Automatic loader for charging fermented dough pieces into bakery oven - has successive conveyor bands with alternative common and independent drives

摘要

The loader is of the type which automatically transfers a predetermined number of fermented dough pieces from a prover to the oven. The loader comprises two conveyor bands arranged in succession between the prover and the oven. The first conveyor receives dough pieces from the prover and transfers them to the second conveyor. The second conveyor discharges the dough pieces into the oven. The drive shafts of both conveyors are driven via individual free-wheel sprockets from a drive transmission common with the oven conveyor. This means that the drive to both conveyors is normally synchronised with that of the oven conveyor. Each conveyor also has an independent drive motor and transmission so that either or both conveyors may be driven faster than the synchronous speed by over-riding the free wheel sprocket clutches.