Accumulator and transfer system and method for delivering food product to a bag

Abstract

A transfer system is provided for a food product, comprising an accumulation cage to buffer product being delivered from a loader system; and a transfer mechanism to deliver a predetermined number of food product from the accumulation cage to a chute which itself delivers the predetermined number of food products to a receptacle. The loader system may run continuously to deliver product to the accumulator cage while the transfer mechanism delivers the predetermined number of food product to the chute.

1 . A transfer system for a food product, comprising:
 an accumulation cage to buffer product being delivered from a loader system;   a transfer mechanism to deliver a predetermined number of food product from said accumulation cage to a chute where the predetermined number of food products are deposited in a receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The transfer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said loader system may run continuously to deliver product to said accumulator cage while said transfer mechanism delivers said predetermined number of food product to said chute. 
     
     
         3 . The transfer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said transfer mechanism comprises at least one transfer bucket, said predetermined number of food product being dropped from said accumulation cage into said transfer bucket. 
     
     
         4 . The transfer system according to  claim 3 , wherein said transfer bucket moves horizontally then vertically into a position adjacent said chute. 
     
     
         5 . The transfer system according to  claim 3 , further comprising at least one horizontal pusher which moves the predetermined number of food product from said transfer bucket through said chute for delivery into said receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The transfer system according to  claim 3 , wherein said food product is delivered into said accumulation cage while said transfer bucket is transferring said food product to said chute. 
     
     
         7 . The transfer system according to  claim 3 , wherein said transfer bucket returns to its load position under the accumulation cage and accepts the next bagful. 
     
     
         8 . The transfer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said transfer system is adapted to be disposed beneath an exit of said loader system to align said exit with said accumulator cage for delivery of food product to said accumulator cage. 
     
     
         9 . The transfer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said transfer system includes a transfer bucket disposed on a rail, said transfer bucket being moved by a pneumatic rail system that translates said transfer bucket along said rail. 
     
     
         10 . The transfer system according to  claim 9 , further comprising an elevator system to elevate said transfer bucket above said rail toward said chute. 
     
     
         11 . The transfer system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second accumulation cage to buffer product being delivered from a loader system; and a second transfer mechanism to deliver a second predetermined number of food product from said second accumulation cage to a second chute where the predetermined number of food products are deposited in a second receptacle, wherein said transfer mechanism and said second transfer mechanism run parallel to one another. 
     
     
         12 . A transfer system for a food product, comprising:
 first and second accumulation areas to buffer product being delivered from a loader system;   first and second transfer mechanisms to deliver a first and second predetermined number of food products from said accumulation areas to first and second dispensers where the first and second predetermined number of food products respectively are dispensed into a receptacle,   wherein aid first and second transfer mechanisms deliver said food products along parallel paths to said first and second dispensers.   
     
     
         13 . The transfer system according to  claim 12 , wherein said loader system may run continuously to deliver product to said accumulator areas while said transfer mechanisms deliver said first and second predetermined number of food products to said dispensers. 
     
     
         14 . The transfer system according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said first and second transfer mechanisms comprise a transfer bucket, and wherein said first and second predetermined number of food products are deposited respectively from said accumulation areas into a respective transfer bucket. 
     
     
         15 . The transfer system according to  claim 14 , wherein said transfer bucket for each of said first and second transfer mechanisms moves horizontally then vertically into a position adjacent one of said first and second dispensers. 
     
     
         16 . The transfer system according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one horizontal pusher which moves the predetermined number of food product from said transfer bucket through said dispenser for delivery into said receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The transfer system according to  claim 14 , wherein said food product is delivered into said accumulation areas while said transfer bucket is transferring said food product to said dispenser. 
     
     
         18 . The transfer system according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said first and second transfer systems include a transfer bucket disposed on a rail, said transfer bucket being moved by a pneumatic rail system that translates said transfer bucket along said rail. 
     
     
         19 . The transfer system according to  claim 18 , further comprising an elevator system to elevate said transfer bucket above said rail toward said dispensers. 
     
     
         20 . A method of transferring a food product from a loader to a receptacle, comprising the steps of:
 delivering food product from a loader system to an accumulation cage to buffer product being delivered from said loader system,   transferring said food product from said accumulation cage to a transfer bucket,   delivering said food product from said accumulation cage to a dispenser, while said loader delivers additional food product to said accumulation cage.