US2487355A - Conveyer - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 8, 1949 w. MCNAMARA ET Al. 2,487,355

CONVEYER Original Filed Feb. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheetl l .INVENToRs Wllham' LMCNamoro. BY Fredzrlck Z. Fouse.

Arro/aNEYs NOV. 8, 1949 w. L.. MC'NAMARA ET AL 2,437,355

CONVEYER Original Filed Feb. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Frzdzrick Z. Fous l @Marl WM@ Arron/ve Ys- Patented Nov. 8, 1949 CONVEYER William L. McNamara and Frederick Z. Fouse, Lancaster, Ohio, assignors to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application February 14, 1945, Serial N o. 577,811. Divided and this application February 8, 1946, Serial No. 646,287

11 Claims. (Cl. 49-58) Our present invention relates to gl'azers and more particularly to conveyers for moving or transporting various articles to, through, and away from a glazer, 'or into and out of association with a battery of gas burners, or other heat emitting devices, whi-ch may be arranged on one or both sides of the path of travel of the conveyer and articles. The present application is a division of our copending application 'Serial No. 577,811 iiled February 14, 1945.

One -of the objects of the present invention is to provide, in connection with a glazer, ian improved conveyer which is preferably driven at a constant rate of speed, and which is capable of traveling :for a predetermined distance in a single iile until it approaches a battery of burners in the glazer, whereupon it travels in a path between the burners at a reduced rate of speed and in double iile relationship, again assuming a single iile relationship after emerging from the space between the battery of burners.

VAnother object of our invention is to provide an improved glazer or furnace conveyer having an endless conveyer chain provided with spaced article supporting means which latter are capable of being rotated or revolved a1; various speeds during a portion `of the travel of said conveyer chain, particularly `while it is moving through the Zone in which the glazer burners are located.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved endless conveyer of the foregoing character which is adapted particularly for use in connection with a glazer for glassware, ceramics, et cetera; it being an important object of the invention when used in this connection, to cause the conveyer chain and its article supporting means to assume a double le relationship and travel at a reduced rate of speed when in said double lile, whereby to obtain a maximum amount of heat energy in a minimum length of travel through a battery or series of opposed burners for glazing purposes.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved `conveyer such as that mentioned above for use in connection with a glazing apan improved glazer structure for glassware, ceramics, or the like, which includes an endless conveyer for carrying the articles to be glazed between a pair of opposed relatively short batteries` of gas burners, in which the endless conveyer is provided with a plurality of spaced article supporting means and in which the conveyer and its article supporting means travel in single iile throughout the major portion of their travel and in double i'lle in staggered relationship through that portion of their travel which is located between the opposed pair of batteries of burners, the speed of travel being greatly reduced while said conveyer and its :article supporting means are passing between said batteries of burners.

It is another object of our invention to :provide improved means for rotating the article supporting means of the conveyer chain which is independent of the driving means for the conveyer chain and which is capable of rotating or revolving the article supporting means -at variable speeds and in different directions.

Generally speaking, the present invention reliates Ito an improved conveyer of the character above mentioned in which the conveyer comprises a framework carrying a trackway or guideway through which an endless conveyer chain travels, said guideway throughout a porin which the endless chain and its supporting means will again shift into single file relationship and continue its travel through the guideway. The conveyer structure includes, merely by way of example, a driving sprocket or sprocket paratus whereby to obtain a maximum amount of heat from :a minimum number yof gas burners to effect a very substantial saving of fuel gas; it being another object of the invention to effect the crowding together of a number of yanticles carried by the conveyer chain into 1a relatively...l

short space and to cause said articles to be rotated so :as to expose rall sides thereof directly to the gas fiames of the glazer unit.

wheel and a driven sprocket or sprocket wheel with which the endless conveyer chainis in operative engagement, the driving sprocket having applied thereto .a source of power which operates at ia constant speed lfor driving the conveyer chain. When the conveyer chain shifts from its single file relationship into its double f mately half speed as compared to its speed of travel when in single iile.

Thus, the conveyer chain and its article supporting means move Iat Another object of our invention is to provide y half speed when in double file relationship.

When and if desired, auxiliary or booster means may be provided for assisting in the movement or travel of the conveyer chain when in its double file relationship. Such auxiliary means is preferably driven by the constant speed power means applied to the driving sprocket.

