Supply device, retrofit kit for a vibration feeder as well as a manufacturing method and an operation method for the supply device

Abstract

A supply device with which elements in disordered form, in particular connection elements as bulk elements, are suppliable to a second receiving volume. The supply device includes a first receiving container from which, via an outlet opening, a plurality of elements is deliverable to a second receiving container. The second receiving container may consist of an oscillation feeder. The oscillation energy of the oscillation feeder is specifically transmitted onto the elements, which are stored in the first receiving container. With the help of the transmitted oscillations, elements are transferred from the first receiving container via a transfer zone from the first receiving container into the second receiving container.

Claims

1. A supply device with which elements in disordered form are suppliable to a second receiving volume, the device having the following features: a first receiving container which has a first circumferential outer wall and defines a first receiving volume for the disordered elements which is fillable via a first supply opening and drainable via a first outlet opening, a second receiving container which has an inner wall and defines the second receiving volume, wherein the first receiving container with the first receiving volume is arranged at least partly within the second receiving volume, a bottom of the second receiving container is positioned at a distance to the first outlet opening such that the first receiving volume is defined and limited by the first circumferential outer wall of the first receiving container and the inner wall of the second receiving container, and a transfer zone is present for disordered elements from the first receiving container into the second receiving container, and wherein at least the bottom of the second receiving container with regard to the first receiving container is movable such that the disordered elements are dischargeable from the first receiving volume of the first receiving container into the second receiving volume of the second receiving container by means of the movement of the bottom.

2. The supply device according to claim 1 in which the bottom of the second receiving container is puttable into vibrations by means of a drive in order to discharge the disordered elements out of the first receiving container.

3. The supply device according to claim 2 in which a first circumferential outer wall of the first receiving container includes, adjacent to the outlet opening, a lateral cutout which defines the transfer zone.

4. The supply device according to claim 2 in which a first circumferential outer wall of the first receiving container is arranged approximately circumferentially evenly spaced at the first outlet opening with respect to the bottom and/or to a second inner wall of the second receiving container whereby a transfer gap for disordered elements from the first receiving container into the second receiving container is determined.

5. The supply device according to claim 2 in which the first receiving container has an essentially cylindrical shape and the second receiving container is configured as a vibration feeder or vibration spiral feeder.

6. The supply device according to claim 1 in which a first circumferential outer wall of the first receiving container includes, adjacent to the outlet opening, a lateral cutout which defines the transfer zone.

7. The supply device according to claim 6 in which the bottom of the second receiving container is arranged at such a distance to the outlet opening of the first receiving container that disordered elements are discharged through the lateral cutout, but not through a gap between the first outer wall of the first receiving container and the bottom of the second receiving container.

8. The supply device according to claim 7 in which the lateral cutout encloses an opening angle range from 90° to 180° with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the first receiving container.

9. The supply device according to claim 8 in which the lateral cutout is at least partly blocked by a flexible retention device which causes the disordered elements to be supplied in the transfer zone at a decelerated movement from the first receiving container to the second receiving container.

10. The supply device according to claim 7 in which the lateral cutout is at least partly blocked by a flexible retention device which causes the disordered elements to be supplied in the transfer zone at a decelerated movement from the first receiving container to the second receiving container.

11. The supply device according to claim 6 in which the lateral cutout is at least partly blocked by a flexible retention device which causes the disordered elements to be supplied in the transfer zone at a decelerated movement from the first receiving container to the second receiving container.

12. The supply device according to claim 11 in which the flexible retention device is arranged in an adjustable manner regarding its position with respect to the lateral cutout of the first receiving container in order to change a size of a covering of the lateral cutout by the flexible retention device.

13. The supply device according to claim 6 in which the first receiving container has an essentially cylindrical shape and the second receiving container is configured as a vibration feeder or vibration spiral feeder.

14. The supply device according to claim 1 in which a first circumferential outer wall of the first receiving container is arranged approximately circumferentially evenly spaced at the first outlet opening with respect to the bottom and/or to a second inner wall of the second receiving container whereby a transfer gap for disordered elements from the first receiving container into the second receiving container is determined.

15. The supply device according to claim 1 in which the first receiving container has an essentially cylindrical shape and the second receiving container is configured as a vibration feeder or vibration spiral feeder.

16. The supply device according to claim 15 in which the first receiving container is arranged coaxially to the second receiving container.

17. A manufacturing method of a supply device according to claim 1 which includes the following steps: a. providing (S1) a vibration feeder, b. providing (S2) a frame construction at least partly above the vibration feeder and c. fastening (S3) a first receiving container at the frame construction, the first receiving container defining a first receiving volume for the disordered elements by a first circumferential outer wall, the first receiving volume being fillable via a first supply opening in the first receiving container and being drainable via a first outlet opening in the first receiving container into a second receiving container which has an inner wall and defines the second receiving volume, wherein the first receiving container with the first receiving volume is arranged at least partly within the second receiving volume, a bottom of the second receiving container is positioned at a distance to the first outlet opening such that the first receiving volume is defined and limited by the first circumferential outer wall of the first receiving container and the inner wall of the second receiving container, so that a transfer zone for disordered elements from the first receiving container into the second receiving container is present and at least the bottom of the second receiving container with regard to the first receiving container is movable such that the disordered elements are dischargeable from the first receiving volume of the first receiving container into the second receiving volume of the second receiving container by the movement of the bottom.

18. A supply method for a plurality of disordered elements using a supply device according to claim 1 which includes the following steps: a. supplying (Z1) a plurality of disordered elements into the first receiving volume of the first receiving container, b. moving (Z2) the second inner wall of the second receiving container with respect to the first receiving container, and c. discharging (Z5) of disordered elements out of the first receiving container through the transfer zone into the second receiving volume of the second receiving container.

19. The supply method according to claim 18 with the further step: relocating (Z3) a brush arrangement which closes at least partly a lateral cutout of the first receiving container.

20. The supply method according to claim 19 with the further step: relocating (Z4) the first receiving container with respect to the second inner wall so that a transfer gap is defined between the first and the second receiving container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

(2) FIG. 1 an embodiment of the supply device with a vibration feeder,

(3) FIG. 2 an enlarged view of individual components of the embodiment of the supply device of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 an explosion view of the first receiving container with a relocatable brush arrangement,

(5) FIG. 4 an enlarged view of a design of the transfer zone for elements between the first and the second receiving container,

(6) FIG. 5 an enlarged view of a further design of the transfer zone for elements between the first and the second receiving container,

(7) FIG. 6 an embodiment of the first receiving container with an inner screw-like transport wall for elements,

(8) FIG. 7 an embodiment of the retrofit kit,

(9) FIG. 8 a flow chart of a manufacturing method, and

(10) FIG. 9 a flow chart of a supply method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) An embodiment of the supply device 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The supply device 1 serves for the supplying of elements 3 which are present as a disordered amount. Such elements 3 may be connection elements such as self-piercing rivets, blind rivet nuts, insert nuts, welding auxiliary joining parts, nails, thread bolts or the like.

(12) In order to supply the elements 3 to a processing location, which may be a setting device for blind rivet nuts or self-piercing rivets or bolts, firstly, an initial amount of the elements 3 in disordered form, i.e. as bulk goods, is provided. The initial amount of the elements 3 guarantees that a sufficient number of elements 3 for, for example, a production cycle and the number of connections or joining locations to be established therein is present.

(13) The supply device 1 comprises a first receiving container 10 in which a disordered number of elements 3, which may be as bulk goods, is received. The receiving container 10 according to FIG. 1 consists of a cylindrical hollow body with a circumferential coat-like or shell-like first outer wall 12. The circumferential outer wall 12 includes a first receiving volume 14 which in the application case is partly or completely filled with an amount of disordered elements 3 (not shown), which may be blind rivet nuts.

(14) While FIGS. 1 to 5 show a cylindrical receiving container 10, alternative shapes of the first receiving container 10 may be used. A prerequisite for the alternative shapes is the provision of the first receiving volume 14 in the inside of the first receiving container 10. The first receiving container 10 may be provided with a cuboid form having a square or a rectangular base area (see 10′) or as a prism with a pentagon (see 10″) or a hexagon base area (see 10′″). Further alternative shapes of the first receiving container 10 are a pyramid cone 10′″″ or a truncated cone 10″″ (see FIG. 3).

