Device for transferring products from a feeder conveyor belt to a discharge conveyor belt using grippers, and method for operating the device

The invention relates to a device for transferring products from a feeder conveyor belt (10) to a discharge conveyor belt (12), comprising a linear motor having conveyor elements (14) which are movably guided on a guide and have grippers (18) for the temporary accommodation of products (20). The guide is designed as a linear guide section (13), and the conveyor elements (14) can be moved back and forth on the guide section (13) for picking up and putting down the products (20). When products (20) are conveyed consecutively in a row in the conveying direction (z) of the feeder conveyor belt (10), the feeder conveyor belt (10), the discharge conveyor belt (12) and the guide section (13) are arranged in parallel next to one another, at least in one lateral overlapping area. When products (20) are conveyed side-by-side in rows in the conveying direction (z) of the feeder conveyor belt (10), the feeder conveyor belt (10) is arranged perpendicular to the discharge conveyor belt (12), and the discharge conveyor belt (12) and the guide section (13) are arranged in parallel to one another and are arranged side-by-side with the feeder conveyor belt (10) at least in a lateral overlapping area.