When, as now, it is desirable to employ our improved conveyer in connection with a glaz`er, means is provided for effecting the rotatio'nrf the article supporting means of the conveyer chain while said chain and means are traveling in double file relationship. The mear'i's'fdnr'otating the article supporting members is preferably driven by a source of power which is independent of the power driving means lfor the conveyer chain and is preferably in thefrm of a variable speed reversible electric motor which is suitably and drivingly connected to Vsuitable means which contact and revolve the article suplporting -means or members. Whenl the appairatusis used in connection with a'glazerj rela- 'tively short batteries ofgasburners are disposed at oppositejsides of the `trackway or gudeway through which the conveyer chain and its l'article -supporting means are caused to travel in double --le relationship. It will Ibe appreciated that .by `the doubling-up of the conveyer chain and'its `article supporting means, articles carried thereby will-be in relatively close relationship so that'all of 'the heat energy emitted "by the batteriesnof gas burners will impinge directly upon the articles withver;7 little, if any, loss of heat. By automatically slowing down Vthe speed of travel of the conveyer, chain when in 'its d ouble file relationship it will be understood that the desired glazing operation can be 'performedby means of cnsiderably shorter gas burner vbatteries than was heretofore possible with conventional types of glazers.

The-improved glazer or furnace conveyr -ap- -paratus of our invention is also provided with suitable means for forcing'lubricant to the conveyer chain to reduce friction and wear Vofthe parts.

Theforegoing and other objects 'of 'our A,invention willappear from Vthe -following description and appended claims when considered iii-connection with the accompanying drawings forming `a part Vof this specification Vwherein Vlike reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said` drawings:

Fig. 41 is atop plan view, "partly in section and partly broken away for clarity, of an apparatus embodying our invention,-said apparatusbeing particularly a glazer.

-Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line'Z-Z ofFig. '1, locking in the direction of the arrows.

-Fig.3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse 'sec- `tional view, partly in elevation, taken *substan- Ytiallyalong the line 3-3 of Fig. l, looking irrt-he A"direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4is a diagrammatic view, inperspective, -illustrating the driving 'means for the endless `conveyer chain of the apparatus shown in Figs. '1,12 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary'top plan viewf'onan "enlarged scale, illustrating-a portion of the -trackvrway or guideway of the apparatus of our zinven- Ition-and indicating, diagrammatically, 'thefshift- -ing or conversion of the Yconveyer chain and-its rarticle supporting means from itsfsingle lefrelationship into its double file staggeredr relationship and also indicating the reduction in the 5 articles in .position upon the article supporting vmeans ofthe coveyer chain and indicating the fact that said articles may be rotated while in double le relationship.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is "not limited in its application to the details of fcfirist'ructicn and Aarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of `-being practiced or carried out in various ways.

AIt is'to'be understood also that the phraseology Vand.te'rrn'iriol'o'gy employed herein is for the purfpcsebffdescription and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention herein goclaimed beyond the requirements of the .prior Referring -now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. lato 4, inclusive, thereof, there is shown in these gures a glazer for glazing glass- 535 ware, ceramics, or the like, embodying the present invention. The vapparatus of these figures comprises asupporting base 40 upon which uprights `4l are vpositioned. The uprights 4l, as shown, support a frame structure above the base 40. This frame structure is shown, merely by way of example, as Va horizontal plate or table 42. The Iplate or table 42 is 'provided with a trackway or guideway having vnarrow portions 43 and a ,widenedportion'M which latter merges with and frms a continuation of the narrow portions 43.

It willfbe noted, see'vparticularly Fig. 1, that the widened portion l44 of the guideway is located in thefar side ofthe platform or table 42 and represents a minor portion of the entire trackway or guideway.

-An endless conveyer "chain, shown as a whole at 455,;is associated with' thegudeway portions 43 f'and 44. Thisjsenudless conveyer chain comprises innerpairs of link inembers 46 and cooperating outer pairs f'link'members 41, the two cooperating fp airs of link members being maintained in spaced relationship -bythe usual spacer sleeves 48. Adjacentpairs of the inner and outer link members are pivotally connected together by link 50 p pins 4E! which extend upwardly and downwardly thrugh'and beyond thempairs of links to provide ,-upper pin. extensions 49a, and lower pin extensions 49h. Rotatably mounted upon each of the pin extensions 49a is a flanged roller 5U.

fMounted Yupon the upper end of the extension 49a abovethe roller is a substantially cup-like article support or member 5I. The member 5l iis preferably keyed or splined to the extension 49er-'sofas to'be rotatable therewith.

As-clearlyseenfin Figs, 2 and 3, the flanged rollers 50 t within andare adapted to travel in the narrow slots or guideway portions 43 and in the "wider guideway-portion 44. Thus, as the chain"isnoved,theflanged rollers 50 will travel :freely inthe guideway portions, carrying with them the articlesupporting means or members 5 I! A7Theilowe'rextensionf49b of the link pins carry collars '52 whicnare fixed thereto in 'any suitable manner and V-whi'chfserve to maintain the ad- `jacentlpairscf links-46=and 41 in assembled rela- "tionslnp As shown, theim'eans'for driving the endless *'cbnveyer chain45"cmp1s'es a driving sprocket 53 located adjacent one end of the apparatus and adriven sprocket 54 located adjacent the opposite end of `the apparatus. The sprocket 53 is ymounted upon an upright drive shaft 55 whose lower end is located in a supporting bearing or base member 56. The shaft 55 carries a worm gear 51 with which a worm 58 is in mesh, the worm 58 being mounted upon a drive shaft 58a, projecting from a reduction gear box 58h whose gears are driven by an electric motor 59, se Fig. 1. i

The driven sprocket 54 is mounted upon an upright supporting shaft 60 whose lower end is carried by a bearing support or base member 6I. The endless conveyer chain 45 may be adjusted and maintained taut by means of a suitable adjusting device shown at 62 in Fig. 2. It will be understood, that the driving and driven sprockets .are in mesh with the spacer sleeves 48 of the conveyer chain and that the chain is driven by the driving sprocket 53.

While the driving means just described is usually sufcient for driving a conveyer chain of vusual or normal length and weight, it may prove desirable to provide some auxiliary means for assisting in the driving of the conveyer chain where said chain is of relatively heavy structure and of considerable length. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there isprovided a pair of auxiliary driving sprockets 63. These sprockets 63 are mounted upon vertically disposed shafts 64 which carry at their lower ends bevel gears 65. These bevel gears are in mesh with bevel gears 66 mounted upon a transversely extending shaft 61, which shaft carries at a point intermediate its ends a spiral gear 68. This gear is in mesh with a similar spiral gear 69 mounted upon a longitudinally extending shaft 10 whose opposite end carries a similar spiral gear 1I which is in mesh with another spiral gear 12 carried by the transversely extending drive shaft 58a from the gear reduction mechanism 58h. Thus, as the driving sprocket 53 is driven by the electric motor and gear reduction assembly, the

auxiliary or booster sprockets 63 will likewise be driven. It will be understood that the sprockets 63 engage the spacer sleeves 48 of the endless chain assembly to assist in the movement of said chain. As shown, the pair of auxiliary driving sprockets 63 is located adjacent the entrance or throat portion of the enlarged or wider slot or guideway portion 44. As seen in Fig. 1, as the links of the endless chain and their article carrying or supporting means I shift from their single le relationship in which condition they travel through the guideway portion 43 into their double iile and staggered relationship within the widened guideway portion 44, the sprockets 63 at opposite sides of said portion 44 engage the successive spacer sleeves 48 of the chain and move them forwardly through the slot portion 44. It will be understood that the travel or movement of the conveyer chain and article supporting means when in double file relationship within the guideway portion 44, is considerably slower than the speed of movement of said members when in single file relationship while traveling in the guideway portions 43. In fact, .the

chain travels in its double le relationship at approximately half the speed of its travel when in single le relationship. This is due to the fact that as the chain links are continuously pushed into the widened portion 44 of the guideway, they veer off the original line of travel that they followed while in the narrow portion 43 of the guideway, and fold first to one side and then.

to -thef other of the widened portion, thereby traveling through a greater distance than when they were moving in the narrow portion. The delay in the progressive Vmovement of the folding links of the chain not only slows the progressive movement of such links but also slows the progressive movement of all thepreviously foldedV links which are being pushed through the `widened portion. At the exit end of the widened portion 44, as the links are continuously pushed from such widened portion, they unfold rst from one side and then from the other of such portion and move into single le, which action requires the same amount of time as the original folding action and further delays progressive movement of all the folded links still in the widened portion, That the speed of movement of the chain through the widened portion 44 of the guideway is substantially one-half the speed of its movement through the narrow portion 43 is evident from Figure 1 which shows that there are substantially twice the number of article-supporting members 5| in the widened portion of the guideway as in the same length of the narrow portion of the guideway.

