Patent ID: 9586769
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: B65B,B65G

Claim:
1. A method for forming and moving an article array comprising: receiving a first row of articles onto a support surface of a consolidation area between a movable stabilizer and a movable backing plate, the consolidation area providing continuous stabilizing support to the periphery of the first row of articles, the stabilizer and the backing plate providing stabilizing support to opposed portions of the periphery of the first row of articles; the backing plate and the stabilizer moving and stabilizingly supporting the first row of articles in a first direction, at least the backing plate in contact with each article of the row of articles while moving the row of articles in the first direction; additionally stabilizingly supporting the portion of the periphery of the first row of articles stabilizingly supported by the backing plate, the additional stabilizing support being independent of the stabilizing support provided by the backing plate; moving the backing plate in a direction opposite the first direction in preparation of receiving a second row of articles; receiving the second row of articles immediately adjacent the first row of articles onto the support surface between the backing plate and the first row of articles, the periphery of the first row of articles and the second row of articles being continuously stabilizingly supported, including stabilizing support provided by the stabilizer and the backing plate, the first row of articles and the second row of articles forming an article array; removing the additional stabilizing support from the portion of the periphery of the first row of articles formerly stabilizingly supported by the backing plate, the portion of the periphery of the first row of articles formerly stabilizingly supported by the backing plate being stabilizingly supported by a corresponding portion of the periphery of the second row of articles, and a portion of the periphery of the second row of articles being stabilizingly supported by the backing plate; and moving the article array toward a collection area, wherein moving the article array includes the stabilizer and the backing plate moving and stabilizingly supporting the article array in the first direction toward the collection area, the stabilizer moving out of the path of the article array by retracting to a position substantially flush with the support surface of the consolidation area prior to the article array reaching the collection area, the article array being continuously stabilizingly supported during movement between the consolidation area and the collection area.