Transport device for transporting at least one product, in particular for forming rows and/or groups of products

A method for transporting products (12a;

• 12b) along a main transport direction (50a, 50b), wherein, in at least one method step, at least one conveyor element (20a;
• 20b) is driven and rotated about an axis that is perpendicular to the main transport direction (50a, 50b) by means of an individual drive unit (26a;
• 26b) with a rotational speed and/or a rotational direction (56a, 58a;
• 56b, 58b) which differs from a rotational speed and/or a rotational direction (56a, 58a;
• 56b, 58b) of at least one further conveyor element (22a;
• 22b), wherein the at least one further conveyor element (22a, 22b) additionally is driven about an axis that is perpendicular to the main transport direction (50a, 50b).

A transport device for forming rows and/or groups of products (12a;

• 12b), the transport device comprising
• at least one guide unit (14a;
• 14b),
• at least one conveyor unit (16a;
• 16b), which has at least one continuous conveyor unit (18a;
• 18b) mounted movably relative to the guide unit (14a;
• 14b), wherein the continuous conveyor unit is an endless conveyor roller transport belt that moves the products along a main transport direction (50a, 50b), and which includes at least one movably mounted conveyor element (20a;
• 20b), wherein the at least one movably mounted conveyor element is a conveyor roller, and wherein the continuous conveyor unit further includes at least one further movably mounted conveyor element (22a;
• 22b), wherein the at least one further movably mounted conveyor element is a further conveyor roller, wherein the conveyor elements are connected to each other to form the continuous conveyor unit (18a;
• 18b) and are at least jointly movable relative to the guide unit (14a;
• 14b),
• at least one conveyor drive unit (24a;
• 24b) for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a;
• 18b) in rotation about the guide unit (14a;
• 14b), and
• at least one individual drive unit (26a;
• 26b) which is provided at least to individually drive at least the at least one conveyor element (20a;
• 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a;
• 22b), in addition to driving of the continuous conveyor unit (18a;
• 18b) relative to the guide unit (14a;
• 14b), wherein the individual drive unit (26a, 26b) includes at least one electric motor (78a, 78b) for driving the at least one conveyor element (20a, 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a, 22b) so as to adjust a spacing between the products along the main transport direction (50a, 50b), wherein the at least one conveyor element (20a, 20b) and/or the at least one further conveyor element (22a, 22b) each extend along and rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to the main transport direction (50a, 50b) of the continuous conveyor unit (18a, 18b).