Apparatus and method of forming a stack of food products within a storage container
US8215087B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jul 10, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G57/06
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for forming a stack of food products in a storage container, and a method therefor. The apparatus comprises a first gate moveable between an open and a closed position that drops a row of food products onto a second gate moveable between an open and a closed position. The second gate receives multiple rows of food products and once a predetermined number of rows have been received, the second gate opens to release the rows of food products into the storage container below it. As the first gate shifts from the open to the closed position, it can advance, at least in part, a subsequent row of food products onto the first gate for later release onto the second gate. The area defined by the second gate and the first gate is a temporary staging area which can increase in height after receiving subsequent rows of food products.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.