Patents by Inventor Gregory J. Tomko
Gregory J. Tomko 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: 10036558Abstract: A conveyor oven having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided. The conveyor oven generally includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a conveyor movable to convey the food through the oven chamber, a burner to generate heat for the oven chamber, at least one blower to circulate air within the oven chamber, and a controller. The burner has a combustion airflow rate, and operates at a first output during the first mode of operation and at a second output that is greater than the first output during the second mode of operation. The blower operates at a first speed during the first mode of operation and at a second speed that is faster than the first speed during the second mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: The Middleby CorporationInventors: John H. Wiker, Frank Carbonara, Gregory J. Tomko, Michael R. Matthews, Jr., Theodore James Chmiola
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Patent number: 10024548Abstract: A conveyor oven having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided. The conveyor oven generally includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a conveyor moveable to convey the food through the oven chamber, a burner to generate heat for the oven chamber, the burner having a combustion airflow rate, at least one blower to circulate air within the oven chamber, and a controller. The blower operates at a first speed during the first mode of operation and at a second speed that is faster than the first speed during the second mode of operation. The controller is responsive to at least one of a burner output and an internal temperature of the oven chamber, and adjusts the combustion airflow rate based in part on at least one of the burner output and the internal temperature of the oven chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: The Middleby CorporationInventors: John H. Wiker, Frank Carbonara, Gregory J. Tomko, Michael R. Matthews, Jr., Theodore James Chmiola
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Patent number: 8413646Abstract: A self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven is provided. One embodiment of the oven provides a self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven for cooking food products. The oven includes a control system that regulates oven temperature during a pyrolitic, self-cleaning procedure for incinerating contaminants that accumulate inside; a burner for cooking food products and incinerating contaminants; a modulating air and fuel control system arranged for proportionally delivering air and fuel to the burner; a plurality of convection air fingers for directing heated air toward the food products; a collapsible conveyor, capable of fitting into the oven when collapsed, for passing the food products through the oven; a plurality of blowers, each having a dedicated speed controller; a floating cooking chamber; and a vent system that maintains a negative pressure in the oven during the self-cleaning procedure.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Middleby CorporationInventors: John H. Wiker, Frank Carbonara, Gregory J. Tomko, Michael R. Matthews, Jr., Theodore James Chmiola
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Publication number: 20130000628Abstract: A conveyor oven having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided. The conveyor oven generally includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a conveyor moveable to convey the food through the oven chamber, a burner to generate heat for the oven chamber, the burner having a combustion airflow rate, at least one blower to circulate air within the oven chamber, and a controller. The blower operates at a first speed during the first mode of operation and at a second speed that is faster than the first speed during the second mode of operation. The controller is responsive to at least one of a burner output and an internal temperature of the oven chamber, and adjusts the combustion airflow rate based in part on at least one of the burner output and the internal temperature of the oven chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: John H. Wiker, Frank Carbonara, Gregory J. Tomko, Michael R. Matthews, JR., Theodore James Chmiola
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Publication number: 20090223503Abstract: A self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven is provided. One embodiment of the oven provides a self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven for cooking food products. The oven includes a control system that regulates oven temperature during a pyrolitic, self-cleaning procedure for incinerating contaminants that accumulate inside; a burner for cooking food products and incinerating contaminants; a modulating air and fuel control system arranged for proportionally delivering air and fuel to the burner; a plurality of convection air fingers for directing heated air toward the food products; a collapsible conveyor, capable of fitting into the oven when collapsed, for passing the food products through the oven; a plurality of blowers, each having a dedicated speed controller; a floating cooking chamber; and a vent system that maintains a negative pressure in the oven during the self-cleaning procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2009Publication date: September 10, 2009Inventors: John H. Wiker, Frank Carbonara, Gregory J. Tomko, Michael R. Matthews, Jr., Theodore James Chmiola
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Publication number: 20080289619Abstract: Charbroilers, such as conveyorized and batch charbroilers, are disclosed wherein a single pilot flame receives gas from a gas line and is operable to ignite a plurality of burners. The charbroiler may include a housing, a conveyor removable from the housing and a shielding member removably connectable to the housing or burner and positioned between the burner and food product. The shielding member may be coated with a ceramic material and may have a color relating to a property of at least one of the shielding member and the ceramic material. In addition, the charbroiler may include a first burner and a second burner having different heating capacities. The charbroiler may also include an upper burner and lower burner positioned respectively above and below the food product and each of the upper and lower burners includes a ceramic diaphragm.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2005Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: MIDDLEBY CORPORATIONInventors: William S. Schjerven, SR., Theodore James Chmiola, Frank J. Coleman, John H. Wiker, Frank Carbonara, Gregory J. Tomko, Michael R. Matthews, JR.