US2898722A - Machine for use in the packaging of product - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1959 B. 1-. HENSGEN MACHINE FOR USE IN THE PACKAGING 0F PRODUCT Filud April 15, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. BER/l/IRD THENSGEN A 7'7'OR/VEY Aug. 11, 1959 B. 'r. HENSGEN MACHINE FOR USE IN THE PACKAGING 0F PRODUCT Filed April 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BERNARD 7. l/E/YSG'E/V Aug. 1959 B. 'r. HENSGEN 2,898,722

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE PACKAGING OF PRODUCT Filed April 15, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

0 5 BY ak/ A T TOR/V5) United States Patent MACHINE FOR USE IN THE PACKAGING OF PRODUCT Bernard T. Hensgen, Chicago, IlL, assignor to Swift & Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 15, 1953, Serial No. 348,932 17 Claims. (Cl. 53-247) The present invention relates to an apparatus for slicing, shingling and grouping product, as for example bacon, and depositiing it on a fiat sheet of material, as for example, a bacon divider.

Because of public demand the majority of sliced bacon today is marketed in packages wherein the slices are shingled so as to display a portion of each slice of bacon. A substantial portion of these packages are of a type wherein the s'hingled bacon is supported on a piece of cardboard commonly termed a divider with a wrapping of transparent material thereabout. While some of the operations in the preparation of such a package have been mechanized, a substantial volume of products so prepared still utilizes a significant amount of manual handling in the preparation of the package. For example, it is not uncommon that the sliced and shingled bacon is delivered to a person who selects a predetermined quantity of the shingled bacon, separates it from the remainder of the amount of sliced and shingled bacon, and places it on the divider.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide asimple machine for continuously slicing, shingling, and grouping the bacon and placing the groups on the dividers.

Two particular advantages of the invention which contribute to the pleasing appearance of the finished package are that the groups are regularly arranged on the dividers so that the edges of the slices are aligned with the edges of the dividers and the portions of the dividers exposed around the bacon are not smeared with fat or grease from the bacon. If the slices of bacon are skewed with respect to the edges of the dividers it is usually necessary that the bacon be lifted from the divider and aligned in order to provide a pleasing appearance for the finished package. Furthermore, any movement of the slices across the face of the divider tends to leave fat or grease smears that are objectionable.

Another advantage that contributes to the appearance of the finished package is that the slices of a group are all regularly aligned with each other. In such past practices, particularly in some efforts to use machines for separating the shingled bacon into groups, one or more of the slides are disturbed either by reason of a frictional contact with another slice or by reason of the sudden movement imparted to the group in an effort to move a particular number of slices away from an area in which other slices are being shingled. To realign such disarranged slices to obtain the best appearance, a hand operation is necessary which is an undesirable added eX- pense.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation, partially in section, of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view on an' enlarged scale of the portion of the mechanism of the embodiment of Figure 1 for performing the step of shingling and grouping;

2,898,722 Patented Aug. 11, 1959 Figure 3 is a section taken at line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the portion of the structure of Figure 1, with the cover broken away, for performing the step of depositing the groups on dividers; and

Figure 5 is a section taken at line 5-5 of Figure 4.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawings is for the handling of bacon. It will be apparent that the invention is applicable to many other food products, for example cheese, and even could be used for non-edible material. The discosed embodiment performs the steps of slicing, shingling, grouping and depositing of the groups on cards, each of which operations and apparatus therefor is necessary in achieving the commercially necessary results starting with a slab of bacon. For convenience these operations and the apparatus for performing them will be discussed under separate headings, but this does not detract from the fact that the end result cannot be achieved from a slab of bacon without the interaction of each of the elements of the combination. However, it will be apparent that certain subcombinations could hav independent uses.

Slicing Bacon slicers are well-known in the art and the exact details of the slicer structure forms no part of the present invention. The slicer, generally 10, has a table 11 on which the slab of bacon is supported and gradually moved toward a rotary knife 12 by a pusher 13. Knife 12 is mounted on a shaft 14, which shaft is driven by a motor 15 through a chain drive 16.

In order that the remainder of the apparatus be driven in synchronism with the slicer, a sprocket 18 is secured to shaft 14 and is connected to a sprocket 19 on the input shaft of a speed reducer 20 by a chain 21.

