GB2371530A

GB2371530A - Method and apparatus for changing a conveyor belt

Info

Publication number: GB2371530A
Application number: GB0101618A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Kelly
Original assignee: BURTON S FOODS
Current assignee: BURTON S FOODS
Priority date: 2001-01-22
Filing date: 2001-01-22
Publication date: 2002-07-31
Also published as: GB0101618D0

Description

"BISCUIT MANuFACTURING" Introduction The invention relates to the manufacture of biscuits and in particular to a method of optimising usage of a cooking oven in biscuit manufacture.

Large capacity ovens are required for efficient baking of biscuits on a large manufacturing scale. Usually the oven includes a conveyor which is used to continuously convey dough pieces through the oven for cooking. The oven temperature and conveyor speed may be adjusted to account for a change from one type of biscuit to another. However, it is not possible to use a single large capacity oven to produce a wide range of biscuits. Thus a manufacturing facility for producing a range of different biscuit types generally requires at least two ovens. This involves high capital cost and, because of the large size of such ovens, major factory space requirements. In addition the use of two separate ovens presents major problems in handling the inputs and outputs from the ovens. Generally two separate manufacturing and packing lines are required.

This invention is directed towards addressing these serious problems.

Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a method for changing an endless conveyor belt of a continuous cooker comprising the steps of :- breaking at a predetermined location a first endless conveyor belt led along a conveyor course in the cooker;

attaching a leading end of a guide to one open end of the first conveyor belt ; withdrawing the first conveyor belt from the cooker while leading the guide through the cooker to follow the conveyor course from which the first conveyor belt is removed; connecting a following end of the guide to a second conveyor belt; withdrawing the leading end of the guide from the cooker while leading the second conveyor belt along the conveyor course as the guide is removed; and attaching free ends of the second conveyor belt to form an endless second conveyor belt extending along the conveyor course. fn a preferred embodiment one of the conveyor belts is a band type conveyor belt and the other of the conveyor belts is a mesh type conveyor belt.

Preferably the first conveyor belt, on withdrawal from the cooker, is wound into a reel. Preferably the guide, on withdrawal from the cooker, is also wound into a reel.

In one embodiment the first conveyor belt is wound into a first conveyor reel on withdrawal from the cooker while the guide is unwound from a guide reel as the guide is led along the conveyor belt course.

Preferably the second conveyor belt is unwound from a second conveyor reel on leading the second conveyor belt along the conveyor belt course while the guide is wound onto a guide reel as the guide is led from the cooker.

Ideally the first conveyor belt is withdrawn from the cooker in synchronisation with the guide being led along the conveyor belt course. Preferably the guide is withdrawn from the cooker in synchronisation with the second conveyor belt being led along the conveyor belt course.

In a preferred embodiment the first conveyor belt is wound onto a conveyor belt drum and the guide is unwound from a guide drum, the first conveyor belt drum being driven to withdraw the first conveyor belt from the cooker and wind it onto the first conveyor belt drum.

Preferably the guide is wound onto a guide drum as the guide is withdrawn from the cooker, the guide drum being driven to wind the guide onto the guide drum.

During winding of the guide the second conveyor belt is preferably unreeled from the second conveyor drum which is not driven. In one embodiment the method includes the step of applying a braking force to the second conveyor belt drum as the second conveyor belt is unwound from the drum.

In another aspect the invention provides endless conveyor belt handling apparatus for handling an endless conveyor belt of a continuous cooker comprising a support, a conveyor belt drum mounted on the support for winding and unwinding a conveyor belt, and a guide drum mounted to the support for winding and unwinding a guide to and from the guide drum.

Preferably the apparatus includes drive means for driving the conveyor belt drum. Drive means for driving the guide drum is preferably also provided.

In one arrangement a single drive means is provided to selectively drive the conveyor belt drum or the guide drum. A drive train for selectively connecting

the drive means to the conveyor belt drum or the guide drum is preferably provided. The drive train preferably comprises a drive wheel and means for moving the drive wheel from one configuration in which the conveyor belt drum is driven to another configuration in which the guide drum is driven. In one embodiment the drive train includes a first driven wheel for driving the conveyor belt drum and a second driven wheel for driving the guide drum, the driven wheel being selectively engaged with the first or second driven wheels to drive the conveyor belt drum or the guide drum.

Preferably the apparatus includes means for selectively applying a breaking force to at least the conveyor belt drum.

In one embodiment the guide drum is rotatable about a guide drum axis, the conveyor drum is rotatable about a conveyor drum axis and the axes extend generally parallel, one above the other. Preferably the guide drum is located above the conveyor drum.

The apparatus preferably includes a conveyor band reeled over the conveyor belt drum and also preferably a mesh type conveyor belt reeled over the conveyor belt drum.

The invention also provides a continuous cooker system including a conveyor handling apparatus of the invention.

The continuous cooker system preferably includes a belt conveyor handling apparatus of the invention and a mesh conveyor handling apparatus of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment the cooker system includes a transfer conveyor for transferring biscuits from an exit end of the cooker to orienting and/or packaging stations. Preferably the transfer conveyor is demountable from the cooker for cooker conveyor belt changeover. Ideally the transfer conveyor is mobile for moving the transfer conveyor into and out of engagement with the cooker.

Brief description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an endless conveyor handling apparatus the invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is another perspective view of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a side view of a detail of the apparatus; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a continuous cooker and transfer conveyor forming part of a cooker system of the invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the cooker system of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a side view of the conveyor handling apparatus in use with a cooker system; and

Fig. 8 to 16 are side views illustrating various steps in a method for changing an endless conveyor of a cooker system of Figs. 5 and 6 utilising an endless conveyor handling apparatus of Figs. 1 to 4.

Detailed Description Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof there is illustrated an endless conveyor handling apparatus 1 according to the invention for handling an endless conveyor belt 2 of a continuous cooker. Two such similar handling apparatus are used for changing a band steel conveyor belt of a continuous cooker to a steel mesh conveyor belt as will be described in more detail below. One conveyor handling apparatus 1 is described with reference to a band steel conveyor belt. The other conveyor handling apparatus is of the same construction and operates in an analogous manner in handling a steel mesh conveyor belt.

The apparatus 1 comprises a support framework having four upstanding support legs 5 and a number of cross members 6. A conveyor belt drum 10 and a guide strap drum 12 are rotably mounted on the support. The conveyor drum 10 has an axle 15 which is rotatable in bearings 16 mounted on opposed cross members 6 of the support. Similarly, the guide strap drum 12 has an axle 18 which is rotatable in bearings 19 mounted on opposed cross members 6 of the support. A guide strap 7 is wound around the drum 12.

Drive means for driving the conveyor drum 10 includes a driven toothed wheel 20 fast on the conveyor belt drum axle 15. Drive means for driving the guide strap drum 12 includes a driven toothed wheel 21 fast on the guide strap drum axle 18. The drive means also comprises a drive wheel 25 fast on a shaft 26 which is driven by a motor 27. Drive belt 18 extends between the shaft 26 and

the motor 27. A block 30 is fixed to the shaft 26 of the drive wheel 25 and the block 30 is movable by an arm 31 which screw threadingly engages a guide 32 fixed to the support. The arm 31 has an actuating end 33 which is turned to move the arm 31 and hence the block 30, drive shaft 26, and drive wheel 25 relative to the guide 32 in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 4 from a first position engaging the toothed driven wheel 20 of the conveyor belt drum axle 15 to a second position engaging the toothed driven wheel 21 of the guide strap drum axle 18. In this way the motor 27 drives either the guide strap drum 12 or the conveyor belt drum 10. Braking means (not shown) in the form of a disc or other suitable break may be provided to brake the rotation of the conveyor belt drum 10 when the guide strap drum 12 is being driven.

Guide means for guiding the strap 7 to and from the strap drum 12 is provided by guide bars 36,37 over which the strap 7 is led.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 there is illustrated a continuous cooker 40 and a transfer conveyor 50 for transferring biscuits from an exit end 51 of the cooker 40 to orienting and packaging stations. In this case the transfer conveyor 50 is demountable from the cooker by releasing a bolt 55. The transfer conveyor 50 has wheels 56 to allow the transfer conveyor 50 to be readily moved out of line with the cooker 40 and thereby providing easy access to the exit end 51 of the cooker. On removal of the transfer conveyor 50 the conveyor belt handling apparatus 1 is positioned at the exit end of the cooker as illustrated in Fig. 7.

The method for changing an endless conveyor belt of the continuous cooker will now be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 16. In these drawings a band steel conveyor belt 70 is illustrated by a single interrupted line and a mesh steel conveyor belt 75 is illustrated by double interrupted lines. A handling apparatus for handling a band steel belt 70 is identified by reference 80 and an apparatus for handling a mesh steel belt 75 is identified by reference 85. The apparatus 80

and 85 are of the general construction described with reference to Figs. I to 4 and appropriate parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In a first step illustrated in Fig. 8 the transfer conveyor 50 is removed. A band steel belt handling apparatus 80 is positioned at the exit end of the cooker 40 (Fig. 9). The band steel belt 70 is then broken at a predetermined position at the exit end of the cooker 40. One (in this case an upper) free end 90 of the band steel belt 70 is attached to a leading end of a strap 7 from the strap drum 12 and the other free end 91 of the band steel belt 70 is led over the conveyor belt drum 10 which is empty at this stage. By operating the arm 31 the drive wheel 25 is engaged with the toothed driven wheel 20 of the conveyor belt drum axle 15 as illustrated in Fig. 10. The motor 27 is then operated to drive the conveyor drum axle 15 and begin to wind up the band steel conveyor belt 70. As the belt 70 is wound onto the drum 10 the strap 7 is drawn from the drum 12 through the cooker 40 as illustrated in Fig. 11. When the belt 70 has been removed and the strap 7 has been led over the course of the conveyor in the cooker 40 (Fig. 12) the drive is switched off, the strap 7 disconnected from the drum 12 and the handling apparatus is removed (Fig. 13).

To provide a mesh conveyor belt 75 for the cooker 40 the mesh belt handling apparatus 85 is positioned at the exit end of the cooker, the leading end of the strap 7 is connected to the free end of a mesh belt 75 mounted on the drum 10 and the trailing end of the strap 7 is wound over the strap drum 12. Using the arm 31 the drive wheel 25 is engaged with the toothed driven wheel 21 of the strap drum axle 18 and the motor 27 is operated (Fig. 14). The strap drum 12 is rotated to reel the strap 7 onto the drum 12 while drawing the mesh belt 75 from the drum 10 along the conveyor belt course of the cooker 40 as illustrated in Fig. 15. On completion of the conveyor course by the mesh belt 75 the ends of the mesh belt are spliced together, the mesh belt handling apparatus 85 is removed, and the transfer conveyor 50 is re-positioned as illustrated in Fig. 16.

The invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive way of changing the conveyor belt of a continuous cooker in biscuit manufacture. This has major benefits as a single cooker can be used to produce a wide range of different biscuit types using different conveyor belts. For example a mesh conveyor can be used for producing digestive or other biscuits with a patterned grid on the underside thereof and a steel belt conveyor can be used for producing ginger snap biscuits, cookies and the like with a relatively flat underside.

