| CPC B65G 51/03 (2013.01) [B65G 43/08 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0252 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0233 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0291 (2013.01); B65G 2203/044 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A flow regulating conveyance system for use in a can manufacturing production line, comprising:
a flow regulating conveyor structured to convey cans along a conveying path through the can manufacturing production line, flow regulating conveyor including: a platform having a conveyance surface including a plurality of air ports, the platform extending along the conveying path, two track rails transversely-spaced-apart and extending along the conveying path to form a conveying track therebetween, an actuation mechanism coupled to the track rails and structured to adjust the track rails in a transverse direction orthogonal to the conveying path in a horizontal plane, and an underlayer disposed below the conveyance surface and attached to respective track rail at side edge thereof, the underlayer being structured to block air ports disposed outside of the conveying track;
a vision system structured to monitor at least pack density and can body diameter of cans on the conveying path; and
a control system communicatively coupled to a conveyance flow actuator, the flow regulating conveyor and the vision system, the control system being structured to receive conveyance data including the pack density and the can body diameter from the vision system, control conveyance flow and width of the conveying track based on the conveyance data.
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