Arrangement unit and method for arranging at least one quantity of elongate products to form a product arrangement, and installation and method for portioned filling of elongate products

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement unit (10) and a method for arranging at least one quantity of elongate products to form a product arrangement, comprising a feed device (12) with at least one feed channel (14, 16) and a manipulation device (11) with at least one manipulation element (19, 21), wherein the manipulation element has a sleeve (25) which is open on both sides and has a maximum inner diameter (26) which is smaller than a length of the products, wherein the products can be fed to the manipulation element in a conveying direction (23) by means of the feed channel in such a way that the products can be inserted into an interior space (30) in the sleeve via a first opening (28) in the sleeve, wherein the arrangement unit comprises a base device having at least one base element, wherein at least one second opening in the sleeve can be closed by means of the base element in a closure state, wherein the manipulation element is rotatably mounted, wherein, in order to arrange the products to form the product arrangement, the products can be introduced into the interior at least temporarily by a rotational movement of the manipulation element with the second opening closed such that the products can be arranged next to one another in the interior.

Description

[0001] March 10, 2026

[0002] Hastamat Verpackungstechnik GmbH + Co. KG G / HAS-024-WO 35633 Lahnau Scu / Bmu

[0003] Arrangement unit and method for arranging at least a quantity of elongated products into a product arrangement, as well as system and method for portioning and filling elongated products.

[0004] The invention relates to an arrangement unit and a method for arranging at least a quantity of elongated products into a product arrangement. The invention further relates to a system and a method for portioning and filling elongated products.

[0005] A system for portioning and filling elongated products is well known in the art. Such a system typically comprises a weighing and / or counting unit for dispensing a portion of the products and a packaging unit for packaging the portion into a packaging medium. During portioning, the products are generally conveyed vertically from top to bottom through an opening in the packaging medium into a receiving chamber of the packaging medium. The products are arranged side by side in the receiving chamber, preferably with their longitudinal axes oriented substantially parallel to the conveying direction. Since the products are transferred from the weighing and / or counting unit to the packaging unit in a disordered state, not all products of the portion to be filled into the packaging medium typically fall into it.In this disordered state, the products are regularly arranged at least partially one behind the other along the conveying direction, so that at least one of the products yet to be fed into the receiving chamber ends up with a second end face of at least one of the first end faces of a second product already in the receiving chamber and remains there. This regularly leads to product jams. Such jams always result in a system malfunction, which must be cleared by manual intervention from an operator. This manual intervention requires, in particular, manually moving the first product into the receiving chamber. Portioning and filling elongated products with such a system is therefore difficult.

[0006] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of proposing an arrangement unit and a method for arranging at least a quantity of elongated products, as well as a system and a method for portioning elongated products, which simplifies portioning elongated products.

[0007] This problem is solved by an arrangement unit and a method for arranging at least a quantity of elongated products with the features of claims 1 and 14, as well as a system and a method for portioning elongated products with the features of claims 13 and 15.

[0008] The arrangement unit according to the invention for arranging at least a quantity of elongated products into a product arrangement comprises a feeding device and a manipulation device, wherein the feeding device has at least one feeding channel and the manipulation device has at least one manipulation element, wherein the manipulation element has a sleeve open at both ends with a maximum inner diameter which is smaller than the length of the products, wherein the products can be fed to the manipulation element by means of the feeding channel in a conveying direction, preferably at least obliquely, particularly preferably substantially vertically, from top to bottom, such that the products can be inserted into an interior of the sleeve via a first opening of the sleeve, wherein the arrangement unit comprises a base device, wherein the base device has at least one base element.wherein, by means of the bottom element, at least a second opening of the sleeve can be closed in a closed state of the bottom element, wherein the manipulation element is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, preferably running substantially parallel to the conveying direction, wherein, for arranging the products into the product arrangement, the products can be inserted into the interior at least temporarily under a rotational movement of the manipulation element with the second opening closed, such that the products can be arranged next to each other in the interior, preferably with the ends of the products in contact with the bottom element.

