Packaging loader apparatus for sliced food products

摘要

Apparatus for automatically loading stacks of sliced food products into package receptacles. The sliced food products are transported from a first conveyor to a loading station having a drop station positioned over and aligned with a series of package receptacles which are indexed intermittently through the loading station. A retractable pusher arm having a pusher mounted thereon is driven in the loading station to engage and sweep a stack of sliced product into the drop station, and then is retracted and returned to its initial ready position to perform the next sweeping action on a subsequent stack of sliced food product. A ram is mounted in the drop station in a normally inactivated position over the stack of sliced product when the product is swept therein by the pusher. The ram is actuated to force the stack of sliced product through the drop station into the package receptacle, and then is returned to its initial inactive position awaiting the arrival of the next stack of sliced product at the drop station.