Loading and unloading apparatus for loading and unloading bacon slices

Loading and unloading apparatus for loading and unloading bacon slices including a loading portion that is configured to load slices of fresh bacon onto seasoning hooks in a loading zone of said apparatus, each of said seasoning hooks being provided with a stick and with a main body that extends along an axis, said loading portion including:

• a motor-driven conveying arrangement arranged to convey said slices of fresh bacon along a conveying direction between an entrance zone of said apparatus and said loading zone;
• a first motor-driven conveyor arranged to convey said seasoning hooks to said loading zone along a transport direction;
• said first motor-driven conveyor being conformed to convey said seasoning hooks, maintaining the seasoning hooks spaced apart from one another and keeping said axis substantially parallel to a direction of the force of gravity;
• a second motor-driven conveyor arranged to receive said seasoning hooks loaded with said slices of fresh bacon, and to move away said seasoning hooks from said loading zone moving said slices of fresh bacon along a feeding direction, maintaining the seasoning hooks spaced apart from one another and keeping said axis substantially parallel to the direction of the force of gravity;
• a manipulator device configured to load onto said seasoning hooks said slices of fresh bacon;
• a control arrangement for controlling the speed of said manipulator device so that said manipulator device picks up one hook at a time in coordination with an arrival of said hook in an end portion of said first motor-driven conveyor, and releases said hook loaded with said slices of fresh bacon each time in coordination with an arrival of a seat of said second motor-driven conveyor in an end portion of said second motor-driven conveyor,
• wherein said conveying arrangement includes a conveyor belt connected to a motor which can be driven to convey said slices of fresh bacon along said conveying direction, and to interrupt a movement of said conveyor belt when the end portions of said slices of fresh bacon reach an end of said conveyor belt and protrude downwards;
• said conveyor belt is provided at said end with an abutting element which is rotatable to abut and lift upwards said end portions of said slices of fresh bacon;
• said manipulator device is provided with a gripping arrangement configured to pick up one hook after the other of said seasoning hooks from said first conveyor and to release one hook loaded with said slices of fresh bacon at a time onto said second conveyor, said manipulator device being further configured to move said picked hook along an inserting direction transverse to said conveying direction;
• and
• said gripping arrangement includes at least one gripper arranged to close so as to grip a portion of said stick and to open so as to free said portion of said stick, said at least one gripper being rotatable around its own axis of rotation.