Patent GB-489932-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for cooking or heating foodstuffs
IPC: A23L3/02
Filed: 1937-01-01
Abstract: 489,932. Conveyers. GALVIN, H. D., and L.C. ENGINEERING SUPPLIES, Ltd. Jan. 1, 1937, No. 84. [Class 78 (i)] [Also in Groups VI and XXV] Apparatus for heating or cooking foodstuffs in cans, glass jars or other containers comprises a structure rotatable step-by-step and carrying a plurality of tubular retorts 1 disposed about the axis of rotation of the structure with their longitudinal axes parallel thereto, means being provided for feeding the cans &c. to the individual retorts as these are brought in alignment with the feeding means. As shown, the retorts 1, Figs. 1, 3, are supported detachably in two concentric rings by three rings 2 which are carried on rollers 3, the centre pair of which are flanged to prevent longitudinal displacement of the retorts. The cans 104 are fed in batches to each of a pair of retorts when these are at the lowest point by an associated endless band conveyer 42 and a ram 43, which are side-by-side, the treated cans being simultaneously discharged by the rams from the opposite end of the retorts on to a table &c. The cans are supplied to the conveyers 42 by inclined shoots 78 and are transferred from the conveyers 42 to the rams 43 by bridge plates 80, Fig. 10. Each conveyer 42 is supported on rollers 44 and is driven continuously from the variable speed gear 8 through bevel gearing 46 and chains 45. The rams 43 are driven from the shaft 48, carrying one of the bevel wheels 46, which rotates through a chain 50 a shaft 52 from which pairs of chains 61, Figs. 8, 9, actuating the rams are driven through bevel wheels actuating two vertical shafts 55 which rotate stub-shafts 58 through further bevel wheels. The chains 61 are carried by sprocketwheels 62 loosely mounted on shafts 58 and are driven by the engagement with lateral pins 68 thereon of star-wheels 69 fixed on shafts 58. At the opposite ends the chains 61 are supported on sprockets 63 fixed on stub-shafts 64, 65. A roller 66 is secured between each pair of chains 61 and engages in a vertical slot 70 in a plate 67 which depends from the ram 43, which is-thereby reciprocated. Intermittent movement of the rams 43 is obtained by moving the chains 61 intermittently by omitting a number of the pins 68 so that the drive will cease after one complete reciprocation of the rams 43. Further movement of the chains is initiated by a chain 71 driven continuously through an auxiliary chain and countershaft from shaft 52 and having a pin 75 which engages with a segment 76 on a disc 77 fixed on one of the shafts 64 which is thereby rotated and moves the pinless portion of the chain 61 past the star-wheels 69. The other shaft 64 is also rotated through a chain 73, Fig. 1, passing over sprocket-wheels 74 secured one to each of these shafts. Each batch of cans prior to deposit on a ram 43 is located upon the respective shoot 78 behind a plate 84 normally disposed in the path of the cans and mounted on a spindle 85 on which is secured an arm 86 with which the ram 43 contacts on its return to raise plate 84 and release the cans. The forward end of the ram has a pivoted plate 87 which is in a vertical position and separates the fresh batch of cans from those being expelled from the retort and on the return of the ram is lowered by Bowden wire control and the fresh batch is retained in the retort by a pivoted plate 91 which falls down behind it after insertion. Means may be included for preventing the rams being actuated in respect to any pair of retorts, comprising a circular series of holes in a ring 2, one opposite each pair of retorts, a pin 101, Fig. 1, being inserted in the hole corresponding to the pair of retorts and actuating a valve 92 which actuates a pneumatic device 95, Fig. 9, which causes the segment 76, which is attached to a collar 99 splined in shaft 64 and normally maintained in the path of pin 75 by spring 100, to be moved out of the path of the pin.