Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
0329
This application i~ a Divi8ional Application of Canodian Patent
Application Serial Number 310,633, filed September 5, 197B, an~d entitled:
~PROCESS AND EqUIPMENT TO FORM ~ODULES OF OISCUITS OR OTHER L~KE PRODUCTS".
This invention relates to a proce~ and an apparatus for
automatically and continuously forming a single row ot regularly
spaced-discrete modules ot products from ~sveral rows of c4ntinuously
moving products. The invention also relates to an improved module
torming mechani~m.
SACKGROUND OF TH~ INVENTION
The production o- biscuits end other similar products i~ otten
performed in a continuous manner on a moving production line. The~e
products are u~ually processed in sheets or rows with adjacent
biscuits contiguou~ or spaced apart. the product i~ normally
packaged in individual portions by weight or other mea~ure.
When produced in sheet torm, it is common practice to break
the ~heet of product ~nto individusl unit~ and to align the individual
biscuits into row~. If the product is produced as individual biscuits,
it is normally produced in rows, which may also require alignment.
It is common practice to turther proce~s the product in such a
way as to stand the biscuits vertically on the~r edges, through the
use of devices known commonly as stackers. Thus, at ~ome stage in the
production proceJs, a multiplicity of continuously advancing rows of
bi~cuits or thin products, ~tanding side by side on edge, or stacked
face to face, are pre~ented to be measured out into module~ generally
according to weight or length and turther proce~sed end p-ckaged.
Traditionally the meHsuring out of moduler and placement Or the
modules in equipment for further processing and/or packaging has been
accomplished manually. Owing to ever increasing rates of production
and the increa3ed labour cost, the performance Or these tasks manually
is becoming too expensive and non competitive.
STAtEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the present invention to describe
a process and an apparatus for automatically and continuously forming
a single row of regularly spaced discrete modules of products from
several rows of continuously moving products, the modules being of
3Z9
uniform length and reedy for psckaging or other types of additionel
processing
The procs~, in accordence with the invention, comprise~ the
steps of separating a discrete length of product~ from the leeding
end of each row of products to form module~ o- products, tran~ferring
such modules into seperate cerriers which support e~ch moduler and
msrging such module~ continuously end uniformly to form a single row
of modules uniformly ~pacod for delivery to other equipment
The modules ere prerersbly formed et the leeding end of e-ch
row or product~ in ~ sequential manner.
The step o- treneferrlng the modules into separste carriers
includes the ~tep of raising the modules vertically above the row
of products prior to feeding the modules into rows of delivery channels
which merge lnto e single m~in ch-nnel.
The apperetu~, in ~ccord~nce with the inventlon, compri~es a
module former for dividing ~ di~crete length o~ products from the le~ding
end o- each row to form module~ of product-, meens for transferrin4 Juch
modules into ~eparate ~cerrier~ which oupport ~uch module0, nd mesn~
for moving such cerrlers ~o ~ to merge the modulea into e single ro~
Or modules uniformly epeced or del~very to other equipment.
A preferred but not re~trict~ve embodiment of the invention
compri-e3 e lower feed belt upporting e-ch row or products end an
upper feed belt extending over e predetermined length o- ths end o-
each row of products to assure positive delivery of the products into
the module former. The feed belt~ on eech row sre preferably driven by
~eperete drives ~o thet the formetion of modules csn be mede in a
eequential manner.
A rigid support extends trom the termination o- the lower feed
belt into the module former and the product~ are supported by side
guide~ on both sides the entire length of the module.
A cylinder device h~ving e retracteble piston i8 mounted on
the apparatus et the oppo~ite end of the ~odule former. Such piston
extends through the module ~ormer and i~ arranged to retract
. ~ ..
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synchronously with the adv-ncing ~orwsrd edge ot the row ot
product~ The piston devic- prevents product- st nding on edge
trom falling torw rd nd maintaino them $n sn ord-rly tash1on until
the leading end ot the row ot product- reach a atop, at which tlme
declutching ot the drive tor the row ot product- takes place
and a separator i- energized to divide 8 module o- the de-ired
length trom the le-ding nd ot the product row.
The mean- tor trsnsrerring ths moduleo onto the c-rrler
comprise- lltt slato built lnto the sldes ot the module ormer and
engaging the nodule ot products on each ot its lower edge~ and
a prime mover tor litting the module ormer above the row ot products.
