---
publication_id: "OT-2026-000003077"
title: "Method and apparatus for forming item groups"
published_at: "2026-09-15T19:23:54.039761Z"
canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000003077"
categories:
  - "robotics-automation/robot-architectures"
keywords:
  - "b25j9/0084"
  - "b25j9/0084"
  - "b25j11/0045"
  - "b25j11/0045"
  - "b25j15/0616"
  - "b25j15/0616"
---

# Method and apparatus for forming item groups

## Abstract

An apparatus for forming an item group in a container, includes a first conveyor carrying the items; a second conveyor; and a plurality of container carriers mounted on the second conveyor. Each container carrier has a support for holding and positioning a container such that a container bottom and a container side wall are oriented obliquely to the advancing direction of the second conveyor. A pickup device lifts an item from the first conveyor, transports it to the second conveyor and deposits it into a container positioned by a container carrier. A control device controls the motions of the pickup device to selectively deposit items in a flat-lying orientation on the container bottom or on the container side wall. After uprighting the containers subsequent to their charging with items, each item is either in a flat-lying orientation or in an edge-wise standing orientation with respect to the container bottom.

## 1. Drawings

[0001] Sheet 1.

[0002] Sheet 2.

[0003] Sheet 3.

[0004] Sheet 4.

[0005] Sheet 5.