Automatic cookie loading system with double discharge

A method of loading cookies and the like in edge-standing attitude into a container comprising:

• moving cookies along a path on a surface conveyor in horizontal attitude in random spaced series,
• moving groups of the cookies to alternate sides of the surface conveyor,
• as the cookies reach the delivery end of the surface conveyor moving the cookies with the surface conveyor through a downwardly curved arc until the cookies are oriented in an edge-standing attitude,
• releasing the cookies from the surface conveyor in an edge-standing attitude,
• collecting the cookies of the groups of cookies from one side of the surface conveyor in an edge-standing attitude in an aligned horizontally stacked bundle in a first receptacle and collecting the cookies of the groups of cookies from the other side of the conveyor in an edge-standing attitude in an aligned horizontally stacked bundle in a second receptacle,
• as one receptacle collects cookies inverting the other receptacle and dropping the bundles of cookies in edge-standing attitude into a container.

A method of loading cookies and the like in edge-standing attitude into a container comprising:

• moving cookies in a horizontal attitude in series on a surface conveyor,
• as the cookies reach the delivery end of the surface conveyor moving the cookies through a downwardly curved arc until the cookies are in an edge-standing attitude and releasing the cookies,
• collecting the cookies in an elongated receptacle with an end wall and of a width adaptable to receive the cookies in edge-standing horizontally stacked bundle extending along the length of the receptacle with the first collected cookie leaning against the end wall,
• directing a flow of gas along the length of the receptacle toward the end wall so as to urge each cookie as it is received in the receptacle toward an edge-standing attitude and leaning against the previously collected cookie, and,
• after a predetermined number of cookies have been collected in the receptacle inverting the receptacle and dropping the bundle of cookies in edge standing attitude into a container.

Apparatus for loading cookies and the like in edge-standing attitude in a horizontally stacked bundles into containers comprising:

• a surface conveyor for receiving and moving cookies in series in a horizontal attitude,
• control means for counting the cookies up to a predetermined number of cookies;
• a diverter responsive to said control means for diverting a predetermined number of the series of the cookies on the surface conveyor into groups of cookies on opposite sides of the conveyor,
• a pair of trough-shaped receptacles each positioned in line with the groups of cookies at the delivery end of said surface conveyor for receiving the cookies in an edge-standing horizontal stack, means responsive to said control means for moving said receptacles in steps along the lengths of the receptacles in response to each cookie moving into a receptacle, and
• means responsive to said control means for inverting said receptacles when the predetermined number of cookies has been delivered to the receptacle so as to discharge the cookies to a container or the like.