Infeed apparatus for article handling system

摘要

An infeed apparatus for an article handling system includes an infeed lane for guiding a flow of articles in a facewise nested condition. A separating station is located along the infeed lane for receiving the flow of articles and a separating device located adjacent the separating station separates the articles into groups of articles of a predetermined length. A shuttle receives a group of articles from the separating device and transports the group of articles to an infeed station located along the infeed lane at a location remote from the separating station. A trailing end hold-up engages a trailing end of a group of articles in the infeed station to permit the shuttle to return to the separating station to receive a subsequent group of articles.