US4231470A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system
Assignee: National Drying Machinery Co
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Filing: 1977-11-21
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Granted: 1980-11-04
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Expires: 1997-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system of the type which may be utilized with an apparatus comprising a plurality of treatment areas such as an oven system containing a proofer for conditioning dough and a baking oven downstream of the proofer for baking the conditioned dough. A plurality of carrying pans are attached to a conveyor that is continuously directed through the proofer and baking oven in a serpentine path. The residence time for a pan within either the proofer or the baking oven can be varied by a conveyor length adjustment system that functions to provide changes in length of the conveyor in the proofer and in the baking oven. The conveyor system comprises movable sprocket assemblies positioned within the proofer and within the oven. The sprocket assemblies are movable in equal and opposite directions for respective length adjustment of the conveyor within the proofer and the oven.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph C. Parkes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/51; B65G47/5104; B65G47/5109; B65G47/5113; B65G47/5118; B65G47/5122; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/12; B65G1/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
In a conveyor system of the type suitable to transport a plurality of containers through a first environmental area and a second environmental area wherein the conveyor follows a first path about a first plurality of upper sprockets and a first plurality of lower sprockets to define a first conveyor length within the first area and wherein the conveyor follows a second path about a second plurality of upper sprockets and a second plurality of lower sprockets to define a second conveyor length within the second area, the improvement comprising a first conveyor length adjustment means for changing the length of the conveyor in the first area, said first conveyor length adjustment means including first means to move some but not all of said first plurality of lower sprockets, and second length adjustment means including second means to move some but not all of said second plurality of lower sprockets for providing a corresponding, but opposed conveyor length change in the second area, said first conveyor length adjustment means is being associated with the movable ones of said first plurality of lower sprockets for moving them to either increase or decrease the vertical spacing between sprockets in the first area, within preselected limits, and the second conveyor length adjusting means being associated with the movable ones of said second plurality of lower sprockets for moving them to either increase or decrease the vertical spacing between the sprockets in the second area for providing a corresponding, but opposite, increase or decrease in the vertical spacing between sprockets in the second area, whereby, for a given conveyor speed, the ratio of time of a container within the first area to the time of the container within the seccond area can be varied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
In a conveyor system of the type suitable to transport a plurality of containers through a first environmental area and a second environmental area wherein the conveyor follows a first path about a first plurality of upper sprockets and a first plurality of lower sprockets to define a first conveyor length within the first area and wherein the conveyor follows a second path about a second plurality of upper sprockets and a second plurality of lower sprockets to define a second conveyor length within the second area, the improvement comprising a first conveyor length adjustment means for changing the length of the conveyor in the first area, said first conveyor length adjustment means including first means to move some but not all of said first plurality of lower sprockets, and second length adjustment means including second means to move some but not all of said second plurality of lower sprockets for providing a corresponding, but opposed conveyor length change in the second area, said first conveyor length adjustment means is being associated with the movable ones of said first plurality of lower sprockets for moving them to either increase or decrease the vertical spacing between sprockets in the first area, within preselected limits, and the second conveyor length adjusting means being associated with the movable ones of said second plurality of lower sprockets for moving them to either increase or decrease the vertical spacing between the sprockets in the second area for providing a corresponding, but opposite, increase or decrease in the vertical spacing between sprockets in the second area, whereby, for a given conveyor speed, the ratio of time of a container within the first area to the time of the container within the seccond area can be varied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the movable ones of said first plurality of lower sprockets in the first area are rotatably connected to a first vertically movable sprocket support and the movable ones of said second plurality lower sprockets in the second area are rotatably connected to a second vertically movable sprocket support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The conveyor system of claim 2 wherein the first and second conveyor length adjustment include a closed cable loop, the loop comprising an upper cable and a lower cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The conveyor system of claim 3 wherein the upper cable extends upwardly from each of the first and second vertically movable sprocket supports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The conveyor system of claim 3 wherein the lower cable extends downwardly from each of the first and second vertically movable sprocket supports.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The conveyor system of claim 1 adapted for proofing and baking dough pieces wherein the first environmental area comprises a proofer for conditioning dough pieces; wherein the second environmental area comprises a baking oven for baking the conditioned dough pieces; and wherein said plurality of containers are dough carrying pans.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The conveyor system of claim 6 wherein the dough carrying pans comprise a first quantity of pans, which first quantity is always present within the proofer, a second quantity of pans, which second quantity is always present within the baking oven; and a third quantity of pans, which third quantity is variably positionable within either the proofer or the oven.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The conveyor system of claim 7 wherein the ratio of the first quantity of pans plus a first portion of the third quantity of pans to the second quantity of pans plus the remainder of the third quantity of pans is between 6.5 and 3.34.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-04 | 1984-05-05 | 1984-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-04 | 1988-05-05 | 1988-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-04 | 1992-05-05 | 1992-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |