Patent ID: 8464857

Claim:
A device for generating, from a flow of incoming articles with a given advancing velocity (v in ), an output flow of said articles comprising: an input conveyor; a screw conveyor configured to receive longitudinally said flow of incoming articles from said input conveyor, said screw conveyor including at least one screw having a helix configured to interact with said advancing articles to control the conveying of said articles by said at least one screw, a rotational velocity (ω) of said at least one screw being selectively adjustable to vary a conveying velocity (v app ) of said articles by said at least one screw with respect to said given advancing velocity (v in ); and an output conveyor configured to receive from said screw conveyor said output flow of said articles, wherein said input conveyor has a loop structure and is provided with retaining formations configured to receive said incoming articles, said retaining formations extending from said loop structure, and wherein said at least one screw is adapted to interact with the articles conveyed by said input conveyor causing said articles to slide out of said retaining formations.