Abstract:
The invention provides a tray support plate assembly instead of a single cast unitary part for a tray carrier used in a mogul machine. The high wear or failure areas of the tray support plate assembly have been designed as removable and replaceable separate parts that are fastened onto the tray support plate. The support plate may be machined from aluminum billet material. The individual parts such as the end pick plate may also be made of aluminum plate material. Preferably the cam plate is made of steel material. A pair of cam mechanisms can be provided on opposed sides of the tray support plate.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention pertains to mogul machines that are used for making starch molded candy products, and more particularly to tray carriers for use on such mogul machines.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Mogul machines are used for making starch molded candy products such as gummy bears for example. The machines typically include a central horizontal conveyor that systematically moves the trays through different stations where trays are filled with starch, cavities are printed into the starch and the cavities are filled with liquefied candy product mixture. At least one end of the machine includes a tray transport mechanism that may be used to pick trays from the horizontal conveyor. An example an exemplary mogul machine is disclosed in Klein, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/871,828 assigned to the present assignee, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
           [0003]    This invention pertains to the tray carrier devices used in the tray transport mechanism at the end of the mogul machine. This tray transport mechanism includes a pair of parallel endless chains that run around endless paths that have both horizontal and vertical segments. The endless chains carry a plurality of tray carrier mechanisms. Tray carrier mechanisms of opposing endless chains cooperate to pick and transport trays along the endless path as desired (with trays held between opposed tray carrier mechanisms).  
           [0004]    There are a large number of mogul machines in existence and as such the design for tray carrier mechanisms has basically remained constant. Prior tray carrier mechanisms have only been made of a couple of parts. The part that engages trays have traditionally been cast as a single unitary part from cast iron material. While tray carriers with this design usually work well for a while, from time to time, these devices need to be replaced as portions of the single unitary cast iron mass become bent, break off and/or become worn. Unfortunately, replacing and maintaining the individual tray carrier mechanisms has become expensive and has resulted in significant downtime. Because there are a large number of mogul machines in existence using this design, heretofore, there has been no suitable solution to these problems.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The invention provides a solution to the problems with existing tray carrier mechanisms by providing a tray support plate assembly instead of a single cast unitary part. The high wear or failure areas have been designed as removable and replaceable parts that are fastened onto the tray support plate. The individual replaceable parts such as the support plate may be machined from aluminum billet material. The end pick plate may also be made of aluminum plate material. Preferably the cam plate structure is made of steel material. A pair of cam plates can be provided on opposed sides of the tray support plate.  
           [0006]    These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly schematic illustration of a mogul machine having tray transport mechanisms which may incorporate the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of a tray transport mechanism incorporating tray carriers in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a tray carrier in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the tray carrier shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is side elevation similar to that shown in FIG. 4 but in an expanded position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a cross section of FIG. 3 taken about line  6 - 6 .  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view of the tray carrier shown in the previous Figures. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    Referring to FIG. 1, a tray carrier  10  is shown used in a tray transport mechanism  10  disposed at the end of a mogul machine  14 . The mogul machine  14  may be the same machine as that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/871,828, and reference can be had to that application for some additional details of an exemplary mogul machine arrangement. Because mogul machines are well known, only limited details will be provided herein for purposes of orientation of the drawings and the present invention. The mogul machine  14  includes an entrance side that receives empty trays  14  on a horizontal conveyor mechanism  15 . The conveyor mechanism  15  transports trays  16  through a plurality of stations including starch filling and leveling stations  18 , a candy cavity printing station  20  where cavities are formed into the starch contained in the tray, and one or more candy pumping stations  22  where liquidized candy mixture is filled into formed cavities. Trays are then output onto the tray transport mechanism  12  where the molded candy is separated from the starch.  
         [0015]    The tray transport mechanism  12  for which the present invention is directed may be disposed at one or both ends of the conveyor mechanism  15 . As shown in FIG. 2, the tray transport mechanism  12  includes a pair of endless chains  24  that are entrained on sprockets in parallel relation and that are driven about an endless path to include vertical and horizontal segments. Each chain  24  includes a plurality of the tray carriers  10  that are arranged at spaced intervals along the endless path. The tray carriers  10  of opposed endless chains are aligned with one another to cooperate to pick and transport trays  16  along the endless path. Arranged along the path are linear guide rails  26  that define guide tracks or channels  28  that are adapted to guide movement and keep correct alignment of the tray carriers  10 . The tray transport mechanisms  12  also include cam activators or abutment blocks  20  that are adapted to engage cam mechanisms on the tray carriers  10 .  