(15) For the further explanation of the constructive features of the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″, reference is made to the cylindrically shaped first receiving container 10 of the figures number 1 to 5. The constructive and functional features which are realized based on this example apply analogously to the differently shaped first receiving containers 10′ to 10′″″, too.

(16) The cylindrically shaped first receiving container 10 is arranged in a fixed manner in the space by means of a frame construction 20—see the dotdashed lines in FIG. 1. The frame construction 20 guarantees that the plurality of elements 3 which are present in the receiving volume 14, are moved into the direction of an outlet opening 16 of the first receiving container 10, such as by gravity, only, i.e. gravity-driven.

(17) The outlet opening 16 of the first receiving container 10 may be arranged opposite a second receiving container 50, opposite the bottom 52 and/or an inner wall 51 of the second receiving container 50.

(18) Provided that the first receiving container 10 has a cylindrical form, the outlet opening 16 is formed by an open face side which faces the second receiving container 50. The same applies to alternative forms of the first receiving container 10; 10′; 10″; 10′″; 10″″ and 10′″″, as is illustrated in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the alternative first receiving containers 10 to 10′″″ have an approximately round outlet opening 16, a quadrangular outlet opening 16′, a pentagonal outlet opening 16″, a hexagonal outlet opening 16′″, a round outlet opening 16″″ and a pentagonal outlet opening 16″.

(19) Opposite to the outlet opening 16 to 16′″″, an inlet opening 18 to 18′″″ is provided for each case. It has a shape corresponding to the form of the first receiving container 10, as can for example be seen in FIG. 3.

(20) According to a further design, the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″ provides a sufficiently big first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ for receiving a plurality of elements 3. In order to enlarge the receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ so that a flexible adaptation to, for example, production requirements, is possible, a bunker 22 is provided.

(21) The bunker 22 constitutes a storage volume 24 of any desired shape—in the present case a cuboid shape. Further elements 3 are receivable in the storage volume 24 which are transferable via a bunker outlet 26 to the first receiving container 10.

(22) The bunker outlet 26, which may be closable manually or automatically, is provided in a bunker bottom 28. The bunker bottom 28 is shaped in an inclined or steep manner into the direction of the bunker outlet 26. By that, the gravity-driven movement of the elements 3 to the bunker outlet 26 is supported. In this connection, A drive of the elements 3 into the direction of the bunker outlet 26 may be provided within the bunker 22.

(23) The bunker 22 is fastened at the frame construction 20 and thus decoupled in terms of movement from the second receiving container 50. According to a further design of the supply device 1, the first receiving container 10 is arranged in a fixed manner via the bunker 22 at the frame construction 20. According to the above alternative, the first receiving container 10 is fastened directly at the frame construction 22 and thus decoupled from a movement of the second receiving container 50.

(24) In the first receiving container 10, a second receiving container 50 is arranged into the direction of the gravity of the elements 3. This second receiving container defines a second receiving volume 56 by a circumferential wall 54 and a bottom 52. The second receiving container 50 is configured bowl-shaped so that the first receiving container 10 is at least partially arranged in the second receiving volume 56 with its first receiving volume 14. For this purpose, the second receiving volume 56 may be defined by the bottom 52, the circumferential wall 54 and its upper edge 53.

(25) According to a further design, the second receiving container 50 is a known vibration feeder, vibration spiral feeder or oscillation feeder. An oscillation feeder is a mechanical feeding device for bulk goods with which, the medium to be transported may be moved by means of linear oscillations or vibrations. Such arrangements are for example described in DE 100 26 765 A1 and DE 100 29 836 C2.

(26) The outlet opening 16 to 16′″″ of the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″ is arranged within the second receiving volume 56 at a distance and adjacent to the bottom 52. Due to this arrangement, a transfer zone of the elements 3 arises which are transferred from the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ of the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″ into the second receiving volume 56 of the second receiving container 50. For this purpose, the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″ is fixedly arranged in the frame construction 20 so that different configurations of the transfer zone 30; 30′ are present. The configuration of the transfer zone 30; 30′ should guarantee that, supported by oscillations or vibrations of the vibration feeder in form of the second receiving container 50, the elements 3 may be discharged from the first receiving container 10 at a certain rate, i.e. number per time unit, into the vibration feeder 50. This rate guarantees that an attached processing device, for example a setting device for blind rivet nuts, is supplied reliably.

(27) According to a first design (see FIG. 4), the outlet opening 16 is supplemented by a lateral cutout 32. The size of the lateral cutout 32 can be chosen so that only a certain number of elements 3 is able to proceed from the first receiving volume 14 into the vibration feeder 50. Therefore, the lateral cutout 32 may extend over an angle range from 90°≤α≤180° with respect to the central longitudinal axis M of the first receiving container 10.

(28) In the same way, adjacent to the outlet opening 16, a plurality of lateral cutouts 32 which are arranged in a distributed manner may be provided.

(29) Based on the different designs of the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″, FIG. 3 illustrates how further lateral cutouts 32′ can be arranged, formed and arranged in a distributed manner on the first receiving container 10. Thus, one or more lateral cutouts 32′ may be positioned at one or more lateral faces of the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″.

(30) This arrangement of the lateral cutouts 32′ is chosen such that the elements 3 are released to the second receiving container 50 in certain areas. The size of the lateral cutout 32 may regulate the rate and direction of the elements 3 passing the transfer zone 30.

(31) According to a further design, the at least one lateral outlet 32 is blocked by a flexible retention device, in particular a brush arrangement 40, a flexible hose end or a flexible curtain. In the following, the features of the flexible retention device are described based on the flexible brush arrangement 40. The brush arrangement 40 consists of a plurality of bristles running parallel or in an inclined manner to each other, wherein the bristles close the lateral cutout 32; 32′ at least partly, similar to a curtain. For this purpose, the bristles are provided flexible, so that the elements 3 which pass the transfer zone 30 can push the bristles to the side in order to pass. For this purpose, the brush arrangement 40 may consist of a flexible plastic, rubber or gum or a similar material.

(32) In the embodiments 40 and 40′ of the brush arrangement in FIG. 3, the bristles have a different thickness and associated flexibility. The embodiment at reference numeral 42 shows an arrangement which comprises a flexible curtain or a similar construction instead of bristles. Similar to the bristles, this curtain also stops the elements 3 up to a certain degree, until the elements 3 can push the bristles or the curtain to the side for a passing of the transfer zone 30.

(33) The brush arrangement 40; 40′ or the curtain 42 may be fastened at the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″ with a clamp 44 and a ring 45. It is to be understood that in terms of their form, the ring 45 and the clamp 44 are adapted or adaptable to the respective outer contour of the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″.

(34) With the help of the clamp 44, it may be guaranteed that the brush arrangement 40; 40′; 42 can be fastened at different axial positions parallel to the longitudinal axis M of the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″. Accordingly, the size of a covering of the lateral cutout 32 or the lateral cutouts can also be adjusted via the brush arrangement by means of a specific axial positioning of the brush arrangement 40; 40′; 42. The arrows in FIG. 3 show the axial adjustability of the clamp 44 and at least of the brush arrangement 40: 40′; 42.

(35) The first receiving container 10 is spaced from the inner wall 52 of the second receiving container 50 with its lower edge or outlet opening 16, respectively, such, that the transfer zone 30 is formed by the at least one lateral outlet 32 to 32′″″, only. Accordingly, A gap 34 between the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″ and the inner wall 52 may be predefined so small that no element 3 can pass this gap 34 (see FIG. 4).

(36) According to a further embodiment, the first receiving container 100 (see FIG. 5) precisely does not have any lateral cutout 32. Rather, the first receiving container 100 is spaced from the bottom 52 parallel into the direction of its longitudinal axis as far that at least one layer of elements 3 at the inner wall 52 can pass the gap 34′ (see FIG. 5). Thus, the transfer zone 30′ may be formed by the gap 34′.

