Stacking device for side loader

Method of preparing confectionary products for packaging, where the confectionary products are conveyed one by one on a first pocket conveyor, and where a picking robot comprising one or more picking arms is arranged for picking up a predetermined number of confectionary products from said first pocket conveyor and transferring the confectionary products to a bulking conveyor, said bulking conveyor having compartments suitable to accommodate a predetermined number of confectionary products in one or more layers in each compartment, where the method comprises the following steps;

• a) the one or more arms of the picking robot, picks up a first predetermined number of confectionary products corresponding to the number of confectionary products in a first layer from the pocket conveyor and thereafter holds the first predetermined number of confectionary products in a suspended position relative to one or more empty compartments on the bulking conveyor,
• b) while the first predetermined number of confectionary products are held in the suspended position, determining that a second predetermined number of confectionary products corresponding to the total number of confectionary products needed for filling one or more consecutive layers are available on the pocket conveyor are ready to be picked up;
• c) after determining the availability of the second predetermined number of confectionary products, releasing the picked up confectionary products from the suspended position into the one or more compartments in a first layer, and
• d) moving the one or more arms of the picking robot to pick up the second predetermined number of confectionary products from the pocket conveyor and picking up the second predetermined number of confectionary products, and
• e) transferring the second predetermined number of confectionary products to the one or more compartment creating a further layer of confectionary products.