WO2009149052A1

WO2009149052A1 - Apparatus for grouping articles and method of performing same

Info

Publication number: WO2009149052A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/045918
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Martini
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc
Priority date: 2008-06-02
Filing date: 2009-06-02
Publication date: 2009-12-10
Also published as: GB0810002D0

Abstract

An apparatus for forming an in-feed stream of articles (A) into one or more spaced groups of articles (A), on a surface (4), which apparatus (2) comprises a moveable plate (8) that is operable to convey articles (A) disposed thereupon in a first configuration and a first moveable engaging tool (18) for selecting articles (A) disposed on the moveable plate (8) and for transferring the selected articles (A) from that moveable plate (8), said first moveable engaging tool (18) being controllable such that the articles (A) are positioned in desired locations upon said surface (4) as they are transferred from said plate (4).

Description

Apparatus for Grouping Articles and Method of Performing Same

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for transferring selected articles from an initial stream of articles and depositing those selected articles in a position upon a surface in a group. More specifically though not exclusively, the present invention relates to an apparatus wherein the aforementioned surface is a carton, or carton blank, that is conveyed beneath the selected articles, and wherein the apparatus provides for transferring those articles onto the desired locations on the carton or carton blank.

Background to the invention

It is known from the prior art that a stream of articles may be fed to within the working reach of an apparatus, which apparatus will then select successive groups of articles from the stream, and deposit them side by side. Such apparatus thereby have an output rate that is substantially half the input rate of the single lane stream.

Known apparatus in the field also require relatively long distances in which to complete the transfer of articles from a stream, onto a carton blank, and this leads to a requirement for floor space in, for example, the packaging facility in which the apparatus is being used.

If an apparatus were provided that was not detrimental to the rate of articles passing there-through, and which minimised the floor space required to achieve the transfer of articles onto the carton or carton blank, then this would be beneficial to the user at least in that production rates may be increased, and smaller production facilities may be utilised. The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the disadvantages associated by the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

A first aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for forming an in-feed stream of articles into one or more spaced groups of articles, on a surface, which apparatus comprises a moveable plate that is operable to convey articles disposed thereupon in a first configuration and a first moveable engaging tool for selecting articles disposed on the moveable plate and for transferring the selected articles from that moveable, said first moveable engaging tool being controllable such that the articles are positioned in desired locations upon said surface as they are transferred from said plate.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a second moveable engaging tool, wherein the first and the second engaging tools are each connected to independent drive means, which drive means are operable to drive the first and second engaging tools separately of one another and thereby to convey selected articles, from said plate and onto said surface in a second configuration.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a third engaging tool disposed above the articles conveyed on the plate, which third engaging tool is operable to engage upper portions of selected ones of those articles and to transfer the selected articles from said plate onto said surface.

Preferably, the first and a second of said engaging tools are operable to select first and second selections of articles from the plate respectively, and to transfer those first and second article selections from the plate and to deposit them along respective side edges of said surface, and wherein the third engaging tool is operable to select a third selection of articles from the plate and to transfer those articles into interposition between the first and second selections of articles, upon said surface. Preferably, the plate is connected to a drive means, which drive means is operable to move the plate relative to said surface, so as to achieve the desired positioning of said articles on said surface as they are conveyed from said plate.

Preferably, the plate is moveable reciprocally between a first position and a second position.

Preferably, the moveable plate is further operable to be withdrawn from beneath the articles disposed thereupon, as those articles are being transferred from the plate onto said surface by the engaging tools, and in so doing deposit those articles in desired locations upon said surface.

Preferably, the aforesaid surface is a carton blank for forming a carton.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an out-feed for conveying the articles, disposed upon said surface, away from the plate.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a conveyor for conveying cartons or carton blanks, which cartons or carton blanks form said surface upon which articles are deposited by the apparatus.

Preferably, said conveyor is vertically aligned in part with the in-feed stream and brings said cartons or carton blanks to a position of close vertical proximity beneath said plate so as to facilitate the transfer of the articles from the plate to the cartons or carton blanks.

