Article metering apparatus, system and methods

摘要

An article metering system is generally provided. The system is primarily comprised of a conveyor section, for receipt of a bulk flow of articles and conveyance of spaced apart metered article groups downstream of an ingress portion thereof, and an article metering station characterized by an article metering apparatus characterized by a drive assembly and a driven member driven thereby. The driven member includes an end effector for select positioning between adjacent articles of articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section in furtherance of delimiting a downstream spaced apart metered article group characterized by a select number of columns. The drive assembly includes cooperatively driven servo drives to effectuate travel of the end effector in either of a downstream article flow direction or an upstream article flow direction, and an up/down direction in relation to articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section.

主权项

1. An article metering system comprising:
a. a conveyor section for receipt of a bulk flow of articles characterized by at least a single row of articles at a ingress portion thereof, and for conveyance of spaced apart metered article groups downstream of said ingress portion, the spaced apart article groups characterized by the at least single row of article and a select number of article columns; and, b. an article metering station characterized by an article metering apparatus comprising a drive assembly and a driven member driven thereby, said driven member including an end effector for select positioning relative to select adjacent articles of articles of the bulk flow of articles received by said conveyor section in furtherance of delimiting a downstream spaced apart metered article group characterized by the select number of article columns, said drive assembly comprising paired rotating servo drive mechanisms and a set of arms characterized by arm segments, each arm of said set of arms joining each rotating servo drive mechanism of said paired rotating servo drive mechanisms to said driven member, said arms laterally spaced from a longitudinally extending edge portion of said conveyor section, said end effector overlying the bulk flow of articles such that a tool of said end effector is selectively introduced into the bulk flow of articles from above so as to delimit the select number of article columns for the at least single row of articles.