초록 ▼

A radial distribution system includes a base member for receiving product for distribution to a plurality of conveyors, a plurality of gate members radially-spaced around the base member and configured to move between an open position and a closed position, and a vibration member configured to vibra

A radial distribution system includes a base member for receiving product for distribution to a plurality of conveyors, a plurality of gate members radially-spaced around the base member and configured to move between an open position and a closed position, and a vibration member configured to vibrate the base member. The vibration causes product received on the base member to move on the base member in a substantially circular manner.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A radial distribution system for distributing product, the system comprising: a base member comprising a downwardly sloped floor terminating at an upwardly sloped sidewall at a periphery of the base member to form an annular trough for facilitating product accumulation and circular product flow;a

1. A radial distribution system for distributing product, the system comprising: a base member comprising a downwardly sloped floor terminating at an upwardly sloped sidewall at a periphery of the base member to form an annular trough for facilitating product accumulation and circular product flow;a plurality of gate members radially-spaced around the annular trough of the base member; anda vibration member configured to vibrate the base member. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a product directing member, the product directing member being configured to receive product from above the base member and direct the product onto the base member. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the product directing member is substantially cone-shaped. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the product directing member has a plurality of segmented portions. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a feed member configured to deliver product onto the product directing member. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the feed member comprises one opening for delivering product onto the product directing member. 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the feed member comprises more than one opening for delivering product onto the product directing member. 8. The system of claim 5, wherein the feed member is movable. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the base member is substantially circular. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a plurality of facets. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein each gate member is independently operable between an open and closed position, irrespective of the position of the other gate members. 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of conveyors, wherein the plurality of conveyors are linear conveyors configured to transport product from the base member to a downstream packaging station, wherein each linear conveyor is adjacent a gate member. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the gate members are coupled to the annular trough of the base member. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the base member is sloped radially outward. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the product comprises potatoes. 16. The system of claim 9, wherein the product comprises French fries. 17. A method of distributing product comprising: providing a substantially circular base member having an annular trough, the annual trough defining a sidewall disposed about an entire periphery of the substantially circular base member, a plurality of conveyors, and a plurality of gate members positioned between the annular trough of the base member and the conveyors;delivering product onto the base member;vibrating the base member to cause the product to move in a substantially circular manner around the annular trough of the base member; andopening one or more gate members to allow product to move from the base member to the one or more conveyor. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of delivering product onto the base member comprises: providing a feed member with one or more openings; andcausing the product to move through the one or more openings to fall onto the base member. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of delivering product onto the base member comprises: providing a product directing member that is substantially cone shaped; anddropping product onto the product directing member. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: vibrating one or more of the linear conveyors to transport product from the base member to a downstream packaging station. 21. A radial distribution system for distributing product, the system comprising: a base member comprising a downwardly sloped floor terminating at an upwardly sloped sidewall at a periphery of the base member to form an annular trough for facilitating product accumulation;a plurality of gate members radially-spaced around the annular trough of the base member and configured to move between an open position and a closed position; andan advancement member configured to move product in a substantially circular manner toward the gate members. 22. The system of claim 21 wherein the advancement member rotates the base member about a center axis to move product with the base member toward the gate members.