The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 22, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 15, 2001
Vincent L. Basile, II, West Des Moines, IA (US);
Brent M. Veldkamp, Cumming, IA (US);
Marcel F. Ottow, Rosmalen, NL;
Townsend Engineering Company, Des Moines, IA (US);
Abstract
A horizontal conveyor for linked sausage strands has a frame ( ) having a horizontal operating platform ( ) with opposite first ( ) and second ends ( ), opposite sides, a top surface ( ), and a continuous perimeter wall ( ) extending along the sides and first and second ends. The perimeter wall ( ) is substantially semi-circular at the first end ( ); and has a substantially parallel side portions at a midsection; and has end portions that converge towards each other from the side portions to meet at a semi-circular end portion ( A) at the second end ( ). A channel ( ) is located in the top portion in uniform inwardly spaced relation to the perimeter wall, and a continuous conveyor chain ( ) is in the channel. A plurality of spaced hook members ( ) are secured to the conveyor chain and have a shank ( ) slidably engaging the top of the perimeter wall, and a hook portion extends downwardly and outwardly with respect to the perimeter wall. The semi-circular end portion of the second end ( ) of the platform comprises a sausage loading station and has a diameter less than the distance between the side portions of the perimeter wall so that the hook portions of the hook members sliding over such end portion will travel at a speed greater than the speed of the hook members sliding over the side portions of the perimeter wall.