Conveying system and apparatus for feeding soft cake products

Claim 2

In a conveying system, apparatus for feeding elongated soft cake products into a packaging machine, a feed line comprising: means for accumulating said products in a first direction with the long axis of the products perpendicular to the conveying direction; means coupled to said accumulating means for turning-around said accumulated products from said first direction to a second direction in which the long axis of the products is in line with the conveying direction; means coupled to said turn-around means for orienting said products as received in a first position to a second position with the long axis still in said second direction; indexing means coupled to receive said oriented products for providIng predetermined spacing between individual ones of said oriented products; and means coupled to said indexing means for smoothly transferring and turning-in said product for wrapping.

Claim 3

In a conveying system, apparatus for feeding elongated soft cake products into a wrapping machine to provide a twin package, the apparatus including: means for feeding said products to a first feed line and a second feed line with said products positioned with their long axis perpendicular to the conveying direction; said first and second feed lines each comprising accumulator means including a plurality of groups of accumulator belts for accumulating and stacking said fed products side by side; turn-around conveyor means coupled to receive said accumulated and stacked products for turning said products from a first direction to a second direction in which the long axis of the products is in line with the conveying direction; turn-over conveyor means coupled to receive said turned products for orienting said products in another posi-tion in said second direction; indexing means coupled to said turn-over means for pro-viding a predetermined spacing between individual ones of said oriented products; and a smooth transfer conveyor and turn-in conveyor coupled to said indexing means for feeding said products into a feed line of the wrapping machine; and turn-in belt means mounted to and cooperating with said turn-in conveyor of said first and second feed lines to cause a pair of said products to be positioned so that they may be packaged as a unit.

Claim 4

In a conveying system, apparatus for feeding elongated soft cake products into a wrapping machine to provide a twin package, the apparatus including: means for feeding said products to a first feed line and a second feed line with said products positioned with their long axis perpendicular to the conveying direction; said first and second feed lines each comprising accumulator means including a plurality of groups of accumulator belts for accumulating and stacking said fed products side by side; turn-around conveyor means coupled to receive said accumulated and stacked products for turning said products from a first direction to a second direction in which the long axis of the products is in line with the conveying direction; turn-over conveyor means coupled to receive said turned products for orienting said products in another posi-tion in said second direction; indexing means coupled to said turn-over means for pro-viding a predetermined spacing between individual ones of said oriented products; and a smooth transfer conveyor and turn-in conveyor coupled to said indexing means for feeding said products into a feed line of the wrapping machine; and turn-in belt means mounted to and cooperating with said turn-in conveyor of said first and second feed lines to cause a pair of said products to be positioned so that they may be packaged as a unit.

Claim 5

A conveying system and apparatus for feeding elongated soft cake products into a wrapping machine comprising: an input conveyor carrying a multiplicity of said products in a first direction with the long axis of said products transverse to said conveying direction; accumulator means coupled to said input conveyor for accumulating said products in said first direction; a turn-around conveyor coupled to receive said accumulated products, including a turn-around wheel positioned to change the direction of said product from said first direction to a direction in which the long axis of said products is in line with said conveying direction; an indexing arrangement coupled to receive said turned-around products and to provide a predetermined spacing between each of the products; and transfer and turn-in means coupled to said indexing means for feeding said products into said wrapping machine.

Claim 6

A conveying system and apparatus for feeding elongated soft cake products into a wrapping machine comprising: an input conveyor carrying a multiplicity of said products in a first direction with the long axis of said products transverse to said conveying direction; accumulator means coupled to said input conveyor for accumulating said products in said first direction; a turn-around conveyor coupled to receive said accumulated products, including a turn-around wheel positioned to change the direction of said product from said first direction to a direction in which the long axis of said products is in line with said conveying direction; an indexing arrangement coupled to receive said turned-around products and to provide a predetermined spacing between each of the products; and transfer and turn-in means coupled to said indexing means for feeding said products into said wrapping machine.

Claim 7

Apparatus for conveying and feeding of elongated soft cake products into a packaging position including: a plurality of feed lines; means for feeding each of said lines with products in a first orientation and positioned so that the elongated axis is in a first direction relative to said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said feeding means for turning said products from said first direction to a second direction so that the elongated axis is in line with said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said turning means for turning-over said products from said first orientation to a second orientation and with the elongated axis in said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said turn-over means for providing a predetermined spacing between each of said products; and means coupled to said spacing means for merging first and sec-ond feed lines with a packaging feed line to convey said products into the packaging position.

Claim 8

Apparatus for conveying and feeding of elongated soft cake products into a packaging position including: a plurality of feed lines; means for feeding each of said lines with products in a first orientation and positioned so that the elongated axis is in a first direction relative to said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said feeding means for turning said products from said first direction to a second direction so that the elongated axis is in line with said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said turning means for turning-over said products from said first orientation to a second orientation and with the elongated axis in said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said turn-over means for providing a predetermined spacing between each of said products; and means coupled to said spacing means for merging first and sec-ond feed lines with a packaging feed line to convey said products into the packaging position.

Claim 9

A conveying system and apparatus for feeding soft cake products having an elongated shape into a packaging machine, a feed line comprising: means for accumulating said products with their long axis perpendicular to the conveying direction; means coupled to receive said accumulated products and to turn them so that their long axis is in the conveying direction; means coupled to said turning means for orient-ing said product from a first poSition to a second position in said long axis direction; indexing means coupled to said orienting means for providing predetermined spacing between individual ones of said products; and means coupled to said indexing means for coupling said product to said packaging machine.

