Apparatus for feeding food products to packaging machine

Abstract

A feeder for feeding a food product to a packaging machine, including a forming station for forming a food product into a pat of a desired configuration. An upper conveyor overlapping a lower conveyor for receiving a food product there between to conform the food product into a desired thickness and move the food product into the forming station. An elongated knife is disposed transversely to the discharge ends of the upper and lower conveyor belts for cutting the food product into a pat of a desired width and forming a first longitudinal side wall of the forming station. A movable wall located opposite to the knife to form a second longitudinal side wall of the forming station. A support conveyor forms the base of the forming station to support the food product while being formed into a pat and then advancing the formed pat to a takeaway apparatus.

Description

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FOOD PRODUCTS TO PACKAGING MACHINECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 63 / 512,001, filed July 5, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] The present application pertains to a feeder apparatus for feeding food products, such as fish, to a canning or other type of packaging machine. It is difficult to achieve cans / packages of fish, such as tuna, of constant weight, while also avoiding production waste and at the same time presenting the consumer with an appealing looking product when the can / package is opened, which determines the product value to a great extent. These difficulties are not easy to overcome due to the intrinsic nature of fish, such as tuna, which variations greatly in composition, texture, compactness, density, and shape from batch to batch, and from loin to loin.

[0003] In addition, fish processors strive to obtain the maximum quantity of the finished packaged product from the raw material. In this regard, the fish must be handled in a manner to minimize crumbling of, or other damage to, the fish meat and minimize any significant loss of liquid which causes a decrease in the weight of the raw material to eventually be packaged / canned. The feeder apparatus of the present application seeks to handle the fish to minimize damage to the fish or significant loss of weight.

[0004] The raw material can be in the form of fish that after cleaning and trimming are placed in plastic bags and then vacuum compressed in the bags in dense blocks of fish. The bags of fish are then frozen for shipment to canning locations. At the canning location the feeder of the present application can be used to segment or cut the blocks of fish into pats of the correct size for feeding a filler / canning machine, while requiring minimum manual handling by factory workers.

[0005] In another form, the raw material can be in the form of loins and / or rounds that have been harvested from fresh fish. The fresh fish can be loaded onto the feeder of the present application for forming the fish into pats of the correct size and of a desired density for feeding a filler / canning machine.

[0006] Currently, the most common way to can fish, including tuna, is to manually place the raw material onto the intake belt of the packaging / canning machine. In this situation, it was often difficult to achieve the required constant density of the raw material reaching the canning machine. Also, the manual loading of the raw material could lead to damage of the raw material, and thus a reduction in its quality.

[0007] In addition, typically at least two or even three operators were needed to feed the canning machine in order to achieve a continuous stream of the raw material. Further, this requires strenuous physical labor that not many personnel are able to perform for any significant period of time.

[0008] The present application discloses a feeder apparatus that seeks to address foregoing issues.SUMMARY

[0009] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0010] In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a feeder is provided for feeding a food product to a food packaging machine. The feeder includes a forming station for forming a food product into a pat of a desired configuration to be fed to a food packaging machine, an upper conveyor overlapping a lower conveyor for receiving a food product there between, the food product conforming into a desired thickness by the upper and lower conveyor belts while the upper and lower conveyor belts move the food product towards and into the forming station, the upper and lower conveyor belts havingdischarge ends adjacent the forming station, an elongated knife disposed transversely to the discharge ends of the upper and lower conveyor belts, the elongated knife configured for cutting the food product into a pat of a desired width and forming a first longitudinal side wall of the forming station, a movable wall disposed opposite to the knife from the upper and lower conveyor belts to form a second longitudinal side wall of the forming station, the moveable wall moveable toward and away from the knife, and a support conveyor forming the base of the forming station and disposed transversely to the lengths of the upper and lower conveyor belts to support the food product while being formed into a pat and then advancing the formed pat to a takeaway apparatus receiving the formed pat from the support conveyor and advancing the formed pat toward the food packaging machine.

[0011] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the support conveyor comprises an endless belt forming the base of the forming station.

[0012] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the endless belt comprising an upper run forming the base of the forming station.

[0013] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the takeaway apparatus comprising a takeaway conveyor disposed end to end to the support conveyor, the takeaway conveyor receiving the formed pat from the support conveyor and advancing the formed pat along the length of the takeaway conveyor toward the food packaging machine.

[0014] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a moveable end wall nominally disposed at an end of the forming station distal from the takeaway conveyor, the movable wall advancing with the support conveyor as the support conveyor advances the formed pat onto the takeaway conveyor.

[0015] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a carriage on which the end wall is mounted for advancing with the support conveyor as the support conveyor advances the formed pat onto the takeaway conveyor.

[0016] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a guideway for supporting and guiding the carriage as the movable wall advances with the support conveyor as the support conveyor advances the formed pat onto the takeaway conveyor.

[0017] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a first actuator for moving the carriage along the guideway.

[0018] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a top plate positioned over the forming station and movable in the vertical direction toward and away from the pat in the forming station.

[0019] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a second actuator for moving the top plate towards and away from the pat in the forming station.

[0020] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the takeaway apparatus comprising side walls to confine the sides of the formed pat as the formed pat is advanced toward the food packaging machine.

[0021] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising an upper frame section for supporting the feeder station, the upper and lower conveyor belts, the elongated knife, the movable wall, the support conveyor, and the takeaway conveyor, and a lower frame section supporting the upper frame section.

[0022] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the upper frame action is movable relative to the lower frame section.

[0023] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the upper frame section is movable in the direction along the length of the takeaway conveyor.

[0024] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the lower frame section defines slideways along which the upper frame section moves.

[0025] In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a feeder is provided for feeding a fish product to a fish canning machine. The feeder includes a forming station for forming a fish product into a pat of a desired configuration to be fed to a fish canning machine, an upper conveyor overlapping a lower conveyor for receiving afish product there between, the fish product formed into a desired thickness by the upper and lower conveyor belts while the upper and lower conveyor belts move the fish product towards and into the forming station, the upper and lower conveyor belts having discharge ends adjacent the forming station, an elongated knife disposed transversely to the discharge ends of the upper and lower conveyor belts, the elongated knife powered for cutting the fish product into a pat of a desired width and for forming a first longitudinal side wall of the forming station, a movable wall disposed opposite to the knife from the upper and lower conveyor belts to form a second longitudinal side wall of the forming station, the moveable wall moveable toward and away from the knife, and a support conveyor forming the base of the forming station and disposed transversely to the lengths of the upper and lower conveyor belts to support the fish product while being formed into a pat and then advancing the formed pat toward the fish product canning machine.

[0026] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the support conveyor comprises an endless belt forming the base of the forming station.

[0027] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the endless belt comprises an upper run forming the base of the forming station.

[0028] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a takeaway conveyor disposed end to end to the support conveyor, the takeaway conveyor receiving the formed pat from the support conveyor and advancing the formed pat along the length of the takeaway conveyor toward the fish product canning machine.

[0029] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a moveable end wall nominally disposed at an end of the forming station distal, the movable wall advancing with the support conveyor as the support conveyor advances the formed pat toward the fish product canning machine.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by referenceto the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0031] FIG. 1 an isometric view of an example of a feeder apparatus of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of FIG. 1 taken from beneath the apparatus;

[0033] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a portion of the frame of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, taken along lines 4-4;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, taken along lines 5-5;

[0036] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the feeder apparatus of FIG. 1 with the portion removed to view particular aspects of the apparatus;

[0037] FIG. 7 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 6, but taken from the opposite end of the apparatus;

[0038] FIG. 8 is an isometric view similar to FIGS 6 and 7, taken from a view corresponding to FIG. 6 rotated about 90 degrees counterclockwise;

[0039] FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of components of the feeder apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of components of the feeder apparatus similar to FIG. 9, but rotated about 45 degrees counterclockwise;

[0041] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, taken along lines 11-11;

[0042] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary isometric view similar to FIG. 9, but rotated counterclockwise approximately 45 degrees;

[0043] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary isometric view similar to FIG. 12, but taken from the opposite side.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, is intended as a description of variousembodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Similarly, any steps described herein may be interchangeable with other steps, or combinations of steps, in order to achieve the same or substantially similar result.

