Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~lZ7585
Bl~R~ROUN:~) OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to improvements
in pans or trays, and more particularly is directed to gravity
type carrier mechanisms comprlsing improved pan turnover
features.
6 b ~10 ) 6r
In~Patent No. 3,80~,5~3, entitled "Baking Oven",
which is owned by the assignee of the present application,
there was disclosed an automatic oven and proofer which incor~
porated a conveyor system and a plurality of baking tra,vs. The
trays or pans were directed in a serpentine path through the
apparatus by means of a continuous conveying system in an
automatic manner. In the proofing, baking, depanning and cleaning
operations which are performed automatically in the baking oven
apparatus, there was a need to individually rotate each baking
pan through one hundred and eighty degrees in at least five
separate locations within the system. It has been found that
the baking oven disclosed in Patent No. 3,80~,583 is highly
efficient in operation and functions well to automatically and
rapidly bake and deliver quantities of individual baked products
such as biscuits, cupcakes and the like. However, certain opera-
ting difficulties have been noted and the present application
seeks to overcome the problems being experienced and to provide
an improved, trouble-free baking pan turnover apparatus.
In the turnover system of the baking oven apparatus
disclosed in Patent No. 3~A~5~3 , pan turnover was accom-
plished by end positioned pins which projected from the heads
of the pans and which turned through guides posit1oned at
--2-- .
.. .. . , . . .. . . . , ~ .. ... ..
~lZ7585
various locations within the apparatus to rotate the trays
through one hundred and eighty degrees at tray turnover stations
located both within and without the apparatus. ~xperience
has proven that on occasion, the pins could miss the guides
or could otherwise become ineffective to thereby require a
period of down time in order to properly arrange, align or
repair the paxts. In other occurrences, the interaction of the
pins and the guides tended to torsionally twist certain of t~e
baking trays to thereby bend the baking trays from the desired
rectangular cross sectional configuration. It has also been
found that extensive guidance systems were required throughout
the apparatus in order to maintain the level orientation of the
trays, all of which added to the overall cost of the baking
ovens.
The baking pans of the present invention can be of
desired cross-sectional configuration having dimensions limited
only by the shape of the product being baked and by the space
limitations imposed by the conveyor construction. In previous
embodiments, it was necessary to construct each baking tray to
substantially a square cross-sectional configuration. Such
square configuration created problems in tray-to-tray clearance
as the pans were rotated through one hundred and eighty degrees
about the turnover sprockets. The construction limited the
height of the product that could be baked and thereby limited
the versatility of the oven system itself. Additionally,
the prior art baking pans had shaft clearance problems
which, when combined with the tray clearance problems resulted
in limiting the baked product to cakes or similar baked goods
of only approximately one and one-half inches in height. In
- ~ :
llZ7585
the present apparatus, the baked product can be as much as ap-
~oximately three and three-quarters inches in height.
Prior workers in t,he art have long sought suitable,
rugged, reliable methods oE turning over buckets or other
containers as they were transported by a conveyor mechanism.
The devices disclosed in~Patent Number~ 725,573, 3,312,333,
3,857,477, 486,809, 1,636,220, 3,944 G56, 3,044,602 and
1,252,613 are exemplary of prior art types of conveyor systems
including container turnover mechanisms. Patent No. 725,573
is of special interest in the disclosure of means which have
been provided during passage around the sprocket wheels for
compelling gradual gravitation of trunnions from the outer end
of links to the lower end of the links as each bucket passes
from a curve to a horizontal conveyor run.
In Patent No. 3,857,477, there is disclosed a tray
turnover device for baked products comprising an elongated
tube which is retained between wheeled members in centered
position below the trays to serve as the counterweight and to
maintain the tray in upright position. An electric motor is
provided to drive a disc which is maintained in a downwardly
biased position by a spring. A rotatable engagement of the
disc with each wheel member of the tray turnover devices occurs
and a chain guide carries a holding track including an elongated
slot. The holding track is positioned for slidable engagement
with a land when the tray turnover device is inverted to the
discharge position.
