Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including programs encoded on computer storage media, for transferring comestibles between conveyors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an egg carrier for holding an egg in an egg handling system, wherein the egg carrier comprises; an egg accommodation, an egg clamping system to secure an egg in the egg accommodation space, wherein the egg clamping system is moveable between an egg securing position and an egg release position, an operating system coupled with the egg clamping system to move the clamping system between the egg securing position and the egg release position, wherein the operating system comprises an operating member that is operable externally from the egg carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for transferring products, for example eggs, from an endless conveyor to carrier units, comprising—the conveyor with at least a single row of transport carriers, and—a transfer unit positioned near the conveyor, which further comprises an arm pivotable around a shaft and having at its end a transfer carrier, wherein the relative velocities upon takeover from the conveyor and upon transfer to such a carrier unit are virtually 0 m/s, and wherein the shaft is driven by a motor with independently controllable speed. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for, from an endless conveyor having transport carriers for carrying along products, transferring therefrom the products, for example eggs, to carrier units.

Abstract: A packaging device (1) for packaging substantially round articles into a dimpled package (100) having an array of pockets to receive the round articles. The packaging device comprising a supply conveyor (2) for the articles and a package conveyor (15) located below the supply conveyor for conveying the packages. A filling buffer (4) is located between the supply conveyor and the package conveyor having multiple sub-buffers (5). The device furthermore comprises a collector (8) for receiving articles from the buffer, and a setter (12) wherein, in use, the setter reciprocates between an upper position to a lower position, wherein in the upper position the articles can be received from the collector and in the lower position the articles can be discharged into the pockets of the package.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing glass containers handles the containers individually after a hot forming process and annealing to prevent glass-to-glass contact. By handling the containers individually and preventing glass-to-glass contact damage to the containers in the form of checks and scratches is avoided. To prevent contact of the containers and damage arising from the contact, the equipment including conveyors, pushers, starwheels, shuttles, and transfer heads that move the glass containers through the apparatus maintains the glass containers in uniform spaced relationship at each stage of container processing until the containers are packaged.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing pouches in retail-ready cartons includes pouch placer having an elevator assembly having paddles for receiving pouches provided by a first conveyor, and lifting the pouches, and a first robot arm for retrieving a pouch from a paddle of the elevator assembly and placing it in a retail-ready carton.

Abstract: To provide a simple and flexibly usable transport device in the form of a long stator linear motor, which enables a movement of a transport unit of the transport device in several different planes, it is provided according to the invention that a transition segment including a continuous-flow conveyor having a longitudinal axis is provided, adjoining the starting point or the ending point of the transport track in the longitudinal direction, for transporting the transport unit in a direction of movement extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the continuous-flow conveyor is provided to move the transport unit in the direction of movement at least sectionally in a conveying plane deviating from the movement plane of the transport track.

Abstract: An automated method and system for distributing prescription vials from upstream locations of a pharmacy to various downstream destinations using a stacked configuration of outbound lanes so that vials will enter the first outbound lane that is not blocked. The distribution table of the present invention has a lower portion having outbound lanes and an upper portion having outbound lanes and where the table is adapted to move vials in a loop pattern around the lower and upper portions.

Abstract: A pallet comprising: a plurality of container seats wherein each seat is adapted to carry a fluid container; a data obtainer arranged to obtain container data from a data provider carried by a fluid container to be carried; a processor coupled to the data obtainer and configured to provide a signal based on the container data.

Abstract: The invention provides a mechanical bar conveying device consisting of a horizontal travel limiting device (1), a vertical axis servo reducer (2), a vertical descent depth detector (3), a vertical axis travelling mechanism (4), a horizontal axis servo reducer (5), a horizontal drive gear (6), a horizontal tow chain (7), a horizontal moving mechanism (8), a manipulator torque detector (9), a safety detection mechanism (10), a main frame (11), a horizontal frame (12), a vertical movement mechanism (16), a tow chain bracket (17), a tow chain (18), a vertical rack-and-pinion mechanism (19), a horizontal linear guide track (20), a vertical beam (21), a claw clamping mechanism (22), a claw ball screw (23), a manipulator servo reducer (24), a manipulator depth detector (25), and a claw and travel limiting combined mechanism (26).