         [0016]    Turning in greater detail to the present invention, the tray carrier  10  shown in FIGS. 3-7 has several novel features that provide for easier and/or less expensive maintenance and which can be used to replace cast iron tray carriers existing on many mogul machines. The tray carrier  10  includes a mounting base  32  that is the primary support structure for the apparatus. The mounting base  32  may be machined from a block of billet aluminum material and extends generally along a longitudinal vertical path axis. Along the outer face of the tray carrier  20 , a chain mounting structure  34  is rotatably mounted the mounting base  32 . The mounting structure  34  includes a pair of threaded holes that can be fastened directly to the endless chain  24  with suitable fasteners. In spaced relation to the chain mounting structure  34  along the path axis is a rounded cylindrical chain engagement slide block  36  mounted the mounting structure. The slide block  36  is adapted to engage the chain  24  and keep the tray carrier  10  in an upright position.  
         [0017]    In addition, a cross block  38 , which also may be machined from aluminum billet material, is mounted to the mounting base  32 . The mounting base  32  extends along a horizontal axis transverse to the vertical axis and carries a pair of guide wheel followers  40  at opposed ends with one on each side of the mounting base. The guide wheels followers  40  may be removably fastened to the cross block  38  and are adapted to be received in the channels  28  of the guide rails  26  to keep the tray carrier  10  in a correct alignment position.  
         [0018]    A front pair and a back pair of pivot arms  46  arranged in a rectangular spacing are pivotally mounted to the mounting base  32  via shoulder bolts. The pivot arms  46  are pivotally connected to a tray support plate  48  via shoulder bolts and thereby carry the tray support plate  48  in parallel relation to the mounting base  32 . As shown in the FIGS. 4 and 5, the tray support plate  48  is movable or swings away and simultaneously reward relative to the mounting base  32  through the pivot arms  46 .  
         [0019]    In FIG. 4, the tray support plate  48  is illustrated in a forward position adjacent the mounting base  32 , while in FIG. 5, the tray support plate  48  is illustrated in a rearward position spaced horizontally from the mounting base  32 . When mounted upright, gravity is one force that tends to keep the tray support plate  48  in the away position shown in FIG. 5. In addition, at least one spring  49 , supported by the mounting base  32 , is arranged to bias the tray support plate  48  rearwardly. When the carrier is positioned as shown in FIG. 5, the spring  49  serves to hold the tray support plate  48  in the away position and a fixed position against a stop plate  51  mounted to the tray support plate  48 . Also, when the tray support plate  48  is in a close or forward position, it is in an over-center position meaning that the spring also serves to hold the tray support plate  48  in the close position. As will be described below, the tray support plate  48  is actuated against the action of the spring  48  between close and away positions when cam plates are acted upon by stationary abutment blocks  30 .  
         [0020]    The tray support plate  48  includes a planar tray contact face  50  that faces in a direction away from the mounting base  32  and that is adapted to engage trays  16  when mounted on one of the endless chains  24  of the tray transport mechanism  12 .  
         [0021]    At the forward end of the tray support plate  48  is a removable slide block  52 , which may be machined from industrial plastic material. The slide block  52  is intended to be the first structure to engage the trays and as such preferably includes a chamfered front face  54  that is adapted initial engage each tray. The slide block  52  is removably mounted with fasteners  54  to the tray support plate  48 .  
         [0022]    At the rear end of the tray support plate  48 , and in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, is a removable butt end pick plate  58 . The pick plate  58  may be machined from aluminum billet material. The pick plate  58  is fastened to the back side of the tray support plate  48  in a removable manner with threaded fasteners  60 . The pick plate  58  projects outward from the contact face  50  away in a direction away from the mounting base  32  to engage the bottom side of tray  16 . In this manner, the pick plate  58  is adapted to support and support the trays  16 .  
         [0023]    It is an advantage of the present invention that the pick plate  58  is made separate from the tray support plate  48  and is removably fastened thereto. One benefit is that the pick plate  58  can be removed and replaced from time to time after excess wear has occurred or if the pick plate  58  breaks or becomes disfigured. Because the pick plate  58  strikes the bottom side of trays and thereby carries the brunt of the initial impact, the removability feature provides a ready way to maintenance the tray carrier  10  without completely disassembling the device and removal of the device from the endless chain may not be necessary.  
         [0024]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, one or more side cam plates  62  are mounted to opposing sides of the tray support plate  48 . The cam plates  62  include diagonal cam faces  64  that are adapted to strike the stationary abutment blocks  30  which are arranged at strategic locations for purposes of picking and releasing trays. The cam plates  62  are preferably made of steel material to be of suitable hardness for the abutment blocks  30 . The cam plates  62  are also removably fastened to the tray support plate  48  with thread fasteners  66  such that the cam plates  62  can be readily replaced. This is another significant advantage as the cam plates  62  repeatedly contact the abutment blocks  30  and thereby incur large impact loads and stress during each cycle of the device. The cam plates  62 , can likewise be replaced without completely disassembling the tray carrier  10  and maintenance, repair and replacement of cam plates  62  can be done while the tray carrier  10  is mounted to an endless chain if desired.  
         [0025]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.  
         [0026]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
         [0027]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.