Patent ID: 6408601
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
In combination:means including a package supply for feeding packages at a variable spacing one after another to a transfer station; a pocket belt offset from the transfer station; an intermediate belt extending through the transfer station from the supply to the pocket belt; drive means for continuously advancing the pocket belt at a variable pocket-belt speed; drive means for advancing the intermediate belt at a variable intermediate-belt speed forming a predetermined ratio with the pocket-belt speed and thereby moving the packages on the intermediate belt from the supply to the pocket belt; a single sensor for determining the spacing between succeeding packages only at the supply; and control means connected to the pocket-belt drive means, to the intermediate-belt drive means, and to the sensor means for changing the predetermined ratio in accordance with the sensed spacing between succeeding packages as they arrive at the transfer station from the supply, whereby the speeds are varied so the intermediate-belt speed forms a greater proportion of the pocket-belt speed when the sensed spacing increases and the speeds are varied so the intermediate-belt speed forms a smaller proportion of the pocket-belt speed when the sensed spacing decreases.