Patent ID: 8827082
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: B07C,B65G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for grouping randomly oriented articles traveling on a conveyor, said conveyor having an in-feed end, an out-feed end and a predetermined width, the apparatus comprising: an inspection head located in a fixed position above the conveyor, the inspection head for capturing images of the articles traveling on the conveyor; a grouping unit located in a fixed position relative to the conveyor and downstream of the inspection head, the grouping unit comprising: a control unit for receiving and processing the captured images from the inspection head, the processing of the captured images for identifying the location of the articles traveling on the conveyor and for controlling the individual activation of the pins between buffering position and the grouping position, wherein the control unit categorizes the articles for including in a current grouping or in a separate subsequent grouping based on a group cycle quantity.