# US 10,865,003 B2 · Food product handling device, system, and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,003 B2 - Document ID: US10865003B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/278,921 - Filed: 2019-02-19 - Published: 2019-06-13 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-07 - Assignees: F.R. Drake Company - Applicants: F.R. Drake Company - Inventors: Andre Richards; Thomas Ivy; Keith W. Hopkins; George E. Reed - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865003B2 ## CPC - B65B 5/08: Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles - B25J 11/0045: {Manipulators used in the food industry} - B25J 15/0061: {mounted on a modular gripping structure} - B25J 15/0616: {with vacuum} - B65B 5/06: Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles - B65B 9/04: one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material - B65B 19/34: Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes - B65B 25/065: {of meat} - B65B 35/38: by suction-operated grippers - B65B 35/44: by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/405 takes precedence)} - B65G 47/918: {with at least two picking-up heads} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A food product handling device is provided. The food product handling device can include a movable loading head having a plurality of rails and a vacuum system operatively associated with the head. In addition, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product as the head is moved can be provided. A plurality of mounting blocks can be slidably coupled to the rails where at least one suction device is coupled to each mounting block. An actuating device can be operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide between a first position and a second position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of handling food product comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of food products: aligning a food product handling device above the plurality of food products, wherein the food product handling device comprises a movable loading head having a plurality of rails, a vacuum system operatively associated with the head, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport food products as the head is moved, wherein each suction device is coupled to the vacuum system, a plurality of mounting blocks slidably coupled to the rails, wherein one suction device is coupled to one mounting block, and an actuating device, operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide in first and second groups between respective first and second positions, wherein, when the mounting blocks are in the second position, a distance between respective mounting blocks at opposed adjacent ends of the first group and the second group is greater than a distance between adjacent mounting blocks when in the first position, and spacing between adjacent mounting blocks within the respective first and second groups is smaller than the distance between adjacent mounting blocks when in the first position; applying a vacuum to each suction device of the food product handling device and thereby engaging a food product with each suction device when the mounting blocks are in the first position; actuating the mounting blocks to the second position using the actuating device; and, depositing the food products into packaging material by ceasing application of the vacuum at each suction device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the actuating device further includes a fluid manifold operatively associated with the actuating cylinder and the vacuum system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuum system comprises a plurality of vacuum generators disposed on the movable loading head, and one or more vacuum generator ports coupled to each of the mounting blocks. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein each of the vacuum generators is operatively coupled with one suction device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein a venturi tube is interposed between each of the vacuum generators and each of the vacuum generator ports. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the suction devices comprises an elastic body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein each elastic body comprises a bellows structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein said packaging material comprises two separate openings to receive respective groupings of food product from the first and second groups of mounting blocks. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the vacuum system comprises a plurality of vacuum generators disposed on the movable loading head, and one or more vacuum generator ports coupled to each of the mounting blocks. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein each of the vacuum generators is operatively coupled with one suction device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein a venturi tube is interposed between each of the vacuum generators and each of the vacuum generator ports. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each of the suction devices comprises an elastic body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein each elastic body comprises a bellows structure.