Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Ronald E Kelbert

Steven Allen Hellmann

Richard J Ogle

Thomas Raymond Holston

A method and apparatus () for accumulating articles () can include a dispensing of the articles with a rotating, metering drum () for movement to a first conveyor (). The metering drum () has an entry end () and an exit end (), and in a particular aspect, the metering drum () can be configured such that a rotation of the metering drum overcomes a static friction which would inhibit a movement of the articles () downstream through the metering drum. In another aspect the metering drum () can include at least one lug member () which is positioned and attached inside the metering drum at the exit end () of the metering drum. In further aspects, a ramp member () can be configured to extend an operative distance into the volume of the metering drum, and can be spaced away from an inside wall surface of the metering drum by a selected offset distance.

Metering drum for an automatic accumulation system

A distinctive method and apparatus for accumulating selected articles can include an inputting of a plurality of individual articles () from an article supply source (). Each article can have at least a first major facing surface (), a first article dimension () extending along a first article direction, a second article dimension () extending along a second article direction which differs from the first article direction, and an article edge region (). Each article can be directed to a first conveyor (), and in a particular aspect, the first article dimension of each article can be aligned along a selected machine-direction (). Another aspect can include an identifying of an article-set () which contains a selected, predetermined number of the articles. Further aspects can include a forming of at least one article-set which contains the selected number articles arranged in a stack or other arrangement suitable for packaging; and a moving of the article-set into a package. In additional aspects, the inputting of the articles can include a metering of the articles, and the inputting of the articles can include a dispensing of the articles () with a rotating, metering drum (). In still further aspects, the inputting of the articles can include a delivering of the articles onto a guide surface, and the delivering of the articles can include a laying of the articles onto a directing slide (), which may be inclined.

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

Ronald E Kelbert