US20070006865A1 - Self-cleaning oven - Google Patents

Self-cleaning oven Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20070006865A1
US20070006865A1 US10/546,104 US54610404A US2007006865A1 US 20070006865 A1 US20070006865 A1 US 20070006865A1 US 54610404 A US54610404 A US 54610404A US 2007006865 A1 US2007006865 A1 US 2007006865A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
oven
conveyor
air
cooking
cooking chamber
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/546,104
Inventor
John Wiker
Frank Carbonara
Gregory Tomko
Michael Matthews
Theodore Chmiola
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Middleby Corp
Original Assignee
Middleby Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Middleby Corp filed Critical Middleby Corp
Priority to US10/546,104 priority Critical patent/US20070006865A1/en
Assigned to MIDDLEBY CORPORATION reassignment MIDDLEBY CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CARBONARA, FRANK, CHMIOLA, THEODORE JAMES, MATTHEWS, JR., MICHAEL R., TOMKO, GREGORY J., WIKER, JOHN H.
Publication of US20070006865A1 publication Critical patent/US20070006865A1/en
Priority to US12/463,051 priority patent/US8413646B2/en
Priority to US13/612,522 priority patent/US10024548B2/en
Priority to US13/793,679 priority patent/US10036558B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00Details
    • F24C15/32Arrangements of ducts for hot gases, e.g. in or around baking ovens
    • F24C15/322Arrangements of ducts for hot gases, e.g. in or around baking ovens with forced circulation
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A21BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS
    • A21BBAKERS' OVENS; MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR BAKING
    • A21B1/00Bakers' ovens
    • A21B1/02Bakers' ovens characterised by the heating arrangements
    • A21B1/24Ovens heated by media flowing therethrough
    • A21B1/245Ovens heated by media flowing therethrough with a plurality of air nozzles to obtain an impingement effect on the food
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A21BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS
    • A21BBAKERS' OVENS; MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR BAKING
    • A21B1/00Bakers' ovens
    • A21B1/42Bakers' ovens characterised by the baking surfaces moving during the baking
    • A21B1/48Bakers' ovens characterised by the baking surfaces moving during the baking with surfaces in the form of an endless band
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C14/00Stoves or ranges having self-cleaning provisions, e.g. continuous catalytic cleaning or electrostatic cleaning
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C14/00Stoves or ranges having self-cleaning provisions, e.g. continuous catalytic cleaning or electrostatic cleaning
    • F24C14/02Stoves or ranges having self-cleaning provisions, e.g. continuous catalytic cleaning or electrostatic cleaning pyrolytic type
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C14/00Stoves or ranges having self-cleaning provisions, e.g. continuous catalytic cleaning or electrostatic cleaning
    • F24C14/02Stoves or ranges having self-cleaning provisions, e.g. continuous catalytic cleaning or electrostatic cleaning pyrolytic type
    • F24C14/025Stoves or ranges having self-cleaning provisions, e.g. continuous catalytic cleaning or electrostatic cleaning pyrolytic type for gaseous fuels
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C3/00Stoves or ranges for gaseous fuels
    • F24C3/12Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F24C3/122Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices on stoves

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a gas-fired tunnel oven, and particularly a gas-fired conveyor oven.
  • Gas-fired tunnel ovens traditionally have been cleaned manually with detergent and acid solutions. The oven must be taken apart for cleaning by these methods. In addition to the oven walls, roof, and floor, the conveyor used with the tunnel oven must be cleaned, as well as any jet-impingement convection fingers, convection blowers, and fired burners. Cleaning by the traditional methods is tedious and expensive.
  • a gas-fired, commercially-sized tunnel oven might be cleaned by installing electrical heaters at critical points to raise the internal temperature to a range that reduces virtually all contamination to ash.
  • cleaning a gas-fired tunnel oven by raising the temperature with electrical heaters requires an estimated 50-100 amperes of electricity for each oven.
  • Commercial bakers do not normally have access to this much electrical current, and the cost of installing high current electrical service is a significant financial barrier for most bakers.
  • a self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven that cleans by pyrolysis is provided.
  • the oven is used with a conveyor for food products, which may be collapsed and placed inside the oven for pyrolitic cleaning.
  • the oven includes a control system that regulates the oven temperature and duration of the self-cleaning operation and deters people from opening the oven during the self-cleaning operation.
  • the control system also modulates combustion air and heating gas to one or more burners within the oven.
  • a modulating control system regulates the flow of air or heating gas to the burner or burners.
  • the ratio of airflow to heating gas flow is controlled directly so that the ratio of air to fuel gas flowing to the burner is approximately the same over a range of heating loads.
  • the control system that proportionally coordinates the flow of air and fuel may be, for example, a mechanical linkage between the valves or one or more electric or pneumatic controllers that send positioning signals to the valves.
  • the oven may be equipped with a plurality of convection blowers, each of the convection blowers being subject to individual speed control.
  • the speed of one or more of the convection blowers is varied during start-up operation to optimize fuel consumption, during cooking operation to optimize the quality of food products cooked in the oven, and during the self-cleaning operation to control the rate of contaminant incineration, among other reasons.
  • the oven includes a floating cooking chamber, which can withstand pyrolitic cleaning temperatures and repeated pyrolitic cleaning cycles without warping, cracking or developing metal fatigue.
  • Various components of the floating cooking chamber are joined in a sliding fit that permits the floating cooking chamber to expand and contract in response to temperature changes without applying excessive mechanical stress to the components.
  • the oven also includes a vacuum exhaust system for exhausting pyrolysis products.
  • the convection blowers are situated to deliver convection air to the oven and, also, maintain the oven under a negative pressure with respect to the kitchen.
  • an inducer blower extracts the exhaust air from the oven and delivers it to a disposal system. The negative pressure prevents combustion products produced during the self-cleaning process from escaping to the kitchen.
  • the oven is equipped with an active cooling system in which air from the kitchen is passed through ducts that cool the exterior surfaces of the oven.
  • the oven includes heat-slingers to protect the shafts of the convection blowers from overheating. Additionally, the oven includes self-cleaning fingers for a jet-impingement convection system that also clean the conveyor.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-cleaning oven with both first and second conveyor extension sections extended, each of the conveyor sections being depicted without its mesh belt for clarity;
  • FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 showing a drive shaft, a main conveyor section and the first and second conveyor extension sections, each of the conveyor sections being depicted without its mesh belt for clarity;
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the oven of FIG. 1 with one of the side walls removed, showing one of the blower and motor assemblies and two air-impingement fingers;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 with the first conveyor extension section extended and the second conveyor extension section retracted, the first conveyor extension section being shown without its mesh belt for clarity;
  • FIG. 5 is a view of the oven of FIG. 1 with the front access door removed, showing both conveyor extension sections in their retracted positions;
  • FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the oven of FIG. 1 with both conveyor extension sections retracted;
  • FIG. 7 is an overhead perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 with the ceiling and overhead insulation removed, showing a roof-mounted burner assembly, two blower and motor assemblies, and a vent arrangement;
  • FIG. 8 is a close-up perspective view of the burner assembly of FIG. 3 showing a gas shut-off valve, a gas valve, an air valve, a valve link that coordinates the action of the gas valve with the action of the air valve, and a burner;
  • FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 showing the two blowers and the vent arrangement.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of walls and a tubular frame support surrounding a cooking chamber of the oven of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 showing a drive shaft, the main conveyor section and the first conveyor extension section, each of the conveyors depicted without its mesh belt for clarity.
  • FIG. 12 is a an overhead view of the oven of FIG. 1 with the ceiling and overhead insulation removed, showing a roof-mounted flame tube assembly and two blower and motor assemblies.
  • FIG. 13 is a view of the main conveyor section through an oven opening with one of the conveyor extension sections removed.
  • FIG. 14 is a view of the main conveyor section and its connection to the front wall of the oven depicted in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 15 is a view of one of the conveyor extension sections separated from the oven of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 16 is a side view of the mesh belt of one of the conveyor extension sections.
  • a pyrolytically self-cleaning, gas-fired, conveyor oven 10 as shown in FIG. 1 , includes an oven housing 12 supported on four legs 14 .
  • the oven housing 12 surrounds a cooking chamber 16 through which food products are passed on a conveyor assembly 18 .
  • the oven 10 also includes a front access door 40 that can be opened using a front access door handle 41 .
  • the conveyor assembly 18 includes powered rollers 20 that drive a wire mesh conveyor belt (not shown in the Figures) that conveys. food through the cooling chamber 16 .
  • the powered rollers 20 can be driven in either direction so that, as viewed in FIG. 2 , the conveyor belt can convey food through the cooking chamber 16 from left-to-right or right-to-left.
  • Food products can be transported by the conveyor assembly 18 into a first oven opening 37 and out of a second oven opening 38 or, alternatively, into the second oven opening 38 and out of the first oven opening 37 .
  • the motion of the conveyor drive motor (not shown) and, consequently, the motions of the conveyor assembly 18 are precisely and continuously controlled in order to provide the optimum cooking time for the food products.
  • the speed and direction of the conveyor assembly 18 are input by an operator through a control station (not shown).
  • the conveyor assembly 18 extends out of the cooking chamber 16 at both ends. Food is placed on the conveyor assembly 18 at either end of the oven 10 and is carried through the cooking chamber 16 to the other end of the oven 10 .
  • the conveyor assembly 18 includes a main conveyor section 30 and first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 extending out of the cooking chamber 16 . Over time, as food products travel back and forth over the conveyor assembly 18 , the various sections 30 , 32 , 34 of the conveyor assembly 18 clog with food debris and otherwise become dirty. Additionally, food particles that drop onto various surfaces and components within the cooking chamber 16 become dirty. To clean the oven 10 , the first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 can be disconnected from the main conveyor section 30 and inserted into the cooking chamber 16 .
  • the main conveyor 30 is driven by a direct current electric motor operating through a gear reducer.
  • a pulse-controlled conveyor drive motor (not shown) turns a drive shaft 86 which is rigidly attached to a drive gear 88 , which are depicted in FIG. 11 .
  • the drive motor sends well-defined pulses of electrical energy to move the drive shaft 86 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
  • Each electrical pulse of the motor moves the drive shaft 86 a reproducible increment. For example, a single pulse may be adjusted to advance the drive shaft 86 by a predetermined number of angular degrees.
  • the frequency of electrical pules determines the speed of the drive shaft 86 , and consequently the speed of the conveyor assembly 18 , in either direction.
  • the drive gear 88 turns the main conveyor section 30 and the first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 by means of follower gears 90 , 92 (only one is shown for the first conveyor extension section 32 ).
  • the follower gears 90 , 92 cause conveyor axles 110 to turn, which creates the conveyor motion.
  • the speed of all the conveyor sections, and ultimately, the cooking time of food products traveling through the oven 10 is regulated by the drive motor.
  • the drive motor for oven 10 is controlled by a digital control unit (not shown).
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 depict both the first conveyor extension section 32 and the second conveyor extension section 34 in an extended and locked position, the conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 being both collapsible and extendable.
  • the first conveyor extension section 32 is accompanied by a first insulated door 35 and the second conveyor extension section 34 is accompanied by a second insulated door 36 .
  • Both the first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 can be separated from the oven housing 12 and inserted into a first oven opening 37 and a second oven opening 38 , respectively.
  • the first insulated door 35 can be shut to close the first oven opening 37 and the second insulated door 36 can be shut to close the second oven opening 38 .
  • FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of oven 10 in which only selected components are shown in order to better communicate the invention.
  • FIG. 11 shows the relationship of the main conveyor section 30 to the first conveyor extension section 32 when the first conveyor extension section 32 is in the extended position.
  • the first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 (only one is shown in FIG. 11 ) each include an upper notch 78 , sized and shaped to receive an upper peg 80 , which is attached to an inside wall of the oven (not shown in FIG. 11 ).
  • the first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 also each include a lower notch 82 for receiving a lower peg 84 , which is also attached to the inside wall (not shown). Lifting the first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 causes them to rotate about the upper pegs 80 until the lower pegs 84 disengage from the lower notches 82 .
  • the first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 can be separated from oven 10 and inserted into the first and second oven openings 37 , 38 so that the first and second insulated doors 35 , 36 close the first and second oven openings 36 , 38 , as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the first conveyor section 32 is partially inserted into the first oven opening 37 and locked in an extended position with respect to the main conveyor section 30 .
  • the first conveyor section 32 is locked by inserting the pair of upper notches 78 formed by the sides of the first conveyor section 32 under a pair of upper pegs 80 mounted in the oven 10 .
  • a pair of lower notches 82 also formed by the sides of the first conveyor extension 32 are then rotated onto a pair of lower pegs 84 mounted in the oven 10 .
  • the second conveyor extension section 34 is similarly inserted into the second oven opening 38 and locked in an extended position with respect to the main conveyor section 30 .
  • the first conveyor extension section 32 is separated from the oven 10 in FIG. 13 , providing a close-up view of the first oven opening 37 and the main conveyor section 30 .
  • the drive shaft 86 of the main conveyor section 30 extends between two side plates 96 , although only one of the side plates 96 is visible in FIG. 13 .
  • FIG. 13 also depicts five of the six drive sprocket wheels 100 attached to the conveyor axle 110 of the main conveyor section 30 .
  • a mesh belt 102 is shown as an endless chain engaged with the drive sprocket wheels 100 .
  • One of the upper pegs 80 and one of the lower pegs 84 which cooperate for locking the first conveyor section 32 (not shown in FIG. 13 ) in an extended position, are also visible in FIG. 13 .
  • the sixth of the six drive sprocket wheels 100 of the main conveyor section 30 is shown in FIG. 14 along with one of the two side plates 96 .
  • a bracket 106 extends from one of the side plates 96 and is fastened to the front wall 66 for supporting the main conveyor section 30 .
  • the front wall 66 also supports one of the upper pegs 80 and one of the lower pegs 84 .
  • FIG. 15 A close-up, partial perspective view of the first conveyor extension section 32 is presented in FIG. 15 .
  • the mesh belt 102 of the first conveyor extension section 32 tends to sag if not supported, as illustrated in FIG. 16 .
  • FIG. 15 depicts four guides 108 , which are provided to support the mesh belt 102 .
  • the guides 108 are in turn supported by guide supports 98 , which extend the width of the first conveyor extension section 32 .
  • FIG. 15 also shows the conveyor axle 110 and the six drive sprocket wheels 100 for the first conveyor section, which are used to facilitate the progress of the mesh belt 102 .
  • FIG. 4 shows the second conveyor extension section 34 inserted into the cooling chamber 16 and a second insulated door 36 closed to seal off the second oven opening 38 through which the second conveyor extension section 34 previously extended.
  • FIG. 5 further illustrates that the main conveyor section 30 supports the first conveyor extension section 32 when the first conveyor extension section 32 is inserted into the first oven opening 37 . Inserting the first conveyor extension section 32 into first oven opening 37 allows the first insulated door 35 to close the first oven opening 37 .
  • the main conveyor section 30 supports the second conveyor extension section 34 , when the second conveyor extension section 34 is inserted into the second oven opening 38 so that the second insulated door 36 can close the second oven opening 38 .
  • the cooling chamber 16 of the oven 10 is completely sealed, as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the cooking chamber 16 can then be superheated to approximately 900°, turning all food debris in the oven 10 to ash.
  • the front access door 40 can be opened using the front access door handle 41 and the ash can be cleaned from the oven 10 .
  • each of conveyors includes endless stainless steel mesh belts 102 capable of travelling in either direction and at variable speeds.
  • Crumb trays (not shown) are removably installed underneath the first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 .
  • the depicted conveyor oven 10 includes two fingers 24 , a lower finger having nozzles 22 directing air upward at the bottom of the conveyor assembly 18 and an upper finger having nozzles 22 (not seen in FIG. 2 ) directing air downward at the top of the main conveyor section 30 .
  • the fingers 24 contain an inner distributor plate (not shown) and a perforated outer plate containing the nozzles 22 that collimate the heated air and evenly distribute the heated air across the main conveyor section 30 on which the food products ride.
  • the oven 10 depicted in FIG. 3 includes two fingers 24 (one above the conveyor and one below), however, the oven 10 can accommodate a number of bottom fingers 24 and top fingers 24 . Any combination or deletion of fingers may be employed.
  • the hot air directed through the fingers 24 is heated by a burner assembly 42 (best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 ) located under an instrument panel 39 ( FIG. 1 ) on the front of the oven 10 .
  • the burner assembly 42 creates the heat used by the oven 10 during both cooking (baking) and self-cleaning.
  • the burner assembly 42 heats the hot air that flows through the fingers 24 to cook food products passing along the conveyor assembly 18 .
  • the burner assembly 42 burns a gas and air mixture at a burner 44 , which shoots a flame down a flame tube 46 .
  • the flame heats the air contained in the flame tube 46 , and the heated air exits the flame tube through an outlet 47 and into a plenum 94 , as seen in FIG. 12 .
  • the open space of the plenum 94 located in front of the back wall 70 of the oven 10 , provides the hot air with a directed passageway toward a blower housing 74 where it will be circulated throughout the cooking chamber 16 .
  • the burner 44 is called upon to satisfy a wide range of heat output requirements, it is necessary to control the flow of gas and air supplied to the burner 44 . While the burner 44 is operating, the flow of both air and heating gas to the burner 44 is modulated by a combined control system. With this combined modulating control system for combustion air and heating gas, optimum combustion conditions within the burner 44 can be maintained approximately constant over a range of heat outputs. With this combined modulating control system, the ratio of combustion air flow to heating gas flow can be optimized and maintained so that combustion is thermally efficient and environmentally sound, producing a minimum of objectionable byproducts.
  • the ratio of combustion air to heating gas can be optimized to produce, for example, environmentally clean burning and the ratio will remain close to the optimum value whether the programmable controller (not shown) calls for high heat or low heat.
  • the ratio may be optimized for optimal fuel consumption, optimal heat-up time or any other results that the operator desires and the ratio will not vary substantially with heat output.
  • This modulating control system for combustion air and heating gas over a range of heat output is especially advantageous for a self-cleaning oven, such as the oven 10 , where a range of heat outputs is required.
  • the burner assembly 42 includes an actuator 48 that operates an air valve 50 that regulates the amount of air entering the burner 44 from a combustion air blower 52 .
  • the actuator 48 controls the position of the air valve 50 based on signals received from other control instruments and sensors (not shown) included in oven 10 .
  • a valve link 54 coordinates the movement of the gas valve 56 with that of the air valve 50 .
  • the gas valve 56 receives gas from an automatic gas shut-off valve 57 and modulates the flow of this gas so that the ratio of heating gas to combustion air is relatively constant for a wide range of heating loads.
  • the valve link 54 connects the air valve 50 to the gas valve 56 so that as the actuator 48 opens and closes the air valve 50 , the gas valve 56 is correspondingly opened and closed, proportionally mixing the air and gas as they enter the burner 44 . The air and gas mixture is then ignited inside the burner 44 and a flame shoots down the flame tube 46 .
  • valve link 54 One of the advantages of modulating air and gas control, as provided by the valve link 54 , is that the amount of excess air in the flame tube 46 remains substantially the same during high and low heating load periods. This advantage is particularly important in a self-cleaning, pyrolitic oven, which exhibits a significantly higher heating load during self-cleaning than conventional cooling heating loads.
  • valve link 54 depicted in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 is mechanical, it is also contemplated that the positions of an air valve and a gas valve in modulating air and gas control systems may alternatively be coordinated by, for example, utilizing electronically-controlled actuators for each of the valves and coordinating their positions by means of one or more electronic controllers.
  • the burner 44 may be mounted anywhere in the oven.
  • the burner 44 is roof-mounted as shown and sends its flame along the inside of the flame tube 46 mounted adjacent the ceiling of the oven 10 .
  • contaminants tend to accumulate most heavily on and near the oven floors.
  • the roof-mounted burner system is more likely to progressively incinerate and less likely to ignite the floor accumulation as compared to conventional floor-mounted and wall-mounted burner configurations.
  • the flame tube 46 becomes very hot and radiates heat energy throughout the inventive oven 10 . It is contemplated that a diffusing tube (not shown) may be employed around the burner for processing food products that tend to discolor or otherwise deteriorate when subjected to intense radiant heat.
  • the oven 10 has two relatively large blowers 26 , 27 (see FIG. . 7 ) to move the heated air created by the burner 44 through the fingers 24 and onto the product so that the most efficient bake is achieved for each food product processed in the oven 10 . More specifically, the oven 10 employs collimated, vertical air streams to give uniform and intensive heating. The collimated, vertical streams of air that emerge from the fingers 24 provide an exceptional heat transfer rate and generally bake foods faster and at lower temperatures than in conventional convection hot air or infrared heating ovens.
  • the hot air is circulated through the oven 10 by the two blowers 26 , 27 located at the back of the oven 10 (see FIG. 9 ).
  • the two convection blowers 26 , 27 are located in the blower housing 74 (see FIG. 10 ).
  • the blowers 26 , 27 are each powered by a blower motor 75 (only one is shown in FIG. 9 ), which is mounted on the back wall 70 , and connected to the blowers 26 , 27 by a shaft (not shown).
  • the shafts may be fitted with heat-slingers (not shown) or other cooling apparatuses.
  • a heat slinger is a type of fan arrangement mounted on the shaft.
  • Each blower motor 75 may be equipped with a dedicated speed controller (not shown), preferably including an electrical power inverter. With the benefit of individual speed control, the blowers 26 , 27 can be individually accelerated and decelerated to optimize electrical current inrush, the burner 44 firing or convective heat loss. The speed of the blowers 26 , 27 may also be individually controlled in order to create distinguishable heating zones within the oven 10 to optimize the baking of particular food products.
  • blowers 26 , 27 may be variable speed blowers that are controlled together so that their speeds, while variable, are always the same as each other.
  • cooling fans 13 , 15 located on the front of oven 10 as depicted in FIGS. 1, 4 , 6 , and 7 . These fans blow cool air in through the machinery compartment and out the side walls.
  • the cooling fans 13 , 15 draw air from the surroundings through the instrument panel 39 for cooling the instruments located behind the instrument panel 39 .
  • a portion of the discharge air from the cooling fans 13 , 15 may enter the combustion air blower 52 and be delivered to the burner 44 as combustion air.
  • the remainder of the discharge air from cooling fans 13 , 15 enters passages that extend between the external sheeting of the oven 10 and an inside wall, which supports insulation. The flow of air in these passages serves to cool the external sheeting of the oven 10 below preferably about 125 degrees F.
  • a vent arrangement 58 is located at the back of the oven 10 .
  • the vent arrangement 58 includes a vent valve 60 that is positioned between a vent tube 62 and a T-shaped tube 64 that communicates with the high-pressure sides of the blowers 26 .
  • the vent valve 60 is closed so that no air passes through the vent valve 60 into the vent tube 62 . In this way, during cooking, air that is heated is directed solely into the cooking chamber 16 for efficient cooking of food in the cooking chamber 16 .
  • the vent valve 60 is opened and the oven openings 37 , 38 are closed, as discussed above.
  • vent valve 60 By opening the vent valve 60 , enough heated air is exhausted through the vent tube 62 to maintain a slight negative pressure within the cooking chamber 16 . In this way, the smoke and soot that develops during a self-cleaning cycle is exhausted through the vent tube 62 and the passage of smoke and soot through small openings and cracks in the oven housing 12 is prevented.
  • the cooking chamber 16 is bounded by a front wall 66 and two side walls 68 that are connected to a back wall 70 .
  • the front wall 66 , two side walls 68 , and back wall 70 are all screwed together to form a box surrounding the cooking chamber 16 .
  • the back wall 70 of this box is fixed to a tubular frame 71 , which is connected to a platform 72 .
  • the front wall 66 , and two side walls 68 are free-floating. That is, the front wall 66 and two side walls 68 are connected to the back wall 70 , but are not connected to the tubular frame 71 .
  • the perimeters of the front wall 66 and the two side walls 68 include lips 73 that sit on the various members that make up the tubular frame 71 , but are not fixedly connected to those members. In this way, the front wall 66 and two side walls 68 are free to move relative to the tubular frame 71 so that during cooking, and particularly during self-cleaning when the temperatures in the cooking chamber 16 are relatively high, the front wall 66 and side walls 68 of the cooking chamber 16 are free to expand and slide on the members of the tubular frame 71 , thereby preventing buckling and warping of the walls of the cooking chamber 16 .
  • a unified display control station (not shown) for the oven 10 can include a blower selector, a heat selector, a conveyor selector, two or more conveyor speed controllers and a digital temperature controller. Additionally, a machinery compartment access panel safety switch disconnects electrical power to the controls and the blowers when the machinery compartment access panel is opened.
  • an operator confirms that the front access door 40 is closed. The operator then turns the blower and conveyor selectors to the “on” position. If necessary, the operator adjusts the conveyor speed setting by pushing appropriate selectors on the conveyor speed controller. The operator adjusts the temperature controller to a desired temperature and selects normal operation.
  • a heat switch on a control station (not shown) of the oven 10 activates the combustion air blower 52 .
  • the burner 44 is a direct ignition burner.
  • the main gas valve 57 is opened while starting. a spark in the burner 44 .
  • a sensor then monitors whether a flame is present within the burner 44 . If a flame is not detected within 6 seconds, the main gas valve 57 is shut down, the burner 44 is purged, and the ignition cycle is repeated. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 , a gas bypass tube 76 provides enough gas to the burner 44 to maintain a minimum flame even when the gas modulation valve 56 is closed.
  • the oven 10 will typically heat to a desired heating set-point temperature within a matter of minutes. While the oven 10 is heating, the control station (not shown) displays the actual temperature. One or more thermocouples (not shown) in the interior of the oven 10 send signals to a programmable controller (not shown) that controls the actuator 48 . If the programmable controller (not shown) calls for more heat, the actuator 48 rotates to open the air valve 50 and more combustion air is permitted to pass from the combustion air blower 52 to the burner 44 . Simultaneously, the valve link 54 moves under the influence of the actuator 48 to further open the gas valve 56 , permitting more heating gas to pass from gas line 55 to the burner 44 .
  • valve link 54 causes the air valve 50 and the gas valve 56 to close simultaneously and proportionally. Consequently, the ratio of combustion air flow to heating gas flow entering the burner 44 remains approximately constant over a range of heat output.
  • the speed of the blowers 26 , 27 can be varied.
  • the speed of the blowers may be two-thirds full speed during start-up and self-cleaning cycles and full speed during a cooking cycle to promote heating efficiency during each of the cycles.
  • one or both of the blower motors 75 start and routinely ramp up to a desired operating speed in a programmable period of time. Programming the start-up time of convection blower motors 75 makes firing of the burner 44 more reliable and promotes better combustion, among other things.
  • the burner 44 is initially fired with a minimum heat output and ramped up to the baking or self-cleaning heat output over a period of time by, for example, a programmable controller (not shown).
  • a programmable controller not shown
  • the blower motors 75 are accelerated to operating speed in a programmable period of time.
  • the start-up procedure (i.e., ramping up the speed of one or both of the blowers 26 , 27 ) prevents an objectionable current inrush situation that is observed in conventional ovens, which commonly start two or more blower motors at full speed simultaneously.
  • This startup procedure is also quieter, and requires less electricity and heating gas, than the startup of conventional ovens.
  • the blowers 26 , 27 draw more electrical current when the oven is cold and the air in the oven is relatively dense, operating both blowers at low speed during heat-up (start-up) saves electricity. Also, because increased convection on the inside surfaces of the oven walls promotes heat loss to the kitchen, operating only one of the convection blowers during heat-up saves heating gas.
  • each of the blowers 26 , 27 is equipped with an electrical power inverter (not shown), which alters the frequency and/or voltage of the electrical current to control the speed of the blower 26 or 27 .
  • the blower motor 75 can be either ramped up to operating speed over a programmable period such as, for example, about thirty minutes, or held at an optimal intermediate speed until the oven 10 reaches baling or cleaning temperature and then accelerated. These variations conserve still more energy by providing appropriate programmable blower speeds depending on the current operation of the oven 10 .
  • the oven 10 is, for example, baking (cooking), self-cleaning, warning up, or cooling down
  • the blowers 26 , 27 can operate at specific speeds best suited for each individual activity.
  • the speed of the blower motors 75 may be separately adjusted to create two or more different heating zones (not shown) within the oven 10 .
  • These heating zones (not shown) can be created at will and utilized to optimize the baking process and, consequently, the finished quality of a particular food product.
  • the oven 10 may be equipped with two or more thermocouples (not shown) or other temperature sensors to individually monitor and adjust these heating zones (not shown). The manner in which the signals from these thermocouples (not shown) are averaged or otherwise interpreted by the programmable controller can be varied to suit the food product.
  • blowers 26 , 27 In order to shut down the blowers 26 , 27 , the operator selects standby on the control station. The blowers 26 , 27 will remain in operation until the oven 10 has cooled to below 200 degrees F. and then cease turning.
  • the oven 10 When it is determined that the oven 10 should be cleaned, it is cooled to a temperature below about 140 degrees F. The operator then disengages the first conveyor extension section 32 and withdraws the first conveyor extension section 32 from the first oven opening 37 . The first conveyor extension section 32 is then inserted into the first oven opening 37 so that the first conveyor extension section 32 is supported by the main conveyor section 30 and the first insulated door 35 closes the first oven opening 37 . The second conveyor extension section 34 is similarly separated from the oven 10 and inserted into the second oven opening 38 and the second insulated door 36 is closed. Because the first and second conveyor extension sections 32 , 34 are inserted into the interior of the oven I 0 , they are cleaned by pyrolitic heat during the self-cleaning cycle.
  • the vent valve 60 (best seen in FIG.
  • oven 10 operates under the control of temperature sensors and controllers (not shown) that are specifically designed to operate in the range of about 650-1000 degrees F. These may be the same sensors and controllers used for baling (not shown) or a separate set.
  • the programmable control system actuates a set of safety interlocks adapted for cleaning temperature operation.
  • the oven overrides the baling cycle high temperature shutdown limits, which are typically set at values less than 600 degrees F.
  • the programmable control system actuates door locks that deter people from opening the oven doors during the pyrolitic self-cleaning cycle.
  • the programmable controller also initiates corrective action if unsafe or undesirable conditions are detected. For example, upon detecting excessively high temperatures, high smoke levels or low oxygen levels within the oven, the programmable controller shuts down the burner 44 and the blowers 26 , 27 .
  • the interior of the oven 10 is kept under a negative pressure compared to the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
  • the opening of the vent valve 60 and the operation of the blowers 26 , 27 create the negative pressure in the interior of the oven 10 .
  • an inducer blower (not shown) maintains the interior of the oven 10 under a negative pressure during cleaning as compared to the surrounding atmospheric pressure. The inducer blower creates this negative pressure by drawing air from the blower housing 74 .
  • the blowers 26 , 27 actually assist the inducer blower in creating this negative pressure because the discharge flow from the blowers 26 , 27 is impelled directly into the inducer blower.
  • the combined effect is similar to that of a two-stage blower.
  • the discharge flow from the inducer blower is sent to the vent arrangement 58 .
  • the inducer blower could also take suction from the interior of the oven 10 during normal baking.
  • the entry of the inducer blower opens directly into the blower housing 74 .
  • the inducer blower may be positioned directly in the path of the discharge air flow from each of the blowers 26 , 27 so that the two sets of blowers work in tandem to reduce the pressure in the interior of the oven 10 .
  • the inducer blower may be mounted anywhere in the interior of the oven 10 .
  • the discharge flow of air from the inducer blower is sent to the vent arrangement 58 for disposal.
  • Maintaining negative pressure in the interior of the oven 10 during both cooking and self-cleaning enhances energy efficiency and safety. Maintaining negative pressure in the interior of the oven 10 during the cooking and self-cleaning operations insures that little or no heated air escapes to the kitchen. Minimizing heated air loss makes the oven 10 more energy efficient. Any loss or discharge of heated air from the interior of the oven 10 necessitates the combustion of additional heating gas. By directing all exhaust flows from the oven 10 to the vent arrangement 58 and ultimately the vent tube 62 , the loss or discharge of heated air can be better controlled and minimized. Also, the negative pressure system promotes safety because negative pressure retains burning gases in the interior of the oven 10 rather than permitting them to escape into the kitchen.
  • maintaining negative pressure in the oven 10 tends to prevent any smoky residue from building up on the exterior of the oven 10 during normal cooking and self-cleaning operations.
  • the exterior surfaces of the oven 10 remain clean longer because they are not subjected to smoke, which commonly escapes from the atmospheric cooking chambers of conventional ovens.
  • the blowers 26 , 27 turn at a relatively low speed during a first incineration period of the cleaning cycle. This low speed uniformly distributes heat throughout the interior of the oven 10 while minimizing convective heat loss through the walls of the oven 10 .
  • the first incineration period generally continues for about one hour, although it may be longer or shorter based on factors such as the cleaning temperature and the amount and type of contamination in the oven 10 .
  • the blowers 26 , 27 operate at a relatively higher speed to promote complete incineration of the contamination or debris accumulation.
  • the temperature of the oven 10 is increased to a peak temperature at least once during the second incineration period.
  • the programmable controller cools the oven, disengages the safety interlocks and arranges the control system for cooling operation. Due to the combination of high temperature and convective air flow in the inventive oven during the self-cleaning cycle, any contamination accumulation that is in the oven is reduced to harmless and sterile ash.
  • This ash may be collected on drip pans provided for that purpose, which can be accessed through the front access door 40 and carried away to disposal. Alternatively, the ash may be collected in a vacuum cleaner system that is built into or independent of the inventive oven.
  • collection of the ash from the lower fingers may be facilitated by constructing the mesh belt 102 of the main conveyor section 30 so that it is close to or touching the perforated plates of the lower fingers 24 .
  • the mesh belt 102 thus pushes or scrapes the ash from the lower fingers 24 for collection by a drip pan or vacuum system.
  • the perforations are formed so that the lower fingers 24 present a nonabrasive surface to the mesh belt 102 .

