Patent ID: 6209706
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An apparatus for grouping and transferring articles, said apparatus comprising:an upstream conveyor having a discharge end, wherein said upstream conveyor feeds a supply of articles in an initial feed direction;a transfer station having a substantially horizontal transfer surface that includes a grouping area and a staging area, wherein said transfer station is placed at said discharge end of said upstream conveyor and is adapted to receive a first row of articles from said upstream conveyor onto said grouping area, said articles being in a first orientation;a transfer cycle control system having at least one sensor on said transfer station that senses when a complete row of articles is present on said grouping area; anda transfer assembly that includes a transfer shaft, and a plurality of push-rod assemblies arranged along said transfer shaft, wherein said transfer assembly is mounted on said transfer station and adapted to slidably transfer said first row of articles from said grouping area onto said staging area in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said initial feed direction, wherein each one of said push-rod assemblies is provided with a push-rod array having a plurality of push-rods, each push-rod having a push-rod tip, wherein said push-rod tip of one of said push-rods of said push-rod array on each one of said push-rod assemblies comes into contact with a respective one article of said complete row of articles so as to slidably move said respective one article onto said staging area during a partial rotation of said shaft, and wherein said articles maintain said first orientation when slidably transferred.