SUPPLY DEVICE AND SUPPLY METHOD FOR SUPPLYING AND TRANSFERRING CONTAINERS INTO A CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE

The invention relates to a supply device for the ordered supply of containers to be cleaned to a cleaning device, comprising a transfer device for transferring the containers into the cleaning device, comprising a transport device designed for vertically transporting containers in a conveying direction towards the transfer device, comprising a transfer region in which the containers are guided, in multiple lanes running parallel to one another, in single file from a lane entry to a lane exit, wherein the transfer region has multiple laterally limiting lane walls running parallel to one another, wherein the transfer device is arranged on the lane exit side of the transfer region, wherein the transfer device is designed such that it is rotationally driven and can be rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein the transfer device also has multiple transfer fingers, which are arranged radially externally on the transfer device and associated with the lane/s, such that the lanes guide containers to the transfer fingers and into the engagement region of the transfer fingers with the containers, wherein a blocking element is also arranged in the transfer region in each lane, which can bring the in-flow of containers to the associated transfer finger intermittently from a release position into a blocking position, and is characterised in that the blocking element is driven to periodically alternate between the blocking position and the release position, wherein the periodicity is adjusted according to the rotational speed of the transfer device. The invention also relates to a supply method and a transport device, as well as an assembly with supply devices.