The present disclosure is directed to a washdown controller enclosure. In one form, a system configured to enclose one or more robot controllers includes a base; an exterior shell configured to couple with the base, the exterior shell defining an interior area sized to enclose a robot controller of an industrial machine; a first cooling fan positioned on the exterior shell, the first cooling fan configured to draw air into the interior area of the exterior shell; and a second cooling fan positioned on the exterior shell, the second cooling fan configured to expel at least one of air or moisture from the interior area of the exterior shell.
The present disclosure is directed to a flighted conveyor insert for robotic picking of food products and a flighted conveyor having the same. In one forth, an insert for a flighted conveyor, such as a bucket chain, defines a forward edge configured for insertion through an aperture of a flight of the flighted conveyor such that when the insert is attached to the flight, the forward edge is positioned on a first side of the flight; and a rear edge configured such that when the insert is attached to the flight, the rear edge is positioned on a second side of the flight that is oppose to the first side of the flight.
B65G 19/26 - Attachment of impellers to traction element pivotal
B65G 15/44 - Belts or like endless load-carriers made of rubber or plastics having ribs, ridges, or other surface projections for impelling the loads
B65G 19/08 - Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors for moving bulk material in open troughs or channels the impellers being scrapers similar in size and shape to the cross-section of the trough or channel and attached to a single belt, rope, or chain
B65G 19/18 - Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors Details
3.
Device for manipulating meat pieces and methods thereof
The present disclosure is directed to devices for manipulating meat pieces and methods therefore. In one form, a device comprises a chute, a conveyor, a backstop, and a paddle wheel. The chute is configured to hold pieces of a food product, and the conveyor is configured to receive pieces of the food product released from the chute. The first backstop is positioned above the conveyor and comprises a plate that is configured to align pieces of food product received at the conveyor into a single row. The paddle wheel is positioned above the conveyor downstream from the first backstop and is configured to manipulate the single row of pieces of food product traveling along the conveyor and cause only a single layer of pieces of food product to discharge from the conveyor.
B65G 47/14 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding
B65G 43/08 - Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed, or discharged
B65G 47/68 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor
B65G 47/82 - Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels
4.
DIRECT TRANSFER LOADING APPARATUS FOR TUBULAR FOOD ARTICLES AND METHOD OF OPERATION
A loading apparatus (10) for use with tubular food articles (12). The loading apparatus (10) comprises an input conveyor (14) configured to convey the tubular food articles (12), an indexing conveyor (16) positioned beneath the input conveyor (14) and configured to operate in an intermittent motion, and a curved end member (26) positioned in spaced arrangement to the input conveyor (14) to permit the tubular food articles (12) to pass between the input conveyor (14) and the curved end member (26) such that the curved end member (26) retains the tubular food articles (12) on the input conveyor (14). The input conveyor (14) is configured to transfer the tubular food articles (12) from the input conveyor (14) directly to the indexing conveyor (16) using gravity from a space between the input conveyor (14) and the curved end member (26).
B65G 47/51 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors with distribution, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination
B65B 35/32 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by gravity
5.
DIRECT TRANSFER LOADING APPARATUS FOR TUBULAR FOOD ARTICLES AND METHOD OF OPERATION
A loading apparatus (10) for use with tubular food articles (12). The loading apparatus (10) comprises an input conveyor (14) configured to convey the tubular food articles (12), an indexing conveyor (16) positioned beneath the input conveyor (14) and configured to operate in an intermittent motion, and a curved end member (26) positioned in spaced arrangement to the input conveyor (14) to permit the tubular food articles (12) to pass between the input conveyor (14) and the curved end member (26) such that the curved end member (26) retains the tubular food articles (12) on the input conveyor (14). The input conveyor (14) is configured to transfer the tubular food articles (12) from the input conveyor (14) directly to the indexing conveyor (16) using gravity from a space between the input conveyor (14) and the curved end member (26).
B65B 35/32 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by gravity
B65G 47/51 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors with distribution, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination
6.
Direct transfer loading apparatus for tubular food articles and method of operation
A loading apparatus for use with tubular food articles. The loading apparatus comprises an input conveyor configured to convey the tubular food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the input conveyor and configured to operate in an intermittent motion, and a curved end member positioned in spaced arrangement to the input conveyor to permit the tubular food articles to pass between the input conveyor and the curved end member such that the curved end member retains the tubular food articles on the input conveyor. The input conveyor is configured to transfer the tubular food articles from the input conveyor directly to the indexing conveyor using gravity from a space between the input conveyor and the curved end member.
