Method and apparatus for a card dispenser

A method of dispensing a card from a storage area to a junction between two conveying surfaces along a food processing conveyor line such that food product batches being conveyed in a conveying direction along the food processing conveyor line are disposed on the card at the junction, comprising the steps of:

• withdrawing a bottom card from a hopper containing a stack of cards;
• moving the card to a receiving position;
• clamping the card between a top plate and a bottom plate connected to a clamp carriage;
• moving the clamp carriage along clamp carriage guide arms in a lateral direction relative to the conveying direction to transport the card to a staging position;
• and
• dispensing the card from the staging position to a position along the conveyor line through the junction.

A card dispensing system for use with a conveying surface which conveys sliced products in a conveying direction along the conveying surface downstream of a slicing machine to package the sliced products with the card, comprising:

• a hopper positioned to a side of the conveying surface for containing a plurality of vertically stacked cards supported within the hopper by support fingers which releaseably hold the cards;
• a mechanism disposed beneath the hopper for withdrawing the bottom card from the hopper past the support fingers and moving the bottom card into a receiving position;
• a card transportation mechanism moveable in a lateral direction relative to the conveying direction between the receiving position, in which the card transportation mechanism is located to the side of the conveying surface, and a staging position, in which the card transportation mechanism is located below the conveying surface, wherein the card transportation mechanism is configured to receive the card at the receiving position and transfer the card to the staging position;
• and
• a delivery mechanism located below the conveying surface and adjacent to the card when the card is in the staging position, the delivery mechanism feeds the card from the staging position towards a junction in the conveying surface as sliced product passes over the junction.