Abstract: A method of controlling the flow of articles between upstream and downstream work stations which respectively produce and modify such articles so that both work stations can operate at the same rates or at different rates.A continuous flow of articles is received on various inbound tracks, and the continuous flow of articles is subdivided into individual arrays or groups of articles. In those instances wherein the down stream use rate is approximately or exactly equal to the upstream output rate, the groups of articles are transferred from inbound lanes or tracks directly to outbound lanes or tracks. In the cases wherein the supply rate or the demand rate, i.e., the upstream or downstream machine rates are different, then groups of articles are periodically taken from inbound lanes and placed in transient storage or are taken from transient storage and placed in outbound lanes.

Abstract: An improved automated workload balancing apparatus is described including an expanded coplanar transfer station having an inbound accumulating area, an outbound accumulating area and at least one outer storage placement and retrieval area linearly aligned along a longitudinally extending transfer axis. A pickup transfer head is reciprocatably translatable along the transfer axis to regulate overall flow of groups of articles through the balancer device. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, preformed groups are moved uphill or downhill into and out of the inbound and outbound accumulating areas, respectively for improved article management. Front and rear holding devices are included to further provide enhanced article management. In an especially preferred embodiment, angled infeed and angled outfeed track segments are rotatable into and out of position in the transfer station to position the groups for pickup and transfer before sending them on for further processing steps.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to improved apparatus for mass production manufacturing, and in a presently preferred form, to an apparatus for dynamically regulating input and output workloads to achieve efficient operations.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to improved method and apparatus for mass production manufacturing, and in a presently preferred form, to an apparatus and method for dynamically regulating input and output workloads to achieve efficient operations.

Abstract: A workload regulator for controlling the flow of articles between work stations at which the articles are produced.The apparatus receives a continuous flow of articles on various inbound tracks, subdivides the continuous flow into individual arrays or groups of articles, picks up these groups of articles and deposits them in trays for transient storage, removes them from trays and transfers them to one or more outbound tracks, or transfers the groups from inbound to outbound tracks in a buffer area. The apparatus also positions as needed the trays into which plural groups of articles are being placed during the filling, or from which the groups are being taken as the tray is emptied. Also, the apparatus adds or withdraws trays, as needed, from magazines which hold full and empty trays, respectively.The apparatus may have more than one transfer apparatus and may include equal or unequal numbers of inbound and outbound tracks.