Shingling posited on the chains from slicer 10.

Attached to shaft 30 is a sprocket 32 which is connected to a sprocket 33 on shaft 34 by means of a chain 35. A second sprocket 37, also secured to shaft 34, is driven by a chain 38 from a sprocket 39 mounted on the output shaft of speed reducer 20.

The upper portions or conveying surfaces of chains 25 are moved in the direction indicated by arrow 40 so as to transport each slice away from knife 12 as it is severed from the slab of bacon and falls on chains 25. The speed of movement is adjusted with respect to the rotation of knife 12 at a rate that will move each slice a portion of its width away from the point at which it is deposited so that the subsequent slice will drop in a partially overlapping relationship with respect to the preceding slice. Obviously the exact amount of movement will be determined by how much of each slice is to be exposed underneath the subsequent slice.

Grouping Frame 23 also carries a second conveyor, generally 42, which is made up of a plurality of endless belts 43. At one end of conveyor 42 the belts 43 pass over pulleys 44 secured to shaft 30, while at the other end the belts pass over pulleys 45 mounted on shaft 46 (see Figures 4 and 5).

3 .ln e m'ed atef prq et 26n P l 4 a P11 rality of spacing bars 47 attached to a cross member 48. One end of cross member 48 is pivotally secured to a lever 49 with the other end of lever 49 being pivotally attachedtoframe 23 Lever 49 is used to control the forward and rearward movement of the spacing bars 47, Thi's mqyement is provided by a box cam 50 connected to shaft 34. A cam follower 51 projecting from lever 49 is received in cam slot 52 of box cam 50.

I The raising and lowering movement of spacing bars 47 is accomplished by a linkage made up of levers 55 and ends of lever 56; are respectively pivotally connected to LfrarheQKarrdone end of lever 55, while the other end of leyer 55is pivetally secured to cross member 48. A 57 mounted ;on shaft34 contacts the lower side of leyler 6jwith the lever 56 bein'g'held against the cam by 1 ri ,5 V V rriebtluiae ana positioning of'cams 50 and 57 are site that the bar 47 moves between sprockets 26 and pulleysf4'4 berewj ne rea in which the'shingling'is taking placeoh chains 25. During the course of this movement the trip: 6f rev-b54915 belowjthe upper surface of belts 43. can; 5 7"the'n raises levers'49 above the top of belts 43 to liftitheshingled bacon from chains'25 and at the same time dam '50"cji'1ickly'moves the bars "47 in the direction indicated by arrow 40, whereupon cam 57' allows spring 58 to pull the bars 47 to apo'sition which again is below the. surface'of belts '43.

The timing of the movements of bars 47 is'synchroriii'zed with the operation of the slicer through the drives previously described. The timing is such that the. bars .47 rise from the position below the shingling area, as delineated by chains 25, after a'predeterrnined number of slices have been cut from the slab by knife 12. This movement is also timed tooccur before the time when the slice subsequent to the last slice in the group has time to fall onto the already sliced bacon resting on conveyor 24. Because allof the slices of bacon resting on conveyor 24 are moved, there is no frictional contact between those slices and any'other slices of bacon to result in'a disarra ngement'of the slabs of the group. Furthermore, the serrated teeth 59 on the top of bars 47 engage the slices of bacon to eliminate any slippage between the bar andthe'group of slices which might result in a misalignment of the group of slices when they are deposited on b el ts 43. Obviously the periodic fast movement of 47 willresult in a series of separate groups of bacon being spaced along belts 43.

' Pla'tiitg product on cards "Referringfnow'toFigures 4and 5, the individual groups 6f ices are"trahsferred'from belts43 to a series of ways ffo'rn' ihg a conveying surface. Each of ways 65 are attached'to afl shaped b'raeket66, the ends of which are bolted to a subframe 67. Ways65 are interdigitated with helts43. 'The lengthof thegroups of slices, as measured parallel 'to 'the' line of'rnovement of the'groups issuffie'i'ehtly long so 'that the rearward portions of the group continue to frictionally engage belts 43, pushing the group ontothe'ways mm the forward portion'of the group is engaged 'by' a plurality of chains 68 each having a plurality of peints 69'projecting therefrom.

Chains 68 are d'ri'venby sprockets 71'secured to shaft 72," with 'each' chain rotating about two idler sprockets 7-3 and 74"moui1t'ed on " shafts 75 and 76, respectively. A pair of idler wheels 78 and 79 assist in positioning the lower run'ofch'ains '68 'so that this run of thejchain is parallel to and just above the top of ways 65. Idlers 78 rotate on a shaft 80 attachedto subframe 67. Idlers 79 aresecured to'a' stub shaft 81 projecting from arms 82. The opposite ends of jar'ms82 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 83attached to subframe 67. Bolt 84 and threaded, khurled'-cylinder"85 form an adjustable counterbalance forarmsSZand idlers 79.

One end of subframe 67 is pivotally supported 'on shaft 72. Adjacent the other end of the subframe, a pair of projecting brackets 88 are threaded to receive adjusting bolts 89 which are secured in place with lock nuts 90. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the position of chains 68 can be adjusted with respect to the top of ways both by changing the setting of bolts 89 and also by adjusting counterbalances 85.

Shaft 72 is driven from shaft 46 by means ofa chain 92. Chain 92 passes across one side of a sprocket 93 secured to shaft 72 and around a sprocket secured to shaft 46, as well as apair "(if 'idler sprockets 9 5 and 96 on stub shafts"97"ahd98, respectively. A chain 99 drives a sprocketj secured to shaft 46 from a sprocket secured to shaft 34 (Figures 2 and 3). I Chain 99 also passes around idler sprockets 101, 102, and 103, carried on stub shafts 104, 105, and 106, respectively.

The sheets of flat material, in the illustrated embodiment the bacon dividers, are positioned beneath ways 65 by a supporting'means generally 110. Supporting means comprises a supporting plate 111 attached to a rod 112 movable vertically through across member 113 of frame 23. To the lower end of rod 112-is-pinned alink 114fthe other end of which is pinned to a counterbalance member 115. A counterbalance member 115 is pivotally connected to a depending arm 116 of frame 23. Two counterbalance weights 118 and 119 are adjustably mounted on 'rods 1 20 and 121, respectively. The position of weights 118 and "119 is such that a counterbalance forcefis applied upwardly on rods 112 proportional to and slightlygrea'terthan the weight of the stack of dividers bnplate 111 plus the weight of the supporting means 11 0'itself eventhoug'h the number of cards on the plate 111 varies. "Thus the stack of dividers 122 continuously is urged gently upwardly into a position about against the bottom of ways 65.

In order 'to keep the 'counterbalance'for'ce as nearly as is poss'ibl'eeq'ual to the weight downwardly on the supporting means 110 and yet not have'a small amount of friction prevent the stack of cards from moving upwar'dly, a] jcigge generan 124, is provided to periodically tap the su porting meanstdbr'eak any frictional engagement that might otherwise tend to prevent a free mover'nent of thefshpportingmean's. The jogger includes a flexible arm izs; one end "of-whichis secured to a shaft 126. The o herend of thefleXible'arnrIZS is positioned to'contact 111115114. Sprocket 127 "mounted on shaft'1 26 engages chain'99 to rotate the shaftarid'cause the flexible arm 125 'toperiodically strike the link. A guide129,'withinwhich plate 111 moves, is used to position thestack'of dividers 122. The'forward, with respect'to the direction of movement 40, edge of the guide forms a lip'proje'cting upwardly and away from the acute ariglep'oint 1316f ways 65. It will be noted in the'drawings -that hp 130' of guide 129 is positioned beyondpoint 131 a distance su'fiicient topermit onlya portion of the length,-as measured parallel to the 1ine of movement of the shingled groups,'of the'dividers 122 to extend-out from under ways 65.

Adjacent the rear of the stack of dividers 122- are -a pair of' roll'ers" 133 rotatably mounted on a shaft 134 secured to'ways65. The distance between the periphery of ro'll'erf1-33 and th'e inn'er face'oflip 130 is substantially equalto the length'bf dividers122. Furthermore, the inner face of lip 130 is of substantially the same radius of curvature"as that of the periphery of rollers-133. Thus, as thestack'"of dividers 122 is gently urged upwardly by the supporting means 110, the rollers "133 push the dividers forwardly into lip 130.