Abstract: A product conveying and accumulation system utilizes multiple moving conveyors, including a first conveyor which transports product from an upstream location. A second accumulator conveyor, curvilinear in configuration, traveling at substantially the same or similar speed or a designated variable speed as the first conveyor, is aligned in the same plane as, is adjacent to, and may mate with the first conveyor at a predetermined location for contiguous movement in the same direction as the first conveyor at this predetermined location. A third accumulator conveyor is located within the curvilinear conveyor and substantially within the same transverse plane as the first and second conveyors. The presence of this third accumulator component into the conveyor system permits additional products to accumulate and circulate on and then ultimately be discharged from the conveyor system.

Abstract: A hyperspectral method for detecting the present condition of an avian egg is disclosed in which a neural network algorithm is used to compare the spectrum of a test egg against a spectral library. The method can detect fertility with greater than 90% reliability on the day of laying and the gender of the chick with greater than 75% reliability on the 12th day after laying.

Abstract: A multiplicity of wafer-type workpieces are buffer stored in a device having, a frame, at least two transport elements which each circulate in a vertical direction around an upper and a lower deflection device connected to the frame and are provided, at uniform intervals, with a multiplicity of bearing areas for the horizontal mounting of workpieces, wherein at least one of the deflection devices of each transport element is driven and a free space is situated between the transport elements, a loading position between the upper deflection devices at which a workpiece can be placed onto corresponding bearing areas, and a stationary removal device below the loading position, comprising a horizontal transport device, the first end of which lies within the free space between the transport elements. The invention also relates to a method for buffer-storing a multiplicity of wafer-type workpieces using the abovementioned device.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a bottom plate defining a feeding hole, at least one first feeding mechanism, and at least one second feeding mechanism. The first feeding mechanism includes a first driving member mounted on the bottom plate, a first connection member connected to the first driving member, and a plurality of first support members. The first support member is mounted on the first connection member spaced from each other along a longitudinal direction of the first connection member, for supporting the workpieces. The second feeding mechanism has a similar structure to that of the first feeding mechanism. The first connection member and the second connection member are positioned above the bottom plate adjacent to each other. Each second support member is staggeredly positioned above one corresponding first support member.

Abstract: A device for aligning and transferring articles including: a counter 3 for aligning, at a gathering position P, an article set W composed of a predetermined number of uncompressed articles; a discharger 4 for discharging the article set W aligned at the gathering position P to a receiving position P0; and at least one transfer bed for supporting a bottom surface of the article set W and reciprocating between the receiving position P0 and a hand-over position P1, P2, thereby receiving the article set W at the receiving position P0, transferring the article set W to the hand-over position P1, P2, and returning to the receiving position P0. The transfer bed L1, R1 and the second support section 20 for compressing the article set W are driven by first and second motors, respectively.

