Multi-product accumulating and packing system

A method for accumulating different types of individual articles, said method comprising:

• delivering an initial-plurality of an initial-type of individual articles;
• automating a first-accumulator to provide a first-plurality of a first-type of individual articles, said first-type of articles differing from said initial-type of articles;
• moving said first-plurality of articles to a first packing location;
• and
• operatively combining said first-plurality of articles with said initial-plurality of articles by employing an automated assembly mechanism;
• wherein
• the automating of said first-accumulator further includes selectively indexing a movable carriage between a first carriage position and at least a second carriage position, thereby providing a selected face-alignment of a datum surface of said first-type of individual articles
• said first carriage position has been configured to provide for a first, twist displacement of the article;
• said second carriage position has been configured to provide for a second, twist displacement of the article that is directionally opposite to said first twist displacement;
• at least one article-set has been identified, the article-set containing a predetermined plurality of the first-type of individual articles;
• a pair of end-articles of the article-set have been identified;
• a presence of an appointed datum surface with respect to each end-article has been detected;
• and
• the method has been configured to appropriately orient each end-article so that both of the end-articles of the article-set have their datum surfaces positioned toward an interior of their corresponding article set, or both of the end-articles have their datum surfaces positioned toward an exterior of their corresponding article set.

A method for accumulating different types of individual articles, said method comprising:

• delivering an initial-plurality of an initial-type of individual articles;
• automating a first-accumulator to provide a first-plurality of a first-type of individual articles, said first-type of articles differing from said initial-type of articles;
• moving said first-plurality of articles to a first packing location;
• and
• operatively combining said first-plurality of articles with said initial-plurality of articles by employing an automated assembly mechanism;
• wherein the automating of said first-accumulator further includes
• inputting a plurality of individual articles from an article supply source, each article having
• at least a first major facing surface,
• a first article dimension extending along a first article direction,
• a second article dimension extending along a second article direction which differs from said first article direction, and
• an article edge region;
• directing each article to a first conveyor;
• aligning said first article dimension of each article along a selected machine-direction;
• identifying an article-set which contains a selected, predetermined number of said articles;
• identifying appointed end-articles of said article-set;
• identifying a presence of an appointed datum surface with respect to each end-article;
• orienting each end-article so that both of the end-articles of the article-set have their datum surfaces positioned toward an interior of their corresponding article set, or both of the end-articles have their datum surfaces positioned toward an exterior of their corresponding article set;
• forming at least one article-set, which contains said selected number of the first-type of articles arranged in a configuration suitable for packaging;
• and
• moving said article-set into a package.

An apparatus for accumulating different types of individual articles, said apparatus comprising:

• a delivery device which provides an initial-plurality of an initial-type of individual articles;
• at least a first-accumulator mechanism which is automated to provide a first-plurality of a first-type of individual articles, said first-type of articles differing from said initial-type of articles, and said first accumulator mechanism including a first rotatable metering drum;
• at least a first-transport-device which moves said first-plurality of articles to a first packing location;
• and
• an automated assembly mechanism which is configured to operatively combine said first-plurality of articles with said initial-plurality of articles;
• wherein
• said first metering drum has an entry end and an opposite exit end, and is tilted to move said articles down stream through said metering drum from said entry end and out of said opposite exit end;
• and
• said first-accumulator mechanism further includes a stationary plate member located, and positioned relatively downstream from the metering drum to partially block the exit end of the meter drum and help prevent articles from falling out from the bottom-side of the drum while allowing the drum to rotate past the stationary plate that is positioned downstream of the first metering drum.

A method for accumulating different types of individual articles, said method comprising:

• delivering an initial-plurality of an initial-type of individual articles;
• automating a first-accumulator to provide a first-plurality of a first-type of individual articles, said first-type of articles differing from said initial-type of articles;
• moving said first-plurality of articles to a first packing location;
• and
• operatively combining said first-plurality of articles with said initial-plurality of articles by employing an automated assembly mechanism;
• wherein
• said automating of said first-accumulator includes delivering said first-type of individual articles with a rotatable metering drum which has an entry end and an oppositely located exit end, and is tilted to move said articles down stream through said metering drum from said entry end and out of said oppositely located exit end;
• and
• said first-accumulator includes a stationary plate member located operatively adjacent the exit end of the first metering drum, and positioned relatively downstream from the first metering drum to partially block the exit end of the metering drum and help prevent articles from falling out from the bottom-side of the drum while allowing the drum to rotate past the stationary plate that is positioned downstream of the metering drum.