Device and method for transferring sausage portions

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for transferring sausage portions with a supply transport device, at least one removal transport device, and at least one ejector for ejecting at least one sausage portion from the supply transport device onto the removal transport device. The removal transport device comprises a lower transport device and a holding device disposed thereabove between which the at least one sausage portion is transported.

Claims

1. A device for transferring sausage portions, comprising: a supply transport device, at least one removal transport device, and at least one ejector for ejecting at least one sausage portion from said supply transport device onto said removal transport device, said removal transport device comprising a lower transport device and a holding device disposed thereabove between which said at least one sausage portion is transported; and a controller configured for actuating a drive of said removal transport device such that said removal transport device transports said sausage portions at a speed to adjust a predetermined distance between said sausage portions, where said speed depends on at least one of the following parameters: a transport speed of said supply transport device, a clock frequency of said ejector, a speed of said ejector, a sausage caliber, a set nominal distance of said sausage portions in a direction of transport T.sub.2 of said removal transport device, a number of ejected portions, and a set nominal distance of sausage groups in the direction of transport T.sub.2.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said holding device is arranged at least above a starting region of said transport device.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said holding device is formed as a circulating transport device, including a conveyor belt, a roller, a roller carpet, a sliding plate, or a resilient sliding plate.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said transport roller or said transport belt has a surface profile.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between said holding device and said lower transport device is adjustable.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said supply transport device, at least in a transfer region, comprises a holding device above a transport device.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a sensor determines a position of said sausage portion and a sausage length at a point in time, and said controller, in dependence on respective signals, determines ejection timing and actuates said ejector.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises several successively arranged ejectors.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one removal transport device extends in a second direction of transport T.sub.2 at an angle of 0 to 100 relative to a direction of transport T.sub.1 of said supply transport device.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one removal transport device comprises several adjacently disposed circulating conveyor belts.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said ejector is configured and arranged such that said ejector is movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction of transport T.sub.1 of said supply transport device or in a direction having a component of motion perpendicular to the direction of transport T.sub.1 of said supply transport device and a component of motion opposite to the direction of transport T.sub.1 of said supply transport device, and comprises a pivot mechanism, or an ejection area of said ejector is oriented at an angle or parallel to the direction of transport T.sub.1 of said supply transport device and is movable linearly at an angle inclined relative to said supply transport device.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a stop which is arranged at least in a starting region of said removal transport device and is positioned transverse to a direction of transport T.sub.1 of said supply transport device in order to decelerate said sausage portions in the direction of transport T.sub.1 of said supply transport device.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least parts of said ejector are movable in or opposite to a direction of transport T.sub.1 of said supply transport device.

14. A method for transferring sausage portions, comprising: via a controller with instructions therein, ejecting with an ejector at least one sausage portion from a supply transport device laterally onto at least one removal transport device; holding and further transporting the at least one sausage portion between a lower transport device of the removal transport device and a holding device disposed thereabove; and actuating a drive of the removal transport device such that the removal transport device transports the sausage portions at a speed to adjust a predetermined distance between the sausage portions, where the speed depends on at least one of the following parameters: a transport speed of the supply transport device, a clock frequency of the ejector, a speed of the ejector, a sausage caliber, a set nominal distance of the sausage portions in a direction of transport T.sub.2 of the removal transport device, a number of ejected portions, and a set nominal distance of sausage groups in the direction of transport T.sub.2.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein one or more sausage portions of the at least one sausage portion are ejected at several locations laterally from the supply transport device, where n.sub.1 sausage portions are ejected successively at a first location S.sub.1 onto the removal transport device by actuating the ejector successively a number n.sub.2 of times, and where a certain number n.sub.3 of sausage portions passing the first location S.sub.1 without being ejected by the ejector is/are ejected at least at one further location by a respective ejector.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: detecting faulty products; not transferring the faulty products onto the removal transport device; discharging the faulty products at an end of the supply transport device; and adjusting the speed of the supply transport device, a speed of the removal transport device, and/or a speed of the ejecting to balance a number of sausage portions.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: detecting a direction of a curvature of the at least one sausage portion; and ejecting sausage portions having a certain direction of curvature onto a respective removal transport device.

18. A device for transferring sausage portions comprising: a supply transport device; at least one removal transport device, the removal transport device comprising a lower transport device and a holding device disposed thereabove between which at least one sausage portion is transported; at least one ejector for ejecting the at least one sausage portion from the supply transport device onto the removal transport device; and a controller including executable instructions in non-transitory memory for ejecting the at least one sausage portion via the ejector during the transfer from the supply transport device onto the removal transport device, and holding and further transporting the at least one sausage portion between the lower transport device of the removal transport device and the holding device disposed thereabove.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the executable instructions in non-transitory memory further include instructions for ejecting the at least one sausage portion at several locations laterally from the supply transport device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention shall be explained below in more detail with reference to the following figures.

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a horizontal section through one embodiment of the present invention with a removal transport angle of 90.

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows a longitudinal section through the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 along the line I-I.

(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with a different grouping assignment.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section along line I-I through the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 with a respective grouping assignment.

(6) FIG. 5A shows a side view of the supply transport device with a holding device according to a further embodiment of the present invention with a removal transport angle of 0.

(7) FIG. 5B shows a section along the line II-II with a first grouping assignment.

(8) FIG. 5C shows the arrangement shown in FIG. 5B with a further grouping assignment.

(9) FIG. 5D shows the arrangement shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C with yet a further grouping assignment.

(10) FIG. 6 shows a section through an embodiment shown in FIG. 5B along the line III-III.

(11) FIG. 7 shows a horizontal section through a further embodiment according to the present invention with a removal transport angle =45.

(12) FIG. 8 shows a horizontal section through a further embodiment according to the present invention with two ejection locations to them same side and a removal transport angle of 90.

(13) FIG. 9 shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 with a different grouping assignment.

(14) FIG. 10 shows a horizontal section through a further embodiment with two ejection locations to two different sides and a removal transport angle of 90.

(15) FIG. 11A shows a horizontal section through a further embodiment with two ejection locations and a removal transport angle of 0.

(16) FIG. 11B shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 11A with a further grouping assignment.

(17) FIG. 11C shows the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B with yet a further grouping assignment.

(18) FIG. 12 shows a particular embodiment of an ejector according to the present invention.

(19) FIGS. 13A-D show different embodiments of a holding device for the removal transport device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(20) FIG. 1 shows a horizontal section through an embodiment according to the present invention, where the removal transport or transfer angle is =90, this means the angle between the direction of transport T.sub.1 of a supply transport device 1 and the direction of transport T.sub.2 of a removal transport device 2. The device comprises an ejector 3 which, as shown by the arrow, is movable to and fro and can eject a sausage portion 4 from supply transport device 1 onto removal transport device 2.

(21) Supply transport device 1 can be configured as a circulating transport device, for example, a conveyor belt, a roller carpet etc., with a respective drive and can move at a first transport speed v.sub.1. As is particularly evident also from FIG. 2, supply transport device 1 can comprise a lower transport device 8 as well as a holding device 7 extending at least partially over the length of the lower transport device. Both lower transport device 8 as well as holding device 7 can there be configured as circulating transport devices. This results, for example, in a respective twin-belt between which sausage portion 4 can be held and transported in the direction of transport T.sub.1. The holding device and the lower transport device are there preferably driven at the same speed. Supply transport device 1 advantageously comprises the holding device at least in a transfer region S.sub.1 where an ejector 3 ejects the sausage portion. The holding device can be configured as a sliding plate or a resilient sliding plate, as shall be explained in more detail in connection with FIG. 13.

(22) As illustrated in FIG. 2 showing a section along the line I-I of FIG. 1 (with the exception that an additional sausage portion 4 is shown in the supply transport device in FIG. 2), the removal transport device 2 there as well comprises a lower transport device 5 and a holding device 6 located thereabove. Transport device 5 and holding device 6 are in this embodiment configured as circulating conveyor belts.

(23) The distance between lower transport device 8, 5 and holding device 7, 6 can be adjusted via an adjustment mechanismnot shownand there be adapted to a specific sausage caliber. The distance between the transport device and the holding device there preferably corresponds to 70% to 100% of the sausage caliber.

