GB2075824A

GB2075824A - Baking pan set

Info

Publication number: GB2075824A
Application number: GB8103278A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ekco Products Inc
Current assignee: Ekco Products Inc
Priority date: 1980-05-07
Filing date: 1981-02-03
Publication date: 1981-11-25
Also published as: GB2075824B; CA1152345A

Abstract

A baking pan set comprises individual baking pans 42 arranged in side- by-side relation secured one to the others by a circumferential band 44, with adjacent pans secured one to another by spacer members 46 which are secured to adjacent side walls of the pans along at least part of the length of said spacer members. A method of forming the baking pan set is also disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Baking pan set This invention relates to baking pans and more particularly to such pans as are joined together in side-by-side relation to provide a baking pan set comprising multiple baking pans to be handled as a single unit during bakery operations.

In the commercial baking of bread and the use of automatic bakery equipment it is necessary to utilise baking pans in "sets" rather than as individual baking pans. Baking pan "sets" are produced by the joining together of individual pans and, while the number of pans that can be joined together is theoretically unlimited, such sets usually comprise 3,4,5 or 6 individual baking pans to accommodate specific bakery equipment and procedures.

The individual baking pans can be of varying style and construction but must be formed from materials' which are corrosion resistant and adaptable to baking conditions, including providing strength and stability adequate to withstand the abuses in mechanical and hand handling of the baking pans.

One of the features utilised to provide strength and stability in a baking pan is a rim wire that encircles the open top of the pan and is secured thereto by a rim curl formed at the upper terminal portions of the pan side and end walls.

When several pans are disposed in side-by-side relation to form a set they are joined together by means of a circumferential band or strap member which encompasses the pans and is secured to the outer pan walls, as bywelding, at or adjacent to the rim curl and rim wire. The inner pan walls, i.e., the side walls of adjacent pans, are joined by rim spacers welded to the rim wired of adjacent side walls.

"Wireless" pans have been made and strapped into sets, but due to their inherent weakness and incompatability with simple reinforcing methods and means, they have not usually been acceptable for commercial use. The requirement for pan sets to have strength and stability sufficient for use in commercial bakeries and with automatic equipment has compelled the continued construction of individual pans with a wire reinforcing member in the rim and when joined in a set to have additional wire reinforcing members connecting adjacent pans. At present, commercial baking pan manufacturers in the United States produce pan sets having rim wires and rim spacers although each uses a spacer wire of different configuration to join the rim wires of adjacent pans.

The present invention contemplates the fabrication of a baking pan set comprising individual baking pans arranged in side-by-side relation secured one to the others by a circumferential band, with ajdacent pans secured one to the other by spacer members which preferaby comprise rim/spacer wires.

The invention provides a baking pan set comprising a plurality of baking pans arranged inside-byside relation each baking pan having a flat rectangular bottom wall, a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls extending upwardly therefrom, outwardly and downwardly extending flanges formed at the upperterminii of said end walls and side walls, spacer members disposed between adjacent baking pans, each spacer member having portions along at least part of the length thereof secured to adjacent side wall flanges of adjacent baking pans, and an outer frame member of rectangular shape disposed around the baking pan set and secured to the baking pans.

In the baking pan set of the invention preferably each spacer-member is secured to adjacent side wall flanges of adjacent baking pans by entrapment of portions of said spacer member by said adjacent side wall flanges.

The spacer member is desirably characterised as a unitary element having spaced apart parallel leg portions connected by a cross-leg portion, said parallel leg portions being secured to the adjacent side wall flanges of adjacent baking pans. In the spacer member it is preferred to have at least two cross-leg portions connecting the spaced apart parallel leg portions and the preferred shape of the member in a "P".

Preferably the spacer member is formed from a single wire. In a preferred construction according to the invention a pair of spacer members is disposed between adjacent baking pans.

The outer frame member may have a vertically disposed main body terminating at the upper end thereof in outwardly and upwardly extending flanges secured to the baking pan end wall flanges and the non-adjacent side wall flanges of the baking pans at the end of the set. Preferably the rectangular outer frame member is formed to provide opposed side walls and opposed end walls, said end walls having tension means urging said end walls into abutment with the outer side walls of the end baking pans of the baking pan set.

The end wall tension means of the frame member may include displacement of said frame end wall outwardly by an abutting baking pan side wall. In one such embodiment the frame member end walls are each formed to provide a centrally located rib member extending substantially the length of said end wall.

