Apparatus for conveying and closely gathering food

Claim 2

Apparatus for conveying and gathering articles comprising a first grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, and a pusher; a second grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, a pusher and a shuttle plate arranged substantially parallel to each other; a cross conveyor; a limit switch and a transmitter for providing instructions to transfer or convey from said shuttle plate or other waiting devices to said cross conveyor by means of cams driven by a driving device of said cross conveyor, said second grouping device being disposed in the neighborhood of an outlet end of said cross conveyor arranged to cross said grouping conveyors.

Claim 3

Article grouping apparatus which comprises a feeding conveyor conveying articles to deliver received articles to a grouping conveyor; a photo cell disposed at the delivery end of said feeding conveyor to generate a signal for counting the number of articles delivered and for intermittently driving said grouping conveyor through an electric relay; a grouping conveyor adjoining said feeding conveyor, having a driving device including a motor and clutch brake unit, an article counting device, a stopper at the delivery end of said conveyor, said conveyor being driven and stopped intermittently by a signal from said photo cell to group articles in a row apart from following articles being driven until the foremost article of a lined group reaches said stopper after grouping, a pusher moveable across said grouping conveyor for pushing off said grouped articles, a shuttle plate disposed at one lateral side of said grouping conveyor for receiving pushed off grouped articles; a cross-conveyor disposed below said grouping conveyor and said shuttle plate at right angles to said grouping conveyor, a driving device for said cross-conveyor, a proximity switch and a timing cam connected to said driving device to send signals at predetermined intervals according to its drive, and to convey grouped articles dropped from said shuttle plate in a line abreast with predetermined spacing or a multiple of predetermined spacing; said shuttle plate being disposed at one lateral side of said grouping conveyor, said grouped articles waiting on said shuttle plate until said signal from said proximity switch on said timing cam is sent, said shuttle plate being drawn rapidly in the direction of said cross-conveyor to drop said grouped articles on it onto said cross-conveyor by said signal to convey said grouped articles in a line abreast on said cross-conveyor with predetermined spacing or a multiple of predetermined spacing, said shuttle plate not being drawn when said signal is sent before said grouped articles are pushed off by said pusher.

Claim 4

Article grouping apparatus which comprises a feeding conveyor conveying articles to deliver received articles to a grouping conveyor; a photo cell disposed at the delivery end of said feeding conveyor to generate a signal for counting the number of articles delivered and for intermittently driving said grouping conveyor through an electric relay; a grouping conveyor adjoining said feeding conveyor, having a driving device including a motor and clutch brake unit, an article counting device, a stopper at the delivery end of said conveyor, said conveyor being driven and stopped intermittently by a signal from said photo cell to group articles in a row apart from following articles being driven until the foremost article of a lined group reaches said stopper after grouping, a pusher moveable across said grouping conveyor for pushing off said grouped articles, a shuttle plate disposed at one lateral side of said grouping conveyor for receiving pushed off grouped articles; a cross-conveyor disposed below said grouping conveyor and said shuttle plate at right angles to said grouping conveyor, a driving device for said cross-conveyor, a proximity switch and a timing cam connected to said driving device to send signals at predetermined intervals according to its drive, and to convey grouped articles dropped from said shuttle plate in a line abreast with predetermined spacing or a multiple of predetermined spacing; said shuttle plate being disposed at one lateral side of said grouping conveyor, said grouped articles waiting on said shuttle plate until said signal from said proximity switch on said timing cam is sent, said shuttle plate being drawn rapidly in the direction of said cross-conveyor to drop said grouped articles on it onto said cross-conveyor by said signal to convey said grouped articles in a line abreast on said cross-conveyor with predetermined spacing or a multiple of predetermined spacing, said shuttle plate not being drawn when said signal is sent before said grouped articles are pushed off by said pusher.

