Storage device

An apparatus comprising a storage device for products, said storage device comprising a first transport element, said first transport element being configured to convey product in a first transport direction, a second transport element parallel to said first transport element, said second transport element being configured to convey product in a second direction, said second direction being opposite said first direction, a first storage section formed on said first transport element, a second storage section formed on said second transport element, said first and second storage sections together defining a transport plane, a transfer element, said transfer element having a transfer section that extends over said first and second transport elements, and an actuating drive arranged beneath said transport plane and coupled to said transfer element to change a receiving capacity of said first storage section and said second storage section, wherein said first transport direction leads towards said transfer section, wherein said second transport direction leads away from said transfer section, wherein said actuating drive is configured to adjust said transfer element by movement along said first and second transport elements, and wherein at least one of said transport elements and said speeds of said transport elements is controllable independently of adjustment of said transfer element, wherein said apparatus further comprises product guides disposed between said transport elements and parallel thereto, wherein said product guides have one of a position and a length that is variable and that depends on one of position and movement of said transfer element, wherein said product guide is selected from the group consisting of a telescoping guiding element, a plurality of guiding elements that can be raised above said transport plane and lowered below said transport plane, a plurality of guiding elements that can be raised above said transport plane and tilted below said transport plane, a plurality of lamellae that can be raised above said transport plane and lowered below said transport plane, a plurality of lamellae that can be raised above said transport plane and tilted below said transport plane, a loop of a band that can be driven to endlessly circulate, a loop of a chain element that can be driven to endlessly circulate, a loop of a belt element that can be driven to endlessly circulate, a loop of a band element that can be driven to endlessly circulate and that can be coiled and uncoiled on the transfer element, a loop of a chain element that can be driven to endlessly circulate and that can be coiled and uncoiled on the transfer element, and a loop of a belt element that can be driven to endlessly circulate, and that can be coiled and uncoiled on the transfer element.