Retractable transfer device metering and product arranging and loading apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. Method for loading product comprising:
- guiding product in a conveying direction in a grid pattern with at least two parallel columns and multiple parallel rows, with the columns in the grid pattern abutting and with the rows in the grid pattern abutting, with the columns being parallel to the conveying direction;
conveying product in the grid pattern until a pack pattern is transferred onto an unloader platform, with the pack pattern being maintained by product being conveyed from upstream of the pack pattern, with the pack pattern including the at least two parallel columns and at least two parallel rows;
guiding product in the grid pattern being conveyed onto the unloader platform so that the columns in the pack pattern abut and the rows in the pack pattern abut;
pushing the pack pattern from the unloader platform; and
guiding product in the pack pattern being pushed from the unloader platform so that the columns in the pack pattern abut and the rows in the pack pattern abut.
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) 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) can be scalloped to represent the product bottom leading edge. Alternatively, nestable product is conveyed by the meter conveyor (12) through a guide rail unit (82) including an infeed portion (84) for conveying product in a conveying direction, a nesting portion (86) at an arranging angle (N) to the conveying direction, and an aligning portion (88) at a grid angle (Z) to the nesting portion (84) to align the product in a square grid pattern when transferred unto the transfer device (42). Similarly, product in a grid pattern can be conveyed by the meter conveyor (12) through the guide rail unit (82) onto a loader conveyor (102). A pack pattern is pushed by a pusher (132) from the loader conveyor (102) between a loader guide (106) abutting with the leading row of the pack pattern and a retractable loader guide (110) abutting with the last row of the pack pattern.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Method for loading product comprising:
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guiding product in a conveying direction in a grid pattern with at least two parallel columns and multiple parallel rows, with the columns in the grid pattern abutting and with the rows in the grid pattern abutting, with the columns being parallel to the conveying direction;
conveying product in the grid pattern until a pack pattern is transferred onto an unloader platform, with the pack pattern being maintained by product being conveyed from upstream of the pack pattern, with the pack pattern including the at least two parallel columns and at least two parallel rows;
guiding product in the grid pattern being conveyed onto the unloader platform so that the columns in the pack pattern abut and the rows in the pack pattern abut;
pushing the pack pattern from the unloader platform; and
guiding product in the pack pattern being pushed from the unloader platform so that the columns in the pack pattern abut and the rows in the pack pattern abut. - View Dependent Claims (2, 11)
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3. Method for loading product comprising:
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guiding product in a conveying direction in a and pattern with at least two parallel columns and multiple parallel rows, with the columns in the grid pattern abutting and with the rows in the grid pattern abutting, with the columns being parallel to the conveying direction;
conveying product in the grid pattern until a pack pattern is transferred onto an unloader platform, with the pack pattern including the at least two parallel columns and at least two parallel rows;
guiding product in the grid pattern being conveyed onto the unloader platform so that the columns in the pack pattern abut and the rows in the pack pattern abut;
pushing the pack pattern from the unloader platform; and
guiding product in the pack pattern being pushed from the unloader platform so that the columns in the pack pattern abut and the rows in the pack pattern abut, with pushing the pack pattern comprising pushing the pack pattern from the unloader platform perpendicular to the conveying direction, with guiding the product in the pack pattern comprising providing a first loader guide perpendicular to the conveying direction, with an initial row of the pack pattern abutting with the first loader guide while the pack pattern is pushed from the unloader platform; and
providing a second loader guide perpendicular to the conveying direction and parallel to the first loader guide, with a last row of the pack pattern abutting with the second loader guide while the pack pattern is pushed from the unloader platform.- View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
guiding product while being conveyed in the conveying direction into a nested pattern with at least two parallel columns and multiple parallel rows, with the columns in the nested pattern abutting and with the rows in the nested pattern abutting, with the nested pattern being maintained by product being conveyed from upstream of the nested pattern; and
guiding the nested pattern at an obtuse grid angle into the grid pattern, with the grid pattern being maintained by product being guided from upstream of the grid pattern, with the nested pattern being guided into the grid pattern while the columns remain abutting and the rows remain abutting.
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12. Apparatus for loading products comprising, in combination:
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an unloader platform for receiving product in a pack pattern;
an assembly intermittently conveying product in a conveying direction in a grid pattern onto the unloader platform, with the grid pattern being at least two parallel columns and multiple parallel rows, with the columns in the grid pattern abutting and with the rows in the grid pattern abutting, with the columns being parallel to the conveying direction;
a first loader guide on the unloader platform;
a second loader guide perpendicular to the conveying direction and spaced in the conveying direction from the assembly parallel to the first loader guide, with the second loader guide not interfering with product being conveyed in the conveying direction by the assembly; and
a pusher for pushing the pack pattern from the unloader platform and from between the first loader guide and second loader guide, with an initial row of the pack pattern separated from the grid pattern being guided by the first loader guide and a last row of the pack pattern being guided by the second loader guide as the pack pattern is being pushed from the unloader platform by the pusher. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification