Patent ID: 7156237

Claim:
A separating and supplying apparatus comprising: a transfer conveyor for transferring arrayed articles to be separated and supplied; a separating conveyor having one end portion for receiving the articles from said transfer conveyor as the articles are transferred by said transfer conveyor; a first stopper for stopping transferring of the articles from said transfer conveyor to said separating conveyor after a predetermined number of the articles, after having been received by said separating conveyor, are positioned on a first portion of said separating conveyor; and a second stopper including an endless belt and a first stopper member projecting from said endless belt, such that upon movement and then stoppage of said endless belt said first stopper member becomes positioned at a stop location for stopping a front one of the articles of the predetermined number on said separating conveyor and thereby preventing conveyance of the articles of the predetermined number by said separating conveyor.