(24) In the present invention, it is not necessary that holding device 6 of removal transport device 2 extends over the entire length of transport device 5. It is essential only that holding device 6 be located above a starting region a (see also FIG. 13A) of transport device 5. The respective sausage portion, being moved on supply transport device 1 in a first transporting direction T.sub.1 and also still having a component of motion or momentum in the direction of transport T.sub.1 during the transfer, is effectively decelerated by holding device 6. Sausage portions 4 being ejected from supply transport device 1 can be reliably received and held by holding device 6. The sausage can maintain its correct alignment. Due to the fact that supply transport device 1 also comprises a holding device in this embodiment at least in the transfer region, the sausage portion can throughout the entire transfer process be held and transferred in a correct position.

(25) Ejector 3 is there designed such that ejection area 3a presently being oriented parallel to the direction of transport T.sub.1 is moved through the gap between holding device 7 and transport device 8 (see dotted lines) to push the sausage portions from the supply transport device. Sausage portion 4 is then pushed onto lower transport device 5, held by holding device 6 and further transported in the direction of transport T.sub.2.

(26) As mentioned above, holding device 6 may be disposed at least in the starting region a (see FIG. 13A), comprising an area 0 to 5 cm from the front end of the removal transport device. As shown in FIG. 13B, the holding device can also be configured as a sliding plate 6 which is at least in the starting region a located above transport device 5. Sliding plate 6 can be resiliently mounted, as shown in FIG. 13B, to compensate for variations in the sausage caliber. The distance of sliding plate 6 to transport device 5 can also be adjusted. As is apparent from FIG. 13C, holding device 6 can be designed in the form of a driven or rotatably mounted roller which is also disposed in starting region a.

(27) FIG. 13D shows the embodiment of the removal transport device as a twin belt with a lower conveyor belt as the transport device and an upper transport device 6 as the holding device.

(28) The embodiments for a holding device shown in connection with FIGS. 13A to 13D also apply to a holding device 7 of the supply transport device, but holding device 7 of the supply transport device should preferably be configured as being co-traveling with the supply transport device. The holding device for the supply transport device can be, for example, a conveyor belt, at least one roller, a roller carpet or more generally a device for pressing the sausage portions onto the lower conveyor belt to improve entrainment.

(29) As shown in FIG. 1, ejector 3 there moves to and from perpendicular to the direction of transport T.sub.1. However, it is also possible to provide a pivoting device which makes it possible that ejection area 3a is with a pivotal motion (see FIG. 12, arrow P.sub.1) pivoted onto sausage portion 4 so as to eject it from supply transport device 1 and, as illustrated by arrow P.sub.2, can after the ejection again be pivoted back to a starting position. The hinge parallelogram, for example shown in FIG. 12, is suitable as a pivot mechanism, where the ejection member 13 is movably connected to ejection area 3a about the axes A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 to parallel legs 14, 15. Legs 14 and 15 are each mounted rotatably about axes A.sub.3 and A.sub.4. Ejection member 13 is thereby during the pivoting motion always parallel to the direction of transport T.sub.1.

(30) The device further advantageously comprises a controller 90 that controls a drive of removal transport device 2, this means controlling the transport device of the removal transport device and possibly also the holding device such that it transports the sausage portions at a speed V.sub.2 in order to adjust a predetermined distance b between sausage portions 4 relative to each other (see FIG. 1, for example). The controller 90 also controls the speed V.sub.1 of supply transport device 1. The controller 90 further controls the functions of ejector 3, this means the time when the ejector ejects a sausage portion and the speed of the ejector. The speed V.sub.2 of removal transport device 2 depends, for example, on at least one of the following parameters: transport speed V.sub.1 of supply transport device 1, the clock frequency of ejector 3, the sausage caliber, the set nominal distance b of the sausage portions in the direction of transport T.sub.1 of removal transport device 2, the number of portions ejected at this location. The distance b between the sausage portions on the removal transport device can therefore according the present invention be accurately adjusted. Also various grouping assignments can be realized in which sausage groups are created at a distance c (see FIG. 3, for example). This speed V.sub.2 can be varied to produce different group distances or for clocked operation. A stop 10, for example, in the form of a fixed stop, can be arranged between lower transport device 5 and holding device 6 disposed thereabove for further decelerating and aligning sausage portion 4 being transferred from supply transport device 1 and still having kinetic momentum in the direction of transport T.sub.1. A conveyor belt, being perpendicular to transport device 5, can instead of a fixed stop 10 be disposedwhen viewed in the direction of transport T.sub.1at the rear edge 20 of transport device 5 or holding device 6 disposed thereabove and serve as a stop and at the same time move the sausage portions in the direction of transport T.sub.2. The timing when the ejector arrives at the sausage portion can also be set with the controller 90. Also the position at which the sausage portion comes to lie transverse to the direction of transport T.sub.2 on transport device 2 is thereby determined. The controller 90 knows the position of the sausage portion in dependence of time.

(31) The controller 90 therefore either knows the position of the sausage portion in dependence of time because it is connected to an upstream device, such as filling machine, or is part of this device and therefore receives signals at certain points in time about the positions of the sausage portions. Since also the speed of supply transport device 1 and the distance to the respective supply transport device 1 is known, the time can be accurately determined when the selected ejector is to arrive at the sausage portion to eject it. It is there advantageous if the controller 90 also receives signals related to the sausage portion length so that ejector 3 ejects the sausage portion when the sausage portion is directly in front of ejection area 3a. Alternatively, a sensor device can be provided which is indicated in FIG. 1, for example, by reference numeral 80. The front and the rear end of the sausage position can be detected by this sensor, for example an optical sensor, from which the position of the sausage portion can be determined at any given time. With the distance to ejector 3 and the speed of supply device 1, the exact time can then be calculated at which, for example, the center of a sausage portion can be ejected from the center of ejection area 3a (as viewed in the direction of transport T.sub.1). The accuracy of the placement position can thereby be improved.

(32) The position can also be influenced in that ejector 3 is movable mechanically in the direction of transport T.sub.1 also while supply transport device 1 moves in the direction of transport T.sub.1. If ejector 3, or at least a part which comprises ejection area 3a, in the Figures, for example, the part that comprises ejection area 3a, is movable in the direction of transport T.sub.1 and in the direction opposite to the direction of transport T.sub.1, then it can always be ensured that a sausage portion is during ejection with its central region in the central region of ejection area 3a. In addition, the position of the sausage portion on removal transport device 2 can be adjusted in the direction of transport T.sub.1.

(33) In one example, the controller 90 includes instructions stored in memory that when executed cause the controller 90 to carry out one or more routines described herein. The controller 90 may receive signals from a various sensors described herein (e.g., sensor 80) and employ various actuators (e.g., conveyor belt drives) to adjust the device based on the received signals and instructions stored on the memory of the controller 90.

(34) FIG. 3 shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with a different grouping assignment. While the sausages are in the grouping assignment shown in FIG. 1 pushed successively onto removal transport device 2 such that they have a constant predetermined distance b from each other, several sausage groups 12a, b, c are created in FIG. 3 each having a certain number of individual sausage portions 4, where the sausage groups also have a certain distance c from each other. The distance c can be created in that, for example, removal transport device 2 is moved faster once a sausage group was fully placed onto removal transport device 2, or in that sausage portions 4 pass location S.sub.1 without ejector 3 being actuated by the controller or no sausages are supplied during a period of time via the supply transport device. If the distance c between the sausage portion groups has been obtained, then ejector 3 is again actuated and ejects the sausage portions of the next group.

(35) FIG. 4 shows a section along the line I-I in FIG. 3, where here as well, however, one sausage portion 4 is shown in the supply transport device.

(36) FIGS. 5A-D show an embodiment corresponding to the previous embodiments, but in which the removal transport angle =0, this means that removal transport device 2 runs parallel to supply transport device 1. FIG. 5A shows a longitudinal section through supply transport device 1, where supply transport device 1 above its transport device 8, presently the conveyor belt, also comprises a holding device 7, presently also designed as a conveyor belt. FIG. 5B shows a section along line II-II of FIG. 5A. It is clear from FIG. 5B that removal transport device 2 is disposed parallel to supply transport device 1, where the sausage portions can by ejector 3 be ejected onto removal transport device 2 as previously described.

(37) FIG. 6 is a section along the line III-III of FIG. 5B and shows that both the supply transport device as well as removal transport device 2 at least in the transfer region in addition to a lower transport device 5, presently a conveyor belt, also comprise a holding device 6, 7, presently also in the form of a conveyor belt. Ejector 3 can be moved to and fro between the respective transport devices 5, 8 and holding devices 6, 7, as is illustrated by the arrows.

