US2149439A - Baker's oven - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1939. I Q HATCH 2,149,439

BAKER'S OVEN Filed Oct. 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' I /I O INVEN'fOR.

C. T. HATCH BAKER'S OVEN March 7, 1939.

-2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15 1936 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 7, 1939 Union Steel Mich.

Products Company, Albion,

Application October 15, 1936, Serial No. 105,663

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bakers ovens.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide in a rotary oven oran oven having an endless series of traveling shelves an improved means for maintaining the shelves in a horizontal position.

Second, to provide a structure of the class described which is highly efficient and at the same time is very simple and durable in structure.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated -in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an end elevation of an oven embodying the features of the invention, parts being shown conventionally for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view partially in section on line 22 'of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view partially in section on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a detail view partially in section on line 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3.

I have illustrated my improvements as embodied inthe type of bakers oven illustrated in my Patent No. 2,032,751 of March 3, 1936 although for convenience in illustration certain features in that patent are omitted. I desire to state, however, that my invention is capable of embodiment in other oven structures of the endless conveyor type.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l indicates the casing of the oven having insulated sidewalls 2 and end walls 3. The shaft 4 rotatably carries the end members or annular spiders 5 of the conveyor provided with radial supports'or brackets 6. Suitable means, not illustrated, are provided for driving the shaft.

A plurality of shelves 7 having hangers 8 at the ends thereof are pivotally mounted on the brackets 6 between the'endmembers 5. As in 45 ,my patent above identified I employ a plurality ""of links 9 which are pivotally connected to the free ends of the arms Ill depending from and fixedly secured to the pivots l l of the shelves. These links function to minimize the tilting of any individual shelf by connecting it to all of the shelves so that all of the shelves tend to resist tilting of an individual shelf which may have been loaded inan unbalanced manner or in a manner tending to tilt it. There are, however, certain materials ;;01: instance a relatively fluid cake batter-which when a shelf becomes unbalanced or tilted tends to flow toward the lower edge of the shelf and this shifting of material increases the unbalancing of the shelf and as this is imparted to the several shelves, the unbalancing action may become quite decided, and while when. the oven is equipped with the automatic stop features of my said patent, the oven is stopped when the shelves are tilted to a predetermined degree, the baking may have proceeded to such an extent that the batter will not return to a uniform thickness until the difiiculty is overcome by the proper balancing of the shelves.

To counteract and minimize this tilting action. such as results, for instance, from the shifting of batter I provide. an annular guide member or ring l2 which, in the embodiment illustrated, is made up of a sheet metal web portion 13 to which annular angle iron portions M are secured, one of these constituting a track. This guide ring is mounted on the free ends of the arms l5 secured to the pivots it of the shelves at the ends thereof opposite the arms in and pivots l l. Studs ll extending through the free ends of the arms I5 and the web l3 of the ring provide a pivotal connection with the arms to the ring so that the ring is hung upon or supported from the shelf pivots and travels in an orbit when the oven conveyor rotates. It will be seen that when the shelves are shifted from their horizontal position, this guide: member is shifted from its normal orbit or tends to beshifted from its normal orbit. To maintain it yieldingly in its normal orbit I provide a pair of rollers I8 which are disposed oppositely, these rollers being yieldingly supported so that the track is in traveling engagement therewith or is adjacent the roller so that very slight shifting of the guide ring brings it into contact with one or the other of the rollers.

The rollers I 8 are journaled on the upwardly projecting arms 28 of the angled levers l9, these levers being pivoted at 22. The horizontal arms 2| of these levers are supported in normal position by means of the stop 23 carried by the brackets 2 on the supporting bars 27 which are bolted to the casingsee Figs. 2 and 3.

The arm 24 of the lever has a Weight suspending rod 25 thereon. A plurality of nested weights 26 are provided, these weights being preferably of elongated shape so as to permit their being arranged in the restricted space shown in Fig. 2. The weights may be varied as conditions may render desirable.

In Fig. 3, the normal position of the roller and. the counterbalance mechanism therefor is indiits cated in solid lines while it is shown in an actuated or shifted position by dotted lines. It will be seen that the centering of the counterbalancing mechanism may yield but that it acts to center or keep the parts in normal position.

The shelves are connected by the links 9 so that the tilting movement of an individual shelf is resisted by all of them but in the event such tilting movement does occur as under conditions I have indicated, this is resisted by the counterbalancing means described.

The structure is highly efficient for the purpose and at the same time there is no undue strain or wear on the parts as would be present if fixed guide means were present.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire. to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a bakers oven, the combination with a casing, of a rotary conveyor comprising annular end members, annular series of shelves pivotally suspended between saidconveyor end members, lever arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at each end thereof, links pivotally connecting the lever arms at one end of the shelves whereby tilting movement of one shelf is translated to the other shelves of the. series, an annular coupling member connecting the arms at the other ends of said shelves and provided with a track on its inner edge, rollers disposed in opposed relation to cooperate with said track, pivoted levers having upwardly projecting arms on which said rollers are journaled, adjustable weighting means for said levers, and adjustable stops limiting the downward movement of said levers under the action of their weights.

