JPS60144216A - Conveyor device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to conveyor apparatus, and more particularly to a conveyor apparatus for conveying bakery and dough products through a baking opening.

[Background technology]

It is common practice to transport various types of products, such as bakery products, through chambers with controlled atmospheric conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity). In the case of bakery products, such chambers can be, for example, ovens, in which the products are conveyed over a long period of time on a spiral conveyor. .

Generally, a conveyor comprises an endless chain running in or on a track,
A series of support carriers carrying all the products are connected to the chain by means of a connecting plate on the 7th side of the chain. In order to support the outer edges of the carrier and to stabilize the chain, it has been proposed to provide stationary runners below the carrier. However, such runners increase the cost of the equipment, limit access to the conveyor chain for maintenance, and further create metal-to-metal contact directly above the bakery product.

It has also been proposed to provide a conveyor chain within a rail such that the wheels of the chain engage internal surfaces of the rail, as shown in FIG. 9 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,708. There is. However, if the conveyor is subjected to torsional stress such as attempting to rotate the chain about the long axis of the conveyor, the wheels may jam (
food tightening).

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to minimize or eliminate the above-mentioned problems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor system which allows improved stability against torsional loads without the need for stationary runners under the outer edges of the carrier.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor system that avoids the tendency of the conveyor chain to jam against the rail.

Another object of the invention is to prevent falling objects from products being transported from fouling the conveyor rails and wheel bearings.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an easily removable and insertable baking dish guide capable of laterally stabilizing the baking dish during transport.

[Summary of the invention]

The above-mentioned objects are achieved by the present invention, the conveyor device of the present invention comprising a rail and a conveyor chain attached to the rail. The rail has a first pair of support surfaces and a second pair of support surfaces. The conveyor chain includes a first pair of freely rotatable support wheels and a second pair of support wheels, the first pair and the second pair of support wheels being respectively independent of the first pair of support wheels. and a second pair of support surfaces to form a plurality of pairs of boundaries with the support surfaces. The interfaces of each pair form an internal angle of less than 180° with each other. These support wheels engage the support surface on the outside of the inner corner. Therefore, even if the ρ conveyor chain is twisted and rotated by the weight of the load carried by the conveyor chain, there is almost no possibility that the wheels will jam against the rail.

Advantageously, the rail is arranged in a helical manner and comprises straight side sections and curved ends.

The cross-section of the support surface located along said lateral portion may be straight. The support surface located along the curved end can be curved.

The conveyor chain preferably comprises a plurality of links connected to each other by a plurality of connecting members.

Each connecting member is rotatably connected to front and rear adjacent links about a pivot axis. These pivot axes are positioned at an angle of 9.0° with respect to each other. 4 which are conveniently and firmly connected to each other at right angles to each link.
Formed by two walls. A plurality of connecting arms are connected to the link, and a plurality of product carriers are connected to these connecting arms. A plurality of trays are connected to the connecting arm, and these trays are arranged at 1111 between the product carrier and the conveyor chain to catch objects falling from the products being conveyed. These trays overlap each other along the long axis of the conveyor chain and can be comprised of rigid plates. The parts of the stiffness are vertically spaced apart from each other.

Each tray has a stepped end that overlaps the rugged end of the next tray. Grilling plate guides can be detachably attached to these trays, and these guides are shaped so as to extend above the carrier. These grilled skin guides fit into the grooves of the grilling plate during transportation to ensure the lateral stability of the grilling plate.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Common reference numbers in different drawings represent common components.

The baking oven 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an enclosure 12 within which a conveyor support layer frame 14 is disposed. This conveyor support frame 14 is configured to support the conveyor 16 (FIG. 6) so that it runs in a spiral shape in the oven. Although this conveyor is omitted in order to simplify the drawing, this conveyor carries baking trays for bakery products to be prepared, such as dough products, i.e. loaves of bread and rolls. A heating device maintains the desired baking temperature.