(38) As is apparent from FIGS. 5A-D, the product flow can there be divided, where the direction of transport is maintained and the number n of transferred sausage portions can be chosen at random. In FIG. 5B, the controller controls the ejector such that, for example, every second sausage portion is transferred. In FIG. 5C, respectively 2 consecutive sausage portions are ejected, then two sausage portions pass location S.sub.1 without ejector 3 being actuated, etc. In FIG. 5D, a sausage portion is ejected, two subsequent sausage portions remain on the supply transport device and only then is a respective sausage portion again ejected. Any groupings are possible.

(39) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which removal transport device 2 conveys the sausage portions in a direction T.sub.2, where T.sub.2 extends at a removal transport angle of 45 relative to the direction of transport T.sub.1. In order be able to connect to the supply transport device 1 to the transport device 2 as close as possible also in angle ranges unequal to 90 and unequal to 0, several conveyor belts 11a, b, c, d, e disposed in parallel are provided there. As shown in FIG. 7, transport device 5 there comprises the several adjacently disposed conveyor belts 11a to e. It is also possible that the holding device comprises several adjacently disposed circulating conveyor belts and then extends at least in the starting region, as previously explained. Approximately two to 10 conveyor straps or belts are there preferably provided, where the individual belts are each 1 cm to 5 cm in width.

(40) FIG. 8 shows an embodiment which essentially corresponds to the preceding embodiments, where the sausage portions are there successively ejected at several locations S.sub.1, S.sub.2 onto a respective removal transport belt 2, 2. Ejection is there respectively effected to the same side. A corresponding arrangement allows dividing the product flow, where a gap thereby arises in a temporally-delayed manner at the second ejector 3 and the associated removal transport device 2 by ejecting a sausage portion at the first ejector 3. If several portions are immediately ejected successively at first ejector 3 and the speed of transport device 2 is selected such that the portions come to rest close to each other at a certain distance b or without any spacing, groups 12 automatically arise on removal transport belts 2, 2 with a predetermined number of sausage portions 4.

(41) Where n.sub.1 sausage portions can be ejected successively at the first location S.sub.1 onto removal transport belt 2, the ejector is actuated consecutively n.sub.2 times. If only one respective sausage portion is ejected at a certain point in time by the ejector, then n.sub.1=n.sub.2 results as shown in FIG. 8. In this grouping assignment, n=4.

(42) A certain number n.sub.3 of sausage portions is then not ejected at the first location S.sub.1 by the ejector but passes this location S.sub.1. The passing sausage portions 4 are then ejected at at least one further location, presently at a further location S.sub.2, by a respective ejector 3. By selecting the speed of removal transport device 2, groups 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d arise here as well that have a respective distance to each other. In FIG. 8, two sausage portions are still missing for the last group 12d and are still to be transferred by ejector 3. There, n.sub.3=n.sub.2 is applicable and ejector 3 is for creating a group likewise actuated n.sub.2 times.

(43) Although not shown, it would be possible that sausage portions pass the first location S.sub.1 and are not ejected and pass also the second location S.sub.2 and are not ejected, are then supplied to a third or several locations to there be transferred to a respective removal transport device 2.

(44) FIG. 9 corresponds to the embodiments shown in FIG. 8 with a different grouping assignment. Every second sausage is there via a first ejector 3 ejected onto removal transport device 2 at location S.sub.1. As with the preceding embodiment, the non-ejected sausage portions are then ejected at at least one further location S.sub.2 via a further ejector 3, in this embodiment via a second ejector. The distance b of the sausages to each other can be adjusted by selecting the speeds of the removal transport devices 2, 2.

(45) FIG. 10 shows an embodiment which essentially corresponds to the preceding embodiments with the exception that the sausages are there ejected at several locations via respective ejectors 3, 3 in different ejection directions relative to supply transport device 1. For this purpose, ejectors 3, 3 are arranged on different sides of supply transport device 1. The grouping assignment in FIG. 10 corresponds to the grouping assignment in FIG. 9.

(46) FIGS. 11A to 11C correspond to a further embodiment of the present invention in which, as explained in connection with FIG. 5, the removal transport angle =0, this means that the removal transport device or, as presently, the two removal transport devices extend parallel to the supply transport device. Also in this embodiment, there are two locations S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 at which the sausage portions are ejected from supply transport device 1 to removal transport device 2.

(47) Ejector 3 can, for ejecting sausage portions 4, be moved from supply transport device 1 either above the respective removal transport device 2 and supply transport device 1 or, when a respective holding device is provided, can be guided between the transport device and the holding device for ejecting the sausage portion onto removal transport device 2. The same applies to ejector 3 which can transfer the sausage portion from supply transport device 1 onto transport device 2.

