Apparatus for transferring material strips onto a web

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for transferring individual strips of material which are sliced from a material supply to a support web (20; 20′) includes two counter-rotating rollers. The first roller (24; 24′) is disposed proximate to a slicing station (14) and material supply while the second roller (34) is disposed proximate to the first roller. Both of the first and second rollers have hollow inner cores (25, 35) which are encircled by rotatable outer shells (26, 36). A vacuum is drawn in the inner cores of the first and second rollers which causes individual material strips (17) to adhere to the outer shell (26) of the first roller and the support web (20; 20′) to the outer shell of the second roller. Bands which encircle the first roller (24; 24′) urge the material strips (17) off onto the support web (20; 20′).

Description: Background and Summary of the Present invention The present invention relates generally to a method and an apparatus for packing strips of material and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for transferring a strip of material cut from a supply source to a support web or thin substrate, such as paper, and depositing the strip on the support web at a predetermined location and having a predetermined spacing between successive strips. Various devices are known in the meat production field for the transfer of food material strips, such as bacon slices, to a support web for conveyance to a packaging station. Thus EP-A-0159183 describes a product line for forming a sheet product composed of products such as bacon slices resting on a pre-cut thin substrate such as a sheet of paper. In some devices known in the art for the transfer of the slices from the supply to the support web, the individual strips or slices must be assisted as they travel from the bacon supply to a supply stack or a take-off conveyor. Quite often, the slices are transferred by way of a mechanical pin or other member which engages them and flings them through the air space separating the material supply and a slice receiving means. This method has a number of drawbacks. One drawback is that the operating speed of the mechanical member is limited because the slice encounters air resistance as it is thrown through the air, and the travel of the slice through the air and the resultant placement thereof becomes random rather than ordered. In addition, the texture of the sliced product and the temperature of it may affect the speed of operation. Thus, the exact placement onto a support web or take-off conveyor belt is not always ensured with a mechanical transfer system of this type and the operating speed of the entire production is limited by the maximum operating speed of the transfer member. Quick transfer of the material strips and the exact placement thereof on a support web is desirable in order to allow the slicing and packaging components of the production line to operate at their most efficient speeds. Additionally, accurate registration of the individual material strips on the support web is desirable to ensure that when the support web is severed after the strips have been placed thereon, the severing device engages the support web at a gap which occurs between individual slicing and not at location where the severing device engages a slice resting on the support web. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for transferring material slices from a slicing station to a support web. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method whereby individual, successive material slices are transferred from a slicing station onto a packing substrate which is conveyed to a downstream forming assembly or the like. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved slicing and packaging apparatus including a material slicing station, a station for transferring successive material slices to a continuous support web to form a slice-support web assembly, and a station for forming successive slice-support web assemblies into a form suitable for packaging. Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for transferring successive food material strips cut from a food material supply at a slicing station to a substrate web, characterized in that it comprises: first rotating means and second rotating means, the first rotating means having a generally cylindrical outer surface and first pneumatic means for engaging a food material strip and holding the food material strip on the first rotating means outer surface, the second rotating means having a generally cylindrical outer surface and having second pneumatic means for holding a substrate web to the second rotating means outer surface, and that the first rotating means further includes means for urging said material strip off said first rotating means outer surface and onto said substrate web. It further provides a method for transferring food material strips produced at a slicing station from a food material supply to a substrate characterized in that it comprises: feeding a food material supply to a food material cutting location; providing a first roller adjacent to the food material cutting location, the first roller having a food material strip engaging portion; providing a second roller adjacent to said first roller; feeding a substrate web over the second roller; engaging a food material strip with the first roller after the food material strip is cut from the food material supply; rotating said first roller to transfer said food material strip from the food material supply to a material transfer location, and rotating said second roller to advance the substrate web to the material transfer location; and urging said food material strip off said first roller and onto said substrate web of said second roller. Thus the invention provides an improved apparatus for depositing material slices on a support web, which is preferably a continuous support web, which apparatus preferably includes two rotating drums operatively associated with each other in which the first rotating drum attracts and receives the slice on its outer surface and deposits the slice on a continuous support web conveyed by the second rotating drum to a position proximate the material slice. It also provides an improved slicing and packaging machine wherein the transfer station includes rotating means for transferring sliced material strips to a continuous support web moving in synchronization with the rotating transfer means. In a preferred aspect the present invention provides a transfer apparatus having two counter-rotating operatively associated drums, the first rotating drum having a generally cylindrical outer surface rotating around an inner core, the inner core having a first pneumatic means operatively associated therewith which utilizes negative air pressure to adhere material strips to the drum outer surface, the inner core also including a further pneumatic means which utilizes positive air pressure to urge successive material slices off the outer surface of the first rotating drum, the second rotating drum also having a pneumatic means operatively associated therewith which applies a negative air pressure to a preselected portion of the second drum outer surface to adhere a continuous support web thereto, the first rotating drum second pneumatic means urging successive material slices off the first drum outer surface and onto the continuous support web. Moreover the present invention also provides an improved meat slice transfer apparatus which "prints" individual successive meat slices in registration upon a moving substrate web of packing paper. The present invention provides highly efficient and accurate slice registration, and, when incorporated into an overall slicing and packaging production line, it can facilitate high speed synchronization of all of the production line components, thereby enabling the transfer and packaging components to operate at higher speeds adequate to accommodate high slicing component speeds. Furthermore, by capturing the slices onto a substantially flat surface, the present invention reduces the number of variables such as meat temperature, slice thickness and meat texture which can affect meat slicing speed. At high speeds, the present invention virtually allows the "printing" of the material strips onto the support web. By proceeding in accordance with the present invention, material strips which are severed from a material supply are transferred to a first rotating means, such as a drum, located proximate to the slicer. The slice is transferred pneumatically, by way of negative air pressure, and adhered to the outer rotating surface of the first drum and held in place while the drum rotates a predetermined distance. A second driven rotating means, such as a drum, is arranged proximate to and generally underneath the first drum and conveys a continuous support web to a location proximate to the first drum. When the material slice is positioned adjacent to the intended deposit location on the support web, the slice is urged off the first rotating drum outer surface and onto the support web. The rotational speed at which each of the first and second drums rotate can be independently controlled to allow the material slices to be deposited on the support web in a variety of predetermined spacings. The negative air pressure which is used to adhere the severed slice to the first drum outer surface eliminates the need for a purely mechanical transfer member. By positioning the first drum closely adjacent the material supply, the distance which the slice must travel to reach the rotating drum is reduced to a minimum. Positive air pressure can be used to transfer the slice off the first drum onto the support web. Alternatively, the slices can be urged off the first drum outer surface by extended elastic bands. Consequently, the positioning of the slices on the first drum can be positively controlled and the speed thereof can be varied to ensure accurate spacing required between successive slices. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is an elevational, partially cut-away view of an improved alignment and separation apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention (for purposes of illustration only, the machine is shown as operating upon bacon); Figure 2 is a top perspective view showing the first rotating drum and the mechanism for urging the sliced material off the outer surface of the drum; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first rotating drum taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first rotating drum taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an enlarged, primarily elevational view of an alternate embodiment of an improved alignment and separation apparatus of the present invention shown in conjunction with a slicing mechanism; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the first rotating drum of the alternative embodiment taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 2. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 illustrates a material transfer apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention in place within a slicing and packing production line 12. Although the improved apparatus and methods which are described in the detailed description which follows will be particularly described in connection with the slicing, transfer and packaging of bacon slices, it will be appreciated that the present invention will bring substantially equal advantages to the slicing, transfer and packaging of other perishable meat food products. The transfer apparatus 10 itself is preferably located downstream of a slicing station 14 in which a supply of food material to be sliced, shown as a belly of bacon 16, is moved into contact with an automated, rotating slicing knife or blade 18 by way of a material feed assembly 9. In an actual production line, a guillotine-type cutter assembly 22 may be provided to cut lengths of the support paper or other substrate, from the substrate web 20, such as the illustrated paper roll, after the bacon has been deposited thereon. In certain operations, it may be advantageous and desired to cut the substrate before the bacon is deposited thereon in order to provide pre-cut assemblies of bacon and substrate. A forming station 23 for assembling a predetermined length of support web 20 into a format suitable for packaging such as by folding the combined strip substrate assembly upon itself along potential transverse lines of folding 21 in a shingled stack as shown, may also be provided further downstream of the transfer apparatus 10. Turning now to the particular details of the transfer apparatus 10, it can be seen that it includes first and second rotating means in the form of two counterrotating rollers or drums 24 and 34 disposed generally adjacent to each other. The first rotating drum 24 is mounted transversely across and in front of the material transfer apparatus on a frame 70 so that it can freely rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 1. The second rotating drum 34 is also mounted transversely across the frame so that it can freely rotate in a direction opposite to that of the first rotating drum 24 (counter-clockwise) as shown in Figure 1. Both the first and second rotating drums 24, 34 may be driven by belts 120 or gears or by any other suitable drive mechanism. The first drum 24 has two operating components, one of which is a stationary inner core 25 which has a generally cylindrical configuration. Core 25 has a solid portion 40 and at least one passageway 41. The illustrated passageway 41 extends for substantially the entire length of the drum 24. Each passageway 41 is bounded by the other component of drum 24, namely an outer rotatable shell 26, in order to thereby define a passageway 41 having an arcuate portion extending between spaced edges of the solid portion 40, thereby defining an operational arc length of the first drum 24 between where it first receives a material strip 17 and where it operatively intersects with the support web 20 conveyed by the second drum 34. In order to facilitate maintenance and cleaning of the first drum 24, the first inner core 25 preferably is fixed to a mounting assembly frame 100 which can pivot upwardly between an operating position and a maintainance position shown in phantom. Conventional air conduits 106 (Figure 2), which can be included on the mounting frame 100, extend to the first drum 24, which air conduits are components of a pneumatic assembly for applying negative air pressure to the interior of the first drum 24. Although the conduits 106 are illustrated as terminating adjacent to a first drum inner core stem 71 (Figure 3), it will be understood that the pneumatic assembly may include an inner manifold 72, (shown in Phantom) which extends between the opposite ends of the inner core 25. When a vacuum is drawn through the conduits 106, air is drawn into the passageway 41 from circumferentially spaced apertures 29 through the outer shell member 26. Apertures 29 are disposed in a preselected pattern. Inasmuch as each passageway 41 is fixed in its position relative to the rotatable outer shell 26, the pneumatic assembly provides a vacuum force which adheres individual bacon slices 17 to the outer surface of the first drum through an arc length ϑ which begins at a location approximately adjacent the material supply 16 to a location proximate to the point of operative intersection of the first and second drums 24, 34. As mentioned above, the first drum rotatable outer shell 26 overlies the drum core 25 and provides the outer working surface for the first drum. Apertures 29 are included in a plurality of discrete material receiving portions 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d, which are circumferentially spaced around shell 26. Although four discrete material receiving portions 28a-d are illustrated as an arrangement which is preferable for the illustrated embodiment, it will be noted that the number of such discrete portions is not limited and may include either only one or multiple portions. Preferably, the length and width of each of the discrete material receiving portions 28a-d correspond approximately to the length and width of the material strips being sliced and each material receiving portion 28a is positioned proximate to and opposite to the slicing knife 18. The solid portion 40 of the inner core 25 serves as a block which shields the rotating arrays of apertures 29 from the vacuum drawn on the first drum inner core 25. The vacuum holding the material strips 17 to the discrete material receiving portions is released when the