Abstract: An impingement oven (40) includes an upper housing structure (46) forming the exterior of the upper half of the impingement oven and a lower housing structure (48) to mate with the upper housing structure. An interior impingement housing (62) is positioned interior to the upper and lower housing structures (46) and (48). A conveyor (60) extends through the interior impingement housing (62). The inside surfaces of the upper and lower housing structures (46) and (48) cooperate with the interior impingement housing (62) to define upright supply chambers (80a) and (80b) on opposite sides of the impingement oven to direct cooking medium downwardly upon the work products being carried by the conveyor and also upwardly through the porous belt of the conveyor, thereby to thermally process the work products being carried on the conveyor.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a drive chain system (22, 24) for a spiral conveyor belt (34) includes inner (52) and outer (62) drive chains driving the spiral conveyor belt, the inner and outer drive chains each including a plurality of links (70) defined by a plurality of first (72) and second (74) pitches connected by linking pins (84, 86) extending through holes (80, 82) in the pitches, wherein at least a portion of the linking pins of at least one of the inner and outer drive chains are hardened and/or dissimilar linking pins which are harder on an outer surface than other components in the inner and outer drive chains.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods for chain wear elongation measurement and drive compensation. In one embodiment, a chain system includes a chain including a plurality of links arranged in a continuous loop and having first measurement values for plurality of links and total chain length, wherein the chain is configured to rotate on a sprocket, and a chain elongation measurement system for counting the plurality of links of the chain and for determining total chain length to determine first chain elongation measurement values.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods for chain wear elongation measurement and drive compensation. In one embodiment, a chain system includes a chain including a plurality of links arranged in a continuous loop and having first measurement values for plurality of links and total chain length, wherein the chain is configured to rotate on a sprocket, and a chain elongation measurement system for counting the plurality of links of the chain and for determining total chain length to determine first chain elongation measurement values.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a drive chain system (22, 24) for a spiral conveyor belt (34) includes inner (52) and outer (62) drive chains driving the spiral conveyor belt, the inner and outer drive chains each including a plurality of links (70) defined by a plurality of first (72) and second (74) pitches connected by linking pins (84, 86) extending through holes (80, 82) in the pitches, wherein at least a portion of the linking pins of at least one of the inner and outer drive chains are hardened and/or dissimilar linking pins which are harder on an outer surface than other components in the inner and outer drive chains.

Abstract: An impingement oven (40) includes an upper housing structure (46) forming the exterior of the upper half of the impingement oven and a lower housing structure (48) to mate with the upper housing structure. An interior impingement housing (62) is positioned interior to the upper and lower housing structures (46) and (48). A conveyor (60) extends through the interior impingement housing (62). The inside surfaces of the upper and lower housing structures (46) and (48) cooperate with the interior impingement housing (62) to define upright supply chambers (80a) and (80b) on opposite sides of the impingement oven to direct cooking medium downwardly upon the work products being carried by the conveyor and also upwardly through the porous belt of the conveyor, thereby to thermally process the work products being carried on the conveyor.

Abstract: A bidirectional flow system for a cooking oven in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an oven chamber having a first cooking zone in fluid communication with a second cooking zone, the oven chamber having at least a floor, a ceiling, and a mezzanine for dividing the first and second cooking zones; a gas circulation system for supplying gaseous cooking medium initially to either of the first or second cooking zone; and a return assembly for receiving returned gaseous cooking medium, wherein the return assembly includes a plurality of louvers movable between a first position and second position to receive returned gaseous cooking medium from the other of the first or second cooking zone. Systems and methods for adjusting cooking zones in an oven are also provided.

Abstract: A cooking system having adjustable oven cooking zones generally includes a spiral stack disposed within a cooking oven chamber, the spiral stack including a plurality of tiers, and a circulation system for delivering gaseous cooking medium to the spiral stack in the cooking oven chamber. The system further includes a mezzanine assembly including an inner mezzanine and an outer mezzanine, wherein the position of the inner mezzanine is movable relative to the position of the outer mezzanine. Methods for adjusting cooking zones in an oven, and systems and methods for bidirectional flow systems for cooking ovens, are also provided.