B65G 47/57 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices to or from inclined or vertical conveyor sections for articles
B65G 15/44 - Belts or like endless load-carriers made of rubber or plastics having ribs, ridges, or other surface projections for impelling the loads
B65G 17/08 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms the surface being formed by the traction element
B65G 23/28 - Arrangements for equalising the drive to several elements
B65G 47/68 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor
7.
Launching system for robotic sausage loading machine
A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling integrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.
B65G 15/14 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising two or more co-operating endless surfaces with parallel longitudinal axes, or a multiplicity of parallel elements, e.g. ropes defining an endless surface with two or more endless belts the load being conveyed between the belts
B65G 43/08 - Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed, or discharged
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65B 35/08 - Separating single articles from loose masses of articles using pocketed conveyors
B65G 17/06 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
B65G 41/00 - Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
B65B 35/24 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
B65G 47/31 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
8.
Food product handling device, system, and related methods
A food product handling device is provided. The food product handling device can include a movable loading head having a plurality of rails and a vacuum system operatively associated with the head. In addition, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product as the head is moved can be provided. A plurality of mounting blocks can be slidably coupled to the rails where at least one suction device is coupled to each mounting block. An actuating device can be operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide between a first position and a second position.
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65B 9/04 - Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
B25J 15/06 - Gripping heads with vacuum or magnetic holding means
B65B 25/06 - Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products
B65B 5/06 - Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
B65G 47/91 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers
9.
Launching system for robotic sausage loading machine
A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling intergrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.
B65G 15/14 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising two or more co-operating endless surfaces with parallel longitudinal axes, or a multiplicity of parallel elements, e.g. ropes defining an endless surface with two or more endless belts the load being conveyed between the belts
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65B 35/08 - Separating single articles from loose masses of articles using pocketed conveyors
B65G 17/06 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
B65G 41/00 - Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
B65G 43/08 - Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed, or discharged
B65B 35/24 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
B65G 47/31 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
10.
AUTOMATED MACHINE FOR UNLOADING AND TRANSFERRING CUT AND TRIMMED POULTRY MEAT PIECES
An automated unloading machine for unloading cut and trimmed raw poultry meat pieces from an upstream poultry meat cutting machine. The automated unloading machine is operably associated with a feed conveyer configured to support the cut and trimmed poultry meat pieces provided by the meat cutting machine. The automated unloading machine comprises one of an exit conveyor movable in a second direction and a packaging machine, an electronic controller configured to receive and process position and orientation data of the poultry meat pieces located on the feed conveyer, and a robotic picking device operatively associated with the electronic controller and configured to pick the poultry meat pieces from the feed conveyer and place them onto one of the exit conveyor and the packaging machine so that the cut and trimmed poultry meat pieces are arranged on one of the exit conveyor and the packaging machine in a desired orientation.
A22C 17/00 - Other devices for processing meat or bones
B65G 47/252 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles by turning over or inverting them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction
B65G 47/28 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a single conveyor
11.
Automated machine for unloading and transferring cut and trimmed poultry meat pieces
An automated unloading machine for unloading cut and trimmed raw poultry meat pieces from an upstream poultry meat cutting machine. The automated unloading machine is operably associated with a feed conveyer configured to support the cut and trimmed poultry meat pieces provided by the meat cutting machine. The automated unloading machine comprises one of an exit conveyor movable in a second direction and a packaging machine, an electronic controller configured to receive and process position and orientation data of the poultry meat pieces located on the feed conveyer, and a robotic picking device operatively associated with the electronic controller and configured to pick the poultry meat pieces from the feed conveyer and place them onto one of the exit conveyor and the packaging machine so that the cut and trimmed poultry meat pieces are arranged on one of the exit conveyor and the packaging machine in a desired orientation.
B65G 47/00 - Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyorsMethods employing such devices
B65G 47/71 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor the articles being discharged to several conveyors
A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling intergrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.
B65G 37/00 - Combinations of mechanical conveyors of the same kind, or of different kinds, of interest apart from their application in particular machines or use in particular manufacturing processes
B65G 15/14 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising two or more co-operating endless surfaces with parallel longitudinal axes, or a multiplicity of parallel elements, e.g. ropes defining an endless surface with two or more endless belts the load being conveyed between the belts
B65G 43/08 - Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed, or discharged
B65G 17/06 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
B65G 41/00 - Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65B 35/08 - Separating single articles from loose masses of articles using pocketed conveyors
B65B 35/24 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
B65G 47/31 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
13.
