Retractable Transfer Device Metering Apparatus and Methods
First Claim
1. Method for metering products comprising:
- moving a transfer device in a movement direction from a retracted position to an extended position;
inserting a metering bar at the extended position;
moving product in the movement direction unto the transfer device while the transfer device is moving to the extended position and until product abuts with the metering bar;
removing product from the transfer device by moving the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position after product abuts with the metering bar, with product being prevented from moving with the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position;
removing the metering bar after the transfer device moves from the extended position; and
repositioning product removed from the transfer device.
2 Assignments
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, 52ca) which controls the product on the sweep conveyor (22) 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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Method for metering products comprising:
- moving a transfer device in a movement direction from a retracted position to an extended position;
inserting a metering bar at the extended position;
moving product in the movement direction unto the transfer device while the transfer device is moving to the extended position and until product abuts with the metering bar;
removing product from the transfer device by moving the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position after product abuts with the metering bar, with product being prevented from moving with the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position;
removing the metering bar after the transfer device moves from the extended position; and
repositioning product removed from the transfer device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- moving a transfer device in a movement direction from a retracted position to an extended position;
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11. Apparatus for metering product comprising, in combination:
- a first product conveyance mechanism, with product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in a first conveying direction;
a transfer device moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, with the transfer device extending over the first product conveyance mechanism in the extended position, with product being transferred to the transfer device and being prevented from moving with the transfer device when the transfer device is moved from the extended position to the retracted position so that product slides from the transfer device onto the first product conveyance mechanism for being conveyed in the first conveying direction, with the transfer device including a leading edge over which product slides when the transfer device moves from the extended position to the retracted position; and
a metering bar moveable between an abutting position and a non-interfering position, with the metering position located in a product path volume of product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in the abutting position, with the metering bar located outside of the product path volume in the non-interfering position, with the abutting position corresponding to the leading edge of the transfer device in the extended position, with the metering bar being moveable from the non-interfering position to the abutting position before the transfer device is moved to its extended position from the retracted position to abut with product sliding from the transfer device onto the first product conveyance mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- a first product conveyance mechanism, with product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in a first conveying direction;
- 19. 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