The frame 14 carries a helical rail arrangement 18 on which the conveyor 16 is supported. The rail device 18 includes a plurality of straight lateral running sections 20 and a curved end section 22 that connects the lateral running sections 20 to each other.

Although the rail device 18 is continuous, its lateral running portion 20 and curved end portion 22 are formed into different shapes. As shown in FIG. 5, at the side runs, the rail is provided with a metal channel 24, which faces facing guide surfaces 26.28, 3.0.
．． It is curved to form 32. The two guide surfaces are provided on both sides of the long axis 34 of the tunnel material 24, respectively. That is, a pair of guide surfaces 28 and 30 are provided on each side of the long axis 34 of the channel material 24 . In other words, a pair of guide surfaces 28 and 30 are arranged on one side, and a pair of guide surfaces 26 and 32 are arranged on the other side.

As can be seen from the following explanation, surface A, 13. C, D are defined by the interface between the guide surfaces 2 to 32 and a plurality of supporting wheels of the chain section 42 of the conveyor 16, which wheels engage with said guide surfaces. It forms an ink-face surface (interface). The respective pairs of surfaces B and C and A and D form interior angles BC and AD'iz with each other, and these interior angles are smaller than 180° (and preferably each 90°. Tsumugi 48 and 50 are guide surface 2
8.30 and the other pair of wheels 46.5
2 engages a pair of guide surfaces 2'6.32. wheel 46
-52 engage these guide surfaces 26-32 along the outside of the inner corners BC, AD. That is, these wheels are located outside the acute internal angles BC and AD.

The sixth factor represents the transition region between a plain rail surface and a cylindrical rail, and as shown in FIG. 6, the rail can have a circular cylindrical shape along the curve of the rail. The opposite ends of the pair of circular cylinders 60,62 are attached to the channel members 24 of the front and rear lateral runs. The wheels 46-52 of the conveyor chain 42 engage the curved outer surface 64.65.66.67 of the cylinder. Surface A', B'
, C'.

D' is defined by the interface between the surfaces 64-67 and the wheels 46-52, which interfaces are tangential to the cylinder 60, 62 at the point of contact of the wheels. . These interface surfaces form interior angles B'C' and A'D' with each other and are joined to surfaces 64-67 along the outside of said interior angles to the wheels. Interior angle Wσ
and A'1lyfd are each smaller than 180° and preferable'
Preferably it is 90°. Since the wheel D is engaged with the outer surface of the rail, the wheel will not jam even when the conveyor twists and rotates in the direction of arrow 76. Such jamming is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3.934.70.
This occurs when the wheel engages the inner surface of the rail as described in No. 8. Surfaces A-D are the respective surfaces A'-D
', so the wheels 46-52rf': smoothly roll from the f guide surfaces 26-32 onto the surfaces 64-67.
Ru.

The conveyor 16 is equipped with a chain 69. This chain 69 is made of heat-resistant metal and includes a number of links 70. The links 70 are connected to each other by a plurality of shorter connecting members 72. ing. link 7
0 has a rectangular cross section (see Figure 6). That is, each link is formed by four vertical walls 74 which are rigidly connected to each other, for example by welding.

This configuration of the links significantly increases their resistance to deformation in the torsional direction 76 (see FIG. 7) about the long axis 34, which may occur due to the weight of products loaded on the conveyor. In this regard, the carrier 80 is rigidly connected to the link 70 by a UU-shaped connecting arm 82. These connecting arms 82 project upward from the link 70. Carrier 801-1: It is elongated laterally.

That is, the carrier 80 extends laterally in both directions from the longitudinal axis (FIG. 5). Therefore, the bakery product mounted on the carrier and exerting a moment on the chain will exert a torsional stress on the chain 42 in the direction of arrow 76. This moment is opposed by link 70 and metal support wheels 46-52. Support wheels 46-5
2 are each rotatably mounted on the connecting member 72 about an axis 90, which axes 90 mutually intersect the long axis 34 of the conveyor chain. Therefore, the reaction force acting on the wheel by the surface of the track (which acts perpendicular to the axis of rotation) will generate a reaction moment. The moment arm of this recoil moment lies on an imaginary line extending from a long axis perpendicular to the recoil force. Therefore, two approximately opposite moments act on two diametrically opposed wheels (i.e., wheels with a common axis of rotation), so that the weight of the products being conveyed causes the conveyor chain to rotate about its long axis. Rotation in either direction is prevented. Historically, torsional deformation of the carrier link about its long axis caused by the weight is effectively prevented by the inherent strength provided by the structure of the carrier link having four side walls.

