Abstract: A stack storage elevator for sliced, stacked comestible products includes a frame assembly disposed adjacent to a roller conveyor interposed in a conveyor delivering stacked slices to a packaging apparatus. A pair of vertically spaced sprocket wheels are secured to the frame to support an endless chain loop, one half of the loop traversing a vertically extending guide channel in the frame assembly. A plurality of elevator platform assemblies are provided, each secured to a link of the chain loop and arrayed in spaced, stacked relationship thereabout. Each elevator platform assembly includes a plurality of tines extending in parallel relationship from a pivot shaft joined to the respective chain link. The tines, which are disposed to define a platform adapted to support a stack of sliced comestible product, are spaced to interdigitate with the rollers of the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling individual sliced stacks of a comestible product includes a first roller dropper unit which arranges the output of a slicer into adjacent stacks, and drops the stacks onto a weighing scale. Accepted pairs of stacks are carried by parallel transfer conveyors to second and third roller dropper units which each accumulate two stacks, and which then drop them simultaneously onto a channelizer assembly. The channelizer assembly includes a plurality of parallel, drivable rollers mounted in a frame which is selectively translatable laterally in the direction of the roller axes. The channelizer receives four stacks from the roller dropper units, indexes laterally and receives four more stacks to form a 2.times.4 matrix. The rollers are then driven to unload the stacks onto a ramp conveyor which leads to a vacuum packaging machine. The ramp conveyor includes momentarily actuable stop tabs which bring the rows into exact alignment before being wrapped simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling individual sliced stacks of a comestible product includes a first roller dropper unit which arranges the output of a slicer into adjacent stacks, and drops the stacks onto a weighing scale. Accepted pairs of stacks are carried by parallel transfer conveyors to second and third roller dropper units which each accumulate two stacks, and which then drop them simultaneously onto a channelizer assembly. The channelizer assembly includes a plurality of parallel, drivable rollers mounted in a frame which is selectively translatable laterally in the direction of the roller axes. The channelizer receives four stacks from the roller dropper units, indexes laterally and receives four more stacks to form a 2.times.4 matrix. The rollers are then driven to unload the stacks onto a ramp conveyor which leads to a vacuum packaging machine. The ramp conveyor includes momentarily actuable stop tabs which bring the rows into exact alignment before being wrapped simultaneously.