Automated product engager, transporter and patterened depositor system

An automated system (30) including a product engager (32), a transporter (34) and a patterned, depositor (36) for engaging products (38) and transporting the products (38) from the product engager (32) to the patterned depositor (36) for depositing the products (38) in a pattern (40), the system (30) comprising:

• a. the product engager (32) including a first driver (46) for moving the products (38) through the product engager (32) to the transporter (34) at a first product delivery rate;
• b. the patterned depositor (36) including a second driver (48) for moving the products (38) through the patterned depositor (36) at a second product delivery rate;
• c. the transporter (34) including an adjustable-length buffer (50) extending between the product engager (32) and the patterned depositor (36), the adjustable-length buffer (50) including at least one of a flexibly linked product stream (52) and an adjustable position conveyor (54), for providing a variable rate of movement of the products (38) passing from the product engager (32) to the patterned depositor (36);
• and,
• d. wherein the patterned depositor (36) is configured to selectively change the second product delivery rate of the products (38) moving through the patterned depositor (36) to be one of greater than, less than, and the same as the first product delivery rate, to thereby compensate for any temporary difference between the first product delivery rate and the rate of movement of the products (38) passing from the product engager (32) to the patterned depositor (36).