Abstract: A continuous linear chain conveyor system operates throughout multiple tiers to transport a product which is being either cooled, frozen, warmed, heated, or dried and requires a retention time within a designated volume. The product is carried by multiple adjacent trays which are directly and pivotally attached on one end to opposite links of dual continuous moving sidechains, which are spaced apart, but otherwise follow identical direction paths. Moreover the chains and sprockets and most of their related components are all standard, available, components. In addition, all the components involved in critical areas of expansion and/or contraction during temperature changes, have similar coefficients of expansion and contraction. In the preferred embodiment, the conveyor trays are loaded with product outside the enclosure where the process is to take place.

Abstract: Vibratory weir assemblies, in selected embodiments, are respectively installed in food freezing tunnels to cause at the outset of the freezing operations complete separation of pieces of foods, such as french fries, so they will be individually frozen during the remaining fluidization freezing travel through a food freezing tunnel. Previously prepared foods, such as precooked french fries, moving into a food freezing tunnel on a mesh conveyor, are confronted by a vibrating weir located just above the mesh conveyor. By the time the food pieces are vibrated up and over the vibrating weir each one is free of the other, so subsequently, as they progress on a mesh conveyor, the fluidizing and freezing air circulates completely about them. The vibrating weir is actuated principally up and down with some translatory movement, by using an overhead mechanism having an appearance of modified advancing and shaking mechanisms previously used under shaking tables and/or advancing and shaking conveyors.