Magnetic centerguide
AssigneeTurkington APV USA, LLC
InventorsJohn M. Hamilton, Ramanathan Ravindran, Mark S. Hittle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetic centerguide for a grid structured for travel along the path of a conveyor. The grid defines a support surface that supports a pan. The guide generally comprises a magnet-carrying guide member mounted to the grid, normally but not necessarily on the grid centerline, and adjustable in a vertical direction relative to the support surface. The guide functions with numerous types of pans having different configurations of dough-carrying pockets and inter-pocket gaps. The guide member automatically adjusts its vertical position to contact the underside of the pan under a pocket or in an inter-pocket gap.
Claims70
A magnetic centerguide for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface that supports a pan, the magnetic centerguide comprising in combination:
- a guide member including a magnet and having an upwardly facing portion magnetically attractable to the underside of a pan when placed on the grid;
- a guide support carrying the guide member and supporting it with respect to at least two operative positions determined by the position of a pan on the grid, a first position at or below the support surface when a pan is supported on the grid with a pocket disposed over the guide member, and a second position substantially above the support surface for contact in a trough of a pan supported on the grid;
- and
- the guide support being attached to the grid in such a way that engagement of the guide member with the pan during travel of the grid along the path of the conveyor maintains the orientation of the pan supported on the grid.
A magnetic centerguide for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface that supports a pan, the magnetic centerguide comprising in combination:
- a guide member including a magnet and having an upwardly facing portion magnetically attractable to the underside of a pan when placed on the grid;
- a guide support connected to the grid and carrying the guide member in such a way that the guide member can raise to a plurality of operative positions at or above the support surface to engage the underside of a pan when supported on the grid to maintain the orientation thereof.
A guide assembly for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface that supports a pan, the guide assembly comprising:
- a guide member mounted to the grid, the guide member including a magnet having an operative upper surface;
- and
- the guide member being mounted for movement of the magnet with respect to the support surface in a vertical direction and within a range including
- a) a first position where the upper surface is above the support surface, and
- b) a second position where the upper surface is at or below the support surface.
A guide assembly for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface that supports a variety of pans having varying numbers of pockets, the guide comprising:
- a magnet mounted to the grid for vertical movement relative to the support surface, the magnet having an upwardly facing contact area for gripping a pan, the range of movement being sufficient to position the contact area
- a) adjacent the support surface for contacting an underside of a pocket when a pocket is positioned above the magnet;
- and
- b) above the support surface for contacting an underside of a pan at a position between pockets when the pockets are positioned to the side of the magnet.
A guide assembly for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface that supports a pan, the pan having a plurality of pockets separated by inter-pocket gaps, the guide assembly comprising:
- a magnet mounted to the grid for gripping a pan;
- the magnet having a width less than the width of an inter-pocket gap;
- and the magnet mounted to the grid at a position centered on the pat of travel.
A grid assembly for supporting a pan on a conveyor defining a path of travel, the grid assembly comprising:
- a grid mounting plate structured for attachment to the conveyor;
- a grid structure attached to the grid mounting plate and defining a support surface for supporting the pan;
- and
- a centerguide assembly attached to the grid mounting plate, the centerguide assembly including a magnet mourned for vertical movement relative to the support surface for contact with the underside of a pan supported on the support surface, the magnet being mounted over the conveyor for maintaining the orientation of the pan as it travels along the path.
A centerguide for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface that supports different types of pans, a first pan type having a centerline aligned with a column of pockets, a second pan type having a centerline positioned between columns of pockets, the guide comprising:
- a magnet mounted to the grid at a position centered on the path of travel, the magnet mounted for vertical movement relative to the support surface for contact with the underside of a pan on the support surface;
- the magnet taking a first position below the support surface for the first pan type;
- and
- the magnet taking a second position above the support surface for the second pan type.
A guide for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface that supports different types of pans having different pan profiles, the guide comprising:
- a magnetic guide member attached to the grid for vertical movement relative to the support surface;
- and
- the guide member positioned for magnetic attraction to a pan placed on the grid, the guide member automatically adjusting its vertical position to accommodate the profile of the pan.
A guide assembly for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface arranged and constructed to support a pan, the guide assembly comprising:
- a magnetic guide member connected to the grid;
- and
- the magnetic guide member positioned above the support surface in a neutral position, the guide member being arranged for vertical movement above and below the neutral position.
A guide assembly for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface for a pan, the guide assembly comprising:
- a spring arm having a first end attached to the grid and a second end configured as a mounting surface;
- a guide member attached to the spring arm at the mounting surface, the guide member having a neutral position above the support surface and centered on the path of travel;
- and
- the guide member including a magnet positioned to be attracted to a pan when positioned on the support surface.
A guide assembly for a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, the grid defining a support surface for a pan, the grid assembly comprising:
- a guide support attached to the grid and having an open-top pocket formed therein;
- a guide member including a magnet, the guide member being mounted in the pocket for vertical movement;
- and
- means for causing the guide member to contact the underside of a pan when placed on the support surface.
A grid assembly for carrying a pan on a conveyor defining a path of S travel, the grid assembly comprising:
- a grid, mounting plate structured for attachment to the conveyor;
- a first support bar attached to the grid mounting plate;
- a second support bar attached to and extending across the first support bar to define a support surface for supporting the pan;
- a guide member attached to one of the support bars and positioned above the support surface to assist in retaining a pan on the grid assembly,
- the guide member including a magnet mounted for vertical travel in a range sufficient to contact and attach to the underside of pans of a plurality of configurations when placed on the support surface.
A method for retaining different types of pans on a support surface of a grid structured for travel along a path of a conveyor, a first pan type having a centerline aligned with a column of pockets, a second pan type having a centerline positioned between columns of pockets, the method comprising:
- mounting a magnet to a grid for vertical movement relative to the support surface at a position centered on the path of travel;
- positioning the magnet at a first position below the grid surface for the first pan type;
- and
- positioning the magnet at a second position above the support surface for the second pan type.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.