rotating outer shell 26 encounters and passes over the solid portion 40 of the inner core 25. A separate means for urging the material strips 17 off the "blocked" apertures 29 may be provided as discussed in greater detail below. In operation, the first drum 24 is rotated in synchronization with the slicing knife 18 so that one material strip receiving portion 28a is positioned proximate to and adjacent to the slicing knife 18 at the time when the slicing knife 18 has just completed severing a material strip or slice 17 from the material supply 16. The material strip receiving portion 28a carries the strip 17 around the drum while the next successive strip is being severed from the material supply 16. The strip 17 is then deposited onto a support web 20 passing over the surface of the second drum 34 in a precise known location. The placement of the material strips 17 upon the support web 20, especially the spacing gap S between successive material strips, may be regulated by adjusting the speed of the slicing knife 18 and the first drum 24. As mentioned above, the present invention may also include means for urging the individual successive material strips 17 off the outer surface of the rotating shell 26 onto the support web 20. In Figures 1, 2 and 3, this takes the form of an assembly including belts 80 which encircle the first drum 24 within a series of separate, axially spaced channels 82 or other means suitable for maintaining the illustrated placement of the belts 80. The belts 80 engage associated pulleys 84 mounted on a tensioning arm assembly which extends across the outer surface of first drum 24 and is spaced away therefrom. The belts 80 are preferably positioned apart from the first drum 24 so that they operatively intersect and engage successive individual material strips 17 proximate to the beginning or leading edge 45 of the first drum inner core solid portion 40. The belts 80 thereby assist in urging the material strips 17 off the first drum discrete material strip receiving portions 28a-d. Importantly, the urging means will serve to counteract any tendency of the material strips 17 to adhere to the first drum outer surface caused by fat congealing on the surface of the material strips 17. It is preferable to include a number of belts which are adequate to evenly engage and reduce the likelihood of folding over of the material strips 17. An alternate means for urging the material strips 17 off the first drum discrete portions 28a-d in the form of an additional pneumatic assembly is illustrated in Figures 5 & 6. An air conduit 90' supplies a stream of positive air pressure to a portion of the rotatable outer shell 26' so that an advancing discrete material strip is positively urged off the first drum 24' and onto the support web 20'. Conduit 90' runs along the interior of the inner core member 25' and terminates at an edge 46' interior of the inner core leading edge 45'. One or more belts 80' may also be used in conjunction with the positive air pressure assembly. With more particular reference to the second drum 34, it preferably includes a stationery inner core member 35 which has a generally cylindrical configuration. The core 35 has a solid portion and at least one passageway 51 which extends for substantially the entire length of the second drum 34. The passageway 51 is bounded by an outer rotatable cylindrical shell 36 which defines the passageway 51 as having an arcuate portion extending between spaced edges of the inner core member 35, thereby also defining an operational arc length of the second drum 34 between where it first receives the support web 20 and where the support web 20 leaves the second drum 34. The second drum inner core member 35 also includes a pneumatic assembly including air conduits leading to its interior for applying negative air pressure to the interior of the second drum 34. When a vacuum is drawn through these air conduits, air is drawn into the passageway 51 from circuferentially spaced apertures 39 through the outer rotatable shell 36. The second drum passageway 51 is fixed in its position relative to the outer rotatable shell 36 and thus the second drum pneumatic assembly provides a vacuum force which adheres the support web 20 to the outer surface of the second drum through an arc length ø which begins approximately at an area where the second drum 34 first receives the support web 20 from the supply roll 5 to an area where the support web 20 leaves the outer surface of the second drum 34 and engages a take off conveyor 60. This arc length is approximately 180°. The apertures 39 extend through the outer shell 36 into the inner core 35 and are preferably spaced equally apart on the outer surface thereof so that they adhere the continuous support web 20 to the second drum outer surface. In this manner, the support web 20 is substantially flat during the transfer of material strips 17 from the first drum 24 to the support web 20. Additionally, the second drum outer shell 36 may also include a series of radially extending lugs or pins 38 which are dimensioned to engage registration holes disposed in the support web 20 which assist in accurately positioning the support web 20 on the second drum 34. The second drum pins 38 may be located on the opposite ends of the second drum 34, so as to engage registration holes in opposite sides of the support web 20, or they may be disposed in the center of the support web 20. In operation, a vacuum is drawn through the second drum interior air conduits, creating a vacuum in the second drum 34 in the inner core 35. Air is