Method and apparatus for repositioning of workpieces on a lugged transfer chain

An apparatus for repositioning a workpiece comprising:

• a lugged conveyor having lugs for carrying the workpiece spaced apart by a lug space in a downstream direction,
• a sensor for detecting the position of the workpiece on the conveyor and relaying position information to a processor,
• at least one running element mounted in cooperation with said conveyor so as to be disposed on one side of a workpiece flow path on said conveyor, said at least one running element for frictionally engaging a workpiece with said at least one running element as the workpiece translates downstream in a first direction along the flow path on said conveyor, wherein, on said conveyor, the workpiece is oriented so that its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to said first direction, and wherein said at least one running element does not move relative to said first direction and wherein said at least one running element is selectively actuable so as to selectively translate the workpiece when in said frictional engagement therewith, in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction,
• a selectively actuable actuator cooperating with said processor for said selective actuation of said at least one running element in said second direction so as to urge the workpiece in lateral translation across the flow path and perpendicular to said first direction according to repositioning instructions from said processor in response to said position information from said sensor as the workpiece simultaneously translates in said first direction downstream along said flow path across said at least one running element while frictionally engaged by said running element,
• wherein said at least one running element has a length in said first direction which does not exceed the length of said lug space of said lugs on said lugged conveyor.