Device and method for transferring and accumulating objects

An apparatus for transferring and accumulating objects comprising:

• a plurality of accumulation channels;
• a single-row conveyor belt for conveying objects arranged upstream of the accumulation channels, wherein the objects advance one after the other in a single row;
• at least a first and a second transfer device arranged upstream of the accumulation channels for transferring the objects from the single-row conveyor belt to the accumulation channels, each transfer device being arranged and shaped so as to communicate with one of the accumulation channels, said at least the first and the second transfer device comprising respectively a first movable portion and a second movable portion which are movable along two parallel sliding directions so as to be arranged at different accumulation channels;
• an alternative divider configured to enable in turn communication between the single-row conveyor belt and one of the transfer devices;
• and
• at least a first unloading device and a second unloading device arranged downstream of the accumulation channels, each of the first unloading device and the second unloading device being arranged and shaped so as to communicate with one of the accumulation channels, at least the first unloading device and the second unloading device comprising, respectively:
• a first guide and a second guide configured to communicate upstream with one of the accumulation channels to convey the objects away therefrom, the first guide and the second guide being configured to move along two substantially parallel sliding directions to communicate with different accumulation channels and being configured to be controlled such that in response to the first guide being affected by a flow of the objects exiting from one of the accumulation channels with which the first guide is communicating, the second guide is configured to move to another accumulation channel to be emptied,
• wherein said first and said second guides are shaped to communicate with two adjacent accumulation channels, and said first and said second guides having two corresponding surfaces configured to contact each other.