Abstract: A conveyor system for carrying a conveyor belt. The conveyor system includes a first module having a frame and an elevator assembly including shuttles positioned on opposite sides of the belt and movable relative to the frame between a first position, in which the upper surface is positioned to move product along the belt, and a second position, in which the upper surface is spaced a distance from the belt in a direction substantially normal to the travel direction to remove product from the belt. The conveyor system also includes a second module for supporting the belt and transporting product from an upstream end of the second module to a downstream end of the second module and a third module having a drive assembly for driving the belt across the first, second, and third modules.

Abstract: A test assembly is used to determine a characteristic of a separator sheet. The test assembly includes a source of light to illuminate at least a portion of the separator sheet. The test assembly also includes a vision inspection system to record at least one discrete image of the illuminated surface of the separator sheet and apply at least one test to the discrete image to determine the characteristic of the separator sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a separator sheet handling assembly 10 that includes a lifting assembly 20 adapted to receive a pallet 12 containing a stack of separator sheets 14. The lifting assembly 20 positions the stack of separator sheets 14 into a predetermined location where a feed assembly 30 engages a separator sheet 16 positioned at the top of the stack of separator sheets 14. The feed assembly 30 removes the separator sheet 16 and transports it to a test assembly 50 where the separator sheet 16 is monitored for a particular characteristic such as cleanliness or structural integrity. The separator sheet 16 is delivered to a first storage assembly 60 if the separator sheet 16 has the particular characteristic, or a second storage assembly 70 if the separator sheet 16 does not include the particular characteristic.