Moving head dough press

A press comprising:

• a conveyor configured to transport articles along a transport direction;
• a first platen;
• a second platen, wherein at least one of the first and second platens are configured to be moveable in a pressing direction transverse to the transport direction;
• a press assembly supporting the first and second platens, the conveyor passing between the first and second platens;
• a transverse drive configured to move at least one of the first and second platens into a pressing relationship;
• a parallel guide along which the press assembly reciprocates in directions parallel to the transport direction;
• a parallel drive coupled with the press assembly to move the press assembly parallel to the transport direction, the parallel drive comprising an output shaft, a pinion gear mounted to the output shaft, and a rack gear mounted on the press assembly, said rack gear being configured to generally mesh with the pinion gear;
• and
• a support frame for supporting the press assembly;
• wherein the pinion gear is configured to move relative to the rack gear when the output shaft rotates;
• wherein the press assembly is configured to move in a direction parallel to the transport direction when the pinion gear moves relative to the rack gear;
• wherein the parallel drive comprises an electric servomotor driving the output shaft for moving both the first and second platens of the press assembly in a direction parallel to the transport direction;
• wherein the electric servomotor is coupled to a press assembly support, said press assembly support positioned below the press assembly and supporting the press assembly to allow the press assembly to be moved along the transport direction, in a reciprocating manner, relative to the press assembly support, wherein said press assembly support is generally stationary;
• wherein the electric servomotor remains stationary relative to the support frame and does not move together with the press assembly while the press is in use;
• wherein, when in operation, the electric servomotor moves the press assembly relative to the electric servomotor and relative to the support frame and moves the first and second platens and the press assembly, as one, relative to the support frame, such that the platens can be moved relative to one another in a vertical direction irrespective of an operational status of the electric servomotor;
• and
• wherein the electric servomotor is positioned on the press such that the electric servomotor is easily accessible by a user.

A press comprising:

• a conveyor configured to transport articles along a transport direction;
• a press assembly supporting first and second press members, said press assembly comprising a rack gear;
• a support frame for supporting the press assembly;
• a parallel drive comprising an output shaft configured to rotate about an output shaft axis and configured to move the press assembly parallel to the transport direction, wherein said output shaft axis is connected to a pinion gear, the pinion gear being configured to generally mate with the rack gear;
• and
• an alignment assembly comprising a support member configured to rotate about an alignment axis, the support member configured to support the drive such that the output shaft axis is offset from the alignment axis;
• a selectively adjustable spacing between the pinion gear and the rack gear;
• said spacing controlling if and to what extent the pinion gear mates with the rack gear;
• wherein rotation of the support member about the alignment axis, when the press is not in operation, selectively adjusts the spacing between the pinion gear and the rack gear;
• and
• wherein the parallel drive is attached to a press assembly support, said press assembly support positioned below the press assembly and supporting the press assembly to allow the press assembly to be moved along the transport direction;
• wherein the parallel drive remains stationary while the press is in use;
• and
• wherein, when in operation, the parallel drive moves the press assembly relative to the support frame and moves both the first and second press members of the press assembly in unison relative to the support frame, such that the press members can be moved relative to one another irrespective of the location of the press assembly relative to the support frame.

A press comprising:

• a conveyor configured to transport articles along a transport direction;
• a press assembly supporting first and second press members;
• a support frame for supporting the press assembly;
• a parallel drive comprising a reversible electric servomotor unit with a rotating output shaft coupled to a rack and pinion system, said servomotor unit and rack and pinion system configured to move the press assembly in first and second directions that are parallel to the transport direction, without an additional device for converting the rotational movement of the output shaft into a reciprocating movement;
• wherein the electric servomotor unit moves the first and second press members of the press assembly together relative to the support frame, such that the press members can be moved relative to one another, toward and away from a pressing relationship, irrespective of the location of the press assembly relative to the support frame;
• wherein the servomotor unit is stationary relative to the support frame when the press is in use;
• and
• wherein the servomotor is positioned on the press such that the servomotor is easily accessible by a user.