drawn into the second drum passageway 51 from the circumferentially spaced apertures 39 through the outer shell member 36. Apertures 39 are disposed in the outer shell 36 in a preselected pattern. The passageway 51 is fixed in its position relative to the rotatable outer shell 36, and the second drum pneumatic assembly provides a vacuum force which adheres the support web 20 to the outer surface of the second drum 34 through the arc length ø. A supply of material for the continuous support web 20 is carried on a roller 125 supported underneath the second drum 34. The negative air pressure created in the inner core 35 by the vacuum adheres the support web 20 to the outer surface without wrinkling or misalignment. The support web 20 moves along with the second drum as it rotates counterclockwise until the support web reaches the angular position where the air apertures 39 are blocked by the leading edge 90 of the inner core member 35, at which point the support web 20 is readily released from the outer surface of the second drum 34. The support web 20 is then conveyed in any suitable conventional manner downstream to subsequent processing stations. As mentioned before, these subsequent processing stations may include a cutting station for cutting the support web 20 into preselected lengths and/or a folding station where the support substrate 20 is folded while the material strips 17 are on it in order to provide an assembly for a particular type of packaging, such as the illustrated shingled stacking with the substrate folded between successive material strips. This type of packaging is facilitated when the substrate web includes a plurality of transverse folding locations 21 provided by fold lines or lines of weakening such as perforations which are longitudinally spaced along the substrate web. It will be appreciated that the rotating positions of the material strip receiving portions 28a-d of the first rotating drum 24 may be timed so as to be aligned with the spacing between such folding locations of the support web 20 carried by the counterrotating second drum 34. This effects precision location characteristics so that the support web 20, laden with strips 17, can be appropriately folded. At high speeds, the present invention virtually allows the "printing" of the material strips onto the support web. It will be seen that while certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims: An apparatus for transferring food material strips (17; 17') cut from a food material supply (16; 16') to a support web (20; 20'), characterized in that it comprises first rotating means (24; 24') and second rotating means (34; 34'), the first rotating means (24; 24') having a generally cylindrical outer surface and having first pneumatic means (106, 41, 29; 106', 41', 29') for engaging a food material strip (17; 17') and holding the food material strip (17; 17') on the first rotating means outer surface, the second rotating means (34; 34') having a generally cylindrical outer surface and having second pneumatic means (51, 39) for holding a support web (20; 20') to the second rotating means outer surface, and the first rotating means (24; 24') further including means (80; 80', 90') for urging said material strip (17; 17') off said first rotating means outer surface and onto said support web (20; 20'). An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') and said second rotating means (34; 34') are driven in synchronization with each other. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') is disposed proximate to the food material supply (16; 16') and has an outer surface with at least one discrete food material strip receiving portion (28a-d; 28a'-d') thereon adapted to receive said food material strip (17; 17'), that said first pneumatic means (106, 41, 29; 106', 41', 29') is adapted for applying negative air pressure to said at least one discrete food material strip receiving portion (28a-d; 28a'-d'), that said second rotating means (34; 34') is operatively associated with said first rotating means (24; 24') and is adapted to convey the support web (20; 20') to a location proximate to said first rotating means (24; 24'), said second rotating means (34; 34') rotating in synchronization with said first rotating means (24; 24'), and that said second pneumatic means (51, 39; 51'; 39') is adapted for applying negative air pressure to a portion of the second rotating means outer surface to draw said support web (20; 20') over said second rotating means outer surface. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said means (80; 80', 90') for urging said food material strip (17; 17') off said first rotating means (24; 24') includes band means (80; 80') operatively intersecting the first rotating means outer surface. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said band means (80; 80') encircles said first rotating means (24; 24'), a portion of said band means (80; 80') engaging said food material strip (17; 17') at at least one discrete food material receiving portion (28a-d; 28a'-d') of said first rotating means (24; 24'). An apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that said band means (80') includes at least one belt (80') encircling said first rotating means (24') and engaging a circumferential groove (82') of said first rotating means (24'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said means (80', 90') for urging said material strip (17; 17') off said first rotating means (24; 24') includes third pneumatic means (90') for selectively applying positive pressure to said first rotating means outer surface. An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said third pneumatic means (90') applies positive air pressure to at least one discrete food material strip receiving portion (28a', 28b', 28c'. 