The carrier compriae- pair ot moving corrier block- including
tinger~ adapted to eng-ge the ront snd rear enda~ re-pectively,
ot the moduleo when the module- are raiaed by the module ~ormer.
The carrier blocko re lidably mounted upon ha~t- ln uch w y 8
to move transveroely to the direction o- travel ot the carrier block~
and the means tor movlng such c-rriera is a pa$r ot carrier block
chains moving t conotant peed~ one attached to the tront c-rrier block
shatt and the other ttached to the rear csrrier block shatt.
While the module tormer i- in the rsi-ed po~ition~ the module~
ot products re-ting on the litt l-ts are puahed by the c-rrier block
tingers out ot the module tormer into delivery channels which merge
into a single msin channel. A csm track is positioned above the
delivery channels to c~use the c~rrier blocks to tollo~ the delivery
chsnnels into the single ~ein chennel. Esch csrrier block i8 provlded
with a cam tollower eng-ging the c m track to cau~e the carrler blocko
to be transleted transversely as they move throughout the delivery
channels.
The carrier blocks ere also rotatably mounted on the shstts
and biased in the vertical position by a torsion opring. A oecond c8m
is mounted above the module tormer and a second com ollower mounted
on the tront csrrier block to engage uch second cam to csuse the
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tront c rrler ting-r- to rotat- to a horlzontal po-ltion - th~
p -- over the ~odul- tor~ r to prevont the tront c rrier ting-r-
tro~ lapinging on th- ~odul- o product-.
A third c o i~ loc t-d ad p c-nt the nd ot th- d-liv-ry
ch nnel- nd ~ third c o tollou-r nount-d on th- re r c rrier blook-
tor ang glng ~uch c w nd c-u~e th- re-r c-rri-r block tlng-r-
to re~ in in a necrly w rtlc-l ttitud- whila th- ~odul- ia b-ing
tr-n~t-rred to oth-r aquipo-nt.
Th- linlt ot tr-v-l etop ia d~u-t bl- o th t the l-ngth
o~ odule- c n be d~u-ted. The re-r c rrier block ch in i-
driven by ~otor nd th- tront c rrier blook ch in i- dJu-t!bly
couplsd to th- re-r carri-r block ch-in ao a to d~u-t th- pace
betwoen th- tront nd rear tingere to c-t-r tor ditt-rent length-
ot nodule-.
,ORIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
Th- inYention will no~ be di-clo-ed, by ~ j ot x ~pl-,
~ith retersnce to the acco~panying drawinge in whichs
Figure 1 ia pl-n view ot th- ppar-tu- in accord nce with
pret~rred e~bodloent ot th- invention;
Figure 2 ia o ~ide elev tion ot the pp r-tu- ot Figure l;
Flgure 3 1- uiew t-k~n long lin-- 3-3 ot Figur- l;
Figure 4 ia view taken long linea 4-4 ot Figure 3;
Figure 5 i8 a view tDken along linea 5-5 ot Figure 3;
Figure 6 ill w tr-tea more clearly the clo-ed loop c ~ tr-cke;
Figure 7 illuatr-te- the tunction ot the cem- eng ging the
cerrier blocks t e-ch end ot the cerrier block chsin-;
Figure 8 illu-tratea the ~odule tor~er in the lower po-ition;
Figure 9 lllu-tr-tea th~ nodul- tor~er in the r-iaed poaition;
Figure 10 ia a aection view teken along linea 10-10 ot
Figure ~;
Figure 11 ia a view t~ken along linea 11-11 ot Figure 9s, snd
Figure 12 illuetratea a vie~ t ken elong linec 12-12 ot Figure 9.
~ri .
329
PREF~RRED E~OOI~ENT OF THE INVENTION
In the dra~ing-, the c--e o~ tour row- Or bl~cuit- being
proce~-ed i~ con~idered ror de-crlptive purpo-es, slthough the
principle of the invention 1~ pplicable for sny practicsl multipli-
city o~ rows and ror thln producto other th-n bi~cuit~.
