Patent ID: 6748837
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: B26D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for halving pieces of product comprising:a) a loading conveyor for conveying individual pieces of product in a direction along a longitudinal axis; b) a lift conveyor positioned adjacent to the loading conveyor and oriented at substantially a right angle thereto for receiving pieces of product from the loading conveyor and for conveying pieces of product in an upward direction, the lift conveyor including a plurality of flites spaced along the lift conveyor, each flite supporting, one at a time, the pieces of product; and, c) centering fingers positioned adjacent the lift conveyor for simultaneously engaging the pieces of product from each side thereof as they are conveyed upward by the lift conveyor and for centering each piece of product on its respective flite wherein said fingers comprise a pair of pivotable rod sets positioned one on each side of the lift conveyor and coupled each through a pivot point to a respective force actuator whereby to bias the rod sets toward each other, said pivotable rod sets each comprising a plurality of rods and wherein said flites include slots for receiving selected ones of said plurality of rods; and, d) a cutting blade positioned to engage and cut each piece of product as it rises on the lift conveyor.