Patent ID: 7784599

Claim:
An automated system for grouping bakery products comprising: a conveyor; a supporting structure adjacent to the conveyor, the support structure comprising: a first lateral rail disposed parallel to a first side of the conveyor; a second lateral rail disposed parallel to a second side of the conveyor opposite the first side; a sliding support disposed on each of the first and second lateral rails; first linear actuators operable to longitudinally displace the sliding supports in both a conveying direction and in a direction opposite the conveying direction; a vertical post attached to each sliding support; a cross guide extending between the vertical posts on an upper portion of said posts; a pair of second actuators disposed on the cross guide; a pulling plate attached to each second actuator, wherein the second actuators are operable to vertically position the pulling plates relative to the conveyor; a positioning mechanism secured to each pulling plate and operable to reposition one or more bakery products on the conveyor; a lower cross member extending between the vertical posts on a lower portion of said posts; and third linear actuators disposed on the lower cross member and operable to displace the pulling plates in a direction transverse to the conveying direction.