Holding oven

• US 9,907,436 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2013
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Reese, Robert J., Wright, John Edward, Tiberio, Philip, Shei, Steven M., Macy, Ralph Lee, Green, Christopher Seay, Stettes, Gregory Glen, Markwardt, Jeffrey Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISKRA, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US13/968,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20140083309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 126 1 R, 126 19 R, 126 21 R, 126 21 A, 126 38, 126273, 126273 R, 126344, 126369, 99324, 99325, 99447, 99467, 99468, 219200, 219385, 219391, 426510-511, 426523
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 3/04 Air-treatment devices for ovens, e.g. regulating humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/003 with forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/006 for either storing and preparing or for preparing food on serving trays, e.g. heating, thawing, preserving
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/003 moisturising of air
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/327 with air moisturising
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/28 heating conductor embedded in insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/42 non-flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 Disassembling

Abstract

Methods, ovens, and associated apparatus. Ovens and methods are adapted for maintaining the quality of a pre-cooked food product. Rapid temperature and/or relative humidity restoration may be used. Ovens may include a partition movable to vary sizes of oven cavities. Ovens may include removable interior panels. Humidification mechanisms are adapted for generating water vapor which may be used to maintain the quality of a pre-cooked food product.

Claims

1. An oven comprising:

a food receiving space for receiving food; and

a humidifying mechanism for increasing humidity in the food receiving space, the humidifying mechanism including

a rotor having a flexible surface, the rotor being configured for rotating about an axis of rotation, the flexible surface being deformable for breakup of mineral deposits on the flexible surface, and

a water-delivery mechanism including a water line having a first end, a second end, and a length extending from the first end to the second end, the water-delivery mechanism being configured for delivering water to the flexible surface of the rotor,

wherein the flexible surface has an at rest configuration when the rotor is not rotating and the rotor is configured such that the flexible surface deforms relative to the at rest configuration when the rotor rotates about the axis of rotation; and

wherein the flexible surface includes first and second portions, the first portion being positioned a first distance from the axis of rotation and the second portion being positioned a second greater distance from the axis of rotation, and wherein the flexible surface is configured such that the second portion sags with respect to the first portion when the rotor is in the at rest configuration and sag of the second portion with respect to the first portion decreases when the rotor is rotated.

2. The oven as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotor is configured such that the flexible surface flexes relative to the at rest configuration when the rotor is rotating.

3. The oven as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flexible surface is configured to elongate in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation when the rotor is rotated.

4. The oven as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotor has a thickness in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation, and the rotor is configured to decrease in thickness when the rotor is rotated.

5. The oven as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotor comprises a rotor body having the flexible surface, the rotor body comprising flexible material.

6. The oven as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotor comprises a rotor body having the flexible surface, the rotor body comprising elastomeric material.

7. The oven as set forth in claim 1 wherein the oven includes a blower configured for forcing gas into the food receiving space, the rotor being separate from and not mounted on the blower.

8. The oven as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotor is mounted in a receptacle, the receptacle including a side wall surrounding the rotor.

9. The oven as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a heating element configured for heating the receptacle for vaporizing the water delivered to the flexible surface of the rotor.

14. The oven as set forth in claim 5 wherein the rotor body has a generally disc shape.

15. The oven as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotor comprises a rotor body having a face facing generally parallel with the axis of rotation, the face including said flexible surface.

17. The oven as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flexible surface is configured to deform automatically when the rotor is rotated about the axis of rotation.

10. A method for increasing humidity in a food receiving space of an oven, the method comprising:

delivering water to a flexible surface of a rotor,

rotating the rotor about an axis of rotation,

heating the water to change the water to water vapor, and

deforming the flexible surface to breakup mineral deposits on the flexible surface,

wherein the flexible surface has an at rest configuration when the rotor is not rotating, and wherein rotating the rotor causes the flexible surface of the rotor to deform relative to the at rest configuration,

wherein a peripheral portion of the flexible surface saps with respect to a central portion of the flexible surface when the rotor is not rotating and the sag decreases when the rotor rotates.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein rotating the rotor about the axis of rotation moves the water away from the axis of rotation before the water changes to water vapor.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein rotating the rotor about the axis of rotation causes the water delivered to the flexible surface to move away from the axis of rotation toward a heated wall surrounding the flexible rotor for changing the water to water vapor, the heated wall being different from a blower wheel of the oven.

13. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the axis of rotation is a first axis of rotation and the method further comprises rotating a blower about a second axis of rotation different than the first axis of rotation for moving the water vapor into the food receiving space.

18. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein deforming the flexible surface comprises deforming the flexible surface in a direction in which the axis of rotation extends.

16. An oven comprising:

a food receiving space for receiving food; and

a humidifying mechanism for increasing humidity in the food receiving space, the humidifying mechanism including

a rotor having a flexible surface, the rotor being configured for rotating about an axis of rotation, the flexible surface being deformable for breakup of mineral deposits on the flexible surface, and

a water-delivery mechanism including a water line having a first end, a second end, and a length extending from the first end to the second end, the water-delivery mechanism being configured for delivering water to the flexible surface of the rotor,

wherein the rotor comprises a rotor body having a face facing generally parallel with the axis of rotation, the face including said flexible surface,

wherein the rotor body is foldable without irreversibly deforming the rotor body.