If it is desirable to rotate or revolve the article supporting means 5I when said means is traveling in double file staggered relationship within the guideway portion 44, suitable means may be provided for this purpose. Merely by way of illustration, and with particular reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the lower extensions 492; of the link pins carry sprockets 13. Mounted upon a platform or support 14 carried by the base 40 are two pairs of upright shafts 15, these being spaced transversely and longitudinally of thesupport 14. Each of the shafts carries at its upper end a sprocket 16 and associated with each pair of these sprockets and extending longitudinally of the frame `is a sprocket chain 11. One of the upright shafts 15 is provided with a gear 18 which is in mesh with a driving gear 19 carried by the drive shaft of a gear reducing mechanism 80, said gear reducer being preferably driven by a variable speed reversible electric motor 8|. The two upright shafts 15 at the right side of Figs. 1 and 2 are drivingly connected together by bevelled gearing 82 and an interconnecting shaft 83, Fig. 1. Thus, when the electric motor 8l is driven, all of the shafts 15 will be rotated and will in turn drive the sprockets 16 and the two endless sprocket chains 11. When the elements of the endless chain 45 move through the widened guideway portion 44, the sprockets 13 carried by the shaft extensions 49b will come in contact with the endless sprocket chains 11 and the article supporting members 5I will be rotated during their travel in double le relationship through the slot portion 44. Since the electric motor 8l is of the variable speed reversible type, the speed of rotation, as well as the direction of rotation of the article supports may be varied and controlled at will.

It will be seen that the widened portion 44 of the guideway represents a minor portion of the whole guideway and that at its opposite ends it merges with the narrow guideway portions 43.

Located on opposite sides of and extending substantially throughout the length of the widened guideway portion 44, is a battery of gas burners 84, each of which has a series of nozzles 85 (Fig. 1). The gas burners are in Opposed lrelationship and discharge gas flames directly v onto the surfaces of articles 86 traveling ata low rate of speed, in double file relationship and Tbing'revoivedrwhi-lesojtravlingbetween th'ebat "terres *of burners. Thus, v-'by reason of the grouped-:together --double ffile Lof articles, any iiarnes vvhichjpass*through'spac'es between advjacentsarticles will impinge against the surfaces f "of theV articles-inthe oppositerow orle. AIn this fmann'er there iis i practically no waste 'or -lossof 'rth'e-gas ames'by virtue f which a 'material savingrin 'fuel 4costs 'isachieved The action f thegas flames upon the Vlarticles iis illustrated clearlybyithearrowsDYin Figf. nBy virtue'of our invention, the glazing operation Ican vloe prefformed satisfactorily by aggreatly reducednumliber *of* burner nozzlesand vhence Yshorter batteries io'f burners vthan -was heretofore possible with conventional glazers whereinlong stretches of burners-'were used `and'whereinthe articles were passe'd betweenfthe burners iin single vrile spaced relationship Much fuel was wasted vsince a -gooily proportion of the 'flames f passed f through #the-spaces between the varticles withoutfcontactv*ing{those-articles and was lost. Moreover, with purimpr'oved structure, -a more even 'and uni- 'form temperatureA can be and is maintained,

The shifting of the elements of the'conveyer -cha'in andl of the articles-86 from single'le rela- "tions'hip inthe-guideway portions 43 to the double L`fiilerelationship inthe-guideway portion 44, isthe Nsanie''as lis'villustrated in detail in Fig. 5 of the AA"drawings, wherein the distancebetween the cen- "ter lines offthe link-pins 149 and the article sup- A"ports "IWhen -the articles are traveling in the marrowislotf-portions 43, isindicated at A,where "as the 'centerilinespacing lengthwise of the con- *veyer when the 'article supportingmeans are in `grouped-'together `and double file relationshipin :fthe-enlarged portionV 44ofthe guideway, is shown Y'atdS -in'th'is figure. Moreover, -theaction ofthe C"parts and their gradual -decrease -in -speed -of travel'is the' same in 1Fig. 1 asis indicatedbythe `imaginary center lines shown =at Cin vr`liigf5.

