Device and method for removing food products from a belt conveyor

A method for removing food products from a belt conveyor, with a device comprising a belt conveyor comprising two ends, an endless belt and a drive, for transporting the food products on the endless belt from a feed location towards a discharge location, the endless belt comprising a transporting side and a returning side;

• and a removing device for removing the food products from the endless belt, the removing device comprising:
• a roller facing the returning side of the endless belt, the roller arranged at a predetermined distance from the endless belt and a frame part for holding the roller at the predetermined distance;
• the endless belt configured to rotate in a first rotational direction and the roller configured to rotate in a same rotational direction as the first rotational direction of the endless belt the method comprising the steps of:
• a) transporting the food products on the belt conveyor in a transport direction, from the feed location towards the discharge location by rotating the belt conveyor in the first direction;
• b) rotating the removing device, at the predetermined distance from the end of the belt conveyor, in the same rotational direction as the belt conveyor;
• c) removing the food products from the belt conveyor with the removing device;
• wherein the food products comprise different primary and secondary food products;
• wherein the primary food products are removed from the endless belt without the removing device, and are dropped on a primary food products receiver;
• and
• wherein the secondary food products are removed from the endless belt by means of the removing device and are dropped on a secondary food products receiver.

A device for removing food products from a belt conveyor, comprising:

• a) a belt conveyor comprising two ends, an endless belt and a drive, for transporting the food products on the endless belt from a feed location towards a discharge location, wherein the endless belt comprises a transporting side and a returning side;
• b) a removing device for removing the food products from the endless belt, comprising:
• i) a roller, facing the returning side of the endless belt, wherein the roller is arranged at a predetermined distance from the endless belt;
• and
• ii) a frame part for holding the roller at the predetermined distance;
• c) wherein the endless belt is configured to rotate in a first rotational direction and wherein the roller is configured to rotate in a same rotational direction as the first rotational direction of the endless belt;
• d) wherein the roller of the removing device is elongated, and comprises at least one thread, comprising a helical thread, along a circumference of the roller,
• wherein the at least one thread has a lead, or pitch, between 4 and 8 mm.