Patent GB-1221056-A (GB)
Title: Pan feeding apparatus
Inventor: MEISOLL ROBERT F
IPC: A21B5/00
Filed: 1967-09-29
Abstract: 1,221,056. Feeding baking pans. A.M.F. Inc. 27 Sept., 1968 [29 Sept., 1967], No. 44466/67. Heading B8C. Continuity in the delivery of individual bakery pans from a stack thereof to a conveying means 310, is ensured by holding means 31 for a plurality of stacked pans which are delivered thereto, from an in-feed conveyer assembly 20, by a vertical conveyer 23 and transported from the holding means 31 to the conveying means 310 by a conveyer 25. The in-feed conveyer 20 comprises three parallel driven endless belts, e.g. 37, followed by a pair of driven belts, e.g. 40, each located on either side of and parallel to a longer driven belt 34 which extends further to between a pair of lifting plates, e.g. 90, of the vertical conveyer 23. Vertical conveyer 23. The lifting plates 90 are raised and lowered by an hydraulic drive 104, the piston 107 whereof carries a spaced pair of pinions, each engaging a chain 112 fixed intermediate a lifting plate 90 and the machine frame, the lifting action of plates 90 being initiated simultaneously with halting of the driven in-feed conveyer 20, by a limit switch 86 when this is actuated by a stack of pans displacing a lever 84. A stack of pans is raised by the plate 90 to a position where a plurality of topmost pans are engaged by the holding means 31 the lifting movement of the plates 90 being halted upon displacement by the uppermost pan in the stack of a lever (120), Fig. 5 (not shown), which actuates a limit switch (124) to halt the hydraulic drive (104). As each pan is removed from the holding means (31) by the conveyer (25), the lever (120) falls to initiate the drive 104 until the lever (120) is again displaced by the uppermost pan of the stack to halt the drive (104). When a predetermined number of stacked pans remains engaged by the holding means 31, a switch (not shown) in the path of the vertical conveyer 23 initiates lowering thereof into position to receive a further stack of pans from the in-feed conveyer 20. The pan-holding means 31 comprises a horizontal rectangular frame, mounted to uprights 87, a pair of opposite side members 129 whereof are of adjustable length and which is also provided with guides 130 which are adjustable transversely of the sides 129 whereby stacks of pans of different sizes can be accommodated. The predetermined number of pans are engaged in the holding means 31 by a plurality of latch members (148), Fig. 6 (not shown), and (132), Fig. 8 (not shown), respectively mounted in the frame members 87 and along the opposed side of the frame of the holding means 31. The latch members are respectively weight and spring-loaded whereby, after displacement by a pan raised by the plates 90, they return to engage beneath the rim of the pan to provide support for the predetermined number within the holding means 31. The transporting conveyer 25 comprises a pair of spaced conveyer chains 163 which are each driven, from a variable speed drive, over sprockets 165, 168, 170, 173, 175 and 178, and carry between them a number of pivotally mounted bar assemblies 220, each provided with a plurality of opposed spaced latches 230 which are gravity located whereby, on descent of an assembly 220 on the chains 163 from sprockets 178 to 165, the latches 230 are outwardly pivoted about shafts 228 as edges 242 thereof strike the uppermost of the stack of pans at the holding means 31, and then pivot inwardly to engage and lift the pan at hooks 238 thereof as the assembly 220 rises on chains 163 to sprocket 168. During the horizontal run of the chains 163 between sprockets 168, 170, they are supported between bars 263 and 265, a member 273 additionally supporting the bar assemblies 220 at a recess 275 thereof. The pans are released from their bar assembly 220 during passage around sprocket 173 which carries an actuating member 280 which is radially downwardly displaceable thereon, against a spring, when an actuating member follower 305 strikes a stationary cam 298. The downward movement of the actuating member 280 pivots a member 255 on a bar assembly 220 which pivots a further member 258 to pivot, about the shaft 228, an actuating rod 244 which engages a lever portion 240 of the latches 230 whereby these are outwardly pivoted to disengage from the pan, which drops vertically on to the conveyer 310. The conveying means 310 comprises spaced parallel belts 312, 314 with a switch therebetween actuated from a lever 316 which is depressed, when a pan falls thereon, whereby a switch (not shown) is operable, to halt the drive from a motor 215 to the chains 163, when actuated by a bar assembly 220 reaching sprocket 170, the drive being recommenced when the conveyer 130 moves a pan off the lever 316.