Multi-presentation slicing conveyor apparatus
AssigneeProvisur Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGage A. Fox, Glen F. Pryor, Ryan M. Torrenga, Ryan J. O'Connor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor system includes a frame, a plurality of rollers, a driving mechanism, a plurality of endless belts, and a lifting assembly. The plurality of rollers is rotatably attached to the frame. The driving mechanism is configured to rotate the plurality of rollers. The plurality of endless belts surrounds the plurality of rollers. The lifting assembly includes a plurality of surface and an actuator. The actuator is configured to move the plurality of surfaces between a raised position disposed above the plurality of belts and a lowered position disposed below the plurality of belts.
Claims18
A food product slicing apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a tray moveably attached to the frame, the tray comprising a plurality of lanes;
- a slicing station comprising a blade disposed downstream of the tray;
- and
- an accumulating conveyor system disposed below and downstream of the slicing station, the accumulating conveyor system comprising:
- a plurality of rollers rotatably attached to the frame;
- a driving mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of rollers;
- a plurality of endless belts surrounding the plurality of rollers;
- and
- a lifting assembly comprising a plurality of support bars and an actuator, each support bar having an upper surface, the support bars being disposed between adjacent ones of the endless belts, the actuator configured to move the plurality of upper surfaces between a raised position disposed above the plurality of belts and a lowered position disposed below the plurality of belts.
A food product slicing apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a tray moveably attached to the frame, the tray comprising a plurality of lanes;
- a slicing station comprising a blade disposed downstream of the tray;
- and
- an accumulating conveyor system disposed below and downstream of the slicing station, the accumulating conveyor system comprising:
- a plurality of rollers rotatably attached to the frame;
- a driving mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of rollers;
- a plurality of endless belts surrounding the plurality of rollers;
- and
- a lifting assembly comprising a plurality of surfaces and an actuator, the actuator configured to move the plurality of surfaces between a raised position disposed above the plurality of belts and a lowered position disposed below the plurality of belts, wherein the plurality of surfaces are disposed between some of the plurality of endless belts and are not disposed between the rest of the plurality of endless belts.
A method of processing food product comprising:
- slicing food product using a slicing station;
- accumulating some of the sliced food product from the slicing station in a stationary, stacked presentation on a plurality of surfaces configured in a raised, stationary position above a plurality of rotating endless belts of a conveyor system;
- and
- simultaneously accumulating other of the sliced food product from the slicing station in a moving, shingled presentation on the plurality of rotating endless belts of the conveyor system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.