Patent ID: 6772871
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: A23G,B65B,B65G

Abstract:
A method of handling items of different character, primarily individually packed edible ice products such as ice lollies, comprising:delivering items of a particular different character from one of a plurality of parallel supply lines in different configurations for subsequent grouping together in portions comprising a desired relevant configuration including items of a different character; delivering the items of different character on the plurality of supply lines to accumulation means for either floating friction conveyance or conveyance on support trays for the relevant configuration of items of different character for subsequent selective delivery to a common transfer area; and transferring the relevant configurations at the common transfer area to a conveyor means for the further conveyance of the successively received relevant configurations, wherein each supply line includes a feeding station including a feeding means for feeding an item of different character and each feeding station is successively arranged along a longitudinal direction of the accumulation means, and wherein selective control of stop means for releasable retention of an item or a slide tray on the accumulation means at each of the feeding stations and of the feeding means for the controlled supply of individual items of a different character to the accumulation means is effected in such a manner that part rows of the different items are fed serially onto the accumulation means such that said part rows of items in the relevant configuration are brought from the accumulation means at a delivery end for the collective delivery of the relevant configurations to said conveyor means for further transport of the relevant configurations.