Abstract:
A store-feeding device including a feeding conveyer with a belt catch that can be positioned in an infinitely variable fashion in a horizontal and/or vertical direction. The belt catch can be controlled by a controller such that products can be conveyed from a production station directly to the packaging station by a conveyer. If the packaging station is fully utilized or stopped, the belt catch can be positioned such that the products can be placed in the store. A further conveyer can be loaded with rejected or faulty series of products. For this purpose, the belt catch can be retracted and lowered.

Description:
The invention relates to an intermediate storage device according to the generic term of patent claim  1 , as well as to a method for operating such an intermediate storage device. Such an intermediate storage device is known from document EP 0 534 902 A1. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     The products can, for example, be chocolate bars that are transported from a production device to at least one packaging device. Instead of chocolate bars, the objects can, however, consist of other pieces of sweet or non-sweet edibles, for example, pastry, or cans or other containers with any kind of filling, or of components for machine building, for example, ball bearings that are transported to a packaging device or other processing device. 
     In known devices for the production and packaging of chocolate bars, the bars produced by a production device are customarily transported by means of a feeding panel consisting of conveyor belts to chain boxes, subsequently through these to the packaging devices. Each chain box can, for example, be designed approximately according to DE 9012074 U, and serve as a balancing device to balance fluctuations in the feed rate of bars or the packaging rate of the packaging device, as well as of complete, momentary interruptions in operation of the production device or the packaging device. Such a chain box has several gondolas or shelf boards attached to two continuous chains for depositing and/or receiving a series of bars respectively. Each chain is redirected by several chain wheels mounted in a frame and by several chain wheels mounted at vertically adjustable carriages, and forms a number of loops. 
     In prior art, intermediate storage devices are also known that have several long belts arranged on top of each. Thereby, the belts positioned above each other are loaded and emptied with a reversible junction belt. The products are stored in rows behind each other along a long storage distance. A significant disadvantage of this device is the large space requirement, as the belts can reach expanses of several dozen meters. 
     Document WO 2005/021410 A1 reveals several conveyors working together, whereby at least two loading conveyors located above each other and at least two unloading conveyors located above each other are present, and whereby between the loading and unloading conveyors, auxiliary conveyors that are rotatable around horizontal axes are located, by means of which objects to be transported from a first or from a second loading conveyor to a corresponding unloading conveyor can be transported. Thereby, it is to be achieved that objects coming from a loading conveyor can be transferred in an effective way to one of the two unloading conveyors by means of the auxiliary conveyor. In one variant of an embodiment, the auxiliary conveyor is designed longitudinally adjustable. 
     Document WO 2004/067412 describes a conveyor with a conveyor belt that is filled with slats, which has a receiving area and a delivery area between which, for example, food can be transported in one direction of transport from the receiving area to the delivery area, whereby the conveyor is formed by several sections so that a transport section—given a fixed input section of the conveyor, can be adjusted parallel to the transport section of the output section of the same. In addition, the output section of the conveyor is adjustable in height, whereby for this, the transport belt can be automatically adjusted longitudinally. 
     Further, devices for loading products on gondolas or shelf boards are known in prior art. From U.S. Pat. No. 1,901,928, for example, a device is known for transferring bowls at a routine distance with respect to each other from a horizontal conveyor to a vertical conveyor, whereby between the horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor a rotatable conveyor belt is mounted around its upstream deflection pulley, and whereby the belt has carriers at regular distances. Due to a rigid mechanical coupling between the vertical motion of the downstream conveyor belt and the movement of the vertical conveyor, a constant distance between the shelf boards of the vertical conveyor is contingent, which is not satisfied in many pass-through and/or intermediate storage devices. In addition, a unit for feeding products according to EP 053492 is known in prior art, in which the device cited above is developed further thereby, that the movement of the rotatable conveyor belt is possible independent of the movement of the vertical conveyor, so that the product transfer is possible while the vertical conveyor is idle, as well as also when it is in motion. The known store-feeding devices have shown, however, to be disadvantageous considering that due to the rotation of the rotatable conveyor, its upstream belt catch or conveyor band end moves radially around the axis of rotation and is thereby at different distances from the shelf boards mounted above each other. 
     Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,396 relates to a loading station for loading piece goods onto transport means such as, perhaps ships. By means of a reversible belt conveyor, the goods are feed to a vertical conveyor. The reversible conveyor is designed rotatable and longitudinally adjustable and transfers the piece goods to a shelf board that is guided downward by means of the vertical conveyor. It is disadvantageous in this system that the reversible conveyor, although it is rotatable and longitudinally adjustable, the rotation is limited according to the one shelf board at the transport speed of the vertical conveyor in a small section. The known storage devices work according to the principle of “first in—first out”, and have an input station for storing products and an output station for delivering products. The output station is located opposite to the input station at the storage device. It has been shown to be a disadvantage of these devices that the stored products must thus pass through the storage device. This has, among other things, the consequence that such a storage device requires a minimum filling of product series. In addition, upon the conclusion or end of production, the storage device must be emptied for a relatively long time, which has the consequence of unproductive holding times at other machines. Due to the functional limitations, a storage device operating according to the “first in—first out” principle can also only use some of the gondolas for storing products. 
     That is why the present invention is based on the objective to further develop a store-feeding device or a loading device of the type cited at the beginning in such a way, that the disadvantages of prior art are avoided as far as possible, in particular, that the storage throughput of products can be optimized. 
     A further objective consists therein, that in addition to the storage device, at least one additional deposit rack is to be loadable with products supplied by production. 
     A further objective of the invention consists therein, to design the packaging of products more efficiently, in particular to guarantee continuous packaging of products. 
     These problems are solved in accordance with the invention by means of an intermediate storage device with the characteristics of claim  1 , as well as a method for operating such an intermediate storage device according to claim  11 ,  12  or  13 . Advantageous further developments of the intermediate storage device in accordance with the invention are given by the subordinate claims. 
     In particular, the goals of the present invention are achieved by a store-feeding device with a feeding conveyor for transporting products in a main direction of transport between a in-bound end for receiving products and an outbound end for delivering and feeding the products to a an intermediate storage device, also described as storage device, whereby the storage unit has several product deposit racks for intermediate storage of products, whereby at least two continuous store loops of the storage device are present by means of which the product deposits can be transported between an input station for receiving the supplied products and an output station for delivering the intermediately stored products, whereby the product deposit racks in the section of the input station are at a vertical distance with respect to each other and the products can be transported by means of the rotatable feeding conveyor to several product deposit racks that are located above each other, whereby the feeding conveyor is designed longitudinally adjustable in the primary direction of transport, whereby the outbound end of the longitudinally adjustable and rotatable feeding conveyor can be positioned freely horizontally and/or vertically between several product deposit racks and at least one additional conveyor serving as temporary product deposit rack. 
     For the operation of the store-feeding device, the outbound end of the conveyor is positioned infinitely variable in horizontal and/or vertical direction by means of deflection means that can be driven by motor based on control and/or data signals of the controller, in order to selectively transport and/or deposit onto the horizontal delivery conveyor, onto a product deposit rack of the storage device, or onto the reject conveyor. 
     Likewise, for the operation of the store-feeding device, the outbound end of the conveyor can be positioned infinitely variable in horizontal and/or vertical direction by means of the deflection means that can be driven by motor based on control and/or data signals of the controller, in order to deposit products onto the conveyor. 
     In addition, for the operation of the store-feeding device, the outbound end of the conveyor can be positioned infinitely variable in horizontal and/or vertical direction by means of the deflection means that can be driven by motor based on control and/or data signals of the controller in order to deposit the products on at least one shelf board of a gondola in the storage unit. 
     One of the advantages of the device in accordance with the invention lies therein, that loading of the packaging machine is possible from the flow as well as also directly from the storage device. The capability of the free positioning of the belt catch and/or the outbound end of the feeding conveyor means, that the belt catch can not only be positioned horizontally and/or vertically along a specified circular arc around the axis of rotation, but can be aligned infinitely variable and in a certain section aligned as desired. This certain section can be designed in such a way that several product depositing racks located above each other can be loaded at the input station of the storage device, for example, up to six product deposit racks. 
     A further advantage lies therein, that in the standard case, the series of products can be transported by the shortest path into the packaging machine and do not have to, as is otherwise customary, first be guided through the storage device. The series of products are fed into the storage device only in the event of a stop and/or interruption of the packaging station. 
     Another advantage of the device in accordance with the invention further consists thereof, that an efficient possibility exists for re-feeding products from the storage device into the running product flow. Thus, the storage device can also be emptied into the running product flow. 
     A further advantage consists thereof, that the store-feeding device and an adjacent storage device can be maintained on a small surface area and still make a high degree of storage capacity possible. As a result, production costs and site costs can be saved in contrast to known devices and systems. 
     In a variant of an embodiment of the invention, the conveyor for delivering products is mounted horizontal to the main direction of transport of the feeding conveyor, in order to feed the products to a processing machine, for example, a packaging machine that is downstream of the conveyor. One of the advantages of the invention is that the products can be taken over by the supply conveyor as well as by the storage device on account of the horizontal conveyor, which represents a high degree of flexibility in the loading of the packaging system. When packaging products, a steady and uninterrupted flow or stream of products is to be supplied for packaging, which is possible with the store-feeding device in accordance with the invention. 
     In a different variant of an embodiment of the invention, the store-feeding device comprises an additional conveyor, which is located between the supply conveyor and the storage device, in order to take over the products from the supply conveyor or at the output station from the storage device, in order to supply the products to a processing machine, for example, a processing station that is downstream of the conveyor. One of the advantages of the invention is that defective product series can be separated from the production process and/or product flow by means of this additional conveyor. This possibility of separating defective products represents an important component of the store-feeding device. 
     In a further variant of an embodiment of the invention, the storage device comprises at least one gondola mounted articulated at the store loops, whereby each gondola is provided with several product depositing racks designed as shelf boards, that the store loops are guided continuously around deflection pulleys, whereby at least one deflection pulley of each store loop can be driven by motor, that the output station of the storage device comprises at least one slider for delivering products to at least one conveyor, whereby the slider is mounted in such a way that products can be slid almost horizontally from a shelf board that is to be emptied onto each conveyor. One of the advantages of the invention consists therein, that products transported from the production station, in particular in the case of an interruption of the packaging station, can be stored in the storage device. Thus, production of the products can be operated continuously. Thereby, the products transported in series are stored intermediately on shelf boards of gondolas. In the present variant of an embodiment, the gondolas circulate in the storage device by means of the store loops. 
     In one variant of an embodiment of the invention, the input station and the output station are located on the same side of the storage device. One of the advantages of the invention is that products can be slid out of the storage device by means of the feeder at an optimal point in time onto a conveyor leading to the packaging station and/or when production has just been interrupted. As a result, the packaging machine can be supplied continuously. An additional advantage consists therein, that the packaging speed can be increased thereby, that products can be fed to the packaging machine from the storage device, as well as coming from the distribution conveyor by means of a joint conveyor leading to the packaging machine. 
     In a different variant of an embodiment of the invention, the input station, as well as the output station of the storage device, is located on the side of the storage device that is facing the supply conveyor. One of the advantages of the invention consists therein that for one products can be transported directly out of the production flow by means of the supply conveyor onto a horizontal delivery belt, and for another, products that are intermediately stored in the storage device can be transported onto the same horizontal delivery belt by means of the slider of the storage device. Thus, the horizontal delivery band that is preferably located horizontal to the main direction of transport can be loaded with products from several sources, which increases the reliability of the feeding of the packaging machine. In addition, it is advantageous that the stored products can be slid out again after one cycle of upward motion of the storage device at the input station already. Thus, a stored product is not required to first be transported through the storage device, in order to subsequently be pushed out. 