Abstract: A method and a device for aligning dough pieces on a conveying surface of a conveyor. The device is arranged for performing the following steps: providing at least one dough piece to a supply device arranged above the conveying surface; supplying the dough piece onto the conveying surface which is moving in a conveyance direction, and wherein the dough piece is supplied up-stream of a roller arranged at a distance above the conveying surface; blocking the conveyance of the dough piece by the roller, wherein the roller is driven to rotate in a rotation direction such that a peripheral velocity at a side of the roller facing the conveying surface is substantially opposite to the conveyance direction; temporarily reversing the rotation direction of the roller in order to pass the dough piece underneath the roller; and conveying the dough piece on the conveying surface.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for transporting packagings from a packaging apparatus having two dropping channels to a transport container. A first transport element has compartments, the center-to-center distance of which corresponds to a center-to-center distance of the dropping channels, receives the packagings from the packaging producing apparatus. A second transport element has compartments for transporting the packagings to the transport container, wherein the center-to-center distance of the compartments of the second transport element corresponds to half of the center-to-center distance of the dropping channels. The apparatus has a transfer unit for transferring the packaging from the first transport element to the second transport element, and to which a positioning device is assigned for positioning the compartments of the first transport element relative to the compartments of the second transport element.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a bundle (11) of rolled bars, comprising bar conveying means (4), an inclined plane device (1) for forming a layer of bars and bar accumulation means (5), wherein the inclined plane device (1) comprises a plurality of support elements (2), arranged parallel to each another and defining a first plane inclined by an angle (a) with respect to a horizontal direction, and adapted to receive a predetermined number of bars defining the layer of bars on said first plane from said bar conveying means (4), handling means (60) for translating the inclined plane device (1) from a first maximum advancement position distal from the conveyor means (4) to a second maximum retraction position proximal to the conveyor means (4) to unload the layer of bars onto the accumulation means (5), at a speed such to prevent the bars resting on said supporting elements from being dragged.

Abstract: The invention proceeds from a separating device having at least one portioning unit (12a-f) which is provided for spacing main groups (14a-f) apart from at least one product column (18a-f) which is fed in in a continuous feed movement (16a-f) and for forming the main groups (14a-f) from the at least one product column (18a-f) which is fed in, by an acceleration at least substantially in the direction of the feed movement (16a-f). It is proposed that the portioning unit (12a-f) is provided for returning into an initial position (20a-f) in order to form the next main group (14a-f), while the at least one product column (18a-f) which is fed in a feed movement (16a-f).

Abstract: The invention can be used with an automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A take-away feeder is positioned over the vertical stacker table and is arranged to withdraw individual envelopes from the vertical stack in a sideways direction. The envelope is then redirected in a downward direction by ejecting the envelope into an open space. A downward tamping mechanism positioned above the open space moves downward to push on a top edge of the free-floating envelope. A downward transport positioned beneath the open space receives and transports envelopes pushed downward by the downward tamping mechanism.

Abstract: A device (1) for forming rolled bar (3) bundles which allows to obtain perfectly tidy and super compact bundles, in which the bars (3) are perfectly aligned with one another without twisting, tangling or overlapping, both inside and outside the bundle, conferring an excellent shape and regular appearance to the same. A process for forming rolled bar bundles by using the aforesaid device is also described.

Abstract: A spacing apparatus singulates and spaces items for further processing and packaging. The apparatus comprises a rotatable dispensing wheel member having apertures for receiving items, such as food parts. The apertures are configured to place the items in a consistent alignment on a conveyor system. As the dispensing wheel rotates, the items are deposited from the apertures sequentially and with consistent positioning on a conveyor system that transports the singularized items to a measuring point. The rate of rotation of the dispensing wheel member can be controlled by a controller. A guide disposed above the dispensing wheel member provides greater accuracy in depositing items into the slots.

Abstract: A device for taking over, temporarily storing and passing on elongated, hollow-cylindrical product units, preferably tubes, sleeves or cans, which come from a production line, has a first supplying conveyor belt and a continuously delivering second conveyor belt. The first and the second conveyor belts are disposed horizontally lying one above the other in a transfer zone. An intermediate storage arrangement is designed as a high-rack storage arrangement or as a paternoster storage arrangement. At least one handling robot is also located in the region of the transfer zone between the conveyor belts and the intermediate storage arrangement. This handling robot is designed either (a) to take a number of product units from the first conveyor belt and to feed them to the second conveyor belt or the intermediate storage arrangement, or (b) to remove a number of product units from the intermediate storage arrangement and to feed them to the second conveyor belt.

Abstract: Improved system for batching and expelling first and second stacks (10, 20) consisting of a predetermined number of clips (3) of disposable wipes from a main production line (S, 5), including at least a first grouping device (100, 200) that counts the clips (3) and transfers the stacks (10, 20) from the main production line (S, 5) to a first diverted conveyor line (A, 6) parallel to the main one, characterized in that it includes at least a second grouping device (100, 200), placed downstream from the first one, which counts the clips (3) and transfers the stacks (10, 20) from the main production line (S, 5) to a second diverted conveyor line (B, 7), parallel to the main line (S, 5), in which the first diverted conveyor line (A, 6) develops at a level lower than the second diverted conveyor line (B, 7).

Abstract: A method of loading a plurality of food items in multiple layers comprises collecting food items in a staging area in a first plurality of groups, each group having a plurality of food items. The first plurality of groups is displaced substantially simultaneously downwardly into an accumulating and storage area and thereby forming a plurality of first layer group. A second plurality of groups of food items is collected, each of the second plurality of groups having a plurality of food items. The second plurality of groups is displaced substantially simultaneously downwardly into the accumulating and storage area such that the second plurality of groups forms a plurality of second layer groups of food items superposed to the first layer groups, and thereby forming a plurality of two layer-groups. The plurality of two-layer groups of food items are displaced downwardly into a receptacle in a packing area.

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.

Abstract: Product is conveyed as a continuous stream by a meter conveyor (12) unto a transfer plate (32) and a transfer device (42) including first and second supports (42A, 42B) each in the form of a thin piece of flexible material. The transfer device (42) is movable between retracted and extended positions extending over a sweep conveyor (22) by securing its trailing and leading ends to flexible belts (106, 206) on opposite longitudinal sides of the sweep conveyor (22). Product is transferred from the second support (42B) to the sweep conveyor (22) and from the first support (42A) to the second support (42B) as the transfer device (42) moves from the extended position to the retracted position and is engaged by a metering bar (52B) which controls the product acceleration on the sweep conveyor (22) and by a metering bar (52A) which prevents unmetered product from tipping downstream. A sweep bar (62a) which collects the product on the sweep conveyor (22).

Abstract: A product transfer system includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor, and a rotatable transporter. The first conveyor conveys a series of products along a first axis. The second conveyor is oriented along a second axis. The second axis is spaced below the first axis. The rotatable transporter has a plurality of open compartments. The open compartments are positioned around the rotatable transporter. The rotatable transporter is adapted to move each of the open compartments along a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein an open compartment of the plurality of open compartments is substantially aligned with the first axis to receive products from the first conveyor when located at the first position, and continues to move after the receiving the products to the second position, wherein the products are dropped on the second conveyor when said open compartment of the plurality of open compartments moves from the second position to the third position.

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.

Abstract: A cigarette bundle feeder has a discharge duct which forms a lower part of a hopper and delivers filter cigarettes towards a bottom plate located under the hopper to produce a cigarette bundle, the discharge duct having a plurality of discharge passages arranged adjacent to each other in a width direction of the hopper to make the filter cigarettes flow downwards separately, the discharge passages opening in one direction; a front plate disposed at one side of and adjacent to the discharge duct, and extending in the width direction to cover the discharged passages of the discharge duct; and a plurality of suction holes formed in the front plate and having open ends that open towards the discharge duct, for sucking, through the open ends, tobacco shreds that spill from the cigarette ends of the filter cigarettes and drop into a gap between the front plate and the discharge duct.

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.