Abstract

A self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven is provided. One embodiment of the oven provides a self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven for cooking food products. The oven includes a control system that regulates oven temperature during a pyrolitic, self-cleaning procedure for incinerating contaminants that accumulate inside; a burner for cooking food products and incinerating contaminants; a modulating air and fuel control system arranged for proportionally delivering air and fuel to the burner; a plurality of convection air fingers for directing heated air toward the food products; a collapsible conveyor, capable of fitting into the oven when collapsed, for passing the food products through the oven; a plurality of blowers, each having a dedicated speed controller; a floating cooking chamber; and a vent system that maintains a negative pressure in the oven during the self-cleaning procedure

Description

    RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • The present patent application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/449,545, filed on Feb. 21, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to a gas-fired tunnel oven, and particularly a gas-fired conveyor oven.
  • BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Commercial, gas-fired tunnel ovens equipped with conveyors produce, among other things, pizzas, cookies, bread, cakes and donuts. Each oven routinely processes a large volume of food products and, as a result, becomes rather dirty. Bits of the food products themselves, burned food products, and soot from the burners are typical sources of contamination that accumulate during use.
  • Gas-fired tunnel ovens traditionally have been cleaned manually with detergent and acid solutions. The oven must be taken apart for cleaning by these methods. In addition to the oven walls, roof, and floor, the conveyor used with the tunnel oven must be cleaned, as well as any jet-impingement convection fingers, convection blowers, and fired burners. Cleaning by the traditional methods is tedious and expensive.
  • In theory, a gas-fired, commercially-sized tunnel oven might be cleaned by installing electrical heaters at critical points to raise the internal temperature to a range that reduces virtually all contamination to ash. In practice, cleaning a gas-fired tunnel oven by raising the temperature with electrical heaters requires an estimated 50-100 amperes of electricity for each oven. Commercial bakers do not normally have access to this much electrical current, and the cost of installing high current electrical service is a significant financial barrier for most bakers.
  • Accordingly, there is a need for a self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven suitable for use with a conveyor that can be cleaned without need of disassembly, manual cleaning, or detergents. Commercial bakers would welcome a self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven.
  • A self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven that cleans by pyrolysis is provided. The oven is used with a conveyor for food products, which may be collapsed and placed inside the oven for pyrolitic cleaning. The oven includes a control system that regulates the oven temperature and duration of the self-cleaning operation and deters people from opening the oven during the self-cleaning operation.
  • The control system also modulates combustion air and heating gas to one or more burners within the oven. A modulating control system regulates the flow of air or heating gas to the burner or burners. The ratio of airflow to heating gas flow is controlled directly so that the ratio of air to fuel gas flowing to the burner is approximately the same over a range of heating loads. The control system that proportionally coordinates the flow of air and fuel may be, for example, a mechanical linkage between the valves or one or more electric or pneumatic controllers that send positioning signals to the valves. With modulating control of combustion air and heating gas, the oven operates cleanly and efficiently over a wide range of heating loads.
  • The oven may be equipped with a plurality of convection blowers, each of the convection blowers being subject to individual speed control. The speed of one or more of the convection blowers is varied during start-up operation to optimize fuel consumption, during cooking operation to optimize the quality of food products cooked in the oven, and during the self-cleaning operation to control the rate of contaminant incineration, among other reasons.
  • The oven includes a floating cooking chamber, which can withstand pyrolitic cleaning temperatures and repeated pyrolitic cleaning cycles without warping, cracking or developing metal fatigue. Various components of the floating cooking chamber are joined in a sliding fit that permits the floating cooking chamber to expand and contract in response to temperature changes without applying excessive mechanical stress to the components.
  • The oven also includes a vacuum exhaust system for exhausting pyrolysis products. In one version, the convection blowers are situated to deliver convection air to the oven and, also, maintain the oven under a negative pressure with respect to the kitchen. In another version, an inducer blower extracts the exhaust air from the oven and delivers it to a disposal system. The negative pressure prevents combustion products produced during the self-cleaning process from escaping to the kitchen.
  • The oven is equipped with an active cooling system in which air from the kitchen is passed through ducts that cool the exterior surfaces of the oven. The oven includes heat-slingers to protect the shafts of the convection blowers from overheating. Additionally, the oven includes self-cleaning fingers for a jet-impingement convection system that also clean the conveyor.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-cleaning oven with both first and second conveyor extension sections extended, each of the conveyor sections being depicted without its mesh belt for clarity;
  • FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 showing a drive shaft, a main conveyor section and the first and second conveyor extension sections, each of the conveyor sections being depicted without its mesh belt for clarity;
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the oven of FIG. 1 with one of the side walls removed, showing one of the blower and motor assemblies and two air-impingement fingers;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 with the first conveyor extension section extended and the second conveyor extension section retracted, the first conveyor extension section being shown without its mesh belt for clarity;
  • FIG. 5 is a view of the oven of FIG. 1 with the front access door removed, showing both conveyor extension sections in their retracted positions;
  • FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the oven of FIG. 1 with both conveyor extension sections retracted;
  • FIG. 7 is an overhead perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 with the ceiling and overhead insulation removed, showing a roof-mounted burner assembly, two blower and motor assemblies, and a vent arrangement;
  • FIG. 8 is a close-up perspective view of the burner assembly of FIG. 3 showing a gas shut-off valve, a gas valve, an air valve, a valve link that coordinates the action of the gas valve with the action of the air valve, and a burner;
  • FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 showing the two blowers and the vent arrangement; and
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of walls and a tubular frame support surrounding a cooking chamber of the oven of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the oven of FIG. 1 showing a drive shaft, the main conveyor section and the first conveyor extension section, each of the conveyors depicted without its mesh belt for clarity.
  • FIG. 12 is a an overhead view of the oven of FIG. 1 with the ceiling and overhead insulation removed, showing a roof-mounted flame tube assembly and two blower and motor assemblies.
  • FIG. 13 is a view of the main conveyor section through an oven opening with one of the conveyor extension sections removed.
  • FIG. 14 is a view of the main conveyor section and its connection to the front wall of the oven depicted in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 15 is a view of one of the conveyor extension sections separated from the oven of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 16 is a side view of the mesh belt of one of the conveyor extension sections.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • According to one embodiment, a pyrolytically self-cleaning, gas-fired, conveyor oven 10, as shown in FIG. 1, includes an oven housing 12 supported on four legs 14. The oven housing 12 surrounds a cooking chamber 16 through which food products are passed on a conveyor assembly 18. The oven 10 also includes a front access door 40 that can be opened using a front access door handle 41.
  • As best seen in FIG. 2, the conveyor assembly 18 includes powered rollers 20 that drive a wire mesh conveyor belt (not shown in the Figures) that conveys. food through the cooling chamber 16. The powered rollers 20 can be driven in either direction so that, as viewed in FIG. 2, the conveyor belt can convey food through the cooking chamber 16 from left-to-right or right-to-left. Food products can be transported by the conveyor assembly 18 into a first oven opening 37 and out of a second oven opening 38 or, alternatively, into the second oven opening 38 and out of the first oven opening 37. In either case, the motion of the conveyor drive motor (not shown) and, consequently, the motions of the conveyor assembly 18 are precisely and continuously controlled in order to provide the optimum cooking time for the food products. The speed and direction of the conveyor assembly 18 are input by an operator through a control station (not shown).
  • As the oven 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is configured for cooking food products. That is, the conveyor assembly 18 extends out of the cooking chamber 16 at both ends. Food is placed on the conveyor assembly 18 at either end of the oven 10 and is carried through the cooking chamber 16 to the other end of the oven 10. As best seen in FIG. 2, the conveyor assembly 18 includes a main conveyor section 30 and first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34 extending out of the cooking chamber 16. Over time, as food products travel back and forth over the conveyor assembly 18, the various sections 30, 32, 34 of the conveyor assembly 18 clog with food debris and otherwise become dirty. Additionally, food particles that drop onto various surfaces and components within the cooking chamber 16 become dirty. To clean the oven 10, the first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34 can be disconnected from the main conveyor section 30 and inserted into the cooking chamber 16.
  • The main conveyor 30 is driven by a direct current electric motor operating through a gear reducer. A pulse-controlled conveyor drive motor (not shown) turns a drive shaft 86 which is rigidly attached to a drive gear 88, which are depicted in FIG. 11. The drive motor sends well-defined pulses of electrical energy to move the drive shaft 86 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Each electrical pulse of the motor moves the drive shaft 86 a reproducible increment. For example, a single pulse may be adjusted to advance the drive shaft 86 by a predetermined number of angular degrees. The frequency of electrical pules determines the speed of the drive shaft 86, and consequently the speed of the conveyor assembly 18, in either direction. The drive gear 88 turns the main conveyor section 30 and the first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34 by means of follower gears 90, 92 (only one is shown for the first conveyor extension section 32). The follower gears 90, 92 cause conveyor axles 110 to turn, which creates the conveyor motion. The speed of all the conveyor sections, and ultimately, the cooking time of food products traveling through the oven 10, is regulated by the drive motor. The drive motor for oven 10 is controlled by a digital control unit (not shown).
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 depict both the first conveyor extension section 32 and the second conveyor extension section 34 in an extended and locked position, the conveyor extension sections 32, 34 being both collapsible and extendable. The first conveyor extension section 32 is accompanied by a first insulated door 35 and the second conveyor extension section 34 is accompanied by a second insulated door 36. Both the first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34 can be separated from the oven housing 12 and inserted into a first oven opening 37 and a second oven opening 38, respectively. After the conveyor extension sections 32, 34 have been inserted into the oven housing 12, the first insulated door 35 can be shut to close the first oven opening 37 and the second insulated door 36 can be shut to close the second oven opening 38.
  • FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of oven 10 in which only selected components are shown in order to better communicate the invention. FIG. 11 shows the relationship of the main conveyor section 30 to the first conveyor extension section 32 when the first conveyor extension section 32 is in the extended position. The first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34 (only one is shown in FIG. 11) each include an upper notch 78, sized and shaped to receive an upper peg 80, which is attached to an inside wall of the oven (not shown in FIG. 11). The first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34 also each include a lower notch 82 for receiving a lower peg 84, which is also attached to the inside wall (not shown). Lifting the first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34 causes them to rotate about the upper pegs 80 until the lower pegs 84 disengage from the lower notches 82.
  • With the lower notches 82 disengaged, the first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34 can be separated from oven 10 and inserted into the first and second oven openings 37, 38 so that the first and second insulated doors 35, 36 close the first and second oven openings 36, 38, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • In order to assemble the conveyor assembly 18 for baking, the first conveyor section 32 is partially inserted into the first oven opening 37 and locked in an extended position with respect to the main conveyor section 30. The first conveyor section 32 is locked by inserting the pair of upper notches 78 formed by the sides of the first conveyor section 32 under a pair of upper pegs 80 mounted in the oven 10. A pair of lower notches 82 also formed by the sides of the first conveyor extension 32 are then rotated onto a pair of lower pegs 84 mounted in the oven 10. The second conveyor extension section 34 is similarly inserted into the second oven opening 38 and locked in an extended position with respect to the main conveyor section 30.
  • The first conveyor extension section 32 is separated from the oven 10 in FIG. 13, providing a close-up view of the first oven opening 37 and the main conveyor section 30. The drive shaft 86 of the main conveyor section 30 extends between two side plates 96, although only one of the side plates 96 is visible in FIG. 13. FIG. 13 also depicts five of the six drive sprocket wheels 100 attached to the conveyor axle 110 of the main conveyor section 30. A mesh belt 102 is shown as an endless chain engaged with the drive sprocket wheels 100. One of the upper pegs 80 and one of the lower pegs 84, which cooperate for locking the first conveyor section 32 (not shown in FIG. 13) in an extended position, are also visible in FIG. 13.
  • The sixth of the six drive sprocket wheels 100 of the main conveyor section 30 is shown in FIG. 14 along with one of the two side plates 96. A bracket 106 extends from one of the side plates 96 and is fastened to the front wall 66 for supporting the main conveyor section 30. The front wall 66 also supports one of the upper pegs 80 and one of the lower pegs 84.
  • A close-up, partial perspective view of the first conveyor extension section 32 is presented in FIG. 15. The mesh belt 102 of the first conveyor extension section 32 tends to sag if not supported, as illustrated in FIG. 16. FIG. 15 depicts four guides 108, which are provided to support the mesh belt 102. The guides 108 are in turn supported by guide supports 98, which extend the width of the first conveyor extension section 32. FIG. 15 also shows the conveyor axle 110 and the six drive sprocket wheels 100 for the first conveyor section, which are used to facilitate the progress of the mesh belt 102.
  • FIG. 4 shows the second conveyor extension section 34 inserted into the cooling chamber 16 and a second insulated door 36 closed to seal off the second oven opening 38 through which the second conveyor extension section 34 previously extended.
  • FIG. 5 further illustrates that the main conveyor section 30 supports the first conveyor extension section 32 when the first conveyor extension section 32 is inserted into the first oven opening 37. Inserting the first conveyor extension section 32 into first oven opening 37 allows the first insulated door 35 to close the first oven opening 37. Similarly, the main conveyor section 30 supports the second conveyor extension section 34, when the second conveyor extension section 34 is inserted into the second oven opening 38 so that the second insulated door 36 can close the second oven opening 38. With the insulated doors 35, 36 closed, the cooling chamber 16 of the oven 10 is completely sealed, as shown in FIG. 6. The cooking chamber 16 can then be superheated to approximately 900°, turning all food debris in the oven 10 to ash. When the food debris has been burned and turned to ash, the front access door 40 can be opened using the front access door handle 41 and the ash can be cleaned from the oven 10.
  • As seen in FIGS. 13-16 each of conveyors includes endless stainless steel mesh belts 102 capable of travelling in either direction and at variable speeds. Crumb trays (not shown) are removably installed underneath the first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34.
  • As food travels through the cooking chamber 16, it is cooked by the impingement of hot air that is directed at the main conveyor section 30 through nozzles 22 located on fingers 24. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the depicted conveyor oven 10 includes two fingers 24, a lower finger having nozzles 22 directing air upward at the bottom of the conveyor assembly 18 and an upper finger having nozzles 22 (not seen in FIG. 2) directing air downward at the top of the main conveyor section 30. The fingers 24 contain an inner distributor plate (not shown) and a perforated outer plate containing the nozzles 22 that collimate the heated air and evenly distribute the heated air across the main conveyor section 30 on which the food products ride. The oven 10 depicted in FIG. 3 includes two fingers 24 (one above the conveyor and one below), however, the oven 10 can accommodate a number of bottom fingers 24 and top fingers 24. Any combination or deletion of fingers may be employed.
  • The hot air directed through the fingers 24 is heated by a burner assembly 42 (best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8) located under an instrument panel 39 (FIG. 1) on the front of the oven 10. The burner assembly 42 creates the heat used by the oven 10 during both cooking (baking) and self-cleaning. The burner assembly 42 heats the hot air that flows through the fingers 24 to cook food products passing along the conveyor assembly 18. The burner assembly 42 burns a gas and air mixture at a burner 44, which shoots a flame down a flame tube 46. The flame heats the air contained in the flame tube 46, and the heated air exits the flame tube through an outlet 47 and into a plenum 94, as seen in FIG. 12. The open space of the plenum 94, located in front of the back wall 70 of the oven 10, provides the hot air with a directed passageway toward a blower housing 74 where it will be circulated throughout the cooking chamber 16.
  • Because the burner 44 is called upon to satisfy a wide range of heat output requirements, it is necessary to control the flow of gas and air supplied to the burner 44. While the burner 44 is operating, the flow of both air and heating gas to the burner 44 is modulated by a combined control system. With this combined modulating control system for combustion air and heating gas, optimum combustion conditions within the burner 44 can be maintained approximately constant over a range of heat outputs. With this combined modulating control system, the ratio of combustion air flow to heating gas flow can be optimized and maintained so that combustion is thermally efficient and environmentally sound, producing a minimum of objectionable byproducts.
  • The ratio of combustion air to heating gas can be optimized to produce, for example, environmentally clean burning and the ratio will remain close to the optimum value whether the programmable controller (not shown) calls for high heat or low heat. Alternatively, the ratio may be optimized for optimal fuel consumption, optimal heat-up time or any other results that the operator desires and the ratio will not vary substantially with heat output. This modulating control system for combustion air and heating gas over a range of heat output is especially advantageous for a self-cleaning oven, such as the oven 10, where a range of heat outputs is required.
  • The burner assembly 42 includes an actuator 48 that operates an air valve 50 that regulates the amount of air entering the burner 44 from a combustion air blower 52. The actuator 48 controls the position of the air valve 50 based on signals received from other control instruments and sensors (not shown) included in oven 10. A valve link 54 coordinates the movement of the gas valve 56 with that of the air valve 50. The gas valve 56 receives gas from an automatic gas shut-off valve 57 and modulates the flow of this gas so that the ratio of heating gas to combustion air is relatively constant for a wide range of heating loads. The valve link 54 connects the air valve 50 to the gas valve 56 so that as the actuator 48 opens and closes the air valve 50, the gas valve 56 is correspondingly opened and closed, proportionally mixing the air and gas as they enter the burner 44. The air and gas mixture is then ignited inside the burner 44 and a flame shoots down the flame tube 46.
  • One of the advantages of modulating air and gas control, as provided by the valve link 54, is that the amount of excess air in the flame tube 46 remains substantially the same during high and low heating load periods. This advantage is particularly important in a self-cleaning, pyrolitic oven, which exhibits a significantly higher heating load during self-cleaning than conventional cooling heating loads. Although the valve link 54 depicted in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 is mechanical, it is also contemplated that the positions of an air valve and a gas valve in modulating air and gas control systems may alternatively be coordinated by, for example, utilizing electronically-controlled actuators for each of the valves and coordinating their positions by means of one or more electronic controllers.
  • The burner 44 may be mounted anywhere in the oven. Preferably, the burner 44. is roof-mounted as shown and sends its flame along the inside of the flame tube 46 mounted adjacent the ceiling of the oven 10. During operation of the oven 10, contaminants tend to accumulate most heavily on and near the oven floors. Thus, the roof-mounted burner system is more likely to progressively incinerate and less likely to ignite the floor accumulation as compared to conventional floor-mounted and wall-mounted burner configurations.
  • During baking and self-cleaning operations, the flame tube 46 becomes very hot and radiates heat energy throughout the inventive oven 10. It is contemplated that a diffusing tube (not shown) may be employed around the burner for processing food products that tend to discolor or otherwise deteriorate when subjected to intense radiant heat.
  • The oven 10 has two relatively large blowers 26, 27 (see FIG. .7) to move the heated air created by the burner 44 through the fingers 24 and onto the product so that the most efficient bake is achieved for each food product processed in the oven 10. More specifically, the oven 10 employs collimated, vertical air streams to give uniform and intensive heating. The collimated, vertical streams of air that emerge from the fingers 24 provide an exceptional heat transfer rate and generally bake foods faster and at lower temperatures than in conventional convection hot air or infrared heating ovens.
  • The hot air is circulated through the oven 10 by the two blowers 26, 27 located at the back of the oven 10 (see FIG. 9). The two convection blowers 26, 27 are located in the blower housing 74 (see FIG. 10). The blowers 26, 27 are each powered by a blower motor 75 (only one is shown in FIG. 9), which is mounted on the back wall 70, and connected to the blowers 26, 27 by a shaft (not shown). In order to protect the shafts from the pyrolitic temperature of the self-cleaning operation, the shafts may be fitted with heat-slingers (not shown) or other cooling apparatuses. A heat slinger is a type of fan arrangement mounted on the shaft. Each blower motor 75 may be equipped with a dedicated speed controller (not shown), preferably including an electrical power inverter. With the benefit of individual speed control, the blowers 26, 27 can be individually accelerated and decelerated to optimize electrical current inrush, the burner 44 firing or convective heat loss. The speed of the blowers 26, 27 may also be individually controlled in order to create distinguishable heating zones within the oven 10 to optimize the baking of particular food products.
  • In another embodiment, the blowers 26, 27 may be variable speed blowers that are controlled together so that their speeds, while variable, are always the same as each other.
  • There are also two cooling fans 13, 15 located on the front of oven 10 as depicted in FIGS. 1, 4, 6, and 7. These fans blow cool air in through the machinery compartment and out the side walls. The cooling fans 13, 15 draw air from the surroundings through the instrument panel 39 for cooling the instruments located behind the instrument panel 39. A portion of the discharge air from the cooling fans 13, 15 may enter the combustion air blower 52 and be delivered to the burner 44 as combustion air. The remainder of the discharge air from cooling fans 13, 15 enters passages that extend between the external sheeting of the oven 10 and an inside wall, which supports insulation. The flow of air in these passages serves to cool the external sheeting of the oven 10 below preferably about 125 degrees F.
  • Referring to FIG. 9, a vent arrangement 58 is located at the back of the oven 10. The vent arrangement 58 includes a vent valve 60 that is positioned between a vent tube 62 and a T-shaped tube 64 that communicates with the high-pressure sides of the blowers 26. During a normal cooking cycle, the vent valve 60 is closed so that no air passes through the vent valve 60 into the vent tube 62. In this way, during cooking, air that is heated is directed solely into the cooking chamber 16 for efficient cooking of food in the cooking chamber 16. However, when it is desired to clean the oven 10, the vent valve 60 is opened and the oven openings 37, 38 are closed, as discussed above. By opening the vent valve 60, enough heated air is exhausted through the vent tube 62 to maintain a slight negative pressure within the cooking chamber 16. In this way, the smoke and soot that develops during a self-cleaning cycle is exhausted through the vent tube 62 and the passage of smoke and soot through small openings and cracks in the oven housing 12 is prevented.
  • As shown in FIG. 10, the cooking chamber 16 is bounded by a front wall 66 and two side walls 68 that are connected to a back wall 70. The front wall 66, two side walls 68, and back wall 70 are all screwed together to form a box surrounding the cooking chamber 16. The back wall 70 of this box is fixed to a tubular frame 71, which is connected to a platform 72. However, while the back wall 70 of the box is fixed to the tubular frame 71, the front wall 66, and two side walls 68 are free-floating. That is, the front wall 66 and two side walls 68 are connected to the back wall 70, but are not connected to the tubular frame 71. The perimeters of the front wall 66 and the two side walls 68 include lips 73 that sit on the various members that make up the tubular frame 71, but are not fixedly connected to those members. In this way, the front wall 66 and two side walls 68 are free to move relative to the tubular frame 71 so that during cooking, and particularly during self-cleaning when the temperatures in the cooking chamber 16 are relatively high, the front wall 66 and side walls 68 of the cooking chamber 16 are free to expand and slide on the members of the tubular frame 71, thereby preventing buckling and warping of the walls of the cooking chamber 16.
  • A unified display control station (not shown) for the oven 10 can include a blower selector, a heat selector, a conveyor selector, two or more conveyor speed controllers and a digital temperature controller. Additionally, a machinery compartment access panel safety switch disconnects electrical power to the controls and the blowers when the machinery compartment access panel is opened.
  • In order to start up the oven 10, an operator confirms that the front access door 40 is closed. The operator then turns the blower and conveyor selectors to the “on” position. If necessary, the operator adjusts the conveyor speed setting by pushing appropriate selectors on the conveyor speed controller. The operator adjusts the temperature controller to a desired temperature and selects normal operation. A heat switch on a control station (not shown) of the oven 10 activates the combustion air blower 52. The burner 44 is a direct ignition burner. The main gas valve 57 is opened while starting. a spark in the burner 44. A sensor then monitors whether a flame is present within the burner 44. If a flame is not detected within 6 seconds, the main gas valve 57 is shut down, the burner 44 is purged, and the ignition cycle is repeated. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a gas bypass tube 76 provides enough gas to the burner 44 to maintain a minimum flame even when the gas modulation valve 56 is closed.
  • The oven 10 will typically heat to a desired heating set-point temperature within a matter of minutes. While the oven 10 is heating, the control station (not shown) displays the actual temperature. One or more thermocouples (not shown) in the interior of the oven 10 send signals to a programmable controller (not shown) that controls the actuator 48. If the programmable controller (not shown) calls for more heat, the actuator 48 rotates to open the air valve 50 and more combustion air is permitted to pass from the combustion air blower 52 to the burner 44. Simultaneously, the valve link 54 moves under the influence of the actuator 48 to further open the gas valve 56, permitting more heating gas to pass from gas line 55 to the burner 44. If the programmable controller (not shown) calls for less heat, the valve link 54 causes the air valve 50 and the gas valve 56 to close simultaneously and proportionally. Consequently, the ratio of combustion air flow to heating gas flow entering the burner 44 remains approximately constant over a range of heat output.
  • As mentioned, the speed of the blowers 26, 27 can be varied. For example, the speed of the blowers may be two-thirds full speed during start-up and self-cleaning cycles and full speed during a cooking cycle to promote heating efficiency during each of the cycles. For heating the oven 10 to baking or self-cleaning temperatures, one or both of the blower motors 75 (only one is shown in FIG. 9) start and routinely ramp up to a desired operating speed in a programmable period of time. Programming the start-up time of convection blower motors 75 makes firing of the burner 44 more reliable and promotes better combustion, among other things. When the blowers 26, 27 are turning, the burner 44 is initially fired with a minimum heat output and ramped up to the baking or self-cleaning heat output over a period of time by, for example, a programmable controller (not shown). When the desired heat output has been achieved, the blower motors 75 are accelerated to operating speed in a programmable period of time.
  • The start-up procedure (i.e., ramping up the speed of one or both of the blowers 26, 27) prevents an objectionable current inrush situation that is observed in conventional ovens, which commonly start two or more blower motors at full speed simultaneously. This startup procedure is also quieter, and requires less electricity and heating gas, than the startup of conventional ovens. Because the blowers 26, 27 draw more electrical current when the oven is cold and the air in the oven is relatively dense, operating both blowers at low speed during heat-up (start-up) saves electricity. Also, because increased convection on the inside surfaces of the oven walls promotes heat loss to the kitchen, operating only one of the convection blowers during heat-up saves heating gas.
  • Preferably, each of the blowers 26, 27 is equipped with an electrical power inverter (not shown), which alters the frequency and/or voltage of the electrical current to control the speed of the blower 26 or 27. In that case, the blower motor 75 can be either ramped up to operating speed over a programmable period such as, for example, about thirty minutes, or held at an optimal intermediate speed until the oven 10 reaches baling or cleaning temperature and then accelerated. These variations conserve still more energy by providing appropriate programmable blower speeds depending on the current operation of the oven 10. When the oven 10 is, for example, baking (cooking), self-cleaning, warning up, or cooling down, the blowers 26, 27 can operate at specific speeds best suited for each individual activity.
  • Furthermore, for baking, the speed of the blower motors 75 (only one is shown in FIG. 9) may be separately adjusted to create two or more different heating zones (not shown) within the oven 10. These heating zones (not shown) can be created at will and utilized to optimize the baking process and, consequently, the finished quality of a particular food product. The oven 10 may be equipped with two or more thermocouples (not shown) or other temperature sensors to individually monitor and adjust these heating zones (not shown). The manner in which the signals from these thermocouples (not shown) are averaged or otherwise interpreted by the programmable controller can be varied to suit the food product.
  • In order to shut down the blowers 26, 27, the operator selects standby on the control station. The blowers 26, 27 will remain in operation until the oven 10 has cooled to below 200 degrees F. and then cease turning.
  • When it is determined that the oven 10 should be cleaned, it is cooled to a temperature below about 140 degrees F. The operator then disengages the first conveyor extension section 32 and withdraws the first conveyor extension section 32 from the first oven opening 37. The first conveyor extension section 32 is then inserted into the first oven opening 37 so that the first conveyor extension section 32 is supported by the main conveyor section 30 and the first insulated door 35 closes the first oven opening 37. The second conveyor extension section 34 is similarly separated from the oven 10 and inserted into the second oven opening 38 and the second insulated door 36 is closed. Because the first and second conveyor extension sections 32, 34 are inserted into the interior of the oven I0, they are cleaned by pyrolitic heat during the self-cleaning cycle. The vent valve 60 (best seen in FIG. 9) is opened and the blowers 26, 27 are then brought up to operating speed and the burner 44 is fired to raise the oven 10 to self-cleaning temperature. During the self-cleaning cycle, oven 10 operates under the control of temperature sensors and controllers (not shown) that are specifically designed to operate in the range of about 650-1000 degrees F. These may be the same sensors and controllers used for baling (not shown) or a separate set.
  • In either case, the programmable control system actuates a set of safety interlocks adapted for cleaning temperature operation. For example, the oven overrides the baling cycle high temperature shutdown limits, which are typically set at values less than 600 degrees F. As another example, the programmable control system actuates door locks that deter people from opening the oven doors during the pyrolitic self-cleaning cycle.
  • The programmable controller also initiates corrective action if unsafe or undesirable conditions are detected. For example, upon detecting excessively high temperatures, high smoke levels or low oxygen levels within the oven, the programmable controller shuts down the burner 44 and the blowers 26, 27.
  • As mentioned, during cleaning, the interior of the oven 10 is kept under a negative pressure compared to the surrounding atmospheric pressure. In the illustrated embodiment the opening of the vent valve 60 and the operation of the blowers 26, 27 create the negative pressure in the interior of the oven 10. As mentioned earlier, when the vent valve 60 is opened and the blowers 26, 27 are operating, enough circulating hot air escapes through the vent valve 60 to create the negative pressure inside the cooking chamber 16 necessary to force the smoke and soot created during the cleaning cycle through the vent tube 62. In another embodiment, an inducer blower (not shown) maintains the interior of the oven 10 under a negative pressure during cleaning as compared to the surrounding atmospheric pressure. The inducer blower creates this negative pressure by drawing air from the blower housing 74. The blowers 26, 27 actually assist the inducer blower in creating this negative pressure because the discharge flow from the blowers 26, 27 is impelled directly into the inducer blower. The combined effect is similar to that of a two-stage blower. The discharge flow from the inducer blower is sent to the vent arrangement 58.
  • The inducer blower could also take suction from the interior of the oven 10 during normal baking. The entry of the inducer blower opens directly into the blower housing 74. The inducer blower may be positioned directly in the path of the discharge air flow from each of the blowers 26, 27 so that the two sets of blowers work in tandem to reduce the pressure in the interior of the oven 10. Alternatively, the inducer blower may be mounted anywhere in the interior of the oven 10. The discharge flow of air from the inducer blower is sent to the vent arrangement 58 for disposal.
  • Maintaining negative pressure in the interior of the oven 10 during both cooking and self-cleaning enhances energy efficiency and safety. Maintaining negative pressure in the interior of the oven 10 during the cooking and self-cleaning operations insures that little or no heated air escapes to the kitchen. Minimizing heated air loss makes the oven 10 more energy efficient. Any loss or discharge of heated air from the interior of the oven 10 necessitates the combustion of additional heating gas. By directing all exhaust flows from the oven 10 to the vent arrangement 58 and ultimately the vent tube 62, the loss or discharge of heated air can be better controlled and minimized. Also, the negative pressure system promotes safety because negative pressure retains burning gases in the interior of the oven 10 rather than permitting them to escape into the kitchen. Additionally, maintaining negative pressure in the oven 10 tends to prevent any smoky residue from building up on the exterior of the oven 10 during normal cooking and self-cleaning operations. The exterior surfaces of the oven 10 remain clean longer because they are not subjected to smoke, which commonly escapes from the atmospheric cooking chambers of conventional ovens.
  • The blowers 26, 27 turn at a relatively low speed during a first incineration period of the cleaning cycle. This low speed uniformly distributes heat throughout the interior of the oven 10 while minimizing convective heat loss through the walls of the oven 10. The first incineration period generally continues for about one hour, although it may be longer or shorter based on factors such as the cleaning temperature and the amount and type of contamination in the oven 10.
  • During a second incineration period, which is generally about one to three hours in duration, the blowers 26, 27 operate at a relatively higher speed to promote complete incineration of the contamination or debris accumulation. The temperature of the oven 10 is increased to a peak temperature at least once during the second incineration period.
  • After the incineration periods, the programmable controller cools the oven, disengages the safety interlocks and arranges the control system for cooling operation. Due to the combination of high temperature and convective air flow in the inventive oven during the self-cleaning cycle, any contamination accumulation that is in the oven is reduced to harmless and sterile ash. This ash may be collected on drip pans provided for that purpose, which can be accessed through the front access door 40 and carried away to disposal. Alternatively, the ash may be collected in a vacuum cleaner system that is built into or independent of the inventive oven.
  • It is contemplated that collection of the ash from the lower fingers may be facilitated by constructing the mesh belt 102 of the main conveyor section 30 so that it is close to or touching the perforated plates of the lower fingers 24. The mesh belt 102 thus pushes or scrapes the ash from the lower fingers 24 for collection by a drip pan or vacuum system. Preferably, the perforations are formed so that the lower fingers 24 present a nonabrasive surface to the mesh belt 102.
  • Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.

