first conveyor can be temporarily decreased relative to the speed of the second conveyor.It is also conceivable that products A and B are conveyed together by means of such a first conveying device and such a second conveying device. The first conveying device for products A and B, respectively, and / or the second conveying device for products A and B, respectively, can be designed with a conveyor belt, with transport devices, or as a vibratory conveyor. In the case of transport devices, the respective transport devices can be moved in the conveying direction by means of the first or second conveying device. The transport devices can be designed as containers or plates. The transport devices can serve as a shuttle. The transport devices can be controlled and designed in such a way that one or more transport devices can be used together as a transport surface for products A and B, in particular the product groups containing products A and B. The transport devices of the first conveying device or the second conveying device can be used together as a transport surface for products A and B, in particular for product groups containing products A and B.The second conveying unit for products A and B, respectively, can be independently displaceable transversely to the conveying direction. The device can comprise the first conveying unit for products A and B, respectively, and the second conveying unit for products A and B, respectively. The first conveying unit for products A and B, respectively, and the second conveying unit for products A and B, respectively, can form the singulation unit.

[0021] Alternatively, the end sections of the conveyor string containing products A can be separated from the conveyor string containing products A by translating and / or rotating the end sections or the respective end section of the conveyor string containing products A relative to the conveyor string containing products A or remaining sections or a respective remaining section of the conveyor string containing products A, wherein preferably the end sections of the conveyor string containing products B can be separated from the conveyor string containing products B by translating and / or rotating the end sections or the respective end section of the conveyor string containing products B relative to the conveyor string containing products B or remaining sections or a respective remaining section of the conveyor string containing products B.Translation and / or rotation can be performed using a manipulator device. The manipulator device can mechanically separate an end section of the conveyor string containing products A or B from the conveyor string containing products A or B. The manipulator device can also simultaneously form several product groups from products A or B from the conveyor string containing products A or B. The manipulator device can have at least one receiving section for receiving an end section of the conveyor string containing products A or B. After the end section of the conveyor string containing products A or B has entered the receiving section by conveying the conveyor string containing products A or B, the manipulator device can perform a translational and / or rotational movement to separate the end section of the conveyor string containing products A or B from the conveyor string containing products A or B.B to separate. Subsequently, the end section of the conveyor string containing products A or B can be conveyed out of the receiving section. For example, the manipulator device can be designed to rotate or pivot about a rotation axis running horizontally or transversely to a conveying direction, or about a vertical rotation axis. The manipulator device can be positioned between a conveying device for conveying the conveyor string containing products A or B and a conveying device for conveying the input conveyor string containing products A or B. After the end section of the conveyor string containing products A or B has entered the receiving section by conveying the conveyor string containing products A or B via the conveying device, the end section of the conveyor string containing products A or B can be separated by rotating the manipulator device by 180°.Product B is then separated from the conveyor string containing products A or B and transferred to the conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor string containing products A or B. Subsequently, the end section of the conveyor string containing products A or B can be conveyed out of the receiving section by means of the conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor string containing products A or B. The manipulator device can alternatively be inserted from above, below, or laterally between two products A or B in the conveyor string containing products A or B. The manipulator device can be designed with a separating element, for example, plate-shaped or wedge-shaped, which can be inserted between the two products A or B. Subsequently, the manipulator device can separate the end section of the conveyor string containing products A or B from the conveyor string containing products A or B.B. perform a translational movement in the conveying direction, preferably at a higher speed than the conveying speed. The device may include the manipulator unit. The manipulator unit may form the singulation unit.

