초록 ▼

A method is provided for loading stacked food product into packages. Open top containers are arranged in rows and movable into a loading station. A shuttle conveyor has a retractable and extendable conveying surface, the conveying surface having an end region extendable to a position arranged above

A method is provided for loading stacked food product into packages. Open top containers are arranged in rows and movable into a loading station. A shuttle conveyor has a retractable and extendable conveying surface, the conveying surface having an end region extendable to a position arranged above the containers of a row of the containers. A guiding and pushing apparatus is arranged above the row and includes guides that are lowered to capture a row of stacked food products on the conveying surface, and plungers within the guides that lower and press a top of the stacks. When the conveying surface is retracted from beneath the guides and the row of containers, the guides are lowered further, adjacent to the containers, and the plungers are lowered with respect to the guides to push the stacks into the containers.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of loading food products into packaging, comprising the steps of: providing a food product on a support surface; engaging said food product with a guiding device that does not come in contact with the bottom surface of the food product; removing said support su

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of loading food products into packaging, comprising the steps of: providing a food product on a support surface; engaging said food product with a guiding device that does not come in contact with the bottom surface of the food product; removing said support surface from beneath said food product; lowering said food product with said guiding device to a position above said packaging without any intervening vertical support; releasing said food product from said guiding device into said packaging. 2. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 1, wherein the step of lowering is further synchronized to lower food product from said support surface into the packaging. 3. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 1, wherein the providing step comprises: moving the food product along said support surface to a lead position on said surface, wherein said support surface is a conveyor. 4. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 1, wherein the engaging step comprises gripping the sides of said food product at said lead position with said guiding device; and wherein the removing step comprises horizontally retracting said support surface. 5. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 1, wherein the engaging step comprises gripping the sides of said food product with said guiding device. 6. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 5, wherein the engaging step comprises gripping the entire surface of the sides of said food product with said guiding device. 7. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 1, wherein the removing step comprises horizontally retracting said support surface. 8. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 1, wherein the releasing step comprises: pushing the food products downwardly with a plunger to expel the food products from the guiding device into the packaging. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the steps of lowering, releasing and pushing are synchronized to push food product from said conveying surface end region into the packaging directly without any intervening vertical support of the food product. 10. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 8, wherein the releasing step comprises: separating said food products from said plunger at an end of plunger travel by striking a guide plate with a shock absorber operatively connected to said plunger. 11. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 1, wherein the lowering step comprises: providing said packaging removably within a frame below said guiding device and lowering the food product and guiding device into a receiving area of said frame. 12. A method of loading food products into packaging, comprising the steps of: moving the food product along a conveying support surface to a lead position on said surface; providing said packaging below said lead position of said support surface; gripping the food product at said lead position with a guiding device that does not come in contact with the bottom surface of the food product; horizontally retracting said support surface from beneath said food product; lowering said food product with said guiding device to a position above said packaging; releasing said food product from said guiding device; and pushing the food product downwardly with a plunger to expel the food product from said guiding device into the packaging. 13. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 12, wherein the releasing step comprises: separating said food products from said plunger at an end of plunger travel by striking a guide plate with a shock absorber operatively connected to said plunger. 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the steps of lowering, releasing, and pushing are synchronized to push the food product from said conveying surface end region into the packaging directly without any intervening vertical support of the food product. 15. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 12, which further comprises the steps of: retracting said plunger within said guiding device; raising said guiding device; returning said support surface to a position above the packaging immediately after said raising of said guiding device; and repeating the steps of moving, providing, gripping, horizontally retracting, lowering, pushing, retracting said plunger, raising, and returning, while said food products are provided onto said conveying support surface for packaging. 16. A method of loading food products into packaging, comprising the steps of: moving an end portion of a conveying support surface to a home position above said packaging in a loading station; moving the food product along said conveying support surface to a lead position on said end portion; gripping the food product at said lead position with a guiding device that does not come in contact with the bottom surface of the food product; horizontally retracting said support surface from beneath said food product to a retracted position; lowering said food product with said guiding device to a position above said packaging without any intervening vertical support; releasing said food product from said guiding device; pushing the food products downwardly with a plunger to expel the food products from said guiding device into said packaging. 17. The method of loading food products into packaging according to claim 16, which further comprises the steps of: retracting said plunger within said guiding device; raising said guiding device; returning said support surface to said home position immediately after said raising of said guiding device; and repeating the steps of moving, providing, gripping, horizontally retracting, lowering, releasing, pushing, retracting said plunger, raising, and returning, while said food products are provided onto said conveying support surface for packaging.