(37) In the above-described embodiments, the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ is limited by the bottom 52 and the inner wall 51 of the second receiving container 50. Accordingly, the bottom 52 of a vibration feeder may limit the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″. In this way, the elements 3 cannot pass the transfer zone 30; 30′ due to their gravity and the resulting dynamic pressure alone. The energy which is necessary for the passing of the transfer zone 30; 30′ may be supplied by the oscillations or vibrations, which may be linear oscillations or vibrations, of the inner wall 52 of the vibration feeder to the elements 3. The second receiving container 50 may be formed by the vibration feeder (see above). Compared with the elements 3 which are resting in the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ at first, the vibration feeder moves in an oscillating or vibrating way, in particular, the bottom 52 oscillates or vibrates, which then causes the elements 3 to be transferred from the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ through the transfer zone 30; 30′ into the second receiving volume 56 in the vibration feeder 50.

(38) In this way, the bottom 52 of the second receiving container 50 first of all limits the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ with the stored elements 3 against the gravity of the elements 3. As soon as the bottom 52, which limits the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″, is oscillated or vibrated which may be in combination with the adjacent inner wall 51, these oscillations or vibrations are transmitted to the elements 3 and cause and support their transfer from the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ into the second receiving volume 56. At the same time, the second receiving container 50 may oscillate or vibrate in a transverse or circumferential manner to its central longitudinal axis.

(39) In this connection, oscillations or vibrations in other oscillation planes and oscillation directions are preferred as long as they cause and support a movement of the elements 3 out of the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ into the second receiving volume 56.

(40) Accordingly, instead of the vibration feeder, the second receiving container 50 is provided by means of a bowl-like container with a driven centrifugal mass. The centrifugal mass may consist of a rotating mass which is arranged asymmetrically to the rotation axis of the rotating mass.

(41) According to the embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 5, the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″ provides the continuous first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″. Accordingly, the elements 3 generate a dynamic pressure at the limiting bottom 52 of the second receiving container 50 depending on the filling level of the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″, with the dynamic pressure being determined by the gravity of the elements 3 in the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″.

(42) In order to control the dynamic pressure which is applied by the elements 3 onto the bottom 52 and/or the inner wall 51, a screw spiral 80 may be arranged within the first receiving container 200 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The first receiving container 200 may have a hollow-cylindrical form with an outer wall 212, a first supply opening 218 and a first outlet opening 216.

(43) The screw spiral 80 comprises a radial wall 84 which circulates the central axis 82 of the first receiving container 200 spirally. The radial wall 48 begins at the supply opening 218 and ends at the outlet opening 216. As soon as the elements 3 (not shown) are supplied as bulk goods to the first receiving container 200 directly or via the upstream bunker 22, the elements 3 move on the radial wall 84 into the direction of the outlet opening 216.

(44) According to a further embodiment, the first receiving container 200 is, according to FIG. 5, arranged above the inner wall 52 of the second receiving container 50. By that, the transfer zone is formed by the transfer gap 30′ between the edge 217 adjacent to the outlet opening 216 and the inner wall 52. The transfer gap 30′ may be big enough so that at least one layer of elements 3 on the bottom 52 can pass the transfer gap 30′ and thus the transfer zone from the first into the second receiving volume 50.

(45) According to a further design, a lateral cutout with a brush arrangement (not shown) is provided adjacent to the first outlet opening 216 in order to control the exiting of elements 3 from the first receiving container 200.

(46) It also applies to the design of the first receiving container 200 according to FIG. 6 that it is arranged in the supply device 1 in a decoupled way from the second receiving container 50 in terms of movement. The frame construction 20 according to FIG. 1 holds the first receiving container 200. For this purpose, the frame construction is supported by the bottom in a stable way independent of the second receiving container 50 or is suspended in a suitable manner. Furthermore, the first receiving container 200 may be combined with a bunker 22, too, in order to be able to provide an additional volume 24 of elements 3.

(47) Furthermore, the present disclosure describes a retrofit kit for a known vibration or oscillation feeder, as is for example shown in FIG. 7.

