Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking oven including a contactor, a relay, and a heating element, the contact, the relay, and the heating element in a series-type configuration. The method includes during a first operation, placing the contactor in a closed position, and during the first operation, selectively providing power, via the relay, to the heating element. The method further includes during a second operation, bypassing the relay while the contactor is in the closed position, and during the second operation, providing power to the heating element.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided for setting a peak operating power level for an oven having an oven compartment, a user interface, and a controller having a memory with a maximum peak operating power level stored therein. The method includes the steps of displaying an oven set-up user interface window on the user interface during an initial start-up of the oven; in response to an input for selecting a maximum output for the oven, displaying a maximum output user interface window on the user interface. Further, after input of a peak operating power level, the method stores the peak operating power level in the memory and selectively provides a power control signal to generate heat that corresponds to the peak operating power level. The oven is either an electric oven or gas oven. In operation, the oven heats at the peak operating power level, which is less than the maximum peak operating power level.

Abstract: An oven with a sensor positioned to detect an event that will cause a decrease in the internal temperature of a tunnel. The oven includes a controller configured to increase the thermal output of a heating element in anticipation of the upcoming decrease in the internal temperature. In some embodiments, the oven is a conveyor over and the sensor is positioned to detect a food item approach the tunnel on a conveyor. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to an electric heating element is increased by increasing the target temperature. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to the electric heating element is increased by a predetermined offset.

Abstract: A control circuit for a cooking oven. The control circuit includes a contactor. The contactor has at least one contact and at least one coil. A relay (such as a solid-state relay) is in series connection with the contactor. A heating element is controlled by the relay and is in series connection with the relay and the contactor. The controller also includes a controller. The controller is configured to bypass the relay and to control power to the at least one coil.

Abstract: A control system for a control-compartment cooling fan of an oven. In one embodiment, the control system includes a sensor for sensing an operating condition of a motor of the cooling fan. The operating condition is selected from the group of a motor current and a motor RPM. A controller is communicatively connected to the sensor and is configured to receive the operating condition from the sensor, compare the operating condition to one or more predetermined tolerances and, when the operating condition exceed at least one of the one or more predetermined tolerances, generate an interrupt command. A heating control element is communicatively connected to the controller and configured to interrupt operation of a heating element in response to receiving the interrupt command. The control system may also include a user interface communicatively connected to the controller.

Abstract: An oven with a sensor positioned to detect an event that will cause a decrease in the internal temperature of a tunnel. The oven includes a controller configured to increase the thermal output of a heating element in anticipation of the upcoming decrease in the internal temperature. In some embodiments, the oven is a conveyor over and the sensor is positioned to detect a food item approach the tunnel on a conveyor. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to an electric heating element is increased by increasing the target temperature. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to the electric heating element is increased by a predetermined offset.

Abstract: An oven with a sensor positioned to detect an event that will cause a decrease in the internal temperature of a tunnel. The oven includes a controller configured to increase the thermal output of a heating element in anticipation of the upcoming decrease in the internal temperature. In some embodiments, the oven is a conveyor over and the sensor is positioned to detect a food item approach the tunnel on a conveyor. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to an electric heating element is increased by increasing the target temperature. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to the electric heating element is increased by a predetermined offset.

Abstract: A conveyor oven includes a controller configured to change the operation of a first set of burners and a second set of burners from a cooking mode to an energy saving mode based at least in part upon detection of the absence of food in the oven chamber. The first set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and are off during the energy saving mode. The second set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and being adjustable to a different intensity during the energy saving mode, where the second set of burners produce heat during the different intensity.

Abstract: A conveyor oven according to some embodiments has a first mode and a second mode of operation and includes a tunnel in which food is cooked, a conveyor for moving the food through the tunnel, a first set and a second set of one or more burners, each set configured to generate heat for the tunnel, and a controller responsive to the detection of an absence of food in the tunnel, the controller configured to change operation of the first set of one or more burners and the second set of one or more burners from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based at least in part upon the detection of the absence of food product from the tunnel.

Abstract: An oven with a sensor positioned to detect an event that will cause a decrease in the internal temperature of a tunnel. The oven includes a controller configured to increase the thermal output of a heating element in anticipation of the upcoming decrease in the internal temperature. In some embodiments, the oven is a conveyor over and the sensor is positioned to detect a food item approach the tunnel on a conveyor. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to an electric heating element is increased by increasing the target temperature. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to the electric heating element is increased by a predetermined offset.

