Oven Flap 2 System

Abstract

The invention is in short, a stainless steel swinging door. It is a simple rectangular piece of 20 gauge 304 #4 Stainless Steel. (Different gauge metal can also be used. A reduction in the gauge will reduce the overall weight of the invention and allow food products with less weight to push open the swinging door. However reducing the gauge makes “The Oven Flap 2” more susceptible to damage. A standard dimension of “The Oven Flap 2” for a 32 inch conveyor oven with a 4 inch opening, is 31.50 inches in length×3.75 inches in height and 0.025 inches in thickness. (The height and length of the invention can be adjusted to fit ovens which have different openings sizes but the function and use of the invention remains exactly the same.) Once attached to the ends of any conveyor style oven with the assistance of the Pivot Unit, “The Oven Flap 2” creates a barrier which block escaping heat and in turn dramatically reduces the amount of energy the oven uses.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Located at the end of all conveyor style ovens are two large openings which allow food products to enter and exit. The problem is, heat is constantly escaping unhindered through these very same openings. “The Oven Flap 2” is in short, a stainless steel swinging door. Once attached to the ends of any conveyor style oven, it creates a barrier which blocks escaping heat and in turn dramatically reduces the amount of energy the oven uses.

DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DIAGRAMS AND DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of The Oven Flap 2 front, rear and side view including dimensions for a 32 inch conveyor oven; FIG. 2 is a photo of the front, rear and side view of The Oven Flap 2 invention;

FIG. 3 is a photo of the two Pivot Units on which The Oven Flap 2 invention pivots;

FIG. 4 is a photo/diagram view of the Pivot unit attached to an oven;

FIG. 5 is a photo of The Oven Flap 2 invention attached to an oven (Front view);

FIG. 6 is a photo of The Oven Flap 2 invention attached to an oven (Side view);

FIG. 7 is a photo of a Pizza Guard;

FIG. 8 is a photo of a Pizza Guard surrounding a flat pizza pan);

FIG. 9 is a photo of 2 pizzas with deep dish pans entering an oven by pushing open The Oven Flap 2;

FIG. 10 is a photo of a pizza with a deep dish pan exiting the oven by pushing open The Oven Flap 2;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the end of all conveyor style ovens there are two large openings which allow food products to enter and exit. The problem is, heat is constantly escaping unhindered through these very same openings. “The Oven Flap 2” invention is in short, a stainless steel swinging door. It is a simple rectangular piece of 20 gauge 304 #4 Stainless Steel. (Different gauge metal can also be used. A reduction in the gauge will reduce the overall weight of the Flap invention and allow food products with less weight to push open the swinging door. However, a reduction in the gauge makes “The Oven Flap 2” more susceptible to damage.

A standard dimension of “The Oven Flap 2” (FIG. 1) for a 32 inch conveyor oven with a 4 inch opening, is 31.50 inches in length×3.75 inches in height and 0.35 inches in width at the top most curved bend. (The height and length of the invention can be adjusted to fit ovens which have different openings sizes but the function and use of the invention remains exactly the same.) The top edge of the plate (FIG. 1,2) now incorporates a 180 degree curved bend into the stainless steel. This distinct but important bend, makes up the foundation for the swinging motion of the new design. By curving the top edge, the flap can now pivot at the sides on specially manufactured hardware called “Pivot Units” (FIG. 3,4). The Oven Flap 2 and the Pivot Units then combine to make up an extremely effective hinge. Curving the Flap has also created a stronger and more ridged design, making it extremely difficult of bend out of shape. This increases the life cycle of the invention.

Two Flaps are needed for each oven, one at the entrance and one at the exit. Once attached to the ends of any conveyor style oven, with the assistance of the Pivot Units, The Oven Flap 2 creates a barrier which block escaping heat and in turn dramatically reduces the amount of energy the oven uses. (FIG. 5,6)

When food move down the conveyor belt, the The Oven Flap 2 is pushed open by the food product (such as pizzas) which are surrounded by a deep dish pan. (FIG. 9) The pan keeps The Oven Flap 2 from touching the food product. Other food products which are not protected by a deep dish pan must be protected by the “Pizza Guard” (FIG. 7,8) or similar device that will keep The Oven Flap 2 from dragging across the food product.

The “Pizza Guard” (FIG. 10) is made of ⅛ inch stainless steel rod and is formed into a rectangular pattern when viewed from the side. Food products will be placed into this protective area as it travel through the oven.

When viewed from the top, the Pizza Guard's design begins so the bottom portion which will ride along the conveyor, is formed into a “Z” shape. This shape provides stability for the Pizza Guard, keeping it from tipping over when food product is place in or removed from inside the protective area. The rod then bends up 2 ½ inches at 90 degrees. Then another 90 degree bend sends the rod strait back towards the start. The rod bends a final 90 degree to finish the rectangular pattern and is welded together at the starting point. The length of the Pizza Guard is only determined by the size of the pizza or food product which it must protect.

As the food product moves through oven, The Oven Flap drags across the top portion of the Pizza Guard protecting the food product. Then as the food product moves passed the edge of the Flap, gravity will swing it back down to a closed position. The process is repeated on the second Flap when the food product exits the oven.

Each restaurant will have a varying amount of energy savings with the assistance of The Oven Flap 2. Some of these variables include type of oven (Gas or Electric), model, the amount of business the restaurant has (more business keeps the flap open longer which reduces savings), number of hours the restaurant is open and the dedication of employees and management to use the invention consistently.

In our experience, a 15% to 30% reduction in the oven's energy usage can be achieved with the invention attached. This would be very desirable to a client because the savings would translate into as substantial dollar amount over time. Energy savings would continue to be sustainable as long as The Oven Flap 2 was attached to the oven.

One additional affect The Oven Flap 2 has on a restaurant is that during the summer months, the air temperate inside the building is lower due to the reduction of radiant heat which would normally escape the open ovens. This enables the air conditioning system to work less and an additional amount of energy savings is achieved while also making working conditions more pleasant environment.

Claims

1) “The Oven Flap 2” creates a barrier or “swinging door” at the ends of conveyor style ovens which blocks escaping heat.

2) In creating this barrier or “swinging door”, energy consumption of the oven is dramatically reduced.

3) When “The Oven Flap 2” invention is attached to an oven in combination with the Pivot Unit, it creates the ability to become a “swinging door” thus allowing objects (such as pizzas) to open and close “The Oven Flap 2” as the conveyor moves forward.

4) When “The Oven Flap 2” invention is use in combination with deep dish pizza pans, or low profile pizzas and other foods are protected by the “The Pizza Guard” or similar device, “The Oven Flap 2” will not come in contact with the food product as the conveyor moves forward through the oven.