Method and apparatus for a card dispenser
US10384889B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 3, 2014 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S53/01
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A card dispensing system for dispensing cards along a conveying surface which conveys sliced products downstream of a slicer for packaging the sliced products. A hopper contains a stack of cards which are withdrawn from the hopper by a suction force provided via at least one suction cup. The suction cup is moveable vertically to retrieve and remove the card from the hopper. The suction cup is moveable laterally to move the card into a receiving position where a card clamp on a clamp carriage arrives to receive the card. Suction force on the card is released when the card clamp clamps down on the card. The clamp carriage moves the card from the receiving position to the staging position where a nip engages with the card to feed the card through a junction in the conveyor line just as a food product passes over the junction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.