An apparatus for controlling product flow in the manufacture of snack foods comprises a conveyor 2, a first imaging system 12 adapted to image a first distribution 13 of the food products on the conveyor, and a processor 16 coupled to the imaging system. The processor includes a mapping unit 17 for processing the image and provides the coordinates of the products on the conveyor. A control unit 22 is coupled to the processor, and a pick-and-place unit 30 is connected to and controlled by the control unit. The pick-and-place unit is adapted to move one or more selected products on the conveyor so as to modify the first distribution of products on the conveyor to a second distribution 33 of the food products on the conveyor. Also disclosed is a method of controlling product flow in the manufacture of snack foods.
