US5114307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for stacking slices
Assignee: SCHEIBER INTERNATIONAL Inc
•
Filing: 1991-01-18
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Granted: 1992-05-19
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Expires: 2011-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A stacker is provided for stacking the slices from the forming, sealing and cutting machines into a plurality of stacks. The stacker includes a conveyor belt, which includes a plurality of apertures, onto which the slices of product are disposed. A vacuum system provides vacuum through the apertures to hold the slices on the belt. Apparatus are provided for moving the belt in order to advance the slices to the stacking locations. The vacuum is sufficient to hold the slices on the belt even when the slices are disposed on the bottom of the belt. A plurality of stacking locations are sequentially provided. Each of the stacking locations includes ejectors for providing positive air pressure at the leading edge of the slice as it is being moved on the belt. As the slice travels on the belt, the positive air pressure "peels" the slice off of the belt and the force of gravity causes the slice to fall into the predetermined stacking location.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent A. Meli
- 👤 Michael A. Matharani
- 👤 Ted A. Brzezinski
- 👤 David L. Shaft
- 👤 James L. Urmanski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:53
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/20; B65G21/2027; B65G21/2036; B65B; B65B63/00; B65B63/08; B65B9/00; B65B9/10; B65B9/12; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/525; B29; B29C; B29C66/00; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8145; B29C66/81457
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
An apparatus for stacking slices of a product in at least one stacking location, the apparatus comprising: a belt having a plurality of apertures, the belt being arranged such that at least part of the belt is disposed above the at least one stacking location; means for moving the belt such that the belt travels over the at least one stacking location, the bottom of the belt facing the at least one stacking location; vacuum means for providing vacuum through the apertures of the belt along a product-holding section of the belt, the vacuum being continuously provided during a stacking operation such that the slices of the product are maintained on the belt; a selectively engageable air ejector operatively connected to provide positive air pressure through the apertures in the belt at an air ejector location, the air ejector location being disposed downstream of the product-holding section of the belt at the beginning of the at least one stacking location, the air ejector being continuously operated during a stacking operation to provide positive air pressure to the apertures at the air ejector location simultaneously with the vacuum being provided through the apertures at the product-holding section of the belt such that the leading edge of a slice of product is urged off of the belt by the positive air pressure as the slice is moved past the apertures at the air ejector location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
233 words
An apparatus for stacking slices of a product in at least one stacking location, the apparatus comprising: a belt having a plurality of apertures, the belt being arranged such that at least part of the belt is disposed above the at least one stacking location; means for moving the belt such that the belt travels over the at least one stacking location, the bottom of the belt facing the at least one stacking location; vacuum means for providing vacuum through the apertures of the belt along a product-holding section of the belt, the vacuum being continuously provided during a stacking operation such that the slices of the product are maintained on the belt; a selectively engageable air ejector operatively connected to provide positive air pressure through the apertures in the belt at an air ejector location, the air ejector location being disposed downstream of the product-holding section of the belt at the beginning of the at least one stacking location, the air ejector being continuously operated during a stacking operation to provide positive air pressure to the apertures at the air ejector location simultaneously with the vacuum being provided through the apertures at the product-holding section of the belt such that the leading edge of a slice of product is urged off of the belt by the positive air pressure as the slice is moved past the apertures at the air ejector location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the belt comprises an endless belt and the means for moving the belt comprises means for advancing the belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the vacuum means provides vacuum through the apertures around the endless belt at least up to the location of the air ejector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plurality of sequentially disposed stacking locations including respective air ejectors for each stacking location and further comprising means for selectively engaging and disengaging the air ejector at each stacking location, and means for counting the number of slices deposited at each stacking location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plurality of sequentially disposed stacking locations including respective air ejectors for each stacking location and further comprising means for selectively engaging and disengaging the respective air ejector at each stacking location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising intermediate slice receiving means in the at least one stacking location for receiving the slices of a product at a location intermediate to the top and the bottom of the at least one stacking location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the intermediate slice receiving means comprises a plurality of retractable fingers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the intermediate slice receiving means comprises an elevator and means for lowering the elevator at rate sufficient to provide room for a subsequent slice and to lower the first slice of product stacked in the at least one stacking location to a predetermined elevation after the last slice of product is stacked in the at least one stacking location.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
250 words
An apparatus for stacking slices of a product in plurality of stacking locations, the apparatus comprising: a belt having a plurality of apertures, the belt being arranged such that at least part of the belt is disposed above the stacking locations; means for moving the belt such that the belt travels over each of the stacking locations, the bottom of the belt facing the stacking locations vacuum means for providing vacuum through the apertures of the belt along a product-holding section of the belt, the vacuum being continuously provided during a stacking operation such that the slices of the product are maintained on the belt; for each of the stacking locations, a selectively engageable air ejector operatively connected to provide positive air pressure through the apertures in the belt at an air ejector location, the air ejector location being disposed downstream of the product-holding section of the belt at the beginning of the respective stacking location, the air ejector at a respective stacking location being continuously operated during a stacking operation to provide positive air pressure to the apertures at the respective air ejector location simultaneously with the vacuum being provided through the apertures at the product-holding section of the belt such that the leading edge of a slice of product is urged off of the belt by the positive air pressure as the slice is moved past the apertures at the respective air ejector location; means for selectively engaging and disengaging the respective air ejector at each stacking location.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