Claims (17)

1. A conveyor oven comprising:
a housing defining a cooking chamber therein; and
a conveyor having a main conveyor section positioned substantially within the cooking chamber and first and second conveyor extension sections releasably connected to the main conveyor section at opposite ends of the main conveyor section, the first and second conveyor extension sections extending at least partially outside the cooking chamber during a cooking cycle of the oven, wherein the first and second conveyor extension sections are disconnected from the main conveyor section and placed substantially within the cooking chamber during a self-cleaning cycle of the conveyor oven.
2. The conveyor oven of claim 1, further comprising oven openings on opposite sides of the housing through which the conveyor extension sections extend during the cooling cycle and doors that close the oven openings during the self-cleaning cycle.
3. A conveyor oven comprising:
a housing defining a cooling chamber therein;
a blower having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, the blower propelling air on the high pressure side into the cooking chamber and drawing air from the cooking chamber into the low pressure side;
a vent tube in fluid communication with the high pressure side, the vent tube providing a bypass route for air from the high pressure side to the outside of the housing without entering the cooking chamber; and
a vent valve positioned within the vent tube, the vent valve being closed during a cooking cycle of the oven so that air from the high pressure side is substantially directed into the cooking chamber and being opened during a self-cleaning cycle of the oven so that at least some air from the high pressure side is directed through the vent tube and outside the oven housing.
4. The conveyor oven of claim 3, further comprising an inducer blower in the venttube.
5. A conveyor oven comprising:
a platform;
an outer housing fixed to the platform; and
a cooking housing defining a cooking chamber and positioned within the outer housing, the cooking housing being supported by the platform and moveable with respect to the platform to permit contraction and expansion of the cooking housing.
6. The conveyor oven of claim 5, wherein the cooking housing includes a front wall, back wall, and two side walls, the back wall being fixed with respect to the platform and the front wall and side walls being permitted to move with respect to the platform.
7. The conveyor of claim 5, further comprising insulation between the outer housing and the cooking housing.
8. A conveyor oven comprising:
a housing defining a cooking chamber;
an opening in a wall of the housing providing a passageway from the exterior of the oven to the cooking chamber;
a conveyor positioned adjacent the opening; and
a door moveable between a first and second position, the door closing the opening in the second position.
9. The conveyor oven of claim 8, wherein the conveyor includes a main conveyor section and a conveyor extension section separable from the main conveyor section, the conveyor extension section at least partially extending outside the housing.
10. A conveyor oven comprising:
a housing defining a cooking chamber;
a conveyor moveable through the cooking chamber;
a burner providing heat to the cooking chamber;
a gas line providing gas to the burner;
a gas valve moveable to regulate the flow of gas through the gas line;
an air line providing air to the burner; and
an air valve moveable to regulate the flow of air through the air line, wherein the movements of the gas and air valves are dependent on each other.
11. The conveyor oven of claim 10, further including a valve link connecting the gas valve to the air valve, thereby moving the gas valve and air valve together.
12. A conveyor oven comprising:
a housing defining a cooling chamber;
a burner in fluid communication with the cooking chamber; and
a variable speed blower blowing air into the cooking chamber, wherein the blower operates at a first speed during a cooking cycle of the oven and at a second speed during a self-cleaning cycle of the oven.
13. The conveyor oven of claim 12, wherein the speed of the blower is controlled by a computer.
14. The conveyor oven of claim 12, wherein the first speed is slower than the second speed.
15. A conveyor oven comprising:
a housing defining a cooling chamber;
a burner in fluid communication with the cooking chamber; and
a variable speed blower blowing air into the cooling chamber, wherein the blower operates at a first speed during a cooking cycle of the oven and at a second speed during a start-up cycle of the oven.
16. The conveyor oven of claim 15, wherein the speed of the blower is controlled by a computer.
17. The conveyor oven of claim 15, wherein the first speed is faster than the second speed.
US10/546,104 2003-02-21 2004-02-20 Self-cleaning oven Abandoned US20070006865A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/546,104 US20070006865A1 (en) 2003-02-21 2004-02-20 Self-cleaning oven
US12/463,051 US8413646B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2009-05-08 Self-cleaning oven
US13/612,522 US10024548B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2012-09-12 Self-cleaning oven
US13/793,679 US10036558B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2013-03-11 Self-cleaning oven

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US44954503P 2003-02-21 2003-02-21
US10/546,104 US20070006865A1 (en) 2003-02-21 2004-02-20 Self-cleaning oven
PCT/US2004/005153 WO2004076928A2 (en) 2003-02-21 2004-02-20 Self-cleaning oven

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2004/005153 A-371-Of-International WO2004076928A2 (en) 2003-02-21 2004-02-20 Self-cleaning oven

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/463,051 Continuation US8413646B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2009-05-08 Self-cleaning oven

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20070006865A1 true US20070006865A1 (en) 2007-01-11

Family

ID=32927533

Family Applications (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/546,104 Abandoned US20070006865A1 (en) 2003-02-21 2004-02-20 Self-cleaning oven
US12/463,051 Active 2025-09-21 US8413646B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2009-05-08 Self-cleaning oven
US13/612,522 Expired - Lifetime US10024548B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2012-09-12 Self-cleaning oven
US13/793,679 Expired - Lifetime US10036558B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2013-03-11 Self-cleaning oven

Family Applications After (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/463,051 Active 2025-09-21 US8413646B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2009-05-08 Self-cleaning oven
US13/612,522 Expired - Lifetime US10024548B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2012-09-12 Self-cleaning oven
US13/793,679 Expired - Lifetime US10036558B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2013-03-11 Self-cleaning oven

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (4) US20070006865A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004076928A2 (en)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080182214A1 (en) * 2006-10-19 2008-07-31 Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company Modulated power burner system and method
US20080264407A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Bramhall Marcus E Ovens, burner tube assemblies, and methods for delivering air to a gas power burner
US20090001068A1 (en) * 2007-06-28 2009-01-01 Bramhall Marcus E Apparatus and methods for cooling an oven conveyor motor
US20110020492A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2011-01-27 Sam Ajmera System and method for preparing naan bread
WO2011025666A1 (en) * 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 The Middleby Corporation Apparatus and method for controlling a conveyor oven
US20110048244A1 (en) * 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 Wiker John H Apparatus and method for controlling a combustion blower in a gas-fueled conveyor oven
US20110059412A1 (en) * 2009-09-09 2011-03-10 Thomas Robert Wiedemeier Device and process for eradicating pests in wood
US20110067685A1 (en) * 2009-09-23 2011-03-24 Myers Robert L Gas-Fueled Food Cooker with a Sealed Heating Conduit
US8087407B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2012-01-03 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
WO2012106355A1 (en) * 2011-01-31 2012-08-09 Cleveland Range, Llc Conveyor oven and method for improving energy efficiency
US8869684B2 (en) 2008-07-16 2014-10-28 Sam Ajmera Bottom access dollies for conveyor oven
US9052117B2 (en) 2008-07-16 2015-06-09 Sam Ajmera Intermediate panel ceiling for conveyor oven
CN104798840A (en) * 2015-05-12 2015-07-29 新麦机械(无锡)有限公司 Crawler-type baking oven
US20160116171A1 (en) * 2014-10-22 2016-04-28 General Electric Company Oven airflow control
US9585400B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2017-03-07 The Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US20180098545A1 (en) * 2016-10-07 2018-04-12 Fusion Tech Integrated, Inc. Damper positioning system for an oven
US10024548B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2018-07-17 The Middleby Corporation Self-cleaning oven
US11266152B2 (en) * 2016-03-09 2022-03-08 Dmp Enterprises Pty Ltd Conveyer-type oven
CN114711259A (en) * 2022-02-25 2022-07-08 安徽一闻香清真食品有限公司 Sesame cake baking device and baking process
US11397003B2 (en) * 2017-02-16 2022-07-26 Purpose Co., Ltd. Premixing apparatus, heat source apparatus, and water heater
US20220395139A1 (en) * 2021-06-15 2022-12-15 Jiangmen City Xinhui Henglong Innovative Housewares Co., Ltd. Toaster
US11690145B2 (en) * 2015-12-17 2023-06-27 Convotherm-Elektrogerate Gmbh Method for operating a commercial cooking device and such a cooking device

Families Citing this family (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006101531A1 (en) 2005-03-23 2006-09-28 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
DE102006041767B3 (en) 2006-09-04 2007-10-04 Miele & Cie. Kg Fire detecting method for use in oven, involves releasing optical or acoustic warning when measured concentration obtains value that is lower than threshold valve and rate of decrease of concentration is larger than threshold value
AT507655B1 (en) * 2009-06-12 2010-07-15 Walter Ing Degelsegger DEVICE FOR HOLDING, PORING AND SPENDING A FOOD
US20120211334A1 (en) * 2011-01-11 2012-08-23 Cleveland Range, Llc. Conveyor oven and method with improved design for installation and removal of conveyor assembly
US9161547B2 (en) * 2012-02-17 2015-10-20 Ovention, Inc. Conveyor oven
KR101203444B1 (en) * 2012-06-12 2012-11-22 이영희 Oven Having A Device For Thermal Decomposition of Contaminants
DE102012217054A1 (en) * 2012-09-21 2014-03-27 E.G.O. Elektro-Gerätebau GmbH Method of operating an oven and oven
US20140199446A1 (en) * 2013-01-11 2014-07-17 Star Manufacturing International, Inc. Split-Belt Conveyor Toaster
CN104336116B (en) * 2013-08-11 2017-05-03 乔殿宝 Barbecuing trolley with baked cake oven
CN104542750A (en) * 2015-02-09 2015-04-29 上海富莱信餐饮设备制造有限公司 Energy-saving hot air jet type chained oven
CN105341012A (en) * 2015-12-14 2016-02-24 新麦机械(无锡)有限公司 Gas heating crawler-type oven
NL2016385B1 (en) * 2016-03-08 2017-09-27 Marel Townsend Further Proc Bv Closed processing system and method for treating elongated food products.
DK3487315T3 (en) * 2016-07-21 2023-04-24 Laitram Llc Commercial kitchen machine with angled fan
WO2018119184A1 (en) * 2016-12-23 2018-06-28 Cleveland Range, Llc Segmented conveyor belts for foodservice conveyor ovens
IT201700117996A1 (en) * 2017-10-18 2019-04-18 Prismafood S R L COOKING SYSTEM FOR FOOD AND ITS METHOD
EP3495742A1 (en) * 2017-12-11 2019-06-12 Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Arrangement for self-cleaning oven
CN111542232B (en) * 2017-12-13 2022-08-02 莱特拉姆有限责任公司 Batch food processor with angled axial fan
US20200357219A1 (en) * 2018-02-02 2020-11-12 Jukka Llc Automated side opening oven door for a vending machine
US11346552B2 (en) * 2018-03-06 2022-05-31 Boneless Grills Sl Universal device for the automation of gas powered ovens, barbecues and devices
WO2019183342A1 (en) 2018-03-21 2019-09-26 Prince Castle LLC Heat transfer system
USD923385S1 (en) * 2018-06-26 2021-06-29 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Pass through grilling mechanism
USD923997S1 (en) * 2018-06-26 2021-07-06 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Pass through grilling mechanism
CN214595581U (en) 2020-04-06 2021-11-05 沙克忍者运营有限责任公司 Cooking system positionable on a support surface
US11739933B2 (en) 2020-09-30 2023-08-29 Midea Group Co., Ltd. Oven broiler gas burner for cooking appliance with variable electromechanical valve
US11732890B2 (en) 2020-09-30 2023-08-22 Midea Group Co., Ltd. Cooking appliance gas oven burner control during oven warm-up operation
US20220211052A1 (en) * 2022-03-21 2022-07-07 Wolfe Electric, Inc. Oven End Shroud Assembly

Citations (51)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1536538A (en) * 1924-12-08 1925-05-05 Vernon B Stouffer Electric grill
US2340354A (en) * 1941-06-06 1944-02-01 American Mach & Foundry Baking method
US3364912A (en) * 1966-09-22 1968-01-23 Gen Electric Self-cleaning gas oven
US3413443A (en) * 1966-07-28 1968-11-26 Gen Electric Restricted volume self-cleaning oven
US3485230A (en) * 1967-03-06 1969-12-23 Catalox Corp Apparatus for catalytic combustion
US3586825A (en) * 1968-10-03 1971-06-22 Modern Maid Inc Flush top cooking unit with ventilating means
US3590164A (en) * 1968-07-19 1971-06-29 Litton Systems Inc Transmission system for two-level signals providing reduced bandwidth requirements
US3646880A (en) * 1970-08-21 1972-03-07 Thermal Process Engineering Co Cooking grill
US3857669A (en) * 1971-09-02 1974-12-31 Impala Ind Inc Catalytic heater head
US3943910A (en) * 1974-11-11 1976-03-16 White Lyall B Gas broiler
US4034663A (en) * 1974-08-19 1977-07-12 Jenn Air Corporation Ventilated portable electric grill
US4039275A (en) * 1976-02-23 1977-08-02 Mcgettrick Charles A Infrared energy generator with orifice plate
US4055677A (en) * 1974-11-11 1977-10-25 White Lyall B Method of broiling
US4057670A (en) * 1976-01-28 1977-11-08 Jenaer Glaswerk Schott & Gen. Cooking surfaces of glass-ceramic plates with layers with different values for radiation transmission
US4089258A (en) * 1975-08-29 1978-05-16 Ducane Heating Corporation Gas fired barbecue unit
US4176589A (en) * 1978-02-27 1979-12-04 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Cooking apparatus
US4188868A (en) * 1978-09-18 1980-02-19 Npi Corporation Energy conserver for broilers
US4321857A (en) * 1980-04-08 1982-03-30 Best Willie H Infrared gas grill
US4332189A (en) * 1980-05-16 1982-06-01 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Apparatus for preparation of foodstuffs, particularly sausages and buns
US4366177A (en) * 1981-01-26 1982-12-28 Pet Incorporated Method of flameless broiling or baking greasy meat products
US4389562A (en) * 1981-08-05 1983-06-21 Hatco Corporation Conveyor oven
US4615014A (en) * 1984-04-16 1986-09-30 Lincoln Manufacturing Company, Inc. Bake time display for cooking oven
US4766877A (en) * 1987-09-30 1988-08-30 Thermal Systems, Inc. Catalytic space heater
US4834063A (en) * 1987-05-28 1989-05-30 Stein Associates, Inc. Food cooking oven with duct fingers and method
US4886044A (en) * 1988-08-17 1989-12-12 Best Willie H Infrared gas grill
US4924767A (en) * 1986-05-23 1990-05-15 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Conveyorized cooking apparatus
US4936286A (en) * 1989-11-08 1990-06-26 Nieco Corporation, A Division Of Alco Standard Corporation Gas broiler
US4940040A (en) * 1989-01-31 1990-07-10 Stein, Inc. Adjustable cooking oven
US4977111A (en) * 1989-08-04 1990-12-11 Arizona Board Of Regents Porous radiant burners having increased radiant output
US5013563A (en) * 1986-05-23 1991-05-07 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Conveyorized cooking method
US5161965A (en) * 1990-01-31 1992-11-10 Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha Surface combustion burner
US5206045A (en) * 1986-05-23 1993-04-27 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Apparatus and method for cooking food products
US5224856A (en) * 1990-01-31 1993-07-06 Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha Surface combustion burner
US5471972A (en) * 1993-11-10 1995-12-05 Gas Research Institute Self-cleaning gas-fueled oven for cooking
US5509403A (en) * 1993-08-11 1996-04-23 Schott Glaswerke Gas fires cooking assembly with plate conductive to heat radiation
US5520533A (en) * 1993-09-16 1996-05-28 Honeywell Inc. Apparatus for modulating the flow of air and fuel to a gas burner
US5560952A (en) * 1995-02-24 1996-10-01 Miller; R. Craig Process for continuously cooking food
US5588354A (en) * 1995-09-21 1996-12-31 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Apparatus for conveyorized griddle-like cooking of food products
US5630408A (en) * 1993-05-28 1997-05-20 Ranco Incorporated Of Delaware Gas/air ratio control apparatus for a temperature control loop for gas appliances
US5640896A (en) * 1995-11-20 1997-06-24 Stuck; Robert M. Conveyorized cooking apparatus for imparting charcoal flavoring to foods and gas-fired burner assembly for use in such apparatus
US5727451A (en) * 1995-09-19 1998-03-17 The Pillsbury Company Broiler apparatus
US6023051A (en) * 1997-09-26 2000-02-08 Fellows; Margie Ann Easily cleanable flavor producing plates for electrically heated barbecue grills and their use in ranges or cooktops
US6114666A (en) * 1998-07-02 2000-09-05 Best; Willie H. Heating assembly and cooking apparatus
US6462319B1 (en) * 2001-05-29 2002-10-08 Bsh Home Appliances Corporation Multi-stage self-cleaning control for oven
US6468593B1 (en) * 1997-11-27 2002-10-22 Kanto Kasei Co., Ltd. Plated non-conductive products and plating method for the same
US6526961B1 (en) * 2000-07-10 2003-03-04 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc Conveyor oven
US6576874B2 (en) * 2001-09-06 2003-06-10 Bakers Pride Modular heating element for a conveyor oven
US20030221686A1 (en) * 2002-05-29 2003-12-04 Farshid Ahmady Variable high intensity infrared heater
US6723961B2 (en) * 2000-08-29 2004-04-20 Maytag Corporation Self-cleaning system for convection cooking appliance
US6779519B2 (en) * 2001-09-22 2004-08-24 Uwe Harneit Cover sheet for rotisserie burners
US20050132899A1 (en) * 2003-11-18 2005-06-23 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Conveyor oven with energy saving baffle mechanism and method