Food product handling device, system, and related methods
A food product handling device is provided. The food product handling device can include a movable loading head having a plurality of rails and a vacuum system operatively associated with the head. In addition, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product as the head is moved can be provided. A plurality of mounting blocks can be slidably coupled to the rails where at least one suction device is coupled to each mounting block. An actuating device can be operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide between a first position and a second position.
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65B 9/04 - Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
B25J 15/06 - Gripping heads with vacuum or magnetic holding means
B65B 25/06 - Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products
B65B 5/06 - Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
B65G 47/91 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers
14.
Method and apparatus for automatically packaging and dispensing food products
A food product gathering and dispensing system is disclosed. The food product is generally a flat disc shaped article dispensed onto a consumable strip of food product conveyer material. The food product is fed to single, or series related, spools that wind up the consumable conveyer material and food product into a removable roll or stack. The roll or stack is placed into a dispenser pack, optionally subject to further environmental treatment, and refrigeration. The pack is then installed within a refrigerated dispenser system where the food product and consumable material are collectively unwound and/or separated, as the food product is fed into a processing system, i.e., a cooking device. The consumable conveyer material is collected and separately discarded.
B65B 11/02 - Wrapping articles or quantities of material, without changing their position during the wrapping operation, e.g. in moulds with hinged folders
A22C 17/00 - Other devices for processing meat or bones
B65D 75/06 - Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks in sheets or blanks initially folded to form tubes
B65D 77/02 - Wrapped articles enclosed in rigid or semi-rigid containers
B65B 11/10 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a single straight path to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
A food product gathering and dispensing system is disclosed. The food product is generally a flat disc shaped article dispensed onto a consumable strip of food product conveyer material. The food product is fed to single, or series related, spools that wind up the consumable conveyer material and food product into a removable roll. The roll is placed into a dispenser pack, optionally subject to further environmental treatment, and refrigeration. The pack is then installed within a refrigerated dispenser system where the food product and consumable material are collectively unwound and separated, as the food product is fed into a processing system, i.e., a cooking device. The consumable conveyer material is collected and separately discarded.
B65B 11/10 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a single straight path to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
B65B 11/02 - Wrapping articles or quantities of material, without changing their position during the wrapping operation, e.g. in moulds with hinged folders
B65B 65/00 - Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided forArrangements of such details
B65B 63/04 - Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for folding or winding articles, e.g. gloves or stockings
F25D 19/00 - Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices
B65B 61/00 - Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
B65B 25/06 - Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products
F25D 25/04 - Charging, supporting, or discharging the articles to be cooled by conveyors
B65B 35/24 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
B65B 9/067 - Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it the web advancing continuously
16.
Launching system for robotic sausage loading machine
A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling intergrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65G 37/00 - Combinations of mechanical conveyors of the same kind, or of different kinds, of interest apart from their application in particular machines or use in particular manufacturing processes
B65G 15/14 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising two or more co-operating endless surfaces with parallel longitudinal axes, or a multiplicity of parallel elements, e.g. ropes defining an endless surface with two or more endless belts the load being conveyed between the belts
B65G 17/06 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
B65G 41/00 - Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
B65G 43/08 - Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed, or discharged
B65B 35/08 - Separating single articles from loose masses of articles using pocketed conveyors
B65B 35/24 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
B65G 47/31 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
17.
Food product handling device, system, and related methods
A food product handling device includes a movable loading head having a plurality of coupling rails, a vacuum system operatively associated with the loading head, a plurality of suction devices carried by the loading head and configured to pick up and transport a food product, a plurality of mounting blocks slidably coupled to each other by the coupling rails, and an actuating device operatively associated with the mounting blocks for sliding each of the mounting blocks between a first position and a second position. Each of the suction devices is selectively coupled to the vacuum system. At least one of the suction devices coupled to each of the mounting blocks. The actuating device includes an actuating cylinder configured to displace the mounting blocks between the first position and a second position.
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65B 35/38 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers by suction-operated grippers
B65G 47/91 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers
B65B 5/08 - Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles
B65B 9/04 - Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
B65B 35/44 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by endless belts or chains
18.
Launching system for robotic sausage loading machine
A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling intergrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65G 37/00 - Combinations of mechanical conveyors of the same kind, or of different kinds, of interest apart from their application in particular machines or use in particular manufacturing processes
B65G 47/26 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
B65G 15/14 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising two or more co-operating endless surfaces with parallel longitudinal axes, or a multiplicity of parallel elements, e.g. ropes defining an endless surface with two or more endless belts the load being conveyed between the belts
B65G 17/06 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
B65G 41/00 - Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
B65G 43/08 - Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed, or discharged
B65B 35/08 - Separating single articles from loose masses of articles using pocketed conveyors
B65B 35/24 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
B65G 47/31 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
19.
