Patent ID: 7572095
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. An automatic feeder of deformable trays comprising: a ramp for directing one or more deformable trays away from the automatic feeder toward subsequent processing equipment; a piston; a suction cup disposed on a distal end of the piston, wherein the suction cup is adapted to hold a single deformable tray for bakery products when a vacuum is generated in the suction cup; a compartment comprising: a stop plate disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of the piston, the stop plate including an opening of predetermined size being sufficiently large to allow the suction cup to pass from below though the opening and contact the bottom surface of a single deformable tray and being sufficiently small to prevent the single deformable tray from passing through the opening; a vacuum source for generating a predetermined vacuum in the suction cup when the piston is extended, and wherein the predetermined vacuum is sufficient for the suction cup to hold the single deformable tray for bakery products when the suction cup contacts the bottom surface of the single deformable tray, and wherein a portion of the single deformable tray at least partially deforms when the piston is retracted, thereby allowing the single deformable tray contacted by the suction cup to pass through the opening in the frame, and wherein when the single deformable tray contacts the stop plate, the vacuum in the suction cup is broken and the single deformable tray is released from the suction cup allowing the single deformable tray to fall to the ramp.