Package making – Group forming of contents unit and subsequent or further... – From plural or different supply sources
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-13
2001-07-24
Sipos, John (Department: 3721)
Package making
Group forming of contents unit and subsequent or further...
From plural or different supply sources
C053S157000, C053S534000, C053S389100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263640
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to bacon board dispensers, and more particularly to a cantilevered design for a bacon board dispenser utilizing an easily adjustable board magazine having variable pressure and a dispenser having dual vacuum cups.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Bacon board dispensers are commercially available and in use for conveying and depositing sliced bacon in shingled conditions in predetermined quantities (e.g., ½ pound, 1 pound, 2 pounds) onto so-called bacon boards for further packaging and insertion in a folded outer carton or other enclosures in evacuated and hermetically sealed envelopes of suitable film. Also, machines are available to package bacon on bacon boards or cards which are relatively thin and quite flexible and have a cutout window area for viewing the product.
Due to the designs of such machines, they typically can package only 55 boards per minute because of their excess motion. Further, the bacon boards are of various size for the different quantities of bacon to be packaged. Adjustments are therefore necessary for the size of the bacon boards. This involves a setup which is typically quite consuming in converting the machinery from one size board to the other board. In addition, the dispensing of the boards is often dependent upon the size of the stack of bacon boards to be dispensed. Applicant is unaware of board magazines which compensate for the varying loads created by the varying amounts of bacon boards as they are dispensed.
Sanitation requirements are also quite stringent for the packaging of bacon. In order to comply with the sanitation requirements, cleaning of the machines are necessary. Also, repairs are often necessary to the machines. The closed design of the prior art does not provide for ease of cleaning and maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is an apparatus for depositing predetermined quantities of sliced bacon in shingled condition on bacon boards. The apparatus includes a frame having an input end, output end, support side, and operating side. An infeed conveyor is operatively connected to a frame and a cantilevered output conveyor is operatively connected to the support side and extends towards the operating side. A bacon board dispenser mechanism is cantilevered and operatively connected to the support side and extends to the operating side. A bacon board magazine is positioned proximate the dispenser mechanism for supplying bacon boards to the dispenser mechanism. A cantilevered feeding mechanism is operatively connected to the support side and extends to the operating side. The feeding mechanism is for taking a bacon board dispensed by the dispenser mechanism and placing the bacon board under the sliced bacon, wherein the operating side is open thereby easing bacon board loading, cleaning and maintaining the apparatus.
In another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus for depositing predetermined quantities of sliced bacon in shingled condition on bacon boards. The apparatus includes a frame having an input end, output end, support side and operating side. An infeed conveyor and output conveyor are operatively connected to the frame. A dispenser mechanism and feeding mechanism is also operatively connected to the frame. A multi-positioned bacon board magazine includes a generally vertical bearing member. A first frame is mounted for vertical movement on the bearing member. The frame has a carrying surface for holding the bacon boards. A lift is operatively connected to the first frame for moving the first frame vertically. A cradle is operatively connected to the bearing member, and the cradle has a plurality of stops at different vertical heights. The cradle is slidable laterally to position a selected stop under the frame, wherein the frame is lowered to contact the selected stop, thereby positioning the frame.
In another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus for depositing quantities of sliced bacon in shingled condition on bacon boards. The apparatus includes a frame having an input end, output end, support side and operating side. An infeed conveyor and output conveyor are operatively connected to the frame. A dispenser mechanism and feeding mechanism are also operatively connected to the frame. A bacon board magazine has a support surface for holding the bacon boards and a pushing member for pushing the bacon boards towards the dispensing mechanism and feeding mechanism. Means for applying pressure to the pushing member and means for sensing an amount of bacon boards on the support surface and lowering pressure applying to the pushing member as the amount of bacon boards decrease are provided.
In another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus for depositing predetermined quantities of sliced bacon in shingled condition on bacon boards. The apparatus includes a frame having an input end, output end, support side and operating side. An infeed conveyor and output conveyor are operatively connected to the frame. A bacon board magazine has a support surface for holding the bacon boards. A dispenser mechanism is operatively connected to the frame. The dispenser mechanism includes a first vacuum member for grasping a bacon board from the bacon board magazine. The first vacuum member is operatively connected to the dispenser mechanism for movement between a first grasping position and a second releasing position. A second vacuum member is provided for grasping a bacon board from the bacon board magazine. The second vacuum member is operatively connected to the dispenser mechanism for movement between the first and second positions, the second vacuum member spaced from the first vacuum member. A valve is used to selectively supply a vacuum to the first and second vacuum members, wherein bacon boards of different configurations may easily be dispensed. A feeding mechanism is operatively connected to the frame. The feeding mechanism takes the bacon boards dispensed by dispenser mechanism and places the bacon boards under the sliced bacon.
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patent: 4452031 (1984-06-01), Dennis et al.
patent: 4524558 (1985-06-01), Miles
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patent: 5117717 (1992-06-01), Mally
patent: 5678385 (1997-10-01), Focke et al.
patent: 5761882 (1998-06-01), Gambetti
patent: 0 677 442 (1995-10-01), None
patent: 0 608 823 (1996-12-01), None
patent: 384 606 (1932-12-01), None
Hormel Foods, LLC
Mau & Krull, P.A.
Sipos John
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