US Patent:
20200239236, Jul 30, 2020
Inventors:
- De Pere WI, US
Michael Jarmuskiewicz - Green Bay WI, US
Michael Klasen - De Pere WI, US
International Classification:
B65G 15/42
B65G 47/31
B65G 43/08
Abstract:
A feeder apparatus for conveying articles, comprises a first, gap-closing conveyor, and a second, lugged conveyor positioned downstream of said first, gap-closing conveyor. The gap-closing conveyor accepts randomly or irregularly spaced articles from an upstream conveyor or other feeder. The gap-closing conveyor is operated at a speed which is sufficient to always provide a gap between articles received on the gap-closing conveyor from an upstream conveyor or associated feeder. The second, lugged conveyor is operated at a speed which is the same as the downstream wrapper or other packaging device to which the regularly spaced articles are being supplied. The apparatus includes upper and lower moving junction carriages which respectively join opposite ends of said first, gap closing conveyor and said second, lugged conveyor. In operation, the upper and lower junctions are movable such that irregularly spaced articles on the gap-closing conveyor can be positioned in regularly spaced relationship on the lugged conveyor between adjacent ones of the upstanding lugs. The articles or group of multiple articles can then be delivered in the desired regularly spaced relationship to an associated packaging apparatus or other handling device.
