System for loading and unloading foodstuffs

A system for loading and unloading a food product, the system comprising:

• a food product transporter comprising plurality of longitudinal and spaced-apart belts that are situated parallel to one another and that move in unison to carry and move the food product;
• and
• a tool adapted to load the food product from the transporter, the tool comprising a stationary structure, a first support structure and a second support structure, each of the first and second support structure moveable between first and second vertical positions and respective first and second horizontal positions with respect to the stationary structure, each of the first and second support structures comprising a plurality of spaced-apart and elongate rotary support members that are each rotatably coupled to the respective first and second support structures, the plurality of spaced-apart rotary support members situated between the plurality of spaced-apart belts and collectively configured to lift the food product from the transporter while the first and second support structures are in their respective first horizontal positions and moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position, the tool adapted to unload the food product lifted from the transporter upon the first and second support structures being moved at a first speed in opposite directions from their respective first horizontal positions to their respective second horizontal positions, each of the plurality of spaced-apart rotary support members adapted to rotate with a peripheral speed about their own axis in a direction opposite to the horizontal movement of their respective first and second support structures as the first and second support structures are moved from their respective first horizontal positions to their respective second horizontal positions, the peripheral speed being substantially equal to the first speed.

A system for loading and unloading a food product, the system comprising:

• a food product transporter comprising plurality of longitudinal and spaced-apart belts that are situated parallel to one another and that move in unison to carry and move the food product;
• and
• a tool adapted to load the food product from the transporter, the tool comprising a stationary structure and a support structure, the support structure moveable between first and second vertical positions and first and second horizontal positions with respect to the stationary structure, the support structure comprising a plurality of spaced-apart and elongate support members, each of the support members having at least one rotary member joined thereto with freedom of rotation, the axis of rotation in which each of the rotary members rotates being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding support member, the plurality of support members situated between the plurality of spaced-apart belts and collectively configured to lift the food product from the transporter while the support structure is in the first horizontal position and moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position, the tool adapted to unload the food product lifted from the transporter upon the support structure being moved at a first speed from the first horizontal position to the second horizontal position, each of the rotary members adapted to rotate with a peripheral speed about their own axis in a direction opposite to the direction of horizontal movement of the support structure as the support structure is moved from the first horizontal position to the second horizontal position, the peripheral speed being substantially equal to the first speed.

A system for loading and unloading a food product, the system comprising:

• a food product transporter comprising plurality of longitudinal and spaced-apart belts that are situated parallel to one another and that move in unison to carry and move the food product;
• and
• a tool adapted to load the food product from the transporter, the tool comprising a stationary structure and a first support structure and a second support structure, each of the first and second support structures moveable between first and second vertical positions and respective first and second horizontal positions with respect to the stationary structure, each of the first and second support structures comprising a plurality of spaced-apart and elongate support members, each of the support members having at least one rotary member joined thereto with freedom of rotation, the axis of rotation in which each of the rotary members rotates being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding support member, the plurality of support members situated between the plurality of spaced-apart belts and collectively configured to lift the food product from the transporter while the first and second support structures are in their respective first horizontal positions and moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position, the tool adapted to unload the food product lifted from the transporter upon the first and second support structures being moved in opposite directions and at a first speed from their respective first horizontal positions to their respective second horizontal positions, each of the rotary members adapted to rotate with a peripheral speed about their own axis in a direction opposite to the direction of horizontal movement of their respective first and second support structure as the first and second support structures are moved from their respective first horizontal positions to their respective second horizontal positions, the peripheral speed being substantially equal to the first speed.

A system for loading and unloading a food product, the system comprising:

• a food product transporter comprising plurality of longitudinal and spaced-apart belts that are situated parallel to one another and that move in unison to carry and move the food product;
• and
• a tool adapted to load the food product from the transporter, the tool comprising a stationary structure and a support structure, the support structure moveable between first and second vertical positions and pivotable between first and second angular positions with respect to the stationary structure, the support structure comprising a plurality of spaced-apart and elongate rotary support members that are each rotatably coupled to the support structure, the plurality of spaced-apart rotary support members situated between the plurality of spaced-apart belts and collectively configured to lift the food product from the transporter while the support structure is in the first angular position and moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position, the tool adapted to unload the food product lifted from the transporter upon the support structure pivoting from the first angular position to the second angular position, each of the plurality of spaced-apart rotary support members adapted to rotate about their own axis in the same direction to the pivotal rotation of the support structure as the support structure is moved from the first angular position to the second angular position.

A system for loading and unloading a food product, the system comprising:

• a food product transporter comprising plurality of longitudinal and spaced-apart belts that are situated parallel to one another and that move in unison to carry and move the food product;
• and
• a tool adapted to load the food product from the transporter, the tool comprising a stationary structure, a first support structure and a second support structure, each of the first and second support structure moveable between first and second vertical positions and pivotable between respective first and second angular positions with respect to the stationary structure, each of the first and second support structures comprising a plurality of spaced-apart and elongate rotary support members that are each rotatably coupled to the respective first and second support structures, the plurality of spaced-apart rotary support members situated between the plurality of spaced-apart belts and collectively configured to lift the food product from the transporter while the first and second support structures are in their respective first angular positions and moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position, the tool adapted to unload the food product lifted from the transporter upon the first and second support structures pivoting in opposite directions from their respective first angular positions to their respective second angular positions, each of the plurality of spaced-apart rotary support members adapted to rotate about their own axis in the same direction to the pivotal rotation of their respective first and second support structures as the first and second support structures are moved from their respective first angular positions to their respective second angular positions.

A system for loading and unloading a food product, the system comprising:

• a food product transporter comprising plurality of longitudinal and spaced-apart belts that are situated parallel to one another and that move in unison to carry and move the food product;
• and
• a tool adapted to load the food product from the transporter, the tool comprising a stationary structure and a support structure, the support structure moveable between first and second vertical positions and pivotable between first and second angular positions with respect to the stationary structure, the support structure comprising a plurality of spaced-apart and elongate support members, each of the support members having at least one rotary member joined thereto with freedom of rotation, the axis of rotation in which each of the rotary members rotates being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding support member, the plurality of support members situated between the plurality of spaced-apart belts and collectively configured to lift the food product from the transporter while the support structure is in the first angular position and moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position, the tool adapted to unload the food product lifted from the transporter upon the support structure pivoting from the first angular position to the second angular position, each of the rotary members adapted to rotate about their own axis in the same direction to the direction of rotation of the support structure as the support structure is moved from the first angular position to the second angular position.

A system for loading and unloading a food product, the system comprising:

• a food product transporter comprising plurality of longitudinal and spaced-apart belts that are situated parallel to one another and that move in unison to carry and move the food product;
• and
• a tool adapted to load the food product from the transporter, the tool comprising a stationary structure and a first support structure and a second support structure, each of the first and second support structures moveable between first and second vertical positions and pivotable in opposite directions between respective first and second angular positions with respect to the stationary structure, each of the first and second support structures comprising a plurality of spaced-apart and elongate support members, each of the support members having at least one rotary member joined thereto with freedom of rotation, the axis of rotation in which each of the rotary members rotates being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding support member, the plurality of support members situated between the plurality of spaced-apart belts and collectively configured to lift the food product from the transporter while the first and second support structures are in their respective first angualr positions and moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position, the tool adapted to unload the food product lifted from the transporter upon the first and second support structures pivoting between their respective first angular positions to their respective second angular positions, each of the rotary members adapted to rotate about their own axis in the same direction as the respective direction of pivotal rotation of their respective first and second support structure as the first and second support structures are moved from their respective first angular positions to their respective second angular positions.