Family Cites Families (342)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2733759A (en) 1956-02-07 mccammant
US2506403A (en) 1950-05-02 Witzel
US1294999A (en) 1918-08-29 1919-02-18 David Brickman Gas-burner.
US2008042A (en) 1931-11-20 1935-07-16 Milwaukee Gas Specialty Co Lighting device
US2088505A (en) 1934-04-03 1937-07-27 American Stove Co Gas stove
US2051401A (en) 1934-09-13 1936-08-18 United Gas Improvement Co Temperature control for gas ranges
US2139344A (en) 1935-11-29 1938-12-06 Pennsylvania Furnace & Iron Co Gas control system
US2264974A (en) * 1940-01-13 1941-12-02 William W Hallinan Variable speed pulley
US2360608A (en) 1941-03-25 1944-10-17 American Stove Co Method of making electric igniters for gaseous fuel burners
US2604150A (en) 1944-10-17 1952-07-22 Servel Inc Flash tube igniter for burners at different levels
US2625992A (en) 1949-06-30 1953-01-20 Vernon S Beck Multiple group gas burners with independent fuel and secondary air supplies
US2655096A (en) * 1949-09-07 1953-10-13 Ebin Benjamin Meat broiling apparatus
US2667605A (en) 1950-05-31 1954-01-26 Servel Inc Electrocatalytic gas igniter
US2845056A (en) 1952-05-24 1958-07-29 Chambers Corp Cooking stove
US2939524A (en) 1957-08-29 1960-06-07 Roper Corp Geo D Control system for gas burners
US3154004A (en) 1961-06-19 1964-10-27 Knapp Monarch Co Oven toaster
US3182166A (en) 1961-09-04 1965-05-04 Miwag Mikrowellen Ag Microwave ovens
US3171346A (en) 1961-12-15 1965-03-02 Whirlpool Co Packaged product oven for space vehicles
US3162430A (en) * 1961-12-29 1964-12-22 Hupp Corp Oven control
US3266442A (en) 1962-08-31 1966-08-16 American Mach & Foundry Food preparing apparatus
US3173357A (en) 1963-09-20 1965-03-16 Jonathan E Nunnery Broiler
GB1058421A (en) 1964-03-02 1967-02-08 Baker Perkins Ltd Oven control systems
GB1031551A (en) 1965-01-08 1966-06-02 Winkler Atlas Mfg Ltd Improvements in or relating to ovens
US3294011A (en) 1965-02-05 1966-12-27 Pillsbury Co Continuous roasting and broiling oven for food products
US3338154A (en) 1965-10-01 1967-08-29 Products Fiesta S A Machine for the production of churros and similar fritters
US3329506A (en) 1966-01-24 1967-07-04 Hupp Corp Method for roasting coffee and similar particulate solids
US3403670A (en) 1967-03-02 1968-10-01 American Air Filter Co Liquid fired cooking apparatus
US3417742A (en) * 1967-06-02 1968-12-24 Tappan Co Domestic oven
US3570391A (en) 1967-06-27 1971-03-16 Rejlers Ingenjoersbyra Ab Electronic or microwave furnace or oven
US3448678A (en) 1967-08-07 1969-06-10 Norman Burstein Radiant-heat conveyor cooker
US3469567A (en) 1967-12-14 1969-09-30 Harper Wyman Co Double burner ovens
US3589848A (en) 1968-08-06 1971-06-29 Liberty Combustion Corp Oil burner control system
US3547099A (en) 1968-10-25 1970-12-15 Glenwood Range Co Gas burner system
BE754895A (en) 1969-08-15 1971-01-18 Wemac Fa HEATING DEVICE
US3580164A (en) 1969-10-09 1971-05-25 Nat Ind Mfg Hamburger cooking machine
AU2098970A (en) 1970-10-12 1971-06-03 Provincial Traders Pty. Limited An improved method of and apparatus for microwave cooking
US3694137A (en) 1970-10-26 1972-09-26 Charles R Fichter Sequentially fired single pilot multi-section gas burner and air supply structure
GB1324892A (en) 1971-02-11 1973-07-25 Simon Vicars Ltd Oven control
US3749548A (en) 1971-06-28 1973-07-31 Zink Co John High intensity burner
US3749546A (en) 1971-09-20 1973-07-31 Zink Co John Smokeless flare pit burner and method
US3861854A (en) 1972-01-26 1975-01-21 Kidde & Co Walter Flame monitoring system
US3894832A (en) 1973-03-29 1975-07-15 Chevron Res Heat-input-controlled gas-fired equipment and method
US3884213A (en) * 1973-03-30 1975-05-20 Donald P Smith Cooking apparatus
US3799730A (en) 1973-08-01 1974-03-26 Raytheon Co Electric ignition system
US3869249A (en) * 1974-03-22 1975-03-04 Indian Head Inc Curing oven
US4297942A (en) 1974-07-17 1981-11-03 Heat And Control, Inc. Method and apparatus for flavoring and surface treatment of meat products
US4201924A (en) 1974-08-13 1980-05-06 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Combined cycle electric power plant with a steam turbine having a sliding pressure main bypass and control valve system
US3941553A (en) 1974-10-29 1976-03-02 Scheu Manufacturing Company Heater safety control system
US4020821A (en) 1975-03-10 1977-05-03 Columbia Gas System Service Corporation Gas-fired smooth top range
US3993788A (en) 1975-04-11 1976-11-23 Automation International Corporation Continuous high-speed cooking and cooling method using pre-heated ingredients and predetermined radiant heating patterns for the production of tortillas and similar products
US4035134A (en) 1975-10-14 1977-07-12 Johnson Controls, Inc. Electronic valve seat leak detector
US4088436A (en) 1976-03-11 1978-05-09 The Hansen Manufacturing Company Gas distribution system
US4154861A (en) * 1976-05-19 1979-05-15 Smith Donald P Heat treatment of food products
US4492839A (en) 1976-05-19 1985-01-08 Smith Donald P Thermal treatment apparatus
US4479776A (en) 1981-07-22 1984-10-30 Smith Donald P Thermal treatment of food products
US4154576A (en) * 1976-10-05 1979-05-15 S.I.T.I. Soc. Imp. Termoelettrici Indistriali S.A.S. Oven for firing ceramic materials, having high thermal efficiency
US4204830A (en) 1977-08-26 1980-05-27 The North American Manufacturing Company Method and apparatus for controlling burner-air-fuel ratio
JPS5826497B2 (en) 1977-10-04 1983-06-03 日立造船株式会社 Grand Flare waste gas introduction control device
US4195558A (en) 1977-11-14 1980-04-01 Speakman Thomas S Fuel consumption control system for cooking machines
US4189680A (en) 1977-12-28 1980-02-19 Phillips Petroleum Co. Isolated signal conditioner
US4359315A (en) 1978-04-17 1982-11-16 Johnson Controls, Inc. Apparatus for fuel ignition system including complete cycling of flame relay prior to trial for ignition
US4281358A (en) 1978-09-01 1981-07-28 Texas Instruments Incorporated Multifunction dynamoelectric protection system
US4245978A (en) 1978-11-02 1981-01-20 Leon Del Valle Gas burner control system
US4242079A (en) 1978-12-07 1980-12-30 Johnson Controls, Inc. Fuel ignition control system
US4228730A (en) 1979-03-30 1980-10-21 Restaurant Technology, Inc. Automatic french fryer
FR2454596A1 (en) 1979-04-20 1980-11-14 Gauthier Robert POST-COOKING OR HEATING OVEN-TUNNEL, PARTICULARLY FOR FOOD PRODUCTS
US4252300A (en) 1980-02-19 1981-02-24 Prab Conveyors, Inc. Burner control system
US4337893A (en) 1980-04-07 1982-07-06 Energy Savings Parhelion Multi-phase modular comfort controlled heating system
GB2076627B (en) 1980-05-16 1984-10-03 United Biscuits Ltd Radiant heat cooking apparatus
US4486172A (en) * 1980-10-03 1984-12-04 Allied Corporation Oven and method for heating thermoplastic articles
US4403942A (en) 1980-11-18 1983-09-13 Carrier Corporation Self-checking safety switch control circuit
US4716820A (en) 1981-05-15 1988-01-05 Stuck Robert M Baked goods cooking apparatus
US4377109B1 (en) 1981-05-22 1996-08-06 Wolverine Corp Apparatus for baking food products such as pizzas and the like
US4516012A (en) 1981-06-22 1985-05-07 G. S. Blodgett Co., Inc. Dual flow heating apparatus
US4446358A (en) 1981-12-15 1984-05-01 Cooper Industries, Inc. Preheater for use in mass soldering apparatus
US4474498A (en) 1982-01-22 1984-10-02 Smith Donald P Multiple-pass impingement heating and cooling device
US5361749A (en) 1982-02-10 1994-11-08 Southbend Gas fired convection oven
FR2524614A1 (en) 1982-04-02 1983-10-07 Radiotechnique Compelec METHOD USING THE RECTIFIER EFFECT OF A FLAME TO MONITOR THE MARK OF A BURNER, AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD
US4576090A (en) 1982-05-19 1986-03-18 Mastermatic, Inc. Tunnel heater
US4462383A (en) 1982-06-09 1984-07-31 Lincoln Manufacturing Company, Inc. Impingement food preparation apparatus
US4438572A (en) 1982-06-09 1984-03-27 Lincoln Manufacturing Co., Inc. Heat duct support assembly for a food preparation oven and method
US4457291A (en) 1982-08-11 1984-07-03 Lincoln Manufacturing Company, Inc. Power burner system for a food preparation oven
BR8207545A (en) 1982-08-17 1984-04-17 Kevin Joseph Hicks OVEN TO PROCESS FOOD
US4508025A (en) 1983-06-16 1985-04-02 Schultz George A Tortilla press and oven unit
US5134263A (en) 1983-08-15 1992-07-28 Donald P. Smith Infrared heating control
US4601743A (en) 1983-09-12 1986-07-22 Casso Solar Corporation Glass furnace with heat sensing means
GB8324514D0 (en) 1983-09-13 1983-10-12 Baker Perkins Holdings Plc Tunnel ovens
JPS6062511A (en) 1983-09-14 1985-04-10 Toshiba Corp Method of controlling temperature in oven of heating cooker
US4499368A (en) 1984-03-05 1985-02-12 General Electric Company Utensil removal detection system for cooking appliance
US4626661A (en) 1984-04-16 1986-12-02 Lincoln Manufacturing Company, Inc. Air delivery system for an impingement food preparation oven
US4750276A (en) 1984-05-10 1988-06-14 Donald Paul Smith Impingement thermal treatment apparatus with collector plate
US4554437A (en) 1984-05-17 1985-11-19 Pet Incorporated Tunnel oven
US4610886A (en) 1984-06-07 1986-09-09 Knud Simonsen Industries Limited Multi-conveyor processing system
US4662838A (en) 1985-01-28 1987-05-05 Riordan William J Fuel burner control system
US4681084A (en) 1985-05-28 1987-07-21 George Catsouras Burner control system
KR910000677B1 (en) 1985-07-15 1991-01-31 도오도오 기기 가부시기가이샤 Multiple-purpose instantaneous gas water heater
US4676151A (en) 1985-09-03 1987-06-30 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Grooved baking pan
US4749581A (en) 1985-09-03 1988-06-07 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Method for baking a food product
US4614491A (en) 1985-10-07 1986-09-30 Welden David P Multiple burner control apparatus
DE3536008A1 (en) 1985-10-09 1987-04-09 Winkler Kg F Baking oven with a hot-gas or hot-air circulation heating system
US4835351A (en) 1985-10-15 1989-05-30 Donald P. Smith Oven humidity reservoir
US4965435A (en) * 1985-10-15 1990-10-23 Donald P. Smith Forced convection tunnel oven
US4615282A (en) 1985-12-04 1986-10-07 Emerson Electric Co. Hot surface ignition system control module with accelerated igniter warm-up test program
US4701340A (en) 1985-12-09 1987-10-20 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Impingement and steam oven apparatus for preparing food products
DE3603387A1 (en) 1986-02-05 1987-08-06 Kurt Krieger METHOD FOR OPERATING A GAS INFRARED RADIATOR AND GAS INFRARED RADIATOR
US4700685A (en) 1986-05-09 1987-10-20 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Combination convection and steamer oven
US4671250A (en) 1986-07-28 1987-06-09 Thermo Electron Corporation Direct-firing gas convection oven
US4739154A (en) 1986-09-05 1988-04-19 Baker's Pride Oven Co., Inc. Conveyor oven design and method for using same
DE3638410A1 (en) 1986-11-11 1988-06-01 Eckardt Ag METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE AIR AND FUEL SUPPLY TO A VARIETY OF BURNERS
US4730100A (en) * 1986-11-26 1988-03-08 Jero Manufacturing, Inc. Food cooking and heating apparatus
US4846647A (en) 1986-12-01 1989-07-11 Stewart Systems, Inc. Air circulation and exhaust control system for commercial ovens
US4726766A (en) 1986-12-01 1988-02-23 Stewart Systems, Inc. Air circulation and exhaust control system for commerical ovens
US4757800A (en) 1987-01-14 1988-07-19 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Air flow system for a low profile impingement oven
US4753215A (en) 1987-01-14 1988-06-28 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Burner for low profile inpingement oven
US4781169A (en) 1987-04-14 1988-11-01 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Oven with radiant panel
US4760911A (en) 1987-06-26 1988-08-02 Stewart Systems, Inc. Conveyor system for use in a continuous proofing and baking apparatus
US4827106A (en) * 1987-09-21 1989-05-02 Hobart Corporation Self-cleaning convection oven
US4882981A (en) 1987-12-02 1989-11-28 Stewart Systems, Inc. Continuous proof and bake apparatus having improved conveyor system
US5045658A (en) 1987-12-28 1991-09-03 General Electric Company Magnetron with temperature probe isolation
GB2215117A (en) 1988-02-06 1989-09-13 Bowthorpe Hellermann Ltd Electrically screening cables & harnesses
US4884552A (en) 1988-02-26 1989-12-05 Wells Kelley J Gas oven
JPH02503386A (en) 1988-03-10 1990-10-18 ピッツァ ハット インコーポレーテッド How to bake pizza and oven
GB2215177B (en) 1988-03-10 1991-10-16 Electrolux Ab Gas convection oven
US4846143A (en) 1988-04-19 1989-07-11 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Small gas power burner
JPH07108195B2 (en) 1988-05-02 1995-11-22 明治製菓株式会社 Food baking control method
US4973243A (en) * 1988-06-08 1990-11-27 Electrovert Ltd. Heating system in the manufacture of printed circuit boards, assemblies and the like
WO1989012784A1 (en) 1988-06-17 1989-12-28 Devron-Hercules Inc. Gas distributing and infra-red radiating block assembly
US4964392A (en) 1988-07-05 1990-10-23 Middleby Marshall Inc. Baking oven
US4881519A (en) 1988-07-18 1989-11-21 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Hot air oven having infra-red radiant surfaces
US4924763A (en) 1988-10-17 1990-05-15 Pizza Hut Compact pizza oven
US4887959A (en) 1988-11-17 1989-12-19 Rheem Manufacturing Company Gas furnace with improved ignition
US4928663A (en) 1989-01-31 1990-05-29 Bakers Pride Oven Co. Enhanced air-flow convection oven
US4981416A (en) 1989-01-31 1991-01-01 Bakers Pride Oven Co. Inc. Enhanced air-flow blower wheel
US4951648A (en) 1989-03-23 1990-08-28 Tecogen, Inc. Conveyor oven
US5078050A (en) 1989-08-18 1992-01-07 Patentsmith, Ii, Inc. Hot plate carrier
US5016606A (en) 1989-08-31 1991-05-21 Gas Research Institute Gas-fired oven
US5398666A (en) 1989-09-22 1995-03-21 Patentsmith Ii, Inc. Turntable convection heater
US5205274A (en) 1989-09-22 1993-04-27 Patentsmith Ii, Inc. Turntable convection oven
CA2024203C (en) 1989-09-22 2002-07-30 Donald P. Smith Balanced air return convection oven
US5012071A (en) 1989-11-14 1991-04-30 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Grease splatter capture shield
KR950001890B1 (en) 1989-12-21 1995-03-06 가부시끼가이샤 도토오루 커피 Device for roasting coffee beans
US5147994A (en) 1990-01-10 1992-09-15 Patentsmith Corporation Microwave vending machine
US5717192A (en) 1990-01-10 1998-02-10 Patentsmith Technology, Ltd. Jet impingement batch oven
US5401940A (en) 1990-01-10 1995-03-28 Patentsmith Ii, Inc. Oscillating air dispensers for microwave oven
US5818014A (en) 1990-01-10 1998-10-06 Patentsmith Technology, Ltd. Air dispensers for microwave oven
US5033366A (en) 1990-03-05 1991-07-23 Sullivan Robert E Modular food preparation station
US4989523A (en) * 1990-03-16 1991-02-05 General Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for extracting heat from a combustible material
US5025775A (en) 1990-06-04 1991-06-25 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Air delivery system and oven control circuitry cooling system for a low profile impingement oven
US5179265A (en) 1990-08-21 1993-01-12 United Electric Controls Company Cooking time control system for conveyor ovens
EP0487874B1 (en) 1990-11-30 2000-07-26 Yokogawa Electric Corporation Signal conditioner
US5189944A (en) 1991-02-19 1993-03-02 Burger King Corporation Automated french fry cooking apparatus
JPH07103988B2 (en) 1991-05-10 1995-11-08 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Burner flame detector
US5154160A (en) 1991-05-12 1992-10-13 Q Industries Food Equipment Co. Automated oven with gas-fired radiant heater assembly
US5161889A (en) 1991-06-03 1992-11-10 Patentsmith Ii, Inc. Heat transfer rate target module
US5238398A (en) 1991-06-17 1993-08-24 Harmony Thermal Company, Inc. Variable orifice gas modulating valve
EP0521568B1 (en) 1991-07-05 1996-09-18 Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. A low-nox gas burner
US5197375A (en) 1991-08-30 1993-03-30 The Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven control
US5253564A (en) 1991-08-30 1993-10-19 The Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven control
US5112630A (en) 1991-09-12 1992-05-12 Scott Arthur C Pizza pager signaling process
US5276978A (en) 1991-10-03 1994-01-11 Hopkins International, Inc. Temperature controlled conveyor dryer
US5351416A (en) 1991-10-31 1994-10-04 Marshall And Williams Company Clean air oven with heat recovery and method
US5655511A (en) 1992-02-10 1997-08-12 Southbend-A. Middleby Company Gas fired convection oven
US5249739A (en) 1992-04-03 1993-10-05 Honeywell Inc. Apparatus and method for monitoring the operating condition of a burner system
US5277105A (en) 1992-05-29 1994-01-11 Middleby Marshall Corporation Low profile stackable conveyor oven
US5449888A (en) 1992-07-02 1995-09-12 Patentsmith Technology, Ltd. Microwave vending machine
US5365918A (en) 1992-10-16 1994-11-22 Patentsmith Corporation Oven with short radius door
CA2088190C (en) 1992-11-05 2000-01-11 Ira Nevin Pizza oven
DE4238660C2 (en) * 1992-11-16 1994-09-01 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Oven, in particular with a device for pyrolytic self-cleaning
US5321229A (en) 1993-04-05 1994-06-14 Whirlpool Corporation Remote control for a domestic appliance
US5609095A (en) 1993-07-01 1997-03-11 Stein, Inc. High performance cooking oven with steam chamber
US5379752A (en) 1993-07-12 1995-01-10 Carrier Corporation Low speed interlock for a two stage two speed furnace
US5470018A (en) 1993-08-24 1995-11-28 Desa International, Inc. Thermostatically controlled gas heater
ZA946711B (en) 1993-09-02 1995-04-20 Riviana Foods Inc Apparatus and method for food products
US5613428A (en) 1993-09-02 1997-03-25 Riviana Foods, Inc. Apparatus for cooking food products for consumption
US5547373A (en) 1993-09-30 1996-08-20 Apv Baker, Inc. Baking oven with integral emissions control apparatus
US5431181A (en) 1993-10-01 1995-07-11 Zurn Industries, Inc. Automatic valve assembly
US20010038876A1 (en) 1993-10-22 2001-11-08 Richard M. Anderson Apparatus and method for producing grain based baker food products
US5458051A (en) 1993-11-29 1995-10-17 G. S. Blodgett Corporation Belt cooking apparatus
