Patent ID: 7222716

Claim:
Method for metering product comprising: conveying a continuous stream of product arranged in multiple rows in a conveying direction at a first conveyance speed for transfer unto a first product conveyance mechanism moving in the conveyance direction at a second conveyance speed greater than the first conveyance speed, with conveying the continuous stream of product comprising conveying the continuous stream of product from a second product conveyance mechanism onto a transfer device and from the transfer device to the first product conveyance mechanism; and abutting lead product on the first product conveyance mechanism with a metering bar moving in the conveying direction at the first conveyance speed until a group of product including a number of rows from the continuous stream of product has been transferred onto the first product conveyance mechanism at which time the group of product on the first product conveyance mechanism is allowed to accelerate to match the second conveyance speed.