Patent ID: 8109382

Claim:
A machine for metering a stream of articles, moving at a first speed in a travel direction, into spaced groups of articles, the machine comprising a metering element operable to intercept said stream of articles and operable to accelerate a selected article relative to the remainder of the stream to thereby form said spaced groups of articles, the machine comprising a drive means for driving the metering element which drive means is operable at a second speed in the travel direction which is greater than the first speed, wherein the speed at which the metering element is moveable is retardable relative to the speed of the drive means before the metering element intercepts said stream of articles, without retarding the speed of the drive means, the metering element being coupled to the drive means by a guide structured such that the metering element is reciprocally displaceable relative to the drive means and characterized in that the guide is disposed at an angle that is greater than 90 degrees relative to the direction of travel of the drive means such that the as the metering element is displaced it is provided with a component of velocity away from the travel direction whereby the speed in the travel direction at which the metering element is moveable is retardable relative to the speed of the drive means.