     In a further variant of an embodiment of the invention, the store-feeding device comprises a controller for controlling and/or regulating the deflection means that can be driven by motor with based on sensor signals that can be generated by sensor means. One of the advantages of the invention is that the store-feeding device can be controlled and/or regulated depending on various sensor signals that are relevant for the production process. The belt catch can be positioned infinitely variable horizontally and/or vertically, depending on these signals. Thereby, the products can either be fed to the packaging station or to the storage device, whereby the conveyor equipped with the two-axle belt catch that can be positioned infinitely variable serves as distribution conveyor. The speed of the band or belt of this conveyor can likewise be varied. If need be, defective products can be separated out of production and be fed to an additional conveyor for disposal. As sensor means, light curtains are used, for example, or inductive proximity sensors, by means of which corresponding sensor signals can be generated and can be supplied to the controller. 
     In one variant of an embodiment of the invention, deflection means that can be driven by motor for rotating the supply conveyor around an axis of rotation are present and further, deflection means that can be driven by motor for extending or shortening the longitudinally adjustable supply conveyor are likewise available. One of the advantages of the invention consists therein, that the ability to freely position the outbound end of the feeding conveyor can be accomplished by means of, for example, electric drives, hydraulic drives or the like. Preferably, a controllable electric drive with a transmission is present, by means of which a lever arm can be driven for lifting the belt catch. And a drive with transmission is present, by means of which a sliding arm for extending or shortening the telescopic supply conveyor is available. 
     In one variant of an embodiment of the invention, the supply conveyor is designed as an integral continuous conveyor. One of the advantages of the invention consists therein, that the feeding conveyor does not have any transitions between several belt sections. The arrangement of the products transported in series thereby remains intact and is also not impaired by the rotation or the change in length of the feeding conveyor. 
     In one example of a variant of the invention, the input station of the storage unit is at a distance from the output station of the storage unit by at least two vertically adjacent product depositing racks. One of the advantages of the invention consists therein, that for repositioning the belt catches between the first free shelf board in the storage device that is to be filled with products and between the position for depositing products onto the horizontal delivery conveyor, the feeding conveyor travels the shortest possible path. After transporting the gondolas at the store loops of the storage device by a shelf board distance downward, a free shelf board to be loaded with product is already available by means of the feeding conveyor. The working together between the feeding conveyor, storage device and horizontal delivery conveyor is thereby efficiently designed and optimized. 
     The following terms have the following meaning: 
     Feeding conveyor: Transport means, in particular with a conveyor belt and/or belt conveyor. Other terms that are used include loading conveyor, supply conveyor or distribution conveyor. The conveyor customarily has a belt that can be driven running forward and backward by means of a motor. 
     Horizontal conveyor: Conveyor, which is preferably located almost at a right angle to the main direction of transport of the products. in order to customarily feed the products to a packaging machine. Additionally used terms are horizontal delivery belt, horizontal delivery conveyor, delivery conveyor or horizontally mounted conveyor. 
     Storage device: Additional terms used are storage unit, intermediate storage device, piece goods storage device or chain box and serve in particular, for at least temporary storage of piece goods arranged in series, whereby the storage device, when viewing the production flow, is located between a production machine and a packaging machine. 
     Gondola: Storage unit of an intermediate storage device with mostly several shelf boards located above each other on which products can be stored temporarily, whereby each gondola is detachably hung at several points of suspension at store loops or chains of the storage device. 
     Product depositing rack: Shelf board, tier, depositing level of a storage device, in order to temporarily accept products for intermediate storage. 
