HIGH SPEED/HIGH CAPACITY AUTOMATED WORKLOAD REGULATOR

摘要

An improved automated workload balancing apparatus is described including an expanded coplanar transfer station having an inbound accumulating area, an outbound accumulating area and at least one outer storage placement and retrieval area linearly aligned along a longitudinally extending transfer axis. A pickup transfer head is reciprocatably translatable along the transfer axis to regulate overall flow of groups of articles through the balancer device. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, preformed groups are moved uphill or downhill into and out of the inbound and outbound accumulating areas, respectively for improved article management. Front and rear holding devices are included to further provide enhanced article management. In an especially preferred embodiment, angled infeed and angled outfeed track segments are rotatable into and out of position in the transfer station to position the groups for pickup and transfer before sending them on for further processing steps.