Method and device for separating a string of packages into single file at a regulated pace

A device for transferring and presenting packages in a longitudinal line in a direction of transfer thereof to a packages pick-up station, in which the packages are deposited in layers, each layer comprising at least two rows of transverse packages in the direction of transfer, the device comprising:

• a first receiving conveyor belt transporting the packages together in a first direction at a first speed V1;
• a second conveyor belt for the transfer in said first direction at a second speed V2>V1, so that a separation results in the longitudinal direction between a first row i or a first transversely aligned series of at least one package and at least a second row i+1 or a second transversely aligned series of at least one package due to the difference in speed;
• a third belt movable in translation in a sequenced manner to be stopped prior to supplying a fourth belt;
• an optical measuring device optically measuring X-Y positions of the packages of said row or series, a number of packages of said row i and a spacing between the packages of the row i and/or separating end packages on internal and external sides of the third one from the external and internal edges of said third belt when stationary;
• a movement system configured to advance the third belt at a third speed V3, and configured to stop the third belt in a sequenced manner;
• a fourth belt and a fifth belt, the fourth belt positioned as an extension of the third belt and configured to be driven by a determined fourth supplying speed V4 to supply the fifth belt forming an angle to the first direction and configured to be driven at a fifth speed V5, in a second direction, so that there is a difference in the path length of the packages initially located in a direction transverse to the first direction;
• a calculator configured to calculate the speeds V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and to determine a moment of introduction of the packages onto the fourth belt from determined parameters including dimensions of the packages, a length and a width of the belts, a number of packages per layer, spacing dimensions, and a number of packages per row i measured optically, as to allow separating a string of packages into a longitudinal or substantially longitudinal line of the packages at a determined isolated-package pace D and without risk of collision during transfer thereof at a pace D.