F.r. Drake Company

F. R. Drake

Other

Jimmy L Meyer

Colin Ray Hart

Kenneth Welborn

Gregg A Martin

James A Thompson

Steven N Tomlin

A transfer device is disclosed for transferring a plurality of stacks of disk-like objects such as frozen hamburger patties, from a plurality of first trays having bottom walls angled with respect to horizontal to a horizontal support platform spaced from the trays. The transfer device includes a support frame having wheels that is movable between first and second ends of a guide track and a pivotal frame pivotally attached to the support frame which pivotal frame supports upper and lower grippers for engaging the upper and lower sides of a plurality of stacks of objects and securely holding the stacks of objects as they are moved between first and second positions.

Stack transfer device

A packing method and system are disclosed which system includes a first platform having a product support surface for supporting a product and a second platform for supporting a box into which the product is to be packed. After a box is received on and secured to the second platform, the second platform is rotated so that the open top of the box faces the first platform and moved toward the first platform until the box substantially surrounds the product on the product support surface. The first and second platforms are then rotated simultaneously so that the product is transferred from the product support to the box, and the full box is discharged to a discharge conveyor.

Apparatus for packing

An apparatus and method for stacking and loading disc-like objects into receptacles is provided. The apparatus includes a lane combining conveyor which receives multiple lanes of product and combines one or more of the outer lanes into the remaining lanes. A stack former is provided for forming individual stacks of patties which are side supported onto rails. The rails can be pivoted down to divert patties for clearing jams. After the product is formed on the stack formers, a stack transfer mechanism transfers the stacks of products formed on the stack forming rails to the matrix former. Matrix former receives individual rows of multiple stacks from the stack transfer mechanism. A stripper mechanism is used to ensure that the stacks are not scrambled during this transfer. Once the matrix former is filled with product, a case rollover mechanism is rotated to the matrix former. Both the case and the matrix former are rotated back together to bring the case to the upright position and transfer the stacks into the case. The matrix former is then removed from the case with a vertical motion and rolled back into position to receive stacks from the stack transfer mechanism.

Patty loader and method

Method and apparatus for packing

A loading head for loading food articles into packaging includes a transfer conveyor in operable communication with a source of articles to be loaded. The transfer conveyor communicates the articles from an upper receiving position to a lower loading position. A first drive drives the transfer conveyor at a variable speed. A second drive oscillates the transfer conveyor between a first position and a second position. A controller is in operable association with the first and second drives for varying the driving speed of the transfer conveyor as a function of the position of the transfer conveyor. An article holder is disposed at the loading position for receipt of a transferred article.

Food article loading head and method

A collator for a food product packaging system includes first and second laterally spaced side frame members. Each frame member has an upper portion and a lower portion. A plurality of interconnected flights form a continuous flight chain. At least some of the flights have a recess extending therealong for receipt of food product. At least three sprockets are rotatably mounted to each of the side frame members. The first and second sprockets are mounted proximate the lower portion of each frame member, and the third sprockets are mounted proximate the associated upper portions. First and second cooperating aligned guides are secured to each frame member and extends substantially between the first and third sprockets. Each guide has sequentially arranged first, second, and third portions. The flight chain is trained about the sprockets and cooperates with the guides so that rotation of the sprockets causes advancement of the flight chain. The first portion of each guide extends from proximate the first sprocket at a first angle for providing a fill zone in which food product may engage the flights and fill at least some of them. The second portion extends at a second angle for permitting food product not seated in a flight to fall away therefrom. The third portion permits food product to stabilize in the flights.

Growing community of inventors

Waynesboro, VA, United States of America

Jimmy L Meyer