The invention also includes a method for forming a baking pan set comprising arranging baking pans having end walls and side walls terminating in outwardly extending flanges, in side-by-side relation in a single row, disposing a spacing member between adjacent baking pans whereby portions along the length of the spacing member are in abutment with a side wall flange of each adjacent baking pan, curling the baking pan wall flanges thereby entrapping the abutting portion of each spacing member within the adjacent wall flange of the baking pansadjacentthereto, encircling the interconnected baking pans with a rectangular frame, and securing the frame to the baking pans.

Specifically, the individual baking pans are formed without the customary reinforcing rim wire encircling the open end of the pan, and without individual rim spacers to be welded to rim wires of adjacent pans. This is accomplished by the provision of a spacer member of particularform thatfunctions simultaneously as a rim reinforcing member and as a spacer member joining adjacent pans, thus permitting the pan rims disposed adjacent an encircling circumferential band member to be secured directly to the said band member without the need of a separate reinforcing rim wire.

The prior art has adhered to a concept of producing pan sets by connecting together a series of individual pans each of which is strong enough to withstand the abuse of commercial baking processes. By not disturbing the integrity of the individual pan the only criteria was to provide strength in the connecting means at least equal to the initial pan strength. Spacer wires welded directly to rim wires provided this minimum required strength between pans, but at the same time provided "too much" strength at the periphery of the pan set The cost of excess materials and unnecessary fabrication steps in producing a pan set that substantially exceeds the standards of strength and rigidity required is obviously uneconomical and undesirable.

In contrast the concept of producing pan sets from individual parts and pieces that only achieve a desired strength and rigidity when they are in fact combined in such a set, produces an economical and desirable product. Such as in the case in the present invention wherein the individual pans are not strong enough to withstand the abuse of commercial baking processes until and unless they are interconnected, whereby each pan achieves its necessary strength and stability through the interconnecting means.

The following is a description by way of example of a typical prior art baking pan set and a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a set of baking pans constructed and fabricated in accordance with the teachings of the prior art.

Figure 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the prior art baking pan set of Figure 1 showing the individual pans and the connecting members utilised to secure the pans one-to-the-others.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an exploded view in perspective of an individual prior art baking pan and its associated rim wire member.

Figure 5 is a top perspective view of a set of baking pans constructed and fabricated in accordance with the invention to provide a pan set of the same overall configuration as the pan set illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an exploded view in perspective of the baking pan set of Figure 5 showing the component parts thereof.

Figure 7is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figure 8 showing the outer frame member spaced apart from the baking pan.

Figure 70 is a diagrammatic view illustrating fabrication of baking pan sets on a production line in accordance with the invention.

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of Figure 7.

Description of the prior art As shown in Figure 1, and as illustrative generally of the prior art, a baking pan set 10 is comprised of baking pans 12 secured in side-by-side relation by a circumferential frame member 14, and having adja cent pans secured one to the other by spacer wire members 16. In a manner well known in the art the -frame member 14 is spot or projections welded to the baking pans 12 as indicated by reference numer al 18. As best seen in Figure 2 the frame member 14 is comprised of portions 14a and 14b, which when in assembled position as shown in Figure 1 are secured by the welding 18 in abutting relation as at 19.

As shown in Figure 4, each baking pan 12 is formed to provide a rectangular shaped bottom wall 20 having opposed side walls 22 and opposed end walls 24 extending upwardly therefrom. The con struction of the baking pan illustrated is well known in the art and is known as a "folded end" pan. The pan is formed from a single sheet of material and so shaped as to provide side wall rim flanges 26 and end wall rim flanges 28 extending outwardly and downwardly from said walls at their upperterminii defining the rim 30 of the pan 12. A rim wire 31 of rectangular shape is sized to encircle the baking pan 12 adjacent to the upper open portion of said pan, underlying the rim flanges 26 and 28 for entrapment by said rim flanges.Such entrapment of the rim wire 31 by the rim flanges 26 and 28 is a procedure well established in the art and produces a rim construction 32 as can best be seen by referring to Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 3, rim construction 32 is complete when the rim flanges 26 and 28 are curled under rim wire 31 thereby entrapping said rim wire.

The side wall rim flanges 26 disposed adjacent side wall rim flanges 26 of adjacent baking pans 12 are notched as at 34 to permit the securement of rim spacers 16 to the rim wires 31 of adjacent pans as by welding, indicated by reference numeral 38.

