Patent ID: 7997046

Claim:
A machine for sealing containers comprising: a container sealing system, which is located downstream of an infeed system for feeding containers to be sealed, the infeed system comprising: a) an accumulation unit; b) at least one motor for driving the accumulation unit; c) a motor driven feeder unit directly adjacent to the accumulation unit and is located upstream relative to the accumulation unit; d) at least one sensor; and e) at least one detector; wherein the feeder unit feeds containers to the accumulation unit, and the feeder unit further comprises: i. at least a first feeder conveyor, and ii. a second feeder conveyor, wherein the first and second feeder conveyors have an end zone and are arranged at least partially in parallel and are provided such that containers are fed to the accumulation unit by the first feeder conveyor independently from the second feeder conveyor, wherein the accumulation unit comprises: i. at least a first accumulation conveyor and ii. a second accumulation conveyor, wherein the first and second accumulation conveyors are arranged at least partially in parallel, and the first accumulation conveyor operates independently from the second accumulation conveyor; wherein at least the first feeder conveyor further comprises: i. the at least one sensor in the end-zone of the first feeder conveyor, and ii. the at least one detector, wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one detector are connected to a control unit, which controls the at least one motor driving the accumulation unit such that a desired gap is created between two adjacent containers on the accumulation unit and that the speeds of: i. the accumulation unit and the first feeder conveyor, are synchronised at least partially during a handing over of the containers from the first feeder conveyor to the accumulation unit.