Patent ID: 7665598

Claim:
An arrangement ( 10 ) for assembling a plurality of products (Pn) in the form of batches (Ln), the arrangement configured so that the products (Pn) are transported on at least one conveyor belt ( 16 ) which runs in a longitudinal direction from an intake zone ( 18 ) upstream to an exit zone ( 20 ) downstream, at a specified speed (V 1 ) known as a running speed, in which the products (Pn) arrive with a specified upstream spacing (E 1 ) between two products (Pn), and the arrangement having a phasing device ( 22 , 23 ) which is placed on a path of the products (Pn) so as to form batches (Ln) of at least two of the products (Pn), the phasing device ( 22 , 23 ) being placed between the intake zone ( 18 ) and the exit zone ( 20 ) of the belt ( 16 ) and having at least one retractable catch ( 26 , 28 , 60 , 62 , 64 ) which moves successively into: at least one engaged position in which the catch ( 26 , 28 , 60 , 62 , 64 ) is interposed, by contact, before a first product (P 1 ) in order to slow it down until at least a second product (P 2 ) located immediately upstream moves up to it, so as to form a batch (L 1 ), and at least one retracted position which allows the previously formed batch (L 1 ) to continue moving downstream at the running speed (V 1 ), said phasing device ( 22 , 23 ) having at least one drive belt ( 30 , 50 , 52 ) which has a passive operating state in which it is stopped, each catch ( 26 , 28 , 60 , 62 , 64 ) occupying a retracted waiting position, and an active operating state in which the belt ( 30 , 50 , 52 ) is rotated around at least two drive pulleys ( 34 , 36 , 54 ) in such a way that a catch ( 26 , 28 , 60 , 62 , 64 ) is moved longitudinally downstream in the engaged position.