Patents by Inventor Carlos Bacigalupe
Carlos Bacigalupe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8042533Abstract: A convection heating apparatus capable of providing effective, high speed cooking without the assistance of microwave energy. The oven apparatus includes an exterior cabinet, a door, and a cooking chamber having interior side walls, a back wall, and a lower jet plate. The oven further includes a blower for circulating gas through the lower jet plate into the cooking chamber. In addition, the oven includes a product support disposed within the cooking chamber above said lower jet plate. The product support is disposed on a rail that is positioned to hold the lower jet plate in place when air is circulated therethrough. Optionally, the oven further includes an upper jet plate disposed within the cooking chamber above the product support. Temperature controlled gas is circulated through the upper jet plate toward the product support and any food product disposed on the product support.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Dobie, Carlos Bacigalupe, Russell Rose
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Patent number: 7956304Abstract: A combination switch is provided for a high-speed oven, the oven having a door. The combination switch has a rotatable cam (40) that is rotated when the door of the oven is moved between a closed position and an open position. The cam (40) has at least one lobe (50, 52) for engaging at least one safety-switch (44, 46) for actuation by the at least one lobe of the cam as the cam rotates. The at least one safety switch controls operation of at least a portion of the oven. A locking latch (48) is selectively moveable between an engaged position, in which the latch engages the cam (40) to limit rotation of the cam and thereby prevent opening of the door, and a disengaged position, in which the latch (48) does not engage the cam (40) and thereby allows opening of the door.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2006Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Carlos Bacigalupe, Michael J. Dobie
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Publication number: 20080257700Abstract: A combination switch is provided for a high-speed oven, the oven having a door. The combination switch has a rotatable cam (40) that is rotated when the door of the oven is moved between a closed position and an open position. The cam (40) has at least one lobe (50, 52) for engaging at least one safety-switch (44, 46) for actuation by the at least one lobe of the cam as the cam rotates. The at least one safety switch controls operation of at least a portion of the oven. A locking latch (48) is selectively moveable between an engaged position, in which the latch engages the cam (40) to limit rotation of the cam and thereby prevent opening of the door, and a disengaged position, in which the latch (48) does not engage the cam (40) and thereby allows opening of the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2006Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventors: Carlos Bacigalupe, Michael J. Dobie
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Publication number: 20070295322Abstract: A convection heating apparatus capable of providing effective, high speed cooking without the assistance of microwave energy. The oven apparatus includes an exterior cabinet, a door, and a cooking chamber having interior side walls, a back wall, and a lower jet plate. The oven further includes a blower for circulating gas through the lower jet plate into the cooking chamber. In addition, the oven includes a product support disposed within the cooking chamber above said lower jet plate. The product support is disposed on a rail that is positioned to hold the lower jet plate in place when air is circulated therethrough. Optionally, the oven further includes an upper jet plate disposed within the cooking chamber above the product support. Temperature controlled gas is circulated through the upper jet plate toward the product support and any food product disposed on the product support.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2005Publication date: December 27, 2007Inventors: Michael Dobie, Carlos Bacigalupe, Russell Rose
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Patent number: 7087872Abstract: An oven, is provided that includes multiple heat transfer means, including convection and microwave heat transfer means. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a blower and at least a shelf disposed within the cooking chamber. The shelf is designed to act as a food support as well as a conduit through which heated air passes into the cooking chamber. The microwave heating means comprises a microwave source and wave guide through which microwaves travel. The wave guide includes a plurality of openings through which microwaves can pass into said cooking chamber. In the preferred embodiment, the openings in the wave guide are positioned to correspond with the predetermined minima or maxima for the microwave wavelength propagating within the wave guide. An electric heating element may also be disposed within the cooking chamber to provide an alternative heating source.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2000Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Enersyst Development Center, L.L.C.Inventors: Michael J. Dobie, John Robert Norris, Neal S. Cooper, Carlos Bacigalupe, Robert W. Foreman
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Patent number: 4941819Abstract: An oven (20) includes an oven enclosure (24) having a conveyor (40) mounted therein for transporting food products through the oven. A plurality of ribbon burners (100) are mounted within the oven interior (32) adjacent the path of the conveyor to heat the interior of the oven. Heated gases generated by operation of the ribbon burners are received through inlet plenums (140) under operation of a circulation fan (146) and are discharged through discharge tubes (154) extending adjacent portions of the conveyor (40) remote from the locations of the ribbon burners (100). Exhaust gases are removed from the oven interior through discharge ports (180) by exhaust blower assemblies (184) which are operated to remove exhaust gases from the oven interior at a rate proportional to the flow rate of combustion air and gaseous fuel into the ribbon burners.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1989Date of Patent: July 17, 1990Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.Inventors: G. Wayne Stewart, Bill E. Davis, William M. Thomas, Michael J. Dobie, Carlos Bacigalupe
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Patent number: 4882981Abstract: A conveyor system (28-30) includes a track (110) and a conveyor chain (70) for movement along the track. The conveyor chain comprises a plurality of identical links (72) each including a first connection member (74), spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending plates (76) and a second connection member (78). The plates are connected to the connection members for pivotal movement about vertical axes, and the connection member of adjacent links are connected to each other for pivotal movement about horizontal axes thereby accommodating horizontal and vertical flexure of the conveyor chain. The conveyor chain (70) is actuated by a drive mechanism (180) including a drive chain (198) and chain engaging members (206) carried thereby which engage the conveyor chain along an arc having a substantial radius, thereby propelling the conveyor chain through the track (110) without subjecting the conveyor chain to periods of high acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1988Date of Patent: November 28, 1989Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.Inventors: Carlos Bacigalupe, Michael J. Dobie
