US2390075A - Conveyer for ovens - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1945. G. J. DAWNl 2,390,075

CONVEYER FOR OVENS Filed Sept. 2, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet WW l I IN VEN TOR.

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CONVEYER FOR OVENS Dec. 4, 1945. G. J. DAWN coNvEYER EOR ovENs Filed sept. 2, 1944` 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

/7 TTOENEYS Patented Dec. 4, 1945 CONVEYER FOR OVENS George J. Dawn, Waukegan, Ill., assgnor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 2, 1944, Serial No. 552,506

` 3 Claims. (Cl. 198-134) The present invention relates to conveyers for ovens in which freshly coated sheets and the like are dried by heat and cooling treatments and has particular reference to devices for maintaining the sheets against shifting to prevent their being pinched between the links when the conveyer passes around a curved path of travel.

Conveyers forY ovens are usually of the link chain type having upwardly extending wickets for l supporting the coated sheets in an upright posithis type of chain the links spread apart when passing around a curved path of travel, such as around a sprocket, and the sheets sometimes slip into the space between the spread links and become pinched. This damages the sheet so that it cannotbe automatically fed from a stack for subsequent operations.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this difculty by providing a guard'on the conveyer which covers the space between the links of the conveyer chain and thus prevents the sheets from slipping into the space and becoming pinched.

An object of the invention is the provision of an oven conveyer chain carrying sheet supporting wickets having sheet protecting guards where in the sheets on the conveyer are maintained inv a predetermined position to prevent pinching of the sheets between the links of the chain when they pass around a curved path of travel.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of an oven conveyer having sheet supporting wickets embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along the vertical line 2-2 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the conveyer and a portion of a wicket, with parts broken away.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings disclose a conveyer A of the type used in lithograph drying ovens and the like. The conveyer carries a plurality of wickets B having cross bars C and upwardly extending prongs D for supporting freshly coated'sheets E in an upright on-edge position for passage through the oven.

4The conveyer A includes a pair of spaced and parallel endless chains II which are connected transversely `by the cross bars C of the wickets B. The chains II preferably are of the roller link type and operate over driving and idler sprockets I2 located at the opposite ends ofthe oven. At spaced intervals along the chains, rollers I3 are provided which travel on guide rails I4 which maintain the chains in a horizontal position.

The inner links of the chains II are formed with slightly rearwardly inclineduprght tongues I6 of rectangular cross section which extend up through slots I1 formed in the wicket cross bars C and thus'carry the wickets. VA cotter pin I8 in a-hole in the upper ends of each tongue holds the wickets in place.

The inner links of the chains II are further formed with flat arcuate shaped or curved lugs I9 which engage against the edges of the adjacent tongues I6 and thus support the chains against sagging between the rollers I3. Notches 2I formed in the lugs adjacent the base of the tongues receive and support the lower edge of the sheets resting against the wickets.

With this construction of conveyer the links of the chains pivot as they pass around a curved path of travel, as when passing over the sprockets, and thus the lugs I9 move away from the tongues I6 and leave a space therebetween. Provision is made for preventing the sheets from slipping out of the notches 2I in the links and falling down into this space between the lugs and the tongues where they would become pinched and damaged. This prevention is brought about by a guard 25 which preferably is secured to the cross bar C of the wickets. For some types of conveyers it may be secured directly to the prongs or to other parts of the wicket or the guard may be a part of the chain links if desired.

'I'he guard 25 preferably is made of sheet metal and in general is substantially triangular in shape and hollow .with a U-shaped cross section, as best shown in Fig. 3. There is one of these guards for each lug I9 and each guard is secured to the next adjacent wicket. The base of the guard (designated 26) is open and telescopes over the curved upper edge of the lug. A rearwardly ydisposed edge or wall 21 of the guard is closed and near its base a clearance notch 28 is formed for reception of the curved upper edge of the lug I9, the sides of the guard extending down adjacent the sides of the lug in overlapping telescoping relation.

With this form of guard 25 the upper curved edges of the lugs I9 are always covered so that the lower edge of the sheet resting on the conveyer is confined within its notches 2l in the chain links. If the edge of a sheet becomes dislodged from its notches as when being discharged from the conveyer or is not properly inserted in its notch as when entering the conveyer, it can only ride on the curved edge of the lugs I9 and is prevented by the closed rear wall 21 of each of the guards 25 from slipping off to a position between the links. This is especially true when the links pivot on each other as when passing around the sprockets. It is during this curved portion of the travel of the links that the lugs I9 move away from the tongues to form a space between them, as hereinbefore mentioned,

but since the guards 25 extend over the lugs at -1 all times, the space between the links is bridged by the guards and hence the inner supported edge of the sheet is prevented from entering the space and is thereby prevented from becoming pinched or otherwise damaged between the links. 1

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and itwill be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacricing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. A conveyer for an oven for treating coated sheets, comprising in combination, a chain of links, each of said links having a lug for supporting a coated sheet on edge, a wicket mounted on each of said links for supporting said sheets in an upright position, and a guard on each of said wickets, said guards extending in telescoping relation over the adjacent lugs on said chain for maintaining the sheets on the lugs, thereby preventing pinching of the sheets between the lugs when the chain passes around a curved path of travel.

2. A conveyer for an oven for treating coated sheets, comprising in combination, a chain of links, each of said links having a curved lug for supporting a coated sheet on edge, each said lug engaging its adjacent link for maintaining the chain against sagging, a wicket mounted on each of said links for supporting said sheets in an upright position, and a hollow triangular guard having a U-shaped cross section on each of said wickets with the base of said guards disposed adjacent said lugs, said guards extending over said lugs in telescoping relation for maintaining the sheets on the lugs thereby preventing pinching of the sheets between the lugs when they move away from their adjacent links in passing around a curved path of travel.

3. A conveyer for an oven for treating coated sheets, comprising in combination, a chain of links, each of said links having a lug for supporting a coated sheet on edge, a wicket cross bar having upwardly extending prongs mounted on each of said links for supporting said sheets in an upright position, and a guard on each of said wicket cross bars, said guards extending adjacent the lugs on said chain in overlapping relation for maintaining the sheets on the lugs thereby preventing pinching of the sheets between the lugs when the chain passes around a curved path of travel.

GEORGE J. DAWN.

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