Retractable transfer device metering apparatus and methods
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Product is conveyed as a continuous stream by a meter conveyor (12) unto a transfer plate (32) and a transfer device (42). The transfer device (42) is movable between a retracted position and an extended position extending over a sweep conveyor (22). In a preferred form, the transfer device (42) is in the form of a thin piece of flexible material and is moved in the conveying direction from the retracted position to the extended position by engaging with the sweep conveyor (22) and is moved to the retracted position by being wrapped around a rotated roller (46). Product is transferred from the transfer device (42) to the sweep conveyor (22) as the transfer device (42) moves from the extended position to the retracted position and is engaged by a metering bar (52ba) which controls the product acceleration on the sweep conveyor (22) to match the meter conveyor (12) until the product group leaves the transfer device (42). With nested product, the leading edge of the transfer device (42) is scalloped to represent the product bottom leading edge.
74 Citations
30 Claims
-
1-18. -18. (canceled)
-
19. Method for metering product comprising:
-
conveying a continuous stream of product arranged in multiple rows in a conveying direction at a first conveyance speed for transfer unto a first product conveyance mechanism moving in the conveyance direction at a second conveyance speed greater than the first conveyance speed; and
abutting lead product on the first product conveyance mechanism with a metering bar moving in the conveying direction at the first conveyance speed until a group of product including a number of rows from the continuous stream of product has been transferred onto the first product conveyance mechanism at which time the group of product on the first product conveyance mechanism is allowed to accelerate to match the second conveyance speed. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. Apparatus for metering product comprising, in combination:
- a first product conveyance mechanism moving in a conveying direction at a first conveyance speed;
a second product conveyance mechanism moving in the conveying direction at a second conveyance speed greater than the first conveyance speed; and
at least one metering bar positioned above the second product conveyance mechanism moving away from the first product conveyance mechanism in the conveying direction at least initially at the first conveyance speed, with product transferred onto the second product conveyance mechanism from the first product conveyance mechanism being retained from accelerating with the second product conveyance mechanism until after a group of product including a number of rows has been transferred onto the second product conveyance mechanism from the first product conveyance mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
- a first product conveyance mechanism moving in a conveying direction at a first conveyance speed;
- 29. Transfer device over which product in a continuous stream passes, with each product having a bottom including a lead bottom edge which is not linearly straight, comprising a piece of material having an upper surface of a size upon which the bottom of the product is adapted to be supported, with the piece of material having a leading edge scalloped to represent the lead bottom edge of the product.
Specification