Method for the transit of small objects within treatment chambers, and means for its implementation

An apparatus for passing food products through a chamber in which the food products are treated, comprising

• at least one elongate support trolley for supporting food products, said at least one trolley having longitudinal ends and lifting elements arranged thereat, said at least one trolley comprising a plurality of links extending in the longitudinal direction of said at least one trolley, adjacent ones of said links being aligned with each other to thus form a continuous structure of said at least one trolley,
• articulation means for articulating said adjacent ones of said links to one another,
• first drive means for moving said at least one trolley in a longitudinal direction within said chamber, said first drive means comprising rotatable toothed wheels and support rails on which said at least one trolley moves in the longitudinal direction, said at least one trolley further comprising wheels cooperating with said toothed wheels of said first drive means to cause movement of said at least one trolley along said rails in the longitudinal direction, and
• second drive means for moving said at least one trolley in a substantially vertical direction in said chamber, said second drive means comprising means for engaging said lifting elements at said ends of said at least one trolley and raising said lifting elements.

An apparatus for passing food products through a chamber in which the food products are treated, comprising

• at least one elongate support trolley for supporting food products, said at least one trolley having longitudinal ends and lifting elements arranged thereat, said at least one trolley comprising a plurality of links extending in the longitudinal direction of said at least one trolley, adjacent ones of said links being aligned with each other to thus form a continuous structure of said at least one trolley,
• articulation means for articulating said adjacent ones of said links to one another, said articulation means comprising a spacer pin arranged at an upper portion of each of said links and which cooperates with a recess at an upper region of adjacent ones of said links,
• first drive means for moving said at least one trolley in a longitudinal direction within said chamber, and
• second drive means for moving said at least one trolley in a substantially vertical direction in said chamber, said second drive means comprising means for engaging said lifting elements at said ends of said at least one trolley and raising said lifting elements.

An apparatus for passing food products through a chamber in which the food products are treated, comprising

• at least one elongate support trolley for supporting food products, said at least one trolley having longitudinal ends and lifting elements arranged thereat, said at least one trolley comprising a plurality of links extending in the longitudinal direction of said at least one trolley, adjacent ones of said links being aligned with each other to thus form a continuous structure of said at least one trolley,
• articulation means for articulating said adjacent ones of said links to one another, said articulation means comprising a plurality of parallel rods, one of said plurality of parallel rods extending through each of said adjacent ones of said links such that said rods constitute hinge pins about which said links are pivoted,
• said at least one trolley further comprising auxiliary rods arranged parallel to and between said plurality of parallel rods and extending through said links such that at least one of said auxiliary rods is encompassed within each of said links, said auxiliary rods and said plurality of parallel rods having wheels arranged thereon,
• first drive means for moving said at least one trolley in a longitudinal direction within said chamber, and
• second drive means for moving said at least one trolley in a substantially vertical direction in said chamber, said second drive means comprising means for engaging said lifting elements at said ends of said at least one trolley and raising said lifting elements.

An apparatus for passing food products through a chamber in which the food products are treated, comprising

• at least one elongate support trolley for supporting food products, said at least one trolley having longitudinal ends and lifting elements arranged thereat, said at least one trolley comprising a plurality of links extending in the longitudinal direction of said at least one trolley, adjacent ones of said links being aligned with each other to thus form a continuous structure of said at least one trolley,
• articulation means for articulating said adjacent ones of said links to one another,
• first drive means for moving said at least one trolley in a longitudinal direction within said chamber,
• second drive means for moving said at least one trolley in a substantially vertical direction in said chamber, said second drive means comprising means for engaging said lifting elements at said ends of said at least one trolley and raising said lifting elements, and
• loading means for loading said food products onto said at least one trolley, said loading means comprising a feed belt partially extending into said chamber, said food products being directed from said feed belt onto said at least one trolley.