Apparatus and Method for Maintaining a Pattern of Non-Rigid Objects in a Desired Position and Orientation
AssigneeFrito-Lay North America, Inc.
InventorsDarin James BAYLOR, Kevin L. COTE, Mark T. MALDONADO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for maintaining a pattern of non-rigid objects in a desired position and orientation. The first surface, second surface, and third surface are mutually orthogonal and meet at a point to form a lowest corner. The second and third surfaces are supported by, attached to and extend at least somewhat vertically from the apparatus. The first surface is oriented at an angle to a plane running through a bottom of the apparatus and thereby provides the lowest corner.
Claims36
An apparatus for maintaining a pattern of non-rigid objects in a desired position and orientation, said apparatus comprising:
- a first surface;
- a second surface;
- a third surface;
- a lowest corner;
- and
- a bottom,
- wherein the first surface, second surface, and third surface are mutually orthogonal and meet at a point to form the lowest corner,
- wherein the second and third surfaces are supported by, attached to and extend at least somewhat vertically from the apparatus,
- wherein the first surface is oriented at a compound angle to a plane running through the bottom and thereby provides the lowest corner.
A method for loading non-rigid objects on a compound-angled universal surface to form a pattern, said method comprising the steps of:
- picking non-rigid objects;
- and
- placing the objects in a first pattern on a compound-angled universal surface so that the objects are supported by three mutually orthogonal surfaces of the universal surface.
A method for loading a pattern of non-rigid objects on a universal surface that is decoupled from a universal surface conveyor, said method comprising the steps:
- supplying the universal surface to a pattern creation line on a first universal surface conveyor, wherein the universal surface is decoupled from the first universal surface conveyor;
- conveying the universal surface to a first decision point where the universal surface can be directed to at least a second universal surface conveyor;
- conveying the universal surface to at least one pattern creation cell to form a finished pattern;
- and
- conveying the universal surface with the finished pattern to at least one pattern transfer station for transferring the finished pattern to an ultimate package;
- wherein the pattern creation line comprises the first decision point, the at least one pattern creation cell, the at least one pattern transfer station, the first universal surface conveyor, and the at least a second universal surface conveyor.
A method for using multiple lanes to load a pattern of non-rigid objects on a universal surface that is decoupled from a universal surface conveyor, said method comprising the steps:
- loading a pattern of objects onto the universal surface;
- conveying a universal surface on a work in-progress lane comprising a first universal surface conveyor, wherein the universal surface is decoupled from the first universal surface conveyor;
- conveying the universal surface to an express lane comprising a second universal surface conveyor after the universal surface has been loaded with a finished pattern, wherein the universal surface is decoupled from the second universal surface conveyor, and wherein, as compared to the work-in-progress lane, the express lane provides a more direct route to a destination of the universal surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.