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US 6,227,376 B1Granted
Two-directional reject and make-up conveyor system
AssigneeHormel Foods Corporation
InventorsGary A. Handel, Jeffrey J. Morrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-direction reject and make-up conveyor system includes a supply conveyor system (30) and a first inspection conveyor (40) and a second inspection conveyor (41). The conveyors (40 and 41) are moveable in both a forward and reverse direction allowing items to be inspected to be rejected in both directions. The supply conveyor system (30) allows for the make-up of any rejected items onto the inspection conveyors (40 and 41).
Claims17
A method of inspecting items comprising:
- (a) sequentially placing a first forward item and a second rear item on a first inspection conveyor;
- (b) inspecting the two items;
- (c) selectively rejecting any item that is not acceptable by indexing the first inspection conveyor either forward or backward depending on whether the item occupies a forward or rear position;
- and
- (d) making up for any rejected item by supplying a make-up item from a first supply conveyor to the first inspection conveyor.
2 more elements
A method of inspecting and conveying bacon to a packaging machine, comprising:
- (a) sequentially placing a first forward bacon draft and a second rear bacon draft on a first inspection conveyor;
- (b) sequentially placing a third forward bacon draft and a fourth bacon draft on a second supply conveyor;
- (c) inspecting the four bacon drafts;
- (d) selectively rejecting any bacon draft that is not acceptable by indexing the inspection conveyors either forward or backward depending on whether the item occupies a forward or rear position;
- and
- (e) making up for any rejected bacon draft by supplying a make-up bacon draft from a first supply conveyor to the first inspection conveyor and from a second supply conveyor to the second inspection conveyor.
3 more elements
A two-directional reject and make-up conveyor system for inspecting items comprising:
- (a) a first inspection conveyor having a forward section and a rear section, each section sized to accommodate an item to be inspected;
- (b) a first drive mechanism for indexing the first conveyor both forward and backward;
- (c) a first supply conveyor for supplying the item to be inspected to the first inspection conveyor;
- (d) a receiving conveyor for receiving two inspected items from the first inspection conveyor;
- (e) the forward section of the first inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the receiving conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position;
- and
- (f) the rear section of the first inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the first supply conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position, wherein when two items are on the first inspection conveyor, the inspection conveyor is moveable to either its transfer or reject position and is indexable in either a forward or rearward direction to selectively reject or accept each item.
4 more elements
A two-directional reject and make-up conveyor system for inspecting items comprising:
- (a) a first inspection conveyor having a forward section and a rear section, each section sized to accommodate an item to be inspected;
- (b) a first drive mechanism for indexing the first conveyor both forward and backward;
- (c) a second inspection conveyor having a forward section and a rear section, each section sized to accommodate an item to be inspected;
- (d) a second drive mechanism for indexing the second conveyor both forward and backward;
- (e) a first supply conveyor for supplying the item to be inspected to the first inspection conveyor;
- (f) a second supply conveyor for supplying the item to be inspected to the second inspection conveyor;
- (g) a receiving conveyor for receiving two inspected items from the first inspection conveyor, and two inspected items from the second inspection conveyor;
- (h) the forward section of the first inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the receiving conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position;
- (i) the forward section of the second inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the receiving conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position;
- (j) the rear section of the first inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the first supply conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position;
- and
- (k) the rear section of the second inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the second supply conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position, wherein when two items are on the first and second supply conveyors, each supply conveyor is moveable to either its transfer or reject position and each is indexable in either a forward or rearward direction to selectively reject or accept each item.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.