Abstract: A cooking system positionable on a support surface includes a housing having an internal cooking compartment and an opening formed in the housing for accessing said internal cooking compartment. At least one heating element is provided for heating said internal cooking compartment. The heating element is operable to heat the internal cooking compartment while the opening is at least partially exposed to an ambient environment to allow fluid transfer between the ambient environment and the internal cooking compartment. An output from said at least one heating element is variable across said internal cooking compartment during operation of the system.

Abstract: A modular produce drying tunnel system comprising a loading module, at least one drying module, an end module, and a conveyor. The drying module may comprise at least one gullwing style access door which houses an independent heating element and a blower and which opens upwardly to provide broad access to the interior of the tunnel. The system may be customizable for different types and volumes of produce, comprising a plurality of drying modules, each having at least one access door, and each access door having an independent heating element and blower.

Abstract: A conveyor toaster for toasting a customized pattern with multiple levels of brownness on a surface of sliced bread is disclosed. The present invention provides an apparatus including a processor, a moistening chamber; and a heating chamber. The moistening chamber further includes a nozzle for discharging water to the sliced bread; and a sliding track allowing the nozzle to move along. The heating chamber further includes a plurality of heating elements. The processor is configured to control a pump motor for adjusting the amount of water discharged from the nozzle and a movement of the nozzle along the sliding track to coordinates determined according to the customized pattern for positioning the nozzle above a region on the sliced bread, wherein the amount of water discharged over the region is determined according to the coordinates and the customized pattern.

Abstract: A rotisserie oven for cooking food, eg spatchcock chicken, comprises an oven enclosure (23), a solid fuel conveyor (2) for conveying a burning solid fuel (eg charcoal) bed through the oven enclosure, and a food conveyor (3) crossing the solid conveyor transversely within the oven enclosure. The charcoal is lit outside the oven enclosure by a gas burner (21) and high temperature combustion, eg at 250° C. to 450° C., is supported by a jet of hot air (c) injected by a hot air blower (19) into the oven enclosure. Hot combustion gas circulates within the enclosure and the speed of the solid fuel conveyor is controlled in response to the output signal of a thermocouple (17) to maintain a desired cooking temperature.

Abstract: A bread conveying apparatus for conveying bread, includes a conveyor device that has a container on which the bread is placed, and that conveys the container in a conveying direction; a guide member disposed on a downstream end portion side of the conveyor device in the conveying direction to releasably support the bread in cooperation with the container; and a chute member that discharges the bread conveyed by the conveyor device.

Abstract: An air-based fryer apparatus (100) includes a shield (101) for use in a cooking apparatus (100), the cooking apparatus having a food preparation chamber (102) to receive a food support (103), a system (104) for circulating a flow of hot air inside the food preparation chamber (102) and a heating element (105) to heat at least the circulated air. The shield (101), disposed between the heating element (105) and the food support (103), comprises a plurality of inclined surfaces (112) and a plurality of apertures (111) between the inclined surfaces (112) through which the flow of hot air can pass. The inclined surfaces (112) block a direct line of sight through the apertures (111) in the shield (101) from the heating element (105) to the food support (103) to prevent air flowing from the food support (103) to the heating element (105) through the apertures without being deflected by the inclined surfaces.

Abstract: A barbecue accessory for addressing flare ups, uneven heat distribution, and open lid heat loss features a series of spaced-apart longitudinal members connected together in a flexible endless loop having a width less than a first one of the length and width dimensions of a barbecue firebox. A closed loop drive system is arranged for mounting in the firebox between the bottom wall to engage the flexible endless loop to drive each of the spaced apart members of the flexible endless loop in a closed-loop path back and forth along a second one of the length and width dimensions of the firebox. At least one wiping member presents an upward facing wiping surface in the firebox beneath a moving path of the longitudinal members in close proximity thereto to clean the longitudinal members as they pass the wiping member.

