Patent ID: 7858130
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A system for handling food products, comprising: a fluffer assembly comprising an engagement surface and a support member, the engagement surface being adapted for making lateral and vertical movement relative to a stack of food products with opposite side portions, the engagement surface being operable to compressively contact a side portion of the stack of food products and effective to bend and separate edge portions of adjoining food products in the stack of food products while the support member retains the opposite side portion of the stack of food products; an unstacker assembly comprising: lift platforms arranged on opposite lateral sides of the picking mechanism operable for reciprocal up-and-down movement, wherein the lift platforms are operable to move downwards to receive a food product transferred from the pick head upon release of suction at the suction device, and thereafter lift the food product for transfer of the food product to a conveyor; and an accumulator assembly operable for temporarily collecting a plurality of the food products received from the unstacker or other singulated source of product, the accumulator being configured for dispensing food products individually at an approximately regular pitch onto another conveyor.