End plate for a framless blancher for food

Abstract

An end plate fabricated from sheet steel for a frameless food blancher having a tank. The end plate has a main portion with opposite sides for being welded to opposite ends of the tank. The plate has leg portions integrally formed with the main portion and which extend downwardly from the blancher. The end plate has a series of holes located and cut precisely by a robotic laser machine. A steel tube is welded in the holes and extends between the end plates at opposite ends of the tank, the tubes acting to rigidify the blancher. A flange is formed by bending along each of the opposite sides of the main portions and their respective legs extending therefrom. The flange is bent at a substantial right angle to the main portion and legs to rigidify the end plate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An end plate fabricated from sheet steel and for a frameless food blancher having a tank, said end plate having a main portion with opposite sides and for being welded to opposite ends of said tank of said blancher, said plate also having leg portions integrally formed with said main portion and extending downwardly therefrom for supporting said blancher.  
     
     
         2 . The end plate set forth in  claim 1  wherein said end plate has a series of holes extending therethrough, which holes are located and cut precisely by a robotic laser machine.  
     
     
         3 . The end plate of  claim 2  including a flange formed by bending along each of said opposite sides of said main portions and their respective legs extending therefrom, said flange being bent at a substantial right angle to said main portion and said legs to rigidify said end plate.  
     
     
         4 . The end plate as described in  claim 2  including steel tubes welded in said holes and extending between said end plates at opposite ends of said tank, said tubes acting to rigidify said blancher.  
     
     
         5 . An end plate fabricated from sheet steel and for a frameless food blancher having a tank, said end plate having a main portion with opposite sides and for being welded to opposite ends of said tank of said blancher, said plate also having leg portions integrally formed with said main portion and extending downwardly therefrom for supporting said blancher, said end plate has a series of holes extending therethrough, which holes are located and cut precisely by a robotic laser machine, a steel tube welded in said holes and extending between said end plates at opposite ends of said tank, said tubes acting to rigidify said blancher, a flange formed by bending along each of said opposite sides of said main portions and their respective legs extending therefrom, said flange being bent at a substantial right angle to said main portion and said legs to rigidify said end plate.