A TRAY FEEDING SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SUCH A TRAY FEEDING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A tray feeding system comprising:
- a first conveyor adapted to be used as a buffer conveyor for trays, the first conveyor comprising a first conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced apart rollers acting as free running rollers having rotation axis being perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first conveyor, the plurality of spaced apart rollers further being arranged such that the rollers partly extend upward from the carrying surface of the first conveyor belt such that the trays resting on the first conveyor at least partly rest on the rollers,a second conveyor having a receiving end placed adjacent to an outputting end of the first conveyor adapted to be used as a tray conveyor wherein items are placed into the trays by a tray filling means, wherein the tray feeding system further comprises a roller interacting means positioned below and adjacent to the carrying surface of the first conveyor belt at an outputting end area of the first conveyor, the roller interacting means being adapted to engage with the rollers upon arriving at the outputting end area when the first conveyor belt is moving forward causing a rotational movement of the rollers positioned within the outputting end area and thus an acceleration of the tray or trays resting on the first conveyor within the outputting end area of the first conveyor towards the receiving end of the second conveyor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tray feeding system having a buffer conveyor for trays including a belt with spaced apart free running rollers having a rotation axis perpendicular to the conveying direction. These rollers extend upward from the belt such that the trays partly rest on the rollers. A tray conveyor receiving end is adjacent to an outputting end of the buffer conveyor where items are placed into the trays by a tray filler. A roller interactor is positioned below and adjacent to the surface of the buffer conveyor belt at an outputting end to engage with the rollers at the outputting end area when the buffer conveyor belts move forward rotating the rollers positioned within the outputting end area accelerating the trays on the buffer conveyor within the outputting end area of the buffer conveyor towards the receiving end of the tray conveyor.
7 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A tray feeding system comprising:
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a first conveyor adapted to be used as a buffer conveyor for trays, the first conveyor comprising a first conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced apart rollers acting as free running rollers having rotation axis being perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first conveyor, the plurality of spaced apart rollers further being arranged such that the rollers partly extend upward from the carrying surface of the first conveyor belt such that the trays resting on the first conveyor at least partly rest on the rollers, a second conveyor having a receiving end placed adjacent to an outputting end of the first conveyor adapted to be used as a tray conveyor wherein items are placed into the trays by a tray filling means, wherein the tray feeding system further comprises a roller interacting means positioned below and adjacent to the carrying surface of the first conveyor belt at an outputting end area of the first conveyor, the roller interacting means being adapted to engage with the rollers upon arriving at the outputting end area when the first conveyor belt is moving forward causing a rotational movement of the rollers positioned within the outputting end area and thus an acceleration of the tray or trays resting on the first conveyor within the outputting end area of the first conveyor towards the receiving end of the second conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification