Article metering apparatus
AssigneeMeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
InventorPhilippe Duperray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for forming a stream of articles (A) into spaced groups of articles, which machine has a working reach and a metering element (10) for being brought into contact with an article (A) passing, in a stream, into the working reach, which metering element (10) is driven by a drive means (18), wherein a speed at which the metering element (10) is driven is retarded as the metering element (10) enters the working reach without retarding the drive means (18).
Claims9
1-15. (canceled)
A machine for metering a stream of articles, moving at a first speed in a travel direction, into spaced groups of articles, the machine comprising a metering element operable to intercept said stream of articles and operable to accelerate a selected article relative to the remainder of the stream to thereby form said spaced groups of articles, the machine comprising a drive means for driving the metering element which drive means is operable at a second speed in the travel direction which is greater than the first speed, wherein the speed at which the metering element is moveable is retardable relative to the speed of the drive means before the metering element intercepts said stream of articles, without retarding the speed of the drive means, the metering element being coupled to the drive means by a guide structured such that the metering element is reciprocally displaceable relative to the drive means and characterized in that the guide is disposed at an angle that is greater than 90 degrees relative to the direction of travel of the drive means such that the as the metering element is displaced it is provided with a component of velocity away from the travel direction whereby the speed in the travel direction at which the metering element is moveable is retardable relative to the speed of the drive means.
A method of metering a stream of articles comprising:
- (i) moving the incoming article stream at a first speed in a travel direction;
- (ii) driving a metering element by a drive means at a second speed in the travel direction;
- (iii) retarding the speed of the metering element without retarding the speed of the drive means using a guide, that couples the metering element to the drive means, to reciprocally displace the metering element relative to the drive means at an angle that is greater than 90 degrees relative to the direction of travel of the drive means such that displacing the metering element away from the travel direction imparts a component of velocity away from the travel direction whereby the speed at which the metering element is moveable in the travel direction is retarded relative to the speed of the drive means;
- and
- (iv) intercepting said stream of articles with a metering element when the speed of the metering element in the travel direction is retarded and then accelerating the selected article relative to the remainder of the stream to thereby form said spaced groups of articles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.