Abstract: An infrared tunnel oven includes one or more oven tiers each having a horizontal cooking tunnel with entrance and exit at opposite ends, the tier(s) being supported by a base. Each tunnel is divided along its length into multiple heating zones. The roof and hearth surfaces of each tunnel are heated by electrical heating panels for direct IR emission from the roof and hearth for direct absorption by food products conveyed through the tunnel by a continuous speed-controllable conveyor. Microprocessor-controlled circuitry monitors, by a thermocouple arrangment, the temperature of the roof and hearth in each zone, controlling the electric heating panels to maintain preselected roof and hearth temperatures in each such zone. The microprocessor also controls the conveyor speed for conveying of products along the length of the tunnel within a preselected cooking time. User selection of temperatures in the different zones and cooking time, as well as other functions, is provided by keypad entry.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a heat shrinkable package with a frangible access panel therein defined by perforations disposed in the heat shrinkable package. A novelty of the method and apparatus resides in the perforation of the heat shrinkable material prior to passing the package through a heat shrink oven. The package is oriented on a conveyor with the perforations adjacent to the conveyor, enabling the perforated portion of the package to be subjected to less heat than the remainder of the package, enabling formation of the heat shrink package without severing the perforations defining the access panel.

Abstract: An infrared tunnel oven includes one or more oven tiers each having a horizontal cooking tunnel with entrance and exit at opposite ends, the tier(s) being supported by a base. Each tunnel is divided along its length into multiple heating zones. The roof and hearth surfaces of each tunnel are heated by electrical heating panels for direct IR emission from the roof and hearth for direct absorption by food products conveyed through the tunnel by a continuous speed-controllable conveyor. Microprocessor-controlled circuitry monitors, by a thermocouple arrangement, the temperature of the roof and hearth in each zone, controlling the electric heating panels to maintain preselected roof and hearth temperatures in each such zone. The microprocessor also controls the conveyor speed for conveying of products along the length of the tunnel within a preselected cooking time. User selection of temperatures in the different zones and cooking time, as well as other functions, is provided by keypad entry.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for transferring articles between adjacent conveyors. The apparatus includes a first conveyor for conveying articles therealong. A pushing device includes a pair of spaced plates that are disposed in the same plane. The plates move transversely relative to the articles supported by the first conveyor. A pair of gripping arms move to a first position to grasp the laterally pushed articles. The gripping arms together with the grasped articles are moved laterally and away from the direction of movement of the articles along the first conveyor. The gripping arms are moved to a second position in which the articles are released onto a second conveyor disposed adjacent to and laterally relative the first conveyor. The apparatus has particular utility relative to the stabilization of packaged articles during transit through a wrapping and sealing station prior to heat shrinkage.

Abstract: An oven-broiler includes modular units each having a tunnel-form cooking chamber formed by a tubular inner member, a heating arrangement extending around at least portions of the inner member for heating same to predetermined temperatures for emission of infrared radiant energy into the chamber for heating of products conveyed therein from one end to the other. The heating arrangement is either electrically energized, thermostatically controlled panels or a gas combustion chamber. The heating arrangement and tubular inner member are enclosed by a tubular outer member supported by a caster-equipped base. Such a modular unit is joinable into a multiple-unit oven of various possible lengths by securement of flanges at opposite ends.

Abstract: An oven-broiler of the humpback type includes a tunnel-form cooking chamber and a conveyor extending through it for conveying food products through the chamber for cooking of the products by emission of infrared radiation form the walls of the tunnel. An entrance and an exit are located at opposite ends of the chamber for continuous ingress and egress of the food products, with both entrance and exit being at a level lower than the chamber floor for causing the chamber to entrap a heated, oxygen-starved atmosphere in which flaming of the food products cannot freely occur. An elongated aperture extends along the bottom of the chamber for communication between the chamber and the external atmosphere. A control body, which may take one of different forms such as tubular, plate-form, or perforate, extends along the length of the aperture for controlling communication through the aperture.

