Apparatus having rotating chains or rings for carrying vertically hanging trays

Abstract

An apparatus for carrying a plurality of vertically hanging trays includes a vertical rotating means comprising a first pair of rotating chains carrying the plurality of trays at respective tray apexes and a second pair of rotating chains carrying the trays at respective bases, the first and second pairs of rotating chains being operatively coupled. The apparatus may be used in a furnace, a cleaning apparatus and a combined furnace/cleaning apparatus as well as in medical and other applications.

1 . An apparatus for carrying a plurality of vertically hanging trays comprising: 
 a vertical rotating means comprising a first pair of rotating chains carrying the plurality of trays at respective tray apexes and a second pair of rotating chains carrying the trays at respective bases, the first and second pairs of rotating chains being operatively coupled.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pairs of rotating chains have geometric centers vertically offset from each other.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of trays are attached to the first and second pairs of rotating chains by a four bar linkage.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical rotating means is disposed in a housing having an opening.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of trays are alternatively accessible through the opening.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a furnace apparatus and a cleaning apparatus disposed in the housing.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the furnace apparatus comprises a heat source, a flux foaming pot and a solder pot.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises an array of spray nozzles, a collector and a collection tank.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical rotating means further comprise a motor coupled to the first pair of rotating chains.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pairs of rotating chains are circular.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pairs of rotating chains are elliptical.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pairs of rotating chains are of irregular shape.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pairs of rotating chains are teardrop shaped.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of rotating chains comprise a running chain driven by a motor and the second pair of rotating chains comprise a driven chain coupled to the first pair of rotating chains by a timing belt.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of rotating chains comprise a running chain driven by a motor and the second pair of rotating chains comprise a synchronized pair of rotating chains coupled to the first pair of rotating chains by a timing belt and a bar extending between a tray apex and a tray bottom portion.  
   
   
       16 . A furnace comprising: 
 a housing forming an enclosure;    a heating means for heating the enclosure;    an opening formed in the housing; and    a vertical rotating means disposed in the enclosure, wherein the vertical rotating means comprise a first pair of rotating chains carrying a plurality of trays at respective tray apexes and a second pair of rotating chains carrying the plurality of trays at respective tray bases.    
   
   
       17 . The furnace of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second pairs of rotating chains have geometric centers vertically offset from each other.  
   
   
       18 . The furnace of  claim 16 , further comprising a cleaning apparatus disposed in the housing.  
   
   
       19 . The furnace of  claim 18 , wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises an array of spray nozzles, a collector and a collection tank.  
   
   
       20 . The furnace of  claim 16 , wherein the first pair of rotating chains is disposed in a top portion of the enclosure and the second pair of rotating chains is disposed in a bottom portion of the enclosure.