TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR A CONTINUOUS HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM
A transfer mechanism for use in a continuous cooking system includes a non-metallic counter-balance having a contact bar located toward its uppermost end and a load located toward its lowermost end. The contact bar is sized to span a useable width of the belt and the load is sized to urge the contact bar into continued contact with a portion of the belt as the belt travels around the end roller. Means such as a rotational joint is provided for pivoting the counter-balance toward and away from belt, the joint being arranged to provide a predetermined amount of travel relative to the belt. Means such as a slot is provided for adjusting a position of the counter-balance relative to the belt. The uppermost product-contact surface of the bar can be round, flat, or angled and can include grooves to reduce the amount of contact area.
1 . A transfer mechanism for use in a continuous cooking system which has a first continuous belt that travels around a roller located at an end of the continuous cooking system, the transfer mechanism comprising:
a non-metallic counter-balance having a contact bar located toward its uppermost end and a load located toward its lowermost end, the contact bar sized to span a useable width of the belt, the load sized to urge the contact bar into continued contact with a portion of the first continuous belt as the first continuous belt travels around the roller;
means for pivoting the counter-balance toward and away from the portion of the first continuous belt, the pivoting means arranged to provide a predetermined amount of travel relative to the first continuous belt; and
means for adjusting a position of the counter-balance relative to the first continuous belt.
2 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the load is at least one physical counterweight.
3 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the means for pivoting the counter-balance is a rotational joint.
4 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting the position of the counter-balance is an adjustment slot that receives a rotational joint connected to the counter-balance.
5 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising a scraper located on a upper surface of the counter-balance.
6 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the counter-balance is a thermoplastic capable of withstanding a temperature of at least 200° F.
7 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the counter-balance is a thermoplastic capable of withstanding a temperature up to 450° F.
8 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the thermoplastic is polyetheretherketone.
9 . A transfer mechanism for use in a continuous cooking system which has a first continuous belt that travels around a roller located at an end of the continuous cooking system, the transfer mechanism comprising:
a non-metallic counter-balance having a contact bar located toward its uppermost end and a load located toward its lowermost end, the load sized to urge the contact bar into continued contact with a portion of the first continuous belt as the first continuous belt travels around the roller; the contact bar having an uppermost product-contact surface with a temperature rating of at least 200° F.
10 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the uppermost product-contact surface is cylindrical-shaped.
11 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the uppermost product-contact surface is angled.
12 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the uppermost product-contact surface includes a plurality of grooves arranged perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the contact bar.
13 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the uppermost product-contact surface is tapered along a length of the contact bar.
14 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 9 further comprising means for pivoting the counter-balance toward and away from a portion of the first continuous belt, the pivoting means arranged to provide a predetermined amount of travel relative to the first continuous belt.
15 . A transfer mechanism according to claim 9 further comprising means for adjusting a position of the counter-balance relative to the first continuous belt.