The row- ot bi-cuit- 10, ctanding on edge, are ~hown enter~ng
the app-r-tu~ at the st-rt or the proce~6. The biscuit~ sre c-rried
by moving belto 12 under the ro~. In ~ddition, a top belt 14 i-
provided to ~aoure positl~e delivery or tho bi~cuit~ into the
appAretus. The lower belt 1- driven by motor 16 through chain 18 and n
electro-m gnHtic clutch 20 controlled by c-m operated micro-switch
39. The upper belt 1- drlv-n by the lower belt through chain 24 snd
ge~r 26. The motion or the upper and lower belts i8 normolly
~ynchronized, lthough ror o~e product- a light deaynchroniz-tlon i-
beneticl-l. In ddltion, the et ot belt~ on each row 1- placed in
motlon and etopped indepsndently rrom the oth er rowa. Thia i- nece---ry
~o thst the ~ormation ot modulo- c-n be ~ade in equential menner.
~otor 16 c-n bo common to 11 the row- with a clutch 20 tor e-ch row ~nd
each clutch 20 controll-d by lt- own mlcro-swltch 39. In edditlon,
the ep0ed~ Or the belts in eech row sre independently v-rl-ble to ceter
tor product snd other v~ri-tion-.
The ro~s ot bi~cult- re upported trom underneoth by the
infeed belts end by a rigid centrsl ~upport 2~ nsrrower then the width
or the biscuits ~nd which extends ~ro~ the terminatlon of the lnreed
belt- through a module tormer 30 which 1- sn open-ended elongoted
member o~ U-shaped cros~-eection detlning p-ced ~ide wall~ 31. In
addition, the bi~cuit- ere upported by lde guide- 32 on both ~ide-
~or the entire length o- the ~oving belt 12 end beyond the latter up
to the upetream end o- module tormer 30.
The biacuits then are propelled torw~rd lnto the module tormer
30 by the combined action o~ the upper nd lower eed belt~ tor ~
~u--lcient dur~tion thet th- module tormer i- properly ~illed wlth
products.
11~0329
Reterring more particularly to Figures 8 and 9, a cyllnder 34 having
a piston 36, which ~upport~ the leadlng edgs ot the row o~ product,
retracts synchronou-ly with the advancing torword edge ot the row
ot product The piston device prevents the product trom ~alling
torward snd maintains it in an orderly tashion until the psoduct
reaches a limit of trevel stop 38. At this point, the upper and
lower belts are caused to cease moving and propelling the product
forward by operation Or the clutch 20 by a micro-switch 39. As well,
the immobile belts then act as a barrier to the bslance ot the row ot
biscuits which continue to advance along the production line upstream
ot the teed belts, thus preventing an over pressure on the biscuits
in the module tormer. The belts motlon may be arre~ted by ensing
that the product hss reached the top or, slternately, the motion mey
be controlled by engaging the belt drive tor a planned pe~ od o~ time.
At the conclu~ion ot the teeding motion, the teed belts could
be reversed for a short period o- ti~e or length of travel, in order
to reliave any undesirable preesure existing within the row o- bi-cuits.
At this ~uncture, a device~ termed a separator, is cau~ed
to operate, which divides a module ot the de~ired length trom the
lesdlng end ot the product row. As shown more clearly in Figure 12,
the separator con~i~tJ of a thin sheet ot tlexible msterisl 4D~ which
is automatically inserted between individusl biscuits at an appropriate
location in the row namely adjHcent the upstream end ot U-shaped member
30. The separator 40 is pivoted at 40a at the side ot ULshsped
member 30 by a cylinder 42 through linkage 44 and under the control ot
micro-switch 39. The operation ot the separator i- synchronized with the
operation oP the clutch 20 and operated by the ssme micro-switch.
Insertion of the separator 40 between individual biscuits i8 tscilit ted
because it i8 ettected trom above in the area of the angular ~unction
3U of the inclined upstrea~ portion 28a end the ~ubstsntially horizontal
downstreem portion 28b ot central support 28 (see Figures 8 and 12)
which causes the biscuit~ to tan out in this area. ~ecause separator
~lZ0329
40 i8 flexible and pivot~ w a~ to engage bet~een corners o-
adjacent biscuits, it easily tinds its way between the bi~cuits
without breaking the sQme. At this juncture~ a module ot biscuits
has been tormed which is supported from underneath by the central
support 28, on both sides by side wslls 31 ot U-shaped member 30~ at
the tront by the stop 38 and at the rear by the separator 40.
