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US 12,145,810 B2Granted
Apparatus for stacking taco shells
AssigneeThe Henry Group, Inc.
InventorsJames Troy Henry, Brent E. Stevenson, Richard M. Toth, Calan B. Ashmore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A taco stacking apparatus comprises a conveyor assembly for moving taco shells along a predefined pathway. A stacking receptacle defines a channel for receiving taco shells transferred from the conveyor assembly. A stacking receptacle actuator lowers the stacking receptacle as additional taco shells are added to a stack of taco shells. A plunger assembly transfers a taco shell from the conveyor assembly to the stacking receptacle. A dispensing assembly removes the stack of taco shells from the stacking receptacle.
Claims20
A taco stacking apparatus, comprising:
- a first suspension element and a second suspension element for supporting taco shells on a predefined pathway, wherein the first suspension element and the second suspension element are separated by a selected distance that enables the first suspension element and the second suspension element to support the taco shells on the predefined pathway;
- at least one motor for driving the first suspension element and the second suspension element to move the taco shells along a predetermined pathway in a first direction;
- a stacking receptacle defining a channel for receiving the taco shells transferred from the first suspension element and the second suspension element;
- a stacking receptacle actuator for lowering the stacking receptacle as additional taco shells are added to a stack of taco shells;
- a plunger assembly for transferring a taco shell from the first suspension element and the second suspension element to the stacking receptacle;
- and
- a dispensing assembly for removing the stack of taco shells from the stacking receptacle.
4 more elements
A taco stacking apparatus, comprising:
- a first suspension element and a second suspension element for moving taco shells along a predefined pathway, wherein the first suspension element and the second suspension element are separated by a selected space that enables the first suspension element and the second suspension element to support the taco shells on the predefined pathway;
- and
- a first motor for driving the first suspension element and a second motor for driving the second suspension element to move the taco shells along a predetermined pathway in a first direction;
- a sensor for detecting a condition of a taco shell on the first suspension element and the second suspension element and generating a control signal responsive to the detected condition of the taco shell;
- a stacking receptacle defining a channel for receiving the taco shells transferred from the first suspension element and the second suspension element;
- a stacking receptacle actuator for lowering the stacking receptacle as additional taco shells are added to a stack of taco shells;
- a plunger for moving between a first position and a second position to push the taco shells through the selected space between the first suspension element and the second suspension element into the stacking receptacle;
- a plunger actuator for moving the plunger from the first position to the second position responsive to the control signal, wherein the plunger actuator is actuated to push the taco shell through the first suspension element and the second suspension element to the stacking receptacle responsive to the control signal;
- and
- a dispensing assembly for removing the stack of taco shells from the stacking receptacle.
7 more elements
A taco stacking apparatus, comprising:
- a first suspension element and a second suspension element for moving taco shells along a predefined pathway, wherein the first suspension element and the second suspension element are separated by a selected space that enables the first suspension element and the second suspension element to support the taco shells on the predefined pathway;
- and
- at least one motor for driving the first suspension element and for driving the second suspension element to move the taco shells along a predetermined pathway in a first direction;
- a sensor for detecting a condition of a taco shell on the first suspension element and the second suspension element and generating a control signal responsive to the detected condition of the taco shell;
- a stacking receptacle defining a channel for receiving the taco shells transferred from the first suspension element and the second suspension element;
- a stacking receptacle actuator for lowering the stacking receptacle as additional taco shells are added to a stack of taco shells responsive to a first control signal;
- a plunger for moving between a first position and a second position to push the taco shells through the selected space between the first suspension element and the second suspension element into the stacking receptacle;
- a plunger actuator for moving the plunger from the first position to the second position responsive to a second control signal, wherein the plunger actuator is actuated to push the taco shell through the first suspension element and the second suspension element to the stacking receptacle responsive to the control signal;
- a biasing member for contacting the stack of taco shells within the stacking receptacle;
- a biasing member actuator for moving the biasing member along a horizontal axis with respect to the stacking receptacle to dispense the stack of taco shells from the stacking receptacle, responsive to a third control signal;
- and
- a controller for receiving a detection signal of the sensor and generating the second control signal responsive thereto, wherein the controller further generates the first control signal to actuate the stacking receptacle actuator responsive to the taco shell being stacked into the stacking receptacle, wherein the controller further generates the third control signal responsive to completion of the stack of taco shells.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.