Automated loading devices and associated methods used to straddle load elongated product onto a receiving member
AssigneeConAgra Foods, Inc.
InventorsSarid M. Shefet, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath JR., Lawrence Alan Chandler, Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Automated loaders are configured with winding mechanisms that load elongated products directly onto transfer members, such as sticks or rods, by causing the arm to follow a repetitive motion pattern proximate to the stick or rod to discharge the elongated product in a desired motion onto the stick or rod. Methods for discharging elongated product, such as encased meats, so that they straddle or loop directly onto the stick, bar or other desired food support are also described.
Claims23
A method for loading a carrier member with suspended elongated product, comprising:
- suspending an elongated product over a carrier member in a straddled configuration, in which sections of elongated product form bights having a plurality of non-intersecting bends draped from the carrier member, with serially consecutive bights being draped on opposing sides of the carrier member.
A method for loading an elongated item onto a receiving member, comprising:
- receiving a continuous length of at least one elongated product onto an elongated arm, the elongated arm having opposing receiving and releasing end portions;
- moving the elongated arm to cause it to travel repeatedly along a first desired path;
- directing the at least one elongated product to travel forward a desired distance over the elongated arm during the moving step;
- positioning a transfer support member having an associated length in cooperating alignment with the elongated arm;
- then
- translating the transfer support member along a second desired path that so that the transfer support member travels adjacent the first path as the at least one elongated product is released from the releasing end portion of the elongated arm;
- and
- suspending at least one length of released elongated product on the transfer support member in response to the translating step so that the elongated product is arranged in a straddled configuration with at least one of:
- (a) a plurality of adjacently arranged non-looped lengths hanging on the one side of the transfer support member and a plurality of different adjacent non-looped lengths hanging on the opposing side of the transfer support member so that the elongated product has a plurality of suspension contact points spaced apart about a desired length of the transfer support member;
- and/or (b) a plurality of non-looped spaced apart discrete lengths draped over the transfer support member.
A loaded carrier assembly having elongated product thereon, comprising:
- a carrier member;
- and
- an elongate product suspended on the carrier member in a straddled configuration draped from the carrier member, in which sections of the elongated product form:
- (a) bights, with serially consecutive bights being formed on opposite sides of the carrier member;
- and/or (b) discrete non-looped spaced apart suspended lengths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.