Patent ID: 8240456
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A layout, for implementing a regulation method for aligning a flow (F) of products (Pn, P′n) comprising at least a first line (F 1 ) of products (Pn) and a second line (F 2 ) of products (P′n), parallel to the first line (F 1 ), which are transported longitudinally on a common conveyor belt ( 12 ) at a running speed (V) from an upstream arrival area ( 18 ) to a downstream output area ( 20 ) in order to feed a transfer device ( 24 ) for transfer into cells (Ai), the method comprising, with the products of first and second files (F 1 , F 2 ) being transported on a common conveyor belt ( 12 ), performing a first slowing-down step and a second slowing-down step during the transport of the products of the first and second files (F 1 , F 2 ) on the common conveyor belt ( 12 ) while the common conveyor belt ( 12 ) is moving, where i) said first slowing-down step which, when the spacing value (E) between a given first product (Pn, P′n) belonging to one of the lines (F 1 , F 2 ) and a second product (Pn, P′n) situated immediately upstream and belonging to the other of said lines (F 1 , F 2 ) is less than a first determined set value, called the first pitch (PAS 1 ), consists in slowing down said first product (Pn, P′n) relative to the second product (Pn, P′n) on the belt without changing the running speed (V) of the belt until the spacing (E) between said first product (Pn, P′n) from the line (F 1 , F 2 ) and the associated second product (Pn, P′n) from the other line (F 1 , F 2 ) reaches a predetermined, approximately zero, first value for which the first and second products (Pn, P′n) are generally aligned in the transverse direction; ii) said second slowing-down step which, when the spacing value (E) between a downstream product (Pn) from the first line (F 1 ) and the proximal product (P′n) situated immediately upstream in the second line (F 2 ), is less than a second determined set value, called the second pitch (PAS 2 ), consists in slowing down said proximal product (P′n) relative to the product (Pn) situated downstream in the first line (F 1 ) until the spacing (E) between the proximal product (P′n) from the second line (F 2 ) and the product (Pn) from the first line (F 1 ) reaches a predetermined, nonzero value corresponding to at least the second set value (PAS 2 ) of the second pitch, and iii) said first slowing-down step and said second slowing-down step being respectively employed selectively so as to bring into phase the spacing (E) between two consecutive products (Pn) and (P′n) respectively belonging to one or the other of the first and second lines (F 1 , F 2 ) according to a sequence (PAS 1 , PAS 2 ) determined according to the cell (Ai) transfer device ( 24 ), said layout comprising; the flow (F) of products (Pn, P′n) consisting of at least the first line (F between the arrival area ( wherein the first phaser (