VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUR NEUPOSITIONIERUNG VON EINZELARTIKELN

摘要

Apparatus for changing the spacing between articles of a moving array of discrete articles includes transfer means mounted for orbiting along a closed orbital path passing through a receiving zone and a discharge zone. The orbital radius of the transfer means is adjustable to provide an orbital radius in the discharge zone which is different from that in the receiving zone. The transfer means are maintained in fixed, equal angular distances between them along the orbital path whereby the orbital path distance between adjacent transfer means is different in the discharge zone from that in the receiving zone thereby resulting in a different spacing between adjacent articles in the discharge zone from that in the receiving zone. Two or more orbital spacer means may be utilized in tandem to provide the change in spacing in stages. A method of changing the spacing between discrete articles of an array of articles is disclosed and include moving the articles along a closed, non-circular orbital path between a receiving zone and a discharge zone and maintaining different orbital radii in the receiving and discharge zones whereby the orbital path distance between articles is changed between the receiving and discharge zones.