SENSOR TRAVERSING DEVICE

摘要

28 SENSOR TRAVERSING DEVICE A grouping system (10) is provided for grouping pans (12) containing raised dough moving from a proofing zone to an oven (18) for baking. The grouping system (10) permits the grouping of the pans at a speed approaching the speed of movement along an unloading system (14) and the oven-ready conveyor (24). However, impacts between individual pans during grouping and the first pan in the group contacting the gates (20) forming the group is at a slower combined speed, less than the speed where damage to the risen dough becomes a significant concern. The grouping system (10) includes parallel conveyor belts (28) for conveying the objects from the unloader system (14) to the oven-ready conveyor (24). Accelerator belts (21) may be employed to accelerate the pans between the conveyor belts (28) and the oven-ready conveyor (24) to provide a gap between each pan moving on the oven-ready conveyor. A group end sensor (64) is moveable along the grouping system (14) between the conveyor belts (28). The sensor includes both forward and rearward sensors (128, 130) for sensing the proximity of pans at a predetermined separation in the direction of travel. A full forward limit switch (140) senses the movement of the group end sensor to its full 29 forward limit proximate the gates (20). A full rearward limit switch (154) senses movement of the group end sensor to its rearwardmost extent. The group end sensor moves forward until is forward limit is reached or the forward sensor senses an object representing the last stopped pan. The conveyor then moves at full speed until the rearward sensor senses the following pan. The conveyor speed is then reduced so that the pan contact does not damage the dough. A full group limit switch (150) is provided to sense the stoppage of a preselected number of pans forming a group. When operated in the group mode, this will then permit the gates (20) to be opened if the ovenready conveyor (24) is moving to move the group onto the oven-ready conveyor. If the grouping system is operated in the random mode, the gates will be opened for a selected time interval whenever the oven-ready conveyor (24) is moving. If a group of pans pass onto the oven-ready conveyor (24) before the elapse of this time interval, the gates (20) will close upon movement of a subsequent pan proximate the gates (20).