Shingling apparatus for food items

Claim 2

Apparatus for shingling stackable food items in spaced successive groups of a predetermined plurality of items in each group, comprising: feed means for supplying said items in at least one row; a light permeable transfer conveyor arranged to receive said items from said feed means and space the items apart a distance greater than the corresponding spacing of said items on said feed means; a shingling conveyor adjacent to said transfer conveyor receiving said items therefrom; first speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed less than said transfer conveyor as an aid in assembling said items in groups in which successive items in each group have overlapped edges; second speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed greater than said transfer conveyor at the conclusion of the assembling of each group to separate from each other successive said groups; and a photoelectric switch means for projecting a light beam through said conveyor, said light beam being interrupted by said items for operating said second speed control means at said conclusion of a preselected number of interruptions equivalent to a said group.

Claim 3

Apparatus for shingling stackable food items in spaced successive groups of a predetermined plurality of items in each group, comprising: feed means for supplying said items in at least one row; a light permeable transfer conveyor arranged to receive said items from said feed means and space the items apart a distance greater than the corresponding spacing of said items on said feed means; a shingling conveyor adjacent to said transfer conveyor receiving said items therefrom; first speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed less than said transfer conveyor as an aid in assembling said items in groups in which successive items in each group have overlapped edges; second speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed greater than said transfer conveyor at the conclusion of the assembling of each group to separate from each other successive said groups; and a photoelectric switch means for projecting a light beam through said conveyor, said light beam being interrupted by said items for operating said second speed control means at said conclusion of a preselected number of interruptions equivalent to a said group.

Claim 4

Apparatus for shingling stackable food items in spaced successive groups of a predetermined plurality of items in each group, comprising: feed means for supplying said items in at least one row; a light permeable transfer conveyor arranged to receive said items from said feed means and space the items apart a distance greater than the corresponding spacing of said items on said feed means; a shingling conveyor adjacent to said transfer conveyor receiving said items therefrom; first speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed less than said transfer conveyor as an aid in assembling said items in groups in which successive items in each group have overlapped edges; second speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed greater than said transfer conveyor at the conclusion of the assembling of each group to separate from each other successive said groups; and a photoelectric switch means for projecting a light beam through said conveyor, said light beam being interrupted by said items for operating said second speed control means at said conclusion of a preselected number of interruptions equivalent to a said group.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transfer conveyor has an exit end arranged above the entrance end of said shingling conveyor; and there are provided means for operating said transfer conveyor at a speed to project said items therefrom and stop means spaced above said shingling conveyor for intercepting the projected items to permit them to drop on said shingling conveyor.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein both said first and second speed control means are operatively connected to a differential transmission means selectively driven by each of said speed control means and drivingly connected to said shingling conveyor, said first speed control means being operatively connected directly to said differential transmission and said second speed control means being operatively connected to said differential transmission through a clutch and brake means for selectively operating said differential transmission and thus said shingling conveyor.

Claim 7

Apparatus for shingling stackable food items in spaced successive groups of a predetermined plurality of items in each group, comprising: feed means for supplying said items in at least one row; a transfer conveyor arranged to receive said items from said feed means and space the items apart a distance greater than the corresponding spacing of said items on said feed means; a shingling conveyor adjacent to said transfer conveyor receiving said items therefrom, said transfer conveyor having an exit end and the shingling conveyor having an entrance end, said exit end of said transfer conveyor being arranged above said entrance end of said shingling conveyor; means for operating said transfer conveyor at a speed to project said items therefrom; stop means spaced above said shingling conveyor for intercepting the projected items to permit them to drop on said shingling conveyor; first speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed less than said transfer conveyor as an aid in assembling said items in groups in which successive items in each group have overlapped edges; and second speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed greater than said transfer conveyor at the conclusion of the assembling of each group to separate from each other successive said groups.

Claim 8

Apparatus for shingling stackable food items in spaced successive groups of a predetermined plurality of items in each group, comprising: feed means for supplying said items in at least one row; a transfer conveyor arranged to receive said items from said feed means and space the items apart a distance greater than the corresponding spacing of said items on said feed means; a shingling conveyor adjacent to said transfer conveyor receiving said items therefrom, said transfer conveyor having an exit end and the shingling conveyor having an entrance end, said exit end of said transfer conveyor being arranged above said entrance end of said shingling conveyor; means for operating said transfer conveyor at a speed to project said items therefrom; stop means spaced above said shingling conveyor for intercepting the projected items to permit them to drop on said shingling conveyor; first speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed less than said transfer conveyor as an aid in assembling said items in groups in which successive items in each group have overlapped edges; and second speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed greater than said transfer conveyor at the conclusion of the assembling of each group to separate from each other successive said groups.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein both said first and second speed control means are operatively connected to a differential transmission means selectively driven by each of said speed control means and drivingly connected to said shingling conveyor, said first speed control means being operatively connected directly to said differential transmission and said second speed control means being operatively connected to said differential transmission through a clutch and brake means for selectively operating said differential transmission and thus said shingling conveyor.

Claim 10

Apparatus for shingling stackable food items in spaced succesive groups of a predetermined plurality of items in each group, comprising: feed means for supplying said items in at least one row; a transfer conveyor arranged to receive said items from said feed means and space the items apart a distance greater than the corresponding spacing of said items on said feed means; a shingling conveyor adjacent to said transfer conveyor receiving said items therefrom; first speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed less than said transfer conveyor as an aid in assembling said items in groups in which successive items in each group have overlapped edges; and second speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed greater than said transfer conveyor at the conclusion of the assembling of each group to separate from each other successive said groups, both said first and second speed control means being operatively connected to a differential transmission means selectively driven by each of said speed control means and drivingly connected to said shingling conveyor, said first speed control means being operatively connected to said differential transmission and said second speed control means being operatively connected to said differential transmission through a clutch and brake means for selectively operating said differential transmission and thus said shingling conveyor.

Claim 11

Apparatus for shingling stackable food items in spaced succesive groups of a predetermined plurality of items in each group, comprising: feed means for supplying said items in at least one row; a transfer conveyor arranged to receive said items from said feed means and space the items apart a distance greater than the corresponding spacing of said items on said feed means; a shingling conveyor adjacent to said transfer conveyor receiving said items therefrom; first speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed less than said transfer conveyor as an aid in assembling said items in groups in which successive items in each group have overlapped edges; and second speed control means for periodically operating said shingling conveyor at a speed greater than said transfer conveyor at the conclusion of the assembling of each group to separate from each other successive said groups, both said first and second speed control means being operatively connected to a differential transmission means selectively driven by each of said speed control means and drivingly connected to said shingling conveyor, said first speed control means being operatively connected to said differential transmission and said second speed control means being operatively connected to said differential transmission through a clutch and brake means for selectively operating said differential transmission and thus said shingling conveyor.