US 11,807,462 B2
Flexible pitch product metering system
Jean-Christophe Bonnain, Châteauroux (FR)
Assigned to WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Appl. No. 17/612,421
Filed by WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
PCT Filed May 19, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/033536
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 18, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/236779, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 26, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/850,817, filed on May 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0227587 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 37/00 (2006.01); B65B 21/06 (2006.01); B65B 35/36 (2006.01); B65B 35/44 (2006.01); B65G 17/32 (2006.01); B65G 47/08 (2006.01); B65G 54/02 (2006.01); B65G 47/84 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 37/005 (2013.01) [B65B 21/06 (2013.01); B65B 35/36 (2013.01); B65B 35/44 (2013.01); B65G 17/323 (2013.01); B65G 47/082 (2013.01); B65G 47/088 (2013.01); B65G 54/02 (2013.01); B65G 47/846 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0244 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0252 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A product management system comprising:
a first continuous track including a product engagement section and a return section; and
a first series of magnetic sources disposed along the first continuous track;
a first series of lugs movably dispersed around the first continuous track configured to react to the first series of magnetic sources in order to increase or decrease a velocity of each lug of the first series of lugs along the first continuous track; and
a product engagement member attached to each lug configured and adapted to actuate to engage a product,
wherein each lug comprises at least one of: (i) a primary base and a secondary base, and (ii) a first product engagement member base and a second product engagement member base,
wherein at least one of the primary base and the first product engagement member base is controlled by the magnetic source, and at least one of the secondary base and the second product engagement member base is independent of the magnetic source.