[0009] The arrangement unit makes it possible to arrange at least a quantity of elongated products, which, in particular by means of a weighing and / or counting unit, can be provided in a product arrangement in which the products are arranged next to each other, preferably with longitudinal axes of the products being aligned substantially parallel to the conveying direction, in particular in a disordered state, in which the products can be considered to be arranged at least partially one behind the other in a conveying direction, preferably at least in an area of ​​the arrangement unit, at least obliquely, particularly preferably substantially vertically, from top to bottom, in which the products are conveyed, in particular as a result of a force of gravity acting on the products, and in particular can be considered to be arranged at least partially one behind the other, weighed and / or counted, in a product arrangement in which the products are arranged next to each other, preferably with longitudinal axes of the products being aligned substantially parallel to the conveying direction.In the product arrangement, the products, particularly in the interior, are preferably arranged side by side with their longitudinal axes aligned essentially parallel to the conveying direction or to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.This is achieved by feeding the products, via at least one feed channel of a feed device of the arrangement unit, in the conveying direction to at least one manipulation element of a manipulation device of the arrangement unit, which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, preferably running substantially parallel to the conveying direction, such that the products are introduced into an interior of the sleeve at least temporarily during a rotational movement of the manipulation element via a first opening of a sleeve of the manipulation element open at both ends with a maximum inner diameter which is smaller than the length of the products, at least when a second opening of the sleeve is closed by means of at least one bottom element of a bottom device of the arrangement unit in a closed state of the bottom element, such that in the interior the products are preferably with contact with second ends orThe second end faces of the products are arranged side by side on the base element. During the insertion of the products into the interior, the sleeve therefore performs a rotational movement, at least temporarily or at least for a portion of the insertion time of all products into the interior. This rotational movement results, at least partially, in a relative movement of at least one second product already inserted into the interior relative to at least one first product yet to be inserted. This movement ensures that the first product is inserted into the interior in any case, even if, during its insertion into the manipulation element, the first product initially lands with a second end face of the first product on at least one first end face of the second product.Once all the products have been introduced into the interior and arranged side by side within it, preferably with their longitudinal axes aligned substantially parallel to the conveying direction or the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the products arranged in this configuration can be fed into a packaging unit. This unit allows at least one portion, comprising at least the products arranged in this configuration, to be packaged into a packaging medium. The products can enter a receiving space of the packaging medium through an opening in the conveying direction, particularly in a downward direction. In this receiving space, the products can be arranged side by side, preferably with their longitudinal axes aligned substantially parallel to the conveying direction.Since the products can be transferred from the arrangement unit to the packaging unit in an ordered state, i.e., arranged in the product arrangement, all products of the quantity or portion to be received into the packaging can enter the packaging, particularly by falling. Specifically, a situation can be avoided in which at least one product yet to be received lands and remains on at least one end surface of at least one other product of the quantity or portion already received in the packaging. A product jam and the associated operational disruption of a system that may include the weighing and / or counting unit, the arrangement unit, and the packaging unit, requiring manual intervention, can therefore be avoided.Portioning and filling elongated products using such a system is therefore easier.

[0010] The products may be food products, in particular snack products, for example biscuits, chocolate bars or the like, animal feed products, in particular treats, for example dog chews or the like, stationery products, in particular writing instruments, for example ballpoint pens, pencils or the like, or other elongated products.

[0011] The products can each have a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. The products can each have at least one first end face at the first end and at least one second end face at the second end.

[0012] The set of products can include at least two products, in particular a first product and a second product.

[0013] The feeding device can be arranged on the manipulation device. The feeding device and the manipulation device can form a manipulation module. The feeding device and / or the manipulation device can be arranged on a frame of the system.

[0014] The base unit can be attached to the manipulation device or to the frame. Furthermore, the base unit can be designed as a plate.

