GB872236A - Apparatus for rearranging loaves of bread or other bakery products from a side-by-side to an in-line relationship - Google Patents

Abstract

872,236. Endless conveyers; shoots. LANHAM, W. E., and MILLER, G. C. Oct. 6, 1959 [Feb. 20, 1959], No. 33855/59. Class 78 (1). Groups of loaves are re-arranged from a side-by-side to an in-line relationship in passing from a conveyer 14 over a shoot 16 on to a conveyer 25 at right-angles to the conveyer 14, the shoot comprising a stationary inclined plate 30 and a plate 31 pivoted about an axis 33 and supported on a rotating cam 37 which is driven by means of the drive motor 47 of conveyer 25. When the plate 31 is lowered, the loaves are aligned by the edge of the plate 30 and held until the preceding group of loaves has been removed from a plate 50 at the bottom of the shoot on to one or other of conveyers 23, 24 by means of the conveyer 25 which comprises a pair of endless chains supporting at least one pusher bar 54, and either driven continuously in one direction or reciprocated. As the loaves pass from the conveyer 14 on to the shoot they are correctly spaced and orientated by means of guide arms 26 pivoted about an axis 28. In a modification, Fig. 7 (not shown), the groups of loaves are conveyed from the conveyer 25 to a conveyer pivoted at one end about a horizontal axis adjacent the conveyer 25 in order to be aligned with one or other of two further conveyers arranged for delivering the loaves to two stations having slicing and/or wrapping machines at different levels. The conveyer is raised and lowered by means of a cam and follower, controlled either by means of a timing device or in accordance with the demand at each slicing and/or wrapping machine. During the pivoting of the conveyer, its direction of rotation is reversed to prevent crushing of the loaves against the further conveyers.