Discharge assembly for an oven

Claim 2

In combination a vertically disposed elevator for conveying a series of flexible carriers in a descending path; a transfer conveyor having hook means for engaging a forward end of a carrier on said elevator and means for moving said hook means in an endless path having an upper longitudinal run and a lower run; a discharge conveyor having a bar means for engaging the forward end of a carrier on said transfer conveyor, means for moving said bar means in an endless path having a horizontal run, a downwardly directed run extending from said horizontal run and a return run extending between said downwardly directed run and said horizontal run; said horizontal run being disposed in overlapping relation with said upper run of said transfer conveyor to permit transfer of a carrier on said transfer conveyor to said horizontal run of said discharge conveyor; and a main conveyor having second hook means for engaging the forward end of a carrier and means for moving said second hook means in an endless path having a section coincident with said endless path of said discharge conveyor between said downwardly directed run and said return run.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said discharge conveyor includes a pair of parallel guide ramps for receiving a carrier, said ramps being parallel to said horizontal run to guide a carrier along said horizontal run.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transfer conveyor has a large diameter roller for directing said first hook means from said upper run to said lower run and said discharge conveyor has a small diameter roller for directing said bar means from said horizontal run to said downwardly directed run.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transfer conveyor is pivotally mounted at an end remote from said elevator to pivot downwardly in synchronism with the descent of said elevator.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises means for driving said discharge conveyor at a faster speed than said transfer conveyor to permit said bar means to engage and move a carrier engaged by said hook means of said transfer conveyor from said hook means.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said discharge conveyor includes guide means for guiding a carrier along said horizontal run and said downwardly directed run.

Claim 8

A discharge assembly for sequentially conveying a series of flexible product-carrying carriers from a treatment station in which the carriers are vertically stacked to a discharge station; said discharge assembly comprising a transfer conveyor having hook means for engaging a forward end of a lowermost carrier, and an endless chain for moving said hook means in an endless path having an upper longitudinal run and a lower run; a discharge conveyor having at least one bar means for engaging the forward end of a carrier on said upper run of said transfer conveyor and an endless chain for moving said bar means in an endless path having a horizontal run disposed in overlapping relation with said upper run of said transfer conveyor and extending to said discharge station; and means for driving said discharge conveyor at a speed faster than said transfer conveyor to permit transfer of a carrier on said upper run of said transfer conveyor to said horizontal run of said discharge conveyor.

Claim 9

A discharge assembly for sequentially conveying a series of flexible product-carrying carriers from a treatment station in which the carriers are vertically stacked to a discharge station; said discharge assembly comprising a transfer conveyor having hook means for engaging a forward end of a lowermost carrier, and an endless chain for moving said hook means in an endless path having an upper longitudinal run and a lower run; a discharge conveyor having at least one bar means for engaging the forward end of a carrier on said upper run of said transfer conveyor and an endless chain for moving said bar means in an endless path having a horizontal run disposed in overlapping relation with said upper run of said transfer conveyor and extending to said discharge station; and means for driving said discharge conveyor at a speed faster than said transfer conveyor to permit transfer of a carrier on said upper run of said transfer conveyor to said horizontal run of said discharge conveyor.

Claim 10

A discharge assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said discharge conveyor further has guide means for laterally guiding a carrier there along.

Claim 11

A discharge assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said endless path of said discharge conveyor further has a downwardly directed run extending from said horizontal run at said discharge station and a return run extending between said downwardly directed run to said horizontal run.

Claim 12

A discharge assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said guide means includes a guide block at said discharge station for guiding a carrier into said downwardly directed run.

Claim 13

A discharge assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said transfer conveyor has guide means for laterally guiding a carrier therealong.

Claim 14

A discharge assembly as set forth in claim 7 which further comprises a frame having said discharge conveyor mounted thereon and said transfer conveyor pivotally mounted thereon.

Claim 15

A discharge assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said transfer conveyor has a pair of parallel guide ramps for guiding a carrier therebetween and said discharge conveyor has a pair of parallel guide ramps for receiving and guiding a carrier from said guide ramps of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 16

In combination, a vertically disposed elevator at a treatment station for conveying a series of flexible product-carrying carriers in a descending vertical path; a take-off conveyor at a discharge station for receiving the product on the carriers; and a discharge assembly for sequentially conveying the carriers from said elevator to said discharge station, said assembly including a pivotally mounted transfer conveyor having first means for engaging a forward run of a lowermost carrier on said elevator and an endless chain for moving said means in an endless path having an upper longitudinal run, a discharge conveyor having bar means for engaging the forward end of a carrier on said longitudinal run of said transfer conveyor and an endless chain for moving said bar means in an endless path having a horizontal run disposed in overlapping relation with said run of said transfer conveyor and extending to said discharge station, said second endless path having a downwardly directed run extending from said horizontal run and said discharge station to permit depositing of a product on a carrier onto said take-off conveyor, and means for driving said discharge conveyor at a speed faster than said transfer conveyor to permit transfer of a carrier on said upper run of said transfer conveyor to said horizontal run of said discharge conveyor.

Claim 17

In combination, a vertically disposed elevator at a treatment station for conveying a series of flexible product-carrying carriers in a descending vertical path; a take-off conveyor at a discharge station for receiving the product on the carriers; and a discharge assembly for sequentially conveying the carriers from said elevator to said discharge station, said assembly including a pivotally mounted transfer conveyor having first means for engaging a forward run of a lowermost carrier on said elevator and an endless chain for moving said means in an endless path having an upper longitudinal run, a discharge conveyor having bar means for engaging the forward end of a carrier on said longitudinal run of said transfer conveyor and an endless chain for moving said bar means in an endless path having a horizontal run disposed in overlapping relation with said run of said transfer conveyor and extending to said discharge station, said second endless path having a downwardly directed run extending from said horizontal run and said discharge station to permit depositing of a product on a carrier onto said take-off conveyor, and means for driving said discharge conveyor at a speed faster than said transfer conveyor to permit transfer of a carrier on said upper run of said transfer conveyor to said horizontal run of said discharge conveyor.