Abstract: A system for dividing a flow of objects into two or more lanes of object flow, the system comprising a first conveyor configured to transport a plurality of objects, the conveyor having a transportation plane and plurality of substantially planar regions elevated above and substantially parallel to the transportation plane, the plurality of substantially planar regions each being configured to hold at least one of the plurality of objects being transported; a second conveyor substantially adjacent to the first conveyor; and a guide mounted above the transportation plane and the planar regions of the first conveyor, the guide configured to divert an object positioned on one of the substantially planar regions elevated above the transportation plane onto the second conveyor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the transportation of a product from a first transporter to a second transporter. Further, a feed transport system and method of use is provided.

Abstract: A rotary coupling for communicating a pneumatic signal from a stationary pneumatic source to an apparatus. The rotary coupling has a housing and a rotating portion that rotates with respect thereto. The housing has at least two inlets in fluid communication with the pneumatic source. The rotating portion has at least two outlets in fluid communication with the apparatus. Inlet and outlet pairs are aligned radially relative to an axis of rotation of the rotating portion so that they are in fluid communication when the rotating portion is at an angular orientation at which the inlet and outlet pair are coincident. More than one inlet may be paired with an outlet, and vice versa. Channels can be formed to allow the inlet and outlet pairs to be in fluid communication when they are not coincident. Inlets and outlets can also be radially spaced different distances from the axis of rotation such that fluid communication between these inlets and outlets are blocked at all angular orientations of the rotating portion.

Abstract: A rotary coupling for communicating a pneumatic signal from a stationary pneumatic source to an apparatus. The rotary coupling has a housing and a rotating portion that rotates with respect thereto. The housing has at least two inlets in fluid communication with the pneumatic source. The rotating portion has at least two outlets in fluid communication with the apparatus. Inlet and outlet pairs are aligned radially relative to an axis of rotation of the rotating portion so that they are in fluid communication when the rotating portion is at an angular orientation at which the inlet and outlet pair are coincident. More than one inlet may be paired with an outlet, and vice versa. Channels can be formed to allow the inlet and outlet pairs to be in fluid communication when they are not coincident. Inlets and outlets can also be radially spaced different distances from the axis of rotation such that fluid communication between these inlets and outlets are blocked at all angular orientations of the rotating portion.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for indexing and lifting items from a first conveyer in a first plane and transferring such items to a second conveyor in a second plane it a different level than the first plane. The apparatus includes a transfer assembly for moving the items longitudinally from the first conveyer to the second conveyer. The apparatus also includes at least two longitudinally spaced-apart posts, each post having a top surface. The top surfaces of the posts cooperate to support an item. Connectors connect the posts to the transfer assembly and frame members mount the transfer assembly between the first and second conveyers at an angle relative to at least one of the first and second planes. The posts are configured so that when the transfer assembly is mounted at the angle, the top surfaces are in a single plane which is parallel to at least one of the first and second planes of the first and second conveyors.

Abstract: A rotary coupling for communicating a pneumatic signal from a stationary pneumatic source to an apparatus. The rotary coupling has a housing and a rotating portion that rotates with respect thereto. The housing has at least two inlets in fluid communication with the pneumatic source. The rotating portion has at least two outlets in fluid communication with the apparatus. Inlet and outlet pairs are aligned radially relative to an axis of rotation of the rotating portion so that they are in fluid communication when the rotating portion is at an angular orientation at which the inlet and outlet pair are coincident. More than one inlet may be paired with an outlet, and vice versa. Channels can be formed to allow the inlet and outlet pairs to be in fluid communication when they are not coincident. Inlets and outlets can also be radially spaced different distances from the axis of rotation such that fluid communication between these inlets and outlets are blocked at all angular orientations of the rotating portion.

Abstract: A carrier secures articles while the carrier is drawn by a carrier transport mechanism of a conveyor system along a series of stations adjacent to processing equipment that can perform operations on the article. The carrier has a base and one or two arms that are attached to the base at one end. The other ends of the arms supports walls. The arms move relative to the carrier base between an article-engaging position where the walls prevent the article from moving off the carrier base to a down-out-of-the-way position where the walls lie below the carrier base allowing movement of the article on or off the carrier base. Wheels are attached to the ends of the arms supporting the walls and a wheel guide track attached to the conveyer system moves the arms between the article-engaging position and the down-out-of-the-way position at desired points along the conveyer system.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a covering material to an outer flange of a container includes a container carrier for aligning the covering material relative to the container so that a portion of the covering material is positioned over the outer flange of the container. The apparatus also includes a sealing assembly having a horn and a mechanism for applying pressure to the outer flange and to the covering material against the horn. The apparatus further includes a conveyor for moving the container carrier relative to the sealing assembly so that the outer flange of the container and the portion of the covering material positioned over the outer flange pass below the horn. In addition, the apparatus includes a mechanism for vibrating the horn at a predetermined frequency to cause friction between the outer flange of the container and the portion of the covering material positioned over the outer flange to seal the outer flange to the covering material.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for spreading a material on an object. The apparatus includes a continuously moving conveyor for moving the object in a downstream direction, and a dispenser for applying the material to the object. The apparatus also includes a carriage located above the conveyor, and a spreader coupled to the carriage for engaging the material applied to the object by the dispenser to spread the material on the object. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving the carriage in the downstream direction over the continuously moving object as the spreader engages the material, and another mechanism for providing movement of the spreader relative to the carriage from an first position in which the spreader engages the material to a second position in which the spreader disengages the material.

Abstract: A traveling bucket assembly is operable to dispense particulate product contained in a pair of food hoppers simultaneously onto target areas on an underlying conveyor. An outside gate is movable to open and close a dispensing outlet formed in the bottom of each of the food hoppers. An inside gate in the hoppers is movable independently of the outside gate to block further discharge of product from the hoppers even though the outside gate is retained in its opened position so that discharge of product can be regulated with greater precision.

Abstract: A cutting assembly for cutting a continuous sheet of material covering containers which are continuously conveyed in spaced apart container carriers in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed. The cutting assembly includes a support assembly and a mechanism coupled to the support assembly for rotating the support assembly in an orbital path so that the support assembly passes above the container carriers at substantially the predetermined speed and direction during a first portion of the orbital path. The cutting assembly also includes a blade assembly pivotably coupled to the support assembly for cutting the continuous sheet of material as the support assembly moves above the container carriers during the first portion of the orbital path. The cutting assembly further includes an alignment pin for aligning the blade assembly with respect to the container carriers as the blade assembly cuts the sheet of material.

Abstract: A control system and method are provided for controlling the timing of a dispenser including a valve which moves alternately between a product-loading position and a product-dispensing position in a repeated cycle. The dispenser also includes a mechanism for dispensing a product from the dispenser after each time the valve moves to its product-dispensing position. The control system includes a detector which detects the time of which the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and a mechanism for generating a control signal at a predetermined time to actuate the dispensing mechanism when the valve reaches its product-dispensing position. The control system also includes a sensor for sensing the time that the dispensing mechanism actually begins dispensing product. The control system further determines the time difference between the time the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and the time the dispensing mechanism actually begins dispensing the product.

Abstract: A container carrier for supporting a container having an outer flange including first regions which have a first predetermined thickness, second regions which have a second predetermined thickness, and a top surface. The container carrier includes a carrier body having upper and lower surfaces and being formed to include an aperture for receiving the container therethrough, a portion of the upper surface of the carrier body adjacent the aperture being configured to abut the flange of the container to support the container, the portion of the upper surface also having a first depth in first sections which underlie the first regions of the flange and having a second depth in second sections which underlie the second regions of the flange, the second depth being greater than the first depth so that the top surface of the flange lies substantially in a single plane.

Abstract: Apparatus for "forming" (reshaping) plural dough balls on a conveyor including means for arranging the balls in a desired order on the conveyor. Included is a transfer conveyor with reciprocative end portion and funnel type means cooperating with ring means above a second conveyor for facilitating arranging the balls on the second conveyor and controls for the apparatus.

Abstract: A heat seal carrier assembly is provided for mating a covering material with a deformable sealing portion of a product-filled container to seal the container. The carrier assembly has an upstanding wall including a top surface having a raised ridge thereon. The container is situated on the carrier assembly to properly align the container sealing portion with the top surface of the upstanding wall of the carrier assembly. A heat seal head moves downwardly to press the covering material and the sealing portion of the container against the raised ridge and the top surface of the upstanding wall of the carrier assembly to seal the covering material and the sealing portion of the container together.

Abstract: An aseptic food handling system for filling containers with presterilized food which includes a first cylinder, having an inlet and an outlet, where food products to be packaged are received in the inlet and where the cylinder contains a piston operable from first position to receive product through the inlet to a second position to emit the food product from the outlet wherein the cylinder includes sterilizing fluid passageway to selectively admit sterilizing fluid to the cylinder to expose the internal surfaces of the cylinder and the piston to the sterilizing fluid and can be operated by an adjustable two position motive cylinder. A second dispensing cylinder can also be provided to receive the food product from the first cylinder and direct it to a food coainer.

Abstract: A sealing device for covering containers which prior to sealing has a member which reduces the volume of the container and in which the member is released after sealing to allow a vacuum circulation to exist in the sealed container. A further feature provides that the volume reducing, sealing and releasing steps occur while the containers are continuously moved along a conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging an item in a controlled atmosphere enclosure is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor for continuously conveying a series of containers along a defined path. The path has sequentially oriented first and second portions, and defines a first side border and an opposite second side border. The apparatus introduces a covering material over the path of containers such that a space is created between the containers and the moving covering material. A vacuum gallery is disposed substantially adjacent the first border for applying a vacuum to the space only in the first portion of the path. A gas gallery is disposed substantially adjacent the second border for continuously introducing a selected gas into the space in both the first portion and the second portion of the path.

Abstract: An aseptic food handling system for filling containers with presterilized food. A first cylinder is provided having an inlet and an outlet, and located so food products to be packaged are received in the inlet. The cylinder contains a piston operable from first position to receive product through the inlet to a second position to emit the food product from the outlet. At least one sterilizing fluid passageway is provided in the cylinder to selectively admit sterilizing fluid to the cylinder to expose the internal surfaces of the cylinder and the poston to the sterilizing fluid where the cylinder can be operated by an adjustable two position motive cylinder. A second dispensing cylinder can also be provided to receive the food product from the first cylinder and direct it to a food container.

Abstract: An apportioning apparatus for depositing a selected amount of a particulate product onto a series of moving receptacles is provided. At least one bucket is mounted in a reciprocating carriage for receiving a selected amount of the product. The bucket includes a closure for the outlet end that selectively opens to deposite a selected amount of the product onto a moving receptacle, with the speed of movement of the carriage and bucket substantially matched to the speed of movement of the receptacle during the filling operation.