System and method for product removal

1. A method of product removal, comprising:

providing a blade adjacent a conveyor belt along a path of the conveyor belt, the blade being configured to selectively rotate about a blade axis of rotation;

operating the conveyor belt to travel along a curved path formed by a rotating drum that selectively rotates about a drum axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the blade axis of rotation and offset from the blade axis of rotation; and

maintaining a position of the blade axis of rotation relative to the drum axis of rotation by mechanically restraining the blade relative to the drum so that translational movement of the drum axis of rotation as a result of movement of the drum relative to its support structure automatically results in substantially similar translational movement of the blade axis of rotation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blade contacts the conveyor belt on an upper portion of a curved path of the conveyor belt.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a glide in a position relative to the blade.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the glide comprises a ceramic material.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the glide comprises a generally cylindrical glide interface for contacting the conveyor belt.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the glide comprises a plurality of glide interfaces for contacting the conveyor belt.

7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

preventing the blade from contacting the conveyor belt by contacting the conveyor belt with the glide.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the blade is secured in a fixed position relative to the glide.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor belt travels in a direction so that a portion of the conveyor belt progressively moves from an upper portion of a curved path of the conveyor belt to a lower portion of the curved path of the conveyor belt.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a biasing of the blade is accomplished by locating a weight about the blade axis of rotation to generate torque and transferring the torque to the blade.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein a biasing of the blade is accomplished using a spring.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the blade is provided against the curved path of the conveyor belt.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a weight is carried by a frame for generating torque and wherein the torque is transferred to the blade.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blade is constructed of a hardened metal and wherein the conveyor belt is a metal chain link conveyor belt.

15. A product removal system, comprising:

a rod oriented in a spatial relationship to a conveyor drum;

a frame rotatably supported by the rod, the frame comprising a first portion extending from the rod to a space adjacent a conveyor belt curved path and a second portion extending from the rod to a space adjacent a return plane of the conveyor belt; and

a blade adjacent the first portion;

wherein the rod has an axis of rotation, the conveyor drum has an axis of rotation, and the rod axis of rotation is automatically maintained in a predetermined spatial location relative to the conveyor drum axis of rotation when the conveyor drum is translationally moved relative to its support structure.

16. The product removal system according to claim 15 , wherein the blade contacts the conveyor belt.

17. The product removal system according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a glide adjacent the first portion;

wherein the guide contacts the conveyor belt to reduce the incidence of the blade contacting the conveyor belt.

18. The product removal system according to claim 17 , wherein the glide comprises a ceramic material.

19. The product removal system according to claim 17 , wherein the glide is secured in a fixed position relative to the blade.

20. The product removal system according to claim 15 , wherein the frame is rotationally biased about the axis of rotation of the rod.

21. The product removal system according to claim 20 , wherein a weight is carried by the second portion.

22. The product removal system according to claim 21 , wherein the second portion comprises a weight mount slot that allows selective adjustment of the distance between the weight and the rod axis of rotation.

23. The product removal system according to claim 15 , wherein the rod is supported by opposing adjustment arms that each comprise at least one vertical slot that allows adjustment of the vertical distance between the rod and the conveyor drum.

24. The product removal system according to claim 15 , wherein the rod is supported by opposing adjustment arms that each comprise at least one lateral slot that allows adjustment of the lateral distance between the blade and the conveyor belt.

25. A method of product removal, comprising:

providing a blade adjacent a conveyor belt along a path of the conveyor belt;

operating the conveyor belt;

providing a glide in a position relative to the blade; and

preventing the blade from contacting the conveyor belt by contacting the conveyor belt with the glide.