    
    
     
       In the following, the invention is explained in more detail in conjunction with the examples of embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Hereby, additional important characteristics and advantages are given by the drawings and their description. 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic lateral view of the loading device according to the invention with a subsequently located storage device; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic top view of the store-feeding device; 
         FIG. 3  shows a detail of the store-feeding device in the initial position in a schematic lateral view; 
         FIG. 4  shows a detail of the store-feeding device in a schematic lateral view, whereby a product is positioned in such a way that it can be deposited on a conveyor leading to the packaging station; 
         FIG. 5  shows a detail of the store-feeding device in a schematic lateral view, whereby the product has been deposited on a conveyor leading to the packaging station; 
         FIG. 6  shows a detail of the store-feeding device in a schematic lateral view, whereby a product is brought into such a position that it can be deposited onto a conveyor leading to a processing station. 
         FIG. 7  shows a detail of the store-feeding device in a schematic lateral view, whereby a product has been deposited on a shelf board of a gondola in a storage device; 
         FIG. 8  shows a detail of the store-feeding device in a schematic lateral view, whereby an additional product has been deposited onto the next empty shelf board of a gondola in the storage device; 
         FIG. 9  shows a detail of the store-feeding device in a schematic lateral view, whereby the gondolas in the storage device are transported upward in order to push an additional product out of the storage device, onto the horizontal delivery conveyor by means of a slider; 
         FIG. 10  shows a detail of the store-feeding device in a schematic lateral view, whereby the slider has pushed out a product onto the conveyor leading to the packaging station; 
         FIG. 11  shows a detail of the store-feeding device in a schematic lateral view, whereby the slider has pushed a product out of the storage device beyond the conveyor leading to the packaging station onto the conveyor leading to the processing station. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  illustrates a store-feeding device according to the invention that is labeled with reference number  1 . It has a conveyor belt or a loading conveyor  10 , which comprise or which comprises a conveyor belt section  12 . This conveyor belt section  12  has a conveyor belt end or outbound end or belt catch  120 , which is driven vertically rotatable by means of drive and deflection means. This rotation is illustrated by the double arrow with reference number  199 . The drive and deflection means comprise a motor  124 , a transmission  123  and a lever arm system  121 ,  122 . The lever arm system is preferably executed by means of a push rod  121 , as well as a lever  122 . The outbound end is located in the outbound section of conveyor  10 . The loading conveyor  10  has an additional conveyor belt section  11 , which is customarily rigidly connected with a chassis and/or a frame structure  16 . This conveyor belt section has an inbound end  110  that is located in the input section of conveyor  10 . The motor-driven drive of the conveyor belt customarily consists of a servomotor that can be controlled and/or regulated. 
     The transport speed of the loading conveyor  10  can thereby be controlled infinitely variable. The feeding conveyor or supply conveyor  10  is also designed in such a way by means of a drive  113 ,  114  and a lever arm system  111 ,  112 , so that at an end facing a storage device  2  of the loading conveyor or the belt catch  120  is driven almost horizontally displaceable, as is illustrated by the arrow with reference number  198 . Even this drive comprises a motor, for example, an electric motor  114  or a hydraulic drive with corresponding lever arm system  111 ,  112 , whereby the section of conveyor belt  12  that is directed toward the storage device is pushed telescope-like into the conveyor section  11  that is further removed from conveyor belt section  11 . This lever arm system preferably consists of a rod  111  and a lever  112 . The conveyor belt section  11  can be mounted at a slight incline. From  FIG. 1  it can be seen that the displaceable conveyor belt section  12  can be rotated around an axis or rotation  1111 , which is mounted on a carriage that is guided in a rigid conveyor belt section  11  rotatable around an angle α 1 . In a further embodiment, however, the axis of rotation  1111  can also be located at end  110  of supply conveyor  10  that is removed from the storage device, so that the loading conveyor  10  that can be telescopically extended and/or shortened is mounted rotatable or pivotable in its entirety around this axis of rotation  1111 . Thereby, that the loading conveyor  10 , and in particular the belt catch  120  that is aligned toward storage device  2  is mounted articulated in horizontal as