Litt slats 48 are built into the sides ot the module tormer
The~e slats are positioned on either eide of the central Jupport
28 snd Alightly below it When ULshaped msmber 30 is in its lower
position, as illustrated in Figure 8, the tunction of the litt ~lats
is to engage the module of product on each ot it~ lower edges tor
litting the module upwards when the module tormer i8 BCtiVated.
The module ot product i~ removed trom the r w by the module
tormer 30, which la driven upward~ by e primemover 50, ~uch 8 a c-m or
air cylinder, under the control ot ~ micro-s~itch 51 (~ee F~gure 1),
a surticient distance to li~t the module cle-r ot the stop 38 and
slightly sbove the main deck o- the pparatu~. A~ the module i~ being
raiaed, biscuits at the reer ot the module are prevented trom t-lllng
beckwards by a central top guide 52 which is narrower than the width
of the bi~cuits. Thi- guide also prevents the biscuits trom
continuing to rise when the module tormer reaches the upper limit ot
its trav-l. The li~t slats may be retractable side~Qys, - illu-treted
in Figure 11, when the cycle apeed require~ th~t the module tormer be
tilled while it is ~till in the upper po~ition. In uch a ~ -e~ the
li-t slQts ~ust ot course be retracted to clear the upper edge ot the
biscuits already loaded in the module tormer when the module ~ormer is
lowered. Tha slats are pivoted at point 54 by ~olenoid 56. The
energization ot aolenoid 56 is controlled by micro-switch 58 (~ee Figure
1). Travel stop 3B is ad~ustable longitudinally of module tormer 30
to vary the length ot the module. Stop 38 has e central notch 58~
(see Figures 10 and 11) tor the free pa~aage Or piston 36. Stop 3B
is also nsrrower than the distance between the inturned top tlange~ 49
0329
of the closed slats 48, w as not to interfere with the li~ting
movement ot these slat~ 48.
As the module ot product is rai~ed, it i~ inflerted between a
pair o- moving carrier tinger~ 60. The purpose ot the~e tingers
i8 to move the module downstream and merge modules rrom individual
delivsry chsnnel~ 62 into a ~ingle common m~in channel 64.
In order to perform this portion of the process, the carrier
fingers and their associated mechanisms incorporate several necessery
~eatures. The carrier tingers can be classitied as reer and tront
~ingers. 80th are similar in construction, consi~ting ot two tingerlike
protrusions which protrude from csrrier blocks 66. Ths di~t~nce between
the protrusions or ~ingers is arranged in order to ettect clearance
between the carrier fingers and guide 52 and also the ~ingers Or the
downstream equipment when trsn~terring ot the module into auch
equipment. In addition, the provision o- a double ting~r ~rrangèment
enhances the maintenance ot module integrity as the proce~s proceeds.
Referring more particularly to Figures 3-5, the carrier
blocks 66 are mounted upon shafta 68 in ~uch a way as to allow the
blocks to be ~oved transversely to the direction of travel ot the
module~. 810cks 66 are retained again~t rotation by key 67 sliding
in a keyway Or ~ha~t 68 (see Figure 8). Cam ~ollowers 70 sre
mounted un the carrier blocks and engage in cam track~ 72. The purpoce
o~ this arrangement iR to cause the carrier block and hence the carrier
tingers to be translated transversely, as the tingers propel the
module through the delivsry channel 62. The cam tracks are shaped
in such a way a8 to cauae the tingers to tollow the centre line ot
the delivery channels a8 they move along.
~oreover, the carrier blocks are arrangsd in ~uch a way aa
to allow rotary motion ot the tingers 60. Reterring to Figures 8 and
9, the tinger~ 60 and a econd cam ~ollower 74 are secured to a sleeve
69 rotatable on block 66. A nechanical stop (not shown) ia also
incorporated on the carrier block, which prevents the ~leeve 69 and
carrier tingers from rotating p-st a limit vertical position
X perpendicular to the a~ociated carrier ~haft chains ?8 and 60.
~;~0329
A torsion spring 76 maintains the sleeve 6g and carrier tinger~ 60
in the vertical position ag~inst the ~top during most portions ot the
process.
The springs and stops on the re~pective rear and tront tinger~
are arr-nged in such 8 way as to allow counter clockwise rotation
from the llmit posltion again~t the spring torque by rear tingers and
clockwi-e rotation from the limit po~ition again-t the ~pring torque
by tront ringers.
