Feeder with automatic zoned product timing correction

Abstract

For use with an automatic high speed packaging machine in which products are wrapped and sealed, a control system for a feed conveyer for precisely positioning the incoming products to be wrapped relative to the wrapper's in-feed conveyer. The automatic feeder system leading to the wrapper's in-feed conveyer consists of a plurality of belts and photoelectric eyes are used to sense the presence or absence of product on the belts. The signals from the electronic eyes are applied to a control network to either increase or decrease the speed of selected belts relative to a preceding one to ensure that the product will be fed in a steady stream and at appropriately spaced intervals into the pushers of the wrapper's in-feed conveyer.