CA2191730A1 (en) 1994-05-25 1995-11-30 Dennis Wassman Convectively-enhanced radiant heat oven
US5512312A (en) 1994-06-15 1996-04-30 Forney; Robert B. Radiant wall oven and method of using the same
US5452709A (en) 1994-08-18 1995-09-26 G.I.W. Management, L.L.C. Tiered-logs gas-burning heaters or fireplace insert
US5568802A (en) 1994-11-18 1996-10-29 Buday; Gene Vertical oven
US5520553A (en) 1994-12-08 1996-05-28 Molex Incorporated Connector with a front end mounted terminal position assurance system
GB9425032D0 (en) 1994-12-09 1995-02-08 Robertson James P Flavouring
US5671660A (en) 1994-12-12 1997-09-30 Moshonas; Georges Heated air-circulating oven
US5558010A (en) 1995-01-13 1996-09-24 Properties Leasing Food storage chamber door open compensation
US5601071A (en) 1995-01-26 1997-02-11 Tridelta Industries, Inc. Flow control system
US5473975A (en) 1995-02-02 1995-12-12 Middleby Marshall Inc. Conveyor toaster oven
US6080972A (en) 1995-02-16 2000-06-27 May; Leonhard Remotely operated universal programmable oven controller
US6116895A (en) 1995-03-10 2000-09-12 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Dual mode convection oven
GB2300102B (en) 1995-03-28 1998-07-08 United Biscuits Ltd Improvements in and relating to ovens
JPH08291914A (en) 1995-04-20 1996-11-05 Fujitsu Ltd Heating control system for microwave oven
US5869810A (en) 1995-05-23 1999-02-09 Victor Reynolds Impedance-heated furnace
USRE39828E1 (en) 1995-06-26 2007-09-11 Miller R Craig Convection/impingement oven for continuously cooking food
US5786566A (en) 1995-06-26 1998-07-28 Miller; R. Craig Convection/impingement oven for continuously cooking food
US6030205A (en) 1995-08-18 2000-02-29 General Electric Company Gas oven control
US5975072A (en) 1995-09-12 1999-11-02 Garceau; William J. Fluid flow valves and cooking machine control system utilizing such valves
US5971745A (en) * 1995-11-13 1999-10-26 Gas Research Institute Flame ionization control apparatus and method
US5937846A (en) 1995-11-21 1999-08-17 Robertshaw Controls Company Fluid control assembly
US5676044A (en) 1996-01-03 1997-10-14 Lara, Jr.; George A. Rotary air impingement oven
US5686004A (en) 1996-04-29 1997-11-11 Schneider; Russell C. Pizza oven with conveyor
DE19627539A1 (en) 1996-07-09 1998-01-15 Gaggenau Werke Method and device for controlling the flame size of gas-operated cooking or baking devices
US6018466A (en) 1996-07-30 2000-01-25 Lucian; Maria Electronic signal conditioner
US5704278A (en) 1996-08-26 1998-01-06 Cross; Gloria Energy efficient high capacity rotary oven
DE19638073A1 (en) 1996-09-18 1998-03-19 Miwe Michael Wenz Gmbh Continuous oven
FR2754347B1 (en) 1996-10-09 1998-11-27 Seb Sa SMOKE DETECTION DEVICE FOR COOKING APPARATUS
US5827556A (en) 1996-10-23 1998-10-27 Tridelta Industries, Inc. Electronic controller for heating apparatus
US5934178A (en) * 1997-01-04 1999-08-10 Heat & Control, Inc. Air impingement oven
US5941236A (en) 1997-01-13 1999-08-24 Garlock Equipment Company Roofing kettle control apparatus
US5964044A (en) 1997-01-14 1999-10-12 Wisconsin Oven Corporation Conveyor oven usable as pre-bake oven in a print plate imaging and processing system and method of using same
US5997924A (en) 1997-02-04 1999-12-07 Lmo Consultants, Inc. Automated process for making pizza
US5832812A (en) 1997-02-25 1998-11-10 Wolfe; Ronald Dale Dual conveyer oven
US5864120A (en) 1997-02-28 1999-01-26 Middleby-Marshall, Inc. Convection oven with modular control panel
US6000933A (en) 1997-04-04 1999-12-14 Frederick, Sr.; Charles B Variable burner orifice furnace manifold
US5795145A (en) 1997-05-22 1998-08-18 Desa International Method and apparatus for controlling gas flow to ceramic plaque burners of differing sizes
ATE249742T1 (en) 1997-06-09 2003-10-15 Werner & Pfleiderer Lebensmitt OVEN
US5821503A (en) 1997-07-23 1998-10-13 Hatco Corporation Conveyor speed control ciruit for a conveyor oven
SG73538A1 (en) 1997-08-04 2000-06-20 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Method of heat treating object and apparatus for the same
US5897807A (en) 1997-09-08 1999-04-27 Amana Company, L.P. Rethermalization pass through oven system
US6062245A (en) 1997-11-21 2000-05-16 Berglind; Eric J. Gaseous fuel burner manifold with integral pressure regulator assembly
US6141967A (en) 1998-01-09 2000-11-07 General Electric Company Air fuel mixer for gas turbine combustor
AU2264899A (en) 1998-01-27 1999-08-09 Scanvaegt International A/S A weighing system of the dynamic type
US6157002A (en) 1998-02-06 2000-12-05 Middleby Cooking Systems Group Small conveyor toaster/oven
US5906485A (en) 1998-02-27 1999-05-25 Reading Pretzel Machinery Corporation Tunnel-type conveyor oven having two types of heat sources
ES2292254T3 (en) * 1998-05-23 2008-03-01 Enersyst Development Center, L.L.C. HIGH SPEED HEAT TRANSFER CONVECTION OVEN WITH FAT TREATMENT AND SMOKE REDUCTION SOURCES.
JP4159657B2 (en) 1998-07-13 2008-10-01 株式会社ルネサステクノロジ Synchronous semiconductor memory device
GB2340561A (en) 1998-08-15 2000-02-23 T & N Technology Ltd Disc brake
US6121593A (en) 1998-08-19 2000-09-19 Duck Creek Energy, Inc. Home appliances provided with control systems which may be actuated from a remote location
US6149065A (en) 1998-10-28 2000-11-21 Harper-Wyman Company Modulating thermostat for gas oven burner
US6019593A (en) * 1998-10-28 2000-02-01 Glasstech, Inc. Integrated gas burner assembly
US6179212B1 (en) 1999-02-04 2001-01-30 Edward J. Banko Variable output multistage gas furnace
US6171630B1 (en) 1999-03-12 2001-01-09 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Method and apparatus for generating and applying steam for food cooking and finishing
US6684657B1 (en) 1999-03-18 2004-02-03 Enersyst Development Center, L.L.C. Rethermalization / refrigeration food delivery system
US6123063A (en) 1999-04-29 2000-09-26 Autotronic Controls Corporation Stacker ignition system
US6217312B1 (en) 1999-04-29 2001-04-17 General Electric Company Ignition system for a gas appliance
US6369360B1 (en) 1999-05-21 2002-04-09 Maytag Corporation Combination high speed infrared and convection conveyor oven and method of using
US6140619A (en) 1999-05-28 2000-10-31 The Garland Group Temperature control apparatus, method and memory medium for an oven
US6157014A (en) 1999-06-29 2000-12-05 Amana Company, L.P. Product-based microwave power level controller
US6817283B2 (en) 1999-08-04 2004-11-16 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. High speed cooking device and method
WO2001022823A1 (en) 1999-09-29 2001-04-05 Quadlux, Inc. Lightwave conveyor oven and method of operating the same
CN1411543A (en) 1999-10-18 2003-04-16 肯普阀公司 Electronic gas cooktop control with system and method thereof
US6252201B1 (en) 2000-01-06 2001-06-26 Middleby Marshall Incorporated Small fast acting conveyor toaster oven
EP1128023A1 (en) * 2000-02-25 2001-08-29 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Turbine rotor blade
DE10107289A1 (en) 2000-03-14 2001-09-27 Werner & Pfleiderer Lebensmitt Tunnel baking oven has continuous baking conveyor belts driven at same direction and drivable at same or different rates, which run from inlet station to outlet station of each baking chamber
US6951998B2 (en) 2000-04-14 2005-10-04 Omron Corporation Controller, temperature regulator and heat treatment apparatus
US20020029695A1 (en) 2000-04-20 2002-03-14 Troy Gongwer Automatic barbeque assembly with bypass lever
KR100364538B1 (en) 2000-05-04 2002-12-12 엘지전자 주식회사 Internet remote controller and device controlling method using thereof
DE10025769A1 (en) * 2000-05-12 2001-11-15 Siemens Building Tech Ag Control device for a burner
JP4357715B2 (en) 2000-07-24 2009-11-04 東京エレクトロン株式会社 Temperature calibration method for heat treatment equipment
CA2418431C (en) 2000-08-16 2010-02-09 John F. Novak Method and apparatus for microwave utilization
US6630650B2 (en) 2000-08-18 2003-10-07 Luxine, Inc. Induction heating and control system and method with high reliability and advanced performance features
US6872919B2 (en) * 2000-08-29 2005-03-29 Maytag Corporation Multi-stage catalyst for a cooking appliance
CA2410054C (en) 2000-11-13 2006-02-07 Barbara Ann Kish Programmable cooking or baking apparatus and method
US6552309B1 (en) 2000-11-13 2003-04-22 Barbara Ann Kish Programmable cooking or baking apparatus and method
US6684875B1 (en) 2000-11-17 2004-02-03 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven with modulated gas flow
US6481433B1 (en) * 2000-11-17 2002-11-19 Middleby Marshall Incorporated Conveyor oven having an energy management system for a modulated gas flow
US20020070099A1 (en) 2000-12-13 2002-06-13 Neely Phillip K. Automated process buffer shuttle
US6707014B1 (en) 2001-01-05 2004-03-16 Dave O. Corey Oven apparatus for efficiently cooking food
US6799712B1 (en) 2001-02-21 2004-10-05 Electronic Controls Design, Inc. Conveyor oven profiling system
US6453984B1 (en) 2001-03-13 2002-09-24 Honeywell International Inc. Apparatus and method for casting amorphous metal alloys in an adjustable low density atmosphere
CA2439090C (en) * 2001-03-22 2006-08-29 Zesto Food Equipment Manufacturing Inc. Multiconveyor convection oven
US6805112B2 (en) * 2001-06-27 2004-10-19 James T. Cole Convection oven having multiple airflow patterns
US6389960B1 (en) 2001-07-12 2002-05-21 Middleby-Marshall, Inc. Gas-fired cooking device with griddle surface heated by heat bank
US6624396B2 (en) 2001-08-28 2003-09-23 Hatco Corporation Conveyor speed control system for a conveyor oven
US6638553B2 (en) 2001-10-09 2003-10-28 Recot, Inc. System and method for monolayer alignment snack chip transfer
US20030077551A1 (en) 2001-10-19 2003-04-24 Zia Ninev Karl Micro inshot burner
US6655373B1 (en) 2001-11-14 2003-12-02 Middleby Marshall, Incorporated High efficiency conveyor oven
US6592364B2 (en) 2001-11-30 2003-07-15 David Zapata Apparatus, method and system for independently controlling airflow in a conveyor oven
US20030213371A1 (en) 2002-05-14 2003-11-20 Saunders David N. Conveyor-toaster control system
US8006685B2 (en) 2002-07-05 2011-08-30 Turbochef Technologies, Inc. Re-circulating oven with gas clean-up
AU2003274896B2 (en) 2002-07-05 2009-02-05 Turbochef Technologies, Inc. Speed cooking oven
US6904903B1 (en) 2002-07-22 2005-06-14 Middleby-Marshall, Inc. Convection steamer with forced recirculation through steam bath
US6943321B2 (en) 2002-08-30 2005-09-13 Wolf Appliance Company, Llc Convection oven with forced airflow circulation zones
US20040083687A1 (en) 2002-11-01 2004-05-06 Christman Russell T. Shrink tunnel control apparatus and method
WO2004063629A1 (en) 2003-01-13 2004-07-29 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Gas cooking equipment and method for producing gas cooking equipment
WO2005112650A1 (en) 2003-02-21 2005-12-01 Middleby Corporation Charbroiler
US20070006865A1 (en) 2003-02-21 2007-01-11 Wiker John H Self-cleaning oven
JP2004269242A (en) 2003-03-12 2004-09-30 Paloma Ind Ltd Conveyor oven
US6810794B2 (en) 2003-03-26 2004-11-02 Kumaran & Sagar Continuous vibro fluidized bed roaster using flue gas
JP2004329107A (en) 2003-05-07 2004-11-25 Nichiwa Denki Kk Conveyor oven
JP4966010B2 (en) 2003-05-16 2012-07-04 コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ Iron with cartridge
US20040237741A1 (en) 2003-05-30 2004-12-02 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Blade assembly for food slicing device
CA2528539C (en) 2003-06-10 2009-09-22 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. A high speed cooking oven having an air impingement heater with an improved orifice configuration
US20050021407A1 (en) 2003-06-20 2005-01-27 Kargman James B. Enhanced user display for use in a restaurant kitchen
US7886658B2 (en) 2003-07-07 2011-02-15 Turbochef Technologies, Inc. Speed cooking oven with improved radiant mode
US7946224B2 (en) 2003-07-07 2011-05-24 Turbochef Technologies, Inc. Griddle
US8011293B2 (en) 2003-07-07 2011-09-06 Turbochef Technologies, Inc. Speed cooking oven with sloped oven floor and reversing gas flow
US8035062B2 (en) 2003-07-07 2011-10-11 Turbochef Technologies, Inc. Combination speed cooking oven
US6920820B2 (en) 2003-08-18 2005-07-26 Lincoln Foodservice Products Inc. Cooking apparatus and methods of forming
GB0321126D0 (en) 2003-09-09 2003-10-08 Apv Systems Ltd Control systems for temperature-controlled enclosures
KR20070034452A (en) 2003-10-21 2007-03-28 터보쉐프 테크놀러지즈, 아이엔씨. High speed cooking oven with slot microwave antenna
WO2005095870A1 (en) 2004-03-03 2005-10-13 Beckett Gas, Inc. Furnace
EP1729583A4 (en) 2004-03-05 2015-02-25 Turbochef Tech Inc Conveyor oven
WO2005094647A1 (en) 2004-03-23 2005-10-13 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
WO2010080160A1 (en) 2009-01-12 2010-07-15 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US8087407B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2012-01-03 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US9585400B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2017-03-07 The Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
WO2006101531A1 (en) 2005-03-23 2006-09-28 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
WO2007050136A2 (en) 2005-10-27 2007-05-03 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US7202447B2 (en) 2004-04-02 2007-04-10 Kingdon Charles J Conveyor type oven
US7193184B1 (en) 2004-04-08 2007-03-20 Michael Manning Impingement oven with radiant heating
US7494337B2 (en) 2004-04-22 2009-02-24 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Apparatus and method for providing multiple stages of fuel
US20060096973A1 (en) 2004-11-08 2006-05-11 Powell Henry J Coffee maker heating unit with dynamic temperature control responsive to the amount of coffee remaining in the carafe
KR20070091635A (en) 2004-12-03 2007-09-11 터보쉐프 테크놀러지즈, 아이엔씨. High speed convection oven
ITVE20050004A1 (en) 2005-01-20 2006-07-21 Ohg Defendi S R L GAS BURNER FOR COOKING EQUIPMENT.
US7220944B2 (en) 2005-01-26 2007-05-22 Miller R Craig Modular cooking oven and related methods
US7340992B1 (en) 2005-01-27 2008-03-11 Wolfe Electric, Inc. Dual belt conveyor oven
US7018201B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2006-03-28 Sunsweet Growers, Inc. Dual-zone dehydration tunnel
GB0518186D0 (en) 2005-09-07 2005-10-12 Fylde Thermal Engineering Ltd Tunnel oven
US20080035746A1 (en) 2006-08-11 2008-02-14 Eric Willms Radiant heating system and method of control
ITTO20060629A1 (en) 2006-09-01 2008-03-02 Indesit Co Spa GAS COOKING APPLIANCES WITH AUTOMATIC VALVES WITH A SAFETY SYSTEM
US7541559B2 (en) 2006-09-08 2009-06-02 Lincoln Foodservice Products Llc Conveyor oven and method with smart control
CA2601635C (en) 2006-09-11 2015-07-07 Moffat Pty Limited Improved insulation for baking chambers in a multi-deck baking oven
ITTO20060728A1 (en) 2006-10-11 2008-04-12 Indesit Co Spa GAS COOKING APPLIANCES WITH AUTOMATIC VALVES WITH A SAFETY SYSTEM
US8635997B2 (en) 2006-10-18 2014-01-28 Honeywell International Inc. Systems and methods for controlling gas pressure to gas-fired appliances
US20080092754A1 (en) * 2006-10-19 2008-04-24 Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company Conveyor oven
US8075304B2 (en) 2006-10-19 2011-12-13 Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company Modulated power burner system and method
US8113190B2 (en) 2007-03-10 2012-02-14 Turbochef Technologies, Inc. Compact conveyor oven
US7800023B2 (en) 2007-04-24 2010-09-21 Prince Castle LLC Conveyor oven with hybrid heating sources
US7851727B2 (en) 2007-05-16 2010-12-14 Prince Castle LLC Method of controlling an oven with hybrid heating sources
JP2009144948A (en) 2007-12-12 2009-07-02 Rinnai Corp Water heater
US8093533B2 (en) 2007-12-17 2012-01-10 Michael French Modular pizza oven kit, pizza oven finger assembly support, and a method of operating a pizza oven at different speeds and a control arrangement for performing the method
US9317046B2 (en) 2008-07-03 2016-04-19 Mike Gum Variable output heating control system
EP2149755B1 (en) 2008-07-30 2012-12-05 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Oven and method of operating the same
CN102119299B (en) 2008-08-07 2013-03-27 开利公司 Multistage gas furnace having split manifold
US8210844B2 (en) 2008-10-27 2012-07-03 Wolfe Electric, Inc. Air impingement conveyor oven
US8418661B2 (en) 2008-11-27 2013-04-16 Noritz Corporation Combustion apparatus
US8863734B2 (en) 2008-12-01 2014-10-21 General Electric Company Gas grill
ES2548025T3 (en) 2009-07-24 2015-10-13 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Gas valve unit for a gas cooking appliance
US20110048244A1 (en) 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 Wiker John H Apparatus and method for controlling a combustion blower in a gas-fueled conveyor oven
US8839714B2 (en) 2009-08-28 2014-09-23 The Middleby Corporation Apparatus and method for controlling a conveyor oven
KR101712235B1 (en) 2010-05-20 2017-03-03 베에스하 하우스게랫테 게엠베하 Gas valve unit for a dual circuit burner
KR101857838B1 (en) 2010-10-15 2018-05-14 베에스하 하우스게랫테 게엠베하 Gas valve unit
US8536493B1 (en) 2010-11-30 2013-09-17 Wolfe Electric, Inc. Vertically stacked air impingement tunnel oven
WO2012099893A2 (en) 2011-01-17 2012-07-26 Lincoln Foodservice Products Llc Impingement oven with a plurality of variable airflow cooking zones
US9297537B2 (en) 2011-07-14 2016-03-29 General Electric Company Orifice holder and tube assembly for use with a gas-fueled appliance
JP5742553B2 (en) 2011-07-28 2015-07-01 株式会社ノーリツ Combustion device
WO2013166519A1 (en) 2012-05-04 2013-11-07 De Luca Oven Technologies, Llc Accelerated heating, cooking and dispensing incorporating a stored energy oven in a mobile apparatus
KR101981670B1 (en) 2012-12-21 2019-05-24 삼성전자주식회사 Gas Oven
US20140199446A1 (en) 2013-01-11 2014-07-17 Star Manufacturing International, Inc. Split-Belt Conveyor Toaster
US9320284B2 (en) 2013-03-12 2016-04-26 The Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven with split flow scroll
US9723952B2 (en) 2013-12-06 2017-08-08 J & B Sausage Company, Inc. Roller conveyor oven for heating while rotating and conveying a multiplicity of cylindrical food items thereon

