초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for stacking and loading disc-like objects into receptacles is provided. The apparatus includes a lane combining conveyor which receives multiple lanes of product and combines one or more of the outer lanes into the remaining lanes. A stack former is provided for forming indi

An apparatus and method for stacking and loading disc-like objects into receptacles is provided. The apparatus includes a lane combining conveyor which receives multiple lanes of product and combines one or more of the outer lanes into the remaining lanes. A stack former is provided for forming individual stacks of patties which are side supported onto rails. The rails can be pivoted down to divert patties for clearing jams. After the product is formed on the stack formers, a stack transfer mechanism transfers the stacks of products formed on the stack forming rails to the matrix former. Matrix former receives individual rows of multiple stacks from the stack transfer mechanism. A stripper mechanism is used to ensure that the stacks are not scrambled during this transfer. Once the matrix former is filled with product, a case rollover mechanism is rotated to the matrix former. Both the case and the matrix former are rotated back together to bring the case to the upright position and transfer the stacks into the case. The matrix former is then removed from the case with a vertical motion and rolled back into position to receive stacks from the stack transfer mechanism.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A timing mechanism in combination with a conveyor of disk like objects and an accumulator of the disk-like objects, wherein the accumulator is at an elevation below that of the conveyor so that disk-like objects being conveyed by the conveyor are dropped by the conveyor into the accumulator, said

1. A timing mechanism in combination with a conveyor of disk like objects and an accumulator of the disk-like objects, wherein the accumulator is at an elevation below that of the conveyor so that disk-like objects being conveyed by the conveyor are dropped by the conveyor into the accumulator, said timing mechanism being operably associated with said conveyor and being adapted to provide a predetermined spacing between front edges of successive ones of the disk-like objects along the conveyor, wherein said timing mechanism comprises a body rotatable about an axis extending substantially transverse to a conveying direction of the conveyor; and a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted on the rotatable body and rotatable therewith, each of said fingers pivotable away from the rotatable body for engaging the disk-like objects and spacing successive disk-like objects a predetermined distance along said conveyor.