Conveyorized baking system with improved dust shield support
AssigneeAmf Automation Technologies, LLC
InventorChi Chung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A conveyorized baking system having improved dust shield support. The system includes including a conveyor track, a conveyor chain that moves through the conveyor track, flanged support struts attached to the conveyor chain, and dust shields supported by the flanged support struts for preventing dust and debris from entering the conveyor track.
Claims37
A conveyorized baking system comprising:
- a conveyor track having an open channel extending lengthwise through the interior of the track and a top portion defining a slot opening into the channel;
- a conveyor chain configured for movement through the channel of the conveyor track, the conveyor chain comprising a plurality of conveyor chain link sections pivotally coupled to one another, each conveyor chain link section comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one roller rotationally mounted between the top panel and the bottom panel;
- at least one flanged support strut attached to each of the conveyor chain link sections, each flanged support strut comprising a lower portion configured for attachment to the conveyor chain link section, an upper portion axially opposite the lower portion, and a transversely outward projecting flange positioned a distance above the top panel;
- at least one carrier for carrying a baking pan configured for attachment to the upper portion of the flanged support strut;
- and
- at least one dust shield configured to be supported by the flange of the at least one flanged support strut above the top panel and between the conveyor track and the at least one carrier.
A dust shield for a conveyorized baking system, the dust shield having a forward opening and a rear opening, wherein the forward and rear openings are configured to allow passage of an upper portion of a flanged support strut of the baking system, and wherein at least one of the forward and rear openings has a dimension configured to prevent passage of a flange portion of the flanged support strut therethrough, whereby the dust shield can be loosely supported on top of the flange portion of the flanged support strut with a clearance dimension defined between the upper portions of the flanged support struts and the forward and rear openings.
A flanged support strut for a conveyorized baking system, the conveyorized baking system comprising a plurality of conveyor chain link sections pivotally coupled to one another, each conveyor chain link section comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one roller rotationally mounted between the top panel and the bottom panel, the flanged support strut comprising:
- a lower portion comprising a lower coupling configured for attachment to extend upwardly from the top panel;
- an upper portion axially opposite the lower portion and comprising an upper coupling configured for attachment to a carrier portion of the baking system;
- and
- a transversely outwardly projecting flange configured for supporting a dust shield portion of the baking system a distance above the top panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.