Description of the preferred embodiment As shown in Figure 5, a baking pan set 40 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention comprises baking pans 42 secured in side-by-side relation by a circumferential frame member 44, and having adjacent pans secured one to the other by spacer wire members 46. The frame member 44 is spot or projection welded to the baking pans 42 as indicated by reference numeral 48, and positioned in abutment, to be explained, as at 49.

As best seen in Figure 6, each baking pan 42 is formed to provide a rectangular shaped bottom wall 50 having opposed side walls 52 and opposed end walls 54 extending upwardly therefrom. The upper portions of the side walls 52 and end walls 54 are formed to provide side wall rim flanges 56 and end wall rim flanges 58, respectively, extending outward Iy and downwardly and defining a rim 60 of the pan 42. For a purpose to be described, the side wal rim flanges 56 are formed to provide spaced notches 61.

Spacer wire member 46 can be characterised generally as "P" shaped, each having spaced apart parallel leg portions 62 and 64 joined by cross-leg portion 65, and a leg portion 66 axially alignedwith said leg portion 62 being joined by cross-leg portion 67 to said leg portion 64. A pair of spacer wire members arranged in a complementary planar fashion as shown, provide two sets of aligned leg portions^62, 64 and 66, adapted to underlie side wall rim flanges 56 of adjacent bake pans for entrapment by said rim flanges. Such entrapment can best be seen by referring to Figures 7 and 11, wherein adjacent rim flanges 56 of adjacent baking pans 42 are curled -.underthe leg portions 62,64,and 66, with notches 61 accommodating the cross-leg portions 65 and 67.It is noted that end wall rim flanges 58 and those side wall rim flanges 56 which are npt adjacent on adjacent baking pan are also curled under and are themselves entrapped by an upper curled portion 70 of frame member 44.

Referring once again to Figures 5 and 6, the frame member 44 comprises two pieces 72 and 74 which, when secured to the baking pans 42 by welds 18 abut as at 49 to form a member having side portions 76 and end portions 78. Said end portions 78 are each formed to provide a centrally located reinforcing rib 80. As shown in Figure 9 the frame end portion 78 is initially formed with a slight inward bow, indicated by reference numeral 82, whereby when the frame member 44 is secured to the baking pans 42 the curling of the frame portion 70 (Figure 7) to entrap the curled end wall flanges 58 and outer side wall rim flanges 56 displaces said frame end portion 78 outwardly to a planar position as seen in Figure 8.The reinforcing rib 80 provides sufficient rigidity to the frame end portion 78 so that the degree of displacement in assembly is minimised while providing adequate tension to assure continual contact of frame end portion 78 with the baking pan side wall 52. Such tension means eliminates the need for spot or projection welding the frame end portion to the pan side wall.

As described thus far, a baking pan set made in accordance with the invention, as shown in Figure 5, has substantial economies in both material and labour as compared to a similar baking pan set of the prior art, shown in Figure 1. For example, the full rim wire 31 is eliminated and even though the spacer wire members 46 provide a partial rim wire on the adjacent sides of adjacent pans through leg portions 62,64 and 66, there is no rim wire utilised on the pan end walls or outer side walls; inasmuch as baking pans generally range in length from 8" (20.32cm) to 16" (40.64cm) and in width from 4" (10.16cm) to 5'6 (12.7 cm) the savings in wire material is roughly 40%-50%.In addition, and because the rim spacers 46 provide cross-legs 65 and 67 integral with leg portions 62, 64 and 66, welding steps such as to secure the rim spacers 36 to the rim wire 31 are eliminated.

Referring now to Figure 10, there is shown in diagrammatic form a continuous series of baking pans 42, and at selected points pairs of spacer wire members 46 to join adjacent baking pans in the manner heretofore described. As illustrated the pans are selectively joined to provide a baking pan set of fourEpans such as shown in Figure 5, although, as will now be explained, the selective joining to provide pan sets of varying number of pans is possible.

Since the only welding now necessary in the assembly of the baking pan set 40 is the welding of the frame member 44 to the end walls 54 of the bake pans 42t and since the baking pans 42 are identical one-to-the-other, the arrangement of the pans 42 can be in-a continuous series as shown and the pans need not be further manipulated, repositioned, or removed in order to be secured on to the others. Rim curling and spot welding as setforth can be accomplished with the pans in place. The number of pans to be joined as a set merely requires. selecting the appropriate size frame member and having corresppnding pairs of rim spacers.

It should be clear from the foregoing description and with reference to the drawings that the baking pan sets made in accordance therewith provides a strong and stable construction suitable for use in commercial baking operations. The pan set is pro duced in a relatively simple manner that reduces the number of manufacturing steps as well as the n.umber of separate components required in assem bly, and reduces the amount of material heretofore required for a comparable pan set. It should also be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment.

Claims

ClAIMS

1. A baking pan set comprising individual baking pans arranged in side-by-side relation secured one to the others by a circumferential band, with adja cent pans secured one to another by spacer mem bers which are secured to adjacent side walls of the pans along at least part of the length of said spacer members.

2. A baking pan set comprising a plurality of baking pans arranged in side-by-side relation each baking pan having a flat rectangular bottom wall, a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls extending upwardly therefrom, outwardly and downwardly extending flanges formed at the upper terminii of said end walls and side walls, spacer members disposed between adjacent baking pans, each spacer member having portions along at least part of the length thereof secured to adjacent side wall flanges of adjacent baking pans, and an outer frame member pf rectangular shape disposed around the baking pan set and secured to the baking pans.

3. A bakin.g pan set according to Claim 2 wherein each spacer member is secured to adjacent side wall flanges of adjacent baking pans by entrapment of portiqns.of said spacer member by said adjacent side wall flanges.

4. A baking pan set according to Claim 2 or Claim

3.wherein a spacer member is characterised as a kunitajry é.lernent having spaced apart parallel leg portions connected by a cross-leg portion, said parallel leg portions being secured to the adjacent side wall flanges of adjacent baking paps.

5. A baking pan set according to Claim 4 wherein a spacer member has at least two cross-leg portions connecting the spaced apart parallel leg portions.

6. A baking pan set according to Claim 5 wherein the spacer member is "P" shaped.

7. A baking pan set according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the spacer member is formed from a single wire.

8. A baking pan set according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a pair of spacer members is disposed between adjacent baking pans.

9. A baking pan set according to any one of Claims 2 to 8 wherein the outer frame member has a vertically disposed main body terminating at the upper end thereof in outwardly and upwardly extending flanges secured to the baking pan end wall flanges and the non-adjacent side wall flanges of the baking pans at the end ofthe set.

10. A baking pan set according to Claim 9 wherein the rectangular outer frame member is formed to provide opposed side walls and opposed end walls, said end walls having tension means urging said end walls into abutment with the outer side walls of the end baking pans of the baking pan set.

11. A baking pan set according to Claim 10 wherein the end wall tension means of the frame member includes displacement of said frame end wall outwardly by an abutting baking pan side wall.

12. A baking pan set according to Claim 11 wherein the frame member end walls are each formed to provide a centrally located rib member extending substantiallythe length of said end wall.

13. A method for forming a baking pan set comprising arranging baking pans having end walls and side walls terminating in outwardly extending flanges, in side-by-side relation in a single row, disposing a spacing member between adjacent baking pans whereby portions along the length of the spacing member are in abutment with a side wall flange of each adjacent baking pan, curling the baking pan wall flanges thereby entrapping the abutting portion of each spacing member within the adjacent wall flange of the baking pans adjacent thereto, encircling the interconnected baking pans with a rectangular frame, and securing the frame to the baking pans.

14. A method for forming a baking pan set according to Claim 13 wherein the spacing member is formed from a single wire to provide spaced apart parallel leg portions connected bya cross-leg portion and curling of the baking pan wall flanges entraps the parallel leg portions within adjacent flanges of adjacent baking pans.

15. A method for forming a baking pan set according to Claim 13 or 14 wherein a pair of spacer members is disposed between adjacent baking pans.

16. A method forforming a baking pan set according to any one of Claims 13 to 15 wherein the step of securing the frame to the baking pans includes deforming a peripheral edge portion of said frame to entrap those previously curled baking pan wall flanges which are not secured to the spacer members.

17. A method for forming a baking pan set according to Claim 16 including displacing a portion of the frame outwardly by a baking pan side wall thereby urging the displaced frame portion into abutment with said baking pan side wall.

18. A method of forming a baking pan set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A baking pan setwheneverformed buy a method as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 18.

20. A baking pan set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.