Abstract: A transfer system is provided for a food product, comprising an accumulation cage to buffer product being delivered from a loader system; and a transfer mechanism to deliver a predetermined number of food product from the accumulation cage to a chute which itself delivers the predetermined number of food products to a receptacle. The loader system may run continuously to deliver product to the accumulator cage while the transfer mechanism delivers the predetermined number of food product to the chute.

Abstract: A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.