The carrier block~ are thug mounted on sh~fts, on which they
sre ree to glide transvergely as driven by the cam followers as they
follow the appropriate cem track. All sharts 68, which carry tront
tingers, are attached to a common pa$r of carrier shaft chain~ 7~ at
their extremitie~ which are depicted in Figures 3 snd 6 a~ the
interior chalns. Similarly, Jll shatt4 68, which carry rear fingers,
are attached to a common pair of carrier cha~ns 80 depicted as
exterior cheins.
The main drive shart 82 ror the inter~or chains 78 i~ mounted
coaxially with the main drive ~haft 84 for the exterior chains
~0 (see ~igure& 1 and 3). At the idler end of the chains, a slmilsr
arrangement i~ msde. Power to drive the sharts at a substantially
constant epeed i8 transmittsd from a primemover 86 to the rear tinger
drive shaft 84 and cheins through chain B8.
From ahaft 84, power is further trensmitted to the tront ~inger
drive shart 82 and chains through a variator lnot shown). The
variator is a mechanical device which connect~ one pair o- ad~acent
sprockets tor movement o~ the interior and exterior chains while
permitting ~or manual angular adjustment o~ one ~procket relstive
to the other. This arrangement ellows for ad~uatment of the epace
between ront and rear ~inger~ to cater ror ditterent lengths of module~
under dif-erent production conditions or ditterent product~ proces~ed.
- The use of a variator ensures the ability to ad~ust module length.
The motion of the module former i~ synchronized with the
11;~(~329
motion oS ths c~rrier tinger~ in such a way aa to a~sure thst ~he
module former i8 ri~ing when a pair o~ ~inger- arrive directly above
the module former. A cam 90 (see Figures 8 and 9), which engege~
the cam follo~er 74 on the front csrrier tinger~, ceuaes the front
tingers to rotete to a horizontal position as they paas over the module
torming area. This provents the ~ront tinger~ trom impinging on the
module o~ product as it ri~eo. As the front tingers re~ch the vicinity
ot the tront ot the module, they sre returned to the vertical position
by the action Or the torsion spring and the shape Or the cam. This
motion coincides ~ith the module o~ product reaching its maximum
rise position and prevents the ~irst ~ew bi~cu$ts ot the module trom
~alling forward to 8 horizontel orientation and destroying the
integrity o~ the module. The module tormer then remain~ in the
rai-ed position, while the rear tingers propel the module out or the
module tormer into the delivery channel 62.
While the module former i8 in the uppermost position and
the carrier finger~ are removing the module, the separator 40 remsins
in po~$tion, preventing product at the front nd or the ro~ trom
talling ~or~ard prior to advancing into the module tormer to torm the
2û next module.
When the module hao been removed trom the module tormer,
the module ~ormer descends to the lower poaition under the control ot
the same micro-switch which csu~ed it to move upwarde. Concurrently~
the piston device 36 extend~ to support the tront bl-cuit~ in the
leeding edge o- the row ot product about to orm the new module.
When the piston device 36 reaches maximum extenJion, the
separator devics 40 riqeJ and permitg entry of the product into the
module former. The belts then recommence driving the row of biscuits.
Ths piston device 3S retracts until the leeding biscuit reeche- the limit
of trsvel stop 3a. At this point the module former is tull and the
formation cycle ia ready to recommence.
The module, which has been inserted between the carrier
~r - I 1
11;~0329
fingers, is then propelled along the delivery channel~ 62 by ths
carrier fingere. The delivery chennels 62 ere shaped in uch ~ way
aQ to merge with the outermost delivery channel 64 st varlou~
intervals.
The operation of a multiplicity of module tormers ia controlled
in ~uch a wey that they form and dellver module~ ln a sequentlal
fs~hlon row by row acro~ the ~pparatus. Thuo, lt the outermo~t row of
module hro been form0d and 1- progrs~Jlng through its delivery channel,
then ln the next ad~acent row module i8 for~ed and dellvered to the
approprlate delivery chann~l.
The second module i~ propelled along the second dellvery
channel, which merge~ with the outermo~t delivery ohannel and'the
module sssumes a position i _ ediately behind the first module ln the
outermo~t delivery ch~nnel. Thls proce~s repe-ta row by row until each
module former ha~ sequentially delivered a module whereupon the proces~
recommence~ at the outermoat row.