'Beyond,'with"respect to the direction or movement, the stack of-cards is another conveyor, generally 13'7 made up of a plurality of belts 138. Belts 1381pass over-pulleys 139 secured to shaft 140. Shaft 140 has a sprocket- 141 thereon Which sprocket is connected -bya chain -;142 to-a sprocket lfion shaft 46.

Operation The bacon on table 11 is pushed forward a step at a time into the path of the rotary knife 12 with the severed slices falling onto conveyor 24. By reason of the movement of conveyor 24 in the direction indicated by arrow 40, each deposited slice moves partially out from under the spot at which it fell so that the subsequent slice falls in partial overlapping relationship thereto. After a pre determined number of slices have been deposited, the bars 47 of the grouping mechanism lifts up that group of slices and quickly moves it in said direction to deposit it on conveyor 42. The spaced groups move along conveyor 42 to ways 65 where they are engaged by chains 68. Under the urging of chains 68 the group of slices moves down ways 65 to the pointed end thereof at which point it slides onto the exposed portion of the uppermost divider, whereupon it almost immediately frictionally engages the divider to slide the divider out from under the ways. With the continued movement of the divider the group is gradually deposited on the divider and the two are transferred onto conveyor 137 to be moved away.

The foregoing description of a specific embodiment is for the purpose of compliance with 35 U.S.C. 1112 and should not be construed as imposing unnecessary limitations on the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for use in placing product on a flat piece of material, said machine including a conveyor having a predetermined terminus, power means for moving said product along said conveyor in a given direction toward said terminus, and means for urging said piece upwardly toward said conveyor with only a portion of said piece extending beyond said terminus in said direction, said power means extending beyond the terminus of said conveyor in said direction whereby said product will frictiona-lly engage said portion of said piece and draw it past said terminus to position said product on said piece.

2. A machine for use in placing product on a flat piece of material, said machine including a conveyor having a conveying surface with a predetermined terminus, power means for moving said product along said conveyor in a given direction toward said terminus, and means for urging said piece upwardly toward said conveyor with only a portion of a side of said piece extending beyond said terminus in said direction, said conveying surface and said side meeting at an acute angle at said terminus, said power means extending beyond the terminus of said conveyor in said direction whereby said product will frictionally engage said portion of said piece and draw it past said terminus to position said product on said piece.

3. A machine for use in placing product on a fiat piece of material, said machine including a conveyor having a predetermined terminus, power means for moving said product along said conveyor in a given direction toward said terminus, and means for urging said piece upwardly toward said conveyor with only a portion of said piece extending beyond said terminus in said direction, a second conveyor positioned beyond said portion in said direction and below said piece, said power means extending beyond the terminus of said conveyor in said direction whereby said product will frictionally engage said portion of said piece and draw it past said terminus to position said product on said piece and to move said piece onto said second conveyor.

4. A machine for use in placing product on a flat piece of material, said machine including a conveyor having a predetermined terminus, power means for moving said product along said conveyor in a given direction toward said terminus, means for supporting a stack of said pieces'below said conveyor, a material positioning member beyond said terminus in said direction a distance less than the length of said piece, said member having a rearward face, with respect to said direction of movement, sloping upward and away from said terminus, and means to position an edge of the upper portion of said stack in contact with said face, said supporting means positioning the top of said stack above said member, said power means extending beyond the terminus of said conveyor in said direction whereby said product will frictionally engage the portion of the top piece of said stack extending beyond said terminus and draw it past said terminus to position said product on said piece.

5. A machine for use in placing product on a flat piece of material, said machine including a conveyor having a predetermined terminus, power means for moving said product along said conveyor in a given direction toward said terminus, means for supporting a stack of said pieces below said conveyor, a material positioning member beyond said terminus in said direction a distance less than the length of said piece, said member having a rearward face, with respect to said direction of movement, sloping upward and away from said terminus, means to position an edge of the upper portion of said stack in contact with said face, said supporting means comprising a stack supporting member and a counterbalance therefor, said counterbalance exerting a force upward on said supporting member proportional to, and only slightly greater than the weight downwardly on the supporting member, and means to periodically jog said supporting means to assist in breaking any frictional engagement tending to prevent free movement of said supporting means, said power means extending beyond the terminus of said conveyor in said direction whereby said product will frictionally engage the portion of the top piece of said stack extending beyond said terminus and draw it past said terminus to position said product on said piece.

6. A machine for use in placing product on a tflat piece of material, said machine including a conveyor having a conveying surface with a predetermined terminus, power means for moving said product along said conveyor in a given direction toward said terminus, means for supporting a stack of said pieces below said conveyor, a material positioning member beyond said terminus in said direction a distance less than the length of said piece, said member having a rearward face, with respect to said direction of movement, sloping upward and away from said terminus, means to position an edge of the upper portion of said stack in contact with said face, said supporting means positioning the top of said stack above said member, said conveying surface and said top of said stack meeting at an acute angle at said terminus, and a second conveyor beyond said positioning member in said direction and below the top of said positioning member, said power means extending beyond the terminus of said conveyor in said direction whereby said product will frictionally engage the portion of the top piece of said stack extending beyond said terminus and draw it past said terminus to position said product on said piece and to move said piece onto said second conveyor.

7. A machine for use in placing product on a flat piece of material, said machine including way means, said means coming to an acute angle point at one end thereof, movable means positioned above said way means, said movable means having a plurality of points projecting toward said way means to engage products on said way means, power driving means connected to said movable means to move said points toward and beyond said acute angle point, and means for urging said piece upwardly toward said way means with only a portion of said piece extending beyond said point. r

8. A machine for use in placing product on a flat piece of material, said machine including way means having a product supporting surface, said means: coming to an acute angle point at one end thereof, movable means positioned above said way means, said movable means having a plurality of points projecting toward said way assures 7 means to engage product on said way means, "power drivin'g-rneans 'c'onnected't'o said 'movablemeans-to move said points'to'wartl and beyond said "acute anglepoint, means for 's'upportingastack' of said pieces below said way means, a "guidefor "positioning one edge of said pieces, said guide being'sp'ace'd'from said point a distance less than thele'ngth of said pieces, said'guide having a lip extending upwardly away'from said point and a roller positioned under said surface, said roller being mounted with the periphery thereof a distance from said lip equal to the length ofsaidpieces, said lip being curved in an are having substantiallythe same radius as that of said roller.

9. Adevic'eto lay a shingled group of slices of product bn'a fiatpiece of material for use with a machine adapted topayout said slicesof product in timed sequence, said device includi'ng a frame, conveyor means mounted on said frame-fonmoveme'nt of product in a given direction at a predetermined rate of speed, said conveyor means 'c'omprising a'plurality of spaced endless belts, one end of said conveyor means positioned to receive slices of product fromsaid machine at a point on said means and to'm'ove said slices away from said machine whereby said slices are positioned in a shingled relationship, spacing-ineans to'periodicall'y lift a group of said shingled slicesfrom said conveyor means, move said group in said direction at a greater rate of speed than said predeterminedrate, and redeposit said group on said conveyor means whereby said shingled slices are positioned in spaced groups on said conveyor means, power means to operate sai'd conveyor means and said spacing means in timed relationship-to thepaying out of said slices by said machine, a plurality of spaced ways mounted on said frame, said Ways being positioned with one end thereof interdigita'ted withsaid belts and with the other end extending beyond said conveyor means in said direction, power driven means for moving said groups of product along said ways i'n said direction, and means for supporting said piece-below said ways'with only a portion of said piece extending beyond said other end thereof, said power dr-iven--'rneans extending beyond said ways in said direction vi -hereby said product will frictionally engage said portionof said piece and draw it past said other end of said ways to position said group of slices of product on said piece.