The prior art tray turnover devices are all cumbersome
in operation, ungainly in construction and expensive in
fabrication.
llZ7585
SU~ARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the f eld of
conveyors and more particularly is directed to conveyor systems
comprising a plurality of rotatable trays or pans and cam
means to rotate the pans through one hundred and eighty degrees
in an automatic manner.
The present invention comprises both stationary cams
and rotary cams which function in conjunction with gravity
suspension pins which are carried by each pan or tray. ~The sus-
pension pins project transversely outwardly through elongated
slots which are provided in the heads of each pan. During
interaction of the pins with the cams, the pins ride in paths
between the tops and bottoms of the slots. The movement of
the gravity suspension pins within the respective slots
causes the center of gravity of each tray or pan to be varied
as the pins contact the stationary and rotary cams in a
manner to aid in the one hundred and eighty degree turnover.
In an examplary construction, in a horizontal portion
of the conveyor run, one or more stationary cam stations, each
in the form of an inclined plane is provided in fixed relationship
with the baking oven installation. Interaction of the gravity
suspension pins and the simple inclined plane at each stationary
cam station takes place within a linear distance of approximately
twelve inches for tray turnover purposes. In one embodiment,
the cam is inclined at an angle of approximately fifteen
degrees so that the pins of each tray travel within their
respective slots the full vertical distance, for example, one
.
--5--
11Z~5BS
and one-half inches, whereby tray turnover is automatically
accomplished as the shift in center of gravity causes tray
unbalance or instability about the pins.
As the oven conveyor carries the rotatable baking
trays through the various operations such as proofing, baking,
depanning and washing, strategically positioned stationary
cams in the case of horizontal conveyor runs and rotary cams
in the case of ninety degree turns in the conveyor runs, are
employed for baking tray turnover purposes. The trays include
gravity suspension pins which ride upwardly in vertical slots
: as the pins contact the cams whereby the center of gravity of
each tray can be elevated to an overbalance condition at the
cams to aid in the tray turnover procedure.
The turnover arrangement of the present invention
operates automatically, inexpensively and with extremely
little maintenance.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide
an improved gravity type carrier mechanism for pans and trays.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a novel, gravity type carrier mechanism including pan
suspension pins which are free to ride wlthin vertical slots
as the pans are rotated by strategically positioned cams.
--6--
'
llZ7585
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a novel gravity type carrier mechanism for pans
including both stationary cams and rotary cams which function
with movable pan suspension pins to alter the center of
gravity of each pan to thereby automatically rotate the
pans through one hundred and eighty degrees at specified
locations.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a gravity type carrier mechanism for pans and trays
comprising baking trays including movable pin means,
stationary cams contacted by the movable pin means for
tray turnover purposes and rotary cams contacted by the
movable pin means for tray turnover purposes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a novel gravity type carrier mechanism comprising a conveyor
system, means to suspend and transport a plurality of pans
and means to automatically change the location of the center
of gravity for each pan to aid in rotating each pan through
one hundred and eighty degrees at specified locations along
the conveyor system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a novel gravity type carrier mechanism for pans that is simple
in design, inexpensive in construction and trouble free when
iII operation.
Other objects and a fuller understanding of the
invention will be had by referring to the following description
and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like refer-
ence characters refer to similar parts throughout the several
views and in which:
--7-- -
:; - :
:, :
,~
.
112~585
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIMGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the stationary and
rotary cam pan turnover devices installed in an automatic,
conveyor equipped, baking oven construction.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a baking pan having
an elongated, vertlcal slot i~ each head.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of
a gravitv suspension pin affixed to a portion of a chain con-
veyor through a chain attachment block.
Fig. 4 is a top plan view, partially broken away,
showing one end of a baking pan suspended by the gravity
suspension pin of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified baking pan
or tray incorporating modified gravity suspension pin
construction.
Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing the baking pan~of
Fig. 5 carried by a chain conveyor at the gravity suspension
pin.
Fig. 7 is an end elevational view looking in the di-
rection of the arrows from Line 7-7 of Fig. 6, and partly broken awa
Fig. 8 is a detailed view showing the successive
arrangement of parts as a baking pan is turned through one
hundred and eighty degrees about a rotary cam.
Fig. 9 is a detailed view showing the successive
arrangement of parts as a baking pan is turned through one
hundred and eighty degrees over a stationary cam.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified baking
pan show~'ng a modified suspension construction.
Fig. 11 is a partial,end elevational vîew of the bak-
ing tray of Fig. 10.
--8--
llZ7585
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
. ~
Although specific terms are used in the following des-
cription for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to
refer only to the particular structure of the invention selected
for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define
or limit the scope of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown schematically
a baking oven system generally designated 10 comprising a chain
conveyor 12 and a plurality of baking trays or pans 14 which are
transported through the apparatus in suspended, spaced relation-
V t~ I ~ 6 D S l i~
ship. As stated in~Patent No. 3,941,232, entitled "Curved PathDelivery System", which patent is assigned to the same assignee
as the present application, it is demonstrated that it is
necessary to turn over the baking pans 14 through one hundred and
~ , eighty degrees after completion of the baking process to depan
i the fully baked product (not shown in the present application)
upon the slack belt conveyor system 16. The present invention
includes, in one embodiment, an improved baking pan turnover
mechanism in the configuration of a first cam means which is
positioned in spaced relationship from the slack side of the
depanning belt 18 wherein the conveyor turns through ninety
degrees. The construction of the rotary cam tray turnover means
90 at the depanning belt 18 will hereinafter be more fully
discussed when considering the construction details of Fig. 8.
In Fig. 9, as hereinafter more fully discussed in detail, there
is disclosed a second cam means in the configuration of a
stationary cam means 120. The stationary cam means is provided
,
:
(
llZ75~5
to turn the baking pans 14 through one hundred and eighty
degrees in a horizontal run of the conveyor system 12 when
required, for example, in the baking pan rinsing and washing
chambers which are schematically indicated at 14a and 14b in
Fig. 1.
The baking pan turnover mechanism of the present invention
comprises a gravity suspension system for each tray or pan 14,
14' wherein a pair of opposed gravity suspension pins 24 or
50 project laterally outwardly from each head 20, 21, 52, 53 of
each baking pan 14, 14' for pivotally suspending each baking
pan from the baking oven chain conveyor 12. Slot means are
provided at each head 20, 21, 52, 53 of each baking pan 14, 14'
to permit vertical movement of the pin 24, 50 relative to the
baking pan. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 5, the slot means pre-
ferably comprise a vertical, elongated slot 22, 76 within which
the pin 24 or 50 freely rides throughout its vertical path of
travel relative to the baking tray 14, 14' during the tray turnover
procedure. The movement of the pivot pin 24 or 50 withln the
slot 22 or 76 at each head 20, 21, or 52, 53 raises and lowers
the center of gravity of the baking pan 14 or 14' to facilitate
baking pan turnover utilizing either the stationary tray turnover
means 120 of Fig. 9 or the rotary cam turnover means 90 of Fig.
8 in the manner hereinafter more fully discussed.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, each baking
pan head 20, 21 is equipped with a vertically oriented, axially
positioned, elongated slot 22 which extends substantially the
entire height of the baking tray or pan 14 to permit full
vertical movement of the pivot pins 24 within the slots 22 as
the baking tray 14 is turned over through one hundred and -
--10--
1127~85
eighty degrees for baked product depanning, washing, rinsingor other operations attendant to the automatic production of
rolls, cakes and other baked goods.
Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 4, there is illustrated
one system of suspending the baking trays or pans 14 from the
oven chain conveyor 12 which comprises affixing a closed
head 20, 21 at the respective lateral ends of the trays
14. Each head 20, 21 is fabricated substantially planar in
configuration and is vertically oriented to maintain a clearance
or spaced relationship between the ends of the baking pans 14
and the chain conveyor 12. Each head 20, 21 is machined or
:~; otherwise treated to provide a vertically oriented, elongated
slot 22 which extends more than one-half the distance between the
tray top and tray bottom and preferably extends substantially
the entire height of the baking pan 14. For example, if the baking
pans are fabricated to a height of approximately three and one-
~;~
half inches, the effective length of the slots-22 preferably
will be approximately three inches, thereby to provide a full
range of travel of the pans 14 relative to the pivot pins 24 as
the baking pans are rotated through one hundred and eighty degrees
at specified locations within the baking oven system 10 in the
manner hereinafter more fully set forth. Preferably, the heads
20, 21 are inwardly closed by respective walls 26 which are spaced
inwardly from the heads 20, 21 a sufficient distance to receive
the pivot pins 24 within the space 28 defined between the outer
face plates of respective heads and the enclosing walls 26. The .
walls 26 serve to protect the vertical slots 22 from clogging or
--1 1--
:
1127585
fouling by preventing the introduction of dough, oil, grease
or other extraneous matter which may have a tendency to inter-
fere with the relatively free movement of the pivot pins 24
within the slots 22.
For suspension of the baking trays 14, a chain attachment
block 30 is connected to the conveyor chain 12 in alignment
with each end of the baking pans 14. The chain attachment
blocks each comprise a base 32 having a pivot pin 24 secured
therein in a manner to extend transversely inwardly therefrom
to enter the slots 22 for supporting the baking pans 14. The
chain attachment block base 32 is provided with a pair of
spaced openings 34, 36 which are co-planar with the pivot pin 24
and which are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between
the centers of adjacent rollers 42 of the chain conveyor system
12. Conventional bolts or other fasteners 38, 40 insert
through the base holes or openings 34, 36 to securely affix
the chain attachment blocks 30 to the chain conveyor 12 at the
connecting links 44 thereof. The pivot pins 24 are secured to the
chain conveyor 12 in predetermined spaced locations to suspend each
baking pan 14 in a gravity suspension from the chain conveyor
system 12, in a manner to allow limited vertical movement of
the pans relative to the conveyor as the pins 24 ride within
the slots 22. The width of each slot 22 is fabricated
slightly larger than the diameter of a pivot pin 24 to allow
free, sliding engagement of the pin 24 relative to the slot
22 as the baking pans 14 are rotated through one hundred and
eighty degrees. The upper and lower ends 46, 48 of the
n1~c~ 60
elongated slots 22 are preferably drilled or otherwise m~hines
to a semi-circular configuration of diameter slightly
-12-
(~ (
llZ7585
larger than the diameter of the pivot pin 24 to act both as
a bearing and to facilitate leve~ orientation of the baking
trays 14 during their path of travel through the baking oven
system 10.
Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, there is illustrated
a modified arrangement for suspending the modified baking pans
14' from the chain conveyor 12 wherein each pivot pin 50 is
carried by the baking tray 14' at the heads 52, 53 for tray
suspension purposes. As illustrated, each lateral end of the
modified baking pan 14' is equipped with a modified head 52, 53
which can be secured to the tray construction by conventional
fasteners 54, 56. The respective heads 52, 53 define interior
chambers 58 within which a pivot pin guide sIideblock 60 is
vertically movable. A pair of spaced, vertical guide rods 62,
64 are positioned within each chamber 58 to receive thereon a slide
block 60 in sliding engagement. As illustrated, the slideblock5
60 are drilled or otherwise machined to provide a pair of spaced
openings 66, 68 of size to overfit and slide upon the guide
rods 62, 64 in easy, sliding engagement. As each baking tray
14' is transported by the conveyor 12, the side block 60 will ride
upwardly along the guide rods 62, 64 and normally will position
against the tray top construction 70 to maintain a gravity
suspension of the trays 14'.
. When the baking pans or trays 14' are rotated through
one hundred and eighty degrees as hereinafter more fully set forth
the slide blocks 60 will be urged downwardly along the guide
rods 62, 64 towards the tray bottom upon function of the rotary
tray turnover means 90 or the stationary tray turnover means 120
-13-
1127585
and will stop against the opposite tray wall, which wall will
then become the tray top when the tray is fully rotated. It
is noteworthy that the pivot pin slide blocks 60 are fabricated
to a height that is approximately one-half of the height of a
baking tray so that the length of travel of the guide slide
60 along the guide rods 62, 64 will be approximately one-half
the height of the baking trays 14'. The vertical movement of
the slide blocks 60 relative to the baking trays 14' serves
to change the position of the center of gravity of the trays
14' during the one hundred and eighty degree turnover process.
:
A pivot pin 50 is a force fit within an opening 74
provided in eachslide block 60 to provide a substantially
unitary construction whereby each ~ S0 moves vertically
within its associated slot 76 relative to the baking tray
14~ as the guide block itself moves vertically. As best
seen in Figs. 6 and 7, each baking tray head 52, 53 is
machined or otherwise treated to provide an elongated slot
76 through which the pivot pins 50 transversely outwardly
project. The slots 76 are fabricated with substantially
parallel sidewalls that are spaced apart a sufficient distance-
to freely receive the pivot pin 50 therewithin a non-binding
-14-
1127585
sliding engagement. A chain attachment block 78 is affixed
to the chain conveyor 12 and includes suitable spring pins or
other fasteners 80, 82 for affixing the chain connecting block
78 to the chain conveyor 12 at the interconnection of the chain
links 44 and rollers 42 in a well known manner to provide a
sturdy connection which is compatible with the conveyor operation.
The chain connecting block 78 comprises a centrally positioned
bore 84 within which is pressed a bushing 86 of suitable
size to receive therein the outward extension of the pivot pin
50. A suitable spacer or washer 88 is interposed between
the chain connecting block 78 and the baking pan heads 52,
53 to facilitate respectively rotative movement between the
pivot pin 50 and the chain connecting block 78 and longitudinal
movement of the pivot pin 50 within the slot 76.
Referring now to Fig. 8, there is illustrated a rotary
tray turnover means 90 suitable for one hundred and eighty
degree tray turnover at a location wherein the conveyor 12 turns
through ninety degrees, for example, in proximity to the depanning
belt 18. As schematically illustrated, the chain conveyor 12
carries each baking pan 14 or 14' toward the rotary cam 92.
The cam 92 is preferably concentric with the center of radii
defining the conveyor turn through ninety degrees. One corner
94 of each baking tray 14 contacts a portion of the outer ~`
periphery 96 of the rotary cam 92. It is noteworthy that the
cam 92 is driven in the direction of the arrow 93 by the shaft
100 for tray turnover purposes. In a preferred embodiment,
the peripheral speed of the rotary cam 92 equals the linear speed
l~Z7S85
of the chai~n c~nveyor 12 to maintain contact of the cam
periphery 96 with the bottom 72 of each baking pan 14, 14'
as the baking pan moves about the rotary cam 92 for turnover
purposes. In this manner, rubbing)wearing, chattering or
other unwanted results of frictional, sliding engagement are
minimized. It is noteworthy that the initial contact between
the tray corner 94 and the cam periphery 96 occurs above an
imaginary line 102 drawn between the center of the pivot pin
50 and the center of the cam shaft 100 as indicated by the double
headed arrow 104. By assuring initial contact above the imaginary
line 102, positive turnover of each baking tray 14, 14' can be
assured in the desired rotational direction, for example, in
a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in Fig. 8.
