US 11,958,698 B2
Smooth handoff of containers using multiple grippers
Jean-Christophe Bonnain, Châteauroux (FR); Frederic Limousin, Le Poinçonnet (FR); Fabrice Avril, Châteauroux (FR); and Amelie Strohm-Volondat, Châteauroux (FR)
Assigned to WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/385,446.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/056,093, filed on Jul. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0135344 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 47/86 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 47/842 (2013.01) [B65G 47/847 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0252 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of grouping containers into a package of containers comprising:
conveying a stream of containers using a first plurality of grippers along a first portion of a first track;
transferring the containers to a second plurality of grippers, wherein transferring the containers comprises moving each of the containers by a respective gripper of the second plurality of grippers while maintaining contact with a respective gripper of the first plurality of grippers along a second portion of the first track for a period of time; and
withdrawing the respective gripper of the first plurality of grippers from contacting the container of the stream of containers.