Patent Abstract:
A lug cart and support table assembly is disclosed comprising a support table having an upper support surface for supporting a breading machine. A lug tub-shaped lug located in the lug cart and a latching system affixed to the lug cart to removably attach the lug cart to a selected one of a front side and a rear side of the table assembly. The latching system includes a first latch assembly and a second latch assembly affixed to an end of the cart in spaced apart relation, each of the first and second latch assemblies includes a support body, a pivoting arm coupled to the support body and pivoting in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis between a locking position and a release position.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates to a lug cart and support table assembly for use with food processing equipment and, more particularly, a lug cart and support table assembly for supporting one or more food product breading machines, a lug cart assembly adapted for releasably docking to the support table assembly wherein the lug cart assembly includes a latching system for releasably locking the lug cart assembly from a selected one of a front and rear side of the support table assembly. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Food product breading machines are widely used in restaurants and food processing industry to coat food items such as chicken tenders, fish filets, onion rings, etc., with breading and/or batter prior to frying or baking the items. An example of a food product breading machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,170, issued on Jun. 12, 2001 to Whited. The &#39;170 patent is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The &#39;170 patent discloses a breading/battering machine that provides a battering unit disposed vertically above breading unit. The product follows a generally horizontal C-shaped path. The raw product is input at a first end of the machine and moves generally horizontally through the upper battering unit toward an opposite, second or back end of the machine. After completion of battering the product is conveyed downwardly to the breading unit. The product moves generally horizontally through the breading unit back toward the first end where the finished product is discharged from the machine. 
   Another food product breading machine is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/235,299, filed Sep. 26, 2005 to Muniga, Whited &amp; Bettcher. The &#39;299 application is also assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The &#39;299 application discloses a high volume breading/battering machine having two parallel breading/battering units driven by a drive unit positioned between the two units. 
   Generally, breading machines are placed on a flat support table. The finished products are discharged into a breading lug, commonly referred to in the industry as a lug or bus tub, positioned near a product discharge or first end of the breading machine. Depending on the food item being processed, a perforated metal basket may be supported within the lug with the finished product being discharged into the basket. This may be done, for example, so that excess breading or grease may drip off the finished product falling through openings in the basket into the lug as the finished product sits in the basket. 
   Typically, the lug is placed in a lug cart which can be wheeled from the breading machine when the lug is full or sufficient finished product has been produced by the breading machine. Additionally, at periodic intervals, the breading machine must be cleaned which involves cleaning out the breading in a breading reservoir of the breading unit. Typically, access to the breading reservoir is from a second or back end of the breading machine. Again, a lug placed in a lug cart is used to catch the breading during the cleaning operation. 
   The support table poses a number of difficulties. The table must be sturdy enough to support the significant weight of the breading machine. In breading machines used in restaurants, space is typically very limited and the breading machine will be placed with the second or back end against a wall. When cleaning the machine, the support table (with the breading machine positioned on the table) must be pulled away from the wall to access the back end of the machine. Pulling a table across the floor stresses the legs of the table. 
   Utilizing the lug carts is also problematic. The lug carts are often top heavy and pose a tipping hazard. Because the carts are wheeled, they also tend to move easily when bumped or jostled or simply from vibration of the breading machine. If the cart moves with respect to the support table, finished product can miss the lug and fall onto the floor, thereby increasing waste and posing a slipping hazard. Further, when a lug is full, an employee has to bend over and remove the lug from the cart. This exposes the employee to back strain from lifting a heavy lug from the low height of the cart. Finally, lug carts do not provide a surface surrounding the lugs to direct material into the lug. This is especially problematic with respect to cleaning out the breading from the breading machine. Because the support table is generally wider than the lug and the lug cart, breading often spills from the machine and table over the sides of the lug and the lug cart resulting in breading falling on the floor and causing an unsanitary work area. Employees sometimes improvise with a sheet pan propped against the back end of the breading machine to direct the breading from the machine to the lug, which requires additional work and slows the cleaning process. Additionally, the sheet pan then also has to be cleaned and stored. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention concerns a lug cart and support table assembly for a food product breading machine. In one aspect, the present invention concerns a support table having an upper support surface for supporting a breading machine; a lug cart supporting a tub-shaped lug; and a latching system affixed to the lug cart to removably attach the lug cart to a selected one of a front side and a rear side of the support table; in a first position of the lug cart, the lug cart being removably attached by the latching system to a pair of front legs of the support table and, in the second position of the lug cart, the lug cart being removably attached by the latching system to a pair of rear legs of the support table. 
   In one exemplary embodiment, the latching system includes a first latch assembly and a second latch assembly affixed to an end of the lug cart in spaced apart relation, each of the first and second latch assemblies includes a support body, a pivoting arm coupled to the support body and pivoting in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis between a locking position and a release position, the pivoting arm including first and second openings and an arcuate engagement face to engage a portion of a respective leg of the support table in a locking position, and a locking pin extending through the support body and including a distal end extending beyond the support body and received into a selected one of the first and second openings, the locking pin distal end being received into the first opening of the pivoting arm in the locking position, the locking pin distal end pin distal end being received into the second opening of the pivoting arm in the release position. 
   In one exemplary embodiment, the first and second latch assemblies are in a locking position, for each of the first and second latch assemblies, an arc, facing in a direction of the support body, defined by a first point of contact between the lug cart and a respective leg of the support table and a second point of contact between the pivoting arm and the respective leg being less than 180 degrees such that if one of the first and second latch assemblies is in the locking position and the other of the first and second latch assemblies is in the release position, the lug cart may detached and moved away from the support table. 
   These and other objects, advantages, and features of the exemplary embodiment of the invention are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates upon consideration of the following description of the disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts unless otherwise described throughout the drawings and in which: 
       FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a breading system including a lug cart assembly attached to a support table for supporting a food product breading machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 1   b  is a second perspective view of a breading system of  FIG. 1   a , including a lug cart assembly attached to a support table for supporting a food product breading machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a magnified perspective view of latching arm assembly of a latching system of the lug cart assembly secured to a leg of the support table assembly of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b;    
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the lug cart assembly constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure having a latching system comprising first and second latching arm assemblies secured to legs of a support table assembly of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b;    
       FIG. 4  is a partial-top plan view of one latching arm assembly of the lug cart of  FIG. 3  in an unsecured position; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial-front elevation view of one latching arm assembly of the lug cart of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial-side elevation view of one latching arm assembly of the lug cart of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional-front elevation view of one latching arm assembly of the lug cart of  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a lug cart assembly constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure adapted to support a sifter. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention relates to a lug cart and support table assembly for use with food processing equipment and, more particularly, a support table assembly for supporting one or more breading machines and a lug cart assembly adapted for releasably docking to a selected one of a front side and a rear side of the support table assembly. 
   When the lug cart assembly is docked or locked to the front side of the support table assembly, the lug cart assembly is positioned to receive finished breaded products from a product discharge of first end or ends of the one or more breading machines. When the lug cart assembly is docked or locked to the rear or back side of the support table assembly, the lug cart assembly is positioned to receive used breading discharge from a breading reservoir of the one or more breading machines during a cleaning operation. The discharge from the breading reservoir is from a back end of the breading machine opposite the product discharge end. Convenient docking and undocking of the lug cart assembly from either the front or rear sides of the support table assembly is advantageously provided by a latching system of the lug cart assembly. 
   Lug Cart Assembly 
   Referring now to the Figures, and in particular to  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , a breading system  10  comprising the lug cart and support table assembly  11  of the present invention is shown. The lug cart and support table assembly  11  includes the support table assembly  12  and the lug cart assembly  14 . The lug cart assembly  14  includes the latching assembly  15  to releasably attach the lug cart assembly  14  to the support table assembly  12 . The support table assembly  12  is adapted to support one or more food product breading machines  100   a ,  100   b . While the lug cart assembly  14  is described as being used with a food product breading machine, the lug cart assembly can be used with any food processing equipment without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. 
   Support Table Assembly 
   The support table  12  comprises a support or mounting surface  16  for supporting the breading machines  100   a ,  100   b , along with a plurality of flanges  18  for securing sheet pans (not shown) to the mounting surface  16 . 
   Extending downward from the underside of the support table  12 , and more specifically, mounting surface  16  are pair of first legs  20  and second pair of legs  22 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , the support table assembly  12  is adapted for movement by the attachment of a caster  24  to each of the pair of legs  20 ,  22 , respectively. The casters  24  can be any combination of locking, unlocking, swivel, or non-swivel as best suited for the environment and/or application. 
   In an alternative embodiment, the support table assembly  12  is stationary such that the legs  20 ,  22  extend to the ground without casters  24 . The support table assembly  12  in the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  further comprises a shelf  26  for storing various containers just below the mounting surface  16 . The shelf  26  is fixedly attached to first and second pairs of legs  20 ,  22 , providing support and stability to the support table assembly  12 . 