2. In a bakers oven, the combination with a casing, of a rotary conveyor comprising annular end members, an annular series of shelves pivotally suspended between said conveyor end members, lever arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at each end thereof, links pivotally connecting the lever arms at one end of the shelves whereby tilting movement of one shelf is translated to the other shelves of the series, anendless coupling member connecting the arms at the other ends of said shelves, guide members disposed in opposed relation to cooperate with said coupling member, yieldable supports for said guide members, adjustable weighting means for said support, and adjustable stops limiting the movement of said supports under the action of their weights.

3. In a bakers oven, the combination with a casing, of a rotary conveyor comprising annular end members, an annular series of shelves-pivotally suspended between said conveyor end members, lever arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at each end thereof, links pivotally connecting the lever arms at one end of the shelves whereby tilting movement of one shelf is translated to the other shelves of the series, an endless coupling member connecting the arms at the other ends of said shelves, guide members disposed in opposed relation to cooperate with said coupling member, and yieldable supports for said guide members.

4. In a bakers oven, the combination of a casing, a conveyor mounted for rotation in said casing and having annular end members spaced from the walls of the casing, shelves pivoted on said end members, means for connecting said shelves for uniform tilting movement, comprising arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at one end of the conveyor and links pivoted to the said arms, and means restraining the tilting movement of said shelves, comprising arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at the other end of the conveyor, a guide ring connected to the said last named arms, rollers arranged in opposed relation to cooperate with said ring, levers on which said rollers are journaled pivotally mounted on said casing, adjustable weighting means for said levers, and adjustable stops for said levers.

5. In a bakers oven, a rotatable conveyor, a plurality of shelves pivotally carried by said conveyor, means for connecting said shelves for uniform tilting movement including a plurality of links operatively connected to said shelves at one end of the shelves, and means for limiting the extent of the pivotal movement, comprising a ring operatively connected to said shelves at the other end thereof, rollers disposed to bear against said ring when it is displaced a predetermined amount from its normal orbit dueto tilting the. shelves, and adjustably counterbalanced means .for mounting said rollers for limited yielding bodily movement and acting .to maintain them in a predetermined position.

6. In a bakers oven, the combination. of a plurality of shelves, rotatable means for transporting said shelves in said oven, said shelves being pivotally mounted on said means, and means for connecting sai-d'shelves for uniform tilting movement and for limiting the extent of the tilting, comprising arms carried by the shelf pivots, a ring pivotally connected to said arms, bodily shiftable guide members yieldably disposed substantiallydiametricallyof said ring and acting on said ring when it is displaceda predetermined extent from its normal orbit to return and maintain it in its normal orbit, and means to regulate the resistance to displacement of said guide members by said ring.

7. In a bakers oven, the combination with a casing, of an endless conveyor, a series of shelves pivotally mounted on said conveyor, arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at each end thereof, links pivotally connecting the lever arms at one end of the shelves whereby tilting movement of one shelf is translated to the other shelves of the series, an endless coupling member connecting the arms at the other ends of said shelves, guide members cooperating with said coupling member, and means yieldingly supporting said guide members whereby to yieldably maintain said coupling member in the orbit in which it travels when the shelves are horizontal.

8. Ina baker s oven, the combination with a casing, of a rotary conveyor comprising annular end members, an annular series of shelves pivotally suspended between said conveyor end members, lever arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at one end thereof, an annular coupling member connecting said arms and provided with a track on its inner edge, rollers disposed in opposed relation to cooperate with said track, pivoted levers having'upwardly projecting arms on which said rollers are journaled, adjustable weighting means 'for'said levers, and adjustable stops limiting the downward movement of said levers under the action of their weights.

9. In a bakers oven, the combination with a casing, of a rotary conveyor comprising annular end members, an annular series of shelves pivotally suspended between said conveyor end members, lever arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at one end thereof, an endless coupling member connecting said arms, guide members disposed in opposed relation to cooperate with said coupling member, yieldable supports for said guide members, adjustable weighting means for said supports, and adjustable stops limiting the movement of said supports under the action of their weights.

10. In a bakers oven, the combination of a casing, a conveyor mounted for rotation in said casing and having annular end members spaced from the Walls of the casing, shelves pivoted on said end members, and arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at one end of the conveyor, a ring connected to the said arms, rollers arranged in opposed relation to cooperate with said ring, levers on which said rollers are journaled pivotally mounted on said casing, adjustable weighting means for said levers, and adjustable stops for said levers.

11. In a bakers oven, the combination of a casing, a conveyor mounted for rotation in said casing and having annular end members spaced from the walls of the casing, shelves pivotally suspended from said end members, arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at one end of the conveyor, links pivoted to the said arms, and arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at the other end of the conveyor, a ring connected to the said last named arms, and yielding guide means for said ring disposed to act thereon in opposed relation.

12. In a bakers oven, the combination of a casing, a conveyor mounted for rotation in said casing and having annular end members spaced from the walls of the casing, shelves pivotally suspended from said end members, arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at one end of the conveyor, links pivoted to the said arms, and arms connected to the pivots of said shelves at the other end of the conveyor, a ring connected to the said last named arms, and yielding guide means for said ring.

CHARLES T. HATCH.

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