Abstract: A conveyor oven includes a controller configured to change the operation of a first set of burners and a second set of burners from a cooking mode to an energy saving mode based at least in part upon detection of the absence of food in the oven chamber. The first set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and are off during the energy saving mode. The second set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and being adjustable to a different intensity during the energy saving mode, where the second set of burners produce heat during the different intensity.

Abstract: A system and method to control the power supplied to heating elements of a conveyor oven. The conveyor oven includes a plurality of heating elements to evenly distribute heat in an oven compartment. During peak-loads, the current draw of the heating elements may exceed available power of a power supply. Therefore, a system and method to reduce the total current draw of the plurality of heating elements is provided. The system includes a controller configured to perform the methods disclosed herein. The methods effectively lower the total current draw by rapidly cycling a plurality of relays connected to each of the plurality of heating elements to achieve even distribution of heat and reduced current draw during peak-loads.

Abstract: A conveyor oven includes a controller configured to change the operation of a first set of burners and a second set of burners from a cooking mode to an energy saving mode based at least in part upon detection of the absence of food in the oven chamber. The first set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and are off during the energy saving mode. The second set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and being adjustable to a different intensity during the energy saving mode, where the second set of burners produce heat during the different intensity.

Abstract: A convection oven system. The convection oven system including a cooking chamber, a heat source for generating heated air to be provided to the cooking chamber, a centrifugal blower in airflow communication with the heat source, an air distribution housing in airflow communication with the centrifugal blower, the air distribution housing having a plurality of outlets, and at least one heat distribution finger in airflow communication with the plurality of outlets of the air distribution housing. The heated air generated by the heat source is forced by the centrifugal blower through the outlets of the air distribution housing into the at least one finger for distribution into the cooking chamber.

Abstract: A control circuit for a cooking oven. The control circuit includes a contactor. The contactor has at least one contact and at least one coil. A relay (such as a solid-state relay) is in series connection with the contactor. A heating element is controlled by the relay and is in series connection with the relay and the contactor. The controller also includes a controller. The controller is configured to bypass the relay and to control power to the at least one coil.

Abstract: A conveyor oven includes a controller configured to change the operation of a first set of burners and a second set of burners from a cooking mode to an energy saving mode based at least in part upon detection of the absence of food in the oven chamber. The first set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and are off during the energy saving mode. The second set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and being adjustable to a different intensity during the energy saving mode, where the second set of burners produce heat during the different intensity.

Abstract: A conveyor oven according to some embodiments has a first mode and a second mode of operation and includes a tunnel in which food is cooked, a conveyor for moving the food through the tunnel, a first set and a second set of one or more burners, each set configured to generate heat for the tunnel, and a controller responsive to the detection of an absence of food in the tunnel, the controller configured to change operation of the first set of one or more burners and the second set of one or more burners from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based at least in part upon the detection of the absence of food product from the tunnel.

Abstract: A conveyor oven includes a controller configured to change the operation of a first set of burners and a second set of burners from a cooking mode to an energy saving mode based at least in part upon detection of the absence of food in the oven chamber. The first set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and are off during the energy saving mode. The second set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and being adjustable to a different intensity during the energy saving mode, where the second set of burners produce heat during the different intensity.

Abstract: A conveyor oven according to some embodiments has a first mode and a second mode of operation and includes a tunnel in which food is cooked, a conveyor for moving the food through the tunnel, a first set and a second set of one or more burners, each set configured to generate heat for the tunnel, and a controller responsive to the detection of an absence of food in the tunnel, the controller configured to change operation of the first set of one or more burners and the second set of one or more burners from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based at least in part upon the detection of the absence of food product from the tunnel.

Abstract: A convection oven system. The convection oven system including a cooking chamber, a heat source for generating heated air to be provided to the cooking chamber, a centrifugal blower in airflow communication with the heat source, an air distribution housing in airflow communication with the centrifugal blower, the air distribution housing having a plurality of outlets, and at least one heat distribution finger in airflow communication with the plurality of outlets of the air distribution housing. The heated air generated by the heat source is forced by the centrifugal blower through the outlets of the air distribution housing into the at least one finger for distribution into the cooking chamber.