Preferably, the engaging tools are robotic tools.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an in-feed stream retardation mechanism for controlling the flow of articles onto the plate.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for forming an in-feed stream of articles into spaced groups of articles, on a surface, which method comprises conveying articles upon a moveable plate in a first configuration, engaging a first selection of articles disposed upon the moveable plate and transferring the selected articles from the moveable plate such that the articles are positioned in a desired location upon said surface as they are conveyed from said plate. Preferably, the method further engaging a second selection of articles from the plate and transferring the first and second selections of articles, independently of one another, onto the surface, in a second configuration.

Preferably, the method further comprises engaging an upper portion of a third selection of articles on the plate and transferring that third selection onto the surface.

Preferably, the first and second selections of articles are transferred from the plate to positions adjacent respective side edges of said surface, and wherein the third selection of articles is transferred from the plate into interposition between the first and second selections of articles, upon said surface.

Preferably, the method further comprises moving the plate using a drive means, so as to achieve a desired positioning of said articles on said surface as they are conveyed from said edge.

Preferably, the method further comprises conveying articles from the in-feed stream onto the plate.

Preferably, the method further comprises moving the plate reciprocally between first and second positions.

Preferably, the method further comprises withdrawing the moveable plate from beneath the articles disposed thereupon in order to deposit those articles in desired locations upon said surface.

Preferably, the aforesaid surface is a carton blank for forming a carton.

Preferably, the method further comprises conveying articles away from the plate after those articles are positioned on said surface.

Optionally, the method further comprises conveying cartons or carton blanks, which cartons or carton blanks form said surface upon which articles are deposited by the apparatus.

Preferably, the method further comprises conveying the cartons or carton blanks in vertical alignment with the in-feed stream, and bringing said cartons or carton blanks to a position of close vertical proximity beneath said plate so as to facilitate the transfer of the articles from the plate to the cartons or carton blanks.

Preferably, the method further comprises controlling the flow of the in-feed stream using a retardation mechanism.

Preferably, the method further comprises selecting first and second selections of articles from the plate, and conveying those first and second article selections from the plate and depositing them along respective side edges of said surface, and further comprising engaging upper portion of articles remaining upon the plate, and conveying those articles from said plate and into position between the first and second selections of articles, upon said surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment and various applications of the present invention will be described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, following sequential steps in one possible article transfer process;

Figure 5 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 1, applied to transfer articles in packages onto a carton blank;

Figure 6 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 1, applied to transfer articles in packages onto a carton blank; and

Figures 7 to 9 illustrate, sequentially, the apparatus of Figure 1 applied to the process of transferring loose articles onto a carton blank. Detailed Description of the Invention

As is best illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an apparatus 2 for transferring articles (not shown in these figures) from an in-feed stream of articles, directly onto desired locations upon a desired surface, such as a carton blank 4, as a spaced group, in a minimal amount of time.

An in-feed 7 of the apparatus 2 is operable to convey the in-feed stream of articles and comprises some conveying means known in the field, such as the conveyor belt illustrated in the Figures.

Optionally, the in-feed 7 of the apparatus 2 may also comprise a retardation mechanism 6 for accelerating or decelerating the in-feed stream of articles, and optionally even for stopping the flow thereof altogether. Means for achieving this include, amongst others, star wheels, friction belts and flight bars. For instance, the star wheels could be operably halted from rotation to thereby prevent the passage of articles for controlled lengths of time. Alternatively, frictional belts could retard the speed of articles the sides of which they are in surface contacting relationship with.

Adjacent the in-feed 7 of the apparatus including, if present, the retardation mechanism 6, there is provided a moveable plate 8 driven by a drive means (not shown). The in-feed 7 is operable to drive articles onto the plate 8. As successive articles are so-passed onto the plate, there is created, by the in-feed 7, a forward pressure that maintains the flow of the article stream over the surface of the plate 8.