[0045] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that many embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of the specific details. In some instances, well-known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of the present disclosure. Further, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure may employ any combination of features described herein.

[0046] The present application may include references to “directions,” such as “forward,” “rearward,” “front,” “back,” “ahead,” “behind,” “upward,” “downward,” “above,” “below,” “top,” “bottom,” “right hand,” “left hand,” “in,” “out,” “extended,” “advanced,” “retracted,” “proximal,” and “distal.” These references and other similar references in the present application are only to assist in helping describe and understand the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present invention to these directions.

[0047] The present application may include modifiers such as the words “generally,” “approximately,” “about”, or “substantially.” These terms are meant to serve as modifiers to indicate that the “dimension,” “shape,” “temperature,” “time,” or other physical parameter in question need not be exact, but may vary as long as the function that is required to be performed can be carried out. For example, in the phrase “generally circular in shape,” the shape need not be exactly circular as long as the required function of the structure in question can be carried out.

[0048] In the following description, various embodiments of the present disclosure are described. In the following description and in the accompanying drawings, the corresponding systems assemblies, apparatus and units may be identified by the same part number, but with an alpha suffix. The descriptions of the parts / components of such systems assemblies, apparatus, and units that are the same or similar are not repeated so as to avoid redundancy in the present application.

[0049] In the present application and claims, references to “food,” “food products,” “food pieces,” and “food items,” are used interchangeably and are meant to include fish as well as other types of foods. With respect to fish, the present application and claims may apply to tuna, salmon, mackerel as well as other types of fish.

[0050] The FIGS, show a feeder apparatus 100 for feeding food products F to a packaging machine (not shown), with the food product formed into a specific and uniform shape and consistency for presentation to the packaging machine. An example of one type of food product is fish that is packaged into cans. A specific example is tuna that is packaged into cans. However, the feeder apparatus 100 of the present disclosure can be used with other types of fish, for example, salmon, as well as with other types of foods such as beef or poultry.

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 5-10, in basic form the feeder apparatus 100 includes a forming station 102 for forming the food product F into a pat P of a desired, uniform configuration and consistency to be fed to a packaging machine. The food product F is routed / fed to the forming station 102 by an infeed system 104 consisting in part of an upper conveyor 106 that is disposed above to overlie a lower conveyor 108. The upper and lower conveyors 106 and 108 function to press the food product F into a desired thickness and then discharging the food product to the forming station 102.

[0052] An elongated knife 110 disposed transversely to the discharge ends of the upper and lower conveyor belts 106 and 108 for cutting the food product into a pat P of a desired width. Also, the knife 110 forms a first longitudinal side wall of the forming station 102. A movable wall 112 is disposed opposite to the knife 110 from the upper and lowerconveyors 106 and 108 to form a second longitudinal side wall of the forming station 102. The moveable wall 112 is moveable toward and away from the knife 110 to thereby define the width of the pat P, as well as to compress the food product.

[0053] A support conveyor 114 forms the base of the forming station 102 and disposed transversely to the lengths of the upper and lower conveyors 106, 108 to support the food product F while being formed into the pat P. The support conveyor 114 then advances the formed pat P to a takeaway conveyor 116 disposed end to end to the support conveyor. The takeaway conveyor 116 receives the formed pat P from the support conveyor 114 and advances the formed pat P along the length of the takeaway conveyor toward the food packaging machine.

[0054] A moveable end wall structure 118 is nominally disposed at an end of the forming station 102 distal from the takeaway conveyor 116. The movable wall structure 118 advances with the support conveyor 114 as the support conveyor advances the formed pat P onto the takeaway conveyor 116.

[0055] If needed, a top wall structure 120 forms the top or ceiling of the forming station102. If needed, the top wall structure can be operated to press downwardly on the pat P at the formation station 102 so that the height of the pat P is as desired. Although the feeder apparatus 100 may include all of these components, it is to be understood that one or more of these components may not be essential or even needed for the feeder apparatus to properly function.

[0056] Describing the foregoing components and the feeder apparatus more explicitly, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the foregoing components are mounted on a frame structure composed of an upper frame structure 122 and a lower frame structure 124. The upper frame structure 122 is movable relative to the lower frame structure 124 in a direction along the length of the takeaway conveyor 116. As such, the discharge end 126 of the takeaway conveyor may be positioned as desired relative to the packaging machine.

[0057] More specifically, the upper frame structure 122 is formed in a rectilinear shape to surround and encase the components of the feeder apparatus 100 noted above. In this regard, the upper frame structure 122 includes corner posts 130 that are interconnected by upper longitudinal frame members 132 and lower longitudinal frame members 134. The corner posts 130 are also interconnected by upper transverse frame members 136 and lower transverse frame members 138. Other structural members can be used to form the upper frame structure 122.

[0058] The upper frame structure 122 is supported by the lower frame structure 124, which includes a rectangular perimeter structure 140 supported above the floor by corner legs 142. Floor pads 144 are mounted to the lower ends of threaded shafts 146 that screw into the bottoms of the legs 142 so that the feeder apparatus can be adjusted in height and leveled as needed.

[0059] Lower cross members 150 span across the lower longitudinal members 134 of the upper frame structure. Roller assemblies 152 depend downwardly form the lower cross members 150 to roll on the upper surface of tubular sections 153 of the perimeter structure 140 of the lower frame structure 124. As shown in FIGS 4 and 5, then tubular sections 153 are orientated so that a corner of the tubular section is uppermost and serves as a track for the rollers 155 of the roller assembles.

[0060] The position of the upper frame structure 122 on the lower frame structure 124 is controlled by pinion gears 154 affixed to the end sections of a drive shaft 156 that is powered by a motor assembly 158 connected to one end of the drive shaft. The drive shaft 156 and associated motor assembly 158 are mounted on the lower portion of the upper frame structure 122 so that the pinion gears 154 engage the gears of longitudinal racks 160 mounted to tubular sections 161 of the lower frame structure.

[0061] Adjustable length bumper arms 162 extend forwardly from the lower longitudinal member 134 of the upper frame structure 122 to bear against the packaging machine or other structure when the feeder apparatus is at the correct distance from thepackaging machine. A U-shaped tubular bracket 163 connects the proximal ends of the bumper arms to the frame member 134.

[0062] Abutment members 164 are mounted to the distal ends of the bumper arms 162. The abutment members 164 may be composed of a resilient material, such as a high durometer nature or synthetic rubber. In addition, or as an alternative to the abutment members 164, the bumper arms may be telescopically resilient to avoid damage to the packaging machine or other structure or to the feeder apparatus when the abutment members contact the packaging machine or other structure. In this situation, the bumper arms are able to resiliently retract.

[0063] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 10, the infeed system 104 includes a lower conveyor 108 spanning from a distal shelf 170 to the support conveyer 114. A bridging ledge 172 is interposed between the discharge ends of the lower conveyor 108 and the support conveyor 114, see FIG. 10. Side rails 174 extend along the sides of the belt 176 of the conveyer 108 constrain the food product F moving on the lower conveyor, see FIG. 7. The lower conveyor 108 is driven by a motor 178 in a standard manner.

