Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming groups of work products from a row of closely spaced, aligned, and a vertical edge standing work products is disclosed. A separator knife (37) is inserted into the row of edge standing work products (25) in timed relationship with the movement of the row of work products on a feed conveyor (9) and along a path of travel (P) at a speed and direction substantially the same as the speed and direction of the work products. The separator knife is stopped at a home position (53) fixed along the path of travel for accumulating at least a portion of the row of work products on the feed conveyor upstream of the home position, as the remainder of the row of work products is moved along the path of travel away from the separator blade thus forming a first group (G) of work products. The apparatus includes a spaced series of knife assemblies (36), each knife assembly having separator knife (37). The knife assemblies are moved in series within a cam track (35) extending along a portion of the path of travel so that the separator knives of the knife assemblies are sequentially inserted into the row of work products and then stopped to accumulate the work products on the feed conveyor to form a gap (g) between the separator knife and the remaining portion of the row of work products, which leads to the formation of a group of work products moving downstream and away from the separator knife.

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First Claim