Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Bucket
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-07
2002-10-29
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Bucket
C198S712000, C198S803140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06471042
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a transporting device for transporting food products to be subjected to a processing, comprising at least one advancing element for advancing carriers for the food products for processing fixed to the advancing element along a route extending through a processing space.
Such transporting devices are generally known. The advancing element herein provides not only the forward movement of the carriers but also guiding of the carriers. This entails an additional mechanical load on the advancing element, for instance due to a bending moment, whereby it is more susceptible to wear. High demands are therefore made of the advancing element, whereby the possible choices of material from which the advancing element is manufactured, the type of advancing element and the dimensioning of the advancing element are limited. Such limitations often conflict with other requirements set for such devices, for instance in respect of hygiene and corrosion resistance. The invention now has for its object to provide a solution to the above stated drawbacks.
This object is achieved by such a transporting device which is provided with guide means for guiding the carriers along at least a part of the route.
As a result of these measures the advancing element will be less heavily loaded, whereby it is possible to give the advancing element a light form and to make use for instance of stainless steel and/or lubrication-free chains instead of steel and/or lubricated chains. A greater structural freedom moreover results from the separation of functions.
According to a first preferred embodiment the advancing element is endless and the route is closed. It will be apparent that herewith a continuous movement can be realized with all the resulting advantages.
In some situations it is attractive to give the route a linear form. The advancing element is then adapted to transport the carriers alternatingly in opposing directions. This results therefore in discontinuous use.
According to another preferred embodiment the guide means are adapted to take the weight of the carriers.
The forces exerted on the advancing element are hereby further decreased.
According to yet another preferred embodiment the transport apparatus comprises secondary guide means for only guiding the advancing element.
This avoids lifting of the advancing element or a less favorable positioning of the carriers, in particular with co-operation between the guide means for the carriers, and the secondary guide means for the advancing element.
According to yet another embodiment the carriers are mounted rotatably on the advancing element. This provides the option of effecting regular changes in the position of the carriers in order to prevent burning phenomena in food products.
This is preferably achieved by adapting the guide means to determine the rotation position of each of the carriers subject to the position of the carrier.
This provides the option of determining the rotation position of the carriers subject to their position, thus enabling a constant process flow.
According to yet another preferred embodiment the route extends through at least a second processing space and the first and second processing spaces are connected by a tunnel, the length of which is at least as large as the maximum distance between the carriers in the direction of movement. According to this preferred embodiment the dimension of the tunnel in a plane transversely of the direction of movement is less than 1.5 times the dimension of the carriers, including possible products present on the carrier, in this direction.
This results in a good separation between the first and second processing spaces. This is important when different substances are being used in the first and second processing spaces and differing atmospheres prevail therein.
According to a structural embodiment the advancing element comprises at least one spring belt.
The use of a spring belt results in an attractive embodiment in respect of food products, since a spring belt requires no lubricants.
According to another embodiment the advancing means comprise at least one chain provided with hollow links, wherein each of the carriers is provided with a protruding part extending into a hollow link.
These measures result in free rotation of the carriers relative to the advancing means. The position of the carriers can herein be controlled independently of the advancing means.
According to yet another structural embodiment the carriers each comprise wire mesh on their underside and their sides extending transversely of the direction of movement.
The use of wire mesh, which is understood to mean a structure which is for a relatively greater part open whereby the carrier acquires the configuration of a basket, provides the option that the food product for processing present in the basket is easily approachable from as many sides as possible, for instance by liquids, vapours or gases, in the processing spaces. The good accessibility results in a shorter residence time in the relevant spaces and thus in a higher production speed. Another advantage of the use of a basket is that, particularly in the case of vulnerable food products, they are supported over a large part of their surface.
According to a preferred embodiment the sides extending parallel to the direction of movement comprise at least substantially closed walls.
This leads to a sturdy construction of the carrier with good potential for fixing to the advancing element.
According to yet another preferred embodiment the carriers are provided on their sides with guide elements for guiding of the carrier into a determined position by the guide supports. The guide elements can for instance be formed by guide edges arranged on the outside of the carriers.
As a consequence of this measure it is possible for the rotation position of the carrier to be determined subject to its position along the route. This provides the option for instance of allowing the carrier to variously assume different rotation positions during processing so that, depending thereon, different parts of the product present in the carrier are exposed to the processing devices.
According to another preferred embodiment the guide supports are displaceable for changing the position of the carriers.
The positions of the carrier can herewith be optimized, depending for instance on the process and/or the product.
The invention also relates to a carrier suitable for use in a transporting device as described above.
Use is preferably made for this purpose of a carrier comprising wire mesh arranged on its sides extending transversely of the direction of movement, herein the carrier is provided with guide elements. A guide edge represents a simple embodiment of such a guide element.
The use of wire mesh results in the forming of a basket with a high degree of access. It is important herein that the wire mesh be manufactured with a passage ratio greater than 65%.
The invention also relates to a carrier for food products, for instance as according to claims
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, comprising wire mesh for supporting the food products. In such carriers applied heretofore the accessibility of the product is limited by the contact surfaces existing between the wire mesh and the product. This can manifest itself in markings occurring on the product at that position. Such marking phenomena are now limited by making use of woven wire mesh. This advantage is not limited to a carrier as according to any of the claims
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.
The wire mesh is preferably manufactured from a material with a thermal conduction coefficient of a maximum of 0.25 W K
−1
m
−1
.
This latter embodiment is particularly important when the processing devices subject the food product for processing, and thereby also the carrier, to a temperature treatment. If this has to act for only a short time duration, it is possible that the basket will heat up quickly and, during the subsequent process taking place at a different temperature, the product is still exposed to the previous temperature, which will result in
Leenen Gerardus Frederikus Jozef
Van De Dungen Wilhelmus Johannes Everardus Maria
Sharma Rashmi
Townsend Engineering Company
Walsh Donald P.
LandOfFree
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