Abstract: Conveyor apparatus and methods of conveying a foodstuff. A foodstuff conveyor apparatus may include a foodstuff inlet, a foodstuff outlet, and a conveyor chamber coupling the inlet to the outlet. A conveyor screw having an axis oriented longitudinally in the conveyor chamber may be configured to urge the foodstuff from the inlet towards the outlet. The conveyor screw may have a spindle at each end, with a spindle free portion between the spindles. The screw may be positioned in the conveyor chamber so that one spindle is near the outlet, and the other spindle is near the inlet. The spindles may be configured so that the pitch of the screw near the outlet is less than the pitch of the screw near the inlet to provide a mixing and compacting effect as the foodstuff is conveyed from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: To provide a product accumulation device with superior general-purpose capabilities, being able to cope with the modified specification of target products only by partially altering the structure thereof. An accumulation means of a product accumulation device includes: a rotary member having a product contact surface relative to products supplied from the product supply means, and a guide member that is provided with the rotary member and that shifts the products from the product contact surface to an approximately perpendicular direction relative to the product contact surface by means of the rotation of the rotation member, thereby being able to cope with the modified specification of target products only by partially altering its structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring an upright tray at high speeds that can sense an entrance and discharge of the tray. The apparatus includes a transferring unit with pulleys driven by a driving source to form a transferring path. The pulleys contact a fixing member, which is attached to a lower edge of a substrate and mask fixed to the tray. The apparatus also includes a sensing unit with a sensor installed beneath the transferring path to detect the entrance and discharge of the tray. The apparatus may also include rollers disposed to contact both sides of the upper portion of the tray, and the rollers may be coupled with moveable members encased within rails along the transferring path so that the rollers can translate when a tray passes between two rollers. The rollers along both sides of the tray can be arranged symmetrically or alternately in a zigzag pattern.