Back to results
US 6,305,930 B1Granted
Vertical multiple stage oven
OwnerTibor Fedakinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vertical multiple stage oven includes a first plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement, and a second plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement positioned adjacent the first plurality of ovens. An access port is provided to the first plurality of ovens and an exit port is provided from the second plurality of ovens. A coupling port couples the first plurality of ovens to the second plurality of ovens. A continuous pathway is defined through the first plurality of ovens and through the second plurality of ovens from the access port, through the coupling port to the exit port. Each oven is sealed from adjacent ovens by trays moving along the pathway.
Claims47
A vertical multiple stage oven comprising:
- a first plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement;
- a second plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement positioned adjacent the first plurality of ovens;
- an access port to the first plurality of ovens;
- an exit port from the second plurality of ovens;
- a coupling port coupling the first plurality of ovens to the second plurality of ovens;
- a continuous pathway through the first plurality of ovens and through the second plurality of ovens from the access port, through the coupling port to the exit port;
- a vertical transport system adapted to receive a plurality of trays and move each tray of the plurality of trays in steps along the continuous pathway from the access port to the exit port, the steps along the continuous pathway include steps within each oven and steps in tray input openings and tray output openings of each oven;
- and
- each tray of the plurality of trays the vertical transport system is adapted to receive is approximately the same size as the tray input openings and tray output openings, and trays positioned within the tray input openings and tray output openings seal a corresponding one of the first and second plurality of ovens from an adjacent one of the first and second plurality of ovens.
6 more elements
A vertical multiple stage oven comprising:
- a first plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement;
- a second plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement positioned adjacent the first plurality of ovens;
- an access port to the first plurality of ovens;
- an exit port from the second plurality of ovens;
- a coupling port coupling the first plurality of ovens to the second plurality of ovens;
- a continuous pathway through the first plurality of ovens and through the second plurality of ovens from the access port, through the coupling port to the exit port;
- and
- a vertical transport system adapted to receive a plurality of trays and move each tray of the plurality of trays in steps along the continuous pathway from the access port to the exit port, the vertical transport system includes a plurality of elongated support elements each mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of elongated transport elements each mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis and for reciprocation along the longitudinal axis, each support element and transport element having a plurality of tray engaging members attached thereto.
5 more elements
A vertical multiple stage oven comprising:
- a first plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement;
- a second plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement positioned adjacent the first plurality of ovens;
- an access port to the first plurality of ovens;
- an exit port from the second plurality of ovens;
- a coupling port coupling the first plurality of ovens to the second plurality of ovens;
- a continuous pathway through the first plurality of ovens and through the second plurality of ovens from the access port, through the coupling port to the exit port;
- and
- each of the first plurality of ovens and the second plurality of ovens includes a tray input opening and a tray output opening delineating the pathway, and further including a plurality of trays movable in a plurality of steps along the pathway, with selected steps positioning a tray in at least one of the tray input openings and tray output openings sealing a corresponding one of the first and second plurality of ovens from an adjacent one of the first and second plurality of ovens.
5 more elements
A vertical multiple stage oven comprising:
- a first plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement and a second plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement positioned adjacent the first plurality of ovens;
- an access port to the first plurality of ovens;
- an exit port from the second plurality of ovens;
- a coupling port coupling the first plurality of ovens to the second plurality of ovens;
- a continuous pathway through the first plurality of ovens and through the second plurality of ovens from the access port, through the coupling port to the exit port;
- the first plurality of ovens and the second plurality of ovens being included within a common housing, with the access port and the exit port defined by the common housing, and each of the first plurality of ovens and the second plurality of ovens including a tray input opening and a tray output opening delineating the continuous pathway;
- and
- a vertical transport system adapted to receive a plurality of trays and move each tray of the plurality of trays in steps along the continuous pathway from the access port to the exit port, the steps along the continuous pathway including steps within each oven and steps in the tray input openings and tray output openings of each oven, the vertical transport system includes a plurality of elongated support elements each mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of elongated transport elements each mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis and for reciprocation along the longitudinal axis, each support element and transport element having a plurality of tray engaging members attached thereto.
5 more elements
A vertical multiple stage oven comprising:
- a first plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement and a second plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement positioned adjacent the first plurality of ovens;
- an access port to the first plurality of ovens, an exit port from the second plurality of ovens, and a coupling port coupling the first plurality of ovens to the second plurality of ovens;
- a continuous pathway through the first plurality of ovens and through the second plurality of ovens from the access port, through the coupling port to the exit port;
- a vertical transport system adapted to receive a plurality of trays and move each tray of the plurality of trays in steps along the continuous pathway from the access port to the exit port, the vertical transport system including a plurality of elongated support elements each mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of elongated transport elements each mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis and for reciprocation along the longitudinal axis, each support element and transport element having a plurality of tray engaging members attached thereto;
- the plurality of support elements and the plurality of transport elements being actuated by a motor assembly coupled to one end of each support element and transport element;
- horizontal walls positioned between vertically adjacent ovens of the first and second plurality of ovens, the horizontal walls defining a tray input opening and a tray output opening of adjacent ovens;
- and
- the horizontal walls each including bearings which receive, and seal the plurality of support elements and transport elements within the tray input openings and tray output openings, an end of each of the plurality of support elements and transport elements opposite the one end coupled to the motor assembly being free and the bearings stabilizing and permitting axial expansion of the plurality of support elements and transport elements.
5 more elements
A vertical oven comprising:
- a vertical oven having a bottom and a top;
- a vertical transport system carried by the oven and including:
- a plurality of elongated support elements each mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of elongated transport elements each mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis and for reciprocation along the longitudinal axis, each support element and transport element having a plurality of tray engaging members attached thereto and an end extending downwardly through the bottom of the oven;
- a motor assembly coupled to the end of each support element and transport element for rotation of the support elements and rotation and reciprocation of the transport elements;
- whereby all engaged moving parts are mounted outside of the oven.
2 more elements
A method of heating components in a plurality of stages comprising the steps of:
- providing a vertical multiple stage oven including a first plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement, a second plurality of ovens in a vertical arrangement positioned adjacent the first plurality of ovens, and a continuous pathway defined from an access port through the first plurality of ovens, through a coupling port to the second plurality of ovens, and through an exit port from the second plurality of ovens, each of the first plurality of ovens and the second plurality of ovens includes a tray input opening and a tray output opening delineating the pathway with each of the tray input openings and tray output openings having an approximately similar area;
- positioning the components on trays, each tray having an area approximately similar to the area of the tray input openings and tray output openings;
- and
- moving each of the trays in steps along the continuous pathway from the access port to the exit port, at least one of the steps positioning one of the plurality of trays in one of the tray input openings and tray output openings so as to seal corresponding vertically adjacent ovens in one of the first plurality of ovens and the second plurality of ovens from each other.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.