Conveyor oven control
First Claim
1. A control device for an oven having at least one cooking region, at least one heating means for said cooking region, and means for transporting a product through said cooking region, said control device comprising:
- means for receiving from a user a plurality of sets of desired operating parameters, each such set including at least one parameter related to a temperature produced by said heating means and at least one other parameter related to the speed of said transporting means;
means for storing said sets of parameters;
means for retrieving a selectable one of said sets of parameters upon request of said user;
means for controlling at least said heating means and said transporting means according to said retrieved set of parameters; and
means responsive to said parameter related to the speed of said transporting means for adjusting controlling said product transport means to maintain the product within the cooking region for a time corresponding to said parameter related to the transporting means speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control device for a multi-zone conveyor oven constructed according to the present invention comprises a microprocessor-based controller, appropriate control software, a keyboard and display for interaction with a user, means for sensing the conveyor speed and the heating chamber temperature, and means for controlling the power supplied to the conveyor motor and the heating elements. The controller provides facilities for user programming of sets of oven parameters, each set corresponding to a particular food product to be cooked in the oven. Each set of parameters includes the total cook time for the product and a desired temperature which is independently selectable for each heating zone. Once a set of parameters has been programmed, it is assigned to a particular key on the keyboard, and the user may select that entire set of parameters by simply pushing the assigned key. The parameters are stored in the EEPROM to prevent their loss during electrical power interruptions. High-accuracy, low hysteresis temperature control of the oven is provided by pulse-width-modulating the power supplied to the heating elements. Accurate and repeatable control of cooking time is provided by controlling the speed of the motor driving the product transport conveyor. Such control is provided by pulse-width-modulating the power supplied to the motor according to motor speed information derived by sensing the motor shaft position. The controller also provides extensive fault detection, and degrades oven performance as gracefully as possible.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A control device for an oven having at least one cooking region, at least one heating means for said cooking region, and means for transporting a product through said cooking region, said control device comprising:
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means for receiving from a user a plurality of sets of desired operating parameters, each such set including at least one parameter related to a temperature produced by said heating means and at least one other parameter related to the speed of said transporting means; means for storing said sets of parameters; means for retrieving a selectable one of said sets of parameters upon request of said user; means for controlling at least said heating means and said transporting means according to said retrieved set of parameters; and means responsive to said parameter related to the speed of said transporting means for adjusting controlling said product transport means to maintain the product within the cooking region for a time corresponding to said parameter related to the transporting means speed.
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2. A control device for an oven having at least one cooking region, at least one heating means for said cooking region, and means for transporting a product through said cooking region, said control device comprising:
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means for receiving from a user a plurality of sets of desired operating parameters, each such set including at least one parameter related to a temperature produced by said heating means and at least one other parameter related to a cooking time for said product; means for storing said sets of parameters; means for retrieving a selectable one of said set of parameters upon request of said user; and means for controlling at least said heating means and said transporting means according to said retrieved set of parameters. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A control device for an oven having a cooking region and means for transporting a product through said cooking region, said control device comprising:
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means for receiving from a user a desired cooking time selection; means responsive said desired cooking time selection for controlling said product transport means to maintain the product within said cooking region for a time substantially equal to said cooking time selection; said operating speed controlling means having; means for measuring the operating speed of said product transport means; means for supplying motive energy to said product transport means; and means responsive to said operating speed measurement means and said desired cooking time selection for adjusting the amount of said motive energy supplied to said product transport means to produce a cooking time closely approximating said desired cooking time selection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification