DE3019662A1 - Two-stream cigarette transport mechanism - has transfer conveyor delivering cigarettes transversely along curved tracks to both stream conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

The mechanism transports rod-shaped items such as cigarettes, these being delivered sideways in first and second streams with the ends in one extending in the opposite direction to those in the other. A transfer conveyor delivers them from one or both streams to a point where the streams are combined, with all ends on the same side. The transfer conveyor (26, 46, 50) transports them sideways in stacks along two separate curved tracks and round axes at right angles to the travel direction and to the items on the tracks. Preferably the transfer conveyor consists of several conveyor sections.

Description

Description:

The invention relates to a device for conveying rod-shaped Objects such as cigarettes or cigarette filter rods.

A typical tipping machine provides two separate rows of Filter cigarettes with the filter ends facing each other.

Before the two rows are united for further handling of the cigarettes the cigarettes should be rotated in one row so that their Point the filter ends in the same direction as the other row. This process is called "tip turning. The present invention is particularly useful advantageous (though not exclusively) to turning filter cigarettes use.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is a device for conveying of rod-shaped objects with a conveyor for conveying a first and a second stream of rod-shaped objects in the transverse axial direction, wherein the ends of the objects of the one stream in the opposite direction to that corresponding ends of the objects of the other stream are directed and one Transfer conveyor that carries the items from one stream or from both streams promotes to a point where both streams promotes to a point where both Streams are combined into a common stream at which the corresponding ends the objects are all on the same side of the stream, according to the invention characterized in that the transfer conveyor carries the objects in a stack formation moved in the transverse axial direction on two separate curved conveyor tracks around axes, the essentially perpendicular to said direction and to the objects run on the conveyor tracks.

The transfer conveyor preferably consists of at least two individual conveyors that carry the items on separate curved conveyor tracks move. The transfer conveyor is preferably designed so that it carries the objects moved by one of the streams successively on the curved conveyor tracks. The crooked ones Conveyor tracks can be essentially horizontal and at different levels get lost. In this case, the individual conveyors are the transfer conveyor connected by a conveyor track with a vertical section. the curved conveyor tracks can be arranged so that the objects on the conveyor tracks wander in parallel and opposite directions. In one embodiment move the objects at the downstream end of one conveyor track and at the upstream end of the other conveyor track in parallel and opposite Directions. The angles through which the items are moved on the curved conveyor tracks are preferably substantially the same and can be approximately 900.

The transfer conveyor can have means for lifting the conveyed Stacks of objects provided on at least one of the curved conveyor tracks be, so that the radius of the conveyor track can be kept very small, essentially as in GB-PS 20 07 964.

The transfer conveyor preferably contains funds that the Objects in a direction transverse to the parallel directions of move the first and second stream so that the objects are relative to the stream be offset laterally. Appropriately, the objects are from a stream promoted by these means of the conveyor, and they are funded by them discharged at a point below the other stream, so that the objects of the other stream simply on top of the objects of the first stream can be filed.

According to another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for conveying rod-shaped objects, characterized by a first conveyor for conveying a first stream of rod-shaped objects in a stack formation at a first level, a second conveyor for conveying a second stream of rod-shaped objects in stack formation on the first level, a third Conveyor for conveying the second stream on the first level, a facility for transferring the second stream from the second to the third conveyor, a merging area between the first and third sponsors, and a fourth sponsor who united the conveyed both streams away from the merging area at a second level.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and the second run and the third conveyor substantially parallel with the first and second Conveyor in the same direction and the third conveyor in the opposite direction move. The first and third conveyors are expediently directed in opposite directions and separated from each other by the union area. From the union area A slide down or an elevator can lead up to the fourth conveyor.

The means for transferring the second stream from the second to the Third conveyors preferably consist of a transfer conveyor, which the Current moved about 1800 about a vertical axis. And the transfer funder can in turn be designed essentially as in GB-PS 20 07 964. Alternatively for this purpose, the transfer conveyor can form a conveyor track to the conveyor, which in the essentially corresponds to that in the aforementioned British patent specification, where he However, it is made of flexible plastic in the form of a disc that is positively guided is that it moves on an inclined path about a substantially vertical axis emotional. The central portion of the transfer conveyor preferably has a Hub with inwardly sloping sides covering the inner ends of the objects support on the inclined section of the conveyor. The transfer from the second Conveyor to the transfer conveyor and from the transfer conveyor to the third Conveyor can be done with the help of 'dead' plates that hold the items at the Bring the overpass back into its original orientation or

give them a straight line orientation. For example needs the line of transfer between the dead plates and the transfer conveyor not to be parallel to the passing objects, so that an end or some of the lowest objects in the stream before the other end or the rest Sharing is touched.

According to a further aspect of the invention is a device for Conveying rod-shaped objects that are essentially in a stack formation move in opposite directions, with a region of union for the currents and a conveyor track for conveying away the objects from the union area, according to the invention characterized by a device for preparing the union area at the start of operations, which throttles the passage through the union area, to there are sufficient items in the union area or upstream of the union area have accumulated so that the leading objects to prevent misalignment are limited and guided.

The facility for preparing the unification area, i.

the facility that keeps the association area operational offset, may have movement-inhibiting means that the exit from the union area throttle, and it may further comprise pressure sensitive means responsive to the pressure address items in or adjacent to the union area.

The device preferably includes the preparation of the merging area at least one conveyor belt extending across the merging area and which is retractable. The conveyor belt can be an elastically pretensioned drive belt which extends across the union area to substantially it to close until the pressure of the objects in the union area is greater than the elastic preload. For example, the tape can normally be damaged by the pressure of the objects are curved so that it is the objects on a curved Bahn is promoted from the association area to the fourth sponsor. As another option or in addition, a flexible curtain can be made of relatively heavy weight or something else Extend material (e.g. chain material) into the union area. Another Possibility is a sensor or a pressure plate, which the union area (e.g. above the same) and with a mechanism coupled which restricts the width of the outlet from the merging area; while if the pressure builds up in the union area, the sensor actuates the linkage, thereby increasing the width of the outlet and removing the items from the merging area can emerge.

An apparatus for combining the streams according to the present invention Invention comprising a scope of association is particularly advantageous for use in a cigarette turner. According to a preferred embodiment, in this If parallel streams of filter cigarettes are received by a filter attachment machine, and a first stream passes to one side of the merging area while the other stream goes to the other side of the merging area, this being this Current has been turned so that when combining in the union area, the filter ends of cigarettes are on the same side of the merged stack. A preparatory one Equipment that puts the machine ready for operation is particularly useful, since one stream (the first) usually arrives at the merging area before the other, because he has to cover a shorter distance from the filter attachment machine. The preparatory device is preferably loaded so that it is the first stream receives and leads him through the union area before the second stream receives the merging area; this avoids an undesirable jam of the cigarettes on the first page of the union area.

Based on the drawings, Ausführungsbei are games of the invention explained. It shows: FIG. 1 a side view of a device designed according to the invention contraption for conveying cigarettes; FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device according to FIG. 1; 4 shows a side view of part of a modified embodiment; Fig. 5 shows a side view of a further device for conveying cigarettes; Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the device according to FIG. 5.

1-3 show a device for conveying away cigarettes from a filter attachment machine such as the applicant's "Mollns PA8". Two parallel Streams of cigarettes 2, 4, the filter ends of which point in opposite directions and are adjacent to each other, are coming from the filter machine between two pairs of laterally spaced upper and lower conveyor belts 6 and 8, respectively promoted. The conveyor tracks between the conveyor belts 6 and the conveyor belts 8 lie in the same plane and are from the pick-up point on the filter attachment machine tilted off upwards.

The cigarettes 4 are coming from the conveyor belts 8 to a belt conveyor 10 delivered, which moves at a slower speed than the conveyor belts 8, so that a stack 12 is formed.

A curved guide 14 guides the cigarettes 4 onto the stack 12; the area below the guide 14 forming the stack can be controlled by a sensor the speed of the belts 8 and / or the conveyor 10 are assigned.

The stack 12 is taken from the conveyor 10 to a short fall path 16 delivered, which is partially limited by a further guide surface 18, and from there it arrives at a further belt conveyor 20, which has a stack 22 with it the speed of the stack 12 promotes. The conveyor track of the cigarettes 4 through the device (via the stacks 12 and 22) is thus carried out, as best from the Figures 2 and 3 appear between parallel vertical planes.

The filter ends of the cigarettes 4 therefore retain their alignment stacks 12 and 22.

The cigarettes 2 follow a more complicated conveyor path through the Apparatus as will now be described. From the conveyor belts 6, the cigarettes 2 guided through a surface 24 corresponding to surface 14 onto a conveyor 26, who turns the cigarette by 900, on a vertical axis, the one on the right Side of the cigarettes with respect to their direction of movement. The conveyor 26 has an endless chain 28 which carries bars (slats) 30 arranged in the manner of a cantilever. The endless chain 28 runs in the 900 curve on vertically spaced sprockets 32 and around inner rollers 34 at the ends of the curve. The location of the outer ends of the Last 30 is driven by outer rollers 36 at the ends of the curves and through around the Curve extending guide rails 38 are determined. The upper guide rail 38 is raised on the curve.

The speed of rotation of the conveyor 26 is less than the speed of the belts 6, so that a stack 40 is formed on the strips 28 below the guide 24 will. As with the cigarettes 4 and the belts 8, the speed with that the cigarettes 2 are dispensed from the belts 6, and / or the speed of Conveyor 26 can be controlled by sensors in the vicinity of the guide 24 in order to act on this Manner to influence the formation of the stack 40 and to keep it under control. As the upper guide rail 38 lifts the ledges 30, the outside of the stack becomes 40 raised on the conveyor 26 in the curve in the same way the inner Ends of the cigarettes in the stack 40 are, if necessary, supported by a cylinder 42 prevented from slipping above the upper sprocket 32. By lifting the stack 40 on the outside of the curve it is possible to stack the stack in a curve with very to turn a small radius and thus to turn it around 900 in a confined space. Because further details of the device for conveying cigarettes in a curve of this type, reference is made to GB-PS 20 07 964, the disclosure of which is part of the present Registration may form.

At the end of the 900 curve, the stack 40 follows a guide 44 Conveyed below on a belt 46, whereby a further stack 48 is formed. There the direction of movement of the cigarettes between the stacks 40 and 48 is reversed, the filter ends of the cigarettes are now on the left-hand side with respect to their direction of movement, ie. on the same side as that of cigarettes 4. The Stack 48 is fed inwardly by belt 46 to a conveyor 50 which carries the Cigarette rotates by 900, around a vertical axis that is on the left of the cigarettes with respect to their direction of movement. The conveyor 50 essentially has the same structure as the conveyor 26 and has a chain 52, a raised one Guide rail 56 and an upper cylinder 58. The "exit" of the conveyor 50 for the stack 48 leads directly to the belt conveyor 20. The stack 22 on the conveyor 20 consists of the Stack 48 discharged from conveyor 50 and the stack 12, which over the fall section 16 onto the stack 48 of the conveyor 20 is delivered. The conveyors 26 and 50, together with the conveyor 46, therefore move the cigarettes 2 on a conveyor track that aligns them with the cigarettes 4 and also rotates it sideways by 1800 so that its filter ends in the same direction as that of the cigarettes 4.

To the cigarettes of the one stream around the required 900 curves to rotate, instead of the conveyors 26, 50, which are made up of chains and cantilevered Strips are made, conveyors with discs made of flexible plastic are used, in which the disc occupies a higher position on the outside of the curve and is pushed down on the inside of the curve. The scope of the disc can be be provided with separate fingers, each of which carries a protrusion, the supports the conveyance of the cigarettes in the curve. A sponsor of this type is in Figs. 4 and 5 of the applicant's British patent application No. 791753, the disclosure of which may form part of the present application.

The inclination of the belts 6 and 8 can be adjusted by pivoting about the axis of the large role can be adjusted. In this way the device becomes capable offset, cigarettes from machines with different levels of delivery for a particular Record height of the conveyor 20. The inclination of the bands 6 and the bands 8 needs not to be the same, albeit by lifting the cigarettes 4 space for the Conveyor 50 below the conveyor belt 10 is created.

A modified feed from the filter attachment machine is shown in Fig. 4 shown. In this modified embodiment, the bands are 6.8 through Pairs of grooved drums 60,62 replaced, with the upper drum 62 cigarettes delivers directly to a stationary stripping guide 64 and onto a stacking conveyor belt 66. The position of the drum 62 in relation to the drum 60 (the one delivery drum of the filter attachment machine can be) is variable, as indicated by the dashed position of the drum 60 in Fig. 4 is indicated, so that the height of the device with respect to the filter attachment machine is also changeable. The drums 60 and 62 can go in opposite directions those in Fig. 4 revolve; in this case the drum 62 is at a higher level Position with respect to the belt 66, and it dispenses cigarettes to a guide which less steep than the guide 64 is inclined.

5 and 6 show a further device for conveying away Cigarettes from a filter attachment machine. A dispensing drum 10 of the filter attachment machine, on which the "final cut" is made, emits two parallel streams of cigarettes, whose filter ends point in opposite directions. Parallel belt conveyors 102, 104 receive cigarettes from the corresponding stream on drum 100. An inclined guide 106 transfers the cigarettes from the drum 100 onto the conveyor 102 below a flexible curtain 108. The curtain 108 supports the creation of a stack on the conveyor 102. A guide and curtain (not shown) corresponding to the guide 106 and the curtain 108 are assigned to the conveyor 104, on which a stack is formed in the same manner as on the conveyor 102. Each conveyor 102,104 has semicircular, driver-like projections or strips 110 provided, that support the promotion of cigarettes.

The conveyor 104 leads to a merging area 112. The conveyor 102 leads to a transfer conveyor 114, which carries the stream on the conveyor 102 rotates approximately 1800 and attaches it to another protruding one Belt conveyor 116 releases. The conveyor 116 carries the flow from the conveyor 112 to the Side of the merging area 112 opposite the conveyor 104.

The transfer conveyor 114 has a substantially circular shape Disc 118 made of plastic, which is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and has a central, rotatable, conical hub 120. The disk 118 is so constrained that they have a substantially horizontal surface for receiving the Cigarettes from the conveyor 102 and for dispensing the cigarettes to the conveyor 116 possesses. Between these points, on the front of the disc, the outer surface is through a guide 122 raised to form an inclined conveyor path for the cigarettes; this enables a particularly small radius of curvature. To yours The disc 118 is attached to the raised section by an adjustable guide 124 underneath the level of the conveyors 102 and 116 depressed. The one adjacent to the conveyor 102 Guide may have a slightly different shape than that adjacent to conveyor 116. For example, adjacent to the circumference of the disk 118, at its point of greatest radius, an additional guide near the conveyor 116 may be required in order to avoid a too large one Avoid deformation of the disc. The outer circumference of the disc 118 is slotted so that fingers 126 are formed so that the disc can be deformed without kinking.

A stationary guide 128 moves the cigarettes further and further in Outward direction of the conveyor 102 so that it is onto the pulley 118 of the transfer conveyor 114 arrive. The bars 110 on the conveyor 102 help keep the cigarettes parallel to keep. A "dead" plate 130 is used to transfer the cigarettes between the End of conveyor 102 and disk 118 located. The trailing edge of the dead Plates 130 are inclined 140 with respect to the axis of the cigarettes; It has shown, that this supports the smooth transition to the disk 118.

On the transfer conveyor 114, the cigarettes are passed through the disc 118 raised progressively and then held at a constant incline until the Guide 122 allows the disc to progressively lower the cigarettes and delivers it to a dead plate 132 for transfer to the conveyor 116. The plate 132 is provided with a protruding element which helps to hold the cigarettes of the disc 118 to strip off. Inwardly directed side guides 134 ensure an alignment of the stream on the conveyor 116.

When the filter attachment machine has been working for a certain time, opposing streams of cigarettes from conveyors 104 and 116 to the merging area 112 delivered. The streams of cigarettes are merged in the merging area 112 and migrate down to get them from a ledge or ledge Conveyor 136 can be delivered. In and below the union area 112 form two elastically pretensioned conveyor belts which are spaced apart in the transverse direction 138 the conveyor track from the conveyors 104, 106 to the conveyor 136. On top of the belts 138 opposite Side of the union area 112 is a flexible curtain 140 (shown in Fig. 5 in the position it occupies when the union area is filled with cigarettes) from one place suspended from the end of the conveyor 116. A stationary guide surface 142 forms the limit for the movement of the curtain 140.

The belts 138 run around two stationary rollers 144, and one movable one Roller P§6 mounted on a pivoting arm 148 and supported by a spring 150 is elastically biased. When the straps 138 do not support the pressure of the cigarettes in and below the merging area 112 moves the spring 150 the roller 146 in the position indicated by dash-dotted lines, so that the belts 138 stretched between rollers 144 and the outlet of the merging area 112 close, as shown by dashed lines in Fig.

5 is indicated. The curtain 40 then extends from its attachment location adjacent to the end of the conveyor 116 from vertically downwards.

Assume that the merging area 112 is empty and the Filter attachment machine is started. The stream of cigarettes on the conveyor 104 then reaches the merging area 112 in a state in which the outlet is essentially closed, as just described. The increasing pressure of the cigarettes has the consequence that the belts move increasingly downwards and thus opening the outlet of the merging area. To put the pressure on the ribbons too direct, a horizontally pivotable pressure plate (not shown) above the Union area 112 are arranged to a-substantially upward Move to prevent cigarettes in the union area. The apex between the curtain 140 and the ribbons 138 moves forward with the current, to the union area 112 and the area between the bands 138 and the Guide surface 142 is filled, with the front cigarettes under constant control to prevent tilting or misalignment.

The bands 138 do not need against the tension of the spring 150 be fully withdrawn until the stream from conveyor 116 reaches the merging area 112 also reached. A curved back plate (not shown) can provide the "maximum" Limit the position of the straps 138 as shown in FIG.

As an alternative or in addition to the use of a spring 150 the pressure above the union area 112 can be used to reduce the Positioning of the belts 138 to control. A swiveling, curved pressure sensor 152 can thus be operated via a linkage with levers 154, 156, 158 and 148, to move the roller 146. While thus over the union area 112 forms, the roller 148 is advanced to the left (in Fig. 5) so that the tapes 138 can assume a curved shape and the outlet to the merging area 112 to open. It should be noted that the sensor 152 is above the merging area 112 is arranged asymmetrically, in such a way that the sensor 112 on the current of the conveyor 104 can react optimally to the current for the occasion preparations are usually required.

It is possible for a sensor to be placed over the merging area 112 can be adjusted to increase the speed of the belts 138 and / or the conveyor 136 steer. However, since the device is a Filter attachment machine assigned that dispenses cigarettes at a known speed is one such control usually unnecessary; is the relative speed of the conveyors and belts preset here. In this context it should be noted that the sponsors 102 and 104 normally run at the same speed, which is less than is the peripheral speed of the drum 100. Preferably the speed the conveyor 102,104 constant to the speed of the drum 100 (and thus to that of the filter attachment machine).

The conveyor 116 runs at the same speed as the conveyor 102, the transfer conveyor 114 at a corresponding speed runs. The speed of the conveyor 136 need not be twice as fast like that of conveyors 104 and 116, as the stack height on conveyor 136 increases can be. The belts 138 can move at a speed corresponding to that of the Conveyor 136 or at a different speed (faster or slower) are driven. In this context it should be noted that the bands 138 are not provided with protrusions or ridges.

GB-PSs 14 53 191 and 15 40 831 show devices for tensioning of tapes which can be used in the embodiment of Figs.

Claims (32)