well a in vertical direction, a two-dimensional section analogous to an X and Y coordinate system can be worked. In this section, the belt catch  120  can be positioned in almost any way. As a result, it becomes possible to deposit the product series  13  that is located on the belt catch  20 , by simultaneous lowering and retracting belt catch  120 , onto conveyor belt  31 , located preferably underneath and horizontal to the production line. This series of products  13  is then transported by the conveyor belt  32  that is shown in  FIG. 2  into the packaging machine V, which is not shown. In the event of an interruption of the packaging machine V, the empty shelf boards  251  of gondolas  25  in storage device  2  can be loaded. The storage device  2  has a chassis or a frame structure  21 . In this frame structure  21 , respective pairs of deflection pulleys  22 ,  23  are located on at least one shaft  220  (see  FIG. 2 ) and on at least two freely running stub shafts  230 . The preferably at least one shaft  220  is customarily mounted in the lower section of storage device  2 , and driven by means of a transmission  231  driven by an electric motor that can be controlled or regulated. Respectively around a first and least a second deflection pulley  22 ,  23 —mounted in alignment, a store loop  24  is arranged. The store loop  24  is preferably designed as continuous belt or chain. A store loop can also be guided over several deflection pulleys, so that the storage device  2  can accept additional gondolas  25 . At least two store loops  24  are at a distance K from each other according to  FIG. 2 . At the store loops  24 , several gondolas  25  are preferably mounted detachable. Respectively one gondola  25  is guided past the input station E or the output station A of the storage device as can be seen in  FIG. 3 . At the output station A, at least one row of products  13  is delivered onto a deposit rack by means of at least one slider  33 . The deposit rack of the output station A of storage device  2  is customarily designed as conveyor. At the input station E of storage device  2 , at least one deposit rack is loaded with products  13 . The drive of the store loops  24  customarily has an electric motor  232  with a transmission  231 , which is preferably connected with a shaft  231  that lies below and drives the store loops  24  over the deflection pulleys  23 . The driving can be in cycles, so that a distance a, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a distance b or any other kind of distance or path, such as perhaps a distance c can be covered. The store loop  24  can be driven in two directions, as is illustrated by the double arrow with reference number  299 . The chains or store loops  24  are thereby kept revolving reversibly. From  FIG. 1  it thus becomes clear that a packaging station V can be loaded by means of a conveyor belt  31 ,  32  on the one hand by means of the loading conveyor  10  with series of products  13 , and on the other hand, products  13  can be pushed out from storage device  2  adjacent to the feeding conveyor  10  onto conveyor  31  by means of the slider  33 . By means of conveyors  31 ,  32 , the products are fed to packaging station V in both cases. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the store-feeding device  1  in a top view. By means of conveyor  31 ,  32 , the series of products  13  are transported to the packaging station V. Reference number  399  illustrates the direction of transport of the conveyor  10  with length L, whereby the packaging station V, for example, can also be located on the opposite side. The direction of transport of conveyor  31 ,  32  would change correspondingly. The situation is analogous with direction of transport  499  and the location of conveyor  41  toward the processing station T. The present store-feeding device  1  loads the storage device  2 , which works according to the “first-in—last-out” principle. The deflection pulleys  22 ,  23  of the respective store loops  24  are at a distance K from each other. The store loop  24  which is supplied on a revolving basis with product carrier gondolas, containers or gondolas  25  is moved past either downward for loading or upward for unloading the products at the input station E or the output station A. Each store loop  24  has carriers  241  that are permanently connected with it and are evenly distant from each other. Each gondola  25  in turn is coupled detachable at its two small sides with respectively one of these carriers  241  of store loops  24 . As a result, the storage device works more efficiently with respect to known storage devices. An approximately 2 m long and approximately 5 m high storage device  2  can accept approximately 300 product series  13  consisting of chocolate bars with a weight of 100 g. For this, a belt storage device with comparable performance would have to be approximately 70 m long. The proposed device has shown to be highly space-saving, efficient and economical. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a detail of the store-feeding device in the initial position. In this position, for example, maintenance or cleaning work can be performed in the section of the loading device. Moreover,  FIG. 3  shows three gondolas  25  of a storage device  2  bordering store-feeding device  1 . It has an input station E for loading products into the storage device, as well as an output station A for unloading the products. In input station E and the output station A are located on the same side of the storage device. The storage device  2  is filled downward in cycles or loaded and reversibly, with a cyclically moved store loop  24 , emptied upward or unloaded. Loading of the storage device  2  takes place with the belt catch  120  in an anterior position, but at least at one shelf board distance a above the delivery level of conveyor  31 . The thickness of the belt catch  120  is dimensioned in such a way that it, together with the height of a product  13 , amounts to less than the distance a between two shelf boards. As a result, it is ensured that a product, which is pushed out of storage device  2  onto the horizontal conveyor  31 , does not come in contact with the belt catch  120 , when the shelf board  251  that is to be loaded is loaded by the feeding conveyor. The vertical distance of the belt catch  120  that can be positioned horizontally and/or vertically is sufficient in order to upwardly load several levels or shelf boards  251 . This is particularly required when the store loop  24  is standing still, when it is momentarily blocked by slider  33 . It can also be required then, when a higher packaging performance is to be achieved, whereby then the belt catch  120  synchronizes with the constantly downward-moving store loop  24 . Accordingly, distance a describes a distance between the successive product deposit racks  251 . Additional terms for product deposit racks are also shelf boards or levels. Distance b in turn describes the distance between a last shelf board  251  of a first gondola  25  and a first shelf board  251  of a gondola  25  that follows it. Distance c describes the distance between, for example, the respective uppermost shelf board  251  of two adjacent gondolas  25  in the vertical line or branch of the store loops  24 , to which the gondolas are coupled removable at carriers  241 . Moreover, the proposed store-feeding device has a rejection capability for qualitatively defective series of products  13 . Defective series are, for example, too long or too high, or have too little distance from each other, which is identified in an inspection unit  141 . Corresponding control signals and/or data signals are forwarded by the inspection unit  141  to the controller  14 . Metal-contaminated rows of products  13  can also be defective. These are identified by a metal detector  142 . Corresponding control signals and/or data signals are forwarded by the metal detector  142  to the controller  14 . Defective series are rejected in a so-called retraction position of the belt catch  120 . To do so, belt catch  120  is reversed and thus the loading conveyor  10  is thus shortened, so that the product series  13  fall downward onto conveyor  41  of rejection station  4 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , and preferably can be transported horizontally to the production flow toward processing station T. Conveyor  41  of rejection station  4  is also described as rejection conveyor. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a detail of the store-feeding device  1 , whereby a product  13  is positioned in such a way that it can be deposited onto a conveyor leading to the packaging station. For this, the belt catch  120  of the loading conveyor  10  is guided as closely as necessary to the shelf board  251  of gondola  25 . The distance between belt catch  120  and the edge of the shelf board  251  that is to be loaded is determined, for example by the size of the product  13  or by the speed of the advancement of the loading conveyor  10 . Due to the advancing of the conveyor belt, the product row  13  is being pushed onto the shelf board  251  of gondola  25 . A stop  19  that can be seen in  FIG. 1  prevents that the products slide beyond the shelf board or even fall off the shelf board  251 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a detail of the store-feeding device  1 , whereby a product  13  is brought into position in such a way that it can be deposited on a conveyor  41  that leads to the processing station T. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate a detail of the store-feeding device  1 , whereby a series of products  13  is brought into position by means of a loading conveyor  10  that is located upstream of storage device  2 , in order to be deposited onto an empty shelf board  251 . In  FIG. 7 , a first shelf board  251  is loaded in a gondola  25  that is to be loaded.  