Patent US3846958A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3846958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for weighing and segregating sliced bacon from a slicing machine
Assignee: Cashin Systems Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-10
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1993-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A slicing machine includes a feeder for feeding a bacon belly into a continuously rotating slicing blade thereby forming slices of bacon which are deposited in shingled fashion on a continuously moving conveyor supported on a scale. When a prescribed weight of the shingled bacon is registered by the bacon weigher scale a signal is fed back to the feeder to momentarily stop the advance of the bacon belly and consequently the formation of bacon slices. This interruption segregates one shingled bacon group or draft from the next for subsequent processing and packaging. As a result of impact of slices deposited on the scale conveyor and the vibration thereof, the scale inevitably does not register the true weight of the draft. An interposed check weigher scale similarly supports a conveyor which receives each draft of shingled bacon slices initially weighed by the bacon weigher scale. The weight of this draft is registered by the check weigher scale free of any impact or vibration. This weight represents the true weight of the draft of shingled bacon slices. Should the weight of this draft be below or above the prescribed weight, a signal is fed back to a servo motor which automatically changes the set point for the bacon weigher scale. The change in set point of this scale causes the next bacon draft to be heavy or light depending on the direction of error of the previous draft weighed by the check weigher scale. If the check weigher scale registers a draft that is light, the bacon weigher scale will momentarily stop the advance of the feeder when a draft heavier than the prescribed weight is registered and by an excess amount proportional to the error of the previous draft registered by the check weigher scale. If the previous draft was heavier than the prescribed weight, the setting of the bacon weigher scale will be adjusted in a direction such that the bacon weigher will be actuated to feed back a signal when less than the prescribed weight is registered and by a lesser amount proportional to the excess weight of the previous draft. The check weigher scale also generates a signal for a reject conveyor which receives the draft of sliced bacon transferred by the check weigher conveyor. If the weight of the draft is outside of the prescribed weight tolerance, it is rejected by diverting it to another location in order that an attendant may make the proper weight of that draft. Drafts within the prescribed weight tolerance are accepted and transferred to the packaging station by a take away conveyor. An automatic cardboard dispenser is interposed between the reject conveyor and the check weigher conveyor for placing each weighed draft on a card.
Inventors
- 👤 W Divan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:32
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D5/00; B26D5/20; B26D5/30; B26D5/34; B26D7/00; B26D7/27; B26D7/30; B26D2210/00; B26D2210/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/182; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2033; Y10T83/2037; Y10T83/2044; Y10T83/525; Y10T83/536
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
316 words
The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing blade and feeding mechanism for feeding products to be sliced into the blade, of apparatus for weighing the slice products coming from the machine and separating them into segregated weighed quantities comprising: receiving and conveying means for receiving the sliced products from the slicing machine; control means operatively connected to said feeding mechanism for interrupting the operation of the feeding mechanism for a sufficient period of time for the receiving and conveying means to operate to convey the sliced products away; weighing means operatively connected to the receiving and conveying means for causing the operation of the control means when a predetermined weight of sliced product has been discharged onto the receiving and conveying means to interrupt the operation of the feeding mechanism; said control means including means automatically initiating the operation of the feeding mechanism after it has been interrupted for a sufficient period of time for the predetermined weight of the sliced products to be conveyed away; a second receiving and conveying means for receiving the segregated, predetermined quantity of sliced products from the first receiving and conveying means; second control means for adjusting the setting of the first weighing means; and second weighing means operatively connected to the second receiving and conveying means for causing the operation of the second control means when a predetermined quantity of the sliced products has been weighed by the second receiving and conveying means, said second weighing means feeding back signals to the first weighing means corresponding to the weight of the predetermined quantity of the sliced products on the second receiving and conveying means over and below the prescribed weight to thereby automatically correct the weight of the predetermined quantity of the sliced products weighed on the first receiving and conveying means proportionately to the departure from the prescribed weight as registered by the second weighing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
316 words
The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing blade and feeding mechanism for feeding products to be sliced into the blade, of apparatus for weighing the slice products coming from the machine and separating them into segregated weighed quantities comprising: receiving and conveying means for receiving the sliced products from the slicing machine; control means operatively connected to said feeding mechanism for interrupting the operation of the feeding mechanism for a sufficient period of time for the receiving and conveying means to operate to convey the sliced products away; weighing means operatively connected to the receiving and conveying means for causing the operation of the control means when a predetermined weight of sliced product has been discharged onto the receiving and conveying means to interrupt the operation of the feeding mechanism; said control means including means automatically initiating the operation of the feeding mechanism after it has been interrupted for a sufficient period of time for the predetermined weight of the sliced products to be conveyed away; a second receiving and conveying means for receiving the segregated, predetermined quantity of sliced products from the first receiving and conveying means; second control means for adjusting the setting of the first weighing means; and second weighing means operatively connected to the second receiving and conveying means for causing the operation of the second control means when a predetermined quantity of the sliced products has been weighed by the second receiving and conveying means, said second weighing means feeding back signals to the first weighing means corresponding to the weight of the predetermined quantity of the sliced products on the second receiving and conveying means over and below the prescribed weight to thereby automatically correct the weight of the predetermined quantity of the sliced products weighed on the first receiving and conveying means proportionately to the departure from the prescribed weight as registered by the second weighing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the apparatus for arranging products coming from the slicing machine into segregated weighed quantities includes a reject means for rejecting the predetermined quantities of sliced product that are outside prescribed weight tolerances; and a means coupling the reject means with the second weighing means to cause the reject means to be actuated to reject a group of products following registration of this group as outside the prescribed weight tolerance means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein an automatic cardboard dispenser means is interposed between the trailing end of the second receiving and conveying means and reject means for cooperating in placing the group of slices on a card for subsequent packaging.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3, wherein means are provided for actuating the cardboard dispenser means upon detection of the group of slices by the second weighing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first receiving and conveyinG means operates at low speeds when receiving the slices from the blade and at a higher speed in transferring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
259 words
The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing blade and feed mechanism for feeding products to be sliced into the blade, apparatus for weighing the sliced products coming from the machine and separating them into segregated weighed quantities comprising: receiving and conveying means for receiving the sliced products from the slicing machine; control means operatively connected to said feeding means for interrupting the operation of the feeding mechanism for a predetermined period of time; weighing means operatively connected to the receiving and conveying means and causing the operation of the control means when the predetermined quantity of the sliced products has been discharged onto the slicing and conveying means to interrupt the operation of the feeding mechanism; said control means including means for automatically stopping the operation of the receiving and the conveying means during the interruption of the operation of the feeding mechanism; the control means being operatively connected to the weighing means for automatically actuating the weighing means to weigh the predetermined quantity of sliced products again during the stoppage of the receiving and conveying means, said control means feeding back signals in response to the second weight registered by the weighing means corresponding to the weight of the predetermined group of slices over or below the prescribed weight for the group to thereby automatically adjust the setting of the weighing means to stop the feeding mechanism when the weight of the next group is above or below the prescribed weight by an amount proportional to the departure of this previous group from the prescribed weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
259 words
The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing blade and feed mechanism for feeding products to be sliced into the blade, apparatus for weighing the sliced products coming from the machine and separating them into segregated weighed quantities comprising: receiving and conveying means for receiving the sliced products from the slicing machine; control means operatively connected to said feeding means for interrupting the operation of the feeding mechanism for a predetermined period of time; weighing means operatively connected to the receiving and conveying means and causing the operation of the control means when the predetermined quantity of the sliced products has been discharged onto the slicing and conveying means to interrupt the operation of the feeding mechanism; said control means including means for automatically stopping the operation of the receiving and the conveying means during the interruption of the operation of the feeding mechanism; the control means being operatively connected to the weighing means for automatically actuating the weighing means to weigh the predetermined quantity of sliced products again during the stoppage of the receiving and conveying means, said control means feeding back signals in response to the second weight registered by the weighing means corresponding to the weight of the predetermined group of slices over or below the prescribed weight for the group to thereby automatically adjust the setting of the weighing means to stop the feeding mechanism when the weight of the next group is above or below the prescribed weight by an amount proportional to the departure of this previous group from the prescribed weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
The invention in accordance with claim 6, wherein the apparatus for arranging products coming from the slicing machine into segregated weighed quantities includes a reject means for rejecting the predetermined quantities of sliced product that are outside prescribed weight tolerances; and a means coupling the reject means with the weighing means to cause the reject means to be actuated to reject a group of products following registration of this group as outside the prescribed weight tolerance by said weighing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention in accordance with claim 7, wherein an automatic cardboard dispenser is interposed between the receiving and conveying means and reject means for cooperating in placing the group of slices on a card for subsequent packaging.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention in accordance with claim 8, wherein means are provided for actuating the cardboard dispenser means upon detection of the group of slices by the second weighing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first receiving and conveying means operates at low speeds when receiving the slices from the blade and at a higher speed in transferring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
187 words
The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing blade and feeding mechanism for feeding the products to be sliced into the blade, apparatus for weighing the sliced products coming from the machine and separating them into segregated weighed quantities comprising; receiving and conveying means for receiving the sliced products; control means for interrupting the operation of the feeding mechanism and to increase and decrease the advance of the feeding mechanism and consequently increase and decrease the slice thickness; means for initially weighing and registering the weight of the group of sliced product and actuating the control means to interrupt the operation of the feeding mechanism, and means for registering the weight of this group a second time to actuate the control means to adjust slice thickness corresponding to the weight of the group over and below the prescribed weight for the group to thereby automatically adjust the setting of the weighing means to stop the feeding mechanism when the weight of the next group is above or below the prescribed weight by an amount proportional to the departure of this previous group from the prescribed weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
187 words
The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing blade and feeding mechanism for feeding the products to be sliced into the blade, apparatus for weighing the sliced products coming from the machine and separating them into segregated weighed quantities comprising; receiving and conveying means for receiving the sliced products; control means for interrupting the operation of the feeding mechanism and to increase and decrease the advance of the feeding mechanism and consequently increase and decrease the slice thickness; means for initially weighing and registering the weight of the group of sliced product and actuating the control means to interrupt the operation of the feeding mechanism, and means for registering the weight of this group a second time to actuate the control means to adjust slice thickness corresponding to the weight of the group over and below the prescribed weight for the group to thereby automatically adjust the setting of the weighing means to stop the feeding mechanism when the weight of the next group is above or below the prescribed weight by an amount proportional to the departure of this previous group from the prescribed weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein the apparatus for arranging products coming from the slicing machine into segregated weighed quantities includes a reject means for rejecting the predetermined quantities of sliced product that are underweight; and a means coupling the reject means with the second weighing means to cause the reject means to be actuated to reject a predetermined group of products following registration of an underweight of this stack by said second weighing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention in accordance with claim 12 wherein a cardboard dispenser is at the trailing end of the receiving and conveying means for cooperating in placing the group of slices on a card for subsequent packaging.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention in accordance with claim 13, wherein means are provided for actuating the cardboard dispenser means upon detection of the group of slices by the second weighing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention in accordance with claim 11, wherein the first receiving and conveying means operates at low speeds when receiving the slices from the blade and at a higher speed in transferring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |