Patent ID: 6318543
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: A21B,B65G

Abstract:
A product transport system which comprises a chamber, a pair of parallel, spaced-apart conveyor chains located within the chamber and arranged to convey a plurality of transversely extending product support trays through the chamber, a pair of transversely spaced carriers arranged to carry respective ones of the trays, chain sprockets located within the chamber in alignment with the respective conveyor chains and arranged to direct the respective conveyor chains through changes in direction (including through forward-and-return horizontal passes) within the chamber, rotatable guide members positioned laterally adjacent to but out of alignment with respective ones of the chain sprockets, means for driving each guide member in synchronism with an adjacent one of the chain sprockets, each carrier having an off-center first spigot that is connected to an associated one of the conveyor chains and an off-center second spigot that is positioned and arranged to engage with a said guide member when a portion of the conveyor chain to which the first spigot is connected is being directed around an adjacent one of the chain sprockets, horizontally extending rails located within opposite side walls of the chamber, the rails being positioned and arranged to support the forward-and-return horizontal passes of the respective conveyor chains and to support the first and second spigots of the respective carriers whereby the carriers are maintained in horizontal dispositions when moving through the forward-and-return horizontal passes within the chamber, vertically extending channels located within opposite side walls of the chamber for guiding the conveyor chains through vertically extending passes within the chamber, and each carrier being provided with a third spigot which is arranged together with the first spigot to locate within the channel and to act in conjunction with the first spigot to maintain the respective product support trays in horizontal dispositions when they are conveyed through the vertical pass.