Product-stream-transfer apparatus

1. A product-stream-transfer apparatus for transferring at least one first product sub-stream ( 12 a - d; f ) and a further product sub-stream ( 14 a - d, f ) into a main product stream ( 16 a - d, f ) or for separating the main product stream ( 16 e ) into the first product sub-stream ( 12 e ) and the further product sub-stream ( 14 e ) along a product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - b, e - f ), the apparatus comprising a first side route ( 20 a - c, e ) having a multiplicity of transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) for transporting products ( 24 a - e ) of the first product sub-stream ( 12 a - f ), at least one further side route ( 26 a - c, e ) having a multiplicity of transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) for transporting products ( 24 a - e ) of the further product sub-stream ( 14 a - f ), and a main route ( 28 a - f ), which is adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - b, e - f ), for transporting products ( 24 a - f ) of the main product stream ( 16 a - f ), characterized in that at least partial quantities of the transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) of one of the side routes ( 20 a - c, e , 26 a - c, e ) are drivable independently from other quantities of the transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) of said one of the side routes ( 20 a - c, e , 26 a - c,e ) at least along one of the side routes ( 20 a - c, e , 26 a - c, e ) of the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - c, e ).

2. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one linear motor system ( 30 a - b ) which, at least along a side route ( 20 a - c, e , 26 a - c, e ) of the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - c, e ), has a stator ( 32 a - b ) and a multiplicity of independently drivable translators ( 34 a ) which are provided to drive the transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) independently of one another.

3. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 b ) of at least two side routes ( 20 b , 26 b ) are transferred, subsequent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 b ), to the main route ( 28 b ).

4. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that a further stator ( 38 b ) of the linear motor system ( 30 b ) is arranged on the main route ( 28 b ) at least along a section ( 36 b ) adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 b ), said stator being provided for driving the transporting elements ( 22 b ), which are transferred from the side routes ( 20 b , 26 b ) to the main route ( 28 b ).

5. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one product-stream-control means ( 40 a; b; e ) for inserting products ( 24 a; b ) of at least one of the product sub-streams ( 12 a ; b, 14 a; b ) into the main product stream ( 16 a; b ) in transfer movements ( 42 a; b ) transversely with respect to a transporting direction ( 44 a; b ) of the main product stream ( 16 a; b ) along the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a; b ).

6. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 a; c; e ) of at least one side route ( 20 a; c; e , 26 a; c; e ) have drivers ( 46 a; c; e ), which are mounted movably in the direction of the transfer movement ( 42 a; e ), for transporting the products ( 24 a; c; e ).

7. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 a; d ) of at least one side route ( 20 a , 26 a ) have drivers ( 46 a; d ), which are pivotally mounted so as to be insertable into and/or removable from the product sub-stream ( 12 a ; d, 14 a; d ) of the side route ( 20 a , 26 a ), for transporting the products ( 24 a; c ).

8. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the main product stream ( 16 f ) forms a product sub-stream of a further product-stream-transfer apparatus.

9. A feed apparatus ( 48 a ) for a packaging machine ( 50 a; e ) with a product-stream-transfer apparatus ( 10 a - f ) as claimed in claim 1 .

10. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that the transporting elements of the main route are distributed to at least two side routes at the beginning of the product-stream-transfer route.

11. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , characterized in that a further stator ( 38 b ) of the linear motor system ( 30 b ) is arranged on the main route ( 28 b ) at least along a section ( 36 b ) adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 b ), said stator being provided for driving the transporting elements ( 22 b ) which are to be distributed from the main route ( 28 b ) to the side routes ( 20 b , 26 b ), along the section ( 36 b ).

12. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one product-stream-control means ( 40 a; b; e ) for distributing at least a partial quantity of the products ( 24 e ) of the main product stream ( 16 e ) to the product sub-streams ( 14 e ) in transfer movements ( 42 e ) transversely with respect to the transporting direction ( 44 e ) of the main product stream ( 16 e ) along the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 e ).

13. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 a; c; e ) of at least one side route ( 20 a; c; e , 26 a; c; e ) have drivers ( 46 a; c; e ), which are mounted movably in the direction of the transfer movement ( 42 a; e ), for transporting the products ( 24 a; c; e ).