[0022] Alternatively, the end sections of the conveyor string containing products A can be separated from the conveyor string containing products A by alternately conveying the products A at the end of the conveyor string containing products A via a first conveyor section for products A and a second conveyor section for products A of different lengths at the same conveying speed or of the same lengths at different conveying speeds, and subsequently combining them to form the incoming conveyor string containing products A, wherein preferably the end sections of the conveyor string containing products B can be separated from the conveyor string containing products B by this means.that the products B at the end of the conveyor line can be conveyed alternately via a first conveyor section for products B and a second conveyor section for products B of different lengths at the same conveying speed, or of the same lengths at different conveying speeds, and subsequently merged with the products B to form the incoming conveyor line. Accordingly, products A and B can be conveyed at the same conveying speed via the first conveyor section for products A and B, respectively, and the second conveyor section for products A and B, respectively, where the first conveyor section for products A and B has a different length than the second conveyor section for products A and B. Alternatively, products A and B can be conveyed at a different conveying speed via the first conveyor section for products A and B, respectively, than via the second conveyor section for products A and B, respectively.wherein the first conveyor section for products A and B has the same length as the second conveyor section for products A and B. The temporary division of products A and B between the first and second conveyor sections, and the subsequent merging of products A and B, can each be accomplished by means of a diverter. The device can comprise the diverters, or the first and second conveyor sections. The diverters, or the first and second conveyor sections, can form the singulation device.

[0023] Further advantageous embodiments of the method result from the feature descriptions of the dependent claims relating to device claim 7.

[0024] The device according to the invention for conveying at least flat products, in particular potato chips, A and B, comprises an input conveyor with products A and an input conveyor with products B that can be combined to form an output conveyor with products A and B, wherein in the input conveyor with products A the products A are arranged in product groups spaced apart from one another, and preferably in the input conveyor with products B the products B are arranged in product groups spaced apart from one another, wherein the input conveyor with products A and the input conveyor with products B can be combined to form the output conveyor with products A and B, such that in the output conveyor with products A and B the products B, preferably the product groups with products B, are arranged between the product groups with products A.For the advantageous effects of the device according to the invention, reference is made to the description of advantages of the method according to the invention.

[0025] The method according to the invention can be carried out using the device according to the invention.

[0026] Advantageously, the device can comprise a conveying track for conveying products A or the input conveyor containing products A, a conveying track for conveying products B or the input conveyor containing products B, and a conveying track for conveying products A and B or the output conveyor containing products A and B. The conveying track for the input conveyor containing products A, the conveying track for the input conveyor containing products B, and the conveying track for the output conveyor containing products A and B can each be configured as a channel. Products A and B, or A and B, can be conveyed, at least partially, by means of vibratory conveying.The device can include at least one conveying device for conveying the input conveyor containing products A, at least one conveying device for conveying the input conveyor containing products B, and at least one conveying device for conveying the input conveyor containing products A and B. Alternatively, the device can include at least one conveying device for conveying the input conveyor containing products A and products B together, and at least one conveying device for conveying the output conveyor containing products A and B. A further alternative is that the device can include at least one conveying device for conveying the input conveyor containing products A and products B together, and at least one conveying device for conveying the input conveyor containing products B.Alternatively, the device can include at least one conveying unit for the combined conveying of the input conveyor line with products A, the input conveyor line with products B, and the output conveyor line with products A and B. In principle, the respective conveying track can be formed by the respective conveying unit, in particular by a respective conveyor belt or transport means of the respective conveying unit. The device can include a conveying track for conveying the conveyor line with products A or B. Furthermore, the device can include at least one conveying unit for conveying the conveyor line with products A or B.

[0027] The conveyor track for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products A, the conveyor track for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products B, and the conveyor track for conveying the outgoing conveyor line with products A and B, and, if applicable, the conveyor track for conveying the conveyor line with products A or B, can be components of a product conveying line. The device can comprise a plurality of such product conveying lines. By means of the device, in each product conveying line, a respective incoming conveyor line with products A and a respective incoming conveyor line with products B can be combined in a corresponding manner to form a respective outgoing conveyor line with products A and B.

[0028] The conveyor track for conveying the input conveyor line with products A can transition into the conveyor track for conveying the output conveyor line with products A and B. This is particularly possible if the device includes a conveying unit for the combined conveying of the input conveyor line with products A and the output conveyor line with products A and B.

