초록 ▼

Problems in counting and stacking fried food products such as tostadas are solved by an improved counter/stacker device in which tortilla food products ride a first moving belt through a photoelectric counting station. After being counted the product drops into a stack retainer shaped to hold the pr

Problems in counting and stacking fried food products such as tostadas are solved by an improved counter/stacker device in which tortilla food products ride a first moving belt through a photoelectric counting station. After being counted the product drops into a stack retainer shaped to hold the product. A series of stack retainers are arranged along the length of a flexible, intermittently moving, continuous belt. When the counting station signals that the required number of product have been counted and deposited into a stack, the flexible belt bearing the stack retainer is rapidly advanced to bring an empty stack retainer into position beneath the counting station. The stack retainers ensure that the product stacks do not shift and are stationary for a period of time, thereby facilitating manual or automatic packaging of the product.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A counter stacker apparatus for use in the production of food products, the apparatus comprising:counting means for counting each unit of food product as the unit is transported within operational distance of the counting means;first conveyor means for transporting each u

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A counter stacker apparatus for use in the production of food products, the apparatus comprising:counting means for counting each unit of food product as the unit is transported within operational distance of the counting means;first conveyor means for transporting each unit of food product within operational distance of the counting means;a plurality of stack retaining means for holding and stacking the units of food product after said units are counted by the counting means when a stack retaining means is disposed in effective relationship with an end of the first conveyor means;second conveyor means for supporting the plurality of stack retaining means in a spaced relationship thereabout; andmotor means for intermittently moving the second conveyor means to bring successive ones of the plurality of stack retaining means sequentially into effective relationship with the end of the first conveyor means.