In the preferred embodiment, the drive means is coupled to the plate 8 by virtue of an articulated member 10 comprised of a first arm 12, a second arm 14 and third arm 16, hinged to one another at adjacent ends thereof. One end of the articulated member 10 is connected to the drive means, whilst the other end of the articulated member 10 is pivotally attached to the plate 8. The plate 8 is slidably mounted upon a suitable track, or guide (not shown) that provides support therefor, so that it may move reciprocally as it is driven by the aforementioned drive means. Many variations to this arrangement are envisaged, including a low friction runner/follower arrangement or the provision of wheels of bearings on either of the contact surfaces.

In the preferred embodiment, a first engaging tool 18 and a second engaging tool 20 are disposed adjacent the path 22 of the articles as they pass over the plate 8, one either side. These engaging tools 18/20 are articulated so as to be moveable to engage articles passing over the plate 8 and to convey those articles independently from the movement of the plate 8.

The engaging tools 18/20 are provided with means for releasably engaging the articles, such as a mechanical gripping arrangement or one or more vacuum seals, amongst other possibilities. Illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 and 7 to 9, the tools are illustrated as terminating in combs for selection of loose articles such as bottles. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate tools that terminate in attachments for engaging flat sided articles such as packaged articles. One skilled in the art would readily appreciate that a wide range of tool attachments exist for engaging different shapes of articles, and the inclusion of these two specific types in this description is not limiting to the scope of the present invention.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a sequence of positions of the first engaging tool 18, second engaging tool 20, and plate 8. The articles themselves have not been illustrated so as give an unhindered view of these elements, the movement of which is described in detail below.

Although the above description sets out a first embodiment in which two engaging tools 18/20 are provided, it is contemplated that other embodiments of the present invention need not strictly be provided with two of these engaging tools 18/20, and that it is possible to work the invention with differing numbers thereof disposed along the sides of the path 22 of the articles. The apparatus 102 may further comprise a third engaging tool 24, to engage a third selection of articles from those disposed upon the plate 8. This third engaging tool 24 preferably takes the form of a robotic arm that is operable to be brought into engagement with upper portions of the aforementioned third selection of articles A, through some known means, such as a vacuum seal, or by mechanically gripping those articles. This third engaging tool is controllable to convey those articles that it has engaged, along the path 22 of the articles, and to release the articles when they reach a desired point, thereafter to move to a position in which they will not interfere with onward movement of those articles.

Beneath the path of the plate 8 is a conveyor 26 that is preferably suitable for conveying a stream of cartons or carton blanks 4, which cartons or carton blanks form the surface upon which the articles are to be deposited by the apparatus. This conveyor 26 passes directly beneath at least one of the possible positions of the plate 8. The conveyor 26 is preferably extended to continue beyond this point and to provide an out-feed of the apparatus, for example to convey the carton blanks 4, loaded with articles, onto subsequent packaging operations along the path 22 of the articles. It is also contemplated that the out-feed could be provided by a second conveying means, such as a separate conveyor belt, to which the loaded carton blanks 4 may be passed.

In use, articles are conveyed, in a single article stream, to the in-feed 7 of the apparatus 2 by some means known in the art, such as conveyor belt. If present, the retardation mechanism 6 regulates the flow of the articles onto the plate 8 by either altering their speed or by halting them altogether for desired period of time.

Once the articles in the stream have passed through the in-feed 7 (and optional retardation mechanism 6), they pass over the plate 8 as illustrated in Figure 1. When a leading article comes into position adjacent a leading edge 28 of the plate 8, the drive means of the plate 8 is controlled to move the plate 8 forwards. It is contemplated that the movement of the plate 8 may accelerate the articles A disposed thereon to a greater speed than that of the in-feed stream, or that the plate 8 may instead adopt substantially the same speed as that of the in-feed stream. Acceleration of the articles permits increased spacing of successive resulting groups of articles. The first 18 and second 20 engaging tools engage a respective first and second selection of articles that are disposed on the plate 8 as it moves, and transfer those first and second selections of articles from the plate and onto respective positions on a surface, such as a surface of a carton or a carton blank. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the first and second selections of articles are conveyed away from a central longitudinal axis of the in-feed stream, and therefore off respective side edges of the plate 8, so as to form two rows of articles. The second engaging tool 20 conveys the second selection of articles at a greater speed than that at which the first engaging tool 18 conveys the first selection of articles, so as to bring the first and second selections of articles adjacent one another upon the carton or carton blank 4.

In order to effect this process of sliding the engaged articles off the plate 8 as quickly as possible, the motion of the plate 8 is reversed so as to withdraw it from over the carton blank 4, back toward the direction of the in-feed 7 of the apparatus 2, once it reaches a desired position over or proximate the intended final position of the articles upon the blank 4. One or more of the first 18, second 20 engaging tools may be used to hold the articles in position as the plate is withdrawn from beneath them, or a combination of the plate 8 being withdrawn and the first 18 and/or second 20 tools moving forward may be employed to fourth speed the transition of the articles off of the surface of the plate 8 and onto the blank 4.

Once the plate 8 has been completely withdrawn from beneath the articles, and those articles have been successfully positioned on the desired surface, the first 18 and second 20 engaging tools disengage from their respective selections of articles and return to a starting position to engage subsequent selections.

The timed withdrawal of the plate 8 continues until the leading edge 28 of the plate 8 becomes positioned under leading article(s) of the in-feed stream of articles. It is envisaged that the leading edge 28 of the plate 8 may be aligned with a leading face of those article(s), or optionally, that it may be offset therefrom. The leading edge 28 of the plate 8 may, for example, be set back by a few centimetres from a leading face of the leading article(s), leading to a slight overhang, without causing stability issues. The speed of the withdrawal of the plate 8 is preferably chosen so as to maximise the time for the first 18 and second 20 engaging tools to perform the above-described transfer of the first and second selections of articles without causing an overall delay in the throughput of the machine.

By supporting the articles, upon the plate 8, in the above described manner, the stability thereof is increased. This is particularly so where the third engaging tool 24 is used to support upper portions of those articles A as the plate is moved forward through synchronous movement thereof. This increase in stability allows increased acceleration of the plate 8 without the articles becoming displaced or falling over. An increase in acceleration is beneficial in at least that it permits the process of spacing and group articles upon the cartons or carton blanks 4 to be achieved at a higher rate and/or in a shorter physical distance by decreasing the spacing between the in-feed and the deposition of the articles on the carton or carton blank . The latter is advantageous in that it decreases the physical dimensions of the apparatus, and therefore the requirement for floor space in the working environment.

Figure 5 illustrated the apparatus of Figures 1 to 4 in use with a stream of articles A. In this case, the desired output configuration of the articles A upon a carton blank 4 is two rows, each of two articles. The first engaging tool 18 is used to select a first pair of articles A from those positioned on the plate 8, and to deposit that pair on one side of the carton blank 4. The second engaging tool 20 meanwhile engages a second pair of articles A from those on the plate 8, and conveys that pair of articles A into alignment with, and adjacent to, the first pair articles A, on the carton blank 4. Since the first pair of articles A initially is ahead of the second pair of articles A on the plate 8, it is necessary for the second pair of articles A to be conveyed faster than the first pair of articles A. This can be achieved by retarding the first engaging tool 18 once it has engaged the first pair of articles A or accelerating the second engaging tool 20, relative to the speed of the plate 8, or any partial combination thereof that deposits the two pairs on the carton blank in the necessary time frame so as not to require retardation of the carton blank 4.

In a second usage of the apparatus of Figures 1 to 4 the present invention, shown in Figure 6, the desired output configuration of articles upon the carton blank 4 is a single row of two articles, which alleviates the requirement for the first and second selection of articles A to be accelerated or decelerated relative to one another by the first 18 and second 20 engaging tools. Therefore, when used to dispose articles A from the plate 8 upon the carton blanks 4, the first 18 and second 20 engaging tools simultaneously engage the same selections of articles A from the stream 40, and convey that selection off the leading edge 28 of the plate 8, and into position upon the carton blank 4, thereafter to release it so that the first 18 and second 20 engaging tools can return to make subsequent selections.

It is contemplated that, where the desired output configuration of articles A upon the carton blank 4 is a single row, it is possible to use only one engaging tool to engage a suitable selection of articles A from such an in-feed stream 40 and convey that selection into position upon the carton blank 4. It is also contemplated that different numbers of rows of articles A in the desired output configuration may be achieved by varying the number of articles in the selection. It is also contemplated that, where the desired output configuration has the same number of columns as the number of files in the in-feed stream of articles 40, then a single engaging tool may be able to produce that configuration by selecting the desired number of articles and sliding them off the leading edge 28 of the plate 8 and onto the carton blank 4.

Figures 7, 8 and 9, illustrate the use of the apparatus 2 of Figures 1 to 4 for grouping loose articles, such as individual bottles, supplied to the in-feed 7 of the apparatus 2 in a dual-file stream 42. As can be seen from these Figures, optional star wheels have been incorporated into the retardation mechanism 6 to aid in maintaining alignment of the loose articles A relative to one another.

In the illustrated case, the desired output configuration of articles is six adjacent rows, each comprising four articles. It is, therefore, necessary for the first 18 and second 20 engaging tools to select corresponding first and second selections of articles from those disposed upon the plate 8, and to convey those selections of articles off the side or end edges of the plate 8, and into position upon the carton blank 8, before a third selection of articles is interposed between the aforementioned first and second selections. Figures 7 to 9 show sequential steps in first and second selections of articles A being selected from the articles A disposed upon the plate 8, by the first 18 and second 20 engaging tools respectively. These articles are then conveyed, by the first 18 and second 20 engaging tools to respective sides of the carton blank 4, off the side or end edges of the plate 8. There is thereby created, between the first and second selections of articles now disposed on the blank 4, a gap of sufficient width to allow insertion of a group of six adjacent rows of two articles remaining upon the plate 8.

The third engaging tool 24 engages with and subsequently accelerates these remaining articles A forward, and off the leading edge 28 of the plate 8, such that this third selection of articles becomes interposed between the first and second selections of articles upon the surface of the carton blank 4.

The speed and timing of the withdrawal of the plate 8 is chosen such that, when a rearmost article of the third selection of articles is moved off leading edge 28 of the plate 8, it is correctly positioned directly over the desired location of the carton blank 4. The plate 8 is then freed to be withdrawn by the plate drive means as fast as possible, so as to bring it into position under the articles passed onto the plate 8 by the in-feed 7 of the apparatus 2. The quicker this is achieved, the longer the apparatus will have to make the first, second and third selections discussed above, in relation to the subsequent transfer operation.

After the third selection of articles is disposed, in its entirety, upon the desired location on the carton blank 4, the third engaging tool 24 releases those articles. The third engaging tool 24 is then freed to select a subsequent selection of articles.

In the above discussion of the present invention, the first 18, second 20 and third 24 engaging tools may each be provided by robotic arms that provide sufficient degree of freedom of movement to accommodate the requirements of the above operation. In the Figures, the exact mechanical linkage used to control each of these tools has been omitted so as to simplify the illustration. One skilled in the art would readily understand how to employ know robotic tools of these kinds to achieve the above operations. It is, however, contemplated that non-robotic tools could be employed, such as conveyor mounted combs that use a profiled cam track to control the movement of the combs relative to the moving stream of articles.

It is also contemplated that the exact mechanical linkage of the plate to the drive means may not necessarily take the form of a three-part articulated linkage as illustrated. Any mechanical linkage that allows linear movement of a member to be controlled could be employed whilst still falling within the scope of the present invention as set out in the attached claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming an in-feed stream of articles into one or more spaced groups of articles, on a surface, which apparatus comprises a moveable plate that is operable to convey articles disposed thereupon in a first configuration and a first moveable engaging tool for selecting articles disposed on the moveable plate and for transferring the selected articles from that moveable plate, said first moveable engaging tool being controllable such that the articles are positioned in desired locations upon said surface as they are transferred from said plate.

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a second moveable engaging tool, wherein the first and the second engaging tools are each connected to independent drive means, which drive means are operable to drive the first and second engaging tools separately of one another and thereby to transfer selected articles, from said plate and onto said surface in a second configuration.

