Direct transfer loading apparatus for tubular food articles and method of operation

A loading apparatus for tubular food articles, the loading apparatus comprising:

• a driven input conveyor configured to convey tubular food articles, the input conveyor having an input end at a first elevation and a discharge end at a second elevation, the second elevation being below the first elevation;
• an indexing conveyor configured to operate in an intermittent motion, the indexing conveyor positioned below the input conveyor and operably associated with the discharge end;
• and
• a curved end member proximate the discharge end, the curved end member comprising a plurality of spaced parallel plates spaced relative to the input conveyor, each of the plates having a first end at the first elevation and a second end at the second elevation, the plates configured so that the tubular food articles being transported and retained by the input conveyor while being transported to the discharge end;
• wherein the input conveyor is configured to transfer the tubular food articles about the input conveyor directly onto the indexing conveyor using gravity from a space between the discharge end and the indexing conveyor;
• wherein a plurality of input conveyors are disposed in a spaced, parallel array and a plurality of indexing conveyors are disposed in a spaced parallel array;
• and
• wherein the input conveyors and the indexing conveyors are interconnected by drive shafts so that the movement of the input conveyors is coordinated with the movement of the indexing conveyors so that for every input conveyor flight one tubular food article is deposited in the indexing conveyor.

A method of loading tubular food articles, the method comprising the steps of:

• conveying a plurality of tubular food articles with an input conveyor, the input conveyor having an input end at a first elevation and a discharge end at a second elevation, the first elevation being above the second elevation;
• positioning an indexing conveyor below the input conveyor and operating the indexing conveyor at speeds above and below a speed that is synchronous with a speed of the input conveyor, wherein operation of the indexing conveyor causes the indexing conveyor to travel in an intermittent motion;
• and
• adjusting the position of a curved end member relative to the input conveyor so that tubular food articles carried by the input conveyor are transferred from the input conveyor directly to the indexing conveyor using gravity from a space between the input conveyor and the curved end member;
• wherein a plurality of input conveyors are disposed in a spaced, parallel array and a plurality of indexing conveyors are disposed in a spaced parallel array;
• and
• wherein the input conveyors and the indexing conveyors are interconnected by drive shafts so that the movement of the input conveyors is coordinated with the movement of the indexing conveyors so that for every input conveyor flight one tubular food article is deposited in the indexing conveyor.