Patent ID: 8066109

Claim:
A device for handling diapers ( 10 ), which, coming from a converter ( 13 ) as a production machine, are supplied to a packer ( 14 ) as a packaging machine for the packaging of groups of diapers ( 10 ), comprising: a) a continuous-flow main store ( 15 ) located after the converter ( 13 ), through which the diapers ( 10 ) are conveyed, the main store ( 15 ) being a first-in/first-out store of variable storage capacity; b) an endless diaper conveyor on the main store ( 15 ), the endless diaper conveyor being a storage band ( 18 ) having transversely directed webs ( 20 ) as supporting or separating members for supporting a diaper group ( 19 ) consisting of a plurality of the diapers ( 10 ) arranged upright on the storage band ( 18 ); and c) a collecting wheel ( 46 ) at an introduction station ( 16 ) located between the main store ( 15 ) and the converter ( 13 ), the collecting wheel ( 46 ) being a collecting member for the diapers ( 10 ), the collecting wheel ( 46 ) having pockets ( 50 ) arranged along the circumference and delimited from one another by partitions ( 47 ), with each of the pockets ( 50 ) for receiving one of the diapers ( 10 ), wherein the diapers ( 10 ) are taken over by the collecting wheel ( 46 ) for transfer to the storage band ( 18 ) by means of an intermediate conveyor ( 51 ) and the diapers ( 10 ) are deposited from above onto the storage band ( 18 ).