| 摘要 |
A continuous linear chain conveyor system operates throughout multiple tiers to transport a product which is being either cooled, frozen, warmed, heated, or dried and requires a retention time within a designated volume. The product is carried by multiple adjacent trays which are directly and pivotally attached on one end to opposite links of dual continuous moving sidechains, which are spaced apart, but otherwise follow identical direction paths. Moreover the chains and sprockets and most of their related components are all standard, available, components. In addition, all the components involved in critical areas of expansion and/or contraction during temperature changes, have similar coefficients of expansion and contraction. In the preferred embodiment, the conveyor trays are loaded with product outside the enclosure where the process is to take place. Remaining level, the trays move up an inclined guide to the top level entry of the compartment for subsequent longitudinal level travel on each tier and level vertical movement between tiers. During linear horizontal movement, the trays are kept level by horizontal supports. During tier changes, the trays are lowered by means of a sprocket arrangement, using standard sprockets identical to the conveyor chain standard sprockets, which allows the trays to remain level but yet firmly pivotally attached to the moving sidechains. The trays exit the compartment from the lowest tier and are then be unloaded.
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