Patent ID: 9573771
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: B65B,B65G

Claim:
1. An article grouping system capable of forming arrays of articles having a variable number of rows and lanes, the article grouping system comprising: an infeed carrier apparatus having an infeed carrier surface, wherein the infeed carrier surface is movable in a first direction; an outfeed carrier apparatus having an outfeed carrier surface, wherein the outfeed carrier surface is movable in a second direction; a grouping apparatus comprising a plurality of carriages and a carriage drive mechanism operatively connected with each carriage, wherein each carriage comprises a base and a plurality of support members operatively connected with the base to define a plurality of article receiving compartments for receiving individual articles, wherein each article receiving compartment is defined by a compartment width extending between adjacent support members, wherein the carriage drive mechanism causes a carriage to independently move in a third direction from an article receiving zone adjacent to the infeed carrier apparatus to an article discharge zone adjacent to the outfeed carrier apparatus, wherein a portion of the grouping apparatus is positioned intermediate the infeed carrier apparatus and the outfeed carrier apparatus, wherein each carriage is adjustable from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the compartment width is defined a first length, wherein in the second configuration the compartment width is defined by a second length, wherein the first length is different from the second length in order to receive articles of different dimensions; and a transfer apparatus comprising a frame and an article stabilization member operatively connected with the frame, wherein the article stabilization member moves from an engaging location in the article discharge zone to a variable placement location on the outfeed carrier apparatus and back to the engaging location such that spacing between rows is adjustable.