FIG. 8  illustrates how a shelf board  251  that is above it is loaded with an additional subsequent product series  13 . Even if the store loop  24  is stopped, or stands still, several shelf boards  251  can be loaded with products  13  by means of loading conveyor  10 . The lowest loading level or the lowest position of the conveyor belt end  120  corresponds to at least the distance a between two shelf boards  251 . The lowest loading level is at least at a distance a from the surface of the conveyor  31 . The slider  33  is to be mounted preferably in such a way that one product series can be slid off a shelf board  251  that is in alignment with and at the height of conveyor  31 , onto conveyor  31 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a detail of the store-feeding device, whereby the gondolas  25  in store  2  are transported upward so that an additional product  13  can be pushed out of storage device  2  onto conveyor  31  leading to the packaging station V by slider  33 . Simultaneously, an additional series of products  13 , which are transported in the main direction on feeding conveyor  10 , can be transported to the neighboring empty shelf board  251 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a detail of the store-feeding device  1 , whereby the slider  33  has pushed out a product  13  onto conveyor  31  leading to packaging station V. This preferably happens then, when coming from the production station P, the product flow cannot make a product series  13  available and a gap is created. Into this gap, a series of products  13  can then be pushed, fitting precisely, out of storage device  2  onto conveyor  31  by means of slider  33 . As a result, no undersupply of products  13  occurs at packaging station V. In addition, the storage device  2  can be emptied successively. The alternating loading of conveyor  31  out of storage device  2  or from the loading conveyor  10  can be utilized in a targeted manner. Thus, for example, as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , with a conveyor  17  located upstream, gaps can be created in a targeted manner between subsequent series of products  13 . The thereby created gaps can be filled with series of product  13  from the storage device  2 . In such a phase, the packaging machine V is supplied at a higher level of performance. In addition it is achieved, that the storage device is emptied downward. 
       FIG. 11  shows, in connection with  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , a detail of the store-feeding device  1 , whereby the slider  33  has pushed out a product  13  out of storage device  2  beyond conveyor  31  that leads to packaging station V onto conveyor  41  that leads to processing station T. By means of the controller or regulation  14  of store-feeding device  1 , it can be determined, for example, how long a certain product series  13  is stored in storage device  2  during production. If a certain threshold value of storage [time] has been reached, these product series can then be separated out of the production process in a targeted manner. For this, the corresponding shelf board  251  of a gondola  25  is conveyed to the output station A of storage device  2 . Slider  33  is dimensioned in such a way that it can slide out a product series  13  onto conveyor  31  and beyond it, so that the product series  13  reaches conveyor  41  of rejection station  4  leading to processing station T. 
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
           1  store-feeding device 
           10  feeding conveyor, conveyor, distribution conveyor 
           110  conveyer belt end, belt catch, inbound end, inbound end 
           11111  axis of rotation 
           11  conveyor belt section 
           111  rod, push rod 
           112  lever 
           113  transmission 
           114  motor 
           12  conveyor belt section 
           120  conveyor belt end, belt catch, outbound end, outbound end 
           121  rod, push rod 
           122  lever 
           123  transmission 
           124  motor 
           13  product or product series 
           14  control or regulation 
           141  inspection unit 
           142  metal detector 
           15  belt, conveyor belt 
           16  frame structure 
           17  conveyor belt, conveyor 
           19  stop means, stop 
           197  conveyor unit, main direction of transportation 
           198  direction of forward and backward motion 
           199  direction of upward and downward rotation 
           2  storage device, storage unit, intermediate storage unit 
           21  frame structure 
           22  deflection pulley 
           220  shaft 
           23  deflection pulley 
           230  stub shaft 
           231  transmission 
           232  motor 
           24  store loop or store chain 
           241  carrier 
           25  gondola 
           251  shelf board, product deposit rack, level 
           299  direction of transport 
           3  unloading station 
           31  conveyor belt, conveyor 
           32  conveyor belt, conveyor 
           33  slider, slider 
           399  direction of transport 
           4  rejection station 
           41  conveyor belt, conveyor 
           499  direction of transport 
         A output station 
         E input station 
         F direction of transport 
         V packaging station 
         T processing station 
         L length 
         K Length 
         a shelf board distance 
         b shelf board distance 
         c distance, gondola height 
         α 1  angle