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
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A taco stacking apparatus comprises a conveyor assembly for supporting and moving taco shells along a predefined pathway. The conveyor assembly defines an opening in the predefined pathway that enables the taco shells to pass through the conveyor assembly. A stacking receptacle defines a channel for receiving taco shells passed through the opening in the predefined pathway of the conveyor assembly. A plunger assembly passes a taco shell through the opening in the predefined pathway of the conveyor assembly to the stacking receptacle.
Claims20
A taco stacking apparatus, comprising:
- a conveyor assembly for supporting and moving taco shells along a predefined pathway, wherein the conveyor assembly defines an opening in the predefined pathway that enables the taco shells to pass through the conveyor assembly;
- a stacking receptacle defining a channel for receiving taco shells passed through the opening in the predefined pathway of the conveyor assembly;
- and
- a plunger assembly for passing a taco shell through the opening in the predefined pathway of the conveyor assembly to the stacking receptacle.
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;
- a stacking receptacle defining a channel for receiving taco shells transferred from the first suspension element and the second suspension element;
- and
- a plunger assembly for transferring a taco shell from the first suspension element and the second suspension element to the stacking receptacle.
A taco stacking apparatus, comprising:
- a conveyor assembly for supporting and moving taco shells along a predefined pathway, wherein the conveyor assembly defines an opening therein that enables the taco shells to pass through the conveyor assembly;
- an orientation track located before the conveyor assembly for orienting an open side of the taco shell in an upward orientation;
- a stacking receptacle defining a channel for receiving taco shells passed through the opening from the conveyor assembly in the upward orientation;
- a plunger assembly for passing a taco shell through the opening of the conveyor assembly to the stacking receptacle, wherein the plunger assembly further comprises:
- a plunger for moving between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the plunger from the first position to the second position causes the plunger to contact the taco shell from the open side of the taco shell and move the taco shell through the opening of the conveyor assembly to the stacking receptacle;
- a plunger actuator for moving the plunger from the first position to the second position responsive to a control signal;
- and
- a dispensing assembly for removing the stack of taco shells from the stacking receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.