Oven slot cover

A closure mechanism inhibit heat from releasing out of an oven chamber of a conveyor oven having a conveyor hanger, the closure mechanism configured to be coupled to a first plurality of connection tabs arranged along a first edge portion of a top wall of the conveyor oven and a second plurality of connection tabs arranged along a second edge portion of the top wall of the conveyor oven, the closure mechanism positioned within a slot formed between the first and second edge portions, the closure mechanism comprising:

• a plurality of plates configured to couple to each of the first and second pluralities of connection tabs of the conveyor oven and being spaced along a longitudinal length of the slot to selectively enclose the slot of the conveyor oven, the plurality of plates defining a first plurality of plates with each coupled to each of the first plurality of connection tabs and a second plurality of plates with each coupled to each of the second plurality of connection tabs, the first and second pluralities of plates cooperating to define a first pair of plates and a second pair of plates positioned downstream of the first pair of plates in an operational direction of the conveyor hanger, the first and second pairs of plates each including one of the first plurality of plates coupled to the first plurality of connection tabs and one of the second plurality of plates coupled to the second plurality of connection tabs, each of the plurality of plates comprising:
• a connection portion defining a connection aperture that couples said each of the plurality of plates to at least one of the first or second plurality of connection tabs;
• an angled portion extending downward from the connection portion within the slot of the conveyor oven;
• an engagement portion extending downward from the angled portion to form an engagement surface such that the first and second pluralities of plates define respective engagement surfaces that contact each other to close the slot of the conveyor oven;
• and
• a sealing structure having a body formed of an elastomeric material that spans a top portion of the pluralities of plates, the sealing structure having a first portion coupled to the first plurality of connection tabs and a second portion coupled to the second plurality of connection tabs,
• wherein the first and second pairs of plates are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the slot to define a gap between the first and second pairs of plates to allow the conveyor hanger to move in both a first direction and a second direction, and
• wherein the first and second portions of the sealing structure cover the gap between respective plates to close the slot of the oven chamber and inhibit heat from escaping the oven chamber.

A closure mechanism inhibit heat from releasing out of an oven chamber of a conveyor oven having a conveyor hanger, the closure mechanism configured to be coupled to a first plurality of connection tabs arranged along a first edge portion of a top wall of the conveyor oven and a second plurality of connection tabs arranged along a second edge portion of the top wall of the conveyor oven, the closure mechanism positioned within a slot formed between the first and second edge portions, the closure mechanism comprising:

• a plurality of plates configured to couple to each of the first and second pluralities of connection tabs of the conveyor oven and being spaced along a longitudinal length of the slot to selectively enclose the slot of the conveyor oven, the plurality of plates defining a first plurality of plates with each coupled to each of the first plurality of connection tabs and a second plurality of plates with each coupled to each of the second plurality of connection tabs, the first and second pluralities of plates cooperating to define a first pair of plates and a second pair of plates positioned downstream of the first pair of plates in an operational direction of the conveyor hanger, the first and second pairs of plates each including one of the first plurality of plates coupled to the first plurality of connection tabs and one of the second plurality of plates coupled to the second plurality of connection tabs, each of the plurality of plates comprising:
• a connection portion having a first end positioned within the slot and a second end that extends a distance beyond the slot, the connection portion defining a connection aperture configured to couple said each of the plurality of plates to at least one of the first or second plurality of connection tabs;
• and
• an engagement portion extending downward relative to the connection portion to form an engagement surface such that the first and second pluralities of plates define respective engagement surfaces that contact each other to close the slot of the conveyor oven.