[0029] The conveyor track for conveying the input conveyor with products A and the conveyor track for conveying the input conveyor with products B can be merged in such a way that the input conveyor with products A and the input conveyor with products B can be combined to form the output conveyor with products A and B, particularly at least as a result of their conveying. For example, the conveyor track for conveying the input conveyor with products A and the conveyor track for conveying the input conveyor with products B can be merged via a diverter. Alternatively, the conveyor track for conveying the input conveyor with products B can end above the conveyor track for conveying the input conveyor with products A, such that the products B, preferably the product groups containing products B, can be combined to form the output conveyor with products A and B, particularly as a result of a diverter.Product groups containing products B can be arranged by gravity, falling onto the conveyor track for conveying the incoming conveyor line containing products A, in the gaps formed between the product groups containing products A. A merging area of ​​the conveyor track for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products A and the conveyor track for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products B can form the merging device.

[0030] The device can include at least one product lifting device by means of which the products B, preferably the product groups containing products B, can be arranged in gaps formed between the product groups containing products A, such that the incoming conveyor line with products A and the incoming conveyor line with products B can be combined to form the outgoing conveyor line with products A and B. The product lifting device can be designed as a gripper. A plurality of product lifting devices or grippers can be provided.Using the product lifting device, products B, preferably product groups containing products B, can be lifted from the conveyor track for conveying the incoming conveyor line containing products B and placed in the gaps formed between the product groups containing products A on the conveyor track that transitions into the conveyor track for conveying the outgoing conveyor line containing products A and B. In particular, the product lifting device can be used to pick up products B, especially at the end of the incoming conveyor line containing products B, from the incoming conveyor line containing products B, forming product groups. The incoming conveyor line containing products B can therefore be continuous.If the products B in the incoming conveyor line are arranged in product groups spaced apart from each other, and the incoming conveyor line is therefore discontinuous, the products B or product groups can be picked up particularly easily using the product lifting device. The product lifting device can also serve as the merging device.

[0031] Alternatively, the device can include a conveying device for at least partially conveying the incoming conveyor line with products A or the product groups consisting of products A, and a conveying device arranged parallel to the conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products A for at least partially conveying the incoming conveyor line with products B or B.the product groups consisting of products B and a conveying device arranged in series with the conveying device for conveying the input conveying line with products A and the conveying device for conveying the input conveying line with products B for conveying the output conveying line with products A and B, wherein the conveying device for conveying the input conveying line with products A and the conveying device for conveying the input conveying line with products B can be controlled, such that the input conveying line with products A and the input conveying line with products B can be combined to form the output conveying line with products A and B.The conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products A, the conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products B, and the conveying device for conveying the outgoing conveyor line with products A and B can each be equipped with a conveyor belt. The conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products A and the conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products B can be controlled alternately, such that a product group consisting of products A and products B, preferably a product group consisting of products B, is alternately conveyed by the conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products A or the conveyor belt of the conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products A or the conveying device for conveying the incoming conveyor line with products B, respectively.The conveyor belt of the conveying system for conveying the input conveyor line with products B to the conveying system for conveying the output conveyor line with products A and B, or onto the conveyor belt of the conveying system for conveying the output conveyor line with products A and B. The width of the conveyor belt of the conveying system for conveying the output conveyor line with products A and B can be at least equal to the sum of the width of the conveyor belt of the conveying system for conveying the input conveyor line with products A and the width of the conveyor belt of the conveying system for conveying the input conveyor line with products B.The conveying device for conveying the output conveyor line containing products A and B can include a guide device to merge the product groups containing products A and B, preferably the product groups containing products B, which are alternately conveyed onto the conveyor belt of the outgoing conveyor line containing products A and B, onto a single conveyor track on the conveyor belt of the outgoing conveyor line containing products A and B. A system comprising the conveying device for conveying the input conveyor line containing products A, the conveying device for conveying the input conveyor line containing products B, and the conveying device for conveying the output conveyor line containing products A and B can be configured as a line combiner. The conveying device for conveying the input conveyor line containing products A and B, respectively, can be configured as a line combiner.B can be the second conveying unit for conveying the input conveying unit with products A or B, arranged downstream of the first conveying unit for conveying the conveyor line with products A or B, or it can be provided in addition to it. The system can form the merging unit.

