The present disclosure relates to a device and a method for transferring sausage portions with a first transport device for transporting the sausage portions, an ejection device for pushing the sausage portions from a first transport device to a second transport device, which is configured as a drum or fan belt. The first transport device has a lower and an upper circumferential transport means, between which the sausage portions are transported.

A system for forming and wrapping a plurality of stacks of sheet like product is provided. The system includes a separator apparatus for converting a stream of spaced apart sets of stacks into a repeating stepped configuration. The system includes a mechanism for merging the stepped configuration of stacks into a single file stream of stacks. The system includes a cutoff apparatus for cutting a plastic sleeve in which the stacks are wrapped. The system includes a turner apparatus for changing the direction of travel of individual units comprising of a stack of product within a length of the sleeve 90 degrees while maintaining the orientation of the units.

An article grouping system is disclosed. The article grouping system includes a transport member movable in a first direction and an outfeed carrier apparatus having an outfeed carrier surface that is movable in a second direction. The transport member is positioned proximate to the outfeed carrier surface. The article grouping system includes a transfer apparatus having a frame and an article stabilization member operatively connected with the frame. The article stabilization member includes upstream and downstream support members spaced apart from the downstream support member in the second direction to define an article transfer receptacle. The article stabilization member moves from an engaging location proximate to the transport member to a variable disengaging location adjacent to the outfeed carrier surface and back to the engaging location.

An adjustable carriage for receiving and moving articles on a manufacturing line is provided that includes a first base portion and a second base. A first support member is connected with and extends substantially orthogonal to the first base portion and a second support member is connected with and extending substantially orthogonal to the second base portion. The first and second support members and the base combine to define an article receiving compartment having a compartment width. The base is positionable in a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the first base portion is positioned relative to the second base portion such that the compartment width is defined by a first length. In the second configuration the first base portion is positioned relative to the second base portion such that the compartment width is defined by a second length that is different from the second length.

An article grouping system capable of forming arrays of articles having a variable number of rows and lanes is included. The article grouping system includes an infeed carrier apparatus having an infeed carrier surface that is movable in a first direction and an outfeed carrier apparatus having an outfeed carrier surface that is movable in a second direction. A grouping apparatus comprising a plurality of carriages and a carriage drive mechanism operatively connected with each carriage. The carriage drive mechanism causes each carriage to independently move in a third direction from an article receiving zone adjacent to the infeed carrier apparatus to an article discharge zone adjacent to the outfeed carrier apparatus. A transfer apparatus includes a frame and an article stabilization member operatively connected with the frame. The article stabilization member moves from an engaging location in the article discharge zone to a disengaging location.

The invention relates to a sausage collating device and a method for collating sausages to form sausage groups of a predetermined number of sausages with a transport device for transporting spaced sausages and at least one accumulator element for accumulating the sausages, where the at least one accumulator element is for collating and is movable in the direction of transport of the transport device.

An apparatus includes a frame defining a machine direction. The apparatus includes first and second transport members operatively engaged with the frame. The apparatus includes first carriage and second carriage drive mechanisms each having a carriage drive belt, a drive shaft, and a sprocket drive belt operatively engaged with the drive shaft. The carriage drive belts are operatively engaged with the carriage drive mechanisms and operatively connected with the respective transport member such that the carriage drive belt moves the transport member in the machine direction about an endless loop. The sprocket drive belts engage the drive mechanism in a position of the drive mechanism not connected with the carriage drive belt.

An apparatus for advancing articles or tooling includes a frame having a first portion and a second portion spaced apart and opposing the first portion. The first and second portions each comprise an outer track and an inner track that extend parallel with the outer track. The outer and inner tracks define a machine direction. The apparatus includes a first transport member and as second transport member. The first and second transport members are defined by a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion separating the first and second end portions. The first and second end portions of the first and second transport members are at least partially nestable.

In a run-up region provided upstream, in the transport direction, of a branch point in a main transport passage, a main transport mechanism and a branching transport mechanism both transport a transport case. When the transport case is fed to a branching transport passage, the main transport mechanism finishes transporting the transport case before the transport case reaches the branch point.

A transfer conveyor for transferring products from the end of a first product conveyor onto a second product conveyor comprises transfer conveyor belts including movable flaps for lifting and carrying the product over a transfer gap between the first product conveyor and the second product conveyor. A frame guides the transfer conveyor belts and moves the flaps between a deployed and retracted position.