Claim 10

A conveying system and apparatus for feeding soft cake products having an elongated shape into a packaging machine, a feed line comprising: means for accumulating said products with their long axis perpendicular to the conveying direction; means coupled to receive said accumulated products and to turn them so that their long axis is in the conveying direction; means coupled to said turning means for orient-ing said product from a first poSition to a second position in said long axis direction; indexing means coupled to said orienting means for providing predetermined spacing between individual ones of said products; and means coupled to said indexing means for coupling said product to said packaging machine.

Claim 11

In a conveying system, apparatus for feeding soft cake products into a wrapping machine to provide a twin package, said products having a generally elongated shape and contour sides and top and the appara-tus including: a first and second feed line for feeding the prod-ucts into the conveying system, said first and second feed lines carry a multiplicity of said products in a first direction with the long axis of the products perpendicular to the conveying direction; said first and second feed lines each comprising accumulator means coupled to receive said products for accumulating and stacking said products side by side in said first direction perpendicular to its long axis; turn-around conveyor means coupled to said accumulator means for turning said products from said first direction to a second direction with their long axis in line with the conveying direction; turn-over conveyor means coupled to receive said turned-around products and to orient said products in another position so that they are conveyed on their contour side and with their long axis in the conveying direction; means coupled to said turn-over means for providing a predetermined spacing between individual ones of said products; and a smooth transfer conveyor and turn-in conveyor coupled to said spacing means for feeding said products into a feed line of the wrapping machine; and turn-in belt means cooperating with said turn-in conveyor of said first and second feed lines to cause a pair of said products to be packaged as a unit.

Claim 12

In a conveying system, apparatus for feeding soft cake products into a wrapping machine to provide a twin package, said products having a generally elongated shape and contour sides and top and the appara-tus including: a first and second feed line for feeding the prod-ucts into the conveying system, said first and second feed lines carry a multiplicity of said products in a first direction with the long axis of the products perpendicular to the conveying direction; said first and second feed lines each comprising accumulator means coupled to receive said products for accumulating and stacking said products side by side in said first direction perpendicular to its long axis; turn-around conveyor means coupled to said accumulator means for turning said products from said first direction to a second direction with their long axis in line with the conveying direction; turn-over conveyor means coupled to receive said turned-around products and to orient said products in another position so that they are conveyed on their contour side and with their long axis in the conveying direction; means coupled to said turn-over means for providing a predetermined spacing between individual ones of said products; and a smooth transfer conveyor and turn-in conveyor coupled to said spacing means for feeding said products into a feed line of the wrapping machine; and turn-in belt means cooperating with said turn-in conveyor of said first and second feed lines to cause a pair of said products to be packaged as a unit.

Claim 13

A conveying system and apparatus for feeding elongated soft cake products into a wrapping machine comprising: an input conveyor carrying a multiplicity of said products in a first direction with the long axis of the products perpendicular to said conveying direction; accumulator means comprising a plurality of groups of accumulating belts coupled to said input conveyor for accumulating and stacking said products side by side with the long axis perpendicular to the conveying direction; a turn-around conveyor fed by said accumulator means including a turn-around wheel cooperating to change the direction of said products from said first direction to a second direction in which the long axis of the products is in line with said conveying direction; means coupled to receive said turned-around products and to provide a predetermined spacing between individual ones of said products; and transfer and turn-in means coupled to receive said spaced products and to feed said products into said wrapping machine.

Claim 14

A conveying system and apparatus for feeding elongated soft cake products into a wrapping machine comprising: an input conveyor carrying a multiplicity of said products in a first direction with the long axis of the products perpendicular to said conveying direction; accumulator means comprising a plurality of groups of accumulating belts coupled to said input conveyor for accumulating and stacking said products side by side with the long axis perpendicular to the conveying direction; a turn-around conveyor fed by said accumulator means including a turn-around wheel cooperating to change the direction of said products from said first direction to a second direction in which the long axis of the products is in line with said conveying direction; means coupled to receive said turned-around products and to provide a predetermined spacing between individual ones of said products; and transfer and turn-in means coupled to receive said spaced products and to feed said products into said wrapping machine.

Claim 15

Apparatus for conveying and feeding of elongated soft cake products having contour sides and top portions and a relatively flat bottom, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of feed lines; means for feeding each of said lines with products oriented with their long axis perpendicular to said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said feeding means for turning said products so that their long axis is in line with said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said turning means for turning-over said products so that they are conveyed on their contour sides and with their long axis in line with the conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said turn-over means for providing predetermined spacing between each of said turned-over products; and means coupled to said spacing means for merging first and second feed lines and to convey said products into a packaging position.

Claim 16

Apparatus for conveying and feeding of elongated soft cake products having contour sides and top portions and a relatively flat bottom, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of feed lines; means for feeding each of said lines with products oriented with their long axis perpendicular to said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said feeding means for turning said products so that their long axis is in line with said conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said turning means for turning-over said products so that they are conveyed on their contour sides and with their long axis in line with the conveying direction; means in each of said feed lines coupled to said turn-over means for providing predetermined spacing between each of said turned-over products; and means coupled to said spacing means for merging first and second feed lines and to convey said products into a packaging position.