Methods and apparatus for establishing a desired positional relationship between random-length articles conveyed in single file
US5738202A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 1995 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2203/042
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Articles of random length are conveyed in single file while being transferred from a first driven conveyor to a second driven conveyor. The second conveyor is driven faster than the first conveyor so that an initial gap is established between the articles. Front and rear ends of the articles are sensed while traveling along the second conveyor toward a third conveyor. From that sensed information, there is determined an actual front-to-front distance between the front end of each article to the front end of the next article. The speed of the second conveyor is varied, as necessary, to create a desired minimum front-to-front distance between successive articles. Optionally, that minimum front-to-front distance is established while ensuring that a minimum gap is maintained between successive articles.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.