Still referring to Fig. 8, it will be noted that the
action of the chain conveyor 12, when moving in the direction of
the arrow 106, urges each tray bottom 72 into engagement with
the outer periphery 96 of the rotary cam 92 by rotation of each
baking pan 14, 14' about the pivot pin 50 following initial
contact between the tray corner 94 and the cam periphery 96.
The trays 14, 14' will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction
as illustrated from the initial horizontal position illustrated
at 108, through the angular position 110, to the full vertical
position indicated at 112. The geometry of the system is designed
to position portions of the chain conveyor 12 closest to the
center of the cam shaft 100 through a ninety degree angle at
-16-
( l
llZ7585
the conveyor turn as defined between a respective horizontal
plane and a vertical plane drawn through the cam shaft 100.
As previously set forth, the pin 24, 50 is affixed directly or
indirectly to the chain conveyor 12. Accordingly, the pin 24, 50
will also be located closest to the center of the shaft 100
in the turn area defined between the respective horizontal
and vertical planes passing through the center of the shaft
100. As above set forth, the baking pans 14, 14' are free to
move along the slots 22, 76 relative to the pins 24, 50 and
accordingly, as the baking trays move through the positions
indicated at 108, 110 and 112, the baking trays will move from
a relative position wherein the pins 24, 50 are most remote from
the tray bottoms 72 as in position 108 to the position
wherein the pins 24, 50 are closest to the tray bottoms 72 as
indicated in position 112. Movement of the relative position
of the pins from bottom to top, will, of course, change the location
of the tray center of gravity.
Continued movement of the chain conveyor 12 in the
direction of the arrow 106 completes the one hundred and eighty
degree rotation of the baking pans 14, 14' about the circular
cam 92 by urging the pans through the angular position 114 to
the full horizontal position illustrated at 116. It is noteworthy
that the pin 24, 50 remains in position closest to the (former)
tray bottom 72 in the angular position 114 and the full
horizontal position 116 as illustrated. When the baking tra~
14, 14' reaches the horizontal position 116, the chain conveyor
-17-
1127585
12 carries the baking tray away from contact with the outer
periphery 96 of the rotary cam 92 whereby the position of the
pin 24, 50~at the (now) top of the slot 76. This results in
stabilizing the baking tray 14, 14' in the horizontal position
116 inasmuch as the center of gravity of the baking tray is
now well below the pivot pin 24, 50. Thus, when the chain
conveyor 12 carries the baking tray 14, 14' away from the rotary
tray turnover means 90, the tray will remain in the horizontal
position 118 which is a full one hundred and eighty degree
turnover from the position of the tray 14, 14' when in the
initial horizontal position 108. Inasmuch as the baking trays
14, 14' are fabricated generally symmetrically, when a tray 14,
14' is turned over through one hundred and eighty degrees from
the position 108 to the position 118, the tray bottom 72,
which is in contact with the rotary cam 92, can then be considered
as the tray top 70, in the new orientation of position 118.
It is contemplated that the shaft 100 will rotate in
synchronism with the speed of the conveyor 12 to thereby turn
the rotary cam 92 at the same peripheral speed as the linear :
speed of the conveyor 12. Optionally, the rotary shaft 100
could be fixed and the rotary cam 92 could be provided with
rotary movement relative thereto whereby the contact of the tray
bottom 72 against the outer periphery 96 of the rotary cam 92
will cause the rotary cam to rotate at the same peripheral
speed as the speed of the baking trays during all periods when
a baking tray bottom 72 is in contact with the cam periphery 96.
Referring now to Fig. 9, a second one hundred and eighty
degree tray turnover apparatus is illustrated for tray rotation
in a horizontal run of the chain conveyor 12. A stationary
tray turnover means 120 is employed in a manner whereby the parts
are affixed to stationary portions of the oven system, such
-18-
~' -
1127585
as a part of the supporting frame 152. A cam in the form of
an inclined ramp 122 is affixed to the frame member 152
and has its cam surface or contact face 126 sloping downwardly
in a direction opposite the direction of travel of the conveyor
12 as indicated by the arrow 144. The angle of inclination
and length of the contact face 126 should be sufficient to
raise each tray 14, 14' through a height equal to the height
of the slot 76 (or 22)Jfor example, approximately three inches
in the embodiments illustrated.