Device for conveying rod-shaped objects. Claims 1. Device for conveying rod-shaped objects with a conveyor device for conveying a first and a second stream of rod-shaped objects in a transverse axis Direction, with the ends of the objects of one stream in opposite directions Direction as directed as the corresponding ends of the objects of the other stream are and a transfer conveyor that carries the items from the one stream or promotes from both streams to a point at which both streams become common Stream to be united in which the corresponding ends of the objects are all lie on the same side of the stream, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (26, 46, 50) the objects in stack formation in the transverse axial direction on two separate curved conveyor tracks moved about axes that are substantially perpendicular to said direction and to the objects on the conveyor tracks. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer conveyor consists of at least two individual conveyors (26, 50) that carry the objects move the separate curved conveyor tracks. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (26,46,50) the objects (2) from one of the two streams moved one after the other on the two curved conveyor tracks. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the curved Conveyor tracks run essentially horizontally and are on different levels Level. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the conveyor (26,50) of the transfer conveyor by a provided with a vertical section Conveyor track are interconnected. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the curved conveyor tracks are arranged so that the objects (2) in parallel and move in opposite directions on the conveyor tracks. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the objects at the downstream end of one conveyor track and at the upstream end of the other Walk the conveyor track in parallel and opposite directions. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the angles through which the objects are rotated on the curved conveyor tracks, are essentially the same. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the angle be essentially 900. 10.Vorrichtung according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that on one of the curved conveyor tracks the corresponding ends of the objects lie on the outside of the conveyor track and on the other curved conveyor track the corresponding ends are on the inside of the conveyor track. 11.Vorrichtung according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the transfer conveyor is provided with conveying means (46) that the objects in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the first and second stream (2,4) move. 12.Vorrichtung according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the transfer conveyor (26,46,50) is provided with a device (30,38,54,56) is through which the articles on at least one of the curved conveyor tracks be inclined inwards so that the inner ends of the objects in the stack (40,48) on the conveyor track are at a lower level than the outer ends. 13. Device for conveying rod-shaped objects, marked by a first conveyor (104) for conveying a first stream of rod-shaped objects in stack formation on a first level, a second conveyor (102) for conveying a second stream of rod-shaped objects in stack formation on the first Level, a third conveyor (116) for conveying the second stream on the first Level, a device (114) for transmitting the second stream from the second to the third conveyor, a merging area (112) between the first and third Conveyor, and a fourth conveyor (136) that brings the combined two streams of promoted the union area on a second level. 14.Vorrichtung according to claim 13, characterized in that the first, second and third conveyors (104, 102 and 116, respectively) are substantially parallel. 15.Vorrichtung according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the first and third conveyors (104,116) opposite at the merging area (112) are directed. 16.Vorrichtung according to claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized by a conveyor track connecting the merging area (112) and the fourth conveyor (136) connects, wherein the conveyor track contains a section in which the objects move with a vertical component of motion. 17.Vorrichtung according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that that the device for transferring the second stream from a transfer conveyor (114) consists of a conveyor track, which is essentially one running transversely to the objects on the conveyor and to their conveying direction Axis is curved. 18.Vorrichtung according to claim 17, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (114) promotes the second stream on a curve that is about a substantially vertical Axis runs around 1800. 19.Vorrichtung according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (114) has a flexible disk (118) which is positively guided in this way is that they curved the outsides of the objects in the second stream on the Conveyor lifts up. 20.Vorrichtung according to claim 19, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (114) a central portion (120) with inwardly sloping sides for support the inner ends of the articles on the transfer conveyor (114). 21.Vorrichtung according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized by stationary support surfaces (130, 132) for the second stream between the second Conveyor (102) and the transfer conveyor (114) and between the transfer conveyor (114) and the third conveyor (116). 22.Vorrichtung according to claim 21, characterized in that at least one of the support surfaces (130, 132) has a transition to the transfer conveyor (114) has, which is used to Objects (2) at predetermined locations to detect the transition to the transfer conveyor or from the transfer conveyor to support. 23. Device for conveying rod-shaped objects that are move in stack formation in substantially opposite directions with a union area for the streams and a conveyor track for conveying away the Objects from the union area, characterized by a device (138, 140) for the preparation of the unification area (112) at the start of operations, which the Passage through the union area (112) throttles until there are enough objects have accumulated in the merging area or upstream of the merging area, so that the leading objects are limited to prevent misalignment and are guided. 24.Vorrichtung according to claim 23, characterized in that the device to prepare the union area is provided with means that allow the exit throttle out of the union area (112). 25.Vorrichtung according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the device for preparing the merging zone with pressure-sensitive means (138,152) is provided on the pressure of the objects in or adjacent to address the association area. 26.Vorrichtung according to any one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that that the establishment for the preparation of the unification area at least a conveyor belt (138) extending across the merging area (112) extends and that is retractable. 27.Vorrichtung according to claim 26, characterized in that the conveyor belt consists of an elastically pretensioned driven belt (138). 28.Vorrichtung according to any one of claims 23 to 27, characterized in that that the facility for preparing the union area has a flexible curtain (140) made of relatively heavy material, which is in the union area (112) extends. 29.Vorrichtung according to any one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that that the union area (112) is provided with movement-inhibiting means (152) which are arranged opposite the conveyor track to facilitate the movement of the objects to throttle away from the conveyor track. 30.Vorrichtung according to claim 29, characterized in that the movement-inhibiting Means have a movable part (152). 31.Vorrichtung according to claim 30, characterized in that the movable Part (152) with a device (154-158,148,146, 138) is connected to the outlet from the union area (112) throttle.t 32. Use of the device after a of claims 23 to 31 in a device according to one of the claims 13 to 22.