John Bean Technologies Corporation

Fmc Technologies, Inc.

Daniel F Wilson

Craig E Pfarr

Norman A Rudy

A support system () for stabilizing a high-pressure feed line () in a high-speed water jet food portioner, comprising a rigid span assembly () connected at one end to an extendable universal joint () that provides rotational motion around two axes () as well as linear freedom along a third axis (), and at the other end to a rod-end bearing () that permits motion about two axes at a fixed attachment point. The extendable universal joint () and the rod-end bearing () are each anchored to a fixed point, one on a portioner housing and the other on a cutting carriage such that the rigid span assembly () is allowed freedom at one end to move with the rapid and dramatically changing motion of the cutting carriage in order to provide support to the high-pressure feed line () mounted thereon, with minimal vibration.

Stabilization system for high-pressure water jet feed line

A conveyor belt assembly () for conveying an object to be portioned () by a fluid jet () is disclosed. The conveyor belt assembly () includes a conveyor belt formed from at least a first and a second picket () each having a length comprised of a sequence of geometrically shaped links () disposed transversely across the conveyor belt. The pickets () are disposed in a nested relationship to each other. The pickets () include upper edge portions () that form a conveying surface () for supporting and advancing the object to be portioned (). The upper edge portions () are tapered in the upward direction to reduce dispersion of the fluid jet () during impingement of the fluid jet () on the conveying surface ().

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Mountlake Terrace, WA, United States of America

Daniel F Wilson