Patent ID: 8162130
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A device for implementation of a method for forming batches using objects moving in single file, adjacent to each other, forming a queue and conveyed by an endless belt of a conveyor configured to advance at a longitudinal speed Va by immobilizing said objects in said queue, on an entire length thereof, using stopping means which act sequentially, to create a gap between two consecutive objects and to isolate, downstream from said gap, a group of objects defining a batch with a programmed number of objects thereof, to insert into the gap thus created a first cleat having a longitudinal advance speed Vt lower than Va, to release said immobilized queue and having said first cleat handle same, at the leading object thereof, to start a new temporary immobilization of said queue, with a view to inserting a second cleat in the new gap thus created, when a distance covered by the first cleat measured from the end of said stopping means is equivalent to at least a length L of the batch of objects, to release the queue retained by said stopping means to have same handled by said second cleat, and to release the batch retained by said first cleat, starting another stoppage of the queue, the device comprising: an immobilisation device that immobilises the queue on the entire length thereof so as to create a gap E between two consecutive objects of said queue and, cleats, suitable for being inserted in the gap E thus created, for handling the front of the immobilised queue, said immobilisation device and said cleats operating in a coordinated manner to start the immobilisation of the queue when the cleat for handling the queue, after said queue has been released, has covered a distance L′ which, measured from the end of said immobilisation device, is equivalent at least to the length L of the batch to be prepared, wherein the queue immobilization device comprises: