Horizontal carousel conveyor
View Patent ↗A horizontal carousel conveyor moves in a horizontal plane by using vertically-oriented conveyor links. When used with an oven, it continuously moves foods and other items in a closed, horizontal loop.
1. A horizontal carousel conveyor for an oven comprising:
a plurality of vertically-hinged belt links, each belt link being hingedly attached to an adjacent link, said vertical belt links being joined together to form a closed loop; and
at least one roller bearing having a substantially horizontal center axis of rotation and wherein an edge of said conveyor belt links ride over said roller bearing.
2. The conveyor of claim 1 further comprised of at least one roller bearing having a substantially horizontal center axis of rotation and wherein an edge of said conveyor belt links ride over a exterior journal in said roller bearing.
3. The conveyor of claim 1 further comprised of at least first and second pliable rollers, sized, shaped and arranged to hold the conveyor links upright.
4. The conveyor of claim 1 wherein said conveyor links are made from a heat tolerant material.
5. The conveyor of claim 1 wherein said conveyor links are made from rectangular metal plates.
6. The conveyor of claim 1 wherein said conveyor links are aluminum.
7. The conveyor of claim 1 further including a drive motor, coupled to said conveyor to move the conveyor in a substantially horizontal plane.
8. The conveyor of claim 7 wherein said motor is a variable speed motor.
9. The conveyor of claim 1 further comprised of a heating station, operatively coupled to at least one link of the conveyor.
10. The conveyor of claim 9 wherein the heating station includes a wheel that engages a drive plate, said wheel and drive plate causing the heating station to rotate as the conveyor moves.
11. A horizontal carousel conveyor for an oven comprising:
a plurality of vertically-hinged belt links, each belt link being hinged to an adjacent link by a vertically-oriented hinge pin, said vertical belt links being joined together to form a closed loop;
at least one roller bearing having a substantially horizontal center axis of rotation and wherein an edge of said conveyor belt links ride over said roller bearing; and
a heating station, operatively coupled to at least one link of the conveyor.
12. A horizontal carousel conveyor for an oven comprising:
a plurality of vertically-hinged belt links, each belt link being hinged to an adjacent link by a vertically-oriented hinge pin, said vertical belt links being joined together to form a closed loop;
at least one roller bearing having a substantially horizontal center axis of rotation and wherein an edge of said conveyor belt links ride over said roller bearing; and
a rotating heating station, operatively coupled to at least one link of the conveyor.