[0032] Alternatively, the device can include a product guidance device, preferably movable, by means of which the input conveyor line with products A and the input conveyor line with products B can be combined to form the output conveyor line with products A and B. The product guidance device can include at least one movable or pivotable guide or a movable slide. By means of the product guidance device, the guide, or the slide, the products B, preferably the product groups containing products B, can be directed, guided, or pushed from the conveyor track for conveying the input conveyor line with products B onto the conveyor track that transitions into the conveyor track for conveying the output conveyor line with products A and into the gaps formed between the product groups containing products A.The product control unit can train the merging unit.

[0033] Alternatively, the device can comprise at least one conveying system with transport means, wherein the transport means can be moved in a conveying direction by means of the conveying system, and wherein the transport means can be controlled and designed such that one or more transport means can be used together as a transport surface for products A and / or B or product groups containing products A and / or product groups containing products B. At least two transport means can be arranged side by side on the conveying system. Accordingly, the conveying system can form a conveying track for products A and a conveying track for products B that can be formed next to the conveying track for products A. The conveying system can guide the transport means along a curve, wherein the products A and / or B or product groups containing products B can be used together as a transport surface for products A and / or product groups containing products B.The product groups containing products A and / or product groups containing products B can be transported on the transport surface in the conveying direction on an upper side of the conveying device, and the transport means can be returned on an underside of the conveying device in the opposite direction of conveying in order to pick up further products A or B or product groups containing products A or product groups containing products B.

[0034] Advantageously, the transport means can be displaced independently of one another transversely to the conveying direction, whereby by displacing the transport means, the input conveyor line with products A and the input conveyor line with products B can be combined into the output conveyor line with products A and B. For displacing the transport means, the conveying device can have a linear motor, preferably individually controllable linear motor strings. The transport means can be attached to guide elements of the conveying device, in particular pipes or rods, and be displaceable along these. The guide elements, in turn, can be attached to a conveying element of the conveying device, for example, conveyor chains. The conveying device can be designed in the form of a line distributor, in particular a reverse-operated one.The conveying device can be the second conveying device for conveying the input conveying line with products A or B, arranged downstream of the first conveying device for conveying the conveying line with products A or B, or it can be provided in addition to the first conveying device. The conveying device with the transport means can form the merging device. Further advantageous embodiments of the device are described in the features of the dependent claims referring back to claim 1 of the method.

[0035] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0036] They show:

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a top view of a device for conveying flat products;

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a manipulator device from one side;

[0039] Fig. 3 shows a top view of a singulation device comprising a first conveying section and a second conveying section;

[0040] Fig. 4 shows a top view of a merging device equipped with three conveying devices;

[0041] Fig. 5 shows a top view of a product guidance system;

[0042] Fig. 6 shows a top view of a conveyor system with transport means.

[0043] Fig. 1 schematically shows a device 10 for conveying flat products A and B. The device 10 comprises a first conveying unit 13 or 14, shown only partially here, for conveying a conveyor line 15 or 16 containing products A or B, respectively, and a second conveying unit 17 or 18, shown only partially here, for conveying an input conveyor line 19 or 20 containing products A or B. In the conveyor line 15 or 16 containing products A or B, the products A or B form a caterpillar of products A or B arranged in a staggered relative arrangement. In the input conveyor line 19 or 20 containing products A or B, the products A or B are arranged in spaced-apart product groups 21 or 22 containing products A or B. In product groups 21 and 22, with products A and B respectively, products A and B formB a caterpillar of products A and B arranged in a scaled relative arrangement. The formation of the input conveyor 19 and 20 with products A and B from the conveyor 13 and 14 with products A and B is achieved by temporarily conveying a respective end section of the conveyor 13 and 14 with products A and B at a higher conveying speed than the respective remaining section of the conveyor 13 and 14 with products A and B at or after a transition from the first conveying unit 13 and 14 to the second conveying unit 17 and 18, by temporarily operating the second conveying unit 17 and 18 at a higher conveying speed than the first conveying unit 13 and 14.The device 10 further comprises a product lifting device 23, by means of which the product groups 22 with products B can be positioned in gaps 24 formed between the product groups 21 with products A, such that the incoming conveyor line 19 with products A and the incoming conveyor line 20 with products B can be combined to form an outgoing conveyor line 25 with products A and B, shown here only in section, in which products A and B form a caterpillar of products A and B arranged in a staggered relative arrangement. The second conveying device 17 also serves to convey the outgoing conveyor line 25 with products A and B.

[0044] Fig. 2 schematically shows a manipulator device 28 rotatable about an axis of rotation 26, which runs transversely to a conveying direction marked by an arrow 27 and horizontally. The manipulator device 28 is arranged between a conveying device 29 (shown here only partially) for conveying a continuous conveyor line 30 containing flat products A and B (shown here only partially) and a conveying device 31 (shown here only partially) for conveying an input conveyor line 32 containing products A and B (shown here only partially). After an end section 33 of the conveyor line 30 containing products A and B has been conveyed by the conveying device 29, the manipulator device 28 is arranged between the conveyor device 29 for conveying the conveyor line 30 containing products A and B.Once product B has entered one of two receiving sections 34 of the manipulator device 28, the end section 33 of the conveyor string 30 containing products A or B is separated from the conveyor string 30 containing products A or B by a rotation of the manipulator device 28 by 180° and conveyed to the conveying device 3 1 for conveying the input conveyor string 32 containing products A or B, whereby the end section 33 of the conveyor string 30 containing products A or B, forming a product group 35 with products A or B, subsequently emerges from the receiving section 34 by means of the conveying device 3 1 for conveying the input conveyor string 32 containing products A or B.

[0045] Figure 3 schematically shows a first conveying section 36 and a second conveying section 37, which connect a conveying track 38 (shown only partially here) for conveying a continuous conveyor line 39 (shown only partially here) with flat products A and B, respectively, to a conveying track 40 (shown only partially here) for conveying an input conveyor line 41 (shown only partially here) with products A and B, respectively, via diverters 42 and 43. The second conveying section 37 is longer than the first conveying section 36. The products A and B at the end of the conveyor line 39 are conveyed alternately via the first conveying section 36 and the second conveying section 37 at the same conveying speed and subsequently merged to form the input conveyor line 41 with products A and B. In the input conveyor line 41, the products A and B...B therefore spatially separated product groups 44 with products A and B respectively .

[0046] Fig. 4 schematically shows a conveying device 45 (shown here only in sections) for conveying at least part of an input conveyor 46 (shown here only in sections) with flat products A; a conveying device 47 (shown here only in sections) arranged parallel to the conveying device 45 for conveying the input conveyor 46 with products A for conveying at least part of an input conveyor 48 (shown here only in sections); and a conveying device 49 (shown here only in sections) arranged in series with the conveying device 45 for conveying the input conveyor 46 with products A and with the conveying device 47 for conveying the input conveyor 48 with products B for conveying an output conveyor 50 (shown here only in sections) with products A and B.wherein the conveying device 45 for conveying the infeed conveyor 46 with products A and the conveying device 47 for conveying the infeed conveyor 48 with products B can be controlled such that the infeed conveyor 46 with products A and the infeed conveyor 48 with products B can be combined to form the outfeed conveyor 50 with products A and B. The conveying device 49 for conveying the outfeed conveyor 50 with products A and B comprises a guide device 51 ,to alternately combine product groups 53 containing products A and product groups 54 containing products B, conveyed onto a conveyor belt 52 of the conveying device 49 (shown here only partially) for conveying the output conveyor 50 containing products A and B, onto a conveyor track 55 on the conveyor belt 52 of the conveying device 49 (shown here only partially). Fig. 5 schematically shows a product guiding device 57 formed with a slide that can be moved along the direction of an arrow 56, by means of which product groups 58 containing flat products B of an input conveyor (not shown here) containing products B can be moved into gaps 60 formed between product groups 59 containing flat products A of an input conveyor (not shown here).to combine the input conveyor line with products A and the input conveyor line with products B into an output conveyor line 61 with products A and B, which is only shown here in sections.

[0047] Fig. 6 schematically shows a conveying device 62 with transport means 63, wherein the transport means 63 can be moved by means of the conveying device 62 in a conveying direction marked by an arrow 64, wherein the transport means 63 can be controlled and designed such that one or more transport means 63 can be used together as a conveying surface 65 for product groups 66 with flat products A and / or product groups 67 with flat products B, wherein the transport means 63 can be moved independently of one another transversely to the conveying direction along directions of an arrow 68, wherein by means of a movement of the transport means 63 an input conveying line with the products A and an input conveying line with the products B, which is not shown here, can be combined to form an output conveying line with the products A and B, which is not shown here.The transport means 63 are attached to guide elements 69 of the conveying device 62 and are movable along these. Feeding the incoming conveyor lines to the conveying device 62 and discharging the outgoing conveyor line from the conveying device 62 can each be accomplished by means of a separate conveying device.

[0048] The features shown in Figures 1 to 6 can be combined in any meaningful way.

Claims

July 23, 2025 Hastamat Verpackungstechnik GmbH + Co. KG G / HAS-023-WO 35633 Lahnau Scu / Bmu Patent claims 1. A method for conveying at least flat products, in particular potato chips, A and B by means of a device (10), wherein by means of the device an input conveyor (19, 32, 41, 46) with the flat products A and an input conveyor (20, 32, 41, 48) with the flat products B are combined to form an output conveyor (25, 50, 61) with the products A and B, characterized in that in the input conveyor with the products A the products A are arranged in spaced-apart product groups (21, 35, 44, 53, 59, 66) with the products A, wherein preferably in the input conveyor with the products B the products B are arranged in spaced-apart product groups (22, 35, 44, 54, 58, 67) with the products B, wherein the input conveyor with the products A and the input conveyor with the products B are combined to form the output conveyor with products A and B are combined in such a way,that in the output conveyor line containing products A and B, the products B, preferably the product groups containing products B, are arranged between the product groups containing products A.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the output conveyor string (25, 50, 61) with the products A and B, the products A and B form a caterpillar of the products A and B arranged in a shingled relative arrangement.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, by means of the device (10), the input conveyor (19, 32, 41, 46) with the products A is formed from a conveyor strand (15, 30, 39) with the products A, in which the products A form a caterpillar of the products A arranged in a shingled relative arrangement, preferably by a successive separation of end sections (33) of the conveyor strand with the products A which, after the separation, form the product groups (21, 35, 44, 53, 59, 66) with the products A, wherein, preferably, by means of the device, the input conveyor (19, 32, 41, 46) with the products A is formed from a conveyor strand (16, 30, 39) with the products B, in which the products B form a caterpillar of the products B arranged in a shingled relative arrangement, preferably by a successive separation of the product groups (22, 35, 66) which, after the separation, form the product groups (21, 35, 44, 53, 59, 66) with the products A, 44, 54, 58,67) with the end sections (33) of the conveyor string forming the products B from the conveyor string with the products B, the inlet conveyor string (20, 32, 41, 48) is formed with the products B.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the end sections of the conveyor string (15) with the products A are separated from the conveyor string with the products A by setting a conveying speed of the conveyor string with the products A in a region of the end sections of the conveyor string with the products A- The conveying speed of products A is higher than in a region of remaining sections of the conveyor string with products A, wherein preferably the end sections of the conveyor string (16) with products B are separated from the conveyor string with products B by the fact that a conveying speed of the conveyor string with products B in a region of the end sections with products B is higher than in a region of remaining sections of the conveyor string with products B.

5. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the end sections (33) of the conveying string (30) with the products A are separated from the conveying string with the products A by displacing the end sections of the conveying string with the products A relative to the conveying string with the products A by a translation and / or a rotation, wherein preferably the end sections (33) of the conveying string (30) with the products B are separated from the conveying string with the products B by displacing the end sections of the conveying string with the products B relative to the conveying string with the products B by a translation and / or a rotation.

6. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the end sections of the conveyor string (39) containing the products A are separated from the conveyor string containing the products A by conveying the products A alternately at the end of the conveyor string containing the products A via a first conveyor section (36) for the products A and a second conveyor section (37) for the products A of different lengths at the same conveying speed or of the same lengths at different conveying speeds and subsequently to form the inlet conveyor string (41) containing the products A are brought together, preferably the end sections of the conveying string (39) with the products B are separated from the conveying string with the products B by conveying the products B alternately at the end of the conveying string with the products B via a first conveying section (36) for the products B and a second conveying section (37) for the products B of different lengths with the same conveying speed or of the same lengths with different conveying speeds and subsequently being brought together to form the inlet conveying string (41) with the products B.

7. Device (10) for conveying at least flat products, in particular potato chips, A and B, wherein by means of the device an input conveyor (19, 32, 41, 46) with products A and an input conveyor (20, 32, 41, 48) with products B can be combined to form an output conveyor (25, 50, 61) with products A and B, characterized in that in the input conveyor with products A the products A are arranged in product groups (21, 35, 44, 53, 59, 66) spaced apart from each other, wherein preferably in the input conveyor with products B the products B are arranged in product groups (22, 35, 44, 54, 58, 67) spaced apart from each other, wherein the input conveyor with products A and the input conveyor with products B can be combined to form the output conveyor with the Products A and B are compatible, in such a way,that in the output conveyor line containing products A and B, the products B, preferably the product groups containing products B, are arranged between the product groups containing products A.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the device (10) comprises a conveying track for conveying the input conveying strand (19, 32, 41, 46) with the products A, a conveying track for conveying the input conveying strand (20, 32, 41, 48) with the products B and a conveying track (55) for conveying the output conveying strand (25, 50, 61) with the products A and B.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the conveying track for conveying the input conveying strand (19) with the products A transitions into the conveying track for conveying the output conveying strand (25, 61) with the products A and B.

10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the conveying track for conveying the input conveying line with products A and the conveying track for conveying the input conveying line with products B are merged in such a way that the input conveying line with products A and the input conveying line with products B, in particular at least as a result of their conveying, can be combined to form the output conveying line with products A and B.

11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the device (10) comprises at least one product lifting device (23) by means of which the products B, preferably the product groups (22) with the products B, can be arranged in gaps (24) formed between the product groups (21) with the products A, such that the inlet conveyor (19) with the products A and the incoming conveyor line (20) with products B can be combined with the outgoing conveyor line (25) with products A and B.

12. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the device comprises a conveying device (45) for conveying at least sectionally the infeed conveyor (46) with the products A, a conveying device (47) arranged parallel to the conveying device for conveying the infeed conveyor with the products A for conveying at least sectionally the infeed conveyor (48) with the products B, and a conveying device (49) arranged in series with the conveying device for conveying the infeed conveyor with the products A and with the conveying device for conveying the infeed conveyor with the products B for conveying the outfeed conveyor (50) with the products A and B, wherein the conveying device for conveying the infeed conveyor with the products A and the conveying device for conveying the infeed conveyor with the products B are controllable such thatthat the input conveyor line with products A and the input conveyor line with products B can be combined to form the output conveyor line with products A and B.

13. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the device comprises a product guidance device (57), preferably movable, by means of which the input conveyor line with products A and the input conveyor line with products B can be combined to form the output conveyor line (61) with products A and B.

14. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the device comprises at least one conveying device (62) with transport means (63), wherein the transport means are movable in a conveying direction by means of the conveying device, wherein the transport means are controllable and designed such that one or more transport means can be used together as a transport surface (65) for the products A and / or B, wherein the transport means are movable independently of one another transversely to the conveying direction, wherein by means of a displacement of the transport means the input conveying line with the products A and the input conveying line with the products B can be combined to form the output conveying line with the products A and B.

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