[0064] The infeed system 104 also includes an upper conveyor 106 that overlaps a portion of the lower conveyor 108 near the forming station 102. As shown in FIG. 10, the endless belt 180 of the conveyor 106 is driven by a drive roller 182 that is powered by a motor 184 in a standard manner. A driven roller 186 is mounted to the infeed end of the conveyor 106. The driven roller 186 may be of a smaller diameter the drive roller 182 so as to form a larger gap with the belt 176 of the lower conveyor. This larger gap serves as a lead-in for the food product F approaching the upper conveyor 106.

[0065] A retention block 188 is positioned between rollers 182 and 186 to prevent the lower run of the belt 180 from deforming upwardly as the food product is forced between the upper 106 and lower 108 conveyors. The leading end of the support block 188 may be relieved or chamfered in the upward direction to form a smooth transition with the belt 180 leaving the smaller diameter roller. However, a majority of the length of the support blockis substantially parallel to the lower belt 176, so as to press the food product into a desired thickness before reaching the forming station 102.

[0066] The vertical separation between the upper 106 and lower 108 conveyors may be adjusted by an actuating system 190 that is operable to raise and lower the upper conveyor 106 relative to the lower conveyorl08. A frame structure 192 spans between the axles of the drive roller 186 and the driven roller 186 outward of the sides of the endless belt 180. A linear actuator 194 is connected to the frame structure 192 to move the frame structure in the vertical direction. Of course, other means could be used to change the distance separating the upper 106 and lower 108 conveyors.

[0067] As noted above and as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 12, support conveyor 114 forms the base of the forming station 102. As such, the conveyor 114 is disposed transversely to the downstream ends of the upper infeed conveyor 106 and lower infeed conveyor 108. The conveyor 114 includes an endless belt 200, the ends of which wrap around end rollers 202 and 204. The lower run of the belt 200 wraps idler rollers 206 and 208, which are positioned so that the belt 200 wraps a significant portion of the circumference of a drive roller 210. The drive roller 210 can be powered in a standard manner.

[0068] The support conveyor 114 is positioned end-to-end to takeaway conveyor 116. As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 13, the takeaway conveyor 116 includes an endless belt 212 having an upper run coplanar with the upper run of the conveyor belt 200 of the conveyor 114. The ends of the upper run of the endless belt 212 train around end rollers 214 and 216. The lower run of the endless belt 212 wrap idler rollers 218 and 220, which are positioned so that the belt 212 wraps a significant portion of a drive roller 222. The drive roller 222 is powered in a standard manner.

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 12 and 13, sidewalls 224 extend along the length of the upper run of the conveyor belt 212 to guide and constrain the pat P formed in the forming station 102 as the pat is moved towards the packaging machine.

[0070] Also, a bridging ramp 226 may be positioned between the adjacent ends of the conveyors 114 and 116 so as to provide a smooth transition of the pat P from the belt 200 of the conveyor 114 to the endless belt 212 of the conveyor 116.

[0071] It can be appreciated that the configuration of the conveyor 116 can be altered to connect to the product packaging or canning machine. For example, the length of the conveyor can be modified or the elevation of the out feed end of the conveyor 116 can be adjusted to match in infeed elevation of the packaging / canning machine

[0072] Referring to FIG. 9, the knife 110 includes an elongated blade portion 230 which is used to slice the food product F when the forming station 102 has been substantially filled. In FIG. 9, the knife 110 is shown in an upwardly retracted position. When the knife is extended it moves both downwardly and longitudinally along the length of the blade 230 as depicted by arrow 232. The blade 230 is connected to an actuator 234 by a triangular connecting section 236. The downward and longitudinal movement of the blade 230 facilitates the cutting of the food product. When the blade 230 is fully extended, its lower edge coincides with the surface of the endless belt 200. Further, in this position the blade 230 defines a longitudinal side portion of the forming station 102 adjacent the discharge ends of the upper infeed conveyor 106 and lower infeed conveyor 108.

