Patent US3848757A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3848757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sorting and stacking of food slices
Assignee: Lever Brothers Co
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Filing: 1973-09-18
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-09-18
Abstract
Abstract Slices of flexible material such as cheese are formed into stacks by use of a special form of conveyor. The conveyor uses vacuum and a release mechanism to form particularly accurate stacks, and can also sort the slices by weight and form interleaved or overlapping stacks or combine material emanating from different sources.
Inventors
- 👤 I Jordan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:39
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/50; B65B35/10; B65B35/28; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/20; B65G21/2027; B65G21/2036; B65H; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/20; B65H2408/21; B65H2408/215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of forming stacks of flexible food slices comprising feeding a series of flexible food slices in turn to the underside of a moving air permeable conveyor, attaching each slice in turn to the underside of the conveyor by vacuum, conveying each attached slice to a position over a stacking support, stopping said conveyor with said slice at said position, releasing the vacuum and forcibly releasing said slice to allow it to fall from the conveyor and form a stack on said stacking support, and when the stack contains the desired number of slices the said stacking support then being moved downwardly and outwardly from under the stack to allow said stack to fall on a moving conveyor for conveyance away.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of forming stacks of flexible food slices comprising feeding a series of flexible food slices in turn to the underside of a moving air permeable conveyor, attaching each slice in turn to the underside of the conveyor by vacuum, conveying each attached slice to a position over a stacking support, stopping said conveyor with said slice at said position, releasing the vacuum and forcibly releasing said slice to allow it to fall from the conveyor and form a stack on said stacking support, and when the stack contains the desired number of slices the said stacking support then being moved downwardly and outwardly from under the stack to allow said stack to fall on a moving conveyor for conveyance away.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 in which sheets of paper are interleaved between each of the slices as they fall from the conveyor to form said stack on the stacking support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the stacking support is shifted in alternating directions from under said conveyor during formation of the stack so that the stack is formed with a staggered configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 in which one stacking support is shifted between at least two air permeable conveyors to receive slices at different times from each of the conveyors and form a stack of slices emanating from different sources.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3476241A
Cited
US3627127A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |