LOADING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LOADING A CONTAINER WITH PACKAGES

Abstract

A loading device for loading a container with packages, comprising a transport channel for transport of the packages in the direction of the container. The transport channel has an upper inlet to supply packages into the transport channel and a lower outlet to supply packages into the container. At least one upper, and at least one lower, finger position each with at least one finger element are provided in the transport channel. The at least one of the finger elements of the upper and lower finger positions in each case have at least two flexible flank elements extending from one end to the opposing end of the finger element. In each case, the at least two flexible flank elements are flexibly connected via a plurality of webs. The finger elements in each case may be adjusted from at least one curved position into at least one extended position and back.

Claims

1) Loading device (20) for loading a container (21), in particular roll container, with packages, comprising a transport channel (27) for the transport of the packages (22) one after the other in the direction of the container (21), wherein the transport channel (27) has an upper inlet (29) for the supply of the packages (22) into the transport channel (27) and a lower outlet (32) for the supply of the packages (22) into the container (21), wherein at least one upper finger position (34, 35) with at least one finger element (49) and at least one lower finger position (35, 36) with at least one finger element (49) are provided in the transport channel (27), wherein the at least one of the finger elements (49) of the upper finger position (34, 35) and the lower finger position (35, 36) in each case have at least two flexible flank elements (2, 3) extending together from one end of the finger element (49) to the opposing end of the finger element (49), and wherein in each case the at least two flexible flank elements (2, 3) of the finger elements (49) are flexibly connected together in each case via a plurality of webs (6), so that the finger elements (49) in each case may be adjusted from at least one curved position into at least one extended position and back.

2) Loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of finger elements (49) is provided on at least one finger position (34, 35, 36), and in that preferably at least one hand element (44) comprising at least some of the finger elements (49) of the plurality of finger elements (49) of the respective finger position (34, 35, 36) is provided on at least one finger position (34, 35, 36).

3) Loading device according to claim 2, characterized in that the finger elements (49) of the at least one hand element (44) are arranged slightly spreading from one another to the side or running at least substantially parallel to one another, and/or in that the finger elements (49) of the at least one hand element (44) are provided to act together on a hand surface element (38) of the hand element (44).

4) Loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one drive unit (40) is assigned to at least one finger element (49) of at least one finger position (34, 35, 36) and/or at least one hand element (44) of at least one finger position (34, 35, 36) for adjusting the at least two flank elements (2, 3) of the respective finger element (49) in a longitudinal direction of the finger element (49) relative to one another from a curved into an extended position and/or back and in that preferably at least one drive unit (40) is assigned to all of the finger elements (49) of at least one finger position (34, 35, 36) and/or at least one hand element (44) for adjusting the at least two flank elements (2, 3) of the respective finger element (49) in a longitudinal direction of the finger element (49) relative to one another from a curved into an extended position and/or back.

5) Loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one finger element (49) of at least one finger position (34, 35, 36) and/or at least one hand element (44), in particular at least one flank element (2, 3) of at least one finger element (49), is assigned at least one pressure sensor for detecting the pressure exerted on the flank element (2, 3), the finger element (49) and/or the hand element (44).

6) Loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension of the at least one finger element (49) and/or hand elements (44) of a finger position (34, 35, 36) in the direction of the associated free end in a projection into a horizontal plane and/or a cross-sectional plane (E) of the transport channel (27) forms an angle (W) of between 45° and 315°, preferably between 90° and 270°, in particular between 135° and 225°, relative to the extension of a finger element (49) and/or hand element (44) of a further finger position (34, 35, 36) in the direction of the associated free end and in that preferably the extension of the finger elements (49) and/or hand elements (44) of, in particular in each case all, successive finger positions (34, 35, 36) in the direction of gravity in the direction of the associated free end in a projection into a horizontal plane and/or cross-sectional plane (E) of the transport channel (27) enclose an angle (W) of between 45° and 315°, preferably between 90° and 270°, in particular between 135° and 225°.

7) Loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the finger elements (49) and/or hand elements (44) of, in particular successive, finger positions (34, 35, 36) spaced apart from one another in the direction of gravity, are provided on at least substantially opposing inner faces of the transport channel (27).

8) Loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower and/or lowermost finger position (35, 36) of the transport channel (27) above the lower outlet (32) of the transport channel (27) is spaced apart from the outlet (32) of the transport channel (27) in the direction of gravity by less than 2 m, preferably less than 1.5 m, in particular less than 1 in, further in particular less than 0.5 m.

9) Loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport channel (27), in particular a central line (43) of the transport channel (27), is configured to be at least substantially rectilinear and/or in that the transport channel (27), in particular a central line (43) of the transport channel (27), has an angle to the direction of gravity of less than 45°, preferably of less than 30°, in particular of less than 15°.

10) Loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport channel (27) is configured at least as an at least substantially closed channel, in particular having at least a substantially rectangular or round cross section, and/or in that a funnel-shaped section (28), tapering in particular in the direction of gravity and/or in the transport direction of the packages (22) along the transport channel (27), is assigned to the upper inlet (29) of the transport channel (27).

11) Method for loading a container (21), in particular roll container, with packages (22) with a loading device (20) according to claim 1, in which the packages (22) are introduced one after the other in the upper inlet (29) of the transport channel (27), in which the packages (22) introduced into the inlet (29) of the transport channel (27) come into contact with the at least one finger element (49) of the upper finger position (34, 35) and are braked by the at least one finger element (49), in which the packages (22) braked by the at least one finger element (49) of the upper finger position (34, 35) come into contact with the at least one finger element (49) of the lower finger position (35, 36) and are braked by the at least one finger element (49) and in which the packages (22) braked by the at least one finger element (49) of the lower finger position (35, 36) are released from the transport channel (27) into the container (21) through the lower outlet (32) of the transport channel (27).

12) Method according to claim 11, in which the movement direction of the packages (22) at least from the finger elements (49) of the upper finger position (34, 35) and/or the lower finger position (35, 36) is deflected at least partially in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity and in which preferably the packages (22) are deflected by at least one finger element (49) and/or hand element (44) of the at least one upper finger position (34, 35) in the direction of the at least one finger element (49) and/or hand element (44) of the at least one lower finger position (35, 36).

13) Method according to claim 11, in which the braking and/or deflection of the packages (22) takes place by a partial capture by the at least one finger element (49) and/or hand element (44) of the at least one finger position (34, 35, 36) and/or in which the deflection and/or forwarding of the packages (22), in particular at least partially captured along the transport channel (27), takes place by an adjustment of the at least one finger element (49) of the finger position (34, 35, 36) and/or the hand element (44) downwardly and/or upwardly and/or by spreading a plurality of finger elements (49) of the finger position (34, 35, 36) and/or the hand element (44) of the finger position (34, 35, 36) and/or in which the packages (22) exiting from the lower outlet (32) of the transport channel (27) drop into the container (21), in particular roll container, in the direction of gravity.

14) Method according to claim 11, in which during the loading of the container (21) a lower section (30) of the transport channel (27) assigned to the lower outlet (32) of the transport channel (27) is held at least temporarily in a position inserted into the container (21) and in which during the loading of the container (21) preferably the lower section (30) of the transport channel (27) is at least temporarily, in particular in a stepwise manner, and at least partially pulled out of the container (21).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a finger element of a belt conveying device according to the invention and/or for performing the method according to the invention in side view,

[0045] FIGS. 2A-2C show the functional principle of the finger element of FIG. 1 when adjusting the flank elements relative to one another,

[0046] FIG. 3 shows the functional principle of the finger element of FIG. 1 with the auto-adaptive adjustment of a flank,

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a belt conveying device according to the invention in a schematic side view,

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a first loading device according to the invention during the loading of a container in a schematic side view, and

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a second loading device according to the invention in a schematic plan view from above.

[0050] While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] In FIG. 1 a finger element 1 which permits an auto-adaptive deformation is shown. The finger element 1 has two flank elements 2, 3 which in the finger element 1, which is shown and in this regard preferred, run together from one end 4 of the finger element 1 to the opposing end 5 of the finger element 1. Additionally, the flank elements 2, 3 approach one another continuously in a longitudinal direction of the finger element 1. Whilst the flank elements 2, 3 are spaced apart from one another at one end 4 of the finger element 1, the flank elements 2, 3 at the other end 5 of the finger element 1 are directly connected together. Thus, a finger element 1 which tapers and runs conically in one direction is obtained.

[0052] Webs 6 are provided between the flank elements 2, 3 so as to be distributed over the length of the finger element 1, via which the flank elements 2, 3 are connected together. In the finger element 1, which is shown and in this regard preferred, the webs 6 are connected via joints at both opposing ends 7, 8 in an articulated manner to the flank elements 2, 3. Alternatively, the webs 6 could be flexibly configured. The webs 6 in the finger element 1, which is shown and in this regard preferred, are distributed at equal spacings over the length of the finger element 1. However, this is not absolutely necessary. It is also not absolutely necessary that the webs 6, as in the finger element 1 shown, run parallel to one another. It is preferred, however, that the webs 6 form with each of the flank elements 2, 3 an acute angle α on one side and an obtuse angle β on the opposing side.

[0053] The flank elements 2, 3, which are shown and in this regard preferred, are flexibly configured so that the flank elements 2, 3 may be bent about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the finger element 1, which is shown in particular in FIGS. 2A-C. To this end it is expedient if the flank elements 2, 3 are formed from a flexible plastics material or, for example, rubber. The webs 6 may also be formed from plastics or, for example, from a metal since the webs 6 do not have to have any flexibility. In FIG. 2A, the finger element 1 of FIG. 1 is shown in an initial position in which the finger element 1 is in an extended orientation, wherein the free ends of the flank elements 2, 3 are arranged in one plane E. In the finger element 1, which is shown and in this regard preferred, in this position the flank elements 2, 3 are configured at least substantially symmetrically to one another.

[0054] If according to FIG. 2B relative to the initial position the free end of the upper flank element 2 is now displaced to the front out of the plane E shown in the longitudinal direction of the finger element 1, the finger element 1 curves downwardly as a result of the connection of the flank elements 2, 3 via the plurality of webs 6. In this manner the end 5 of the finger element 1, which is shown to the right, is adjusted downwardly. Similarly, the finger unit 1 according to FIG. 2C is curved upwardly, wherein the corresponding end 5 of the finger element 1 is adjusted upwardly when the free end of the lower flank element 3 in the longitudinal direction of the finger element 1 is displaced from the plane E to the front in the direction of the curving tip of the finger element 1. It may also be seen from FIGS. 2A-C that the webs 6 between the flank elements 2, 3 are inclined in different directions when the finger element 1 is curved.

[0055] In order to implement the displacement of the flank elements 2, 3 similar to FIGS. 2A-C, a drive unit, not shown, may be provided. In this case, suitable drive units are known from the prior art. Suitable drive units, for example, may have at least one linear drive. Thus at least one flank element 2, 3 may be adjusted forward and back in a simple manner in the longitudinal direction of the finger element 1.

[0056] It is not shown that also more than two, for example at least three or four, flank elements may be provided. For the sake of simplicity, these flank elements may be arranged, in particular, so as to be equally distributed about a longitudinal axis of the finger element. The plurality of flank elements may thus run together into a common point of the finger element, in particular with the free ends thereof. Additionally, or alternatively, preferably in each case the webs may connect together all of the flank elements. The flank elements 2, 3, which are shown and in this regard preferred, are configured to be strip-shaped. However, a plate-shaped or bar-shaped embodiment of the flank elements might also be possible.

[0057] The described finger element 1, however, may be adjusted quite differently from that shown in FIGS. 2A-C, and namely according to FIG. 3, which shows an auto-adaptive adjustment of a flank element 2, 3 of the finger element 1, whilst a package 9 presses onto the upper flank element 2 of the finger element and is bent upwardly in some sections at the same time. The corresponding flank element 2 is displaced locally in the direction of the compressive force F inwardly relative to the finger element 1, which as a result of the coupling of the flank elements 2, 3 via the webs 6 leads to the flank element 2 at a different point and namely in the direction of the two ends 10 of the flank elements 1 connected together at the end 5 of the finger unit 5, shown on the left, being curved in the direction of the package 9. As a result, the package 9 is partially encompassed by the finger element 1.

[0058] In FIG. 4 a belt conveying device 11 is shown in which the supporting structure 12 of the belt conveying device 11 consists of a finger element 1 according to FIG. 1. The conveyor belt 13 of the belt conveying device 11 runs around the supporting structure 12 and thus around the finger element 1. To this end the belt conveying device 11, which is shown and in this regard preferred, has a plurality of deflecting devices in the form of deflection rollers 15, 16, 17. A deflection roller 15 is provided at the ends 10 of the flank elements 2, 3 connected together, wherein the deflection roller 15 is ultimately borne and supported by the corresponding end 5 of the finger element 1. Moreover, in each case a deflecting device in the form of a deflection roller 16, 17 is provided at the free ends of the flank elements 2, 3. Moreover, a drive 18 is provided, said drive in the belt conveying device 13, which is shown and in this regard preferred, being able to drive the conveyor belt 13 in different directions. The drive 18 is implemented via a drive roller 19 which may be adjusted as required to tension the conveyor belt 13, for example in the longitudinal direction of the finger element 1. Additionally, for a slip-free drive of the conveyor belt 13, a toothing may be provided on the conveyor belt 13, said toothing meshing with a toothing of the drive roller 19. In contrast to the belt conveying device 11, which is shown and in this regard preferred, the supporting structure 12 about which the conveyor belt 13 circulates, may have further supporting structure parts in addition to the finger element 1.

[0059] In the belt conveying device 11, which is shown and in this regard preferred, the conveyor belt 13 is guided along the flank elements 2, 3 and namely sufficiently close that the conveyor belt 13 may be pressed by a package 9 against a flank element 2, 3 as required. The finger element 1 in this case may be adjusted in an auto-adaptive or proactive manner relative to the corresponding package 9, as has been already described. In the case of finger element 1 of the belt conveying device 11 shown in FIG. 4, therefore, the flank elements 2, 3 may also be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the finger element 1 relative to one another in order to curve the finger element 1. With the adjustment of an end 5 of the finger element 1 associated therewith in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the finger element 1, the conveyor belt 13 and the path thereof around the finger element 1 are also adjusted. If the conveyor belt 13, also in the case of a curved finger element 1, is to be guided at a small spacing from the flank elements 2, 3 along said flank elements, further devices, not shown, for positioning the conveyor belt 13 between the deflection rollers 15, 16, 17 adjoining the flank elements 2, 3 or at least one flank element 2, 3 have to be provided as required.

[0060] In FIG. 5 a loading device 20 for loading a container 21 with packages 22 is shown, whilst a container 21, which is a roll container, is loaded with packages 22 with the loading device 20. The roll container has rollers 23 in order to be able to move the container 21. Additionally, the container 21 is open to the top and to the front. Whilst the upper end 24 in the container 21 may not be closed, belts 25 which may be tensioned over the front face 26 of the container 21 in order to avoid the situation where packages 22 drop out inadvertently, are provided on a side of the container 21. For the sake of greater clarity, the belts 25 in FIG. 5 are not tensioned over the front face 26 to the opposing side even if in principle this might be expedient during the loading of the container 21. As an alternative to the belts 25, at least one door or at least one flap or at least one apron could also be provided, by which the front face 26 may be closed to a sufficient extent that a situation where the packages 22 drop out is avoided. Moreover, as already has been described in the introduction, other containers, which may be configured as roll containers but do not have to be, may also be used.

[0061] The loading device 20, which is shown and in this regard preferred, comprises a transport channel 27 which is configured in the form of a tube and thus has a circular cross section. However, this is not necessarily the case. For example, a rectangular, square or oval cross section could also be provided. Additionally, in the loading device 20, which is shown and in this regard preferred, a funnel-shaped section 28 which tapers downwardly is provided on an upper section of the transport channel 27. The upper end of this upper section forms an inlet 29 for supplying the packages 22 to the transport channel 27. When loading the container 21 with packages 22 in the exemplary embodiment of the loading device 20, which is shown and in this regard preferred, additionally a lower section 30 of the transport channel 27 is located in the container 21 to be loaded which has packages 22 only in the region of the base 31. At the lower end of the lower section 30 of the transport channel 27 an outlet 32 for the packages 22 is provided for supplying the packages 22 into the container 21. As the container 21 is filled with packages 22, the lower section 30 of the transport channel 27, in particular, may be pulled out in a stepwise manner upwardly and thus increasingly out of the container 21. As required, the lower section 30 of the transport channel 27 when loading the last packages 22 and/or when the container 21 is almost filled, is pulled out of the container 21 as a whole.

[0062] In the loading device 20, which is shown and in this regard preferred, the transport channel 27 is oriented perpendicularly. Thus, the central line 33 of the transport channel 27 is provided at least substantially parallel to the direction of gravity. This has proved to be space-saving but not in any way absolutely necessary. For example, the central line 33 could be inclined relative to the direction of gravity. In principle, it might be less preferred but conceivable if the central line 33 of the transport channel 27 might also extend approximately in a zig-zag shaped manner to and fro from one side to the other side and namely in the transport direction of the packages 22.

