The present invention refers to a baking pan assembly, used in the bakery segment on an industrial scale. Particularly, it is a side support installation in the baking pan assembly adapted to be very easy and economical industrial assembly and that allows more stable and simplified stacking, in addition to greater heat transfer, resistance to mechanical impacts and thermal deformations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The industrial bakery is focused on the production of bread on a large scale for the wholesale trade and therefore the equipment used is of medium/large size that end up occupying the factory space.

Unlike small local bakeries, the space required, and the configuration of utensils and equipment needs to be well dimensioned and used.

One of the main equipment used in bread making are the baking pans, also known as molds for baking bread that are used to accommodate the dough and bake small breads, French bread, wheat bread, loaf of bread, among others, since it provides a suitable medium for insertion into bread ovens and cabinets for the transport and storage of breads and adapted for making or baking the same.

There are already known baking pan assemblies that comprise a plurality of molds, also known as ways to bake, store or also transport several breads simultaneously applied in industrial breadmaking.

During the process to bake and transport bread on an industrial scale, it is common for there to be wear on the baking pan assembly due to impacts on the ends/ periphery that can deform the molds over time, making their later use impossible. For this reason, protective belts/ bands already exist in the state of the art, positioned on the periphery or ends of the baking pan assembly, providing protection against deformation due to impacts during the handling of this equipment. In addition, these protective belts/ bands are also essential for adapting the assembly to the automatic lines used, including automatic transport and handling throughout the cycle, providing not only the correct distance and external dimensions, but also the necessary space for baking the product.

These protective belts/ bands have a similar function as a bumper, that is, they also serve to cushion eventual shocks and prevent damage to the main frame. Document GB1245039A describes a baking pan assembly comprising a plurality of molds held together by a strip that is engaged by an interposed reinforcing element which is moldd like a “Z” section sheet metal bar; the reinforcement element of the document protects the edges from possible damage.

Document BR 112015009688-3 describes a mold for baking bread that comprises a plurality of molds for baking, a plate that acts as a lid of the molds, and means for preventing the plate from lifting as the bread is baked inside of the molds. The means preventing the lid from lifting includes at least one hook which is hingedly joined to the frame. Although the bread pan has an enveloping tubular profile that acts as a mold reinforcement frame and protects the edges of the molds, the focus of the invention is on the fastening device that prevents the lid from lifting during the baking process.

Document WO2011038391 describes a baking pan used in industrial bakery which includes a plurality of baking sub-units (molds) and which includes various structural reinforcements that make the mold stronger and lighter. In particular, a metal belt/strip wraps the baking sub-units and connects the baking subunits into a segmented but unitary baking pan. Along the belt there are recesses and notches for attaching the belt to the outer surfaces of the mold sub-units by spot welding, for example.

Document US1669057 (A) describes molds for baking breads and cakes on an industrial scale. The purpose of this document is to provide a simple and durable baking pan comprising a belt that wraps around the entire assembly of molds whose function is to hold the individual units together in a solid and reinforced assembly. The sling is held in place by pulleys along with a mold flange to form a rigid seam, and the sling is riveted onto itself via an overlapping tongue to ensure maximum rigidity in the frame.

Finally, document KR20130013672 describes a loaf pan that includes a molded container and further comprises a reinforcing element that is partially or fully connected to the molding container and that gives rigidity to the molding container so that the mold does not deform due to expansion of the bread during the baking process at higher temperatures. In one embodiment, the reinforcing element may be a band mounted as a whole to the molding vessel and in another embodiment the reinforcing element is attached to the side rod which is bent at a right angle to make the assembly more stable and rigid, preventing deformation in the bread molds. These and other baking pans already have protective belts/ bands that increase the rigidity of the frame; however, they have the inconvenience of not having an economic element, easy to manufacture with current techniques, and that allows the desired bending so that eventual impacts or twists that the assembly suffers is not directly transmitted without damping to the assembly frame containing the plurality of molds or the outer strap.

Also, many of the existing baking pans have belts/ bands connected and with flat plates flush with or glued to the molds, in some cases impairing the flow of heat and, therefore, the uniform baking of the breads.

Furthermore, known baking pan assemblies that have protective belts/ bands acting as bumpers only protect the pans laterally, however, they do not protect them from direct transmission of external impacts nor facilitate eventual deep vertical stacking of the baking pan assembly for storage, very convenient in industrial bakery.

Particularly, many of the baking pan assemblies already known from the state of the art are not designed to be stacked vertically without deforming the molds or even tipping these assemblies, causing possible accidents. When necessary, additional pins or accessories are placed, which have weight, cost, and even inconvenient geometry compared to automated operation.

Therefore, the state of the art lacks simple and economical solutions in the protective belts/ bands acting as bumpers that allow deep vertical stacking of the baking pan assemblies without damaging the frame and the surface coating of the molds.

Also, it would be advantageous to have a baking pan assembly whose production process is reduced, that is, involving a smaller number of machinery and necessary labor each time the characteristic arrangement in the baking pan assembly is changed.

In this way, it is clear that the state of the art would benefit from an improved baking pan assembly with low manufacturing, assemblage and cleaning complexity, easy installation, and in many specific realizations with a vast area of heat flow passage and that occupies a smaller storage area to optimize factory space.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a framed baking pan assembly with low manufacturing complexity, which has appropriate external impact damping, depending on the case, that allows safe vertical stacking, avoiding damage to the molds of the assembly and which, therefore, results in an increase in the useful life of the assembly.

An objective of the invention is to provide an economic element to the baking pan assembly that allows the desired bending so that any impacts or twists that the assembly suffers are not directly transmitted without dampening to the frame of the assembly that contains the plurality of molds or the external belt.

In addition, another objective of the invention is to provide an element to the baking pan assembly that provides resistance to thermal deformations, very common in the industrial bakery process.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a baking pan assembly that optimizes the factory space transport and storage, due to the possibility of deeper stacking of these assemblies.

Additionally, another objective of the invention is to provide a baking pan assembly with a configuration that, by eliminating the need for a large number of worked plates, guarantees an increase in the heat flow, reducing the heating time of the assemblies, saving energy and guaranteeing a uniform baking of the breads.

Also, another additional objective in a particular presentation of the invention is to provide a baking pan assembly equipped with detachable elements that allow easy replacement and/or cleaning of the parts when parts of the assembly are damaged due to deformations by exaggerated mechanical impacts occurred accidentally or due to heat generated in the bake/bread activity.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by means of a baking pan assembly comprising: a plurality of molds, a frame, and a plurality of fastening elements; the plurality of molds mechanically connected to each other forming a mold assembly; the mold assembly connected to the frame, the frame surrounding the mold assembly. The frame of the baking pan assembly is arranged close to and easily connected by welded or mechanically permanently or detachable to the mold assembly by means of the plurality of fastening elements, each fastening element being provided with an upper fastening portion and a lower fastening portion; wherein the upper fastening portion is connected to the mold assembly and the lower fastening portion is connected to the frame; each fastening element being constructed with wires or other construction with plates or other metallic elements, capable of moving angularly and radially due to the natural bending of the chosen material and the chosen geometry varying the distance between the mold assembly and the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, technical effects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description that makes reference to the accompanying figures, which illustrate exemplary but not limiting embodiments of the claimed objects.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of two baking pan assemblies, objects of the present invention, stacked vertically.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the baking pan assembly objects of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a front view of two baking pan assemblies, objects of the present invention, stacked vertically.

Figure 4 shows a right side view of two baking pan assemblies, objects of the present invention, stacked vertically.

Figure 5 shows a right side sectional view of two baking pan assemblies, objects of the present invention, stacked vertically.

Figure 6 shows a front sectional view of two baking pan assemblies, objects of the present invention, stacked vertically.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the fastening element of the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the fastening element of the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the fastening element of the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the fastening element of the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a chain arrangement of fastening elements of the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention.

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the fastening element of the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention.

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the fastening element of the baking pan assembly.

Figure 14 shows a front sectional view of the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention.

Figure 15 shows a detailed right side view of an embodiment of the fastening element of the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention.

Figure 16 shows a detailed perspective view of an embodiment of the fastening element of the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Initially, it should be noted that the baking pan assembly, object of the present invention, will be described below according to particular embodiments represented in the attached figures 1 to 16, but not limiting, since their realizations may be carried out in different ways and variations and according to the application desired by the person skilled in the art.

The use of the term “one” or “a” in this specification does not indicate a limited quantity, but the existence of at least (at a minimum) one of the elements/ components/ items listed. Use of the term “or” indicates any or all of the elements/ components/ items listed. The use of the term “comprise”, “endowed”, “provided” or a similar term indicates that the element/ component/ item listed in front of said term forms part of the invention, but does not exclude other elements/ components/ items not listed. The use of the term “associate”, “connect” or similar terms may refer to physical, mechanical, pneumatic, fluidic, hydraulic, electrical, electronic or wireless connections, whether directly or indirectly.

The present invention generally relates to a baking pan assembly 100 applied in an industrial bakery.

The baking pan assembly 100 comprises a plurality of molds 1 , a frame 2 and a plurality of fastening elements 3. The plurality of molds 1 are mechanically connected to each other forming a mold assembly 10 which is connected to the frame 2, the frame 2 surrounds the mold assembly 10.

The frame 2 being arranged proximate to, and disengagedly or permanently connected to, the mold assembly 10 by means of the plurality of fastening elements 3.

Each fastening element 3 is provided with an upper fastening portion 7 and a lower fastening portion 8, wherein the upper fastening portion 7 is connected to the mold assembly 10 and the lower fastening portion 8 is connected to the frame 2, so that each fastening element 3 is able to move angularly and radially by the mechanical fastening or by the very nature of the material and geometry used for the fastening element 3, varying the distance between the mold assembly 10 and the frame 2, being able to thus absorb any impacts or deformations that the assembly may be subject to in its use, deformations that could result from mechanical impacts, or deformations and/or thermal stresses that are common and practically inevitable in the industrial bakery process.

The plurality of fastening elements 3 can be fastened to the mold assembly 10 and to the frame 2, through a fastening method selected from a group consisting of: snapping, jamming, pressing, locking, engaging, adjusting or other mechanical means, including the weld, but always taking into account a resistance and damping of angular and radial displacements between the mold assembly 10 and the frame 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of fastening elements 3 has a shoulder 4 outward between the upper fastening portion 7 and the lower fastening portion 8, so that the shoulder 4 is supported on an upper part of the frame 2 to reinforce assembly 100 and ensure stably vertical stacking of the plurality of baking pan assemblies 100.

In another embodiment, the shoulder 4 is close to, but not supported on top of the frame 2, as illustrated in Figure 15.

During the stacking of the baking pan assemblies 100, the fastening element 3 can be easily constructed in such a way that the side walls of the mold assemblies 10 are safely spaced from each other during the entire vertical stacking process, avoiding damage to the internal lining of the molds 1 , resulting in an increase in service life of the assembly and an innovative feature that is unparalleled in its simplicity.

In a preferred embodiment the shoulder 4 of the plurality of fastening elements 3 has a form selected from the group formed by drop, step or “C”.

It is worth noting that the stacking height and clearance of the baking pan assembly 100 can be easily modified and adjusted simultaneously with the assemblage process of the assembly, by changing the geometry of the fastening element 3 and, more particularly, of the shoulder 4 in embodiments that comprise such an element, thus having full and very economical control of these parameters, which is one of its main characteristics. As a result, the stacking of assemblies 100 becomes more stable and secure, preventing possible damage to assemblies 100 or accidents during storage and transport of the assemblies. In one embodiment, the plurality of fastening elements 3 do not have the shoulder 4, so that the upper fastening portion 7 and the lower fastening portion 8 of the fastening element 3 respectively connect the mold assembly 10 and the frame 2 , as illustrated in Figure 13.

In still a preferred embodiment, the plurality of fastening elements 3 are rectangular and are tilted so as to be connected between the mold assembly 10 and the frame 2. The tilted arrangement of the fastening elements 3 improves the centering and/or stability of the stacked baking pan 100, obtaining stacks with uniform vertical alignment.

It is worth noting that the term tilted used to describe the position of the fastening element 3 must be interpreted as any positioning and/or angle in which the fastening element 3 has such that its plane is not the same as the plane of the frame 2, that the same is anchored.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of fastening elements 3 is made of steel with special characteristics of bending, mechanical resistance and corrosion resistance, allowing movement due to mechanical impacts or thermal deformations, and the choice of steel will be based on the need for greater strength or greater elasticity, that is, the material's ability to return to its original position after undergoing mechanical stress. The choice of specific steel aims to guarantee the integrity of the fastening element 3 and the assembly 100, in view of the efforts submitted in the baking process and in the handling of the baking pan assemblies 100 in the production line.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of fastening elements 3 are in the form of a cylindrical or alternatively rectangular wire rod.

Also, in one embodiment, the plurality of fastening elements 3 are connected to each other at the lower fastening portion 8 forming a chain, as illustrated in Figure 11. In this configuration each fastening elements 3 is arranged side by side and the lower fastening portion 8 of each of them is joined through a perpendicular bar 9 that interconnects each of them 3 providing an even more rigid assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame 2 is hollow tubular. The fact that the hollow tubular frame 2 is arranged close to, surrounding, but away from the side of the mold assembly 10 ensures increased heat flow, reducing the heating time of the assembly 100 and ensures uniform baking of the breads. In order to increase the heat flow, frame 2 is metallic. Furthermore, due to the flexibility and impact dampening of the fastening elements 3 the material of the frame 2 can be thinner and lighter.

In another embodiment, the plurality of molds 1 , the frame 2 and the plurality of fastening elements 3 are manufactured independently and can be disconnected from each other in order to facilitate and make the assemblage of the assembly very economical, in addition to the eventual cleaning and replacement of the parts due to this characteristic configuration.

The baking pan assembly 100 comprising the fastening element 3 arranged as described in the invention allows the loading and transporting of the baking pan assemblies 100 to be more economical, as it allows the safe and proper stacking of a greater number of baking pan assemblies 100, thus optimizing available factory space.

Although the description of the particular embodiments above makes reference to certain embodiments, the present invention may present modifications in its form of implementation, so that the scope of protection of the invention is limited solely by the content of the appended claims, including therein the possible equivalent variations.