Product alignment mechanism
First Claim
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1. A product alignment apparatus employing a series of continuous conveyors integrally formed to act upon product advancing in a forward direction, including:
- first conveying means for receiving product at random from a source of supply, said first conveying means being formed of a plurality of spaced apart separating members for lateral distribution of product and simultaneously urging product forward at a predetermined speed;
accumulating means disposed in proximity to said first conveying means laying in a plane coincidental thereto, for receiving product advancing from said first conveying means;
guide means disposed at the respective lateral portions of said first conveying means and said accumulating means, for defining the maximum lateral travel of said product; and
with said first conveying and accumulating means causing product to assume a tight pack hexagonal pattern; and
second conveying means, being in proximity to and disposed at an angle with respect to said accumulating means, and being formed with a series of product orientators for receiving and urging product to travel in a downward and lateral direction in a predefined pattern of side by side longitudinal columns.
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Abstract
An apparatus for aligning product being conveyed in a forward direction where a conveying element urges product to be re-distributed laterally for advancement to an adjacent accumulation plate to form interlocking hexagonal close pack clusters. Further distribution in the longitudinal and lateral directions takes place along a downwardly sloping contiguous conveyor having a series of flaring spacers until product is finally distributed in a desired fashion.
30 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A product alignment apparatus employing a series of continuous conveyors integrally formed to act upon product advancing in a forward direction, including:
- first conveying means for receiving product at random from a source of supply, said first conveying means being formed of a plurality of spaced apart separating members for lateral distribution of product and simultaneously urging product forward at a predetermined speed;
accumulating means disposed in proximity to said first conveying means laying in a plane coincidental thereto, for receiving product advancing from said first conveying means;
guide means disposed at the respective lateral portions of said first conveying means and said accumulating means, for defining the maximum lateral travel of said product; and
with said first conveying and accumulating means causing product to assume a tight pack hexagonal pattern; and
second conveying means, being in proximity to and disposed at an angle with respect to said accumulating means, and being formed with a series of product orientators for receiving and urging product to travel in a downward and lateral direction in a predefined pattern of side by side longitudinal columns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- first conveying means for receiving product at random from a source of supply, said first conveying means being formed of a plurality of spaced apart separating members for lateral distribution of product and simultaneously urging product forward at a predetermined speed;
Specification