Patent ID: 6220591
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for processing flexible, sheet-like products by slowing down the products which are delivered to a receiving region of the apparatus from a feed conveyor and then conveying the received products to a transfer region of the apparatus, and comprisinga plurality of conveying elements arranged in a circular array one behind the other on a support member,a drive for rotating the support member about a central axis such that the conveying elements each move along a circulatory path from a receiving region to a transfer region,each conveying element comprising a roller segment mounted to the support member for rotation about a rotational axis which is parallel to the central axis, and a mating element, and with the periphery of the roller segment including at least one circumferentially running surface section and at least one recess section,said drive including means for rotating the roller segment of each conveying element about its rotational axis while the support member rotates about said central axis, and such that(1) during movement of each conveying element through the receiving region the recess section of the roller segment and the mating element form an introduction gap therebetween which is closed at a downstream end of the gap as seen in the direction of rotation of the roller segment, for receiving a product fed from a feed conveyor, and(2) during subsequent movement and at about the time at which a leading end of the product reaches the closed end of the introduction gap the circumferentially running surface section of the roller segment and the mating element form a conveying gap for engaging the received product and conveying the same from the receiving region to the transfer region.