Device and method for horizontal movement of layers of articles between adjacent conveyor modules

Abstract

This invention concerns a method for horizontal movement of groups or layers of articles () between adjacent conveyor modules (). The groups or layers of articles () are moved from a vertically movable first support level () of a first conveyor module () to a vertically movable second support level () of a second conveyor module () immediately downstream of the first conveyor module () in the direction of transport or transfer () by means of at least one frame-like transfer device (), which is lowered over the layer or group of articles () to be transported and encompasses them on all sides, and moves in the direction of transport or transfer () from the first conveyor module () to the second conveyor module () during the movement of a group or layer of articles () At least during the transfer movement, the support layers () of the first and second conveyor modules () form a common transfer surface at approximately the same height or moving vertically in the same direction. This invention further concerns a suitable device for handling and/or stacking and/or palletizing groups or layers of articles (). The device comprises a vertically movable first conveyor module () with a first support level () and a second conveyor module () with a second support level () immediately downstream of the first conveyor module () in the direction of transport or transfer (), as well as at least one vertically movable frame-like transfer device () for pushing a group or layer of articles () from the first conveyor module () to the second conveyor module (). The transfer device encompasses the group or layer of articles () on all sides, whereby the support layers () of the first and second conveyor modules () form a common, vertically moving transfer surface at approximately the same height or moving vertically in the same direction during the transfer ().