[0015] In principle, the feed channel can have any cross-sectional shape. The feed channel can have a maximum inner diameter. Preferably, the feed channel can have a circular cross-sectional shape. The maximum inner diameter of the feed channel can then be an inner diameter of the feed channel. The feed channel can have a cross-sectionally tapered shape when viewed along the conveying direction. Furthermore, the maximum inner diameter of the feed channel can be smaller than the length of the products at least at the end end when viewed along the conveying direction. The feed channel can also be designed as a pipe section. In addition, the feed channel can have a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the feed channel can be vertically oriented. In principle, the sleeve can have any cross-sectional shape. Preferably, the sleeve can have a circular cross-sectional shape.The maximum inner diameter of the sleeve can then be a specific inner diameter of the sleeve. Furthermore, the sleeve can have a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the sleeve can be vertically oriented. Viewed along the conveying direction, the sleeve can be located downstream of the feed channel, particularly below the feed channel, and preferably spaced apart from the feed channel. The longitudinal axis of the sleeve can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the feed channel. The feed channel can have an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The sleeve can be designed as a cup. The sleeve can be made of a plastic material.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the second opening can be released by means of the bottom element in an open state, such that the products arranged in the product assembly can be discharged from the interior through the second opening when the second opening is released. To move the bottom element from the closed state to the open state and vice versa, the bottom element can be designed to be movable, particularly perpendicular to the conveying direction, preferably horizontally.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the maximum inner diameter of the feed channel, at least when viewed along the conveying direction, can be smaller at the end or in a region of the outlet opening than the maximum inner diameter of the sleeve.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the manipulation element can have a holder to which the sleeve can be detachably attached. The sleeve can then be designed as an interchangeable part. It is then particularly possible to attach sleeves with different configurations, especially cross-sectional shapes, to the holder. Preferably, the sleeve can be attached to the holder by a positive locking and / or friction locking mechanism. The holder can be designed in a sleeve-like form such that the sleeve can be inserted into the holder.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the manipulation device can have a frame on which the manipulation element can be rotatably mounted, and the feeding device can be arranged on the frame.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the feeding device can have a plurality of such feeding channels and the manipulation device a plurality of such manipulation elements, wherein a number of the plurality of feeding channels can correspond to a number of the plurality of manipulation elements. Since the maximum inner diameter of the sleeve must be smaller than the length of the products in order to arrange the products in the interior for the product assembly, the inner diameter of the sleeve cannot be arbitrarily increased to accommodate a larger quantity of products in order to increase the productivity of the assembly unit or the system. However, to increase the productivity of the assembly unit or the system,The system comprises a feeding device with a plurality of such feeding channels in a parallel arrangement, and a manipulation device with a plurality of such manipulation elements in a parallel arrangement, wherein a respective quantity of products can be fed to a respective manipulation element in the conveying direction by means of each feeding channel, and the products of the respective quantity can be arranged into a respective product arrangement by means of this manipulation element. The feeding device or manipulation device can have a first row of at least two first feeding channels or first manipulation elements and a second row of at least two second feeding channels or second manipulation elements running parallel to the first row. The feeding device can have a support on which the feeding channels can be arranged. Furthermore, the base unit can have a first base element and a second base element.The first bottom element, when closed, can seal the second openings of the first sleeves of the first manipulation elements, and the second bottom element, when closed, can seal the second openings of the second sleeves of the second manipulation elements. By means of a merging unit, which may comprise the system and is arranged downstream of the assembly unit (in particular, the bottom device) along the conveying direction, the respective quantities can be combined into a single portion to be packaged.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the manipulation device can have at least one drive unit for setting the manipulation element into rotational motion. In particular, the manipulation device can have a first drive unit for setting the first manipulation elements into a first rotational motion and a second drive unit for setting the second manipulation elements into a second rotational motion. The first rotational motion and the second rotational motion can occur simultaneously.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the drive device can include a drive motor, preferably an electric drive motor, preferably a servo motor. A servo motor can be controlled in a targeted manner. Alternatively, the drive motor can also be a stepper motor or another type of electric motor.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the drive device can have at least one transmission via which the drive motor can be coupled to the manipulation element, wherein the transmission can preferably be a traction drive, preferably a toothed belt drive. The traction drive, in particular a toothed belt drive, can have a traction element, in particular a toothed belt, which can engage with the manipulation element and a wheel, in particular a gear, of the transmission that can be driven by the drive motor. The holder can have a toothed ring, in particular on its outer circumference, over which the toothed belt can be guided. Advantageously, a plurality of such manipulation elements can be set into a respective rotational movement simultaneously via the traction element, in particular a toothed belt. Furthermore, the drive device can have another transmission, wherein the further transmission can be a bevel gear.The drive motor can be coupled to the manipulation element via the bevel gear and the traction drive coupled to the bevel gear, in particular a toothed belt drive. The additional provision of the bevel gear allows for a compact design of the manipulation device, especially the drive unit.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the manipulation device can include at least one vibration device for setting at least the manipulation element into a vibrating motion, preferably a pneumatic vibration device. The products can then be introduced into the interior, at least temporarily, under a vibration of the manipulation element at the closed second opening, allowing the products to be arranged in the product assembly even faster and more reliably. The pneumatic vibration device can include a pneumatic piston vibrator. The vibration device can set the frame into a vibrating motion, which in turn can set the manipulation element, rotatably mounted on the frame, into a vibrating motion.If the manipulation movement has a plurality of such manipulation elements, each manipulation element can be set into a respective vibration movement by means of a single vibration device.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve can have at least one radially inwardly extending protrusion on its inner surface, preferably extending over the entire length of the sleeve. The sleeve can have a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions on its inner surface, preferably distributed uniformly around its circumference, each extending over the entire length of the sleeve. The inner surface can then, viewed in a circumferential direction, have alternating regions with and without protrusions. Each protrusion can have a surface adjoining a surface of one of the regions without a protrusion at a shallow angle or at an obtuse angle, and a surface adjoining another surface of another of the regions without a protrusion at a steep angle or at an acute angle. The protrusions can be shaped like a nose.The elevations cause a kind of loosening of the products already included in the interior, in particular a movement of the products already included in the interior radially inwards against a centrifugal force acting on the products already included in the interior, so that subsequent products yet to be included in the interior can be introduced into the interior more easily.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, during the rotational movement, the manipulation element can be rotated at least once by a first angle of rotation in a first direction of rotation and subsequently by a second angle of rotation in a second direction of rotation. The first and second angles of rotation can be the same or different.

[0027] The inventive system for portioning and filling elongated products comprises a weighing and / or counting unit for providing at least a quantity of the products, an inventive arrangement unit for arranging the quantity of the products into a product arrangement, and a packaging unit for packaging at least a portion of the products comprising at least the products arranged in the product arrangement into a packaging means.

[0028] For the advantageous effects of the system according to the invention, reference is made to the description of advantages of the arrangement unit according to the invention.

[0029] The packaging unit can include at least one horizontal packaging machine and / or at least one vertical packaging machine.

[0030] Further advantageous embodiments of the system result from the feature descriptions of the dependent claims relating back to claim 1.

[0031] In the inventive method for arranging at least a quantity of elongated products into a product arrangement by means of an arrangement unit, the arrangement unit comprises a feeding device and a manipulation device, wherein the feeding device has at least one feeding channel and the manipulation device has at least one manipulation element, wherein the manipulation element has a sleeve open at both ends with a maximum inner diameter which is smaller than the length of the products, wherein the products are fed to the manipulation element by means of the feeding channel in a conveying direction, preferably at least obliquely, particularly preferably substantially vertically, from top to bottom, such that the products are introduced into an interior of the sleeve via a first opening of the sleeve, wherein the arrangement unit comprises a base device, wherein the base device has at least one base element.wherein, by means of the bottom element, at least a second opening of the sleeve is closed in a closed state of the bottom element, wherein the manipulation element is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, preferably running substantially parallel to the conveying direction, wherein, for the purpose of arranging the products for the product arrangement, the products are introduced into the interior at least temporarily under a rotational movement of the manipulation element with the second opening closed, such that the products are arranged next to each other in the interior, preferably with the ends of the products in contact with the bottom element.

[0032] For the advantageous effects of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the description of advantages of the arrangement unit according to the invention.

[0033] Further advantageous embodiments of the method result from the feature descriptions of the dependent claims relating back to claim 1.

[0034] In the inventive method for portioning and filling elongated products using a system, at least a quantity of the products is provided by means of a weighing and / or counting unit of the system, wherein the products are arranged into a product arrangement by means of an arrangement unit of the system according to the invention, and wherein at least a portion of the products comprising at least the products arranged into the product arrangement is packaged into a packaging means by means of a packaging unit of the system.

[0035] For the advantageous effects of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the description of advantages of the arrangement unit according to the invention.

[0036] Further advantageous embodiments of the method result from the feature descriptions of the dependent claims relating back to claim 1.