[0073] As shown in FIGS 11 and 13, the forming station 102 is also composed of a movable wall structure 112 that is longitudinal along the length of the conveyor belt 200 coinciding with the knife blade 230 when the knife blade is in extended downward position. The movable wall structure 112 includes a longitudinal upright wall section 240. The wall section 240 is mounted on the forward ends of laterally spaced apart guide rods 242 that ride in guide blocks 244 mounted to the base of a subframe structure 264, which in turn is mounted to the upper frame section 122. The guide rods 242 help ensure that the wall section 240 remains parallel to the knife blade 230, as well as parallel to the sidewalls 224 of the takeaway conveyor 116.

[0074] A linear actuator 244 is connected to the wall section 240 to move the wall section over the surface of the endless belt 200 toward and away from the knife blade 230.As such, the linear actuator 244 is disposed parallel to the guide rods 242. The linear actuator is also mounted to the base of the subframe structure 264. Of course, other means can be used to move the wall section 240.

[0075] It will be appreciated that the linear actuator 246 can be operated to move the section toward the knife blade to further compress the pat P if needed to achieve a desired density or uniformity of the pat P.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the end wall structure 118 includes an end wall 250 that is mounted to a moveable carriage 252 by an elbow bracket 254. The vertical leg of the bracket 254 is secured to the face of the carriage 252 and the lower horizontal leg of the bracket 254 extends beneath the upper horizontal flange 256 of a bracket 258 having a face portion mounted to the back side of the end wall 250 to support the end wall in an upright position to extend across the width of support conveyor 114.

[0077] The carriage 252 is slidably mounted to ride along the length of parallel upper and lower slide rods 260 that extend parallel to the length of the support conveyor 114 to guide the end wall structure 118 along the length of the support conveyor. The ends of the slide rods 260 are mounted to the vertical end walls 262A and 262B of the subframe structure 264. The subframe structure 264 includes a base plate 266 that interconnects the lower edges of the end walls 262A and 262B. The upper portions of the end walls 262A and 262B are interconnected and braced by upper connection rods 268.

[0078] The carriage 252 is mounted to the upper and lower slide rods 260 by slide blocks 270. The slide blocks 270 have a circular bore that closely engages over the slide rods 260. The slide blocks 270 are attached to the carriage 252 to enable the carriage to slide along the length of the slide rods 260.

[0079] The carriage 252 is powered to move along the slide rods by an actuator 272 that rotates a pinion 274 that engages one loop end of an endless belt 276. The endless belt extends along the length of the slide rods 260 to wrap around an idler roller 278 located at the ends of the slide rods distal from the actuator 272. The idler roller 278 is mounted tothe subframe end wall 262A. One run of the endless belt 276 is fixed to the back side of the carriage 252 by being sandwiched between a first anchor block 280 fixed to the carriage and second top block 282 by hardware members 284. As discussed below, the actuator 272 powers the end wall 250 to move along with the conveyor belt 200 when the belt advances the pat P from the forming station 102 to the takeaway conveyor 116 so that the pat P is transferred in whole to the takeaway conveyor.

[0080] Referring to FIGS 7, 10, and 11, the top wall structure 120 includes plate 290 that is held in horizontal orientation over the forming station 102 by a pair of guide rods 292 having their lower ends fixed to the top side of the press plate. The rods 292 slide within close fitting guide blocks 294 which are mounted to the sides of upright side straps 296 that are secured to a back wall structure 298. The plate 290 is raised and lowered by a linear actuator 300 having an extendable and retractable piston rod 302 attached to the upper ends of connecting brackets 304. The lower ends of the connect brackets 304 are attached to the upper surface of the press 290.

[0081] The top wall structure 120 assists in maintaining the shape of the pat P while it is being moved from the forming station 102 to the takeaway conveyor 116. Also, if needed, the top wall structure could be used to press downwardly on the pat P to change the height of the pat P or alter the density of the pat P.

[0082] In the use of the feeder apparatus 100, food products, for example, tuna loins or tuna chunks or tuna pieces, are fed into the infeed system 104 at the shelf 170. In this regard, the tuna loins or tuna chunks or tuna pieces are placed on the belt 176 of the lower conveyor 108. The food product advances with the belt 176 reaching the upstream end of the upper conveyor 106, see FIG. 11.

[0083] The food product F is compressed in height or thickness by the upper and lower conveyors 106 and 108 which are adjusted to a separation height by linear actuator 194. Generally, when the food product F is discharged by the upper and lower conveyors 106 and 108 and fed into the forming station 102, the food product F is of a desired thickness. However, this is not always the case, and it may be necessary for the top wall structure 120to be utilized to move the plate 290 downwardly against the upper surface of the food product when in the forming station 102.

[0084] When the food product is discharged by the upper and lower conveyors 106 and 108 into the forming station 102, the movable wall 112 is nominally positioned at the discharge ends of the upper and lower conveyors 106 and 108. Then, as the food product is advanced into the forming station by the upper and lower conveyors 106 and 108, the wall 112 retracts across the forming station until it is in position so that the desired width of the pat P can be achieved.

[0085] Next, the knife 110 is extended downwardly and longitudinally in the direction of arrow 232 by actuator 234 to slice the food product F into a pat P of a desired width. Thereafter, the formed pat P can be moved onto the takeaway conveyor 116 by simply advancing the support conveyor 114 in the direction of the takeaway conveyor. At the same time, the end wall 118 moves with the belt 200 of the forming conveyor 114 so that the formed pat P remains as singular structure. But for the end wall 118, the pat P, especially its trailing end, may tend to separate from the main body of the pat P. Of course, it may not be necessary to use the end wall 118 in all situations.

[0086] Also, the food product may be advanced by the upper and lower conveyors 106 and 108 so that the movable wall is retracted past the location of the nominal width of the pat P. After the knife slices the food product F, the movable wall can be pressed toward the knife to thereby compress the food product into a pat P of a desired density. Alternatively, the movable wall can be loaded in the direction toward the knife, so that as the upper and lower conveyors advance the food product toward the movable wall, the food product is compressed at the same time the movable wall is retracted.

[0087] The takeaway conveyor 116 may deliver the pat P to the infeed conveyor of a packaging apparatus. If the food product F consists of tuna or other fish, the packaging apparatus may be in the form of an apparatus to fill cans or tins with the tuna or other fish.

[0088] The position of the feeder apparatus 100, and in particular the outlet of the takeaway conveyor 116, can be adjusted to advance or retract the out end of the takeaway conveyor. To this end, the motor 158 can be operated to move the upper frame structure 122 relative to the lower frame structure 124. In this regard, the motor 158 rotates the pinion rollers 154 to move along rack 160, thereby moving the upper frame structure, and thus the takeaway conveyor, relative to the lower frame structure.

[0089] While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMSThe embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A feeder for feeding a food product to a food packaging machine, comprising: a forming station for forming a food product into a pat of a desired configuration to be fed to a food packaging machine; an upper conveyor overlapping a lower conveyor for receiving a food product therebetween, the food product conforming into a desired thickness by the upper and lower conveyor belts while the upper and lower conveyor belts move the food product towards and into the forming station, the upper and lower conveyor belts having discharge ends adjacent the forming station; an elongated knife disposed transversely to the discharge ends of the upper and lower conveyor belts, the elongated knife configured for cutting the food product into a pat of a desired width and forming a first longitudinal side wall of the forming station; a movable wall disposed opposite to the knife from the upper and lower conveyor belts to form a second longitudinal side wall of the forming station, the moveable wall moveable toward and away from the knife; and a support conveyor forming the base of the forming station and disposed transversely to the lengths of the upper and lower conveyor belts to support the food product while being formed into a pat and then advancing the formed pat to a takeaway apparatus receiving the formed pat from the support conveyor and advancing the formed pat toward the food packaging machine.

