Tray conveyor/loading system

A vertical conveyor system, comprising:

• a trap door receiver comprising:
• a frame having first and second ends, a length, a top and a bottom;
• a plurality of support members having first and second ends and a length, said support members aligned along said length, said first and second ends of each of said support members pivotally engaging said first and second ends of said frame, respectively;
• orienting means for orienting said support members from a product support mode to a product unloading mode, wherein there is formed between said support members a space for the passage of said product therebetween;
• positioning means for positioning said trap door system from a receiving location for receiving product to an unloading location for unloading product;
• control means for coordinating the operation of said trap door system and said linkage system via said orienting means and said positioning means, so that said support members of said trap door system are oriented to a product support mode when said trap door is at said receiving location, to an product unloading mode when said trap door is at said unloading location.

A receiver tray for receiving, transporting, and unloading product, comprising:

• a frame having first and second ends, a length, a top and a bottom;
• a plurality of support members having first and second ends and a length, said first and second ends of each of said support members pivotally engaging said first and second ends of said frame, respectively, each of said support members having formed therein a right angle along their length, so as to form a support section and a separating section, said right angle forming an intersection of said support section and said separating section;
• first and second vertical actuators associated with said first and second ends of said frame;
• first and second activation members associated with said first and second vertical actuators, respectively;
• a linkage system for orienting said support members from said product supporting mode, to a product unloading mode, wherein there is formed between said support members a space for the passage of said product therebetween said linkage system comprising individual linkages having first and second ends, said first ends of said linkages engaging one of said first or second activation members, said second ends of said linkages engaging one of said first or second ends of said support members;
• wherein said first and second vertical actuators are formed to vertically adjust said first and second activation members from a first vertical position to a second vertical position, respectively;
• and
• wherein said linkage system is formed such that placing said first and second activation members in said first vertical position via said first and second vertical actuators urges said support members in said product supporting mode;
• and
• wherein said linkage system is formed such that placing said first and second activation members in said second vertical position via said first and section vertical actuators urges said support members into said product unloading mode.

The method of transporting product from a pick and head to a secondary location, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a trap door system, comprising:
• a frame having first and second ends, a length, a top and a bottom;
• a plurality of support members having first and second ends and a length, said first and second ends of said support members pivotally engaging said first and second ends of said frame, respectively, to selectively form a support surface for receiving product thereon, forming a product support mode;
• a linkage system for orienting said support members from said product supporting mode, to an unloading mode, wherein there is formed between said support members a space for the passage of said product therebetween;
• positioning means for positioning said trap door system from a receiving location to an unloading location and visa versa;
• b. positioning said trap door system in the vicinity of said pick and place head;
• c. depositing product from said pick and place head upon said support members slots formed in said trap door system, providing a loaded trap door system;
• d. positioning said loaded trap door system at a secondary location, utilizing said positioning means;
• e. utilizing said linkage system to orient said support members to form a space therebetween to allow product situated thereupon to pass therebetween, unloading said loaded trap door system;
• f. utilizing said linkage system to orient said support members to form a product support for supporting product thereupon, providing an unloaded trap door system;
• g. repositioning said unloaded trap door system to the vicinity of said pick and place head;
• h. repeating steps b-g.

The method of transporting product from a pick and place head a vertical distance to a tray on a conveyor, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a conveyor system, comprising:
• a trap door receiver comprising:
• a frame having first and second ends, a length, a top and a bottom;
• a plurality of support members having first and second ends and a length, said support members aligned along said length, said first and second ends of each of said support members pivotally engaging said first and second ends of said frame, respectively;
• b. orienting said support members of said trap door receiver to a product support mode wherein product can be placed and supported thereupon;
• c. positioning said trap door receiver in the vicinity of and under a pick and place head loaded with product;
• d. placing said product loaded on said pick and place head upon said support members of said trap door receiver, providing a loaded trap door receiver;
• e. positioning said loaded trap door receiver in the vicinity of and above a tray on a conveyor, providing an underlying tray;
• f. orienting said support members of said trap door receiver to a to form a space between said support members for passage of said product therebetween, and allowing product supported by said support members to pass through said space to said underlying tray, providing a loaded tray;
• g. repeating steps b-f.