Patent Citations (51)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1536538A (en) * 1924-12-08 1925-05-05 Vernon B Stouffer Electric grill
US2340354A (en) * 1941-06-06 1944-02-01 American Mach & Foundry Baking method
US3413443A (en) * 1966-07-28 1968-11-26 Gen Electric Restricted volume self-cleaning oven
US3364912A (en) * 1966-09-22 1968-01-23 Gen Electric Self-cleaning gas oven
US3485230A (en) * 1967-03-06 1969-12-23 Catalox Corp Apparatus for catalytic combustion
US3590164A (en) * 1968-07-19 1971-06-29 Litton Systems Inc Transmission system for two-level signals providing reduced bandwidth requirements
US3586825A (en) * 1968-10-03 1971-06-22 Modern Maid Inc Flush top cooking unit with ventilating means
US3646880A (en) * 1970-08-21 1972-03-07 Thermal Process Engineering Co Cooking grill
US3857669A (en) * 1971-09-02 1974-12-31 Impala Ind Inc Catalytic heater head
US4034663A (en) * 1974-08-19 1977-07-12 Jenn Air Corporation Ventilated portable electric grill
US4055677A (en) * 1974-11-11 1977-10-25 White Lyall B Method of broiling
US3943910A (en) * 1974-11-11 1976-03-16 White Lyall B Gas broiler
US4089258A (en) * 1975-08-29 1978-05-16 Ducane Heating Corporation Gas fired barbecue unit
US4057670A (en) * 1976-01-28 1977-11-08 Jenaer Glaswerk Schott & Gen. Cooking surfaces of glass-ceramic plates with layers with different values for radiation transmission
US4039275A (en) * 1976-02-23 1977-08-02 Mcgettrick Charles A Infrared energy generator with orifice plate
US4176589A (en) * 1978-02-27 1979-12-04 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Cooking apparatus
US4188868A (en) * 1978-09-18 1980-02-19 Npi Corporation Energy conserver for broilers
US4321857A (en) * 1980-04-08 1982-03-30 Best Willie H Infrared gas grill
US4332189A (en) * 1980-05-16 1982-06-01 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Apparatus for preparation of foodstuffs, particularly sausages and buns
US4366177A (en) * 1981-01-26 1982-12-28 Pet Incorporated Method of flameless broiling or baking greasy meat products
US4389562A (en) * 1981-08-05 1983-06-21 Hatco Corporation Conveyor oven
US4615014A (en) * 1984-04-16 1986-09-30 Lincoln Manufacturing Company, Inc. Bake time display for cooking oven
US5206045A (en) * 1986-05-23 1993-04-27 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Apparatus and method for cooking food products
US4924767A (en) * 1986-05-23 1990-05-15 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Conveyorized cooking apparatus
US5013563A (en) * 1986-05-23 1991-05-07 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Conveyorized cooking method
US4834063A (en) * 1987-05-28 1989-05-30 Stein Associates, Inc. Food cooking oven with duct fingers and method
US4766877A (en) * 1987-09-30 1988-08-30 Thermal Systems, Inc. Catalytic space heater
US4886044A (en) * 1988-08-17 1989-12-12 Best Willie H Infrared gas grill
US4940040A (en) * 1989-01-31 1990-07-10 Stein, Inc. Adjustable cooking oven
US4977111A (en) * 1989-08-04 1990-12-11 Arizona Board Of Regents Porous radiant burners having increased radiant output
US4936286A (en) * 1989-11-08 1990-06-26 Nieco Corporation, A Division Of Alco Standard Corporation Gas broiler
US5161965A (en) * 1990-01-31 1992-11-10 Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha Surface combustion burner
US5224856A (en) * 1990-01-31 1993-07-06 Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha Surface combustion burner
US5630408A (en) * 1993-05-28 1997-05-20 Ranco Incorporated Of Delaware Gas/air ratio control apparatus for a temperature control loop for gas appliances
US5509403A (en) * 1993-08-11 1996-04-23 Schott Glaswerke Gas fires cooking assembly with plate conductive to heat radiation
US5520533A (en) * 1993-09-16 1996-05-28 Honeywell Inc. Apparatus for modulating the flow of air and fuel to a gas burner
US5471972A (en) * 1993-11-10 1995-12-05 Gas Research Institute Self-cleaning gas-fueled oven for cooking
US5560952A (en) * 1995-02-24 1996-10-01 Miller; R. Craig Process for continuously cooking food
US5727451A (en) * 1995-09-19 1998-03-17 The Pillsbury Company Broiler apparatus
US5588354A (en) * 1995-09-21 1996-12-31 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Apparatus for conveyorized griddle-like cooking of food products
US5640896A (en) * 1995-11-20 1997-06-24 Stuck; Robert M. Conveyorized cooking apparatus for imparting charcoal flavoring to foods and gas-fired burner assembly for use in such apparatus
US6023051A (en) * 1997-09-26 2000-02-08 Fellows; Margie Ann Easily cleanable flavor producing plates for electrically heated barbecue grills and their use in ranges or cooktops
US6468593B1 (en) * 1997-11-27 2002-10-22 Kanto Kasei Co., Ltd. Plated non-conductive products and plating method for the same
US6114666A (en) * 1998-07-02 2000-09-05 Best; Willie H. Heating assembly and cooking apparatus
US6526961B1 (en) * 2000-07-10 2003-03-04 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc Conveyor oven
US6723961B2 (en) * 2000-08-29 2004-04-20 Maytag Corporation Self-cleaning system for convection cooking appliance
US6462319B1 (en) * 2001-05-29 2002-10-08 Bsh Home Appliances Corporation Multi-stage self-cleaning control for oven
US6576874B2 (en) * 2001-09-06 2003-06-10 Bakers Pride Modular heating element for a conveyor oven
US6779519B2 (en) * 2001-09-22 2004-08-24 Uwe Harneit Cover sheet for rotisserie burners
US20030221686A1 (en) * 2002-05-29 2003-12-04 Farshid Ahmady Variable high intensity infrared heater
US20050132899A1 (en) * 2003-11-18 2005-06-23 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Conveyor oven with energy saving baffle mechanism and method

