METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GROUPING INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS INTO PRODUCT GROUPS AND FOR FEEDING SAID PRODUCT GROUPS TO HANDLING MEANS, IN PARTICULAR FOR FEEDING THEM TO A PACKAGING MACHINE, FOR EXAMPLE OF THE 'FLOW PACK' TYPE OR A CASER PACKER OR THE LIKE

摘要

Method for grouping individual products 1 into product groups 2 and for feeding said product groups 2 to handling means 3, in particular handling means suitable for feeding said product groups to a packaging machine 30, for instance of the "flow pack" type or a caser packer or the like, comprising the following operating steps: - feeding, by means of at least one first conveyor 4, a plurality of products 1, randomly spread on said first conveyor, - handling said product groups 2 by means of a second conveyor 5, comprising a linear motor including a stator 7 and a plurality of transport units 8, movable independently of each other, along the stator, and comprising each at least one positioning element 12 suitable for supporting said product groups 2, - drawing by means of a plurality of loading devices (robots) 6 at least one individual product at a time from the first conveyor 4 and depositing it in said positioning elements 12, - wherein said positioning elements 12 comprise each a plurality of preset deposit positions (S1-S4) where said loading devices deposit said individual products 1; - wherein to every loading device 6 a predetermined maximum number of deposits of a product that said device is authorized to perform for every positioning element that is located in a loading area of said device, is assigned, - wherein for every deposit performed by the loading devices the deposit position (S1-S4) of the positioning element where said deposit has been made, is stored, - wherein the positions of said transport units 8 during their handling at least along a portion 7A of the stator are identified and stored, - wherein said positioning elements 2 are handled and loaded in such a way that in a final stacking area of said second conveyor 5 a plurality of loaded positioning elements are permanently provided, suitable for feeding a packaging machine 30, in particular a machine of the stream pack type, in continuous manner.