Patents Examined by Jonathon D. Holmes
  • Patent number: 4421222
    Abstract: An apparatus for arranging randomly spaced and oriented workpieces, especially frozen hamburger patties, has a plurality of devices for unstacking or unshingling stacked or shingled workpieces. The apparatus includes a pair of downwardly converging surfaces obliquely oriented with respect to the horizontal and a convoluted transport conveyor. The transport conveyor extends through the converging surfaces and assures a substantially horizontal orientation downstream of the converging surfaces. The illustrated apparatus discharges frozen hamburger patties in a predictable orderly fashion, either in a straight line shingled fashion or in a side by side arrangement. In a disclosed optional feature, a sheet of paper is interposed between the patties and a collection conveyor where the patties are discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Planet Products Inc.
    Inventor: Karl H. Stuermer