2. The feeder of Claim 1, wherein the support conveyor comprising an endless belt forming the base of the forming station.

3. The feeder of Claim 2, wherein the endless belt comprising an upper run forming the base of the forming station.

4. The feeder of any one of Claims 1-3, wherein the takeaway apparatus comprising a takeaway conveyor disposed end to end to the support conveyor, the takeawayconveyor receiving the formed pat from the support conveyor and advancing the formed pat along the length of the takeaway conveyor toward the food packaging machine.

5. The feeder of any one of Claims 1-4, further comprising a moveable end wall nominally disposed at an end of the forming station distal from the takeaway conveyor, the movable wall advancing with the support conveyor as the support conveyor advances the formed pat onto the takeaway conveyor.

6. The feeder of Claim 5, further comprising a carriage on which the end wall is mounted for advancing with the support conveyor as the support conveyor advances the formed pat onto the takeaway conveyor.

7. The feeder of Claim 6, further comprising a guideway for supporting and guiding the carriage as the movable wall advances with the support conveyor as the support conveyor advances the formed pat onto the takeaway conveyor.

8. The feeder of Claim 6 or 7, further comprising a first actuator for moving the carriage along the guideway.

9. The feeder of any one of Claims 1-8, further comprising a top plate positioned over the forming station and movable in the vertical direction toward and away from the pat in the forming station.

10. The feeder of Claim 7, further comprising a second actuator for moving the top plate towards and away from the pat in the forming station.

11. The feeder of Claims 1-10, wherein the takeaway apparatus comprising side walls to confine the sides of the formed pat as the formed pat is advanced toward the food packaging machine.

12. The feeder of any one of Claims 1-11, further comprising: an upper frame section for supporting the feeder station, the upper and lower conveyor belts, the elongated knife, the movable wall, the support conveyor, and the takeaway conveyor; and a lower frame section supporting the upper frame section.

13. The feeder of Claim 12, wherein the upper frame action is movable relative to the lower frame section.

14. The feeder of Claim 13, wherein the upper frame section is movable in the direction along the length of the takeaway conveyor.

15. The feeder of Claim 13 or 14, wherein the lower frame section defines slideways along which the upper frame section moves.

16. A feeder for feeding a fish product to a fish canning machine, comprising: a forming station for forming a fish product into a pat of a desired configuration to be fed to a fish canning machine; an upper conveyor overlapping a lower conveyor for receiving a fish product there between, the fish product formed into a desired thickness by the upper and lower conveyor belts while the upper and lower conveyor belts move the fish product towards and into the forming station, the upper and lower conveyor belts having discharge ends adjacent the forming station; an elongated knife disposed transversely to the discharge ends of the upper and lower conveyor belts, the elongated knife powered for cutting the fish product into a pat of a desired width and for forming a first longitudinal side wall of the forming station; a movable wall disposed opposite to the knife from the upper and lower conveyor belts to form a second longitudinal side wall of the forming station, the moveable wall moveable toward and away from the knife; and a support conveyor forming the base of the forming station and disposed transversely to the lengths of the upper and lower conveyor belts to support the fish product while being formed into a pat and then advancing the formed pat toward the fish product canning machine.

17. The feeder of Claim 16, wherein the support conveyor comprising an endless belt forming the base of the forming station.

18. The feeder of Claim 17, wherein the endless belt comprising an upper run forming the base of the forming station.

19. The feeder of any one of Claims 16-18, further comprising a takeaway conveyor disposed end to end to the support conveyor, the takeaway conveyor receiving the formed pat from the support conveyor and advancing the formed pat along the length of the takeaway conveyor toward the fish product canning machine.

20. The feeder of any one of Claims 16-19, further comprising a moveable end wall nominally disposed at an end of the forming station distal, the movable wall advancing with the support conveyor as the support conveyor advances the formed pat toward the fish product canning machine.

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