Cited By (44)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10036558B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2018-07-31 The Middleby Corporation Self-cleaning oven
US10024548B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2018-07-17 The Middleby Corporation Self-cleaning oven
US8087407B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2012-01-03 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US10842156B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2020-11-24 The Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US10039289B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2018-08-07 The Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US9585401B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2017-03-07 The Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US9585400B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2017-03-07 The Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US8839779B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2014-09-23 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US8371285B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2013-02-12 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US8281779B2 (en) 2004-03-23 2012-10-09 Middleby Corporation Conveyor oven apparatus and method
US9044021B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2015-06-02 Fgf Brands Inc. System and method for preparing naan bread
US20110151052A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2011-06-23 Fgf Brands, Inc. System And Method For Preparing Naan Bread
US9044023B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2015-06-02 Fgf Brands Inc. System and method for preparing naan bread
US20110020492A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2011-01-27 Sam Ajmera System and method for preparing naan bread
US9719683B2 (en) * 2006-10-19 2017-08-01 Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company Modulated power burner system and method
US8075304B2 (en) * 2006-10-19 2011-12-13 Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company Modulated power burner system and method
US20100319551A1 (en) * 2006-10-19 2010-12-23 Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company Modulated Power Burner System And Method
US20080182214A1 (en) * 2006-10-19 2008-07-31 Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company Modulated power burner system and method
US20080264407A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Bramhall Marcus E Ovens, burner tube assemblies, and methods for delivering air to a gas power burner
US20080264623A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Bramhall Marcus E Ovens, finger ducts therefor, and methods for distributing air in a finger duct
US20080267750A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Bramhall Marcus E Methods for moving ovens, and ovens having means for releasably attaching to a plurality of casters
US20080264402A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Bramhall Marcus E Ovens having a cold air return baffle and methods for circulating air in an oven
US20090001068A1 (en) * 2007-06-28 2009-01-01 Bramhall Marcus E Apparatus and methods for cooling an oven conveyor motor
US8869684B2 (en) 2008-07-16 2014-10-28 Sam Ajmera Bottom access dollies for conveyor oven
US9052117B2 (en) 2008-07-16 2015-06-09 Sam Ajmera Intermediate panel ceiling for conveyor oven
US8839714B2 (en) 2009-08-28 2014-09-23 The Middleby Corporation Apparatus and method for controlling a conveyor oven
US20110048244A1 (en) * 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 Wiker John H Apparatus and method for controlling a combustion blower in a gas-fueled conveyor oven
US9609981B2 (en) 2009-08-28 2017-04-04 The Middleby Corporation Apparatus and method for controlling a conveyor oven
WO2011025666A1 (en) * 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 The Middleby Corporation Apparatus and method for controlling a conveyor oven
US10362898B2 (en) 2009-08-28 2019-07-30 The Middleby Corporation Apparatus and method for controlling a conveyor oven
US20110059412A1 (en) * 2009-09-09 2011-03-10 Thomas Robert Wiedemeier Device and process for eradicating pests in wood
US20110067685A1 (en) * 2009-09-23 2011-03-24 Myers Robert L Gas-Fueled Food Cooker with a Sealed Heating Conduit
WO2012106355A1 (en) * 2011-01-31 2012-08-09 Cleveland Range, Llc Conveyor oven and method for improving energy efficiency
US20120219688A1 (en) * 2011-01-31 2012-08-30 Cleveland Range, Llc. Conveyor oven and method for improving energy efficiency
US20160116171A1 (en) * 2014-10-22 2016-04-28 General Electric Company Oven airflow control
CN104798840A (en) * 2015-05-12 2015-07-29 新麦机械(无锡)有限公司 Crawler-type baking oven
US11690145B2 (en) * 2015-12-17 2023-06-27 Convotherm-Elektrogerate Gmbh Method for operating a commercial cooking device and such a cooking device
US11266152B2 (en) * 2016-03-09 2022-03-08 Dmp Enterprises Pty Ltd Conveyer-type oven
US20180098545A1 (en) * 2016-10-07 2018-04-12 Fusion Tech Integrated, Inc. Damper positioning system for an oven
US10638762B2 (en) * 2016-10-07 2020-05-05 Fusion Tech Integrated, Inc. Damper positioning system for an oven
US11397003B2 (en) * 2017-02-16 2022-07-26 Purpose Co., Ltd. Premixing apparatus, heat source apparatus, and water heater
US20220395139A1 (en) * 2021-06-15 2022-12-15 Jiangmen City Xinhui Henglong Innovative Housewares Co., Ltd. Toaster
US11771263B2 (en) * 2021-06-15 2023-10-03 Jiangmen City Xinhui Henglong Innovative Housewares Co., Ltd. Toaster
CN114711259A (en) * 2022-02-25 2022-07-08 安徽一闻香清真食品有限公司 Sesame cake baking device and baking process

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US8413646B2 (en) 2013-04-09
US10036558B2 (en) 2018-07-31
US20090223503A1 (en) 2009-09-10
US20130186387A1 (en) 2013-07-25
US20130000628A1 (en) 2013-01-03
US10024548B2 (en) 2018-07-17
WO2004076928A2 (en) 2004-09-10
WO2004076928A3 (en) 2004-12-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8413646B2 (en) Self-cleaning oven
US4389562A (en) Conveyor oven
US5942142A (en) Radiant wall/hot air impingement oven
EP1797758B1 (en) Continuous cooking oven system
US7220944B2 (en) Modular cooking oven and related methods
US4375213A (en) Self-clean oven
KR100326963B1 (en) Electric cooking oven with infrared gas broiler
US20070221199A1 (en) Vent system for cooking appliance
US5617839A (en) Rack oven
US9375016B2 (en) Convection heating in track ovens
US5560952A (en) Process for continuously cooking food
US5403608A (en) Method for cooking food
US5786566A (en) Convection/impingement oven for continuously cooking food
EP0185059A1 (en) Continuous feed oven
US5547373A (en) Baking oven with integral emissions control apparatus
US2908267A (en) Food cooking apparatus
RU2052175C1 (en) Household gas stove
GB2039029A (en) A gas oven with two oven compartments
USRE39828E1 (en) Convection/impingement oven for continuously cooking food
WO2017191551A1 (en) Cleanable tunnel oven
RU2812365C1 (en) Bakery cabinet
CA2170708C (en) Heating furnace
JPS6151848B2 (en)
US473018A (en) Baker s oven
EP3312512A1 (en) Electric oven for pizza and the like

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: MIDDLEBY CORPORATION, ILLINOIS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WIKER, JOHN H.;CARBONARA, FRANK;TOMKO, GREGORY J.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:017908/0934;SIGNING DATES FROM 20051121 TO 20060125

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION