Abstract: A steamer for sandwich buns, bagels, croissants, cakes, vegetables, pastas, and other foods delivers fixed amounts of water onto a hot, dry platen through a vertically-oriented water conduit which is also thermally insulated from the hot platen and made from thermally insulating materials. The vertically-oriented water conduit retains water after a water supply is shut off at the beginning or end of a steam generating cycle. Orienting the conduit vertically reduces the surface area of liquid water exposed to air. Insulating the water conduit from the hot platen reduces the rate at which water standing in the conduit evaporates. Tubes used in the water conduit are insulating and easily removed from the water conduit assembly and flexible. Minerals that precipitate out of solution and become deposited onto the flexible tube are easily removed by flexing the flexible tube.

Abstract: A dispenser for viscous liquids effectuates sequential operations by hydrostatic pressure on an assembly of two pistons separated from each other in a cylinder by a separation spring. When the piston assembly is embedded in material to be dispensed, the space between the pistons fills with material to be dispensed. Pressuring the reservoir by squeezing it or by the addition of pressurized gas, forces the piston assembly down the cylinder at the end of which is an opening from which material in the piston assembly can escape. One of the pistons moves toward the other end by pressure from the reservoir, causing material in the piston assembly to be dispensed. The volume inside the piston assembly defines and limits the volume of material that can be dispensed.

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: A spatula (200, 700, 900) has a platform (201, 701, 901) having an opening bounded by a food support (205, 217, 221, 223). At least a part of the food support (205, 217, 221, 223) supports a food product, such as a bread product, for steaming or toasting. An optional guide (209, 609, 909) is disposed on one side of the platform (201, 701, 901). The guide (209, 609, 909) is configured to align the food product with a package (501) arranged and sized to contain at least the food product. The platform (201, 701, 901) optionally has one or more segments (703, 705) that rotate away from the platform (201, 701, 901).

Abstract: A steamer for sandwich buns, bagels, croissants, cakes, vegetables, pastas, and other foods delivers fixed amounts of water onto a hot, dry platen through a vertically-oriented water conduit which is also thermally insulated from the hot platen and made from thermally insulating materials. The vertically-oriented water conduit retains water after a water supply is shut off at the beginning or end of a steam generating cycle. Orienting the conduit vertically reduces the surface area of liquid water exposed to air. Insulating the water conduit from the hot platen reduces the rate at which water standing in the conduit evaporates. Tubes used in the water conduit are insulating and easily removed from the water conduit assembly and flexible. Minerals that precipitate out of solution and become deposited onto the flexible tube are easily removed by flexing the flexible tube.

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.