[0063] Three finger positions 34, 35, 36 are arranged in the direction of gravity between the inlet 29 of the transport channel 27 for supplying packages 22 and the outlet 32 of the transport channel 27 for the exit of the packages 22 in the direction of the container 21, in each case a plurality of finger elements 37 being provided at said finger positions. In the present case, in each case five finger elements 37 are provided at a finger position 34, 35, 36. However, only one finger element 37 or for example two, three of four finger elements 37 could also be provided in each case. Any other number of finger elements 37 might also be conceivable as it is also conceivable that the number of finger elements 37 varies from finger position 34, 35, 36 to finger position 34, 35, 36 if this should prove expedient. This could possibly be the case if the transport channel 37 tapers conically from its inlet 29 to its outlet 32. Then there is always increasingly less space present for the finger elements 37 downwardly.

[0064] In the loading device 20, which is shown and in this regard preferred, the finger elements 37 are not directly arranged or fixed on the wall of the transport channel 27 which, however, in principle might be possible. Instead, the finger elements 37 of a finger position 34, 35, 36 are held together on a hand surface element 28, wherein the hand surface element 38 may be provided as required such that the hand surface element 38 together with the associated finger elements 37 may be adjusted vertically and/or to the side. This is not necessary, however. Thus, in each case a hand element 39 which may be functionally adapted to the human hand is produced from the finger elements 37 together with the hand surface elements 38.

[0065] For loading the container 21, the packages 22 which may be transported thereto by a conveying device are introduced automatically or manually into the upper section of the transport channel 27 and supplied in this manner to the upper inlet 29 of the transport channel 27. The conveying device is preferably a belt conveying device, in particular a telescopic belt conveyor or a so-called sorter. The latter conveying devices may supply the packages 22 separately one after the other and drop the packages into the transport channel 27 without this having to be undertaken by an operator. The packages 22 supplied to the inlet 29 of the transport channel 27 are initially partially centered in the upper funnel-shaped section 28 of the transport channel 27 and then as required come into contact with the finger elements 37 of the hand elements 39 of the uppermost finger position 34.

[0066] The finger elements 37 of the uppermost finger position 34 in the exemplary embodiment, which is shown and in this regard preferred, are curved slightly upwardly via an associated drive unit 40 so that the free ends of the finger elements 37 are slightly raised. Thus, a slightly open human hand is recreated, the hand inner surface thereof facing upwardly. The packages 22 come into contact with the hand element 39 which is preset in this manner, wherein the packages 22 are captured to a certain extent. As a result of the weight of the packages 22 the finger elements 37 as a whole are adjusted downwardly, wherein as a result of the fin ray effect the finger elements 37 may be curved further. This curvature causes the finger tips as such to be adjusted upwardly relative to the finger element 37, whilst the finger element 37 as a whole may be adjusted downwardly in order to yield to the weight of the package 22. In this manner the packages 22 are not only braked but also deflected in their direction of movement. In the present case, this deflection takes place in the direction of the hand element 39 of the subsequent finger position 35 in the direction of gravity.

[0067] In principle, however, it is not absolutely necessary that the finger elements 37 of the hand element 39 are adjusted by a drive unit 40. For example, in the case that the finger elements 37 in the resting position are oriented in a suitable manner in the transport channel 27 and relative to their construction adapted to the size and the weight of the packages 22, a corresponding drive unit 40 may be superfluous. In this case all of the hand elements 39 of the transport channel 27 may be provided with a drive unit 40 or manage without such a drive unit. It may also be provided that some hand elements 39 of the transport channel 27 are assigned to a drive unit 40 and others are not. Additionally, not all finger positions 34, 35, 36 have to have a hand element 39. It is sufficient if individual or even all finger positions 34, 35, 36 merely have one finger element 37 or a plurality of finger elements 37 as required. In the transport channel 27, which is shown and in this regard preferred, however the finger positions 34, 35, 36 are provided with hand elements 39 as have already been described above for the uppermost finger position 34.

