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:
Mar. 04, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 09, 2013
Zbigniew Stanislaw Borkiewicz, Sun Prairie, WI (US);
Brian W. Tomac, DePere, WI (US);
Chuck A. Sample, Suamico, WI (US);
David J. Nonn, Luxemburg, WI (US);
Zbigniew Stanislaw Borkiewicz, Sun Prairie, WI (US);
Brian W. Tomac, DePere, WI (US);
Chuck A. Sample, Suamico, WI (US);
David J. Nonn, Luxemburg, WI (US);
Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, Northfield, IL (US);
Abstract
The illustrative method and apparatus provides a more efficient system for automated slicing and loading of food articles into containers. The apparatus includes at least one cutting assembly and at least two chutes and depositing assemblies. The apparatus may include a positioning receptacle that aligns the food articles with a knife set and a driving arm that advances the food article into engagement with the knife set. The chutes may include a movable chute portion, which moves from alignment with the knife set to alignment with the containers, and a chute extension. Openings for the sliced food sections, which extend through the movable chute portion and the chute extension, have a cross section that changes to rotate the orientation of the food sections passing therethrough. Once deposited into the containers, the food sections are oriented with at least some cut faces of the food article adjacent the container wall.