Each coupling member 72 is rotatably connected to an adjacent carrier link 70 by a pivot pin 92.94.

The pivot bins 92,94 are positioned perpendicularly to each other. Preferably, the coupling member 72 is connected to the leading link 70 by a vertical pivot pin 92, thereby forming a universal pivot joint. Such a structure allows leading links 70 and trailing links 70 and their carriers 80 to pivot vertically and horizontally relative to each other as the links travel through the conveyor path. It is.

Carrier 8 (has a lj lattice shape. That is, each carrier 80 is composed of a metal support rod 100 and a pair of side connecting rods 102.
0 are positioned parallel to each other in the front-rear direction. The connecting rod 02 is connected to the U-shaped connecting arm 82 by a suitable fastening member, such as a bolt. The front and rear carriers 80 are spaced apart from each other in the front-back direction.

The front and rear ends of the support rod 100 are bent downward and rearward, forming a curved leading edge 104 and a trailing edge 106e.

Edge like this] 04.106 is curved, so
Barriers to the introduction of bakery products are minimized.

Between the conveyor chain 42 and the carrier 80 is a series of trays 110 made of rigid, refractory metal. These trays 110 are designed to catch crumbs that may fall from the dough products, thus preventing the rails and wheel bearings from being soiled by crumbs and interfering with the conveyor. It is prevented.

The tray 110 is connected to the connecting arm 82 and has a product support surface 112 defined by the rond 100.
It is positioned so that it is below. The leading and trailing ends of the adjacent front and rear trays 10 are arranged on the connecting member 72 in a vertically overlapping relationship with each other.

Preferably, the trailing end of each tray is stepped upwardly at 114 and extends above the leading end 116 of the next tray 110. This vertically spaced relationship allows the trays to rotate vertically reciprocally along their respective carriers and links.

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the wheel arrangement 1-. 7'i: In this arrangement, wheels 120, 122, 124, 126 engage a four-sided rail 128. .

[Surface of the wheel] It has a truncated conical shape. Each pair of wheels 120, 126 and 122, 124 are connected to the carrier 13.
8 are rotatably mounted on common parallel axles 132, 136 depending from. If desired, carrier 138 may be provided with two additional pairs of wheels. wheels, rails and l''
j: It can be understood that stable running of the conveyor cannot be ensured since it is consistent at 4 points. Also, because the wheels engage the outside surfaces of the rails, the conveyor wheels do not jam as described above. FIG. Although it is shown as forming a square, it is also possible to use other horns.

Conveyor 16 is driven in any suitable manner. For example, an endless drive chain 150 (FIG. 7) can be provided below the conveyor 16. The drive chain 150 is wound around a pair of sprockets 152 and 154, one of which is driven by a power multiplier 156 of a suitable motor (not shown). The chain includes a plurality of links 159, each of which is provided with a series of drive projections 160.

These protrusions 160 are connected to the links by biport bins 162 which interconnect several links. A pair of guide wheels 164 are attached to these bins 162.
is capable of running in a stationary track 166 disposed along the upper working running portion of the drive chain 150.

A pair of auxiliary wheels 1 is attached to the protrusion behind the guide wheel 164.
68 is rotatably mounted, but these auxiliary wheels 1
68 is not connected to the link 159. Therefore, when the driving protrusion 16Q comes off the guide track 166, the auxiliary wheel 68 rotates downward. That is, the driving projection 160 rotates about the pin 62 (see driving projection 160' on the right side of FIG. 7). Protrusion 160
Since the travels along the operating portion, the pressure of the connecting part shrine 72 is ii! 1117o to move the conveyor forward. As the drive projection 160 pivots downwardly away from the guide track 166, it is removed from contact with the corresponding pressure surface 170. This occurs just before the protrusion passes the front sprocket (152'i). The auxiliary wheel 168 rotates downward and collides with the hub 172. Hub 17'2 (l-j varnished shaft 174
When the drive protrusion passes through the front sprocket 152, the auxiliary wheel 168 rides on the hub 172.Finally, when it reaches the rear sprocket 154, the auxiliary wheel 168 rides on the guide surface 176 (this is guide trajectory 1
66) and its guide surface 17
6, and moves along the curved path toward the operating portion.

It may be desirable to provide lateral stabilization of products mounted on a grid-like carrier 80.

For example, when baking bread, the dough is placed in a baking tray. To prevent the baking tray from sliding laterally, the tray 110 has a plurality of baking tray guides 190 (see FIG. 5). ) can be removably fixed.Each grilling plate guide 190 is made of metal and includes, for example, a curved metal rod 192.
σ2 pairs of spring legs 194 extend downwardly. Each pair of legs 194 is adapted to be inserted into a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 196 (FIG. 3) in the corresponding tray 110. Each leg 194 has a notch 1
98 is provided, and the edge of a hole 196 is fitted into this notch 198 to removably hold the grilling plate guide 190. That is, each pair of legs 194 is connected to a hole 196.
When press-fitted into the inside, the legs 194 of the scraper etc. first fit into the holes 19.
6 are clamped together by the side edges of 6 and then spring outward when the notches 198 are aligned with said lateral edges. The grilling plate kite 190 is designed to fit into a regular notch on the bottom of the grilling plate, and reduces the lateral movement of the grilling plate.
[Limited to 1j.

In operation, the product to be cooked is conveyed on conveyor 16 along a spiral path within the baking chamber. These products are supported by the carrier 80 and carried by the chains 69 of these carriers 801-j. The wheels 46-52 of the chain are connected to the lateral running part 2 of the helical travel path.
When moving along 0, the straight surface 26-32
(Fig. 5), and when moving along the end 22 of the helical travel path, they are supported on curved surfaces 64-67 (Fig. 6). B
The support on the outside of C, A, and D prevents the conveyor from rotating about the long axis 34 due to the weight of the products being transported in a manner that does not cause jamming. Since the link has a four-walled configuration, this also counteracts the rotational movement.

Bread crumbs and the like falling from the product are caught by the tray 110, so they do not stain the rail. Since the adjacent ends of the front and rear trays are in an overlapping relationship, rotational movement between the links of the chain is free.

The baking dish guide provides lateral stabilization of the baking dish mounted on the carrier.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art will recognize that additions, modifications, substitutions, changes, and omissions can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should be obvious.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the baking chamber, with a portion of its roof cut away to show the conveyor support rail device; the conveyor is omitted for simplicity of the drawing; FIG. 3 is a side view of the baking chamber with the side wall removed to show its interior; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the conveyor mounted on rails, with the rails omitted; and FIG. 4 is a top view of the conveyor mounted on a rail. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyor taken along line 5-5 in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 5, but the straight side portion of the rail is curved. FIG. 7 is a side view of the conveyor drive mechanism; FIG. 7 is a side view of the conveyor drive mechanism; FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the conveyor drive mechanism taken along line 8--8 in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a modified example of the conveyor chain. 10... Baking oven, 12... Enclosure, 14
...conveyor support frame,]6...conveyor,
18...Rail device, 20...Side running part, 22...
...Curved end, 24...Channel material, 26-32.
... Guide surface, 34 ... Long axis (of channel material), 42
...Chain part, 46-52...Support wheel, 60°62...Cylinder, 64-67...Cylinder surface, 69...Chain, 70...Link, 72...
Connecting member, 74... Vertical wall, 76... Torsional direction, 8
°...Carrier, 82...Connection arm, 90 Axis, 92
゜94...Pivot bin, 100...Support rod,]
02...Side connecting rod, 104...Advancing edge, ]06...Lagging side work/noge, ]10...Tray,
]】2...Product support surface, 116...Advancing end of tray, 120-126...Wheel, 128...Rail, 130...Wheel surface, 132,136...Axle,
138...Carrier, 140,142...Rail support surface, 150...Chain,] 52.154...
Tin rocket, 156... Output extraction part, 159...
Link, 160... Drive projection, 160'... Right side projection, 162... Pivo 17) Bin, 164... Guide L+l, Wv, 166... Stationary wheel, 168... Auxiliary wheel, 170 ... Pressure surface, 172 ... Knob, 1
74. Sprocket shaft, 176... Guide surface, 190.
... Grilling plate guide, 192... Rod, 194...
Leg BL196/hole, 198...notch. Patent Applicant Suntrade Limited Patent Representative Patent Attorney Akira Aoki Patent Attorney l! ＋4 Tate A1'', Patent Attorney Hiroshi Ito, Akiyuki Yamaguchi - FP Consultant Masaya Nishiyama Procedural Amendment (Method) January 1985 -> 3rd Japan Patent Office Commissioner Manabu Shiga 1, Indication of Case 1981 Patent Application No. 211548 2. Name of the invention Conveyor device 3. Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant name Suntrade Limited 4. Spontaneous amendment by the agent 4 No. 6. Subject of amendment (1) Application (2) Power of attorney (3) Specification (4) Drawing 7, Contents of amendment (IO2) As attached (3) Engraving of the specification (no change in content) (4) Engraving of drawings (no change in content) 8. List of attached documents (1) Request for correction 1 copy (2) Power of attorney and translation 1 copy each (3) Engraved specification 1 copy (4) Engraved drawings 1 copy

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A rail means having a first pair and a second pair of support surfaces, and a conveyor chain attached to the rail means, the conveyor chain being free to move. - rotatable first and second pairs of support wheels, said first and second pairs of support wheels being rotatable on said first and second pairs of support surfaces, respectively; the support wheels are arranged to engage and form a plurality of pairs of interfaces with the support surface, two interfaces of each pair of interfaces forming an internal angle of less than 180° with each other; A conveyor device, characterized in that the conveyor device engages the support surface on the outside of the interior corner. 2. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein the interior angle is 90°. 3. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting surfaces of one pair are parallel to the supporting surfaces of the other pair. 4. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of carriers are connected to a conveyor chain above the support wheels. 5. Two of the support wheels are rotatably mounted around one common first axis, and the other two support wheels are rotatably mounted around one common second axis. A conveyor device according to claim 1. 6. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein the rail means is arranged in a spiral manner. 7. The l/- rule has a straight side portion and a curved end, and the support surface has a straight cross section along the side portion, and the support surface has a curved end. The conveyor device according to claim 2, having a cross section curved along. 8. The conveyor chain includes a plurality of links connected to each other by a first number of connecting parts, and each connecting member is connected to the front and rear links so as to be able to rotate around a pivot axis. 3. A conveyor device according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor device is positioned at an angle of 90°. 9. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein said link is formed by four walls rigidly connected at right angles to each other. 10. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein the link is provided with a connecting arm, and a plurality of product carriers are connected to the connecting arm. 11. Connecting a plurality of trays to the connecting arm,
11. The conveyor apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the tray is arranged between the product carrier and the conveyor chain so as to catch fallen objects from the products being transported. 12. The conveyor device according to claim 11, further comprising a grilling plate guide that is detachably attached to the tray and is shaped to extend above the carrier. 13. The conveyor system of claim 11, wherein said tray includes a plurality of rigid plates overlapping each other along the longitudinal axis of the conveyor chain, the overlapping portions being vertically spaced apart. 14. Each tray has a stepped end that overlaps the adjacent end of the next tray.
The conveyor device according to item 3. 15. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting arm constitutes the only means for supporting the carrier. 6. rail means extending along a helical path to form a straight section and a curved end;
a conveyor chain attached to the rail means and a plurality of product carriers, the rail means having a first
and a second pair of supporting surfaces, said conveyor chain comprising: a number of four-walled links joined at right angles to each other; and a plurality of pivots positioned at 90 degrees to each other for front and rear support. a plurality of connecting members that connect the pairs of links to each other; and a first pair and a second pair of support wheels that are attached to each of the connecting members and are freely rotatable, and each of the support wheels is connected to the first pair of wheels. and the second
are arranged to engage pairs of support surfaces to form a plurality of interfaces with said support surfaces, each pair of said support surfaces forming an interior angle of 90° with respect to each other, and said support wheels forming a 90° angle with respect to said interior angle. engaging said support surface on the outside, said product carrier being connected to said link and spaced apart above said link, said chain forming the sole means of support for said carrier; A conveyor device characterized by: ]7. Two of the support wheels are rotatably mounted about a first common axis, and the other two support wheels are rotatably mounted about a first common axis.
17. A conveyor device according to claim 16, wherein the conveyor device is mounted rotatably about a common axis. 18. The rail means has a straight side portion and a curved end, the support surface along the side portion having a straight cross-section, and the support surface along the end portion having a curved end. 17. A conveyor device according to claim 16, having a cross section. 19. The conveyor device according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of trays are connected to the chain below the carrier and above the chain. 20. The conveyor apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a 7-inch baking dish guide removably attached to said tray and shaped to extend above said carrier. 21. The conveyor system of claim 19, wherein said tray includes rigid plates overlapping each other along a long sleeve of the conveyor chain, the overramp portions being vertically spaced from each other. 22. Each tray has a stepped end that overlaps the adjacent end of the next tray.
The conveyor device described in item 0. 23. a conveyor chain comprising: a rail means; a plurality of interconnected links mounted on said rail means for running; a conveyor chain comprising a plurality of cars mounted on said rail means; a plurality of connecting arms extending upwardly from at least some of the connecting arms; a plurality of product carriers attached to said connecting arms and defining product support surfaces for carrying products to be conveyed; and for capturing fallen objects from the products. a plurality of trays disposed below the product support surface, the trays comprising a plurality of rigid plates fixed to the conveyor chain y, the plates being between the conveyor chain and the product support surface; The plates are arranged in a superior relationship to the conveyor chain, and the plates are stepped so that at least one end of each of the plates can be separated vertically in an overlapping relationship with the instant connection end of the following plate. A conveyor device characterized by being formed into a shape. 24. An enclosure surrounding a baking chamber and a conveyor device movably disposed within the baking chamber;
The conveyor apparatus comprises: a rail means extending along a helical path to define a straight side portion and a curved end; and a conveyor chain attached to the rail means. , a plurality of product carriers, and, the rail means defining a first pair and a second pair of support surfaces, the support surfaces having a straight cross-section along the lateral portions. and has a cross section curved along the curved portion, and the conveyor chain has a plurality of links and a 90-degree angle with respect to each other.
A plurality of connecting members connected to the front and rear pairs of links by pivots positioned at an angle of and the first pair and the second pair.
The pairs of support wheels are respectively arranged to engage the support surfaces of the first pair and the second pair to form an interface with the support surfaces, the two interfaces of each pair being in contact with each other. forming a 90° interior angle, the wheels engaging the support surface on the outside of the interior angle, and the plurality of product carriers being connected to and above the links; Baking oven, characterized in that they are spaced apart and the chains form the only means for supporting the carriers. 25. A conveyor for conveying containers, comprising a chain fully equipped with a plurality of supporting wheels that engage with a guide rail, and a plurality of containers that are attached to the chain at a distance above the chain and have an opening in the center. a support carrier; a plurality of trays carried on the chain, the trays being positioned below the container carrying surface formed by the gear nower to intercept particles falling from the product loaded in the container; a container guide that is removably attached to the tray, projects upward from the container support surface, and fits into the recess of the container to limit lateral movement of the container; A conveyor that can be warped.