METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING ITEM OF OPTIONAL LENGTH WITHIN SINGLE ROW IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sufficient time to a flow dividing device in order to complete a discharging stroke. ;SOLUTION: Items A1, A2 having optional length are transported within single row and they are moved from a first conveyor 12 to a second conveyor 14. The second conveyor 14 is driven at a higher speed than that of the first conveyor 12 and an initial gap is arranged between the items. A front end F and a rear end R of the item are detected when the item is moved by the second conveyor 14 up to a third conveyor. An actual front-end to front-end distance between a front end of the item and a front end of subsequent item is determined in reference to the detected information. A speed of the second conveyor 14 is changed as required, and a required minimum front-end to front- end is attained between continuous items. In addition, in order to maintain a minimum gap between the continuous items, the minimum front-end to front- end distance is attained.;COPYRIGHT: (C)1997,JPO