Patent ID: 8127915

Claim:
A system for separating a cluster of interconnected food products, the system comprising: a first conveyor comprising a discharge end and a first permeable conveyor belt, the first conveyor being configured to decelerate and accelerate; a second conveyor in series with the first conveyor, the second conveyor comprising an intake end and a second permeable conveyor belt, the second conveyor being configured to accelerate and decelerate; a suction subsystem comprising an intake portion proximate to the discharge end of the first conveyor and the intake end of the second conveyor, the suction subsystem being configured, arranged and disposed to generate suction through the first permeable conveyor belt at a first region proximate to the discharge end and to generate suction through the second permeable conveyor belt at a second region proximate to the intake end; a sensor configured, arranged and disposed to sense a leading edge of a cluster of interconnected food products as the cluster of interconnected food products is being conveyed by the system; and a controller in communication with and configured to control the first conveyor, the second conveyor, the suction subsystem and the sensor, the controller configured to accelerate and decelerate the first conveyor and the second conveyor, so that the acceleration and deceleration of the first conveyor and the second conveyor selectively separate the cluster of interconnected food products.