Patent ID: 7475768
Filing Date: 2009-01-13
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. An accumulation device adapted to generate a bundle of a plurality of aligned products while transporting the products with each of the products having a pair of main surfaces and at least one connecting bottom part that connects the main surfaces, the accumulation device comprising: a conveying unit having a transport surface configured and arranged to transport the products in a first direction while each of the products is oriented in a horizontal orientation so that one of the main surfaces is supported on the transport surface; an orientation changing unit configured and arranged to receive the products from the conveying unit and to change an orientation of the products from the horizontal orientation to an upright orientation in which the main surfaces are aligned with the first direction and a vertical direction; and an aligning unit configured and arranged to accumulate the products in the upright orientation in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction so that the products are stacked with the main surfaces of an adjacent pair of the products contacting each other, the conveying unit being configured and arranged to selectively extend and retract in the first direction to change a distance between the conveying unit and the orientation changing unit according to a length of each of the products in the first direction.