Importance

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Abstract

With the method and apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of elongated articles such as french fry potatoes are separated into a plurality of groups of articles which are weighed. The weighed groups are selectively combined into a batch of articles of predetermined weight by selectively dumping scale buckets containing such groups into a common collector container to provide such weighed batch. The articles of such weighed batch are then discharged from such common collector container into one of a plurality of alignment systems mounted on a rotating common support. Each alignment system includes three vibrating conveyor stages which prealign the articles and feed such articles into an alignment container where they are aligned so that their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel in such container. The plurality of alignment systems are carried on a common support which is intermittently rotated about an axis of rotation to move the input conveyor stage into a load position beneath the output gate of the common collector container for loading. After 360 degrees rotation such alignment system is moved into an unload position where the weighed batch of aligned articles are discharged from the alignment container as a batch through a transfer tube into a packaging machine for packaging such aligned batch of articles.

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First Claim