A feed unit, for example for feeding components (2) to smoking article assembly apparatus, having a stationary guide member (14) and a dispensing unit configured to dispense components (2) into the stationary guide member (14). The dispensing unit has one or more channels (7) to receive components (2) one on top of the other, and each channel (7) has a control gate (12) to apply suction/gaseous flow to control output of components (2) from the channel (7) for onward conveyance through the stationary guide member (14).

The invention relates to a handling apparatus (1) for piece goods (2) that comprises at least one divider finger (14, 46, 51), which is introducible to a transport plane (5), largely perpendicular, from below, with the at least one divider finger being connected to a divider bar element (13, 13*, 43, 50). The divider bar element is movably arranged below the transport plane (5) and is guided in a specified movement path. The divider bar element is detachably connected to a profile element (11, 41). During a format change, the divider bar element is toolessly detached and interchanged for another divider bar element, which has divider fingers that are positioned differently and/or spaced apart differently from the divider fingers of the removed divider bar element.

An apparatus for transferring a tube includes a first conveyor where a tube is transferred, a second conveyor located at a lower level than the first conveyor, and a sliding structure including a guiding body positioned between the first conveyor and the second conveyor and guiding the tube provided in the first conveyor so that the tube is slid down and a controller configured to control so that the tube that is slid down is selectively provided to the second conveyor.

Method and device (1) for separating parts (2), for example rotationally symmetrical closures, containers and/or preforms, the device comprising a transport apparatus (10) by means of which the parts (2) to be conveyed are able to be conveyed to, through or out of the device (1) along a transport path (16) in a transport direction (11), the transport apparatus (10) having at least one transport means (12) for transporting the parts (2) in one row and an accumulation section (13); and a blocking assembly (20) comprising at least one blocking element (20.1; 20.2) which is in the form of a rocker and the length of which extends in the transport direction (11), which blocking element defines a range of action W for the parts (2). The device (1) further comprises an actuator (30). The actuator (30) is designed to pivot the at least one blocking element (20.1; 20.2) into a first position in which a part (2.1) advancing into the range of action W is held back, and to pivot said at least one blocking element from the first position into a second position in which the advancing part (2.1) is able to be received within the range of action W.