Conveying apparatus for a packaging machine, transport apparatus for transporting products and a packaging machine

A buffer table for a packaging installation, wherein the buffer table comprises:

• at least one infeed section;
• at least one outfeed section;
• and
• at least one buffer line which can be loaded with packs (16) and is disposed between the at least one infeed section and the at least one outfeed section, wherein a transport apparatus is assigned to the at least one buffer line for transporting the respective packs (16),
• wherein the transport apparatus comprises:
• a first conveying apparatus and a second conveying apparatus, each including:
• at least one conveyor chain (1) which circulates in a chain running direction (5) and including a plurality of chain links (3) that are connected to one another in an articulated manner around a respective chain link axis (4) via transversely extending chain pins (2), and
• lamellar elements (6) comprising lamellae (7) made of a spring-elastic material and oriented obliquely with respect to the chain running direction (5) and placed on the chain links (3) interchangeably;
• wherein the conveyor chain (1) of the first conveying apparatus and the conveyor chain (1) of the second conveying apparatus are each disposed at least substantially vertically and extend at least substantially parallel to one another at least in one region of the at least one buffer line,
• wherein, at least in the region of the at least one buffer line, the lamellae (7) of the conveyor chain (1) of the first conveying apparatus and the lamellae (7) of the conveyor chain (1) of the second conveying apparatus are each oriented obliquely with respect to the chain running direction (5), specifically such that, when viewed in chain running direction (5), a lower region of each lamella (7) precedes its upper region, in particular such that a clamping force exerted onto the products (16) by the lamellae (7) of the two conveyor chains (1) is preferably increased as a function of a force effect which acts in chain running direction (5) and in a relative manner between the lamellae (7) and the products (16).

A transport apparatus (12) for transporting products (16), in particular pressure-sensitive products (16), such as soft packaging, in a transport direction (19), wherein the transport apparatus (12) comprises:

• a first conveying apparatus and a second conveying apparatus, each including:
• at least one conveyor chain (1) which circulates in a chain running direction (5) and including a plurality of chain links (3) that are connected to one another in an articulated manner around a respective chain link axis (4) via transversely extending chain pins (2), and
• lamellar elements (6) comprising lamellae (7) made of a spring-elastic material and oriented obliquely with respect to the chain running direction (5) and placed on the chain links (3) interchangeably;
• wherein the conveyor chain (1) of the first conveying apparatus and the conveyor chain (1) of the second conveying apparatus are each disposed at least substantially vertically and extend at least substantially parallel to one another in a transport region (13) of the transport apparatus (12).