3. The apparatus of either Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising a third engaging tool disposed above the articles conveyed on the plate, which third engaging tool is operable to engage upper portions of selected ones of those articles and to transfer the selected articles from said plate onto said surface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first and a second of said engaging tools are operable to select first and second selections of articles from the plate respectively, and to transfer those first and second article selections from the plate and to deposit them along respective side edges of said surface, and wherein the third engaging tool is operable to select a third selection of articles from the plate and to transfer those articles into interposition between the first and second selections of articles, upon said surface.

5. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the plate is connected to a drive means, which drive means is operable to move the plate relative to said surface, so as to achieve the desired positioning of said articles on said surface as they are transferred from said plate.

6. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the plate is moveable reciprocally between a first position and a second position.

7. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the moveable plate is further operable to be withdrawn from beneath the articles disposed thereupon, as those articles are being transferred from the plate onto said surface by the engaging tools, and in so doing deposit those articles in desired locations upon said surface.

8. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the aforesaid surface is a carton blank for forming a carton.

9. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, further comprising an out-feed for conveying the articles, disposed upon said surface, away from the plate.

lO.The apparatus according to Claims 1 to 9 further comprising a conveyor for conveying cartons or carton blanks, which cartons or carton blanks form said surface upon which articles are deposited by the apparatus.

11. The apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein said conveyor is vertically aligned in part with the in-feed stream and brings said cartons or carton blanks to a position of close vertical proximity beneath said plate so as to facilitate the transfer of the articles from the plate to the cartons or carton blanks.

12. The apparatus according to any one of Claim 1 to 11 wherein the engaging tools are robotic tools.

13. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 further comprising an in-feed stream retardation mechanism for controlling the flow of articles onto the plate.

14.A method for forming an in-feed stream of articles into spaced groups of articles, on a surface, which method comprises conveying articles upon a moveable plate in a first configuration, engaging a first selection of articles disposed upon the moveable plate and transferring the selected articles from the moveable plate such that the articles are positioned in a desired location upon said surface as they are conveyed from said plate.

15. The method according to Claim 14, further comprising engaging a second selection of articles from the plate and transferring the first and second selections of articles, independently of one anther, onto the surface, in a second configuration.

16. The method according to Claim 15, further comprising engaging an upper portion of a third selection of articles on the plate and transferring that third selection onto the surface.

17. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 16 wherein the first and second selections of articles are transferred from the plate to positions adjacent respective side edges of said surface, and wherein the third selection of articles is transferred from the plate into interposition between the first and second selections of articles, upon said surface.

18.The method according to any one of Claims 14 to 17, further comprising moving the plate using a drive means, so as to achieve a desired positioning of said articles on said surface as they are transferred from said edge.

19.The method according to any one of Claims 14 to 17, further comprising conveying articles from the in-feed stream onto the plate.

20. The method according to any one of Claims 14 to Claim 19, further comprising moving the plate reciprocally between first and second positions.

21. The method according to any one of Claims 14 to 20, further comprising withdrawing the moveable plate from beneath the articles disposed thereupon in order to deposit those articles in desired locations upon said surface.

22. The method according to any one of Claims 14 to 21, wherein the aforesaid surface is a carton blank for forming a carton.

23. The method according to any one of Claims 14 to 22, further comprising conveying articles away from the plate after those articles are positioned on said surface.

24. The method according to any one of Claims 14 to 22, further comprising conveying cartons or carton blanks, which cartons or carton blanks form said surface upon which articles are deposited by the apparatus.

25. The method according to Claim 24, further comprising conveying the cartons or carton blanks in vertical alignment with the in-feed stream, and bringing said cartons or carton blanks to a position of close vertical proximity beneath said plate so as to facilitate the transfer of the articles from the plate to the cartons or carton blanks.

26. The method according to any one of Claims 14 to 25, further comprising controlling the flow of the in-feed stream using a retardation mechanism.

27.The method according to any one of Claims 14 to 26 further comprising selecting first and second selections of articles from the plate, and transferring those first and second articles selections off the plate and depositing them along respective side edges of said surface, and further comprising engaging upper portion of articles remaining upon the plate, and conveying those articles from said plate and into position between the first and second selections of articles, upon said surface.