   The lug cart assembly  14  includes an operating surface  28  that in the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  comprises first and second openings  30  and  32 , respectively. Installed within the first and second opening  30 ,  32 , are support lugs  34   a ,  34   b , sometimes referred to as breading lugs or bus tubs and are tub-shaped containers, normally fabricated of high impact plastic that receive finished products from the food processing equipment, and in the illustrated embodiment from a food product breading machine. The support lugs  34   a ,  34   b  are aligned with a corresponding conveyor of the breading machine  100   a ,  100   b  that transport the finished products such that the products are received in the respective lugs without contacting the edge of the support table  12 . 
   Extending downward from the underside of lug cart assembly  14 , and more specifically, the operating surface  28  are pair of first legs  36  and pair of second legs  38 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , the lug cart assembly  14  is adapted for movement by the attachment of a caster  40  to each of the pair of legs  36 ,  38 , respectively. The casters  40  can be any combination of locking, unlocking, swivel, or non-swivel as best suited for the environment and/or application. Adding support and stability to the lug cart assembly  14  legs are longitudinal braces  42  that connect pair of first legs  36  to the second pair of legs  38 . Support and stability is further added by a lateral brace  44  that provides a connection between the pair of second legs  38 , as best seen in  FIG. 1   a.    
   Latching Arm Assembly 
   Illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a magnified perspective view of one latching arm assembly  46  of a latching system  48  comprising a pair of latching arm assemblies fixedly attached to the lug cart assembly  14 , as better seen in the plan view of  FIG. 3 . The plan view of  FIG. 3  further shows latching assemblies  46 , forming a mirror image of each other in a secured docked position around first pair of legs  20  of the support table  12 . The mirror image construction of spaced latching assemblies  46  facilitates a one-step release process, further discussed below in more detail. While the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  depicts the latching system  48  being attached to the pair of first legs  20  of the support table  12 , the latching assembly  48  is equally capable of attaching the lug cart assembly  14  to the pair of second legs  22  of the support table. 
   The latching assemblies  46  each include an arcuate pivoting arm  50  rotatably connected and horizontally extending from a support body  52 . The support body  52  includes a pivot opening  54  and a pivot pin  56  which extends into a pivot aperture  60  located in the arcuate pivoting arm  50  about which the arm rotates to latched or secured positions illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 - 6  to an unlatched or unsecured position illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The rotation of the arcuate pivoting arm  50  is further facilitated by bushings  62 ,  64 , located in the arm  50  and support body  52 , respectively. The support body  52  is secured to the lug cart  14  by a plurality of welded connections (“W”) (see  FIG. 6 ) to the underside  53  and front  55  of operating surface  28 , but could also be secured by any known attachment process, including for example, conventional threaded fasteners. 
   In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7 , the pivoting pin  56  is a threaded fastener such as a shoulder bolt, but could equally be any other type of known pivoting connection, including for example, a dowel pin, and the like. The arcuate pivoting arm  50  further comprises locating apertures  66  that assist in holding the pivoting arm  50  in position when rotating is not desired by the passing of a locking pin  68  through the locating apertures  66 . The locking pin  68  is held into position by a threaded connection formed by a tapped opening  69  in the support body  52 . A locking nut  71  is advanced downward toward and onto the surface of the support body  52  on the locking pin  68  once the pin is oriented at its desired height. A first locating aperture  66 a is engaged by the locating pin  68  when the arcuate pivoting arm  50  is rotated to an unlatched or released position illustrated in  FIG. 4 . A second locating aperture  66 b is engaged by the locking pin  68  when the arcuate pivoting arm  50  is rotated to a latched or secure position illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 - 6 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7 , the locking pin  68  is a spring plunger pin, having a spring biased nose or engagement portion  70  at a distal end of the locking pin that is retractable by pulling a T-handle  72  at an end of the locking pin opposite the distal end. The nose  70  is normally biased by a spring (not shown) internal to the spring plunger locking pin  68  such that the nose is in contact with the arcuate pivoting arm  50  and passes through either of the locating apertures  66   a ,  66   b , when aligned with the pin. The various positions of the locking pin  68  are best seen in  FIG. 7  in which the pin is in a locking position (“L”), spring biased to pass through one of the locating apertures  66   b  of the arcuate pivoting arm  50  for a latching condition and similarly is spring biased to pass through locating aperture  66   a  of the arm for an unlatching condition. The locking pin  68  is further shown (in phantom) in an upward unlocking position (“U”) such that the arcuate pivoting arm  50  can freely rotate about pivoting pin  56  to latched and unlatched positions. The upward unlocking position (U) is achieved by the operator engaging the T-handle  72  and pulling the locking pin  68  upward when its desired to move the arcuate pivoting arm to a latched or unlatched position. The T-handle  72  is adapted to remain in the upward (U) position absent assistance by the user by rotating the T-handle 90 degrees and releasing it into a ridge  78 . 
   While any rigid plastic, polymers, or metals could be used for the construction and components of the lug cart assembly, the components in the illustrated embodiment are made from 300 and 400 series stainless steel to help resists corrosion during steam and pressure washing conditions. The spring plunger  68  is a known mechanical fastener available through, for example, MSC Industrial Supply of Melville, N.Y. under part number 62124391 made from 300 series stainless steel approximately two (2″) inches in overall length and having a three-eighths of an inch (⅜″) bolt diameter at 16 threads-per-inch, ⅜-16, and is available online at micdirect.com. 
   Docking and Undocking of the Lug Cart Assembly 
   In operation, the lug cart assembly  14  is advanced by a user for a latching connection with a support table  12  by the latching system  48  of the present disclosure. More specifically, first and second latching arm assemblies  46  for attaching to the pair of first legs  20  on a front side  74  of the support table  1   2  (see  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ). Alternatively, the latching arm assemblies  46  can be spaced apart such that the latching arm assemblies  46  can attached to a rear side  76  of the support table  12  to the pair of second legs  22 . As the lug cart assembly  14  is advanced, the operating surface  28  assumes an unobstructed position beneath the underside  80  of the mounting surface  16  of the support table  12  (as best seen in  FIG. 2 ) until the front side  55  of the cart  14  engages the first pair of legs  20  to form a first contact point (“A”). The arcuate pivoting arms  50  of both arm assemblies  46  are then rotated about their respective pivot pins  56  to form second respective contact points (“B”) between the inner arcs  82  of the arms. The latching pin  68  is then released to the locked position (L) such that the nose  70  extends through the locating aperture  66   b  of the arcuate pivoting arm  50 , thereby completing the formation of a latched or docked position of the lug cart  14  with the support table  12 . 
   In yet another embodiment, the latching arm assemblies  46  are oversized such that the inner arc  82  or front side  55  of the lug cart  14  do not necessarily form simultaneous contact at point A and point B, but may engage only at one point A or B, or neither point. Instead the legs  20  or  22  are surrounded by the latching arm assemblies  46  prevent substantial movement from the support table  12 . Substantial movement includes any movement that would prevent the food products from falling into the lugs  34   a  or  34   b.    
   The process for undocking or releasing the lug cart assembly  14  from the support table  12  can advantageously be achieved by unlocking only one of the two latching assemblies  46 . As such, the operator reduces the time and effort of walking to both ends of the lug cart assembly  14 . The current design of the latching assemblies  46  and in particular, the subtended construct of the inner arc  82  of the arcuate pivoting arm  50  (see  FIG. 3 ) and the respective leg  20  or  22  of the support cart that form contact points (A) and (B) are less than 180 degrees, allowing only one of the two latching assemblies  46  to be released for the lug cart assembly  14  to move. This one-step release process is further facilitated by the face-to-face or mirror image of the latching arm assemblies  46  as depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
   The process of obtaining a released position of the lug cart assembly  14  of  FIG. 4  from that of the latched or docked position of  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 - 6 , requires the operator to pull the locking pin  68  to the unlocked position (U) on one of the of the latching arm assemblies ( 46 ) (the one-step release) and rotating the arcuate pivoting arm  50  about the pivoting pin  56 . If so desired, the operator can further advance the arcuate pivoting arm  50  so that the latching pin  68  engages locating aperture  66   a  to secure an unlocked position in the pivoting arm. It should be further mentioned that the pivoting arms  50  can be rotated beyond locating aperture  66   a  in an unlocked position, allowing the front  55  of the lug cart assembly to be clear from any portion of the pivoting arms  50 . Once the pivoting arm of one of the two latching arm assemblies  46  is in the released position described above and shown in  FIG. 4 , the operator can shift the lug cart  14  laterally (see arrows L in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ), then pull the cart away longitudinally (see arrow ◯ in  FIG. 1 ) once the remaining secured arcuate pivoting arm  50  clears corresponding secured leg  20  or  22 , hence the one-step release process is complete. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8  is another example embodiment of the present disclosure in which a sifter  84  is located below one (illustrated) or both (not shown) of the lugs  34   a  and  34   b  of the lug cart  14 . The sifter  84  is used to recycle materials such as flour used during breading operations. In yet another example embodiment, only one lug  34   a  or  34   b  is present and a working surface is provided adjacent the lug (not shown). In another example embodiment, covers  86  and  88  are positioned over the top of lugs  34   a  and  34   b  lugs. 
   What have been described above are examples of the present invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1