Patent ID: 7055671

Claim:
A method for forming and spacing out successive batches ( 3 ) of articles ( 2 ) including the following phases: transferring articles ( 2 ) one by one along a feed belt ( 4 ) up to a feed station ( 5 ), at a substantially constant input speed (VE); grouping and transferring a given number of articles ( 2 ) in the form of a batch ( 3 ) from the feed station ( 5 ) to an outlet station ( 7 ) using rotating transfer means ( 8 ) of the type including at least a first and a second coaxial rotating shaft ( 9 , 10 ) suitable for being rotated independently from one another with motorised means ( 12 , 13 ) with their speed controlled by a control device, with the first and second shafts respectively being linked to a first and to a second rotating transfer system ( 15 , 16 ) having a transfer speed (VT) that is not constant and is determined by the control device; transferring the articles ( 2 ) in the form of successive batches 3 along an outlet belt ( 6 ) from the outlet station ( 7 ), at an outlet speed (VS) higher than the input speed (VE), with the said method being characterised in that the phase for grouping and transferring articles ( 2 ) includes the following steps: engaging, at the feed station, a first driving system ( 19 a ) for articles carried by the first rotating transfer system ( 15 ) upstream from an article ( 2 ) forming part of a batch ( 3 ) of articles downstream at a transfer speed (VT) equal to the input speed (VE); gradually accelerating the first rotating transfer system ( 15 ) and so the batch of articles up to the outlet station ( 7 ) such that the transfer speed (VT) at the outlet station will be equal to the outlet speed (VE); disengaging, at the outlet station ( 7 ), the first driving system ( 19 a ) for articles ( 2 ); engaging at the feed station ( 5 ) a second driving system ( 19 b ) carried by the second transfer system ( 16 ) with a variable space and determined by the control device between the first and the second driving systems, so that the adjustment by the control device makes it possible to vary the number of articles ( 2 ) per batch ( 3 ) and/or the gap between each batch ( 3 ).