Patent ID: 7555881

Claim:
A method of feeding products to a group-forming unit forming groups of products ( 2 ), each comprising a given number of products ( 2 ); the method comprising the steps of: feeding an orderly succession of products ( 2 ) in a first direction ( 8 ) by means of a first conveyor ( 6 ) having a succession of first pockets ( 9 ), each housing a respective product ( 2 ); transferring the products ( 2 ) from the first conveyor ( 6 ) to a second conveyor ( 10 ) by means of a first transfer device ( 17 ); feeding an orderly succession of products ( 2 ) in a second direction ( 11 ) by means of the second conveyor ( 10 ) having a succession of second pockets ( 12 ), each housing a respective product ( 2 ); transferring the products ( 2 ) from the second conveyor ( 10 ) to a third conveyor ( 23 ) by means of a second transfer device ( 30 ); feeding an orderly succession of products ( 2 ) in a third direction ( 24 ), parallel to the second direction ( 11 ), by means of the third conveyor ( 23 ) having a succession of third pockets ( 25 ), each housing a respective product ( 2 ); detecting a vacancy on the first transfer device ( 17 ); stopping the second conveyor ( 10 ), when a vacancy is detected on the first transfer device ( 17 ), and simultaneously moving the second transfer device ( 30 ) towards the first transfer device ( 17 ) in the opposite direction to the second direction ( 11 ); and moving the second transfer device ( 30 ) away from the first transfer device ( 17 ) in the third direction ( 24 ), so as to form along the third conveyor ( 23 ) a number of consecutive empty third pockets ( 25 ) equal to the number of products ( 2 ) in each group of products ( 2 ).