[0037] A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a perspective partial view of an arrangement unit;

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a partial view of the assembly unit from the front;

[0040] Fig. 3 shows a partial view of the assembly unit from the rear;

[0041] Fig. 4 shows a partial view of the arrangement unit from one side;

[0042] Fig. 5 shows a partial view of the assembly unit from another side;

[0043] Fig. 6 shows a partial view of the arrangement unit from above;

[0044] Fig. 7 shows a partial view of the assembly unit from below;

[0045] Fig. 8 shows a perspective partial view of a manipulation device of the arrangement unit, particularly with a partially removed frame of the manipulation device;

[0046] Fig. 9 shows a perspective partial view of the manipulation device, particularly with the frame removed;

[0047] Fig. 10 shows a perspective partial view of the manipulation device, particularly with the additional removal of the drive devices of the manipulation device;

[0048] Fig. 11 shows a schematic sectional view through a sleeve containing a quantity of flat products, held in place by a base element therein, forming a product arrangement.

[0049] For the sake of simplicity, the same reference numerals are used below for structurally or functionally identical components. A combined view of Figures 1 to 10 shows an assembly unit 10 comprising a manipulation device 11 and a feeding device 12 arranged on the manipulation device 11.

[0050] The feeding device 12 has a holder 13 and four feeding channels 14, 15, 16, 17 arranged on the holder 13, wherein the feeding channels 14, 15, 16, 17, designed as pipe sections, each have a circular cross-sectional shape. The manipulation device 11 has a frame 18 on which the holder 13 is arranged, and four manipulation elements 19, 20, 21, 22 rotatably mounted on the frame 18, wherein each feed channel 14, 15, 16, 17 is assigned one of the manipulation elements 19, 20, 21, 22, such that by means of each feed channel 14, 15, 16, 17 in a vertical conveying direction 23 running from top to bottom, a respective quantity of elongated products not shown here can be fed to the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22.Each manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22 has a holder 24 and a sleeve 25 detachably attached to the holder 24, open at both ends. Each sleeve 25 is designed as a cup and has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape with a maximum inner diameter 26, which is larger than the end inner diameter 27 of the feed channels 14, 15, 16, 17, which taper in cross-section when viewed along the conveying direction 23, but smaller than the length of the products. Furthermore, each sleeve 25 has a first opening 28, a second opening 29, and an interior space 30. A longitudinal axis of each feed channel 14, 15, 16, 17 (not shown) is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve 25 of the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22 (not shown).Furthermore, each sleeve 25 has four nose-like projections 32 on its inner surface 31, distributed evenly around the circumference of the respective sleeve 25 and extending radially inwards over the entire length of the respective sleeve 25. The inner surface 31 of each sleeve 25, viewed in a circumferential direction, has four areas 33 with projections and four areas 34 without projections, which alternate. Each projection 32 has a first surface 36 that adjoins a surface 35 of one of the areas 34 without projections at a shallow angle or obtuse angle, and a second surface 38 that adjoins another surface 37 of another of the areas 34 without projections at a steep angle or acute angle.

[0051] Furthermore, the manipulation device 11 has a first drive unit 39 for moving the manipulation elements 19, 20 and a second drive unit 40 for moving the manipulation elements 21, 22 into a respective, preferably simultaneous, rotational movement.Each drive unit 39, 40 has an electric drive motor 41 designed as a servo motor, a further gearbox 42 designed as a bevel gear coupled to the drive motor 41, and a gearbox 43 designed as a toothed belt gearbox coupled to the further gearbox 42, wherein a traction element 44 designed as a toothed belt of the respective gearbox 43 is guided over a wheel 45 designed as a gear of the respective gearbox 43 which can be driven by means of the respective drive motor 41, two further wheels 46, 47 designed as deflection wheels of the respective gearbox 43, and toothed rings 48 of the holders 13 of the sleeves 25 of the respective manipulation elements 19, 20, 21, 22.

[0052] Furthermore, the manipulation device 11 has a pneumatic vibration device 49 for moving the frame 18 and thus the manipulation elements 19, 20, 21, 22 rotatably mounted on it into a vibrational movement.

