US 4,784,254 A · Method and apparatus for increasing the number of longitudinal rows of advancing bakery articles

Abstract

A method and apparatus for increasing the number of longitudinal rows of bakery articles which are being advanced on an oven conveyor belt in longitudinal and transverse rows according to which there are formed a number n of identical groups of directly adjacent longitudinal rows corresponding to the number of additional longitudinal rows, n being a whole number equal to the number of longitudinal rows initially present divided by the number of groups. From each of the longitudinal rows initially present, one article is removed for every n+1 transverse rows. The articles taken from each group are then arranged to form one additional longitudinal row and the additional longitudinal rows are added to the initially present longitudinal rows. The articles are removed by an oblique suction conveyor belt which is provided with suction cups above a conveyor belt for the articles. The removed articles are transferred to an auxiliary conveyor path along which there is provided for each group of longitudinal rows, a guide rail extending obliquely to the angle of conveyance to form an additional longitudinal row.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of rearranging a plurality of bakery articles which are being advanced in longitudinal and transverse rows such that the number of longitudinal rows is increased, said method comprising

advancing a plurality of bakery articles along a conveyor path in longitudinal and transverse rows, the longitudinal rows being arranged in equal groups in which the number n of longitudinal rows in each group is equal to the total number of longitudinal rows divided by the number of groups,
removing, at a removal station, one article from each longitudinal row after passage of n+1 transverse rows at said station,
advancing the removed articles along a path in which the removed articles form one additional longitudinal row for each said group,
guiding the advancing articles beyond the removal station to adjust the transverse spacing of longitudinal rows to provide a number of spaces equal to the number of additional rows;
and
inserting into said spaces the removed articles in said additionally formed longitudinal rows.

3 more elements

Apparatus for rearranging a plurality of bakery articles which are being advanced in longitudinal and transverse rows such that the number of longitudinal rows is increased, said apparatus comprising

first conveyor means for advancing a plurality of bakery articles along a conveyor path in longitudinal and transverse rows, the longitudinal rows being arranged in equal groups in which the number n of longitudinal rows in each group is equal to the total number of longitudinal rows divided by the number of groups,
means for removing, at a removal station, one article from each longitudinal row after passage of n+1 transverse rows at said station,
second conveyor means for advancing the removed articles along a path in which the removed articles are formed into one additional longitudinal row for each said group;
means for guiding the advancing articles beyond the removal station to adjust the transverse spacing of selected longitudinal rows to form a number of spaces equal to the number of additional rows, and
means for inserting into said spaces the removed articles in the additionally formed longitudinal rows.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for increasing the number of longitudinal rows of advancing bakery articles

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for increasing the number of longitudinal rows of advancing bakery articles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15