(48) While the oscillation feeder forms the second receiving volume 50, the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″, 200 is arranged in a movement-decoupled way with respect to the oscillation feeder with the help of a frame construction 20 above the oscillation feeder. For this purpose, the frame construction 20 is supported by a firm base independent of the oscillation feeder or is suspended accordingly, so that the movement of the oscillation feeder is not transferred onto the first receiving container. Furthermore, the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″, 200 may be fastened together with the bunker 22 in the frame construction 20.

(49) The retrofit kit realizes the same constructive and functional properties with a known vibration feeder as they were described above with reference to the different embodiments.

(50) A manufacturing method for the above-described supply device 1 is also disclosed. In the course of the manufacturing method, a known vibration feeder or oscillation feeder is provided in a first step S1. This known device is characterized by a bowl-shaped receiving container 50. The receiving container 50 can be put into oscillations with the help of a motor drive. These oscillations of the receiving container 50 result in elements 3 which are present in the receiving container 50 being moved radially outwardly in order to transfer them individually and/or into a specific orientation out of the second receiving container 50.

(51) A frame construction 20 is provided in a second manufacturing step S2. The frame construction 20 is adapted so as to arrange and fasten the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″, 200 above the receiving container 50 of the oscillation feeder and at least partly within the second receiving volume 56 of the oscillation feeder in a third manufacturing step S3. In this connection, the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″, 200 is fastened such that according to the above description of the embodiment of the supply device 1, it is firmly arranged adjacent to the inner wall 52 as well as in a movement-decoupled way with respect to the oscillation feeder, i.e. at rest, in the frame construction 20.

(52) For this manufacturing method, a new vibration feeder may be combined with the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″; 200 or an existing vibration feeder is further equipped with the retrofit kit.

(53) In order to be able to provide a sufficient number of elements 3, the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″; 200 may be combined with a bunker 22 (see above). The bunker 22 may be fastened in the frame construction 20.

(54) Moreover, a supply method for a plurality of elements 3 with the above-described supply device 1 is disclosed. In a first step Z1, the plurality of disordered elements 3 is supplied to the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″; 214 in the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″; 200. After supplying the elements 3 to the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″; 200, the elements 3 abut the inner wall 52 of the second receiving container 50 or are accumulated there. Because due to the gravity of the elements 3 within the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″ alone, the elements 3 are not capable of passing the transfer zone 30; 30′ into the second receiving volume 56.

(55) In order to supply the elements 3 which are stored and accumulated or built-up in the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″; 200 with the necessary movement energy for the passing of the transfer zone 30; 30′, the inner wall 52 of the second receiving container 30 is moved with respect to the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″; 200. This movement may be provided by oscillations of the oscillation feeder.

(56) With the help of the movement energy in form of oscillations transferred by the oscillation feeder onto the elements 3 in the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″; 200, the elements 3 are put in the position to pass the transfer zone 30; 30′. Accordingly, in step Z5, the disordered elements 3 are discharged from the first transfer container 10 to 10′″″; 200 into the second receiving volume 56 of the second receiving container 50.

(57) In order to correspondingly adjust the rate of elements 3 which are discharged through the transfer zone out of the first receiving volume 14 to 14′″″, 214 into the second receiving volume 56, the brush arrangement 40 may be relocated in its axial position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″; 200 in a further supply step Z3. In this way, it is possible to change the size of the transfer zone 30 with the help of the axial position of the brush arrangement 40 in combination with the lateral cutout 32 to 32′″″ such that a changeable rate of elements 3 passes the transfer zone 30; 30′. Because by the relocating or displacing of the brush arrangement 40 regarding its axial position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first receiving container 10 to 10′″″; 200, the covering of the lateral cutout 32 to 32′″″ by the brush arrangement 40 is changed and in this way, the effect of the bristles on the entering elements 3 and/or the covering of the lateral cutout 32 to 32″″ by the brush arrangement 40 is changed. Accordingly, more or less elements 3 can pass the transfer zone 30; 30′ per time unit.

(58) The first receiving container 100 may be dislocated with respect to the second inner wall 52 such (step Z4) that the transfer gap 30′ between the first and the second receiving container is changed in its width. In this way, the number of elements 3 which can pass the transfer zone 30′ per time unit can also be adjusted.