Patent ID: 6237741
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A process for controlling the operation of a machine for processing articles, said machine including a device for transferring and accumulating said article, said device being provided with:a feeding device for feeding a substantially continuous flow of said articles to an intake branch of the said device,an output branch with associated structure for collecting said articles in groups, each said group having a previously selected number of said articles, anda mobile structure for selectively varying the length of said transfer and accumulation device included between the said feeding device and said output branch,said process comprising:detecting in the said substantially continuous flow the possible presence of discontinuities corresponding to articles that are missing in the flow,controlling the movement of the said feeding device and said intake branch in a synchronized manner and, whenever a discontinuity is detected in said substantially continuous flow, causing the speed of the said feeding device and, consequently also of said intake branch to become reduced towards a minimum value that is attained when the said discontinuity actually reaches said intake branch,bringing the said intake branch into a condition of substantial standstill when said minimum value of the speed is attained, maintaining said condition of substantial standstill until the machine reaches the condition in which the first article in the said flow after said discontinuity actually reaches said intake branch, andsetting said intake branch into motion again and thus bringing said feeding device and said intake branch into their normal operating conditions.