Method and apparatus for continuously supplying product to an intermittently operating vacuum packaging machine

A continuous loading machine which intermittently performs work on product, said machine comprising:

• a loading station including a loading conveyor for receiving a continuous supply of said product and a continuous drive motor operably coupled to said loading conveyor for moving said loading conveyor at a substantially constant loading speed;
• a work station for intermittently performing work on said product, said work station including a work performing apparatus, a machine conveyor for transporting said product through said work station, and a machine conveyor motor operably coupled to said machine conveyor for driving said machine conveyor at a work speed;
• a transfer station positioned intermediate said loading station and said work station, said transfer station including a transfer conveyor, a low-speed drive engaged to said continuous drive motor for moving said transfer conveyor at a low speed for receiving product from said loading conveyor, and a high speed drive engaged to said machine conveyor motor for moving said transfer conveyor at a high speed relatively greater than said low speed for transferring said product to said machine conveyor;
• and
• a controller for coordinating the operation of said stations such that said low speed drive is activated to move said transfer conveyor at said low speed when receiving said product from said loading conveyor at said loading speed, and said high speed drive is activated to convey said product from said transfer conveyor at said high speed to said machine conveyor moving at said work speed, whereby said product may be continuously loaded onto said loading conveyor and periodically transferred by said transfer conveyor to said machine conveyor without interrupting said continuous supply of said product.

A loading apparatus for continuously supplying product to a machine which intermittently performs work on at least one said product, said machine having a work station and a machine transporter for intermittently moving said product through said work station, said apparatus comprising:

• a first moving surface for transporting a continuous supply of said product, said first moving surface having a front end and a rear end;
• a continuous drive operably coupled with said first moving surface for driving said first moving surface at a substantially constant loading speed;
• a second moving surface adjacent said first moving surface for receiving said product from said first moving surface and intermittently moving said product to said transporter, said second moving surface having a receiving portion adjacent said front end of said first moving surface;
• a low speed drive operably coupled to said second moving surface for driving said second moving surface at a predetermined low speed to receive said product from said first moving surface;
• a high speed drive operably coupled to said second moving surface for driving said second moving surface at a high speed relatively greater than said low speed to transfer said product to said machine;
• product lifting means operably coupled to said continuous drive and mounted at said from end of said first moving surface for selectively lifting said product on said first moving surface to suspend said product over said receiving portion of said second moving surface, and lowering said product onto said second moving surface at predetermined intervals;
• and
• a controller for controlling said low speed and high speed drives in sequence so that said low speed drive is activated to move said second moving surface at said low speed when receiving said product from said first moving surface, and said high speed drive is activated to transfer said product from said second moving surface to said machine transporter, whereby said product may be continuously supplied to said first moving surface and periodically transferred by said second moving surface to said machine transporter without interrupting said continuous supply of said product.

A loading apparatus for supplying articles to a machine that intermittently performs work on said articles, said machine including a work station at which said work is performed, a machine conveyor for intermittently transporting said articles to said work station, a machine conveyor drive means for intermittently driving said machine conveyor at a work speed to move said articles to said work station, said loading apparatus comprising:

• a loading conveyor on which said articles are received;
• a loading conveyor drive means for continuously driving said loading conveyor at a loading speed;
• a transfer conveyor for continuously receiving said articles from said loading conveyor and intermittently transporting said articles to said machine conveyor;
• means for connecting said transfer conveyor to said loading conveyor drive means to normally drive said transfer conveyor at a first speed directly proportional to said loading speed;
• and
• means for connecting said transfer conveyor to said machine conveyor drive means such that when said machine conveyor drive means intermittently drives said machine conveyor at said work speed, said transfer conveyor is driven at a second speed directly proportional to said work speed.