Patent ID: 7762382

Claim:
A method of transferring items from a first area where said items are provided in an un-orderly form to a second area from which said items are transferred in an orderly flow of items, said method comprising the step of using a plurality of gripping means for transferring said items, said transferring including the steps of: moving at least one of said plurality of gripping means toward at least part of said first area or moving said at least part of said first area toward said at least one of said plurality of gripping means; engaging at least one of said items among said items provided in an un-orderly form at said first area using said at least one of said plurality of gripping means; moving said at least one item away from said first area or moving said first area away from said at least one item; and placing said at least one item at a selected position of said second area, wherein said at least one item is moved away from said second area in an orderly flow with at least one additional item handled by another one of said plurality of gripping means, and wherein a plurality of gripping carriers are used for transferring said items, each one of said plurality of gripping carriers carrying at least one of said plurality of gripping means, said plurality of gripping carriers being controlled in such a manner that they are independently movable.