Patent ID: 8925709
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A carrier device for conveying a batch of product items between two or more processing stations in a product processing system, the carrier device comprising: a substantially rigid frame including a substantially planar array of product accommodating regions, at least one transport attachment points for engaging with a carrier conveyor means, and a plurality of pusher openings in a rear face of the array, wherein each of the product accommodating regions includes a product support surface for bearing at least one of the product items during the conveying, wherein the array comprises a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of product accommodating regions; wherein each of the product accommodating regions is provided with a first access opening in a front face of the array, a product item can be one of introduced into and removed from the product accommodating region through said access opening, wherein a pusher bar can be inserted through the plurality of pusher openings so as to expel the product item from the product accommodating region by sliding the product towards the front face and out of the product accommodating region, and wherein the product support surface of each product accommodating region includes at least one slit, each slit extending along an axis substantially orthogonal to a plane of the array and extending over at least half of the distance between the front face and the rear face, wherein each slit is open towards the at least one of the front and rear face of the array, and arranged to allow a narrow, elongated conveyor belt or bar to pass through the slit in the product support surface so as to lift the product item resting on the product support surface clear of the product support surface.