Abstract: A conveyor system useful for conveying food packages from a packaging machine includes a first conveyor for receiving the packages seriatim and conveying the packages toward a second conveyor. The first conveyor includes sensors and ejection mechanism for ejecting packages which are too long, attached to each other or of insufficient weight. A sensor at the discharge end of the first conveyor controls operation of an indexable second conveyor having a conveyor member with spaced apart partitions defining slots for receiving each package. The system includes a transfer mechanism comprising a rake mounted above the second conveyor on a linear bearing assembly with a rack and pinion drive and a pneumatic actuator for lowering, translating, retracting and returning the rake to a starting position. The third conveyor includes an endless conveyor belt connected to a drive motor which operates in timed relationship to the transfer mechanism to transfer laterally spaced rows of packages from the second conveyor.

Abstract: Primary and secondary conveyor belts have portions aligned in mutually parallel relation. At least one of the conveyor belts includes flites and sideguards projecting toward a surface of the other conveyor belt for defining between confronting portions of the conveyor belts a plurality of chambers for enclosing the product to be conveyed. The flites and pluralities of side guards project substantially perpendicularly relative to each other, whereby the chambers formed thereby are of substantially rectangular configuration, interpositioned between successive flites. The side guards of a primary conveyor are interdigitated between the flites and other side guards projecting outwardly from the other conveyor belt, for minimizing any leakage of particulate material from the chambers.