Baked good pan cleaner

• US 6,230,360 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mchenry Savings Bank (McHenry Bancorp, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Chris Goddard, Scott Singleton
• Inventors: Singleton, Scott, Goddard, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/387,386
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 153/08, 153/092, 153/45
• US Class Current: 15/309.2
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 3/16 Machines for cleaning or greasing baking surfaces

Abstract

A bun pan cleaner having a pair of counter rotating brushes for scrubbing the bottom of the baking pan. The bun pan cleaner also includes one air jet, under a hood, for directing compressed air under the surface of the pans to help blow seeds and other debris into the air beneath the hood for evacuation. There is also one or more augers beneath the hood which, when rotated will help sweep seeds and other debris out from under the hood.

Claims

1. A pan cleaner for removing debris from a baking surface of a baking pan, said baking pan carried by a conveyor belt into engagement with the pan cleaner, said pan cleaner comprising:

at least one motor-driven brush for contacting a pan surface;

a hood with vacuum means mounted thereto for removal of debris from said pan surface;

at least one auger for collecting and removing of said debris from beneath said hood of said pan cleaner, and a motor for driving said auger.

2. The pan cleaner of claim 1, further including:

a frame for supporting the at least one motor driven brush, the hood, the at least one auger and the motor for driving the auger.

3. The pan cleaner of claim 2 further including:

air jets engaging the frame, for directing compressed air against the pan surface.

4. The pan cleaner of claim 3 further including means to raise and lower the frame with respect to the conveyor belt.

5. The pan cleaner of claim 2 wherein the at least one brush is attached to a plate for raising and lowering the brush with respect to the frame.

6. The pan cleaner of claim 2 further including means to pivot the frame with respect to the conveyor belt.

7. The pan cleaner of claim 2 wherein the frame includes adjustable legs for engagement with the conveyor belt.

8. The pan cleaner of claim 1 wherein the at least one motor driven brush includes a pair of brushes.

9. The pan cleaner of claim 4 wherein the pair of brushes are counter rotating.

10. The pan cleaner of claim 1 wherein the at least one motor driven brush and the least one auger are mounted transverse to a direction of travel of the pan on the conveyor belt.

11. The pan cleaner of claim 1 wherein the vacuum means of the hood includes at least one duct for carrying airborne debris from the beneath the hood.

12. The pan cleaner of claim 1 further including at least one baffle located adjacent to the at least one brush.

13. The pan cleaner of claim 1 wherein the at least one auger includes a pair of augers, each of the pair of augers including a helically wound member adjacent a trough.

14. The pan cleaner of claim 1 wherein the at least one motor driven brush is spiral wound.