Combination high speed infrared and convection conveyor oven and method of using
First Claim
1. A conveyorized oven for heating food products comprising:
- a cavity having a first continuous access opening and a second continuous access opening;
a convection heating source, the convection heating source including a heating element, a blower, and a plenum in communication with the cavity, the convection heating source providing heated air to the cavity;
an upper radiant energy heating source in communication with the cavity, the upper radiant energy heating source including an infrared light source and at least one reflector providing radiant energy to the cavity;
a lower radiant energy heating source in communication with the cavity, the lower radiant energy heating source providing radiant energy to the cavity; and
a conveyor system for transporting food products through the first continuous access opening, the cavity, and the second continuous access opening at a rate of speed sufficient to allow the food products to be heated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a broad aspect, the invention is a conveyorized oven for heating food products comprising: a cavity having two continuous access openings; a convection heating source, the convection heating source including a heating element, a blower, and a plenum in communication with the cavity, the convection heating source providing heated air to the cavity; an upper radiant energy heating source in communication with the cavity, the upper radiant energy heating source including an infrared light source and at least one reflector providing radiant energy to the cavity; a lower radiant energy heating source in communication with the cavity, the lower radiant energy heating source providing radiant energy to the cavity; and a conveyor system for transporting food products through the first continuous access opening, the cavity, and the second continuous access opening at a rate of speed sufficient to allow the food products to be heated.
129 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A conveyorized oven for heating food products comprising:
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a cavity having a first continuous access opening and a second continuous access opening;
a convection heating source, the convection heating source including a heating element, a blower, and a plenum in communication with the cavity, the convection heating source providing heated air to the cavity;
an upper radiant energy heating source in communication with the cavity, the upper radiant energy heating source including an infrared light source and at least one reflector providing radiant energy to the cavity;
a lower radiant energy heating source in communication with the cavity, the lower radiant energy heating source providing radiant energy to the cavity; and
a conveyor system for transporting food products through the first continuous access opening, the cavity, and the second continuous access opening at a rate of speed sufficient to allow the food products to be heated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for heating food products comprising the steps of:
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providing a food product;
applying convection heat to the food product in a cavity for an amount of time sufficient to partially heat the food product, wherein the convection heat is provided to the cavity by a convection heat source, the convection heating source including a heating element, a blower, and a plenum in communication with the cavity; and
applying radiant heat to the food product in the cavity for an amount of time sufficient to completely heat the food item, wherein the radiant heat is provided to the cavity by two radiant energy heating sources in communication with the cavity, one radiant energy heating source applying radiant heat in a downward direction and the other radiant energy heating source applying radiant heat in an upward direction. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method for heating food products comprising the steps of:
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providing a food product;
providing a conveyorized oven, the conveyorized oven including a cavity having first and second continuous access openings, a convection heating source, an upper radiant energy heating source, a lower radiant energy heating source, and a conveyor belt and a conveyor motor for moving the conveyor belt through the first continuous access opening, the cavity, and the second continuous access opening;
transporting the food product on the conveyor belt through the first continuous access opening into the cavity;
applying only convection heat to the food product in the cavity, the convection heat provided to the cavity by a convection heat source in communication with the cavity;
applying radiant energy to the food product in the cavity, the radiant heat provided to the cavity by an upper radiant energy heating source and a lower radiant energy heating source in communication with the cavity; and
transporting the food product on the conveyor belt through the second continuous access opening out of the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification