Abstract: A typical product overwrap machine includes a crossfeed conveyor, a pusher bar for transferring bread products to a lifting table which moves upwardly to wrap the bread product with a sealing wrap, and the wrapped bread product is sealed by heated rollers. The present invention provides a sensor and control systems operating servomotors or AC drives so that the crossfeed conveyor is operated only when product is detected at a conveyor inlet, and the pusher bar is actuated to move the product from the crossfeed conveyor when product is detected. The control systems detect the width of a pusher bar plate and adjust the separation of flight bars in the crossfeed conveyor to match the size of the installed pusher bar plate, thereby preventing damage to the crossfeed conveyor if there is a mismatch in sizes. Other control systems may be provided to adjust both the width of the pusher bar and the separation of flight bars in the crossfeed conveyor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of and apparatus for inspecting a label applied to a container. The method includes the steps of placing the container on a rotatable platform; rotating the platform; detecting an edge of the label as the container rotates on the rotating platform; stopping rotation of the platform at a predetermined position relative to the position of the detected edge of the label; advancing the container to a label inspection station; viewing the label using a machine vision label inspection system; comparing an image obtained by the machine vision inspection system with established criteria to determine if the label meets predetermined standards for the label; and selectively directing the container to a reject outlet if the label does not match the predetermined standards for the label.

Abstract: Apparatus for stamping a pattern into bread doughs in which the dough is continuously conveyed in cups and is stamped by star shaped tips of pattern forming tools mounted to a stamping head. The stamping head travels in an elliptical path by virtue of a pinion ring assembly with supports for the stamping head mounted in positions offset from the center of a turret pinion that rotates as it orbits a turret ring. An eccentric pinion assembly controls the speed of the stamping head by controlling the speed of the turret pinion's orbit around the turret rings, so that the stamping head's speed is decreased to match the speed of the cups while dough stamping occurs, and its speed is increased during repositioning of the stamping head for the next set of dough-filled cups.