Patent US3810554A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3810554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Freezer unloading system for hamburger patties
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-09-08
•
Granted: 1974-05-14
•
Expires: 1992-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A freezer unloading system that accepts hamburger patties from a freezer discharge end or terminal in substantially semi-uniform rows of up to 12 patties across the terminal at a rate of 25,000 per hour which includes a means of a series of baffles or guides that orient the patties into single file rows. The rows are then discharged onto secondary conveyors which move the single file patties between a photoelectric light source and photo-receiver or other count sensor means which count each patty as it passes. The photoelectric cell works in conjunction with a count controller which is manually set for the desired number of patties to be stacked together on a discharge transition location. Immediately downstream of the photoelectric cell is a diverter gate which splits each secondary conveyor into two discharge lanes, which is accomplished automatically from one position to the other by an electric signal responsive to the count controller when a predetermined count is reached. The switching allows a predetermined number of patties to be collected at each discharge station, thereby allowing an operator to alternatively pick off stacks of patties for the packaging operation.
Inventors
- 👤 J Boncher
- 👤 E London
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/68; B65G47/71; B65B; B65B57/00; B65B57/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
352 words
A freezer unloading system for hamburger patties and the like, comprising: a table stand supported at opposite ends; a conveyor belt mounted on large diameter rollers and having the conveyor belt extending substantially the width of the table stand and covering a primary length of the table stand, said conveyor having a receiving station for accepting patties from a feeder discharge station in essentially semi-uniform rows; a series of baffles disposed and arranged to orient the patties from said semi-uniform rows into single file rows of patties; a further conveyor belt mounted on small diameter rollers and having the conveyor belt extending substantially beyond the width of said single file rows of patties received from said first-mentioned conveyor belt and extending essentially a secondary length of the table stand; said further conveyor belt having a higher linear velocity than that of said first-mentioned conveyor belt as a result of the diameter relation of said rollers; a photoelectric light source and receiver arrangement spanning each of said single file rows on said further conveyor; a count controller means responsive to said photoelectric light source and receiver arrangement for producing an output responsive to a predetermined count; a gate mounted intermediate each of the further conveyor belts for splitting the single file rows into two discharge lanes as activated by said count controller means as it reaches said predetermined count; a discharge station for stacking said patties of each of said discharge lanes into pick-off stacks of patties for a subsequent packaging operation; the further conveyor belt being arranged for a photobeam to pass therethrough from a photoelectric light source to a photoelectric receiver and thereby the photoelectric light beam is intercepted by the passage of the hamburger patty along said further conveyor belt; and a discharge transition station being provided for receiving and passing the hamburger patties, being constructed essentially of an inclined trough extending downwardly from the terminal end of the further conveyor belt; said gate being pivotally mounted along and between segments of the further conveyor belt, and such gates being driven mechanically by pivot means from said count controller means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
352 words
A freezer unloading system for hamburger patties and the like, comprising: a table stand supported at opposite ends; a conveyor belt mounted on large diameter rollers and having the conveyor belt extending substantially the width of the table stand and covering a primary length of the table stand, said conveyor having a receiving station for accepting patties from a feeder discharge station in essentially semi-uniform rows; a series of baffles disposed and arranged to orient the patties from said semi-uniform rows into single file rows of patties; a further conveyor belt mounted on small diameter rollers and having the conveyor belt extending substantially beyond the width of said single file rows of patties received from said first-mentioned conveyor belt and extending essentially a secondary length of the table stand; said further conveyor belt having a higher linear velocity than that of said first-mentioned conveyor belt as a result of the diameter relation of said rollers; a photoelectric light source and receiver arrangement spanning each of said single file rows on said further conveyor; a count controller means responsive to said photoelectric light source and receiver arrangement for producing an output responsive to a predetermined count; a gate mounted intermediate each of the further conveyor belts for splitting the single file rows into two discharge lanes as activated by said count controller means as it reaches said predetermined count; a discharge station for stacking said patties of each of said discharge lanes into pick-off stacks of patties for a subsequent packaging operation; the further conveyor belt being arranged for a photobeam to pass therethrough from a photoelectric light source to a photoelectric receiver and thereby the photoelectric light beam is intercepted by the passage of the hamburger patty along said further conveyor belt; and a discharge transition station being provided for receiving and passing the hamburger patties, being constructed essentially of an inclined trough extending downwardly from the terminal end of the further conveyor belt; said gate being pivotally mounted along and between segments of the further conveyor belt, and such gates being driven mechanically by pivot means from said count controller means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the primary conveyor belt and the secondary conveyor belt each are driven by separate electric motor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said electric motor means are susPended beneath the table stand for driving the terminal roller of each of said conveyor belts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2928520A
Cited
US3095960A
Cited
US3416640A
Cited
US3332530A
Cited
US3392853A
Cited
US3593624A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-13 | 1977-11-12 | 1978-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-13 | 1981-11-12 | 1982-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-13 | 1985-11-12 | 1986-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |