US 12,151,837 B2
Automated string cheese packaging system
Joshua Bartelt, Highlands Ranch, CO (US); Jim Volk, Brush, CO (US); Roy Markvicka, Lincoln, NE (US); Ron Cantwell, Arvada, CO (US); Sanket Khedkar, Arvada, CO (US); Liam Taylor, Denver, CO (US); and Mark Carmer, Parker, CO (US)
Assigned to Leprino Foods Company, Denver, CO (US)
Filed by Leprino Foods Company, Denver, CO (US)
Filed on Jan. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/103,303.
Prior Publication US 2024/0253835 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B65B 25/06 (2006.01); B65B 37/18 (2006.01); B65B 37/20 (2006.01); B65B 57/10 (2006.01); B65G 47/46 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 25/068 (2013.01) [B65B 37/18 (2013.01); B65B 57/10 (2013.01); B65G 47/46 (2013.01); B65B 2210/06 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0202 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for automated food packaging, comprising
singulating a plurality of elongate food products into a plurality of individual product pieces;
conveying the plurality of individual product pieces along a moving surface;
depositing a portion of the individual product pieces into a bucket, the bucket having a first side, a second side opposed to the first side, and a tamper disposed between the first side and second side and generally perpendicular to the first side, the second side, or both the first side and the second side of the bucket, such that a length of greater than about 90% of the individual product pieces are generally aligned parallel with the first side, the second side, or both the first side and the second side of the bucket;
measuring a height between a top surface of the deposited portion of product pieces and a top side of the moving surface;
vertically lowering the bucket if the measured height is less than a threshold amount; and
depositing a second portion of individual product pieces into the vertically lowered bucket.