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:
Sep. 06, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 03, 2010
Colin R. Hart, Ankeny, IA (US);
Paul J. Joynt, Ankeny, IA (US);
David W. Braner, Polk City, IA (US);
Joshua W. Higgins, Pleasant Hill, IA (US);
David W. Alexander, Boone, IA (US);
Colin R. Hart, Ankeny, IA (US);
Paul J. Joynt, Ankeny, IA (US);
David W. Braner, Polk City, IA (US);
Joshua W. Higgins, Pleasant Hill, IA (US);
David W. Alexander, Boone, IA (US);
F.R. Drake Company, Waynesboro, VA (US);
Abstract
A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.