10. A 'device'to lay a shingled group of slices of product o'nafiatpiece of material for use with a machine adapted to'p'ay-out said slices of product in timed sequence, said device including aframe, conveyor means mounted on said f'ra'rne'for movement of product in a given direction at a predeterrninedrate of speed, said conveyor means comprising-a plurality of spaced endless belts, one end of said conveyor means positioned to receive slices of product from said machineat a point on said means and to 'rnove'said slicesaway from said machine whereby said slices are-positioned in a shingled relationship, group spacing barspositioned between said belts adjacent said one end-of said'conveyor'means, cam means operatively connected to said barsto move said bars to a position below about-said point, raise said bars until the top of the bars are a'bove the top-of said belts, move the bars in said direction-at a speed'faster than said predetermined rate of speed, and lower said bars below the top of said belts whereby said shingled slices are positioned in spaced groups on said conveyor means, power means to operate said conveyor means and said cam means in timed relation'ship to the'paying out of said slices by said machine, a plurality of spaced ways mounted on said frame, said waysbeing positioned with one end thereof interdigitated with said belts and with the other end'extending beyond said conveyor'means in said direction, power driven means for moving said groups of product along said ways in Saiddire'ctiOn; and means for supporting said piece below s aiddivays with only a portion of said piece extending extending beyond said ways in said direction whereby said 8 product will frictionally engage said portion of said piece and draw 'itipast said other end ofsaid iways 'to po'sition said'groupofslices of product'o'n said pie'ce.

11. A device today a shingled-groupofslicesof prod uct on a flat piece of material for'use with a mahine adapted to pay out said slices of' product intim'ed :se quence, saiddevice including 'a frame, conveyor :means mounted on said frarnefor movementof-productdn a given direction at a v predetermined -rate of speed, said conveyor means comprising a pluralityofspaced endless belts, one end of said conveyor 'means positioned to ref ceive slices of product from said machine at a pointon said means and to move said slices away from said machine whereby said slices are positioned-ma shingled relationship, group spacing bars positioned betweensaid belts adjacent said one .endof said conveyor means, cam means operatively connected to saidbars to move said bars to a position below about said point, araise said bars until the top of the bars are above "the top of said belts, move the bars in said direction at-a speed faster than said predetermined rate of speed,-and'--lower said bars below the top of said belts whereby :said shingled slices are positioned in spaced groups'onsaid conveyor means, powermeans to operate said-conveyor means and said cam means in tim'ed relationship to the paylng out of said slices by said machine, and means'for depositing each of said groups of shingled produet'on a piece of material.

12. A device to :lay a shingled group of sl-icesmf product on a fiat piece ofimaterial foruse 'Witha machine adapted to pay out said slices of product in time'd sequence, said device including a frame, conveyor means mounted .on said frame for-movement of product in' a given direction at a predetermined rate of speed, said conveyor means comprising a pluralityof spaced endless belts, one end .of said conveyor means positioned to receive-slices of product from said machine at a point-on said means and to movetsaid slices away'from'saidm'achine whereby said slices are positioned in -a-shin=gle'd relatlonship, spacing means to periodicallylift a group ofsaid shingled slices from said conveyor means, more said group in said direction at a greater rate .of speed than said predetermined rate, and redeposit said group on said conveyor means whereby said shingled slices are positioned in spaced groups on-said conveyor means, power means to operate said conveyor means and said spacing means in timed relationship to the paying 'out-of said slices'by said machine, a plurality of spaced'ways' mounted on said wframe,said ways being positioned with one end thereof interdigitated with said belts and with "the other end extending beyond said conveyor means in sa-i d direction, power driven means for moving said *groups of product along said ways in said direction, supporting means for a stackofsaid pieces comprising a vertically movable supporting member and a counterbalance for the supporting member and stack supported thereby, said supporting member being positioned generally below said ways, a material positioning member beyond said other end of said ways in said direction, said positioning member having a rearward face, with respect -to-sa-id direction :of movement, sloping upward and -away 'from said ways, and means to push an edge of the top 'por'tion of said stackrinto contact with said face.

