Device for changing the position of objects conveyed in an overlapping stream

Apparatus for transferring flexible flat objects from a first conveyor to a discharge conveyor which is provided with transport clamps, comprising:

• a first conveyor;
• a second conveyor positioned immediately downstream of the first conveyor;
• a discharge conveyor positioned downstream of the second conveyor, said discharge conveyor having transport clamps arranged one behind another at a release point, a release device at the release point whereby the transport clamps can be selectively released, said discharge conveyor further comprising a drive for the transport of the transport clamps released at the release point to a pick-up point, said drive being synchronized with the second conveyor;
• and
• a position changing device which is arranged in the region of the first conveyor, the position changing device being configured to detect arriving objects, to arrange them individually in correct phase on the second conveyor and to emit a signal to control the release device in such a way that, for each object output from the second conveyor, a transport clamp is provided at the correct time by the discharge conveyor for fitting said clamp at the pick-up point with an object fed by the second conveyor.