As inour above-mentioned copendingapplicaition, it'fisrdesirable in the Vpresent invention-'to provide lubricant vunder pressure to the endless `vconveyor-chain. For-th'is purpose, lubricant'sup- -fplying means, shown as a whole at 581 'may be employed Such means, vas shown, comprises -a `ltrough-like portion, a reservoir, means for withdrawing lubricant'from the reservoir and'forcing itiontofthe -moving parts-together with splash boards orguards on opposite sides-of -the narrow guideway-portion '43 to conne thelubricant toa restricted area.

When the felectric motor is operated "to drive the conveyer-chain 45, the' drive willbe 4vthrough :the y"driving sprocket '5'3 directly tothe chain.

fflfhisf'willftend to move ithe chain'and its article 4supporting cmeans Yor 'members V'5l in va single 'file relationship -through the narrow portion -4-3 of thefguideway' toward the entrance tothe widened -portion -44of the guideway'or trac-kway. 'When 1Etraveling in-single iile relationship the centersof the article supportingA members 5| will be main- -ftained in-theespaced'relation as indicatedat A in *Fig-"5. however, the L'chain and'its article supporting means are vpushed bythe sprocket'53 into the throat or opening of the* guideway 'por- 'tion-`44,'the llinks of the chain `and4 their article fsupports *will Abe "shifted into` -zigl zag relationship l`as V`clearly seen in Fig. 5 until'they-assume the 'double 'file relationship vin which they` are' shown,

fai-ticle*supporting 'members will be -1noved to- 'f8 `gelslrerv so 'as -to occupylpositions which "are ap- -proximately one-half the distance apartlength- *Wise ofthe-*widened trackway portion 44, -asindicated at vB-in Fig. 5, Yas when in their previous positions as shown at A.

As shown, the trackway portion 44 is approxi- {matelytwice'the -width of the trackway portion Vw43,'-thus permitting the double le relationship of 'thechain and its article supporting means. It is to be understood that while the driving sprocket 53 is driven at a constant rate of speed, thespeed of travel of the grouped-together chain links 'and article supporting members within the widened portion 44 of the guideway, will be reduced 'to approximately one-half the speed of travel of these members while they are in their single le relationship and traversing the narrow `portion v43 Vof the guideway. When the members of the'chain and their article supporting means reach the exit end of the slot portion l44 atthe right of Fig. l, the links again shift gradually into their single le relationship with the "centers-of the article supports being again spaced, `as at A, before moving into contact with the driven sprocket 54.

Thus vit will be seen that 'by driving the conveyer chain 45 at a constant speed by the electric motor, said chain and its article supporting -means will travel at a predetermined rate of speed throughout the narrow portions 43 of the guideway and at a predetermined lower rate of speed, approximately half speed while traveling Vlin their double le staggered relationship through the widened portion 44 of the guideway.

As stated above, the distance between the center lines of the link pins and article supports Awhen the chain is in single le relationship in the 'narrow slot portions 43 is indicated at A in the enlarged scale View of Fig. 5, whereas the center -line spacing lengthwise of the conveyer when the 'chain and its article supporting means are in grouped-together and double le relationship in the enlarged portion 44 of the guideway, is shown at B in this figure. The imaginary center lines 45rshown at C in thisgure serve to indicate the 'shifting movement of the chain links and article supporting means from their single file relationship into their double file relationship, these lines C also being intended to indicate the slowing down of the movement or travelof the chain as it approaches -the center line distances indicated A at B while traveling in the enlarged portion i4 of the guideway or track.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings there is shown the partsV illustrated in Fig. 5 with the article supporting means or members having articles 86 Ncarried thereby. In the event the conveyer is being used'in conjunction with heat treatment of the `articles '85 it will be noted, as indicated by the series of arrows D, lthat the heat waves are concentrated on the surfaces of the double le articles and that any heat which'might have a tendency to pass through the space between an adjacent vpair of articles arranged lengthwise of 'tionally, if the'apparatus were in the form of a 'glazenwith a battery of gas burners disposed on "eachsideof the guidewayportion 44 (said burners not; being shown in Fig. 6r any flames from 9 said batteries of burners which happen to pass through spaces between adjacent pairs of articles would contact articles located behind said pairs, thus effecting a substantial saving in fuel. It will be understood that, if desired, the articles 86 may be rotated as indicated by the arrows E.