Downstream of the inclined ramp 122 there is positioned
a turnover wheel 124 which is rotative about its frame affixed
shaft 142 in conventional manner. The turnover wheel is so
positioned that a portion of its outer periphery 146 is
tangential to a planar extension of the ramp contact face 126
whereby a bottom 72 of a tray 14, 14' will contact and turn
about the turnover wheel 124 as each tray is urged upwardly and
forwardly along the inclined ramp 122 by the chain conveyor
system 12 as it moves in the direction of the arrow 144.
Still referring to Fig. 9, the operation of the stationary
tray turnover means 120 will now be described. Each tray bottom 72
is urged into engagement with a portion of the ramp contact ~-
face 126 during the turnover process. As illustrated, the
leading bottom corner 94 contacts the ramp face 126 in a
manner to urge the tray to follow the inclined path defined by
the contact face 126 as the tray is moved forwardly by the conveyor
12. It is noteworthy that the angle defined between the tray
bottom 72 and the ramp face 126 is less than forty-five degrees
at point of contact to thereby assure counterclockwise rotation
of each tray 14, 14' about its respective pins 24 or 50.
~ --19--
~.
- :
~127585
Movement in direction of the arrow 144 urges each
tray 14, 14' from the initial or lower horizontal position
128, through the angularly inclined position 130 to the
upper horizontal position 132. In the upper horizontal
position, the tray bottom 72 rests directly upon the outer
periphery 146 of the turnover wheel 124. It will be noted
that in the travel of each tray from the lower horizontal
position 128 to the upper horizontal position 132, the trays
are elevated by the ramp a distance substantially equal to
the height of the slot 22 or 76. In the position 132, the
pins 24, 50 are located at the respective bottoms of the
slots to a location closest to the tray bottom, thereby raising
the center of gravity of the trays with respect to the pins
to an over balanced condition. As the baking trays are moved
through the positions indicated at 128, 130, 132, the baking
trays will move from a relative position wherein the pins 24,
50 are most remote from the tray bottoms 72 as in position 128
to the position wherein the pins 24, 50 are closest to the tray
bottoms as indicated in position 132.
Continued movement of the chain conveyor 12 in the
direction of the arrow 144 completes the one hundred and eighty
degree rotation of the baking trays 14, 14' about the turnover
wheel 124 by urging the trays or pans through the angular position
134 to the full vertical position 136. It is noteworthy that the
pins 24, 50 remain in position closest to the (former) tray
bottom 72 in the angular position 134 and the full vertical
-20-
- 1127S85
position 136 as illustrated. When the tray 14, 14' reaches
the full vertical position 136, the chain conveyor 12 carries
the baking tray downstream from the turnover means 120. The
unbalanced condition of each tray causes automatically each tray
to continue rotation about the pivot pins. In position 138,
it will be observed that only the trailing corner 148 of the
txay contacts the wheel periphery 146. When the conveyor
carries each tray entirely clear of the wheel 124 the tray
will return to a full horizontal (lower) position 140 that is
similar to the position 128 with the exception that the tray
has been rotated through one hundred and eighty degrees. The
former tray bottom 72 which was in contact with the inclined
face 126 and the wheel periphery 146 can be considered the
-tray top in the new orientation of the tray when moved to the
position 140.
t~R~6~
It is contemplated that the turn ovcr wheel 124 may be
either freely movable upon contact with the respective tray
bottom 72 as the tray is drawn over the wheel 124 or optionally,
the wheel shaft 142 can be powered to provide power rotation of
the wheel 124 during the tray turnover process. Either power
rotation or frictional rotation of the turnover wheel 124 causes
the wheel to rotate in the direction of the arrow 150 during the
turnover procedures.
