Abstract: A wire mesh burner plate for use in large, gas burners for large ovens is comprised of spaced-apart wire mesh plates. The spacing between the wire mesh plates defines an air/fuel mixture space. The fuel passes through the lower or first mesh, experiences a pressure drop, mixes with air and passes through a second wire mesh. The gas combusts after passing through the second wire mesh. The fine gauge of the mesh prevents combustion from flowing backwardly into the fuel/air mixture space. Several individual wire mesh burner plates can be flexibly attached to each other such that a very wide space can be covered. Thermal stresses are reduced by being distributed across multiple burners.

Abstract: Cooking food in a hybrid conveyor with both electric and gas-fired infrared heaters. The heat output from the gas fired infrared heater is controlled by cycling or pulsing the gas supply to one or more burners that emit infrared heat by heating a nichrome screen wire. The electric power supplied to electrically powered heaters is also controlled.

Abstract: A conveyor oven is provided with both electric and gas-fired infrared heaters. The heat output from the gas fired infrared heater is controlled by cycling or pulsing the gas supply to one or more burners that emit infrared heat by heating a nichrome screen wire.

Abstract: A wire mesh burner plate for use in large, gas burners for large ovens is comprised of spaced-apart wire mesh plates. The spacing between the wire mesh plates defines an air/fuel mixture space. The fuel passes through the lower or first mesh, experiences a pressure drop, mixes with air and passes through a second wire mesh. The gas combusts after passing through the second wire mesh. The fine gauge of the mesh prevents combustion from flowing backwardly into the fuel/air mixture space. Several individual wire mesh burner plates can be flexibly attached to each other such that a very wide space can be covered. Thermal stresses are reduced by being distributed across multiple burners.

Abstract: A wire mesh burner plate for use in large, gas burners for large ovens is comprised of spaced-apart wire mesh plates. The spacing between the wire mesh plates defines an air/fuel mixture space. The fuel passes through the lower or first mesh, experiences a pressure drop, mixes with air and passes through a second wire mesh. The gas combusts after passing through the second wire mesh. The fine gauge of the mesh prevents combustion from flowing backwardly into the fuel/air mixture space. Several individual wire mesh burner plates can be flexibly attached to each other such that a very wide space can be covered. Thermal stresses are reduced by being distributed across multiple burners.

Abstract: Multiple top-mounted heaters and at least one bottom heater define multiple heating/cooking zones in a conveyor oven. The top-mounted heaters output different energy levels and thereby define heating/cooking zones whereat foods are cooked differently. By using multiple bottom-mounted heaters, thermal separation of the heating zones can be further enhanced. Liquids, such as air, water, oil or a combination of all three can be sprayed onto foods during the cooking process to control cooking.

Abstract: Cooking food in a hybrid conveyor with both electric and gas-fired infrared heaters. The heat output from the gas fired infrared heater is controlled by cycling or pulsing the gas supply to one or more burners that emit infrared heat by heating a nichrome screen wire. The electric power supplied to electrically powered heaters is also controlled.

Abstract: A conveyor oven is provided with both electric and gas-fired infrared heaters. The heat output from the gas fired infrared heater is controlled by cycling or pulsing the gas supply to one or more burners that emit infrared heat by heating a nichrome screen wire.

Abstract: A gas burner for an infrared oven provides fast and controllable infrared energy, the emitted spectrum of which varies continuously over a wide spectrum. The burner is assembled from an elongated fuel distribution chamber having an open top and into which a gaseous fuel and combustion air is introduced. As the fuel mixture is delivered into the fuel distribution chamber, it eventually fills the chamber and thereafter flow through a double-layer wire mesh burner plate set over the fuel distribution chamber. The fuel combusts above the wire mesh burner plates to heat a screen wire above the burner plates. The screen wire is heated to a temperature at which the screen wire emits IR. The emitted IR wavelength can be controlled by controlling the gas supply to turn the combustion on and off according to the amount of IR heated needed.

Abstract: A wire mesh burner plate for use in large, gas burners for large ovens is comprised of spaced-apart wire mesh plates. The spacing between the wire mesh plates defines an air/fuel mixture space. The fuel passes through the lower or first mesh, experiences a pressure drop, mixes with air and passes through a second wire mesh. The gas combusts after passing through the second wire mesh. The fine gauge of the mesh prevents combustion from flowing backwardly into the fuel/air mixture space. Several individual wire mesh burner plates can be flexibly attached to each other such that a very wide space can be covered. Thermal stresses are reduced by being distributed across multiple burners.

Abstract: Food is heated in an oven using multiple planar, electrically-heated quartz heaters. A variable speed conveyor controls the time that the food is exposed to the infrared energy. A controllable power supply adjusts heat output from the heaters by controlling the duty cycle delivered to the planar quartz heaters.

Abstract: Food is heated in an oven using multiple planar, electrically-heated quartz heaters. A variable speed conveyor controls the time that the food is exposed to the infrared energy. A controllable power supply adjusts heat output from the heaters by controlling the duty cycle delivered to the planar quartz heaters.

Abstract: An automated conveyorized oven includes a radiant heater assembly including a plurality of gas-fired radiant heaters positioned beneath the oven conveyor. Each heater assembly includes radiant heating elements in the form of perforate metallic plates, at the outer surface of which combustion takes place for elevating the temperature of the plates for generating radiant heat. Consistent and reliable operation is promoted by the provision of a control arrangement which acts to preclude flashback combustion upstream of the surface of the metallic heating elements, with the controls being operable to permit sufficient time for the heating elements to cool, after interruption of the gas supply thereto, before gas is resupplied to the heater units.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for heating food products by forced air convection are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a tunnel heater having a tunnel-like cavity through which food products to be heated are conveyed. Air is drawn from within the tunnel cavity by a circulating blower arrangement, with air flow directed against the food products through upper and lower foraminous plates disposed above and below and adjacent to the tunnel cavity. Aerodynamically efficient ducting of the circulating air is provided by scroll-shaped passages positioned in association with the blower arrangement, and venturi-like passages positioned upstream of the foraminous upper and lower plates. A conveyor is provided for automatically advancing food products through the tunnel cavity. Air curtains are provided at either end of conveyor to isolate the cavity so that heating of the food products takes place in an efficient and controlled manner.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for heating food products by forced air convection are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a tunnel heater having a tunnel-like cavity through which food products to be heated are conveyed. Air is drawn from within the tunnel cavity by a circulating blower arrangement, with air flow directed against the food products through upper and lower foraminous plates disposed above and below and adjacent to the tunnel cavity. Aerodynamically efficient ducting of the circulating air is provided by scroll-shaped passages positioned in association with the blower arrangement, and venturi-like passages positioned upstream of the foraminous upper and lower plates. A conveyor is provided for automatically advancing food products through the tunnel cavity, with heating of the food products taking place in an efficient and readily controlled manner.