Batch conveyor for processing chamber

A processing chamber apparatus comprising;

• chamber means for processing a plurality of products in batches and defining a floor, a roof, and sides and defining an upstream end through which products may be introduced to said chamber means and a downstream end through which products may be removed from said chamber means;
• product carriers each defining sides, a bottom and a top, each of said carriers being adapted to be transmitted through said chamber means one after the other from said upstream end to said downstream end for carrying products through said chamber means;
• a pair of carrier support rails located on opposite sides of said chamber means, being spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive said product carriers therebetween raised above said floor, upon whcih said carriers may be supported, while standing in and being moved through said chamber means, said support rails defining a predetermined upward incline through said chamber means whereby to carry said product carriers along an upwardly inclined path in said chamber means from a low point adjacent said upstream end ot a high point adjacent said downstream end;
• columns connected to said rails and supporting said rails said columns being located at spaced intervals;
• moveable bearing means mounted on opposite sides of each said carrier above said bottom, oriented for engagement with respective said support rails of said chamber means, for supporting said carriers between said support rails, said moveable bearing means being located spaced apart along said carriers a distance equal to the spacing between said columns, whereby when said carriers are at rest, the weight thereof may be carried directly on said columns, and;
• overhead movement means supported in said chamber means operable to cause intermittent movement of said cariers up said upwardly inclined path defined by said support rails from said upstream end to said downstream end of said chamber means, said carriers dwelling stationary within said chamber means between said intermittent movements with said moveable bearing means registering with said columns when said carriers are stationary;
• moveable buffer means mounted at spaced intervals in said chamber means and being displaceable by said carriers during movement up said upwardly inclined path and being operable to engage said carriers, for halting reverse movement of said carriers down said support rails towards said upstream end when said moveable bearing means register with said columns;
• and
• automatic control means for controlling and timing movement of said overhead movement means whereby to procure predetermined dwelling of, and incremental movement of said carriers through said chamber means.