(48) The product flow can there be divided into three lanes, where the division can be uniform but also numerically arbitrary. In FIG. 11A, a respective sausage portion is pushed onto removal transport device 2, the subsequent sausage portion remains on supply transport device 1 and the third sausage portion is by ejector 3 pushed onto removal transport device 2.

(49) FIGS. 11B and 11C show further possible grouping options.

(50) In the embodiments, in which =0, the sausage portions are in their longitudinal direction aligned in the direction of transport T.sub.2 and not, as in the other embodiments, transversely or obliquely to the direction of transport T.sub.2, where, as in the other embodiments, the distance b between the individual sausage portions can be influenced via the speed or the speed ratio of the supply transport device and the removal transport device.

(51) It is also possible that faulty products such as ruptured sausage portions or those that differ from the desired length or from a desired shape are detected via a respective detection device, for example, a camera system that compares a recorded image with a reference image, and are discharged if it is detected that a faulty product is given, then an ejector is not actuated and does not push the sausage portion onto the removal transport device. In order to prevent that a gap arises on the removal transport device, the speed of the removal transport device can be adjusted accordingly, this means for example, that the speed can be delayed for a moment or the removal transport device can be stopped for a moment. The faulty products can then be discharged via supply transport device 1.

(52) It is particularly advantageous if the direction of curvature of the sausages is detected and the sausages having a certain direction of curvature are ejected onto a respective removal transport device 2, this means that sausage portions having an opposite direction of curvature are ejected onto a further removal transport device or are removed via supply transport device 1. The curvature can be detected, for example, by a camera system or by distance measurement, in which the distance of the sausage surface is measured relative to a reference point, where the distance along the length of the sausage according to the curvature respectively changes for a certain curvature.

(53) The holding device, in particular the transport roller or the conveyor belt of removal transport device 2 advantageously comprises no smooth surface but a surface profile, in particular lateral ribs (where the ribs are aligned perpendicular to the direction of transport T.sub.2). This ensures that the sausages transferred to supply transport device 1 can be well gripped by the removal transport device.

(54) An operation method according to the invention for the embodiments shown in the FIGS. 1-13 is described below. The control methods and routines disclosed herein may be stored as executable instructions in non-transitory memory and may be carried out by the controller in combination with the various sensors, actuators, and other hardware. The method includes ejecting at least one sausage portion from the supply transport device 1 onto the removal transport device, and holding and further transporting the at least one sausage portion between a lower transport device 5 of removal transport device 3 and a holding device 5 disposed thereabove.

(55) In an example of the method, one or more sausage portions of the at least one sausage portion are ejected at several locations laterally from the supply transport device, where n.sub.1 sausage portions are ejected successively at a first location S.sub.1 onto said removal transport device by actuating an ejector successively a number n.sub.2 of times, and where a certain number n.sub.3 of sausage portions passing said first location S.sub.1 without being ejected by said ejector is/are ejected at least at one further location by a respective ejector.

(56) The method may further comprise detecting faulty products (e.g., ruptured or deformed sausage portions); not transferring said faulty products onto said removal transport device; discharging said faulty products at an end of said supply transport device; and adjusting a speed of the supply transport device, a speed of the removal transport device, and/or a speed of the ejecting to balance a number of sausage portions.

(57) In an example, the method may further comprise detecting a direction of a curvature of said at least one sausage portion; and ejecting sausage portions having a certain direction of curvature onto a respective removal transport device.

(58) The speeds v1, v2, and the respective point(s) in time at which the ejector(s) is/are actuated can be freely set, where supply transport device 1, the at least one removal transport device 1, and the at least one ejector 3 are actuated such that a particular grouping pattern is created on the at least one removal transport device 3.

(59) For this purpose, a grouping assignment can be entered into the controller for the at least one removal transport device, where the following grouping parameter for the respective removal transport device can be entered: the number n of sausage portions in a group 12, the distance b between the sausage portions of a group 12, and the distance c between the groups 12.

(60) The controller then in dependency of these parameters and a speed v1, which depends on the production rate and the length of the sausages, coordinates the functions of the removal transport belt and the ejector for the respective grouping assignment and controls the device accordingly.