Equipment and a method for the formation of groups of products to be fed orderly at predetermined intervals

An equipment for forming groups of products to be fed to a processing machine, comprising:

• a first conveyor arranged for feeding the products in succession along a first path, with an interval of first constant length between succeeding ones of the products;
• a second conveyor arranged for feeding an inlet of the processing machine;
• said second conveyor having a plurality of pockets arranged in succession along a second path, with an interval of a second constant length between succeeding ones of the pockets;
• the second conveyor being arranged to be operated at a constant speed towards the inlet of the processing machine;
• a transfer device having a plurality of clamping units which are uniformly arranged for movement along a third path;
• at least a section of said third path being disposed above a section of the first conveyor and a section of the second conveyor at which transfer of products from the first conveyor to the second conveyor is to occur;
• said clamping units being arranged to be moved along said third path at a constant speed;
• said clamping units including movable supports supporting respective clamping heads for movement of the clamping heads relative to the respective clamping units throughout respective fourth paths;
• control means operatively associated with the transfer device for controlling the transfer device to operate in phased relation with said first and second conveyors, for removing the products in succession form said first conveyor and depositing them in succession in respective pockets of the second conveyor, a constant number of at least two of the products per pocket;
• said clamping units being provided as an even number thereof, and organized in relation to control by said control means into like numbers of even product clamping units and odd product clamping units;
• said control means being arranged to cause said respective pockets to have deposited therein in succession, products sequentially deposited at respective shifted release positions relative to one another, by respective said clamping heads of odd and even ones of said clamping units;
• said control means being arranged to determine said release positions based on speed of said second conveyor, speed of the transfer device, and shape and size of the products.