Patent ID: 8746436

Claim:
An apparatus for separating articles susceptible to cohesive grouping, comprising: a first collection area having an end and including a first conveying device for collecting and conveying an array of articles arranged in a plurality of rows toward a second collection area; the second collection area configured to receive at least one row of articles from the end of the first collection area, the second collection area including a second conveying device for conveying the at least one row of articles from the second collection area; a selectably movable barrier positioned in close proximity to the end of the first collection area for controlling movement of the at least one row of articles between the end of the first collection area and the second collection area; and a selectably movable separator positionable between the end of the first collection area and at least a portion of the second collection area; wherein upon the second collection area receiving the at least one row of articles from the end of the first collection area, the separator maintaining a spacing between the row of articles controllably positioned along the end of the first collection area by the barrier.