The result ot the proce~s la thst each delivery ch-nnel
receive~ a module in sequence. The module~ re propelled down the
delivery channel~ in sequence end merge into the common outlet channel
in sequence and are ~paced uni~ormly in the latter.
At the end of the dellvery track, the module of product can
be transrerred directly into other equipment autometically. It is
common pr-ctice to overwrap modules of product with overwrapping
materials, such as paper or plestic film. The equipment to perform
such operations generally has sets Or slngle carrier fingera protruding
vert$cally upwards through an in~eed trsck.
The double finger feature of the module carrier (see Flgure 10)
allows for direct tran~fer ot the module into the downstream single finger
carrier equipment in a streight line. In thi~ instance, the clearance
between the double finger allows the ~ingle ~inger to be synchronized
with the double ~inger for purposes of making the transfer.
Another feature which racilitates the transfér of the module
~r
- 12 -
11;~03~9
i~ 8 rear finger transfer cam 92, ohown in Figure ~, which controls
the motion of the rear ~ingera 60. As the tr-n~tsr 1~ mada, the cam
follower 74 on the carrier block eng-ges the rear finger tran~ter
cam 92, which caus-- the tinger~ to remaln in vertical attitude
while the tranater is being accompli~hed, rath~r than de~cribing
an arc as it move- around the rear drive aprocket. After the module
ha~ b~e~ transferred, the toroion ~pring returns the rear tinger~
to a normal orientation.
A- aho~n in Figure 6, the cam track- 72 are essenti~lly a
closed loop and the cam followers 70 remain con~tantly engaged~ 80 that
after delivery of the module- to the downstre-m equipment a~ the corrier
tingers move back to the module former area, the cam ~ollowers cause
the finger~ to be returned to the vicinity bove their respective module
~ormers. This process can be likened to a revers-l of the merging
function pertormed when the carrier fingers are moving ad~acent to the
apparatus deck.
The length of module formed is controlled by the adjustable stop
38 located in the module former. Each row hs~ such a stop and
they are all mounted on a common movable trsme, w that ad~ustments
to the length of all modules formed can be madé simultaneously to all
rows in an equal smount, while the equipment is operating or stopped.
In addition, a further sdjustment is provided 80 that each row msy
be independently adjusted in order to cater or production anomaliea
from row to row.
The guides 32 which con-lne rows or act as delivery channels
are adjustsble to cater for different sizes of products. Inter-
changeable guides with special ~hapes permit the processing o- other
than regular geometric shapeo
ny judicious choice of the total number of sets of carrier
3~ fingers in the apparatus and through mechanical adju~tments, it i8
possible to perform the process using a variable number of rows in a
givhn apparatus For example, if for a six row apparatus it is
desirable to operate only four rows, and the apparatus has 24 sets of
X _
llZ~3;2~
carrier tingers, then through minor mechanical d~u-tment and retiming
of the module ~ormers, ths 24 ~et~ o~ csrrier tinger~ can be re-
arronged to operate in the tashion ot ~ix ~et- operating only in tour
row~, as oppo-ed to the normal operation ot tour ~et~ ot oarrier
finqers opersting in ix rows.
Reterring to Flgure 1, a plur-lity ot c-m~ 94 are mounted on
a eh-tt 96 mountod in a bearing 97 and coupled to main ahatt ~2 through
chsin 98. The came operate micro-~wltch 39 controlling inteed belts
12 and 14, and separator 4û~ the micro-swltch 51 controlling module
former 30, and micro-switch 58 controlling the litt sl-t~ (it requi~red)-
The abovs cam- insure synchronized operatlon ot all the various
components Or the apparatu-. The set~ Or micro-~witches and cam~ are
repeated tor e-ch row~ It tollowa that ~h-tt ~2 controls the operation
ot the module torming mechanism. The carrier tingers move at constant
speed and their ~taggered po~ition acroaa the delivery channels
determine~ the sequential operation ot the seversl module-torming
mechanism~ and the sequential delivery ot the module~ to downstresm
further proce~ing equipment. Since module ~orming t-kes pl-ce t
each infeed row, it can be carried out at a le~ser psed than it
done ~fter merging ot the row~.
Although the invention has been dieclo~ed with reterence to
a preterred embodiment, it i8 to be understood that various alternativeo
of such embodiment are also emphAsized snd that the invention is to
be limited by the scope of the claime only.
