Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sorting special items – and certain methods and apparatus for... – Separating means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-07
2001-05-08
Nguyen, Tuan N. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...
Separating means
C209S914000, C209S933000, C198S369200, C198S371200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227376
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a system for inspecting a plurality of items and more particularly to a system for providing a plurality of inspected items, wherein the inspected items may be rejected in either of two directions and the inspected items are replaced from a supply conveyor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, bacon has normally been packaged in packages which include a plurality of individual bacon slices. These bacon slices are stacked together and form a single unit. Over the past several years, consumers have desired more convenient packaging. Preparing bacon has always been a relatively messy task and microwaveable bacon packages have been developed to make cooking bacon less messy. The microwave bacon packages include a plurality of bacon strips. Packing machines which are utilized to pack the bacon strips normally package four packages simultaneously. Therefore, in order to have an efficient packaging line, four sets of bacon slices which are of acceptable quality need to be indexed into the packaging machine at once.
The inspecting of the bacon as it approaches the machine has been a problem. It has been difficult to reject one set of bacon slices and provide for a make-up set of bacon slices to replace the rejected slices. Since the bacon slices are conveyed to the packaging machine side by side and also front and back, any one of the four sets could be rejected for quality reasons. The ability to efficiently and quickly reject a bad set of bacon slices and replace it with a new set of bacon slices has been problematical in that any one of four sets of bacon slices could be rejected at one of the four locations.
The present invention addresses the problems associated with the prior art devices and provides for a two-directional reject and make-up conveyor system to provide for inspected bacon sets to a packaging machine. It is also appreciated that the inspection system could also be utilized for items other than bacon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a two-directional reject and make-up conveyor system for inspecting items. The system has a first inspection conveyor having a forward section and a rear section. Each section is sized to accommodate an item to be inspected. A first drive mechanism indexes the first conveyor both forward and backward. A second inspection conveyor has a forward section and a rear section. Each section is sized to accommodate an item to be inspected. A second drive mechanism indexes the second conveyor both forward and backward. A first supply conveyor supplies the item to be inspected to the first inspection conveyor and a second supply conveyor supplies the item to be inspected to the second inspection conveyor. A receiving conveyor is positioned to receive two inspected items from the first inspection conveyor and two inspected items from the second inspection conveyor. The forward section of the first inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the receiving conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position. The forward section of the second inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the receiving conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position. The rear section of the first inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the first supply conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position. The rear section of the second inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the second supply conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position, wherein when two items are on the first and second inspection conveyors, each inspection conveyor is movable to either its transfer or reject position and each is indexable in either a forward or a rearward direction to selectively reject or accept each item.
In another embodiment, the invention is a method of inspecting items. The method includes sequentially placing a first forward item and a second rear item on a first inspection conveyor. The two items are then inspected. Any item that is not acceptable is then selectively rejected by indexing the inspection conveyor either forward or backward depending on whether the item occupies a forward or rear position. A make-up item for a rejected item is supplied from a first supply conveyor to the first inspection conveyor.
In another embodiment, the invention is a method of inspecting bacon drafts. The method includes sequentially placing a first forward bacon draft and a second rear bacon draft on a first inspection conveyor and sequentially placing a third forward bacon draft and a fourth rear bacon draft on a second inspection conveyor. The four bacon drafts are then inspected. Any bacon draft that is not acceptable is then selectively rejected by indexing the inspection conveyors either forward or backward depending on whether the bacon draft occupies a forward or rear position. A make-up bacon draft for a rejected bacon draft is supplied from a first supply conveyor to the first inspection conveyor and from a second supply conveyor to the second inspection conveyor.
In another embodiment, the invention is a two-directional reject and make-up conveyor system for inspecting items. The system includes a first inspection conveyor having a forward section and a rear section. Each section is sized to accommodate an item to be inspected. A first drive mechanism is provided for indexing the first conveyor both forward and backward. A first supply conveyor supplies the item to be inspected to the first inspection conveyor. A receiving conveyor receives two inspected items from the first inspection conveyor. The forward section of the first inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the receiving conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position. The rear section of the first inspection conveyor, in cooperation with the first supply conveyor, has a transfer position and a reject position, wherein when two items are on the first inspection conveyor, the inspection conveyor is movable to either its transfer or reject position and is indexed in either a forward or rearward direction to selectively reject or accept each item.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4541824 (1985-09-01), Muller
patent: 4765488 (1988-08-01), Moriarity
patent: 5429223 (1995-07-01), Moeller
patent: 5810149 (1998-09-01), Sandberg et al.
patent: 2225666 (1973-12-01), None
Handel Gary A.
Morrison Jeffrey J.
Hormel Foods, LLC
Mau & Krull, P.A.
Nguyen Tuan N.
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