GB2148102A - Improvements in or relating to lidding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Lidding apparatus 1 for use with strapped bakery tins comprises a frame-like lid support structure 2, and a plurality of lids 3 of elongate plan form carried by the support structure 2, so as to be disposed in juxtaposed relationship, the lids being movable relative to each other. The apparatus 1 is substantially symmetrical about centre line 4. The lids 3 are disposed in rows with their adjacent edges in close proximity to each other with their longitudinal axes in substantially parallel array. Adjacent longitudinal edges of the lids 3 are interconnected by three laterally-spaced pivot means 30, each of which comprises brackets 31 welded to the lids and having overlapping flange portions 31a with aligned holes formed therein to locate hinge rods 32. Support means 24 allow movement of lids 3 relative to each other (and to support structure 2) in substantially vertical directions. The lid interconnection means 30 allow pivotal movement of the lids about substantially horizontal axes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to lidding apparatus Background to the invention This invention relates to lidding apparatus. That is to say, to apparatus for lidding tins, for example, strapped bakery tins which have each received a charge of dough prior to reception in a baking oven or prover.

Summary of the invention According to the invention, lidding apparatus comprises a support structure, and a plurality of lids carried by the support structure, so as to be disposed in juxtaposed relationship, the lids being movable relative to each other.

Lidding apparatus according to the invention alleviates problems caused by, inter alia, double charges of dough in one tin and heat-induced distortion.

The support structure preferably comprises a multi-part frame structure, the parts of the frame structure being movable relative to each other.

The support structure is preferably provided with means for assisting lidding of the tins, and, where the tins are strapped, with means whereby the weight of the structure is transferable to some of the straps.

The invention also comprises the combination of the lidding apparatus and apparatus for automatically placing the lidding apparatus in position.

Brief description of the drawings An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figure lisa side view of one half of lidding apparatus, Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, Figure 3 is a further plan view of the one half of the lidding apparatus, but with lids removed for reasons of clarity, Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken on the lines IV-IVof Figure 2, Figures 5 and 6 are, respectively, side and plan views of a detail of the support structure, Figure 7 is a side view of the lidding apparatus and illustrates how the apparatus is placed in position, and Figure 8 is an end view, which illustrates how the lidding apparatus is supported.

Detaiied description of the preferred embodiment With reference to Figures 1 to 3, lidding apparatus 1 for use with strapped bakery tins comprises a frame-like lid support structure 2, and a plurality of lids 3 of elongate plan form carried by the support structure 2, so as to be disposed in juxtaposed relationship, the lids being movable relative to each other.

The apparatus 1 is substantially symmetrical about centre line 4. Thus the non-iliustrated lefthand half of the lidding apparatus 1 comprises a mirror-image of the right-hand side thereof.

As best seen in Figure 3, the support structure 2 comprises two multi-part box-section side members 10 disposed in substantially parallel array. Laterallyspaced angle-iron spacer members 11 are disposed between and secured (by welding) to the side members 10. The ends of the side members 10 are welded to end-plate members 12 which carry lifting plates 13.

Each side member 10 is of three-part construction, namely a centre part 10a and two outer parts 10b.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, a connecting member 15 of inverted "U"-form is disposed within adjacent ends of a centre (10a) and one outer (1 or) part of a side member 10 so as to bridge the two parts. The connecting member 15 is fixed (by plug welding) to the outer part 10h whereby it is pivotally connected, by a pin 16, to the centre part 10a. Thus the centre and outer parts 10a, Ob of the side member 10 can move relative to each other.

The end of a member 15 within the centre part 1 Oa of a side member 10 is cut away at 17 and a bar 18 extends between and is secured (by welding) to, the opposite limbs of the end of the "U"-shaped member 15.

A screw-jack device 19 is disposed within the centre part 10a of the side member 10, so that it can exert an upwardly-acting force on the bar 18. The device 19 is used to adjust the attitude of the associated outer part 10b of the side member 10, relative to the centre part 10a thereof.

With reference to Figure 4, each lid 3 is suspended beneath a spacer member 11 by support means 24 comprising a pair of upwardly-extending studs 25, the lower ends of which are welded to the lid 3 along the longitudinal axis thereof.

The upper ends of the studs 25 extend through clearance holes 26 formed in the horizontal flange portion of the member 11. The upper ends of the studs 25 receive castellated nuts 27 secured in place by removable split pins 28. The arrangement allows limited upward movement of a lid 3 towards its supporting spacer member 11. The degree of movement is adjustable, being determined by the position of nuts 27 on studs 25.

The lids 3 are disposed in rows with their adjacent edges in close proximity to each other with their longitudinal axes in substantially parallel array.

Fourteen lids 3 are provided in this example; seven on each side of the centre line 4.

The lids 3 are perforated by elongated slots 29, which allow circulation of the hot oven gases between baking tins.

As illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, adjacent longitudinal edges of the lids 3 are interconnected by three laterally-spaced pivot means 30, each of which comprises brackets 31 welded to the lids and having overlapping flange portions 31a with aligned holes formed therein to locate hinge rods 32.

The lid support means 24 allow movement of lids 3 relative to each other (and to support structure 2) in substantially vertical directions. The lid interconnections means 30 allow pivotal movement of the lids about substantially horizontal axes.

The lid movement provided for enables individual lids 3 to move so as to accommodate "oven spring".

That is to say, dough growth in excess of tin height.

The lid movement also accommodates "doubles", i.e. accidental double piece charging of dough in bread tins, and avoids distortion of the apparatus 1 which would otherwise result, due to thermal gradients experienced in a baking oven.

The movement provided by articulated support structure parts 10a,10b of a side member 10 also accommodate thermal stressing in the large mass of the structure which would otherwise occur. The screw-jack devices 19 provide means for moving the articulated parts 1 Oa, I Ob of the frame structure relative to each other in an attitude-adjusting manner. The articulated parts are so adjusted before use of the lidding apparatus 1, in order to provide the frame structure 2 with some initial or pre-set movement, so as to counteract the effects of thermal stressing.

The apparatus 1 is intended to be used to cover strapped bakery tins. In the present example, the apparatus 1 is used to lid fourteen tin straps disposed in a row, each strap comprising five tins strapped together, as indicated by the dotted line 35 in Figure 2.

With further reference to Figures 1 and 2, downwardly-extending plates 40 are welded to one of the side members 10, adjacent the opposite ends thereof. (The figures illustrate one end only). Other, downwardly-extending plates 41, are welded to a spacer member 11 and to an end plate member 12 at opposite ends of the apparatus 1.

With additional reference to Figure 7, the lidding apparatus 1 is used in combination with tin conveying apparatus 55 wherein bread baking tins 45 are disposed on an endless conveyor surface 46.

The direction in which the tins 45 are conveyed on the surface 46 is indicated by the arrow 47. The lidding apparatus 1 is disposed, (by fork members operated by machinery - not shown), on an inclined ramp 48 so that the plate 40 (Figures 1 and 2) of the structure 2 is lowermost.

The ramp 48 is positioned so that, as the tins 45 proceed in the direction of the arrow 47, the leading row of tins contact the plates 40 whereby the apparatus 1 is pulled gently off the ramp 48 and on to the tins 45.

The lidding system provided by the combination of apparatus 1 and 55 avoids undue disturbance of the tins 45, which would affect the dough.

With reference to Figure 8, as the tins 45 are lidded, the lower edges of the plates 41 are brought into contact with straps 50 on the leading and trailing rows of tins. This arrangement results in the substantial weight of the lidding apparatus 1 being transferred to the straps 50 and not to the upper edges of the tins.

Claims (10)

1. Lidding apparatus comprising a support structure, and a plurality of lids carried by the support structure so as to be disposed in juxtaposed relationship, the lids being movable relative to each other.

2. Lidding apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a multipart frame structure, the parts of the frame structure being movable relative to each other.

3. Lidding apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the lids are pivotally movable relative to each other.

4. Lidding apparatus as claimed in Claim 1,2 or3, wherein the lids are movable in substantially vertical directions.

5. Lidding apparatus as claimed in Claim 2,3 or 4, provided with means for moving the parts of the frame structure relative to each other in an attitudeadjusting manner.

6. Lidding apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, for use in lidding strapped tins, and provided with means whereby the weight of the support structure is transferable to some of the straps.

7. The combination of lidding apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, and tin conveying apparatus operable whereby contact between the lidding apparatus and tins being conveyed results in the apparatus being pulled on to the tins.

8. Lidding apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

9. The combination of lidding apparatus and tin conveying apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

10. Every novel feature and every novel combination of features disclosed herein.