Claim 5

Apparatus for conveying and grouping articles comprising two or more grouping devices for grouping articles in a row and arranged parallel to each other, including respectively a feeding conveyor for conveying articles to deliver received articles to a grouping conveyor, a photo cell disposed at the delivery end of said feeding conveyor to generate a signal for counting the number of articles delivered and for intermittently driving said grouping conveyor through an electric relay, at least one grouping conveyor adjoining said feeding conveyor, having a driving device including a motor and clutch brake unit, an article counting device, a stopper at the delivery end of said conveyor, said conveyor being driven and stopped intermittently by a signal from said photo cell to group articles in a row apart from following articles being driven until the foremost article of a lined group reaches said stopper after grouping a predetermined number of articles and is stopped, a pusher moveable across said grouping conveyor for pushing off said grouped articles to one lateral side of said grouping conveyor; a cross-conveyor disposed at right angles to said grouping conveyors and below said grouping conveyors or on a same level with said grouping conveyor, having proximity switches and timing cam in its driving device to send signals to each said grouping device at predetermined intervals respectively, and to convey said grouped articles transferred from each said grouping devices in a line abreast with predetermined spacing or a multiple of predetermined spacing; shuttle plates disposed at one lateral side of each said grouping conveyors except said grouping conveyor arranged above said cross-conveyor at the feed end of said cross-conveyor, for receiving said grouped articles pushed off by said pusher, on which said grouped articles wait until said signal is sent, said shuttle plates being drawn rapidly in the direction of said cross-conveyor to drop said grouped articles on it onto said cross-conveyor by said signal to convey said grouped articles in a line abreast on said cross-conveyor with predetermined spacing or multiple of predetermined spacing, said shuttle plates not being drawn when said signal is sent before said grouped articles are pushed off by said pusher; stopper mounted on said cross conveyor near its feed end to stop said grouped articles pushed off by said pusher from said grouping conveyor and conveyed in a line abreast on said cross conveyor, at the back side of which cross conveyor said grouped articles wait until said signal sent and released by said signal to convey in a line abreast with predetermined spacing or a multiple of predetermined spacing, which does not open when said signal is sent before said grouped articles reach the back side of the cross conveyor, final grouping means arranged at near delivery end of said cross conveyor to group in plural lines abreast said grouped articles conveyed in a line abreast on said cross conveyor for making a final formed group ready for loading in a tray.

Claim 6

Apparatus for conveying and grouping articles comprising two or more grouping devices for grouping articles in a row and arranged parallel to each other, including respectively a feeding conveyor for conveying articles to deliver received articles to a grouping conveyor, a photo cell disposed at the delivery end of said feeding conveyor to generate a signal for counting the number of articles delivered and for intermittently driving said grouping conveyor through an electric relay, at least one grouping conveyor adjoining said feeding conveyor, having a driving device including a motor and clutch brake unit, an article counting device, a stopper at the delivery end of said conveyor, said conveyor being driven and stopped intermittently by a signal from said photo cell to group articles in a row apart from following articles being driven until the foremost article of a lined group reaches said stopper after grouping a predetermined number of articles and is stopped, a pusher moveable across said grouping conveyor for pushing off said grouped articles to one lateral side of said grouping conveyor; a cross-conveyor disposed at right angles to said grouping conveyors and below said grouping conveyors or on a same level with said grouping conveyor, having proximity switches and timing cam in its driving device to send signals to each said grouping device at predetermined intervals respectively, and to convey said grouped articles transferred from each said grouping devices in a line abreast with predetermined spacing or a multiple of predetermined spacing; shuttle plates disposed at one lateral side of each said grouping conveyors except said grouping conveyor arranged above said cross-conveyor at the feed end of said cross-conveyor, for receiving said grouped articles pushed off by said pusher, on which said grouped articles wait until said signal is sent, said shuttle plates being drawn rapidly in the direction of said cross-conveyor to drop said grouped articles on it onto said cross-conveyor by said signal to convey said grouped articles in a line abreast on said cross-conveyor with predetermined spacing or multiple of predetermined spacing, said shuttle plates not being drawn when said signal is sent before said grouped articles are pushed off by said pusher; stopper mounted on said cross conveyor near its feed end to stop said grouped articles pushed off by said pusher from said grouping conveyor and conveyed in a line abreast on said cross conveyor, at the back side of which cross conveyor said grouped articles wait until said signal sent and released by said signal to convey in a line abreast with predetermined spacing or a multiple of predetermined spacing, which does not open when said signal is sent before said grouped articles reach the back side of the cross conveyor, final grouping means arranged at near delivery end of said cross conveyor to group in plural lines abreast said grouped articles conveyed in a line abreast on said cross conveyor for making a final formed group ready for loading in a tray.

Claim 7

Apparatus for conveying and grouping articles comprising a first grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, and a pusher; a second grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, a pusher and a shuttle plate arranged substantially parallel to each other; a cross conveyor, said second grouping device being disposed in the neighborhood of an outlet end of said cross conveyor arranged to cross said grouping conveyors; a loader arranged at the delivery end of said cross conveyor, which loader has a loading conveyor for receiving said finally formed group of articles to be loaded onto a tray, said loader having means for vertical movement of the delivery end of said loading conveyor; a photo cell at near its delivery end to recognize said group of articles conveyed and to start the loading cycle; a conveyor beneath said loading conveyor for conveying the tray to be loaded with said group of articles with nearly the same speed as said loading conveyor, and two stoppers for conveying said tray one after another.

Claim 8

Apparatus for conveying and grouping articles comprising a first grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, and a pusher; a second grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, a pusher and a shuttle plate arranged substantially parallel to each other; a cross conveyor, said second grouping device being disposed in the neighborhood of an outlet end of said cross conveyor arranged to cross said grouping conveyors; a loader arranged at the delivery end of said cross conveyor, which loader has a loading conveyor for receiving said finally formed group of articles to be loaded onto a tray, said loader having means for vertical movement of the delivery end of said loading conveyor; a photo cell at near its delivery end to recognize said group of articles conveyed and to start the loading cycle; a conveyor beneath said loading conveyor for conveying the tray to be loaded with said group of articles with nearly the same speed as said loading conveyor, and two stoppers for conveying said tray one after another.

Claim 9

Apparatus for conveying and grouping articles comprising two or more grouping devices for grouping articles in a row, arranged parallel to each other, including respectively a feeding conveyor for conveying articles to delivery received articles to a grouping conveyor, a photo cell disposed at the delivery end of said feeding conveyor to generate a signal for counting the number of articles and for intermittently driving said grouping conveyor through an electric relay, a grouping conveyor adjoining said feeding conveyor, having a driving device including a motor and clutch brake unit, an article counting device, a stopper at the delivery end of said grouping conveyor, said grouping conveyor being driven and stopped intermittently by signals from said photo cell to group articles in a row apart from following articles being driven until the foremost article of a lined group reaches said stopper after grouping a predetermined number of articles and then stopped; and a pusher moveable across said grouping conveyor for pushing off said grouped articles to one lateral side of said grouping conveyor; final grouping conveyors disposed at right angles to said grouping conveyors and each adjoining its feed end to one lateral side of said grouping conveyors respectively, said final grouping conveyors being driven and stopped intermittently whenever said pusher pushed off said grouped articles in a row to make a final group of articles in plural lines abreast ready for loading in a tray; waiting conveyors adjoining said final grouping conveyors respectively to receive said final group of articles therefrom and to make said final group of articles wait on the waiting conveyors until said final group of articles transfers to a cross conveyor at a predetermined spacing by an electric signal from a proximity switch and a timing cam in the driving device of said cross conveyor; a cross conveyor disposed at right angles to said grouping conveyors and beneath said grouping conveyors, said final grouping conveyors and said waiting conveyors, said cross conveyor adjoining its feed end to the delivery end of said waiting conveyor, said cross conveyor having proximity switches and a timing cam in its driving device to send said electric signals to each waiting conveyor to transfer on it at predetermined intervals respectively, and to convey said final group of articles with predetermined spacing or multiple of predetermined spacing.

Claim 10

Apparatus for conveying and grouping articles comprising two or more grouping devices for grouping articles in a row, arranged parallel to each other, including respectively a feeding conveyor for conveying articles to delivery received articles to a grouping conveyor, a photo cell disposed at the delivery end of said feeding conveyor to generate a signal for counting the number of articles and for intermittently driving said grouping conveyor through an electric relay, a grouping conveyor adjoining said feeding conveyor, having a driving device including a motor and clutch brake unit, an article counting device, a stopper at the delivery end of said grouping conveyor, said grouping conveyor being driven and stopped intermittently by signals from said photo cell to group articles in a row apart from following articles being driven until the foremost article of a lined group reaches said stopper after grouping a predetermined number of articles and then stopped; and a pusher moveable across said grouping conveyor for pushing off said grouped articles to one lateral side of said grouping conveyor; final grouping conveyors disposed at right angles to said grouping conveyors and each adjoining its feed end to one lateral side of said grouping conveyors respectively, said final grouping conveyors being driven and stopped intermittently whenever said pusher pushed off said grouped articles in a row to make a final group of articles in plural lines abreast ready for loading in a tray; waiting conveyors adjoining said final grouping conveyors respectively to receive said final group of articles therefrom and to make said final group of articles wait on the waiting conveyors until said final group of articles transfers to a cross conveyor at a predetermined spacing by an electric signal from a proximity switch and a timing cam in the driving device of said cross conveyor; a cross conveyor disposed at right angles to said grouping conveyors and beneath said grouping conveyors, said final grouping conveyors and said waiting conveyors, said cross conveyor adjoining its feed end to the delivery end of said waiting conveyor, said cross conveyor having proximity switches and a timing cam in its driving device to send said electric signals to each waiting conveyor to transfer on it at predetermined intervals respectively, and to convey said final group of articles with predetermined spacing or multiple of predetermined spacing.

Claim 11

Apparatus for conveying and gathering articles comprising a first grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, a pusher; a second grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, a pusher and a shuttle plate arranged substantially parallel to each other; a cross conveyor, said second grouping device being disposed in the neighborhood of the outlet end of said cross conveyor arranged to cross said grouping conveyors; a transmitter for providing instructions to transfer or conveyance from said shuttle plate or other waiting devices to said cross conveyor by means of cams driven by a driving device of said cross conveyor; limit switches; a loader arranged at the delivery end of said cross conveyor, which loader has a loading conveyor for receiving said finally formed group of articles to be loaded in a tray, said loader having means for vertical movement of the delivery end of said loading conveyor; a detector at near the loader's delivery end to recognize said group of articles conveyed and to start the loading cycle; a conveyor beneath said loading conveyor for conveying the tray to be loaded with said group of articles with nearly the same speed as said loading conveyor; and two stoppers for conveying said tray one after another.

Claim 12

Apparatus for conveying and gathering articles comprising a first grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, a pusher; a second grouping device including a feeding conveyor, a detector, a grouping conveyor, a pusher and a shuttle plate arranged substantially parallel to each other; a cross conveyor, said second grouping device being disposed in the neighborhood of the outlet end of said cross conveyor arranged to cross said grouping conveyors; a transmitter for providing instructions to transfer or conveyance from said shuttle plate or other waiting devices to said cross conveyor by means of cams driven by a driving device of said cross conveyor; limit switches; a loader arranged at the delivery end of said cross conveyor, which loader has a loading conveyor for receiving said finally formed group of articles to be loaded in a tray, said loader having means for vertical movement of the delivery end of said loading conveyor; a detector at near the loader's delivery end to recognize said group of articles conveyed and to start the loading cycle; a conveyor beneath said loading conveyor for conveying the tray to be loaded with said group of articles with nearly the same speed as said loading conveyor; and two stoppers for conveying said tray one after another.