초록 ▼

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 sen

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.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of longitudinally conveying random-length articles in single file while establishing a minimum front-to-front distance between successive leading and trailing articles, comprising the steps of:A) transferring the leading and trailing articles sequentially from a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of longitudinally conveying random-length articles in single file while establishing a minimum front-to-front distance between successive leading and trailing articles, comprising the steps of:A) transferring the leading and trailing articles sequentially from a driven upstream conveyor to a driven variable speed downstream conveyor, while driving the downstream conveyor faster than the upstream conveyor, to create an initial rear-to-front gap between the leading and trailing articles;B) transferring, subsequent to step A, the leading article onto a receiver conveyor;C) sensing, subsequent to step A and prior to step B, front and rear ends of the leading article and determining an actual length thereof and an actual front-to-front distance between the leading and trailing articles;D) comparing, subsequent to step C and prior to step B, the actual length of the leading article with a minimum front-to-front distance value;E) comparing, subsequent to step C and prior to step B, the minimum front-to-front distance value with the actual front-to-front distance;F) controlling, subsequent to step B, the speed of the downstream conveyor on which the trailing article is disposed, to make the actual front-to-front distance equal to the minimum front-to-front distance value, when the minimum front-to-front distance value exceeds the actual length of the leading article; andG) controlling, subsequent to step B, the speed of the downstream conveyor on which the trailing article is disposed, to make the actual front-to-front distance equal to the actual length of the leading article, when such actual length exceeds the minimum front-to-front distance value.