In its simplest form, the product storage unit comprises a conveyor which is mounted on the end of the ADS following the final transfer station.
Rows of products not accepted by the system pass onto the conveyor, which indexes forward every time a row is presented thus accumulating products which may then be manually or automatically transferred to plaques as required.
The automatic re-feed system is available in two versions corresponding to the type of ADS being used. In high speed applications, the final ADS station has a second pivoting conveyor as part of the storage conveyor. The system software detects when there are spaces in the presentation of rows of products to the final station. On a signal, the storage conveyor reverses and indexes a row onto the return pivot conveyor which inclines and accelerates that row up to a holding station in readiness for transfer by an overhead paddle onto the distribution conveyor. If there is sufficient space in the main feed of products to the final wrapping station, the re-feed unit will operate until the storage conveyor has been emptied. Alternatively, rows are re-introduced as and when sufficient space is available.
For low speed applications, rows, one at a time, are reversed back under the distribution conveyor onto the pivoting conveyor which then inclines and accelerates the rows forward onto the distribution conveyor in the normal manner. Rows of products can only be accepted when there are breaks in the normal production running.
