Vertical stepping transport system

摘要

The transport arrangement moves workpieces through a furnace. Each workpiece (2) consists of a flat sheet of material which may be moved upward through the furnace in discrete steps. There are four support columns (4-1,2, 6-1,2), arranged with two on either side of the workpieces. The support columns have sawtooth shaped lugs (9) on their sides facing inwards towards the workpieces. The lugs may hold the workpieces at a number of discrete levels. There are four movable uprights (8-1,2, 10-1,2) with sawtooth-shaped lugs (11) on their surfaces facing inward toward the workpieces. The movable uprights are connected to a crank mechanism and linkage so that they may perform an orbiting motion.