Method and apparatus for assembling items
AssigneeSwift & Company
InventorsWayne F. Everman, Vincent E. Bernard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Food patties are severed from logs and fed into magazines. A plurality of logs may be processed simultaneously; and the severed patties may be simultaneously fed in columns into one or more magazines. Under certain conditions columns of patties are moved through a transition means to separate same prior to entering the magazines. Thereafter successive magazines are moved to a position where the patties are sequentially deposited from the magazines onto a divider web and conveyor.
Claims17
An improved method for assembling quantities of items, said method comprising:
- forming a plurality of items;
- arranging said items in at least one column;
- delivering said column of items into a movable magazine while said magazine is held at a first position;
- moving said magazine to a second position;
- and sequentially discharging said items from said column within said magazine while said magazine is held at said second position.
An improved method for assembling quantities of meat patties, said method comprising:
- arranging a plurality of meat logs parallel to one another and in a horizontal attitude;
- repeatedly slicing patties from one end of said logs;
- delivering the sliced patties into at least one movable magazine, said magazine held in a first horizontal position aligned with said logs;
- removing said magazine from said first position after a quantity of patties are received therein;
- turning said magazine upright to a vertical attitude at a second position located above a conveying path;
- feeding a continuous web of divider material in a given direction along said path at a given speed;
- sequentially discharging patties from said at least one magazine onto said web so as to form adjacent rows thereon, a row of plural patties being discharged simultaneously from said at least one magazine, severing said web between certain rows of patties whereby to form uniform sheets with equal numbers of patties thereon;
- and stacking said sheets and patties.
An improved apparatus for assembling quantities of items, said apparatus comprising:
- means for forming a plurality of items;
- a movable magazine having a plurality of parallel channels for receiving said items, said magazine being movable between a first position, whereat said items are received therein, and a second position whereat said items are discharged therefrom;
- means at said first position for loading said items into said magazine;
- and means at said second position for sequentially discharging items from said magazine.
An improved apparatus for assembling quantities of meat patties, said apparatus comprising:
- a slicer, said slicer having a horizontal bed for supporting a plurality of meat logs in side-by-side relation for simultaneous slicing by a knife as the logs are forced across an anvil by a pusher;
- a movable magazine having dimensions sufficient to receive columns of patties sliced from each of said logs;
- first means for supporting said magazine at a first position horizontally aligned with said meat logs;
- an endless conveyor trained in a path extending in a given direction;
- second means for supporting said magazine at a second position disposed vertically above said endless conveyor;
- shuttle gate reciprocably mounted at said second means to sequentially release and discharge patties simultaneously from said magazine;
- a supply of web material associated with said endless conveyor, said web being disposed on said conveyor to receive said patties when discharged from said magazine;
- severing means adjacent said conveyor and spaced in said direction from said second means for cutting said web into uniform sheets;
- and means to stack said sheets with patties thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.