[54] AUTOMATIC DIRECT SOFT COOKIE LOADING APPARATUS
[76] Inventors: William J. Simelunas, 38 Iona PL, Glen Rock, N.J. 07452; Henry N. Shoiket, 11 E. Newell Ave., Rutherford, N.J. 07070; Celso Espejo, 604 River Rd., Chatham, N.J. 07928
[21] Appl. No.: 682,244
[22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1984
[51] Int. CI.4 B65B 5/10
[52] U.S. CI 53/246; 53/251;
53/254
[58] Field of Search 53/244, 250, 534, 251,
53/259, 202, 152, 153, 497, 531, 254, 246, 249;
198/362, 422, 814, 809, 812
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,340,672 9/1967 Kayser 53/153
3,556,280 1/1971 Schnee et al 198/812 X
3,748,797 7/1973 Deines 53/152 X
3,768,231 10/1973 Koslow 53/244 X
3,786,617 1/1974 Fluck .
3,812,647 5/1974 Bertling et al. .
3,990,209 11/1976 Eisenberg .
4,044,885 8/1977 Rose et al. .
4,159,761 7/1979 Egee et al. .
4,166,525 9/1979 Bruno .
Relatively flexible cookie trays are supported on a rotatable mount. The cookie trays are not solidly supported, but rather are supported along portions beneath, and in between, regions where cookies are to be received. As the trays are relatively flexible, it is important that, for soft cookies, no rigid or hard surface be encountered during the relatively high speed loading operation. In connection with this invention, a cookie separating device is used which includes a pair of fingers holding cookies back and releasing them individually at time intervals. Also included is a conveyor belt feeding directly and selectively to one of two conveyor belts, each conveyor belt being fed having a far end which directly loads empty cookie trays by moving upward or downward relative to the cookie tray as well as extending toward and away from the tray. The cookie trays which are rotatably mounted may be mounted on a carousel-type of support, which automatically rotates and which can be automatically loaded and unloaded.
10 Claims, 28 Drawing Figures
