Abstract: An apparatus for baking a dough-type product includes an oven having an enclosure, a product supporting conveyor in the enclosure, burners positioned to heat the product, and an integrally associated emissions control device for controlling emissions emanating from the product while baking. A recirculating system for controllably directing air from the oven to and from the emissions control device is integrated into or with the oven, and preferably positioned in the oven enclosure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a baked starch-based corn product. The method involves mixing masa flour and water and incompletely cooking the mixture during a precooking step, preferably during mixing of the ingredients. The incompletely cooked masa is sheeted and cut into shapes. The shapes are steamed, baked, and then dried. The steaming and baking steps advance the cooking of the masa constituents incompletely cooked during the mixing stage, resulting in an improved texture, bite, and shipping characteristic.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a quantity-metering device includes a housing and spray nozzles for dispensing fluid onto the feed rollers of the quantity-metering device and collecting the fluid together with media which is removed from said feed rollers. The cleaning apparatus includes manifolds which carry the nozzles. The cleaning apparatus is inserted in a location vacated by a component of said quantity-metering device.

Abstract: Means for supporting and driving agitators in commercial food mixers and the like as disclosed herein include structure for mounting and supporting the agitator(s) separately from the structure which rotatably supports the mixing bowl. The mixing bowl has a pair of spaced ends and is rotatably supported by trunnions fixed to such spaced ends and extending outwardly therefrom toward adjacent support frame members which have journals for rotatably cooperating with such trunnions to thereby support the mixing bowl. The agitator for the mixer is journaled in the spaced ends of the mixing bowl, such that the weight of the mixing bowl and the mix therein is not imparted to the agitator shaft. Preferably, th agitator is rotatably driven by drive-transmission means including drive gears disposed outside the mixing bowl and outboard of the support frame members but generally in alignment with the agitator shaft, and flexible drive means (e.g.