Conveyor system with moveable drop point

A conveyor system for transporting a strand of sausage having a carriage slidably mounted to an operating platform where the carriage has an end turn sprocket where the strand is dropped onto a smoke stick and the carriage moves to drop the strand along the length of the smoke stick.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a conveyor system for transporting sausage loops to a smoke stick for further processing. More specifically, the invention is directed toward a conveyor system having a moveable drop point.

Conveyor systems for transporting sausage loops are known in the art. When making linked sausages, it is usually necessary to loop the sausage casings onto smoke sticks. Typically, the casings are automatically looped onto hooks attached to a conveyor chain that transports the loops away from the loading point and toward an unloading point. A smoke stick is placed within the loops and lifted away from the hooks causing the loops to transfer from the hooks to the smoke stick. This transfer is done either manually or automatically.

In placing the loops on the smoke stick, the loops should be placed far enough apart so that the sausages do not touch, which permits uniform cooking, yet still close enough together to maximize the number of loops on a smoke stick for efficient use of the oven space. Also, the casings must be looped so that an entire casing fits onto a single smoke stick. Presently, the spacing of the loops is primarily dependent on the diameter of the sausage. To adjust the spacing, conveyors are available with different hook spacings for different sizes of sausage. As the size of the sausage is changed, the hook spacings must also be changed which is difficult and time consuming. In addition, with present conveyors time is required to remove a filled smoke stick and position an empty smoke stick for further processing. The time needed to remove and replace the smoke stick slows the sausage production and requires additional time to fill the oven. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a conveyor system that addresses these deficiencies.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a conveyor system with a moveable drop point.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a conveyor system where the spacing between loops placed on a smoke stick is easily adjusted.

A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a conveyor system that reduces the amount of time of removal and replacement of the smoke stick.

These and other objectives will be apparent to one skilled in the art based on the drawings, written description, and claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A conveyor system/assembly having an operating platform supported by a frame. A moveable carriage is slidably mounted within an opening of the operating platform. The carriage has a sprocket/pulley and an end turn or drop point sprocket/pulley mounted thereto. Also, mounted to the operating platform is a plurality of tension sprockets/pulleys. A continuous conveyor chain having a plurality of hooks secured to the chain is mounted about the sprockets/pulleys. The hooks receive an elongated strand of sausage at a loading station and transports the strand to a drop point or unload station. Once the strand reaches the unload station the carriage moves toward the load station which in turn moves the end turn sprocket/pulley toward the loading station. As the end turn sprocket/pulley moves toward the loading station, the sausage strand is unloaded onto the adjacent smoke stick. Once the smoke stick is loaded, the carriage returns to the start position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The conveyor assembly10has an operating platform12supported by a frame14. The operating platform12typically is positioned in a vertical plane, but may also be supported by the frame14in a horizontal plane. A plurality of rotational members16such as sprockets, pulleys, and the like are attached to the platform12adjacent the outer perimeter of the platform12. A continuous conveying chain or belt18is mounted to sprockets16. A plurality of hooks20are secured to the chain18in any conventional manner. One of the sprockets16, typically at the loading point40is driven by an electric motor to move chain18and hooks20past the loading point40. Slidably mounted in opening22of the platform12is carriage24. Carriage24has a plate26upon which a first sprocket28is rotatably mounted. A second end turn or (drop point) sprocket30is also mounted to plate26. In one embodiment, a wiper32is mounted to the drop point sprocket30or alternatively to plate26. Removably positioned near the operating platform12is a smoke stick34.

In operation an elongated strand36of linked sausage is delivered through a conventional horn38of a sausage encasing and linking machine whereupon the strand36flows into the path of the hooks20which are moving past the looping point or loading station40at end42of the platform12.

After the strand36has been loaded on hook20the chain18transports the strand36from end42toward end44. When the strand36reaches the drop point sprocket30the strand36will drop through gravity and/or through engagement with wiper32onto the smoke stick34.

When the strand36reaches the drop point sprocket30a sensor46mounted to platform12recognize the presence of the strand36and sends a signal to controller48. Alternatively, the sensor46is mounted to plate26. The controller48processes the signal and activates an actuator50or other mechanical, electromechanical or hydraulic device that is connected to the carriage24. Once activated, the actuator50moves the carriage24from end44toward end42along opening22of the operating platform12at a predetermined rate. The rate at which the actuator50moves the carriage is based upon the drive speed of chain18and the desired spacing on the smoke stick, which is input into the controller48. As the carriage24moves from end44toward end42the drop point moves along the length of the smoke stick34creating the desired spacing on the smoke stick34. Alternatively, sprocket28is powered in any convenient manner such as by an electric motor (not shown) to move the chain18about sprockets16,28, and30. A predetermined difference in the relative speeds of the chain18at the loading point40and drop point30will cause the carriage24to move within the platform12.

Once the drop point reaches the end of the smoke stick34, and the smoke stick34is filled with sausage loops, the controller48activates the actuator50to return the carriage24to its start position at end44. As the carriage24is returned to the start position the filled smoke stick34is removed and replaced with an empty smoke stick34. As this occurs, there is no interruption in the delivery of linked sausage to the hooks20at the looping point40.

Thus, a carriage assembly has been shown that at the very least meets all the stated objective.