Retractable transfer device metering apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. Method for metering products comprising:
- moving a transfer device from a retracted position to an extended position;
transferring product unto the transfer device;
removing product from the transfer device by moving the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position after product has been transferred to the transfer device, with product being prevented from moving with the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position; and
repositioning product removed from the transfer device, with transferring product comprising conveying a continuous stream of product which pushes product unto the transfer device, with product being prevented from moving with the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position by abutting with the continuous stream of product.
3 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) is scalloped to represent the product bottom leading edge.
94 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Method for metering products comprising:
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moving a transfer device from a retracted position to an extended position;
transferring product unto the transfer device;
removing product from the transfer device by moving the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position after product has been transferred to the transfer device, with product being prevented from moving with the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position; and
repositioning product removed from the transfer device, with transferring product comprising conveying a continuous stream of product which pushes product unto the transfer device, with product being prevented from moving with the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position by abutting with the continuous stream of product. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. Method for metering products comprising:
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moving a transfer device from a retracted position to an extended position;
transferring product unto the transfer device;
removing product from the transfer device by moving the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position after product has been transferred to the transfer device, with product being prevented from moving with the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position; and
repositioning product removed from the transfer device, with moving the transfer device comprising moving the transfer device having a leading edge which is scalloped to represent a leading bottom edge of product which is not linearly straight. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. Method for metering products comprising:
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moving a transfer device from a retracted position to an extended position;
transferring product unto the transfer device;
removing product from the transfer device by moving the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position after product has been transferred to the transfer device, with product being prevented from moving with the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position; and
repositioning product removed from the transfer device, with moving the transfer device comprising moving a thin piece of flexible material. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. Method for metering products comprising:
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moving a transfer device in a movement direction from a retracted position to an extended position;
transferring product unto the transfer device in the movement direction;
removing product from the transfer device by moving the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position after product has been transferred to the transfer device, with product being prevented from moving with the transfer device from the extended position to the retracted position; and
repositioning product removed from the transfer device, with transferring product comprising transferring product having generally cylindrical shapes. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. Apparatus for metering products 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; and
a second product conveyance mechanism, with product in a continuous stream being conveyed by the second product conveyance mechanism in a second conveying direction, with the transfer device moving from the extended position to the retracted position opposite to the second conveying direction, with product being moved in the second conveyance direction onto the transfer device by the second product conveyance mechanism and product on the transfer device abutting with the continuous stream when the transfer device is moved from the extended position to the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (12)
- a first product conveyance mechanism, with product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in a first conveying direction;
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13. Apparatus for metering products comprising, in combination:
- a first product conveyance mechanism, with product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in a first conveying direction; and
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, with the leading edge being scalloped to represent a leading bottom edge of product which is not linearly straight.
- a first product conveyance mechanism, with product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in a first conveying direction; and
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14. Apparatus for metering products comprising, in combination:
- a first product conveyance mechanism, with product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in a first conveying direction; and
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 being a thin piece of flexible material. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
- a first product conveyance mechanism, with product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in a first conveying direction; and
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18. Apparatus for metering products 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; and
a photo eye, with the transfer device including a leading edge over which product slides when the transfer device moves from the extended position on the retracted position, with the photo eye sensing when product reaches the leading edge when the transfer device is in the extended position.
- a first product conveyance mechanism, with product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in a first conveying direction;
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19. Apparatus for metering products 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; and
a metering bar mechanism including at least one metering bar for movement in the first conveying direction along a metering path, with product on the transfer device engaging the metering bar when the transfer device is in the extended position and until the transfer device is in the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- a first product conveyance mechanism, with product being conveyed by the first product conveyance mechanism in a first conveying direction;
Specification