Conveyor system for slicer apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of stacking slices sliced from two different product loaves comprising the steps of:
- slicing first and second loaves of two different products, said loaves arranged side-by-side;
depositing a first slice from said first loaf to be supported on a conveyor; and
moving said conveyor laterally to deposit a second slice of said second loaf at least partially onto said first slice.
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Abstract
A conveying surface for a slicing apparatus that can be moved in two orthogonal directions in a coordinated manner to allow a depositing of slices in a pattern on the conveying surface. The conveying surface can be an endless belt conveyor circulated in the longitudinal direction by a servo-motor via a telescopic drive shaft and shifted in the lateral direction by servo-motor driving a crank arm mechanism.
57 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of stacking slices sliced from two different product loaves comprising the steps of:
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slicing first and second loaves of two different products, said loaves arranged side-by-side;
depositing a first slice from said first loaf to be supported on a conveyor; and
moving said conveyor laterally to deposit a second slice of said second loaf at least partially onto said first slice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A conveying system for a slicing apparatus, comprising:
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a conveying surface arranged to receive slices from a slicing apparatus;
a first mechanism for moving said conveying surface in a longitudinal direction in both forward and reverse;
a second mechanism for moving said conveying surface in a lateral direction in both forward and reverse; and
a control for coordinating movement of said first and second mechanisms to deposit a two dimensional pattern of slices on said conveying surface;
wherein said conveying surface is located on an endless belt, said endless belt is wrapped around front and rear rolls, said first mechanism comprising a motor operatively connected to one of said rolls for circulating said endless belt, said motor connected to said one roll via a telescopic drive shaft, said telescopic drive shaft extended or retracted to compensate for the moving of said conveying surface in the lateral direction.
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7. A conveying system for a slicing apparatus, comprising:
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a conveying surface arranged to receive slices from a slicing apparatus;
a first mechanism for moving said conveying surface in a longitudinal direction in both forward and reverse;
a second mechanism for moving said conveying surface in a lateral direction in both forward and reverse; and
a control for coordinating movement of said first and second mechanisms to deposit a two dimensional pattern of slices on said conveying surface;
wherein said conveying surface is located on an endless belt, and said second mechanism comprises a precisely controlled motor operatively connected to a rotary-to-linear movement converting mechanism, said converting mechanism operatively connected to said conveyor to move said conveyor laterally. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A conveying system for a slicing apparatus, comprising:
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a conveying surface arranged to receive slices from a slicing apparatus;
a first mechanism for moving said conveying surface in a longitudinal direction in both forward and reverse;
a second mechanism for moving said conveying surface in a lateral direction in both forward and reverse; and
a control for coordinating movement of said first and second mechanisms to deposit a two dimensional pattern of slices on said conveying surface;
wherein said conveying surface is located on an endless belt conveyor, and said first mechanism comprises a motor for circulating said endless belt conveyor, and said second mechanism comprises a precisely controlled motor operatively connected to a crank mechanism, said crank mechanism operatively connected to said endless belt conveyor, rotation of said precisely controlled motor moves said conveyor to shift said conveying surface laterally. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A conveying system for a slicing apparatus, comprising:
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a first roll and a second roll arranged in parallel and having lateral axis;
at least one belt wrapped around said first and second rolls;
a precisely controlled first motor operatively connected to one of said rolls to circulate said conveyor belt;
a precisely controlled second motor and a rotary-to-linear movement converting mechanism operatively connected to said second motor, said movement converting mechanism operatively connected to said conveyor frame; and
a controller signal-connected to said first and second motors to coordinate precise longitudinal and lateral movement of said conveying surface to form two-dimensional patterns of slices deposited on said conveying surface from a relatively stationery slicing mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
wherein said frame comprises a longitudinally extending channel that receives said pin, rotation of said shaft causing orbital movement of said pin to translate said channel and said frame laterally.
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34. The conveying system according to claim 33, wherein said shaft is vertically extendable to compensate for change in elevation of said belt.
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35. The conveying system according to claim 34, wherein said converting mechanism comprises a crank tube driven into rotation by said second motor, and said shaft is telescopically received in said crank tube, and keyed for rotation therewith, said shaft extendable from said crank tube to compensate for elevation change of said conveyor belt.
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36. A conveying system for a slicing apparatus that produces slices from two different product loaves, said loaves arranged and sliced side-by-side, comprising:
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a conveying surface arranged to receive slices from said loaves;
a first mechanism for moving said conveying surface in a longitudinal direction;
a second mechanism for moving said conveying surface in a lateral direction in both forward and reverse; and
a control for coordinating movement of said first and second mechanisms to deposit slices from said two loaves on said conveying surface, wherein said conveyor is moved laterally repetitively and said loaves are sliced at a pre-selected rate to deposit alternating slices from the two loaves at substantially the same lateral position on the conveying surface to interleave slices of said first and second loaves in one or more stacks;
wherein said conveying surface is located on an endless belt, and said second mechanism comprises a precisely controlled motor operatively connected to a rotary-to-linear movement converting mechanism, said converting mechanism operatively connected to said conveyor to move said conveyor laterally. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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Specification