LAUNCHING SYSTEM FOR ROBOTIC SAUSAGE LOADING MACHINE
A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper (12) of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt (16), positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt (14), further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt (20) for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor (18), enabling intergrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.
B65B 35/24 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
B65B 35/08 - Separating single articles from loose masses of articles using pocketed conveyors
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65G 47/31 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
B65G 15/14 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising two or more co-operating endless surfaces with parallel longitudinal axes, or a multiplicity of parallel elements, e.g. ropes defining an endless surface with two or more endless belts the load being conveyed between the belts
A food product handling device is provided. The food product handling device can include a movable loading head having a plurality of rails and a vacuum system operatively associated with the head. In addition, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product as the head is moved can be provided. A plurality of mounting blocks can be slidably coupled to the rails where at least one suction device is coupled to each mounting block. An actuating device can be operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide between a first position and a second position.
A food product handling device is provided. The food product handling device can include a movable loading head having a plurality of rails and a vacuum system operatively associated with the head. In addition, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product as the head is moved can be provided. A plurality of mounting blocks can be slidably coupled to the rails where at least one suction device is coupled to each mounting block. An actuating device can be operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide between a first position and a second position.
A tubular food product launching system and method for interacting with a product loading head is disclosed. The system includes a pick belt, positioned alongside product carrying intermediate belts. The pick belt supplies additional product to a product inspector or vision equipped robot cell to replace defective or missing product observed on the intermediate belt(s) with replacement product from the pick belt. The overall system speed, and pick belt speed, can be adjusted to accommodate varying product post-launcher fill-rates in accord with the nature of the product and the abilities and speed of the robot cell and/or product inspector, so as to reliably assure 100% final fill-rate as product is fed to the loading head.
B65G 47/256 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles removing incorrectly orientated articles
23.
ACCUMULATOR AND TRANSFER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING FOOD PRODUCT TO A BAG
A transfer system is provided for a food product, comprising an accumulation cage to buffer product being delivered from a loader system; and a transfer mechanism to deliver a predetermined number of food product from the accumulation cage to a chute which itself delivers the predetermined number of food products to a receptacle. The loader system may run continuously to deliver product to the accumulator cage while the transfer mechanism delivers the predetermined number of food product to the chute.
A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.
B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.
B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
26.
DUAL HOPPER TUBULAR FOOD PRODUCT LAUNCHER AND METHOD WITH ROBOTIC PICK BELT
A tubular food product launching system and method for interacting with a product loading head is disclosed. The system includes a pick belt, positioned alongside product carrying intermediate belts. The pick belt supplies additional product to a product inspector or vision equipped robot cell to replace defective or missing product observed on the intermediate belt(s) with replacement product from the pick belt. The overall system speed, and pick belt speed, can be adjusted to accommodate varying product post-launcher fill-rates in accord with the nature of the product and the abilities and speed of the robot cell and/or product inspector, so as to reliably assure 100% final fill-rate as product is fed to the loading head.
B65B 19/34 - Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
B65B 35/08 - Separating single articles from loose masses of articles using pocketed conveyors
B65B 57/14 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
27.
Dual hopper tubular food product launcher and method with robotic pick belt
A tubular food product launching system and method for interacting with a product loading head is disclosed. The system includes a pick belt, positioned alongside product carrying intermediate belts. The pick belt supplies additional product to a product inspector or vision equipped robot cell to replace defective or missing product observed on the intermediate belt(s) with replacement product from the pick belt. The overall system speed, and pick belt speed, can be adjusted to accommodate varying product post-launcher fill-rates in accord with the nature of the product and the abilities and speed of the robot cell and/or product inspector, so as to reliably assure 100% final fill-rate as product is fed to the loading head.
B65G 47/256 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles removing incorrectly orientated articles
A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.
B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.
B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.
B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
A quick disconnect coupling including a first hub, a shaft fixedly connected to the first hub, the shaft being non-round in cross-section, and a second hub having a non-round recess extending therethrough, the non-round recess being sized to closely receive the shaft such that the second hub is capable of sliding along the shaft and is prevented from rotating about the shaft, wherein rotation of the first hub results in corresponding rotation of the second hub.
F16D 11/14 - Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts with clutching members movable only axially
F16D 3/64 - Yielding couplings, i.e. with means permitting movement between the connected parts during the drive with the coupling parts connected by one or more intermediate members comprising elastic elements arranged between substantially-radial walls of both coupling parts
A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.
B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
patents