Abstract: A tunnel oven-broiler wherein food products of ordinarily flame-producing character such as steaks, chops or other greasy meats prone to burn or produce flame are broiled in a flame-controlled manner. In a tubular, tunnel-form heating chamber with a conveyor food products are broiled by direct infrared emission from the interior chamber surfaces, heated to a predetermined emission temperature which is maintained by direct, intimate temperature probe contact with the exterior surface of the tubular chamber surrounded by electrical heating panel elements. An outer tubular member surrounds the heating element. Downwardly angled end sections extend from opposite ends of the oven to define the entrance and exit to the chamber. The entrance and exit are open at all times except when plugged during self-cleaning and are lower than the heating chamber to provide an oxygen-starved atmosphere therein having a slight overpressure for suppressing flaming or flaring during broiling.

Abstract: A method of flameless broiling or baking in a tunnel oven of greasy meat products, which method comprises the steps of heating the interior tunnel surfaces of the tunnel oven to provide for cooking of the meat products in the tunnel oven by infrared radiant energy emitted directly from the surfaces, entrapping a substantially quiescent, oxygen-starved heated tunnel atmosphere having a slight overpressure within the tunnel oven, conveying the meat products through the tunnel atmosphere within the tunnel oven by first carrying the meat products upwardly at an angle inclined to the horizontal through an open entrance of the tunnel oven and into the atmosphere, carrying them along the length of the tunnel oven within the tunnel atmosphere while heating the meat products by the emission of infrared radiation directly from the interior tunnel surfaces resulting from the heating thereof, and subsequently conveying them downwardly at an angle inclined to the horizontal out of the tunnel atmosphere through an open exi

Abstract: An open hearth oven having an opening at the front thereof is provided with a shield arrangement for shielding against escape through the oven opening of infrared radiation emitted by radiating elements within the oven chamber. The shielding structure permits the introduction of objects into the oven chamber for being heated therein by infrared radiation while reflecting radiation back into the oven chamber. The shielding is configured and positioned for allowing introduction and removal of the objects without movement or removal of the shielding. Yet it is swingably mounted for being swung upwardly to a retracted position for facilitating access to the oven chamber through the opening. The shielding may be lowered in the retracted position but is selectively released to swing to the radiation blocking position as by use of a peel, such as utilized for handling of food products. The shielding is also readily removable from the oven, such as for cleaning.

Abstract: Comingled particles, such as nut meats and shell fragments, are segregated by directing the particles one after the other onto a sounding plate, from which they deflect into a rebound trajectory. Each particle upon striking the plate imparts ultrasonic vibrations to the plate, and these vibrations are converted by a transducer into an electrical input signal that oscillates at the frequency of the vibrations and undergoes corresponding changes in amplitude. After amplifying the input signal and filtering low frequency signals from it, a comparator converts those original oscillations which exceed a predetermined threshold amplitude into voltage pulses that are counted in a counter. If the count exceeds a minimum set into the counter, the counter produces a signal itself. This signal initiates an output signal of predetermined duration, which after undergoing a delay, operates an air valve that is connected with an air nozzle located along the rebound trajectory.

Abstract: A refrigeration system including multiple parallel compressors for maintaining evaporator suction pressures within preselected ranges, said compressors being sequentially and cyclically operative through control switch means responsive to preselected upper and lower refrigerant suction pressures, a fluidic time delay system for operating the pressure responsive switch means comprising restrictor means interposed between the common suction header for the compressors and the pressure responsive switch means therefor to restrict refrigerant fluid flow to the pressure switches upon increases in suction header pressure, and unidirectional flow means for providing unrestricted reduction of the pressure acting on the switch means upon relative decreases in suction header pressure.

Abstract: A container holder for use in refrigerated cabinets have a top plate with an opening to receive a container with refrigerated product to be dispensed, the holder including a bottom support for seating the container and a top retaining ring removably locked into the opening in the top plate, and means for vertically adjusting the bottom support against the top retaining ring to firmly, but removably, secure the container therebetween.