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US 8,978,529 B2Granted
Food article feed apparatus for a food article slicing machine
AssigneeFormax, Inc.
InventorJames E. Pasek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A food article feed apparatus for a food article slicing machine. The apparatus has conveyor with a drive belt for connecting a drive source to a drive roller, and a conveyor belt. The drive roller is for driving the conveyor. The drive roller has an outer diameter and a recessed diameter where the drive belt is connected around the recessed diameter and the conveyor belt is connected around the outer diameter. The drive belt operates within an area defined by the first conveyor belt.
Claims14
A food article slicing machine, comprising:
- a slicing station comprising a knife blade and a knife blade drive driving the blade along a cutting path;
- a food article feed apparatus supporting food articles for movement along food article paths intersecting the cutting path;
- and
- said food article feed apparatus for independently moving at least three loaves into said cutting path;
- wherein said food article feed apparatus comprises:
- a first conveyor for independently moving a first food article toward said cutting path;
- a second conveyor for independently moving a second food article toward said cutting path;
- a third conveyor for independently moving a third food article toward said cutting path;
- wherein each said first, second and third conveyor comprises:
- a drive belt for connecting a drive source to a drive roller, and a conveyor belt;
- said drive roller for driving said corresponding conveyor belt;
- wherein each said drive roller includes an outer diameter and a recessed diameter;
- each said drive belt surrounds in engagement the recessed diameter of the corresponding drive roller;
- each said conveyor belt surrounds in engagement said outer diameter of the corresponding drive roller;
- and
- wherein each said drive belt operates in a path that is within an area defined by the corresponding conveyor.
13 more elements
A food article slicing machine, comprising:
- a slicing station comprising a knife blade and a knife blade drive driving the blade along a cutting path;
- a food article feed apparatus supporting food articles for movement along food article paths intersecting the cutting path;
- and
- said food article feed apparatus for independently moving at least three loaves into said cutting path;
- wherein said food article feed apparatus comprises:
- a first conveyor for independently moving a first food article toward said cutting path;
- a second conveyor for independently moving a second food article toward said cutting path;
- a third conveyor for independently moving a third food article toward said cutting path;
- wherein each said first, second and third conveyor comprises:
- a drive belt for connecting a drive source to a drive roller, and a conveyor belt;
- said drive roller for driving said corresponding conveyor belt;
- wherein each said drive roller includes an outer diameter and a recessed diameter;
- each said drive belt surrounds in engagement the recessed diameter of the corresponding drive roller;
- each said conveyor belt surrounds in engagement said outer diameter of the corresponding drive roller;
- and
- wherein each said first, second and third conveyor has a first vertical plane defined by a lateral first edge of said conveyor belt and a second vertical plane defined by an opposite second lateral edge of said conveyor belt;
- wherein said drive belt of each of said first, second and third conveyors operates between said first vertical plane and said second vertical plane of respective first, second and third conveyors.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.