[0053] The arrangement unit 10 further comprises a base device (not shown here), wherein the base device has a first base element (not shown here) and a second base element (not shown here). By means of the first base element, the second openings 29 of the sleeves 25 of the manipulation elements 19, 20 can be closed in a closed state of the first base element and can be opened in an open state of the first base element. By means of the second base element, the second openings 29 of the sleeves 25 of the manipulation elements 21, 22 can be closed in a closed state of the second base element and can be opened in an open state of the second base element.The first floor element can move in the opposite direction to the second floor element if the first floor element and the second floor element are simultaneously moved from the closed state of the first floor element or second floor element to the open state of the first floor element or second floor element, and vice versa.

[0054] The products of each quantity can be fed in the conveying direction 23 to the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22 assigned to each feed channel 14, 15, 16, 17, such that the products of each quantity can be introduced into the interior 30 of the sleeve 25 of the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22 via the first opening 28 of the sleeve 25 of the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22, wherein, in order to arrange the products of each quantity into a respective product arrangement, the products of each quantity are at least temporarily moved into the interior 30 of the sleeve 30 of the sleeve by means of a rotational movement of the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22 with the second opening 29 of the sleeve 25 of the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22 closed. 25 of the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22 can be inserted in such a way that in the interior 30 of the sleeve 25 of the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21,22 The products of the respective quantity can be arranged side by side by placing the ends of the products of the respective quantity against the first bottom element or second bottom element. In the respective product arrangement, the products are arranged side by side, preferably with their longitudinal axes essentially parallel to the conveying direction 23 or to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 25 of the respective manipulation element 19, 20, 21, 22. After the first bottom element or second bottom element has been moved into the open state, the four product arrangements can be simultaneously discharged along the conveying direction 23 through the second openings 29 of the sleeves 25 of the manipulation elements 19, 20, 21, 22 from the interior 30 of the sleeves 25 of the manipulation elements 19, 20, 21.22 are carried out and fed into a packaging unit not shown here. The product arrangements can first be combined into a portion by means of a combining unit, whereby the portion can subsequently be packaged into a packaging medium by means of the packaging unit.

[0055] Figure 11 schematically shows a sleeve 50 open at both ends containing a quantity of flat products 51. The ends 52 of the flat products 51 rest against a bottom element 55, which is movable relative to the sleeve 50 in a closed position and transversely to a vertical conveying direction 53 (running from top to bottom) or along directions indicated by a double arrow 54. This bottom element holds the products 51 in the sleeve 50. All products 51 in the quantity are arranged side by side in the sleeve 50 with their longitudinal axes 56 aligned parallel to the conveying direction 51, thus forming a product arrangement 57. By appropriately moving the bottom element 55, it can be moved into an open position, allowing the products 51 arranged in the product arrangement 57 to fall downwards out of the sleeve 50 along the conveying direction 51.

[0056] The features shown in Figures 1 to 11 can be combined in any meaningful way.

Claims

March 10, 2026 Hastamat Verpackungstechnik GmbH + Co. KG G / HAS-024-WO 35633 Lahnau Scu / Bmu Patent claims 1. Arrangement unit (10) for arranging at least a quantity of elongated products (51) into a product arrangement (57), comprising a feeding device (12) and a manipulation device (11), wherein the feeding device has at least one feeding channel (14, 15, 16, 17) and the manipulation device has at least one manipulation element (19, 20, 21, 22), wherein the manipulation element has a sleeve (25, 50) open at both ends with a maximum inner diameter (26) which is smaller than the length of the products, wherein the products can be fed to the manipulation element by means of the feeding channel in a conveying direction (23, 53) extending from top to bottom, preferably at least obliquely, particularly preferably substantially vertically, such that the products can be inserted into an interior (30) of the sleeve via a first opening (28) of the sleeve, wherein the arrangement unit comprises a base device.wherein the base device has at least one base element (55), wherein at least a second opening (29) of the sleeve can be closed by means of the base element in a closed state of the base element, wherein the manipulation element is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, preferably running substantially parallel to the conveying direction, wherein, for arranging the products into the product arrangement, the products can be introduced into the interior at least temporarily under a rotational movement of the manipulation element with the second opening closed, such that the products can be arranged next to each other in the interior, preferably with the ends (52) of the products in contact with the base element.

