Pan inverting and/or cleaning system

A method of inverting pans in a commercial production line, the method comprising:

• feeding a pan onto an upper surface of a rotating table using a first conveyor disposed on the upper surface, the table having a lower surface opposite the upper surface;
• releasably fastening the pan in place on the upper surface of the rotating table using a pan engagement mechanism, the pan engagement mechanism including a pan engagement device on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the table, each of the pan engagement devices being independently operable;
• rotating the table 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the table, such that the upper surface of the table and the pan fastened thereto are inverted, the longitudinal axis being centrally located in a transverse direction and extending substantially parallel to a direction of displacement of the pan along the first conveyor;
• and
• activating the first conveyor to displace the inverted pan away from the table until the pan has been ejected from the table.

A method of using a pan inverting system, the method comprising:

• using at least one entry conveyor to displace a pan to a rotating table beneath an air header;
• using a second conveyor to position the pan in place on an upper surface of the rotating table;
• rotating the table about a longitudinal axis thereof to invert the pan, including releasably fastening the pan to the upper surface of the table;
• and
• directing cleaning air jets out of the air header onto right-side-up surfaces of the pan on the upper surface of the table using at least one of nozzles and air knives in fluid flow communication with the air header.