| 摘要 |
There are disclosed apparatus and method for transforming a moving, multiple layered bed of relatively thin pieces of solid material into a moving stream of the pieces having a considerably lesser number of layers of such pieces, preferably an essentially single layer. The multiple layered bed of pieces is moved on a first conveyor at a relatively slow speed toward the discharge end of the conveyor. At the discharge end of the conveyor the leading edge of the bed of pieces encounters a second conveyor which moves in the same general direction as the conveyor supporting the multiple layered bed of pieces but at least about 10 times greater speed. The second conveyor is disposed at an acute angle with respect to and above the first conveyor in a manner such that the lower or leading end of the second conveyor is positioned near the discharge end of the first conveyor. Projections from the second conveyor are preferably flexible projections which contact the leading edge of the bed and discharge the pieces from the bed as a stream having a height no more than the thickness of a few pieces overlying one another. The discharged pieces are taken away from the first and second conveyors fast enough to prevent undue, if any, overlapping of the discharged pieces. The method and apparatus may be used, for example, to transform a multiple layered bed of unfried potato based chips into a moving stream of chips having an essentially single layer for further treatment, e.g. by frying.
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