Method and device for grouping product blanks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for grouping preferably empty long products () embodied as tins, tubes or cartridges, the products () being delivered by a delivering conveyor device (), preferably from a production line for producing the products (), and placed on a conveyer belt () and transported thereby at a conveying speed along a conveying section (S) in a conveying direction (F), a product group (P) comprising a plurality of the products () being transferred by transfer means () at the same time from the conveyor belt () into receiving means (), the transfer means () for transferring the products () being moved during the movement with the product group (P) in the conveying direction (F) at an angle, particularly perpendicularly, to the conveying direction (F) in a transfer direction (T) towards the receiving means (), the receiving means () being moved perpendicularly to the conveying direction (F) and perpendicularly to the transfer direction (T), in order to be able to receive the subsequent product groups (P) above or below the already transferred product groups (P), after the transfer of each product group (P) or after the transfer of a plurality of product groups (P). The receiving means () and the transfer means () are moved along the conveying section (S) in the conveying direction (F) during the transfer of the product group (P), particularly synchronously with the conveyor belt () and the product groups (P) conveyed thereon and to be passed on, and following a successful transfer, are moved along the conveying section (S), in the opposite direction to the conveying direction (F), in order to transfer another product group (P') into the receiving means ().