Back to results
US 6,786,813 B2Granted
Automated loading devices and associated methods used to straddle load elongated product onto a receiving member
AssigneeConAgra Foods, Inc.
InventorsSarid M. Shefet, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Lawrence Alan Chandler, Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Automated loaders are configured with winding mechanisms that load elongated products directly onto transfer members, such as sticks or rods, by causing the arm to follow a repetitive motion pattern proximate to the stick or rod to discharge the elongated product in a desired motion onto the stick or rod. Methods for discharging elongated product, such as encased meats, so that they straddle or loop directly onto the stick, bar or other desired food support are also described.
Claims48
An automated winder for an elongated product, comprising:
- an elongated arm having an associated length and opposing first and second end portions, wherein, in position, said first end portion is adapted to receive an elongated product thereon from an extrusion and/or stuffer device located upstream of the automated winder, and wherein the second end portion is configured to release the elongated product therefrom after the product travels a desired distance over the length of the arm away from the extrusion and/or stuffer device;
- and
- a winding mechanism attached to said elongated arm a distance from said first end portion, said winding mechanism configured to cause said elongated arm to travel repeatedly in a desired motion pattern so that, in operation, the winding mechanism causes the arm to release a sufficient length or lengths of one or more elongated products so that the one or more elongated products are directly suspended in a straddled non-looped configuration on a suitably positioned transfer support member at a plurality of spaced apart suspension contact regions,
- wherein the elongated arm is configured and sized, so that, in operation, during loading of a single transfer support member, the elongated arm, in response to traveling in the motion pattern directed by the winding mechanism, distributes a plurality of non-looped straddled product segments directly onto a respective transfer support member.
1 more element
An automated winder for an elongated product, comprising:
- an elongate arm having an associated length and opposing first and second end portions, wherein, in position, said first end portion is adapted to receive an elongated item thereon from an extrusion and/or stuffer device located upstream of the automated winder, and wherein the second end portion is configured to release the elongated item therefrom after the item travels a desired distance over the length of the arm away from the extrusion and/or stuffer device;
- and
- a winding mechanism attached to said elongated arm a distance from said first end portion, said winding mechanism configured to cause said elongated arm to travel repeatedly in a desired motion pattern so that, in operation, the winding mechanism causes the arm to release a sufficient length or lengths of one or more elongated items so that the one or more elongated items are suspended in a straddled non-looped configuration on a suitably positioned transfer support member at a plurality of spaced apart suspension contact regions,
- wherein the elongated arm is configured with two vertically spaced apart primary surfaces defining a roof and floor, respectively, defined by endless conveyors, wherein, in operation the elongated item travels therebetween in intimate contact with the floor and proximate to and/or in intimate contact with the roof, and
- wherein the arm second end portion is in communication with an end guide that includes a receiving aperture that receives the elongated item therein and helps direct the elongated item onto the transfer support member as the arm moves through the desired motion pattern.
2 more elements
An automated winder system, comprising:
- at least one elongated transfer support member having a length and sized and configured to hold a straddled arrangement of an elongated product thereon;
- an automated winder configured to be cooperably positioned and aligned with the discharge port of an extrusion/stuffer device configured to discharge-elongated product therefrom, the automated winder comprising;
- an elongated arm having an associated length, said elongated arm having opposing first and second end portions, wherein, in position, said first end portion is adapted to receive an elongated product thereon from the extrusion device, wherein said second end portion is configured to release the elongated product therefrom after the product travels greater than a major portion of the length of the arm in a direction that is away from the extrusion/stuffer device, and wherein the arm is positioned in spaced apart cooperating alignment with the transfer support member;
- and
- a winding mechanism attached to said elongated arm, said winding mechanism configured to cause said elongated arm to travel repeatedly in a desired motion so that, in operation, the winding mechanism causes the arm to discharge the elongated product to cause the product to straddle the transfer support member in a non-looped arrangement as it is released from the second end portion of the arm so that a plurality of product segments are draped across the transfer support member at serially spaced apart contact locations.
2 more elements
An automated winder system, comprising:
- at least one elongated transfer support member having a length and sized and configured to hold a straddled arrangement of an elongated product thereon;
- an automated winder configured to be cooperably positioned and aligned with the discharge port of an extrusion/stuffer device configured to discharge-elongated product therefrom, the automated winder comprising:
- an elongated arm having an associated length, said elongated arm having opposing first and second end portions, wherein, in position, said first end portion is adapted to receive an elongated item thereon from the extrusion device, wherein said second end portion is configured to release the elongated item therefrom after the item travels greater than a major portion of the length of the arm in a direction that is away from the extrusion/stuffer device, and wherein the arm is positioned in spaced apart cooperating alignment with the transfer support member;
- and
- a winding mechanism attached to said elongated arm, said winding mechanism is configured to cause said elongated arm to travel repeatedly in a desired motion so that, in operation, the winding mechanism causes the elongated product to straddle the
- transfer support member in a non-looped arrangement as it is released from the second end portion of the arm,
- wherein the arm second end portion is in communication with an end guide that includes a receiving aperture that receives the elongated item therein and helps direct the elongated item onto the transfer support member as the arm moves through the desired motion pattern.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.