Having thus Vdescribed our invention, what We claim as new is: Y

1. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a supporting frame including a horizontal plate, a guideway formed in said plate, said guideway having a narrow portion and having a widened portion which merges with and forms a continuation of the narrow portion, an endless conveyer associated with said guideway, said conveyer comprising a chain composed of a plurality of links pivoted together by vertically disposed pivot pins which carry anti-friction sleeves that iit within and engage said guideway, said chain passing around horizontally disposed sprockets associated with said plate and one of which is a driving sprocket, said widened portion of said guideway being disposed between said sprockets, opposed glazing burners mounted above said plate on opposite sides of the widened portion |of the guideway, and article-supporting members disposed on the upper ends of said pivot pins above said plate substantially at the same level as the burners, the total extended length of the portion of the chain between said sprockets and which extends through the widened portion of the guideway being greater than the distance between said sprockets so that as the chain is moved into Isaid widened portion the links will fold and articles supported on said article-supporting members will change from single file relationship to double file relationship so that while the articles are along the widened portion of the guideway each of the glazing burners will direct heat onto the adjacent row or articles and through such articles onto the articles of the other row.

2. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a 'supporting frame including a horizontal plate, a guideway formed in said plate, said guideway having a narrow portion and having a widened portion which merges with and forms a continuation of the narrow portion, an endless conveyer associated with said guideway, said conveyer comprising a chain composed of a plurality of links pivoted together by vertically disposed pivot pins, said chain passing around horizontally disposed sprockets associated with said plate and one of which is a driving sprocket, said widened portion of said guideway being disposed between said sprockets, a glazing unit mounted above said plate along the widened portion of the guideway, and article-supporting members disposed on the upper ends of said pivot pins above said plate substantially at the level of the glazing unit, the total extended length of the portion of the chain between said sprockets and which extends through the widened portion of the guideway being greater than the distance between said sprockets so that as the chain is moved into said widened portion the links will fold and the articles supported by said articlesupporting members will change from single file relationship to double file staggered relationship so that while the articles are in the widened portion of the guideway the glazing unit will direct heat onto the adjacent row of articles and through such articles onto the articles of the Other I'oW.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the driving sprocket is disposed ahead of the widened portion of the guideway so as to push the links of the chain into said widened portion and including additional means l'for forcing the chain through the widened portion of the guideway, said additional means including driven sprockets located just inside the mouth of said widened portion and engaging the folded chain on opposite sides thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein lubricating means is provided for said chain and comprises a trough for containing the lubricant disposed beneath said horizontal plate and beneath the narrow portion of said guideway, a nozzle disposed above said plate and. above said trough for spraying the lubricant on the chain lfrom whence it will drop into the trough, and a pump for withdrawing the lubricant from the trough and forcing it into said nozzle.

5. A glazer according to claim 2 including means associated with the lower ends oi said pins and with the widened portion of said guideway for rotating said pins and thereby rotating the artiteles while they are moved along said glazing unl 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the means for rotating the pins comprises a sprocket keyed on the lower end of each pin, a chain disposed at the level of said sprockets and engaging said sprockets as they are moved past said chain, said chain extending along the widened portion of the guideway and being positively driven.

' 7. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a supporting frame, a guideway carried by said frame, said guideway having a narrow portion and having a widened portion which merges with and forms a continuation of the narrow portion, an endless conveyer associated with said guideway, said conveyer comprising a chain composed of a plurality oi links pivoted together for relative movement, guide means associated with said chain and engaging said guideway, said chain passing around sprockets associated with said guideway and one of which is a driving sprocket, said widened portion of said guideway being disposed between said sprockets, a glazing unit disposed along the widened portion of the guideway, and article-supporting members carried by said ,chain at spaced intervals, the total extended length of the portion of the chain between said sprockets and which extends along said widened portion of the guideway being greater than the distance between said sprockets so that as lthe chain is moved into said widened portion the links will Vfold and the articles will change from single le relationship to a double lile staggered relationship so that while the articles supported by said article-supporting members are associated with the widened portion of the guideway the glazing unit will direct heat onto the adjacent row of articles and through such 'articles onto the articles of the other row.

8. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a supporting frame, a guideway carried by the frame, said guideway including a widened portion and narrow portions leading to and from said widened portion and merging therewith, an endless conveyer associated with said guideway, said conveyer comprising a chain composed of a plurality of links pivoted together for relative movement, guide means associated with said chain and engaging said guideway, said chain passing around sprockets associated with said guideway, one of said sprockets being a driving sprocket and engaging said chain ahead of said the chain into the-guideway, a glazing unit dis-- posed along the widened portion ofv the guideway, and article-supporting members carried by said chain at spaced intervals, the total extended length of the portion of the chain between said sprockets and which extends along said widened portion of the guideway being greater than the distance between said sprockets so that as the chain is pushed into said widened portion the links will fold against each other and the articles supported on said article-supporting members will change from a single i'ile relationship to a double le staggered relationship so that while the articles are associated with the widened portion of the guideway the glazing unit will direct heat onto the adjacent row of articles and through such articles onto the articles of the other row, the folded links being unfolded as they are pushed from the exit end of the widened portion of the guideway into the narrow portion of the guideway which leads therefrom.

9. A glazer according to claim 8 including means for rotating the article-supporting members while they move past said glazing unit.

10. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a supporting frame including a plate, a guideway formed in said plate, said guideway having a narrow portion and having a widened portion which merges with and forms a continuation oi the narrow portion, an endless conveyer associated with said guideway, said conveyer comprising a chain composed of a plurality of links pivoted together by' pivot pins, said chain passing around sprocketsv associated with said plate and mounted for rotation about axes disposed substantially at right angles thereto, one of said sprockets being a driving sprocket, said widened portion of said guideway being disposed between said sprockets, a glazing unit mounted substantially parallel to said plate along the widenedportion of the guideway, and article-supporting members disposed on the ends of said pivot pins and spaced from said plate substantially at the plane of the glazing unit, the total extended length of the portion of the chain between said sprockets and which extends through the widened portion of the guideway being greater than the distance between said sprockets so that as the chainis moved into said widened portion. the-links will foldand the articlessupported-vby said article-supporting membersVV will change from single le relationshipfto double le staggered. relationship so'thatwhile theV articles` are in. thel widened portion of the guideway the-glazing unit will direct heat onto the adj acentrow ofarticlesand through such articles onto the articles of the other row.

11. A glazer for glazing glass articles or the like comprising asupporting frame, a guideway carried byf said frarnasaid guideway having a narrow portionand having a .widened portion which merges with. and formsV a. continuation of the narrow portion, a exible conveyer associated with saidV guideway, guide means associatedwith said conveyor and engaging said guideway, spaced memberswhich engage said conveyer and one of which is a drivingmember, said` widenedportion of said guideway being disposed between. said members,a glazing. unit disposed along the widened portion ofthe guideway, andarticle-supporting members carriedby saidconveyer at spaced intervals, the total extendedlength of. the portion of the conveyer betweensaid members and which extends alongsaid widened portion of the guideway being greater. than thadistancebetweensaid membersi so that. as the, conveyer. is moved into said widened portionitwill fold and the articles will change from` single, le relationship to a double file staggered relationshipl-sothat while the articles supported by said article-supporting members are associated with the widened portion of theguideway theglazing unitwilldirect heat onto.the1adjacentrow of. articles and through such articles onto the-articles of the other row.

WILLIAML..MCNAMARA. FREDERICK Z. FOU SE.

REFERENCES. CITED The? following references are of record in the le of thislpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS v Number Name Date 914,188 Robinson Mar. 2, 1909 1,557,368 Kershaw et al; Oct. 13, 1925 2,368,350 Ellison Jan. 30, 1945 2,393,521 Duncan etal Jan. 22, 1946 1,856,498 Miller May 3, 1932

Images