A product speed checking apparatus for attaching to a vibratory conveying system and a method thereof for dispensing product, including a sample pan mounted to capture flow of product between two vibratory conveyors; a first sensor and a second sensor, each placed separately at a predetermined distance from one another and each capable of independently reading product handled by the sample pan; and, a programmable logic controller operatively arranged to calculate an approximate time between the reading of product by the first sensor and the reading of product by the second sensor and computing product speed by dividing distance between two sensors with the travel time between the two sensors.

A product speed checking apparatus for attaching to a vibratory conveying system and a method thereof for dispensing product, including a sample pan mounted to capture flow of product between two vibratory conveyors; a first sensor and a second sensor, each placed separately at a predetermined distance from one another and each capable of independently reading product handled by the sample pan; and, a programmable logic controller operatively arranged to calculate an approximate time between the reading of product by the first sensor and the reading of product by the second sensor and computing product speed by dividing distance between two sensors with the travel time between the two sensors.

A slip conveyor (50) delivers product to a further conveyor (50) that in turn delivers product to weighing machines (53) that would be typically associated with a packaging machine. The slip conveyor (50) includes a delivery portion (57) provided with a plurality of separated fingers (59). Slots (58) between the fingers (59) extend longitudinally in the direction (52). Smaller product, such as smaller potato crisps, are located adjacent longitudinally extending edges (63) of the conveyor (10), the smaller product passes through the gaps (26a) that provides for delivery of product to the associated conveyor (62).

A slip conveyor (50) delivers product to a further conveyor (50) that in turn delivers product to weighing machines (53) that would be typically associated with a packaging machine. The slip conveyor (50) includes a delivery portion (57) provided with a plurality of separated fingers (59). Slots (58) between the fingers (59) extend longitudinally in the direction (52). Smaller product, such as smaller potato crisps, are located adjacent longitudinally extending edges (63) of the conveyor (10), the smaller product passes through the gaps (26a) that provides for delivery of product to the associated conveyor (62).

Thorough spraying and draining freshly cut produce and the equipment processing it in a one-pass system that uses a dilute solution of chilled ultrapure water and chlorine dioxide or chlorine or both significantly reduces bacterial counts. Raw produce is sprayed as it is conveyed to cutting heads and as the cut pieces fall into a hopper above a conveyor. The conveyed cut produce is vibrated and tumbled while being sprayed from above. At the end of the process, the cut produce is sprayed with potable water and deposited in a dryer basket. Drainage from the equipment is collected and processed through a multi-stage water filtration system to potable quality. The near freezing water temperature, its ultra-purity, and the concentrations of biocides in the sanitizing spray are carefully established, monitored and maintained by a process controller.

Thorough spraying and draining freshly cut produce and the equipment processing it in a one-pass system that uses a dilute solution of chilled ultrapure water and chlorine dioxide or chlorine or both significantly reduces bacterial counts. Raw produce is sprayed as it is conveyed to cutting heads and as the cut pieces fall into a hopper above a conveyor. The conveyed cut produce is vibrated and tumbled while being sprayed from above. At the end of the process, the cut produce is sprayed with potable water and deposited in a dryer basket. Drainage from the equipment is collected and processed through a multi-stage water filtration system to potable quality. The near freezing water temperature, its ultra-purity, and the concentrations of biocides in the sanitizing spray are carefully established, monitored and maintained by a process controller.

A feeding apparatus for feeding closure elements into an environment with restricted access, such as an isolator, wherein the feeding apparatus comprises a feeding unit, a first vibrating plate and a second vibrating plate. The feeding unit is configured to feed the closure elements onto the first vibrating plate, the first vibrating plate is configured to convey the closure elements, in particular during normal operation, onto the second vibrating plate, and the second vibrating plate is configured to arrange the closure elements on the second vibrating plate in a defined position, for example, to orient them. There is also disclosed a barrier system and a method for feeding closure elements into an environment with restricted access, such as an isolator.

A feeding apparatus for feeding closure elements into an environment with restricted access, such as an isolator, wherein the feeding apparatus comprises a feeding unit, a first vibrating plate and a second vibrating plate. The feeding unit is configured to feed the closure elements onto the first vibrating plate, the first vibrating plate is configured to convey the closure elements, in particular during normal operation, onto the second vibrating plate, and the second vibrating plate is configured to arrange the closure elements on the second vibrating plate in a defined position, for example, to orient them. There is also disclosed a barrier system and a method for feeding closure elements into an environment with restricted access, such as an isolator.

The invention relates to a feeding device (1) for feeding small parts, in particular closure elements, comprising a vibrating spiral conveyor (20) having an outlet (200), a feed rail (20), which is arranged downstream of the outlet in the feed direction, and a vibratory drive (201, 211, 221), wherein, by means of the vibratory drive (201, 211, 212), vibrations can be applied to the vibrating spiral conveyor (20) to move the small parts in the direction of the outlet (200) and to the feed rail (21) to move the small parts along the feed rail (21), wherein an intermediate rail (22) is arranged between the outlet (200) of the vibrating spiral conveyor (20) and the feed rail (21), wherein vibrations can be applied to the intermediate rail (22) by means of the vibratory drive (201, 211, 221) to move the small parts along the intermediate rail (22) in the direction of the feed rail (21), wherein a monitoring device (3), associated with the intermediate rail (22), is provided, wherein the monitoring device (3) is designed to detect an abnormality and/or disturbance in the movement of the small parts along the intermediate rail (22), and wherein the feeding device is designed to temporarily interrupt the application of vibrations to the intermediate rail (22) and to the vibrating spiral conveyor (20) to rectify an abnormality and/or disturbance without interrupting the application of vibrations to the feed rail (21) for moving the small parts along the feed rail (21). The invention further relates to a method for feeding small parts.