2. Arrangement unit according to claim 1 , characterized by , that by means of the base element (55) in an open state of the base element the second opening (29) can be released, such that the products (51) arranged to the product arrangement (57) can be carried out from the interior (30) via the second opening when the second opening is released.

3. Arrangement unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that , that a maximum inner diameter (27) of the feed channel ( 14, 15, 16, 17) is, at least along the conveying direction (23, 53 ), considered at the end end, smaller than the maximum inner diameter (26) of the sleeve (25, 50).

4. Arrangement unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that , that the manipulation element ( 19, 20, 21 , 22) has a holder (24) to which the sleeve (25, 50) is detachably attached.

5. Arrangement unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that , that the manipulation device (11) has a frame (18) on which the manipulation element (19, 20, 21, 22) is rotatably mounted, wherein the feeding device (12) is arranged on the frame.

6. Arrangement unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the feeding device ( 12) has a plurality of such feeding channels ( 14, 15 , 16, 17) and the manipulation device ( 1 1 ) has a plurality of such manipulation elements (19, 20, 21 , 22), wherein a number of the plurality of feeding channels corresponds to a number of the plurality of manipulation elements.

7. Arrangement unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that , that the manipulation device ( 1 1 ) has at least one drive device (39, 40) for setting the manipulation element (19, 20, 21 , 22) into rotational motion.

8. Arrangement unit according to claim 7, characterized by , that the drive device (39, 40) has a drive motor (41), wherein preferably the drive motor is an electric drive motor, preferably a servo motor.

9. Arrangement unit according to claim 8, characterized by , that the drive device (39, 40) has at least one transmission (43) via which the drive motor (41) is coupled to the manipulation element (19, 20, 21, 22), wherein the transmission is preferably a traction transmission, preferably a toothed belt transmission.

10. Arrangement unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that , that the manipulation device ( 1 1 ) has at least a vibration device (49) for setting at least the manipulation element ( 19, 20, 21 , 22) into a vibrational movement, wherein preferably the vibration device is a pneumatic vibration device.

11. Arrangement unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that , that the sleeve (25, 50) has at least one radially inwardly extending, preferably over the entire length of the sleeve, protrusion (32) on an inner side (31) of the sleeve.

12. Arrangement unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that , that during the rotational movement the manipulation element (19, 20, 21, 22) can be rotated at least once by a first rotation angle in a first direction of rotation and subsequently by a second rotation angle in a second direction of rotation.

13. A system for portioning and filling elongated products, comprising a weighing and / or counting unit for providing at least a quantity of the products (51), an arrangement unit (10) for arranging the quantity of the products into a product arrangement (57) according to one of the preceding claims, and a packaging unit for packaging at least a portion of the products comprising at least the products arranged in the product arrangement into a packaging means.

14. Method for arranging at least a quantity of elongated products (51) into a product arrangement (57) by means of an arrangement unit (10) comprising a feeding device (12) and a manipulation device (11), wherein the feeding device has at least one feeding channel (14, 15, 16, 17) and the manipulation device has at least one manipulation element (19, 20, 21, 22), wherein the manipulation element has a sleeve (25, 50) open at both ends with a maximum inner diameter (26) which is smaller than the length of the products, wherein the products are fed to the manipulation element by means of the feeding channel in a conveying direction (23, 53) extending from top to bottom, preferably at least obliquely, particularly preferably substantially vertically, such that the products are introduced into an interior (30) of the sleeve via a first opening (28) of the sleeve, wherein the arrangement unit comprises a base device.wherein the base device has at least one base element (55), wherein at least a second opening (29) of the sleeve is closed by means of the base element in a closed state of the base element, wherein the manipulation element is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, preferably running substantially parallel to the conveying direction, wherein, in order to arrange the products into the product arrangement, the products are introduced into the interior at least temporarily under a rotational movement of the manipulation element with the second opening closed, such that the products are arranged next to each other in the interior, preferably with the ends (52) of the products in contact with the base element.

15. Method for portioning and filling elongated products (51) using a system, wherein at least a quantity of the products is provided by means of a weighing and / or counting unit of the system, wherein the products are arranged to form a product arrangement (57) by means of an arrangement unit (10) of the system according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least a portion of the products comprising at least the products arranged to form the product arrangement is packaged into a packaging means by means of a packaging unit of the system.

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