| 摘要 |
1. A grouping mechanism (14) for grouping articles (B) in a continuous infeed stream comprises a series of spacer elements (16) adapted to engage successive articles from the infeed stream and locate the articles relative to one another as the articles are conveyed through a working reach (W) of the mechanism. The spacer elements have cam followers 18 for co-operating with a rotatable cylindrical cam which cause one group of articles to be spaced apart in the feed direction from a next succeeding group of articles while the spacer elements move through the working reach. A return transfer belt (40) is provided to return the spacer elements along a return reach (R) such that they are appropriately spaced one from the next for engagement with successive articles in the infeed stream. <IMAGE> |