Abstract: A storage tray populator configured to populate a storage rack with a plurality of biological sample containers is provided. The storage tray populator may include a randomizer configured to receive the biological sample containers and randomly distribute the biological sample containers. Further, a transport apparatus may transport the biological sample containers from the randomizer to the storage rack. Additionally, a controller may control at least the transport apparatus. Thereby storage trays may be populated, and access to a desired biological sample may be improved. Methods for populating storage racks with a plurality of biological sample containers are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for transporting food products (20), particularly product slices produced by means of a slicer (26, 28, 30), comprising at least one transfer station (10) for receiving food products from an incoming product stream flowing in from at least one incoming conveyor (12) and for transferring the food products to an outgoing conveyor (14), wherein the transfer station comprises a transfer unit that is configured to simultaneously transfer a group of successively received food products to the outgoing conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes a first conveyor apparatus and a second conveyor apparatus. The first conveyor apparatus is positionable adjacent to a feed conveying device. The first conveyor apparatus is configured to pivot about a position adjacent to the feed conveyor device or move laterally adjacent to the feed conveyor. The second conveyor apparatus is configured to move such that the second conveyor apparatus maintains a position substantially parallel to the first conveyor apparatus when the first conveyor apparatus moves or pivots. In some embodiments, the second conveyor apparatus may also be configured to move along a path so that the second conveyor apparatus is extendable beyond an end of the first conveyor apparatus. The path may be a linear path and may be substantially parallel to the length of the first conveyor apparatus such as a path that extends in a direction that is a few degrees off of being perfectly parallel.

Abstract: A system and method for multi-layer loading of food items such as frankfurters in a receptacle includes the steps of displacing groupings of frankfurters along a staging area, allowing the frankfurters to drop downwardly by gravity to an accumulation and storage area until at least two layers of frankfurters are accumulated and allowing the double layer of frankfurters to drop downwardly into a packing receptacle in a packing area.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for extracting parts from a general-purpose storage for various vehicle models, the apparatus including a synchronization bar and a driving bar, which transfer driving force by a pneumatic cylinder for providing power of linear reciprocating movement, and an automatic part dropping unit that drops the parts placed on a plurality of plates rotated by the rotation of a plurality of shafts configured to be rotated by the transferred driving force.

Abstract: The device for transferring and nesting blister packs comprises a transfer device, which transfers blister packs from a first transport or storage device to a second transport or storage device arranged under the first transport or storage device. The transfer device has a receiving section, which can hold at least two blister packs and which can rotate at least 180°. A first blister pack can be received in the receiving section of the transfer device in a receiving position; the receiving section with the first blister pack can be rotated 180°; and finally a second blister pack can be received in the receiving section in the receiving position and placed onto the first, rotated blister pack.

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.

Abstract: A thermoformed article stack guiding apparatus is provided with a frame, a guide ramp and an array of juxtaposed article guide channels. The guide ramp receives and guides individual stacks of inter-nested articles exiting a female die of a thermoforming trim press from multiple rows and multiple levels. A first set of article guide channels is inter-nested with a second set of article guide channels in an alternating array. Each of the first set and the second set is spread out laterally in a direction from an entrance end of the guide ramp to an exit end of the guide ramp to accept respective stacks of inter-nested articles from an upper row and a lower row of a trim press and transfer the stacks into a common exit row. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A transfer assembly for transferring glass articles from a supporting surface onto an unloading conveyor, wherein a pickup member, for engaging the articles for transfer, is hinged to one end of a first powered actuating rod, and is connected to one end of a second powered actuating rod movable independently of the first powered actuating rod to adjust the angular position of the pickup member about a movable hinge axis as the pickup member rotates between a pickup position and a release position in which the articles are released onto the unloading conveyor.

Abstract: A product transfer system includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor, and a rotatable transporter. The first conveyor conveys a series of products along a first axis. The second conveyor is oriented along a second axis. The second axis is spaced below the first axis. The rotatable transporter has a plurality of open compartments. The open compartments are positioned around the rotatable transporter. The rotatable transporter is adapted to move each of the open compartments along a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein an open compartment of the plurality of open compartments is substantially aligned with the first axis to receive products from the first conveyor when located at the first position, and continues to move after the receiving the products to the second position, wherein the products are dropped on the second conveyor when said open compartment of the plurality of open compartments moves from the second position to the third position.

