Dishwashing machines

Claim 1

In a dishwashing machine, continuous horizontal conveyor means movable in an orbital path, said conveyor means including a series of individual interconnected conveyor sections extending transversely of said orbital path, said conveyor sections presenting upper supporting surfaces in a single unobstructed horizontal plane whereby a rack or the like for receiving articles to be washed may be positioned anywhere along said conveyor means, said conveyor sections including means defining depressed supporting portions for receiving directly therein articles to be washed, each of said conveyor sections comprising a pair of parallel spaced-apart rods extending transversely of said orbital path, frame members rotatably mounting the ends of said rods, and a plurality of links disposed between said rods lengthwise of said orbital path and forming said means defining depressed supporting pOrtions, continuous horizontal inner and outer tracks, and rollers mounted on said rods at the inner and outer ends thereof for rolling engagement with said inner and outer tracks and including a continuous vertical inner track, rollers mounted on vertical axes on said frame members at the inner ends of said rods for rolling engagement with said vertical track, an endless sprocket chain having a horizontal upper run adjacent to and lengthwise of a portion of said inner track, means for effecting movement of said chain, and arm members connected to said conveyor sections and being sequentially engageable with said chain whereby to effect drive of said conveyor means.