Device and method to correct uneven spacing of successive articles
AssigneeKraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
InventorTheodore E. Jones JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for correcting uneven spacing of successive articles includes a first conveyor belt having a plurality of articles spaced thereon. At least one article is unevenly spaced. A second conveyor belt is located downstream of the first conveyor belt upon which the plurality of articles are evenly spaced or shingled. A controller moves forwards and backwards, thereby extending or retracting a discharge end of the first conveyor belt and allowing uniform spacing or stacking of the articles on the second conveyor belt.
Claims24
A device for correcting uneven spacing of successive articles, comprising:
- a first conveyor belt having a plurality of articles spaced thereon, wherein at least one article is unevenly spaced;
- a second conveyor belt located downstream of the first conveyor belt upon which the plurality of articles are substantially evenly spaced or substantially evenly shingled;
- a controller that is movable forwards and backwards in response to detection of the at least one unevenly spaced article on the first conveyor belt, thereby extending or retracting a noser of the first conveyor belt.
A process for correcting uneven spacing of successive articles, comprising:
- carrying a sequence of a plurality of articles on a first conveyor belt, wherein at least one article is unevenly spaced;
- and
- transferring the plurality of articles to a second conveyor belt located downstream of the first conveyor belt;
- wherein, when a position of the at least one unevenly spaced article is detected, a discharge end of the first conveyor belt is extended or retracted, thereby uniformly stacking the plurality of articles in a shingled manner on the second conveyor belt.
A process for shingle stacking a food product, comprising:
- carrying a sequence of a food product on a first conveyor belt, wherein at least one food product is unevenly spaced;
- detecting the position of each food product;
- and
- transferring the food product to a second conveyor belt located downstream of the first conveyor belt;
- wherein, when a position of the at least one unevenly spaced food product is detected, a discharge end of the first conveyor belt is extended or retracted, thereby at least substantially uniformly stacking the sequence of food product in a shingled manner on the second conveyor belt, and
- wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of crackers, cookies, biscuits, and candies.
A process for correcting uneven spacing of successive articles, comprising:
- carrying a sequence of a plurality of articles on a first conveyor belt, wherein at least one article is unevenly spaced;
- and
- transferring the plurality of articles to a second conveyor belt located downstream of the first conveyor belt;
- wherein, when a position of the at least one unevenly spaced article is detected, a discharge end of the first conveyor belt is extended or retracted, thereby uniformly spacing the plurality of articles on the second conveyor belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.