Method and apparatus for transporting objects arrriving in an overlapping formation

摘要

The items (10) produced by a rotary printer (26) have a constant length (A1) but can be variable in width (A2,A2). As they fall on to a conveyor belt (16) they overlap with a constant gap (B) between their front edges (12). Transport clamps (18) are located on a separate conveyor (20) at spacings which ensure that each object can only be gripped by one clamp. When a predetermined number of items are positioned between the jaws of a clamp it closes and transports them away from the first conveyor belt.