Flexible pitch product metering system

A product management system comprising:

• a continuous first track, including a lug queuing section, a lug engagement section, and a product engagement section, each section being configured and adapted to effectuate specific lug movement steps;
• a continuous chain partially following the continuous first track configured and adapted to actuate lugs about at least a portion of the continuous first track, wherein the continuous chain and the continuous first track are disposed within a panel such that the chain is disposed within a secondary channel within the panel located below the continuous first track;
• a serious of lugs moveably disposed along the continuous first track configured for moving a product along the product engagement section of the continuous first track;
• a star wheel disposed at the lug engagement section of the continuous first track configured for metering lugs to engage the chain from the queuing section of the track and to control a variable pitch between each of the lugs along the transferring chain;
• and
• a magnetism source configured to direct the lugs to the queueing sections.

A product management system comprising:

• a panel including:
• a first continuous track, including a lug queuing section, a lug engagement section, and a product engagement section, each section being configured and adapted to effectuate specific lug movement steps;
• a second continuous track partially following the first continuous track located below the first track;
• a continuous transferring chain disposed within the second continuous track configured and adapted to actuate lugs about at least a portion of the track;
• a series of lugs moveably disposed along the track configured for effectuating a product along the product engagement section of the track, wherein each lug includes a base, a magnet, a cylindrical member protruding from the base and disposed within the first continuous track, and an arm configured and adapted to engage the product;
• a star wheel disposed at the lug engagement section of the first track configured for metering lugs in order to engage the transferring chain from the queuing section of the track, wherein the star wheel is actuated independent of the transferring chain;
• and
• a magnetism source configured to direct the lugs to the queuing section.