Apparatus and Method for Conveying Products from a Stack to an Output

An apparatus for conveying products from a stack to an output, comprising:

• a stack area configured for receiving a stack of a plurality of products, wherein the stack area comprises a base plate with a surface for receiving the products and a stop transversal to a stacking direction of the products;
• a guiding element extending to the output;
• and
• a transport mechanism configured for acting on one or several of the products in the stack for conveying the products in the direction of the output, such that edges of the products abut on the guiding element,
• wherein the transport mechanism is implemented such that one transport element of the transport mechanism is disposed above the surface of the base plate during a movement from a first position to a second position,
• for raising at least part of the products in the stack, moving them in the direction of the guiding element and the stop and lower them on the surface of the base plate.

A method for conveying products from a stack of a plurality of products to an output, wherein the stack is arranged in a stack area comprising a base plate with a surface for receiving the products, a stop transversal to a stacking direction of the products and a guiding element extending to the output, the method comprising:

• acting on one or several of the products in the stack for conveying the products in a direction of the output such that edges of the products abut on the guiding element ,
• wherein the acting on the one or the several products comprises:
• moving a transport element above the base plate from a first position to a second position to thereby raise at least part of the products in the stack above the surface of the base plate,
• moving the part of the products in the direction of the guiding element and the stop, and
• lowering the part of the products on the surface of the base plate.

A computer program product comprising a program code stored on a machine-readable carrier for performing the method for conveying products from a stack of a plurality of products to an output, wherein the stack is arranged in a stack area comprising a base plate with a surface for receiving the products, a stop transversal to a stacking direction of the products and a guiding element extending to the output, the method comprising:

• acting on one or several of the products in the stack for conveying the products in a direction of the output such that edges of the products abut on the guiding element ,
• wherein the acting on the one or the several products comprises:
• moving a transport element above the base plate from a first position to a second position to thereby raise at least part of the products in the stack above the surface of the base plate,
• moving the part of the products in the direction of the guiding element and the stop, and
• lowering the part of the products on the surface of the base plate,
• when the program product runs on a computer.