Food positioning apparatus
AssigneeLuigino's, Inc.
InventorsCarry Montgomery, Larry Newman, Scott R. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for positioning food components in a container that is moving along a conveyor. The apparatus has a paddle member and a link. The paddle member is movable between a first position within the container and a second position outside of the container. The paddle is also pivotable when moved between the first position and the second position. The paddle member is adapted to engage the food components and move the food components to a selected location in the container as the container moves along the conveyor. The link moves the paddle member between the first position and the second position and pivots the paddle member as the paddle member is moved between the first position and the second position.
Claims28
An apparatus for positioning food components in a container that is moving along a conveyor, the apparatus comprising:
- a paddle member movable between a first position within the container and a second position outside of the container and pivotable when the paddle member is moved between the first position and the second position, the paddle member being adapted to engage the food components and move the food components to a selected location in the container as the container moves along the conveyor;
- and
- a link for moving the paddle member between the first position and the second position and pivoting the paddle member as the paddle member is moved between the first position and the second position.
An apparatus for positioning food in a container, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- an arm retained in relation to the frame;
- a paddle pivotally attached to the arm;
- and
- means for causing the arm to pivot with respect to the paddle when the arm is moved with respect to the frame.
An apparatus for positioning food in a container, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first gear fixedly attached to the frame;
- a first arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first arm being pivotally attached to the frame for pivoting about an axis;
- a second arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second arm being fixedly attached to the first arm such that the second arm pivots about the axis when the first arm pivots about the axis;
- a second gear rotatably attached to second arm, the second gear operably engaging the first gear;
- a paddle pivotally attached to the second end of the second arm;
- means for causing reciprocating motion;
- a connecting arm pivotally attached to the second end of the first arm and attached to the means for causing reciprocating motion;
- and
- a connecting rod attached to the second gear and the paddle, pivoting of the first arm with respect to the frame causing the second arm to pivot with respect to the frame and causing the paddle to pivot with respect to the second arm.
An apparatus for positioning food components in a container that is moving along a conveyor, the apparatus comprising:
- a first paddle member movable between a first position within the container and a second position outside of the container and pivotable when the first paddle member is moved between the first position and the second position, the first paddle member being adapted to engage the food components and move the food components to a first portion of the distance to a selected location in the container as the container moves along the conveyor;
- a first link for moving the first paddle member between the first position and the second position and pivoting the first paddle member as the first paddle member is moved between the first position and the second position;
- a second paddle member movable between a first position within the container and a second position outside of the container and pivotable when the second paddle member is moved between the first position and the second position, the second paddle member being adapted to engage the food components and move the food components to a second portion of the distance to a selected location in the container as the container moves along the conveyor;
- and
- a second link for moving the second paddle member between the first position and the second position and pivoting the second paddle member as the second paddle member is moved between the first position and the second position.
The apparatus of claim 18 and further comprising means for causing reciprocating motion of the arm, the means for causing reciprocating motion of the arm being connected to the arm.
A process for positioning a food component in a container, the process comprising:
- moving an arm with relation to a conveyer;
- and
- pivoting a paddle with relation to the arm wherein moving the arm with relation to the conveyer and the pivoting of the paddle with relation to the arm causes the paddle to be positioned in the container.
A process for positioning a food component in a container, the process comprising:
- moving the container along a conveyor;
- placing the food component in the container;
- pivoting an arm about an axis in response to a position of the container with respect to the arm;
- rotating a gear with respect to the arm;
- moving a connecting rod with respect to the arm;
- rotating a paddle with respect to the arm, the pivoting of the arm causing the paddle to be positioned in the container;
- retaining the paddle in the container as the container is moved a selected distance along the conveyor such that the paddle contacts the food components in the container and causes the food components to moved to a desired area of the container;
- pivoting the arm with respect to the frame after the container has moved the selected distance along the conveyor;
- and
- pivoting the paddle with respect to the arm after the container has moved the selected distance along the conveyor, the pivoting of the arm with respect to the frame and the paddle with respect to the arm causing the paddle to move from the position in the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.