28d') of said first rotating means outer surface. An apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8 characterized in that said means (80', 90') for urging said material strip (17; 17') off said first rotating means (24; 24') further includes band means (80') encircling said first roller (24'), the band means engaging said first roll (24') proximate to said third pneumatic means (90'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that said first pneumatic means (106, 41, 29; 106', 41', 29') includes a plurality of air apertures (29; 29') extending through said first rotating means (24; 24'), the air apertures (29; 29') leading from the interior of said first rotating means (24; 24') to at least one discrete food material strip receiving portion (28a-d; 28a'-d') of said first rotating means (24; 24'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') includes four discrete food material strip receiving portions (28a, 28b, 28c, 28d; 28a', 28b', 28c', 28d'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') and said second rotating means (34; 34') include means for respectively blocking said first pneumatic means (106, 41, 29; 106', 41', 29') and second pneumatic means (51, 39; 51', 39'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') includes means (40; 40') for selectively stopping the flow of said negative air pressure to at least one discrete food material strip receiving portion (28a-d; 28a'-d') of said first rotating means outer surface. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') includes a stationary inner core (25; 25') having a preselected opening (41; 41') operatively associated with a rotatable outer shell (26; 26') thereof, the first rotating means outer shell (26; 26') having a plurality of first air apertures (29; 29') extending therethrough, said first pneumatic means (106, 41, 29; 106', 41', 29') applying negative air pressure to the interior of the inner core (25; 25') and to said first rotating means outer shell (26; 26') by way of said opening (41; 41'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said second pneumatic means (51, 39; 51', 39') includes at least one air passage (51; 51') disposed in the outer surface of said second rotating means (34; 34'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that said second rotating means (34; 34') includes a stationary inner member (35; 35') having an opening (51; 51') operatively associated with a rotatable outer shell (36; 36') thereof, the second rotating means outer shell (36; 36') having a plurality of air apertures (39; 39') extending therethrough, said second pneumatic means (51, 39; 51', 39') applying negative air pressure to the interior of the inner member (35; 35') and to said second rotating means outer shell plurality of air apertures (39; 39') by way of said opening (51; 51'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') and said second rotating means (34; 34') are driven in synchronization with a means (18; 18') for severing successive food material strips (17; 17') from said food material supply (16; 16') and at least one discrete food material strip receiving portion (28a-d; 28a'-d) of said first rotating means outer surface is proximate to said food material supply (16; 16'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that said second rotating means (34; 34') includes means (38; 38') for engaging said support web (20; 20'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') includes a rotating drum having a plurality of discrete food material strip engaging portions (28a-d; 28a'-d') on its outer surface, and said first pneumatic means (106, 41, 29; 106', 41', 29') includes at least one air passage (41; 41') operatively associated with each of said discrete food material strip engaging portions (28a-d; 28a'-d'), said first pneumatic means (106, 41, 29; 106', 41', 29') further including means for drawing a vacuum through the rotating drum air passages (41; 41'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') has four discrete food material strip receiving portions (28a, 28b, 28c, 28d; 28a', 28b', 28c', 28d') disposed on the outer surface thereof, each of the four discrete portions (28a-d; 28a'-d') including a first air passage (41; 41') leading from the outer surface of the first rotating means (24; 24') to said first pneumatic means (106) and said second rotating means (34; 34') including an air passage (51; 51') leading from the outer surface of said second rotating means (34; 34') to said second pneumatic means. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that said second rotating means (34; 34') includes a rotating drum, the second rotating means rotating drum having a plurality of air passages (39; 39') extending therethrough, said second pneumatic means (51, 39; 51', 39') further including means for drawing a vacuum through said second rotating means rotating drum air passages (39; 39'). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the outer surfaces of said first rotating means (24; 24') and said second rotating means (34; 34') operatively intersect. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that said support web (20; 20') is a continuous length of support web. A machine for slicing strips (17; 17') of food material from a food material supply (16; 16') at a slicing station (14; 14') and transferring the strips (17; 17') of food material onto a support web (20; 20') into a format suitable for packaging characterized in that it comprises apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 23; means for supplying a supply unit of food material (16; 16') to a slicing station (14; 14'), the slicing station including means (18; 18') for slicing individual strips (17; 17') from the food material supply unit (16; 16') and being operatively associated with the first rotating means (24; 24') and with the second rotating means (34; 34'); and means (23) for assembling successive lengths of said support web (20; 20') into a form suitable for packaging. A machine according to claim 24, characterized in that it further comprises means (22) for severing a predetermined length of the support web (20; 20') after individual strips (17; 17') have been placed thereon. A machine according to claim 24 or claim 25, characterized in that said means (23) for assembling successive lengths of said support web (20; 20') includes means for transversely folding said support web (20; 20') upon itself along discrete, spaced apart transverse fold lines, each of the transverse fold lines being associated with an individual food material strip (17; 17'). A machine according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that said first rotating means (24; 24') and said second rotating means (34; 34') are driven in synchronization with said slicing station (14; 14'), whereby said first rotating means outer surface discrete portion (28a-d; 28a'-d') is positioned proximate to said material unit (16; 16') where an individual food material strip (17; 17') is sliced from said material supply unit (16; 16'). A method for transferring food material strips produced at a slicing station from a food material supply to a substrate characterized in that it comprises: feeding a food material supply (16; 16') to a food material cutting location (14; 14'); providing a first roller (24; 24') adjacent to the food material cutting location (14; 14'), the first roller (14; 24') having a food material strip engaging portion (28a-d; 28a'-d'); providing a second roller (34; 34') adjacent to said first roller (24; 24'); feeding a substrate web (20; 20') over the second roller (34; 34'); engaging a food material strip (17; 17') with the first roller (24; 24') after the food material strip (17; 17') is cut from the food material supply (16; 16'); rotating said first roller (24; 24') to transfer said food material strip (17; 17') from the food material supply (16; 16') to a material transfer location, and rotating said second roller (34; 34') to advance the substrate web (20; 20') to the material transfer location; and urging said food material strip (17; 17') off said first roller (24; 24') and onto said substrate web (20; 20') of said second roller (34; 34'). A method according to claim 29, further characterized in that a vacuum is drawn at said first roller material strip engaging portion (28a-d; 28a'-d') and the vacuum is released after said first roller (24; 24') is rotated to said material transfer location and before said material strip (17; 17') is urged off said first roller (24; 24'). A method according to claim 28 or claim 29, further characterized in that it includes the steps of: drawing a vacuum at said first roller material strip engaging portion (28a-d; 28a'-d'); drawing a vacuum at one area of said second roller (34; 34') to adhere said substrate web (20; 20') to said second roller (34; 34') at the second roller one area; and releasing the vacuum drawn at said first roller material strip engaging portion (28a-d; 28a'-d') after said first roller (24; 24') is rotated to said material transfer location and before said material strip (17; 17') is urged off said first roller (24; 24'); and releasing the vacuum drawn at said second roller (34; 34') one area before the said material strip (17; 17') is urged off said first roller (24; 24') and onto said substrate web (20; 20'). A method according to any one of claims 18 to 30, characterized in that it includes the step of applying positive air pressure to said material strip (17; 17') to urge said material strip (17; 17') off said first roller (24; 24'). A method according to any one of claims 28 to 31, characterized in that said material strip (17; 17') is urged off said first roller (24; 24') by at least one belt (80; 80') encircling said first roller (24; 24') in a circumferential groove (82; 82'). A method according to any one of claims 28 to 32, characterized in that the step of urging said material strip (17; 17') off said first roller (24; 24') includes the steps of: applying air pressure to said material strip (17; 17') at said material strip transfer location and engaging said material strip (17; 17') at said material strip transfer location with a band (80; 80') encircling said first roller (24; 24') in a circumferential groove (82; 82'). A method according to any one of claims 28 to 33, characterized in that said material strip (17; 17') is urged off said first roller (24; 24') onto said substrate web (20; 20') proximate to a transverse fold line (21) of said substrate and said substrate web (20; 20') is folded upon itself along the transverse fold line (21). A method according to any one of claims 28 to 34, characterized in that said food material strip (17; 17') is a strip of bacon.

Inventors: MALLY TIMOTHY G, MALLY, TIMOTHY G.
Applicants: MAYER OSKAR FOODS, OSCAR MAYER FOODS CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65B25
IPC codes: B65B35, B65B25, B65G47, B26D7