Bakery conveyor system

Claim 2

Bakery apparatus comprising: bakery processing units for performing operations on panned bakery products; first conveyor means including a traveling portion on which the products are received from one of the units; an intermediate conveyor system including a traveling portion for receiving and transferring products from said first conveyor means; additionaL conveyor means including a traveling portion for receiving the products from the intermediate system conveyor means and advancing them along the additional conveyor means; support means having a generally horizontally extending support surface for receiving said products; first means for transferring said products between one of said conveyor means and said surface; and second means for transferring said products between said surface and one of said processing units.

Claim 3

Bakery apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support surface extends alongside either said first conveyor means, and said first transfer means pushes said products in a path normal thereto.

Claim 4

Bakery apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including: means for driving said first transfer means; sensing means positioned to be actuated when said products are moved to a predesignated position on said first conveyor means; and first means responsive to said sensing means for disabling said means for driving said first transfer means.

Claim 5

Bakery apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first means responsive to said sensing means is connected in circuit with said means for driving said first transfer means.

Claim 6

Bakery apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first means responsive to said sensing means includes actuating contacts connected in series circuit relation with said means for driving said first transfer means, said actuating contacts and said means for driving said first transfer means being adapted to be connected across a source of electrical power.

Claim 7

Bakery apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including first drive control means for causing driving of said traveling portion of said first conveyor means; and second means responsive to said sensing means for disabling said first drive control means.

Claim 8

Bakery apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second means responsive to said sensing means includes second switch contacts connected in series circuit relation with said first drive control means, said second switch contacts and said first drive control means being adapted to be connected across said source of electrical power.

Claim 9

In a bakery system including proofer means, oven means, and conveying apparatus for conveying proofed dough in pans between said proofer and oven means; first, second and third conveyor means in front to rear relation; first, second, and third drive control means associated with said first, second, and third conveyor means, respectively, and operative in response to movement of said pans to a predesignated position on said first, second, and third conveyor means respectively, the improvement comprising: article support means extending between either said proofer means or said oven means and one of said conveyor means; means mounting said support means at substantially the level of said one conveyor means; generally horizontally extending first transfer means disposed adjacent said one conveyor means and traveling in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said one conveyor means; said first transfer means moving said pans between said one conveyor means and said article support means; and second transfer means for transferring said pans between said article support means and either of said oven means or said proofer means.

Claim 10

In a bakery system including proofer means, oven means, and conveying apparatus for conveying proofed dough in pans between said proofer and oven means; first, second and third conveyor means in front to rear relation; first, second, and third drive control means associated with said first, second, and third conveyor means, respectively, and operative in response to movement of said pans to a predesignated position on said first, second, and third conveyor means respectively, the improvement comprising: article support means extending between either said proofer means or said oven means and one of said conveyor means; means mounting said support means at substantially the level of said one conveyor means; generally horizontally extending first transfer means disposed adjacent said one conveyor means and traveling in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said one conveyor means; said first transfer means moving said pans between said one conveyor means and said article support means; and second transfer means for transferring said pans between said article support means and either of said oven means or said proofer means.

Claim 11

A bakery system as set forth in claim 8 including means for driving said second transfer means; sensing means responsive to the position of said pans between said proofer and oven means; and means responsive to said sensing means for disabling said means for driving said second transfer means.

Claim 12

Bakery apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second transfer means comprises unloading pusher means mounted in said proofer means.

Claim 13

A bakery system; bakery processing units for performing operations on panned products, said system comprising: electrical circuit means including a power source; a first coNveyor means including a portion adjacent one of the units and on which a plurality of successive panned products are received from the said unit; said first conveyor means including a traveling portion; a first circuit line in said circuit means having means for causing driving of said traveling portion for transferring products; second conveyor means including a traveling portion for transferring panned products; a second circuit line in said circuit means having means for causing driving of said traveling portion included with said second conveyor means; third conveyor means including a portion extending toward the second bakery processing unit, said third conveyor means including a traveling portion for transferring panned products; a third circuit line in said circuit means having means for causing driving of said traveling portion included with said third endless conveyor means; first sensing means positioned to be actuated when panned products are moved to a predesignated position on said third conveyor means for disabling the travel of said traveling portion included with the third conveyor means; second sensing means positioned to be actuated when panned products are moved to a predesignated position on said second conveyor means and connected in said circuit means for disabling the travel of said traveling portion included with the second conveyor means when the traveling portion included with said third conveyor means is disabled; third sensing means connected to disable the means causing driving of said traveling portion included with said first conveyor means when the traveling portion included with the second conveyor means is disabled; one of said bakery processing units including article support means adjacent one end thereof at substantially the level of one of said conveyors means for receiving said products; first product pusher means associated with said article support means for moving said products between said one conveyor means and said article support means; and second product pusher means for moving said products between said article support means and said one of said bakery processing units.

Claim 14

A bakery system; bakery processing units for performing operations on panned products, said system comprising: electrical circuit means including a power source; a first coNveyor means including a portion adjacent one of the units and on which a plurality of successive panned products are received from the said unit; said first conveyor means including a traveling portion; a first circuit line in said circuit means having means for causing driving of said traveling portion for transferring products; second conveyor means including a traveling portion for transferring panned products; a second circuit line in said circuit means having means for causing driving of said traveling portion included with said second conveyor means; third conveyor means including a portion extending toward the second bakery processing unit, said third conveyor means including a traveling portion for transferring panned products; a third circuit line in said circuit means having means for causing driving of said traveling portion included with said third endless conveyor means; first sensing means positioned to be actuated when panned products are moved to a predesignated position on said third conveyor means for disabling the travel of said traveling portion included with the third conveyor means; second sensing means positioned to be actuated when panned products are moved to a predesignated position on said second conveyor means and connected in said circuit means for disabling the travel of said traveling portion included with the second conveyor means when the traveling portion included with said third conveyor means is disabled; third sensing means connected to disable the means causing driving of said traveling portion included with said first conveyor means when the traveling portion included with the second conveyor means is disabled; one of said bakery processing units including article support means adjacent one end thereof at substantially the level of one of said conveyors means for receiving said products; first product pusher means associated with said article support means for moving said products between said one conveyor means and said article support means; and second product pusher means for moving said products between said article support means and said one of said bakery processing units.

Claim 15

A bakery system as set forth in claim 11 including: means for driving said first pusher means; and means responsive to said third sensing means for disabling said means for driving said first pusher means.