APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING GROUPS OF ARTICLES ON A CONVEYOR

摘要

An apparatus (2) comprising a metering conveyor {6} for conveying an initial selection of articles in a first direction at. a first speed, a first flight bar and a second lug, and drive means for driving the first and second lugs, wherein the first and second flight, bars extend across a portion of the conveyor and are arranged at an offset from one another transversely to the first direction, the apparatus being operable to bring the first flight bar into abutment with a first portion of the initial section of articles, thereby to convey them at a second speed to form a first group of one or more articles, and operable to bring the second flight bar into abutment with a second portion of the initial selection of articles, thereby to convey them at said second speed to form a second group of one or more articles, which first and second groups of articles are offset from one another in said first direction.