'13. A device to lay ashingled group of slices of prod not on a flat piece of material for use with a machine adapted to pay out said slices of product in't-imed 'sequence, said deviceincluding a frame, conveyormeans mounted on said .frame for movement of product -in -a given direction at a predetermined rateofspe'edgsaid conveyor meanscomprising a plurality of spacedendless belts, one end of said conveyor means ,positionedtto receiverslices of product from said machine at a pointon said means and to moveisaidslices away .from said;machine whereby said-slices arepositioned in a. shingled relw tionship, spacing means to periodically lift a group of said shingled slices from said conveyor means, move said group in said direction at a greater rate of speed than said predetermined rate, and redeposit said group on said conveyor means whereby said shingled slices are positioned in spaced groups on said conveyor means, power means to operate said conveyor means and said spacing means in timed relationship to the paying out of said slices by said machine, a plurality of spaced ways mounted on said frame and having a conveying surface, said ways being positioned with one end thereof interdigitated with said belts and with the other end extending beyond said conveyor means in said direction, movable means positioned above said way, said movable means having a plurality of points projecting toward said way to engage product on said way, power driving means connected to said movable means to move said points toward and beyond said other end of said ways, means for supporting a stack of said pieces below said way, a stop member for positioning one edge of said pieces, said stop member being spaced from said other end of said ways a distance less than the length of said pieces, said stop member having a lip extending upwardly away from said other end of said ways, and a roller positioned under said surface, said roller being mounted with the periphery thereof a distance from said lip equal to the length of said pieces, said lip being curved in an arc having substantially the same radius as that of said roller.

14. A device to lay a shingled group of slices of product on a flat piece of material for use with a machine adapted to pay out said slices of product in timed sequence, said device including a frame, conveyor means mounted on said frame for movement of product in a given direction at a predetermined rate of speed, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of spaced endless belts, one end of said conveyor means positioned to receive slices of product from said machine at a point on said means and to move said slices away from said machine whereby said slices are positioned in a shingled relationship, group spacing bars positioned between said belts adjacent said one end of said conveyor means, cam means operatively connected to said bars to move said bars to a position below about said point, raise said bars until the tops of the bars are above the top of said belts, move the bars in said direction at a speed faster than said predetermined rate of speed, and lower said bars below the top of said belts whereby said shingled slices are positioned in spaced groups of said conveyor means, and power means to operate said conveyor means and said cam means in timed relationship to the paying out of said slices by said machine.

15. A device for use in the packaging of bacon including a bacon slicer, a frame, conveyor means mounted on said frame for movement of product in a given direction at a predetermined rate of speed, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of spaced endless belts, one end of said conveyor means positioned to receive slices of product from said slicer at a point on said means and to move said slices away from said slicer whereby said slices are positioned in a shingled relationship, group spacing bars positioned between said belts adjacent said one end of said conveyor means, cam means operatively connected to said bars to move said bars to a position below about said point, raise said bars until the top of the bars are above the top of said belts, move the bars in said direction at a speed faster than said predetermined rate of speed, and lower said bars below the top of said belts whereby said shingled slices are positioned in spaced groups on said conveyor means, power means to operate said conveyor means and said cam means in timed relationship to the cutting of slices by said slicer, and means for depositing each of said groups of shingled product on a piece of material.

16. A machine for use in placing product on a fiat piece of material, said machine including way means having a product supporting surface, said means coming to an acute angle point at one end thereof, power means for moving said product toward and beyond said acute angle point, means for supporting a stack of said pieces below said way means, a guide for positioning one edge of said pieces, said guide being spaced from said point a distance less than the length of said pieces, said guide having a lip extending upwardly away from said point and a roller positioned under said surface, said roller being mounted with the periphery thereof a distance from said lip equal to the length of said pieces, said lip being curved in an are having substantially the same radius as that of said roller.

17. A machine for use in placing product on a flat piece of material, said machine including a conveyor having a predetermined terminus, power means for moving said product along said conveyor in a given direction toward said terminus, means for supporting said piece below said conveyor and means for urging said piece upwardly toward said conveyor with only a portion of said piece extending beyond said terminus in said direction, said power means extending beyond the terminus of said conveyor in said direction whereby said product will frictionally engage said portion of said piece and draw it past said terminus to position said product on said piece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,519,354 Brown Dec. 16, 1924 1,975,238 Tychsen Oct. 2, 1934 1,975,917 Bech Oct. 9, 1934 2,391,125 Carpenter Dec. 18, 1945 2,442,250 Spain May 25, 1948 2,492,250 Wilcox Dec. 27, 1949 2,542,330 Henderson et a1 Feb. 20, 1951 2,741,886 Garapolo Apr. 17, 1956

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