Patent ID: 9376265
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: B65G

Claim Text:
1. A unit for forming a layer batches of groups of articles, comprising: a first conveyor comprised of a driven first belt and adapted to convey a plurality of said groups in an abutting relationship in a first advancing direction, the first conveyor being a stop-and-go conveyor that cyclically stops and moves the first belt; a second conveyor comprised of a driven second belt, and adapted to separate a first batch of groups of articles at a first location on said second belt from remaining groups of articles located at other locations on said second belt and form a gap between said separated first batch and the remaining groups on the second belt; and manipulating means adapted to manipulate said separated first batch on the second belt to arrive next to another batch on the second belt to thereby form the layer of the batches of groups of articles on the second belt, wherein the manipulating means moves said separated first batch on the second belt, in at least a second traverse direction to the first advancing direction, to arrive next to said other batch and into said layer located at an area of the second belt defined by said second conveyor, said layer comprised of at least said separated first batch and said other batch being arranged for palletization, said manipulating means movable along the second belt in the first advancing direction (X), the second traverse direction (Y), and rotatable in a third direction (Z) vertical to the first advancing direction (X) and the second traverse direction (Y).