Apparatus for inserting sticklike objects into comestible articles

Claim 2

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles comprising: conveyor means for individually transporting said articles to a predetermined location; hopper means for containing a quantity of said sticklike objects; and reciprocating pickup and displacement means operatively coupled to said conveyor means for extracting one of said sticklike objects from said hopper means and displacing that object into piercing engagement with one of said articles carried by said conveyor means, said reciprocating means including as an operative component thereof, a means for sensing the absence of an article at said location and causing said one sticklike object to be retained by said reciprocating means for repeated reciprocal displacement to and from said location until an article carried by said conveyor means is engaged thereby.

Claim 3

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles as recited in claim 1 wherein said reciprocating means includes a shuttle means having means for clamping engaging said one sticklike object and preventing ejection therefrom until said one sticklike object is mated with said article.

Claim 4

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles as recited in claim 2 and including means for disengaging said one sticklike object from said shuttle means and discharging the mated sticklike object and article from said conveyor means.

Claim 5

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles as recited in claim 3 wherein said reciprocating means includes a guide means for guiding said one sticklike object as it is displaced to and from said predetermined location by said shuttle means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles as recited in claim 4 wherein said shuttle means and said guide means are caused to rotate about a common axis, said guide means being longitudinally fixed relative to said axis whereas said shuttle means is displaceable therealong.

Claim 7

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles as recited in claim 5 wherein said conveyor means includes a circular disc means having a plurality of generally U-shaped cutouts radially disposed about the periphery thereof for receiving said articles and carrying them to said predetermined location.

Claim 8

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles as recited in claim 6 wherein said axis intersects the plane of said disc at an angle so that said one sticklike object will be angularly thrust into said cutouts so as to pass through the approximate center of an article carried therein even though the size of said article may vary over a relatively wide range.

Claim 9

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles as recited in claim 1 wherein said hopper means includes a means for presenting a single one of said sticklike objects to said shuttle means each time it passes thereby and retaining that single one sticklike object should the previous object be retained in said shuttle means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles as recited in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means and said reciprocating means are driven by a common drive means.

Claim 11

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticklike objects into comestible articles as recited in claim 5 and further comprising a camming means disposed adjacent said axis, said shuttle means having a pin projecting therefrom which engages said camming means such that as said shuttle means is displaced along said axis, it is caused to rotate thereabout as said pin rides up said camming means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits, such as olives, onions, cherries or the like comprising: container means into which a large quantity of said fruits may be placed, said container means including conveyor means for individually conveying said fruits to a predetermined location within said container; hopper means for containing a quantity of toothpicks and individually presenting them one at a time for removal therefrom; and reciprocating shuttle means and guide means operatively coupled to said conveyor means for receiving one of said toothpicks from said hopper means and driving it into mating engagement with one of said fruits conveyed to said predetermined location, said shuttle means including as an operative component thereof, means for retaining said toothpick for repeated displacement into and out of said predetermined location until a fruit is matingly engaged thereby.

Claim 13

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits, such as olives, onions, cherries or the like comprising: container means into which a large quantity of said fruits may be placed, said container means including conveyor means for individually conveying said fruits to a predetermined location within said container; hopper means for containing a quantity of toothpicks and individually presenting them one at a time for removal therefrom; and reciprocating shuttle means and guide means operatively coupled to said conveyor means for receiving one of said toothpicks from said hopper means and driving it into mating engagement with one of said fruits conveyed to said predetermined location, said shuttle means including as an operative component thereof, means for retaining said toothpick for repeated displacement into and out of said predetermined location until a fruit is matingly engaged thereby.

Claim 14

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits as recited in claim 11 wherein said shuttle means and said guide means are caused to rotate about a common axis, said guide means being longitudinally fixed relative to said axis whereas said shuttle means is displaceable therealong.

Claim 15

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruit as recited in claim 12 wherein said shuttle means includes a means for clampingly engaging said toothpick and retaining it until it is mated with a fruit at said predetermined location.

Claim 16

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits as recited in claim 13 and including means for disengaging said toothpick from said shuttle means after it is mated with said fruit and discharging the mated toothpick and fruit from said container means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits as recited in claim 14 wherein said conveyor means includes a circular disc means having a plurality of pockets radially disposed about the periphery thereof for receiving said fruits and carrying them to said predetermined location.

Claim 18

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits as recited in claim 15 wherein said axis intersects the plane of said disc means at an angle so that said toothpicks will be angularly thrust into said pockets so as to pass through the approximate center of a fruit carried therein even though the sizes of said fruit may vary over a relatively wide range.

Claim 19

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits as recited in claim 11 wherein said hopper means includes A means for retaining a subsequent toothpick presented should the previous toothpick be retained in said shuttle means.

Claim 20

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits as recited in claim 11 wherein said conveyor means and said reciprocating means are mechanically driven by a common energy source.

Claim 21

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits as recited in claim 12 and further comprising a camming means disposed adjacent said axis, said shuttle means having a pin projecting therefrom which engages said camming means such that as said shuttle means is displaced along said axis, it is caused to rotate thereabout as said pin rides up said camming means.

Claim 22

Apparatus for automatically inserting toothpicks into bar fruits as recited in claim 19 wherein said shuttle means is driven along said axis by the application of a force to said pin in a direction generally parallel to said axis.