Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for distributing product on a conveyer

US5201404A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
4References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 1991
Grant dateApr 13, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 30, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G69/045
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for evenly distributing coated cereal pieces across the width of a conveyer is disclosed including a steep angled, V-shaped plow (24) supported in varying angular positions by saddles (38) above the conveyer. Specifically, three saddles (38) slideably support a semicircular shaped carrier (12) secured to and between the first and second legs (26, 28) of the plow (24). A connector arm (66) is connected to a leg (28) of the plow (24) for moving the carrier (12) and the plow (24) secured thereto along an arc having a center downstream of the interconnection of the legs (26, 28) of the plow (24) and in the preferred form at the center of the semicircular shape of the carrier (12). The saddles (38) are vertically, adjustably secured to a support arm (46) which in turn can be raised or lowered relative to the conveyer. The plow (24) is positioned to engage the product pile on the conveyer and due to the steep angle of the legs (26, 28) of the plow (24) and the Teflon.RTM. nature thereof, the coated cereal pieces spread quickly and evenly across the width of the conveyer. The angular position of the plow (24) is varied to conform to the variations in the product pile on …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.