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Patent number: 4846647Abstract: A method of providing an air circulation and exhaust control system for an oven (20) includes an oven enclosure (24) having a conveyor (40) mounted therein for transporting food products through the oven. A plurality of ribbon burners (100) are mounted within the oven interior (32) adjacent the path of the conveyor to heat the interior of the oven. Heated gases generated by operation of the ribbon burners are received through inlet plenums (140) under operation of a circulation fan (146) and are discharged through discharge tubes (154) extending adjacent portions of the conveyor (40) remote from the locations of the ribbon burners (100). Exhaust gases are removed from the oven interior through discharge ports (180) by exhaust blower assemblies (184) which are operated to remove exhaust gases from the oven interior at a rate proportional to the flow rate of combustion air and gaseous fuel into the ribbon burners.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1988Date of Patent: July 11, 1989Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.Inventors: G. Wayne Stewart, Bill E. Davis, William M. Thomas, Michael J. Dobie, Carlos Bacigalupe
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Patent number: 4792303Abstract: An oven (20) includes an oven enclosure (24) having a conveyor (40) mounted therein for transporting food products through the oven. A plurality of ribbon burners (100) are mounted within the oven interior (32) adjacent the path of the conveyor to heat the interior of the oven. Heated gases generated by operation of the ribbon burners are received through inlet plenums (140) under operation of a circulation fan (146) and are discharged through discharge tubes (154) extending adjacent portions of the conveyor (40) remote from the locations of the ribbon burners (100). Exhaust gases are removed from the oven interior through discharge ports (180) by exhaust blower assemblies (184) which are operated to remove exhaust gases from the oven interior at a rate proportional to the flow rate of combustion air and gaseous fuel into the ribbon burners.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1987Date of Patent: December 20, 1988Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.Inventors: G. Wayne Stewart, Bill E. Davis, William M. Thomas, Michael J. Dobie, Carlos Bacigalupe
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Patent number: 4787842Abstract: An oven (20) includes an oven enclosure (24) having a conveyor (40) mounted therein for transporting food products through the oven. A plurality of ribbon burners (100) are mounted within the oven interior (32) adjacent the path of the conveyor to heat the interior of the oven. Heated gases generated by operation of the ribbon burners are received through inlet plenums (140) under operation of a circulation fan (146) and are discharged through discharge tubes (154) extending adjacent portions of the conveyor (40) remote from the locations of the ribbon burners (100). Exhaust gases are removed from the oven interior through discharge ports (180) by exhaust blower assemblies (184) which are operated to remove exhaust gases from the oven interior at a rate proportional to the flow rate of combustion air and gaseous fuel into the ribbon burners.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1987Date of Patent: November 29, 1988Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.Inventors: G. Wayne Stewart, Bill E. Davis, William M. Thomas, Michael J. Dobie, Carlos Bacigalupe
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Patent number: 4760911Abstract: A conveyor system for use in a continuous proofing and baking apparatus, having a conveyor chain for movement through an elongated track. Each link of the conveyor chain carries a product supporting grid. There is a rocker on each product supporting grid, for securing a bakery pan in engagement with the product supporting grid during movement of the product supporting grid along the track under the action of the conveyor chain. Each rocker has an upwardly extending portion for engaging the bakery pan between a pair of compartments of the bakery pan. In one embodiment of the invention, the rocker has a second upwardly extending portion, one upwardly extending portion being centrally disposed, and the other being offset. Each rocker can pivot in a horizontal plane relative to the product supporting grid. Thus, a baking pan can go around a curve without binding. If a baking pan is large enough to be supported on two successive product supporting grids, the rockers on those grids can be aligned at all times.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1987Date of Patent: August 2, 1988Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.Inventors: Carlos Bacigalupe, Michael J. Dobie
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Patent number: 4729470Abstract: A conveyor system (28-30) includes a track (110) and a conveyor chain (70) for movement along the track. The conveyor chain comprises a plurality of identical links (72) each including a first connection member (74), spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending plates (76) and a second connection member (78). The plates are connected to the connection members for pivotal movement about vertical axes, and the connection member of adjacent links are connected to each other for pivotal movement about horizontal axes thereby accommodating horizontal and vertical flexure of the conveyor chain. The conveyor chain (70) is actuated by a drive mechanism (180) including a drive chain (198) and chain engaging members (206) carried thereby which engage the conveyor chain along an arc having a substantial radius, thereby propelling the conveyor chain through the track (110) without subjecting the conveyor chain to periods of high acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1986Date of Patent: March 8, 1988Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.Inventors: Carlos Bacigalupe, Michael J. Dobie
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Patent number: 4726766Abstract: An oven (20) includes an oven enclosure (24) having a conveyor (40) mounted therein for transporting food products through the oven. A plurality of ribbon burners (100) are mounted within the oven interior (32) adjacent the path of the conveyor to heat the interior of the oven. Heated gases generated by operation of the ribbon burners are received through inlet plenums (140) under operation of a circulation fan (146) and are discharged through discharge tubes (154) extending adajcent portions of the conveyor (40) remote from the locations of the ribbon burners (100). Exhaust gases are removed from the oven interior through discharge ports (180) by exhaust blower assemblies (184) which are operated to remove exhaust gases from the oven interior at a rate proportional to the flow rate of combustion air and gaseous fuel into the ribbon burners.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1986Date of Patent: February 23, 1988Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.Inventors: G. Wayne Stewart, Bill E. Davis, William M. Thomas, Michael J. Dobie, Carlos Bacigalupe