Patent ID: 7320573

Claim:
A method for continuously packaging or sorting fragile articles having varying thicknesses in a stack comprising: feeding a plurality of articles having varying thicknesses from an article infeed to one of a plurality of stripping devices, removing a set number of articles in the form of a stack by each stripping device, wherein a proportional shifter is coupled to each stripping device, measuring the stack height of said set number of articles with an article gauge attached to each proportional shifter and determining a change in stack height of said set number of articles, wherein said set number of articles are placed within the article gauge for said measuring of the stack height, and adjusting each proportional shifter for the change in the stack height in proportion to the set number of articles removed without interrupting the flow of articles, switching each said proportional shifter between two different pre-determined numbers of fragile articles which are removed by each stripping device, and maintaining the adjustment in stack height while said switching is performed in-process.