Case packer with a segmented drivable riding strip and segmented drivable riding strip therefore

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a segmented, drivable riding strip receptive of product to move product along a grid section of a case packer. The riding strip is articulated and is driven by a drive. Further disclosed herein is a method for alleviating shingling in a case packer including employing a segmented, drivable riding strip and driving that strip to draw product along the grid section of the case packer.

1 . In a segmented drivable riding strip including a plurality of transport pods and a plurality of pairs of outer plates and a plurality of pairs of inner plates, the outer plates pivotally attached to the inner plates at pivot rollers and associated pins, each transport pod comprising: 
 a body disposed between each outer plate of a pair of outer plates;    a support surface at the body; and    a foot surface at the body.    
   
   
       2 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support is dimensioned and configured to cooperate with other supports to form a substantially continuous support surface over said plurality of transport pods.  
   
   
       3 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support further comprises a beveled edge.  
   
   
       4 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the edge is an edge substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the support.  
   
   
       5 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the body is recessed at a longitudinal end.  
   
   
       6 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the recess is for clearance of a pivot roller.  
   
   
       7 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the recess is stepped.  
   
   
       8 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the foot surface is longitudinally greater than fifty percent of the length of the support with which it is associated.  
   
   
       9 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the foot surface is dimensioned to prevent contact between link plates linking several transport pods and a surface supporting the transport pods.  
   
   
       10 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the transport pod comprises plastic.  
   
   
       11 . A segmented drivable riding strip comprising: 
 a plurality of transport pods as claimed in  claim 1  each pod being disposed within a roller chain between outer plates of a pair of outer plates of the roller chain and between the pivot rollers connected to the outer plates at articulation points of said plates wherein when interconnected and disposed linearly, the supports of the plurality of pods form a substantially linear continuous support surface.    
   
   
       12 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the articulation point is two articulation points at longitudinal ends of the transport pod.  
   
   
       13 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the two articulation points comprise one female point and one male point.  
   
   
       14 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the two articulation points are male.  
   
   
       15 . The transport pod as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the articulation point is receptive to a pin.  
   
   
       16 . A segmented drivable riding strip as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the segmented drivable riding strip is drivable by a sprocket.  
   
   
       17 . A segmented drivable riding strip as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the sprocket drives the riding strip by contacting pivots of the riding strip.  
   
   
       18 . A segmented drivable riding strip as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the sprocket includes a recess receptive to a foot of the transport pod.  
   
   
       19 . A method for conveying product on a riding strip having the transport pod as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising: 
 driving the riding strip;    supporting product on the support surface;    shifting the riding strip to remove support for the product.    
   
   
       20 . A method for conveying product on a riding strip as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the driving includes preventing shingling by drawing product along the riding strip.  
   
   
       21 . A case packer comprising: 
 an infeed;    a grid section in operational communication with the infeed, the grid section having a plurality of segmented drivable riding strips, the strips comprising a plurality of pairs of outer plates articulatively connected alternatively to a plurality of pairs of inner plates, the strip further including a plurality of transport pods each pod being disposed between two outer plates of a pair of outer plates; and    a case feed in operable communication with the grid section.    
   
   
       22 . A case packer as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the packer further includes a counter to count products moving through the case packer.  
   
   
       23 . A case packer as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the packer further includes a drive motor to drive the driveable riding strip, said drive motor having a wide gear, so that a follower gear may move on an engagement surface of the wide gear and remain driven.  
   
   
       24 . A case packer as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the counter is optical.  
   
   
       25 . A case packer comprising: 
 an infeed;    a grid section in operational communication with the infeed, the grid section having a plurality of segmented drivable riding strips, each drivable strip comprising a plurality of transport pods each having:    a body;    a male connector extending from the body; and    a female connector extending from the body, the male and female connectors including pin holes receptive of articulation pins; and    a case feed in operable communication with the grid section.    
   
   
       26 . A case packer comprising: 
 an infeed;    a grid section in operational communication with the infeed, the grid section having a plurality of segmented drivable riding strips, each drivable strip comprising a plurality of transport pods each having:    a body;    a male connector extending from the body, the male connector having a pin fixedly mounted therein;    a female connector extending from the body, the female connector having a pinhole and opening through which the pin of the male connector can pass into and be secured in the female pinhole; and    a case feed in operable communication with the grid section.