Many variations on the invention will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction or detail.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method for changing an endless conveyor belt of a continuous cooker comprising the steps of: breaking at a predetermined location a first endless conveyor belt led along a conveyor course in the cooker; attaching a leading end of a guide to one open end of the first conveyor belt; withdrawing the first conveyor belt from the cooker while leading the guide through the cooker to follow the conveyor course from which the first conveyor belt is removed; connecting a following end of the guide to a second conveyor belt; withdrawing the leading end of the guide from the cooker while leading the second conveyor belt along the conveyor course as the guide is removed; and attaching free ends of the second conveyor belt to form an endless second conveyor belt extending along the conveyor course.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the conveyor belts is a band type conveyor belt and the other of the conveyor belts is a mesh type conveyor belt.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first conveyor belt, on withdrawal from the cooker, is wound into a reel.
4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the guide, on withdrawal from the cooker, is wound into a reel.
5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first conveyor belt is wound into a first conveyor reel on withdrawal from the cooker while the guide is unwound from a guide reel as the guide is led along the conveyor belt course.
6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second conveyor belt is unwound from a second conveyor reel on leading the second conveyor belt along the conveyor belt course while the guide is wound onto a guide reel as the guide is led from the cooker.
7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first conveyor belt is withdrawn from the cooker in synchronisation with the guide being led along the conveyor belt course.
8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the guide is withdrawn from the cooker in synchronisation with the second conveyor belt being led along the conveyor belt course.
9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first conveyor belt is wound onto a conveyor belt drum and the guide is unwound from a guide drum, the first conveyor belt drum being driven to withdraw the first conveyor belt from the cooker and wind it onto the first conveyor belt drum.
10. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the guide is wound onto a guide drum as the guide is withdrawn from the cooker, the guide drum being driven to wind the guide onto the guide drum.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein during winding of the guide the second conveyor belt is unreeled from the second conveyor drum which is not driven.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11 including the step of applying a braking force to the second conveyor belt drum as the second conveyor belt is unwound from the drum.
13. A method for changing an endless conveyor belt of a continuous cooker substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. Endless conveyor belt handling apparatus for handling an endless conveyor belt of a continuous cooker comprising a support, a conveyor belt drum mounted on the support for winding and unwinding a conveyor belt, and a guide drum mounted to the support for winding and unwinding a guide to and from the guide drum.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 including drive means for driving the conveyor belt drum.
16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 or 15 including drive means for driving the guide drum.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or 16 wherein a single drive means is provided to selectively drive the conveyor belt drum or the guide drum.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 including a drive train for selectively connecting the drive means to the conveyor belt drum or the guide drum.
19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the drive train comprises a drive wheel and means for moving the drive wheel from one configuration in which the conveyor belt drum is driven to another configuration in which the guide drum is driven.
20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the drive train includes a first driven wheel for driving the conveyor belt drum and a second driven wheel for driving the guide drum, the driven wheel being selectively engaged with the first or second driven wheels to drive the conveyor belt drum or the guide drum.
21. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 14 to 20 including means for selectively applying a breaking force to at least the conveyor belt drum.
22. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 14 to 21 wherein the guide drum is rotatable about a guide drum axis, the conveyor drum is rotatable about a conveyor drum axis and the axes extend generally parallel, one above the other.
23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the guide drum is located above the conveyor drum.
24. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 14 to 23 including a conveyor band reeled over the conveyor belt drum.
25. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 14 to 24 including a mesh type conveyor belt reeled over the conveyor belt drum.
26. Endless conveyor handling apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drums.
27. A continuous cooker system including a conveyor handling apparatus as claimed in any of claims 14 to 26.
28. A continuous cooker system including a belt conveyor handling apparatus of claim 24 and a mesh conveyor handling apparatus of claim 26.
29. A cooker system as claimed in claim 27 or 28 including a transfer conveyor for transferring biscuits from an exit end of the cooker to orienting and/or packaging stations.
30. A cooker system as claimed in claim 29 wherein the transfer conveyor is demountable from the cooker for cooker conveyor belt changeover.
31. A cooker system as claimed in claim 30 wherein the transfer conveyor is mobile for moving the transfer conveyor into and out of engagement with the cooker.
32. A continuous cooker system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.