Patent ID: 6378691
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A product collator comprising:an endless conveyor belt including a plurality of laterally extending flights, the conveyor belt including a first, generally upwardly and forwardly extending path and a second, generally rearwardly extending path positioned downstream from the first upwardly and forwardly extending path, wherein scrambled products are introduced onto the conveyor belt at a receiving point along the first upwardly and forwardly extending path; a first transport belt running in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the conveyor belt and positioned immediately adjacent to the flights, downstream from the receiving point, for transporting the products secured within the flights to one lateral side of the conveyor belt; a discharge port, positioned immediately adjacent to the flights, on the one lateral side of the conveyor belt, and downstream from the first transport belt, for allowing products secured within the flights and transported to the one lateral side of the conveyor belt by the first transport belt to be transferred therethrough; and a second transport belt running in the same direction as the first transport belt and positioned immediately adjacent to the flights, downstream from the discharge port and upstream from the receiving point, which transport the products remaining secured within the flights, after passing the discharge port, to the one lateral side of the conveyor belt.