.
Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, there is illus-
trated another modified arrangement suitable for suspending the
modified baking pans 14" from the chain conveyer 12. In
this embodiment, a pair of txansversely opposed pivot pins
50" are respectively carried by the baking tray 14" at the
-21-
... . ..
, . . -
: . ~- '``' ' .~ : ~
,~' ~ '.
llZ7585
opposed ends for tray suspension purposes. Eac~ lateral end
of the modified baking pan 14" is equ~pped w~th a modif,ied head
156,158 secured to t~e tray construction by conventional
fasteners 162 and nuts 16~. T~e heads 156,158 comprise a. gen-
erally channel shaped body 1~0 ~ic~ defines an interior
chamber ~et~een the upper and lower flanges thereof. A slide
167 i.s verticall~ ~ova~le within the c~'am~er for tra~ turnover
~urposes as ~ereinafter ~ore fully set fort~.
A pa~r of spaced, vertical guide rods 62", 64" are pos-
tiioned with~n each chamber defined within the ~ody 160 and
t~e rods axe secured to the upper and lower ~langes thereof
in a suitable manner well kno~m to tRose skilled in t~e art.
The ~slide 167 is fa~ricated of front and rear, similar bent
~etal halves 168, 170 whic~ may ~e weIded or otherwise sec~
-ured at t~e areas of contact 176. T~e slide Ralves 168,170
are bent to prov~de a wi`dened` medial section 171 and respective
open end sectIons 172, 174. T~e open end sections 172,174 are
~transversely spaced apart and are a~apted to def~ne grooves
'for. vert~cal sliding engagement upon the,guide rods'62", 541r. .
Each widened area 171 carries a p~vot p~n 5~" in ~b~stat,ionar~
engagement to prov~de a substantially unitar~ construct~on
w~ereîn eacR pin 50" moves vertically relative to t~e ~ak~n~
tra~ 14" as. t~e slide 167 itself moves vertically along the
~uide rods 62", 64".
EacR pîvot pin 5Q" is pivotally engaged w~th~n a
chain attachment block 78" (Fig.ll~ to-permit ~ull 360. ro-
tation of the tray 14" relative to t~e c~ain conveyor 12.
.
-22- -
~' ~ ` ' '
.
.
llZ7585
The chain attachment block 78" is affixed to the chain con-
veyor 12 at the interconnection of the chain links 44 and
h6R~;lNb6~D~
,chain rollers 42 in the manner ~re~n LefoEe set forth.
, ,~ .
The chain rollers 42 may be supported upon suitable angle
guides 178 to maintain horizontal positioning of the tray 14".
As the tray 14" is rotated through one hundred and
eighty degrees, either ~y the rotary tray turnover ~ of Fi.~.
or the stationary tray turnover means 120 of Fig. ~, the.
slide 167 can vertically travel along the spaced guide rods
62", 64" for the full height of the body ~'60 during t~e tray
turnover proce~s. In thi~ manner, t~e center of gravit~ of
the tray 14" can be readily varied to aid in the tray turn-
over process.
' It will be noted that in th~s 'embodiment, there is
no.force on the rods on W~ch t~e.stamping 171 slides and
no ecce~tric lqad to contend w~th.' When the pin moves, the
~eight of the tray ~s- carried ~y the cams. The weight of~the
.tray ~s not involved when the slid~ moves from one end of its
ClqR~ 1.~
path of travel to .the other inasmuch as t~e cam ~*aY~ the
load.
Although the present invention has been described with re-
ference to the particular embodiments herein set orth, it is
understood that the present disclosure has been màde only by :~
way of example and that numerous changes in the details of con-
..
struction may be resoxted to without departing from the-
spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the
invention should not be limited by the foregoing specification,
but rather only by the scope of the clalms appended hereto.
- : ,
.. . . ........................ , - : -. .
-' ' ~ -:
