HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR BUFFERING PRODUCTS, IN PARTICULAR FOODS

The invention relates to a handling device for buffering products (24a; 24b), the handling device having at least one transport unit (18a; 18b) that comprises: at least one feed conveying element (66a; 66b) for conveying the products (24a; 24b) in a main conveying direction (20a; 20b) of the transport unit (18a; 18b); at least one transverse conveying element (28a; 28b) in the form of a transverse conveyor belt and having a conveying direction (26a; 26b) that runs transversely to the main conveying direction (20a; 20b); and at least one conveying element (78a; 78b) for conveying the products (24a; 24b) in the main conveying direction (20a; 20b) after a product arrangement has been influenced by the transverse conveying element (28a; 28b), wherein the transverse conveying element (28a; 28b) is arranged downstream of the feed conveying element (66a; 66b) in the main conveying direction (20a; 20b), wherein the conveying element (78a; 78b) is arranged downstream of the transverse conveying element (28a; 28b) in the main conveying direction (20a; 20b); and at least one open-loop or closed-loop control unit (56a; 56b) at least for open-loop or closed-loop control of a drive parameter of the transverse conveying element (28a; 28b) in order to influence a product arrangement on the conveying element (78a; 78b). According to the invention, the transverse conveying element (28a; 28b) in the form of a transverse conveyor belt is arranged so as to be inclined relative to a main conveying plane (32a; 32b) of the transport unit (18a; 18b).