[0068] After a package 22 has been braked by the hand element 39 of the uppermost finger position 34 and deflected to the side, the package 22 drops in the direction of the next central finger position 35, wherein the speed of the package 22 increases in free fall. Once arrived at the central finger position 35, the package 22 comes into contact with the hand element 39 of the central finger position 35 and as in the case of the hand element 35 of the uppermost finger position 34 is captured to a certain degree and deflected, and namely in the direction of the lowermost finger position 36. Until the package 22 reaches the lowermost finger position 36, the package 22 accelerates again slightly in the direction of gravity. The hand element 39 of the lowermost finger position 36 brakes the package 22 but in turn, as described, such that the package 22 then drops with moderate speed through the outlet 32 of the transport channel 27 into the container 21. The package 22 thus lands in the container 21 sufficiently gently for the package 22 not to be damaged in any way. To this end, the lowermost finger position 36 in the transport channel 27, which is shown and in this regard preferred, is not spaced apart in the direction of gravity further than 1 m from the outlet 32 of the transport channel 27.

[0069] The movement path which the packages 22 specifically take along the transport channel 27 depends on the size and on the weight of the packages 22. The movement path for individual packages 22 may thus deviate from the movement path shown. Thus, it may also arise that, in particular, small but heavy packages 22 do not come into contact with all of the hand elements 39 of a transport channel 27. This may be tolerated as long as these packages 22 are braked sufficiently on their path through the transport channel 27, so that the packages 22 drop sufficiently slowly into the container 21. Otherwise optionally the presetting of the finger elements 37 has to be adapted via the drive unit 40 or, however, the hand elements 39 themselves have to be adapted, i.e., for example to be replaced by longer and stiffer hand elements 39.

[0070] In FIG. 6 an alternative loading device 41 is shown from above in a schematic plan view. The transport channel 42 has a circular cross section and the central line 43 of the transport channel 42 extends perpendicular to the drawing plane. In the transport channel 42, in contrast to the transport channel 27 of FIG. 5, the hand elements 44 of the finger positions 45 are not arranged opposing one another but offset to a lesser degree laterally from one another. In this case the hand elements 44 of the finger positions 45, however, in each case are still arranged at a vertical spacing from one another. As required, the transport channel 42 shown in FIG. 6 has three or more finger positions 45. If more than three finger positions 45 are provided the hand elements 44 of a plurality of finger positions 45 are provided congruent to one another in the view of FIG. 6.

[0071] For each of the hand elements 44 shown, a direction 46, 47, 48 may be defined which takes into account the direction of the finger elements 49 of the hand element 44 in the direction of their free ends and combines the directions to form a common direction of the finger elements 49 of the respective hand element 44. These directions 46, 47, 48 of the successive hand elements 44 may thus project into a cross-sectional plane E of the transport channel 27 which in the present case extends horizontally and parallel to the drawing plane and/or perpendicular to the central line 43. In this projection the above-described directions 46, 47, 48 in the exemplary embodiment, which is shown and in this regard preferred, enclose an angle W which is approximately 120°. In principle, however, other angles are also conceivable, wherein in principle it is preferred if the hand elements 44 are arranged so as to be distributed at least substantially uniformly over the periphery of the transport channel 42.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0072] 1 Finger element [0073] 2, 3 Flank element [0074] 4, 5 Finger element end [0075] 6 Web [0076] 7, 8 Web end [0077] 9 Package [0078] 10 End [0079] 11 Belt conveying device [0080] 12 Supporting structure [0081] 13 Conveyor belt [0082] 15 Deflection roller [0083] 16 Deflection roller [0084] 17 Deflection roller [0085] 18 Drive [0086] 19 Drive roller [0087] 20 Loading device [0088] 21 Container [0089] 22 Packages [0090] 23 Rollers [0091] 24 End [0092] 25 Belts [0093] 26 Front face [0094] 27 Transport channel [0095] 28 Funnel-shaped section [0096] 29 Inlet [0097] 30 Lower section [0098] 31 Base [0099] 32 Outlet [0100] 33 Central line [0101] 34-36 Finger positions [0102] 37 Finger element [0103] 38 Hand surface element [0104] 39 Hand element [0105] 40 Drive unit [0106] 41 Loading device [0107] 42 Transport channel [0108] 43 Central line [0109] 44 Hand element [0110] 45 Finger position [0111] 46-48 Directions [0112] 49 Finger element [0113] E Cross-sectional plane [0114] W Angle

[0115] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

[0116] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0117] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.