250 words
An apparatus for stacking slices of a product in plurality of stacking locations, the apparatus comprising: a belt having a plurality of apertures, the belt being arranged such that at least part of the belt is disposed above the stacking locations; means for moving the belt such that the belt travels over each of the stacking locations, the bottom of the belt facing the stacking locations vacuum means for providing vacuum through the apertures of the belt along a product-holding section of the belt, the vacuum being continuously provided during a stacking operation such that the slices of the product are maintained on the belt; for each of the stacking locations, a selectively engageable air ejector operatively connected to provide positive air pressure through the apertures in the belt at an air ejector location, the air ejector location being disposed downstream of the product-holding section of the belt at the beginning of the respective stacking location, the air ejector at a respective stacking location being continuously operated during a stacking operation to provide positive air pressure to the apertures at the respective air ejector location simultaneously with the vacuum being provided through the apertures at the product-holding section of the belt such that the leading edge of a slice of product is urged off of the belt by the positive air pressure as the slice is moved past the apertures at the respective air ejector location; means for selectively engaging and disengaging the respective air ejector at each stacking location.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim g wherein the belt comprises an endless belt and the means for moving the belt comprises means for advancing the endless belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the vacuum means provides vacuum pressure through the apertures around the endless belt at least up to the location of the air ejector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising intermediate slice receiving means in each respective stacking location for receiving the slices of a product at a location intermediate to the top and the bottom of the stacking location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the intermediate slice receiving means comprises a plurality of retractable fingers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the intermediate slice receiving means comprises an elevator and means for lowering the elevator at rate sufficient to provide room for a subsequent slice and lower the first slice of product stacked in the stacking location to predetermined elevation after the last slice of product is stacked in the stacking location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for counting the number of slices deposited at each stacking location.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for stacking slices of a product in plurality of stacking locations, the apparatus comprising: a belt having a plurality of apertures, the belt being arranged such that at least part of the belt is disposed above the stacking locations; means for moving the belt such that the belt travels over each of the stacking locations, the bottom of the belt facing the stacking locations; vacuum means for providing vacuum through the apertures of the belt along a product-holding section of the belt, the vacuum being continuously provided during a stacking operation such that the slices of the product are maintained on the belt; for each of the stacking locations, a selectively engageable air ejector operatively connected to provide positive air pressure through the apertures in the belt at an air ejector location, the air ejector location being disposed downstream of the product-holding section of the belt at the beginning of the respective stacking location, the air ejector at a respective stacking location being continuously operated during as tacking operation to provide positive air pressure to the apertures at the respective air ejector location simultaneously with the vacuum being provided through the apertures at the product-holding section of the belt such that the leading edge of a slice of product is urged off of the belt by the positive air pressure as the slice is conveyed past the apertures at the respective air ejector location; means for selectively engaging and disengaging the air ejector at each stacking location; and means for counting the number of slices deposited at each stacking location.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for stacking slices of a product in plurality of stacking locations, the apparatus comprising: a belt having a plurality of apertures, the belt being arranged such that at least part of the belt is disposed above the stacking locations; means for moving the belt such that the belt travels over each of the stacking locations, the bottom of the belt facing the stacking locations; vacuum means for providing vacuum through the apertures of the belt along a product-holding section of the belt, the vacuum being continuously provided during a stacking operation such that the slices of the product are maintained on the belt; for each of the stacking locations, a selectively engageable air ejector operatively connected to provide positive air pressure through the apertures in the belt at an air ejector location, the air ejector location being disposed downstream of the product-holding section of the belt at the beginning of the respective stacking location, the air ejector at a respective stacking location being continuously operated during as tacking operation to provide positive air pressure to the apertures at the respective air ejector location simultaneously with the vacuum being provided through the apertures at the product-holding section of the belt such that the leading edge of a slice of product is urged off of the belt by the positive air pressure as the slice is conveyed past the apertures at the respective air ejector location; means for selectively engaging and disengaging the air ejector at each stacking location; and means for counting the number of slices deposited at each stacking location.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the belt comprises an endless belt and the means for moving the belt comprises means for advance the endless belt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the vacuum means provides vacuum through the apertures around the endless belt up to the location of the air ejector at the last stacking location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising intermediate slice receiving means in each respective stacking location for receiving the slices of a product at a location intermediate to the top and the bottom of the stacking location.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the intermediate slice receiving means comprises a plurality of retractable fingers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the intermediate slice receiving means comprises an elevator and means for lowering the elevator at rate sufficient provide room for a subsequent slice and to lower the first slice of product stacked in the respective stacking location to predetermined elevation after the last slice of product is stacked in the respective stacking location.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-19 | 1995-11-18 | 1996-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-19 | 1999-11-18 | 2000-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-19 | 2003-11-18 | 2004-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |