Abstract: A rotary displacer is provided on a conveyor which carries food items in predefined lanes. The rotary displacer has a rotating member with spokes extending therefrom. The spokes serve to deflect the food items to one side or the other along a direction transverse to a direction of conveyance to offset the center of the items from the center of the lane. Subsequently, the offset items are directed into a sliding alignment device, or the like, to separate each lane of items into two separate lanes. The spokes can be positioned along the transverse direction to allow various deflection configurations. For example alternating spokes can be offset in opposite directions to deflect every other item in an alternate direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving, in an infeed section, a stream of distributed items deposited in rows of like position. A slide mechanism is is selectively movable between a slide position and a flip position. In the slide position, the item drops off the edge of the belt and slides across the primary slide surface and onto a second slide mechanism having a secondary slide surface that is positioned to be in substantially the same plane as the primary slide surface. The slide mechanism is moved into the flip position for every other row of items. The items to be flipped come off the conveyor belt and come into contact with an abutting surface. This surface changes the direction of the item as it moves towards the transport mechanism in conjunction with a reverse slide surface of the second slide mechanism. The item slides down the reverse slide surface on its top surface, thus flipping over approximately 180.degree. from its orientation on the infeed conveyor belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic tray packer system including a station at which a serial stream of incoming articles are stacked, separated into groups and discharged to a transversely moving tray-type package. The tray packer includes a conveyor belt for transporting the articles, one by one, while they lie substantially in a first plane, and a nose roller for decelerating the articles transported by the conveyor belt. The articles pass over the nose roller and partially rotate and drop along a slide. A flipper mechanism further rotates the articles and propels them one by one against a stack of previously propelled articles. A separator member first defines a downstream end of the stack, and then moves via cams, along an endless closed path, to define the upstream end of the stack and a downstream end of a next stack. A backup member replaces the separator member at the upstream end of the stack.