1. Heating device (1) for heating merchandise (2), especially printed boards, comprising a feeding device (8) provided in front of at least one heating line (3, 4, 5, 6) in the transport direction (7) of the merchandise (2) and a discharge device (9) provided behind the heating line (3, 4, 5, 6) in the transport direction (7), wherein a number of heating zonesdevices (10) andor cooling zonesdevices (11) or the like are associated with the heating line, characterized in that
at least two heating lines (3, 4, 5, 6) are disposed on top of each other to which merchandise (2) can be separately fed by feeding device (8) from a horizontal transport level and that the merchandise can be separately discharged by the discharge device (9) from the heating lines back into a horizontal transport level (12).
2. Heating device according to claim 1,
characterized in that
at least two heating lines (3, 5) are arranged next to each other
3. Heating device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
the feeding device andor discharge device (8, 9) comprises a buffer (13) for buffering a plurality of articles of merchandise (2).
4. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
a lock device (14, 15) is disposed between heating line (3, 5) and feeding andor discharge device (8, 9).
5. Heating device according to at least one the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the lock device (14, 15) comprises a suction implement.
6. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
a predetermined, especially preprogrammable temperature profile can be adjusted along the heating line (3, 4, 5, 6).
7. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
at least one heating line (3, 5) is disposed in the horizontal transport level (12).
8. Heating device according to at least one the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the feeding andor discharge device (8) comprise a transporter (16, 17) provided in front of or behind the same in the direction of transport (7) by which the merchandise (2) can be externally fed to or removed from the heating device (1).
9. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
a lock device (18, 19) especially comprising a suction implement is associated with the transporter (16, 17).
10. Heating element according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
an oven transporter (20) is disposed along the heating line (3, 4, 5, 6).
11. Heating element according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the feeding device andor the discharge device (8, 9) comprise a passthrough device (21) connecting the transporter (16, 17) and the oven transporter (20) in the horizontal transport level (12).
12. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the passthrough device (21) comprises a movable slide (22) or merchandise carrier
13. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the passthrough device (21) comprises rotatable transport rollers (23).
14. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the slide (22) or merchandise earner is mounted movable backwards opposite to the direction of transport (7) underneath the horizontal transport level (12), wherein it is movable backwards in a transporter-associated (16, 17) initial position.
15. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the slide (22) comprises a lifting mechanism (25) essentially for the vertical height adjustment and a driving means (27) essentially movable between the initial position (24) and a discharge position (26) associated with one of the heating lines (3, 4, 5, 6).
16. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the feeding devices and or discharge devices (8, 9) comprise lifting devices (28) between the heating lines (3, 4, 5, 6) arranged on top of each other for adjusting the height of the merchandise (2).
17. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
that the lifting device (28) connects the horizontal transport level (12) especially in the passthrough device (21) and an upper transport level (29) arranged vertically on top of said transport level with each other.
18. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
that the lifting device (28) comprises transport levels (30) arranged between the horizontal and upper transport level (12, 29) as buffer (13)
19. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the lifting device (28) comprises toothed chains (31) circulating between the horizontal and upper transport level (12, 29) with transport teeth (32) essentially projecting in the direction of the merchandise and gripping the merchandise (2) from underneath at at least three positions.
20. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
two toothed chains (31, 33, 34, 35) are each arranged opposite each other at rear and at front side faces (36, 37) of the essentially board-shaped merchandise in the direction of transport (7).
21. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
that the movement of the lifting device (28) is clocked.
22. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
at least one slide (38) for transferring the merchandise (2) to the heating line (4, 6) is associated with the upper transport level (29),
23. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
lifting devices (28) of the feeding and the discharge devices (8, 9) are constructed identically.
24. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the lifting device (28) comprises lifting and retaining forks (39, 40) disposed next to each other vertically andor perpendicularly adjustable to the direction of transport (7) whereof each comprises a number of transport teeth (41) projecting in the direction of the merchandise (2)
25. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
two lifting forks (39, 42) or respectively two retaining forks (40) are associated with a retaining fork (40) or respectively a lifting fork (39) each disposed at the ends (43, 44) thereof in the direction of transport (7).
26. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
drivable transport rollers (45) are disposed on the retaining fork (40) andor the lifting fork (39, 42) at least in the area of the horizontal or upper transport level (12, 29)
27. Heating device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the transporter (16, 17) andor the oven transporter (20) comprise two transport belts (46, 47) circulating parallel to the direction of transport (7) and spaced apart from each other, on which lie lateral edges (48) of the merchandise (2).
28. Heating device according to at least one of Me preceding claims,
characterized in that
heating lines (3, 4, 5, 6) andor feeding andor discharge devices (8, 9) andor transporters (16, 17) are designed as modules
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An infant warming apparatus, said infant warming apparatus comprising a base, an infant support located on said base adapted to support an infant thereon, a canopy lift bracket movably affixed to said base in a vertical direction, a canopy, said canopy affixed to said canopy lift bracket to move said canopy between a lower position wherein said canopy fits over said infant support to form an infant compartment adapted to enclose an infant and an upper position wherein said canopy is elevated with respect to said infant support and the infant compartment is open, said canopy being affixed to said canopy lift bracket by means of an adjustable mounting system comprising a canopy interface bracket affixed to said canopy, and a pivot bracket positioned intermediate said canopy interface bracket and said canopy lift bracket and wherein said canopy interface bracket is pivotally affixed to said pivot bracket whereby said pivot bracket allows the canopy to freely pivot against the infant support when said infant compartment has been formed.
2. The infant warming apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said base includes a vertical structural member extending upwardly from said base and said canopy lift bracket is affixed to said vertical structural member.
3-7. (canceled)
8. The infant warming apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said canopy interface bracket is pivotally affixed to said pivot bracket by pins passing through vertically spaced apart openings in opposed ends of said pivot bracket or said canopy interface bracket, one of said openings having an arcuate configuration and wherein said canopy is pivotable about the other of said openings.
9. (canceled)
10. The infant warming apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said openings are in said pivot bracket.
11. The infant warming apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable mounting means further includes a slider bracket positioned intermediate said pivot bracket and said canopy lift bracket wherein said slider bracket is vertically movable with respect to said canopy lift bracket.
12. The infant warming apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the relative free motion between said slider bracket and said canopy lift bracket and between said pivot bracket and said canopy interface bracket allows the canopy to move vertically and pivotally against the infant support in forming the infant compartment.
13. The infant warming apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said canopy includes a radiant heater.
14. A method of attaching a canopy to a base in an infant warming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
providing an infant warming apparatus having a base and an infant platform supported by the base,
providing a canopy supported by the base and adapted to be movable with respect to the base between a lower position forming an enclosed infant compartment with said infant support; and an upper position where the infant compartment is open,
providing an adjustable mounting system intermediate the canopy and the base, the canopy mounting system having a canopy lift bracket that is mounted to the base so as to move vertically as the canopy is moved between its upper and lower positions, a canopy interface bracket and a pivot bracket intermediate the canopy interface bracket and the canopy lift bracket, and
securing the canopy with respect to the base while allowing a loose connection between the interface bracket and the pivot bracket to allow pivotal motion therebetween whereby the canopy floats atop of the infant platform when the infant compartment is formed.
15-17. (canceled)
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing an adjustable mounting system includes providing a slider bracket intermediate the pivot bracket and the canopy lift bracket, and further includes the step of connecting the slider bracket to the canopy lift bracket to allow vertical motion therebetween.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of providing an adjustable mounting system includes the step of connecting the slider bracket to the canopy lift bracket to allow vertical and pivotal motion therebetween.
20. An infant warming apparatus, said infant warming apparatus comprising a base, an infant support located on said base adapted to support an infant thereon, a canopy lift bracket movably affixed to said base in a vertical direction, a canopy, said canopy affixed to said canopy lift bracket to move said canopy between a lower position wherein said canopy fits over said infant support to form an infant compartment adapted to enclose an infant and an upper position wherein said canopy is elevated with respect to said infant support and the infant compartment is open, said canopy being affixed to said canopy lift bracket by means of an adjustable mounting system comprising a canopy interface bracket adjustably affixed to said canopy, a slider bracket positioned intermediate said canopy interface bracket and said canopy lift bracket wherein said slider bracket is vertically movable with respect to said canopy lift bracket and wherein the relative free motion between said slider bracket and said canopy lift bracket allows the canopy to move vertically against the infant support when said infant compartment has been formed.
21. A method of attaching a canopy to a base in an infant warming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
providing an infant warming apparatus having a base and an infant platform supported by the base,
providing a canopy supported by the base and adapted to be movable with respect to the base between a lower position forming an enclosed infant compartment with said infant support, and an upper position where the infant compartment is open,
providing an adjustable mounting system intermediate the canopy and the base, the canopy mounting system having a canopy lift bracket that is mounted to the base so as to move vertically as the canopy is moved between its upper and lower positions, a canopy interface bracket and a slider bracket intermediate the canopy interface bracket and the canopy lift bracket, and
securing the canopy with respect to the base while allowing a loose connection between the interface bracket and the slider bracket to allow vertical motion therebetween to allow the canopy to float atop of the infant platform when the infant compartment is formed.