14. A product-stream-transfer apparatus for transferring at least one first product sub-stream ( 12 a - d; f ) and a further product sub-stream ( 14 a - d, f ) into a main product stream ( 16 a - d, f ) or for separating the main product stream ( 16 e ) into the first product sub-stream ( 12 e ) and the further product sub-stream ( 14 e ) along a product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - b, e - f ), the apparatus comprising a first side route ( 20 a - c, e ) having a multiplicity of transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) for transporting products ( 24 a - e ) of the first product sub-stream ( 12 a - f ), at least one further side route ( 26 a - c, e ) having a multiplicity of transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) for transporting products ( 24 a - e ) of the further product sub-stream ( 14 a - f ), and a main route ( 28 a - f ), which is adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - b, e - f ), for transporting products ( 24 a - f ) of the main product stream ( 16 a - f ), characterized in that at least partial quantities of the transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) are drivable independently of one another at least along one of the side routes ( 20 a - c, e , 26 a - c, e ) of the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - c, e ), wherein the product-stream-transfer apparatus further includes at least one linear motor system ( 30 a - b ) which, at least along a side route ( 20 a - c, e , 26 a - c, e ) of the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - c, e ), has a stator ( 32 a - b ) and a multiplicity of independently drivable translators ( 34 a ) which are provided to drive the transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) independently of one another.

15. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 b ) of at least two side routes ( 20 b , 26 b ) are transferred, subsequent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 b ), to the main route ( 28 b ), wherein a further stator ( 38 b ) of the linear motor system ( 30 b ) is arranged on the main route ( 28 b ) at least along a section ( 36 b ) adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 b ), said stator being provided for driving the transporting elements ( 22 b ), which are transferred from the side routes ( 20 b , 26 b ) to the main route ( 28 b ).

16. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising at least one product-stream-control means ( 40 a; b; e ) for inserting products ( 24 a; b ) of at least one of the product sub-streams ( 12 a ; b, 14 a; b ) into the main product stream ( 16 a; b ) in transfer movements ( 42 a; b ) transversely with respect to a transporting direction ( 44 a; b ) of the main product stream ( 16 a; b ) along the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a; b ), wherein the transporting elements ( 22 a; c; e ) of at least one side route ( 20 a; c; e , 26 a; c; e ) have drivers ( 46 a; c; e ), which are mounted movably in the direction of the transfer movement ( 42 a; e ), for transporting the products ( 24 a; c; e ).

17. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 a; d ) of at least one side route ( 20 a , 26 a ) have drivers ( 46 a ; d), which are pivotally mounted so as to be insertable into and/or removable from the product sub-stream ( 12 a ; d, 14 a; d ) of the side route ( 20 a , 26 a ), for transporting the products ( 24 a; c ).

18. A feed apparatus ( 48 a ) for a packaging machine ( 50 a; e ) with a product-stream-transfer apparatus ( 10 a - f ) as claimed in claim 14 .

19. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the transporting elements of the main route are distributed to at least two side routes at the beginning of the product-stream-transfer route, wherein a further stator ( 38 b ) of the linear motor system ( 30 b ) is arranged on the main route ( 28 b ) at least along a section ( 36 b ) adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 b ), said stator being provided for driving the transporting elements ( 22 b ) which are to be distributed from the main route ( 28 b ) to the side routes ( 20 b , 26 b ), along the section ( 36 b ).

20. The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising at least one product-stream-control means ( 40 a; b; e ) for distributing at least a partial quantity of the products ( 24 e ) of the main product stream ( 16 e ) to the product sub-streams ( 14 e ) in transfer movements ( 42 e ) transversely with respect to the transporting direction ( 44 e ) of the main product stream ( 16 e ) along the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 e ), wherein the transporting elements ( 22 a; c; e ) of at least one side route ( 20 a; c; e, 26 a; c; e ) have drivers ( 46 a; c; e ), which are mounted movably in the direction of the transfer movement ( 42 a; e ), for transporting the products ( 24 a; c; e ).