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.

Abstract: A system and method for multi-layer loading of food items such as frankfurters in a receptacle includes the steps of displacing groupings of frankfurters along a staging area, allowing the frankfurters to drop downwardly by gravity to an accumulation and storage area until at least two layers of frankfurters are accumulated and allowing the double layer of frankfurters to drop downwardly into a packing receptacle in a packing area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for transporting food products (20), particularly product slices produced by means of a slicer (26, 28, 30), comprising at least one transfer station (10) for receiving food products from an incoming product stream flowing in from at least one incoming conveyor (12) and for transferring the food products to an outgoing conveyor (14), wherein the transfer station comprises a transfer unit that is configured to simultaneously transfer a group of successively received food products to the outgoing conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for the controlled transfer of unit loads from a first conveyor onto a second conveyor which is partially projected over by the first conveyor, the transport directions of which conveyors run at an angle with respect to each other. In order to permit controlled transfer of the unit loads in a defined position from the first conveyor onto the second conveyor, it is proposed that a negative pressure which acts on the upper side of the conveyor belt of the second conveyor can be generated below the first conveyor in the transfer region onto the second conveyor.

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.

Abstract: An automated feeder transports pastry product dishes and/or moulds and includes a movable headstock arranged transversely above a first conveyor. The headstock includes an upper plate, a main linear actuator attached thereto, a lower mobile plate extendable by the main linear actuator, and a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the lower mobile plate. The magnetic elements hold a plurality of metallic plates in a predetermined arrangement. The headstock also includes at least two secondary vertical linear actuators disposed on the upper plate for actuating a releasing mechanism to dislodge the dishes from the magnetic elements and a transportation mechanism to provide longitudinal movement along a pair of longitudinal rails. The transportation mechanism permits the headstock to move between a first position over the first conveyor to a second position over a second.

Abstract: Product is conveyed as a continuous stream by a meter conveyor (12) unto a transfer plate (32) and a transfer device (42). The transfer device (42) is movable between a retracted position and an extended position extending over a sweep conveyor (22). In a preferred form, the transfer device (42) is in the form of a thin piece of flexible material and is moved in the conveying direction from the retracted position to the extended position by engaging with the sweep conveyor (22) and is moved to the retracted position by being wrapped around a rotated roller (46). Product is transferred from the transfer device (42) to the sweep conveyor (22) as the transfer device (42) moves from the extended position to the retracted position and is engaged by a metering bar (52ba, 52ca) which controls the product on the sweep conveyor (22) until the product group leaves the transfer device (42). With nested product, the leading edge of the transfer device (42) is scalloped to represent the product bottom leading edge.

Abstract: A loading system is provided which has a first conveyor for transporting a support structure and a second conveyor for transporting an article. The second conveyor includes a substantially stationary inclined transfer member that directs the article to a loading zone of the first conveyor. The article is received in the loading zone by a support structure being moved through the loading zone by the first conveyor. The article may be moving at substantially the same speed and in substantially the same direction as the support structure when it is received by the same. Loading systems according to the present invention may be used in a method wherein a moving article is received on a moving support structure.

Abstract: Product is conveyed as a continuous stream by a meter conveyor (12) unto a transfer plate (32) and a transfer device (42). The transfer device (42) is movable between a retracted position and an extended position extending over a sweep conveyor (22). In a preferred form, the transfer device (42) is in the form of a thin piece of flexible material and is moved in the conveying direction from the retracted position to the extended position by engaging with the sweep conveyor (22) and is moved to the retracted position by being wrapped around a rotated roller (46). Product is transferred from the transfer device (42) to the sweep conveyor (22) as the transfer device (42) moves from the extended position to the retracted position and is engaged by a metering bar (52ba) which controls the product acceleration on the sweep conveyor (22) to match the meter conveyor (12) until the product group leaves the transfer device (42).