Device for distributing and grouping containers in a container treatment assembly, comprising: an infeed conveyor which is configured to convey a plurality of containers in a single-lane infeed flow and wherein the infeed conveyor comprises a conveyor belt for single-lane transportation of the containers, where the containers are conveyed in a standing position on the conveyor belt; an outfeed conveyor which is configured to convey the containers away in multiple outfeed container lanes; and a transfer conveyor associated with the infeed and the outfeed conveyor and having a plurality of circulating guide elements for the containers; where the transfer conveyor comprises a long-stator linear motor drive with a plurality of individually and independently movable conveying devices , to which the guide elements are attached; where the transfer conveyor being adapted to separate the containers in a standing position by way of the circulating guide elements from the single-lane infeed flow to the multi-lane outfeed flow by selective guiding, in particular, by pushing them forward and/or decelerating them; and where the transfer conveyor further comprises at least one section of the path which intersects the outfeed conveyor at an angle α which is smaller than 90° and greater than 0°; characterized in that the transfer conveyor comprises a further section of the path along which the circulating guide elements are moved in synchronism with the containers in the standing position on the conveyor belt in the infeed flow, and being arranged such that the further section of the path continuously approaches the transport track of the infeed conveyor where the circulating guide elements each immerse between two successive containers in the infeed flow and are made to mechanically contact the containers in the infeed flow, so that the transfer conveyor assumes control over transporting the containers, in particular their speed. an infeed conveyor which is configured to convey a plurality of containers in a single-lane infeed flow and wherein the infeed conveyor comprises a conveyor belt for single-lane transportation of the containers, where the containers are conveyed in a standing position on the conveyor belt; an outfeed conveyor which is configured to convey the containers away in multiple outfeed container lanes; and a transfer conveyor associated with the infeed and the outfeed conveyor and having a plurality of circulating guide elements for the containers; where the transfer conveyor comprises a long-stator linear motor drive with a plurality of individually and independently movable conveying devices , to which the guide elements are attached; where the transfer conveyor being adapted to separate the containers in a standing position by way of the circulating guide elements from the single-lane infeed flow to the multi-lane outfeed flow by selective guiding, in particular, by pushing them forward and/or decelerating them; and where the transfer conveyor further comprises at least one section of the path which intersects the outfeed conveyor at an angle α which is smaller than 90° and greater than 0°; characterized in that the transfer conveyor comprises a further section of the path along which the circulating guide elements are moved in synchronism with the containers in the standing position on the conveyor belt in the infeed flow, and being arranged such that the further section of the path continuously approaches the transport track of the infeed conveyor where the circulating guide elements each immerse between two successive containers in the infeed flow and are made to mechanically contact the containers in the infeed flow, so that the transfer conveyor assumes control over transporting the containers, in particular their speed. <EOS>