Abstract: An automatic toaster apparatus comprising: a body having one or more toasting slots leading to a respective toasting cavity; one or more internal carriage for carrying bread, a carriage being associated with each toasting slots and respective toasting cavity; a plurality of toasting elements, wherein a toasting element is located at each side of each carriage. The toaster having, a supplemental toasting function, a keep warm function, a pre-warm function. The toaster enabling separate user selection of toast colour and moisture.

Abstract: A method for forming a pressed, baked food product including providing a dough intermediate puck. The dough intermediate puck is processed through a first, compression station that applies a compression force and heat to the dough intermediate puck, resulting in a pressed puck. The pressed puck is processed through a second, dwell and heating station that contacts opposing major surfaces of the pressed puck in a manner allowing the pressed puck to naturally rise and applies heat to the puck, resulting in a pressed, at least partially-baked, food product. The above steps are characterized by continuous movement of the puck from an upstream end of the first station to a downstream end of the second station. In one embodiment, residual heat from the first station is applied in the second station.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a food heating device includes a first platen and a first conveyor arranged and spaced to transport a food product between the first platen (501) and the first conveyor (503). A second platen (501) and a second conveyor (503) arranged and spaced to transport the food product (203) between the second platen (501) and the second conveyor (503). A first end of the first platen (501) is disposed near a first end of the second conveyor (503) and a first end of the first conveyor (503) is disposed near a first end of the second platen (501) such that the food product (203) is automatically transferred from the first platen (501) to the second platen (501).

Abstract: A conveyor toaster includes a housing with a split-conveyor extending through the housing to convey food items through a cooking chamber for cooking by infrared heating elements located above and below the conveyor. Electrical components are separated from the heating elements and cooled with ambient air.

Abstract: A baking oven for producing baked molded products. The baking oven has an input station, a baking area and an output station. In addition, the oven has baking plates, which are arranged along a circulation path passing through the baking area, and a conveying device for the baking plates. The baking plates are in the form of susceptor plates, which can be heated inductively without contact. An induction heating device is provided in the baking area. This device includes at least one elongated inductor, which is arranged parallel to the circulation path of the baking plates and extends along the circulation path over a plurality of susceptor plates. The elongated inductor produces a large-area, broad magnetic field, which simultaneously inductively heats a plurality of baking plates in the form of susceptor plates without any contact.

Abstract: A bread toaster includes an outer cover, a toaster base, a toaster frame mounted on the toaster base, a first sliding member slidably provided on a predetermined side of the toaster frame, a second sliding member also provided on the same predetermined side of the toaster frame, a front supporting frame and a rear supporting frame provided at a front side and a rear side of the toaster frame respectively, a lid arrangement, and a control circuitry, wherein the lid arrangement is arranged to be operated between a closed position and an opened position for closing and opening the toasting slots of the bread toaster.

Abstract: A food heating device includes a platen (101) and a pair of conveyor segments (103). A first conveyor segment is arranged and spaced to transport a food product (201, 203, 205) between a first side of the platen (101) and the first conveyor segment (103). A second conveyor segment (103/703/903) is arranged and spaced to transport the food product between a second side of the platen (101) and the second conveyor segment (103/703/903). A transfer device (505/705) may be disposed at one end of the platen (101) such that the transfer device transfers the food product (203) from the first side of the platen (101) to the second side of the platen (101).

Abstract: A motorized toaster with heating elements has a user input that communicates with an electronic device that controls an electric motor. A reciprocating toast carriage is under the influence of the motor. A user activated control is adapted to cause an inspection subroutine, the subroutine being the motorized elevation of the carriage and without further user input and a returning of the carriage to the lower position during a toast cycle.

Abstract: Edges of English muffins and certain other types of bread products known to burn during toasting are protected from burning by a bread product edge toasting shield. One embodiment of the bread product edge shield is a baffle formed of orthogonal or substantially orthogonal metal strips. A second embodiment is a cylindrical tube. The edge toasting shield blocks infrared energy waves that would otherwise be incident upon the bread product edges at angles of incidence less than about eighty degrees relative to horizontal.

Abstract: A hybrid food heating device (100) includes a first conveyor toaster, which toasts one side of a food product, and a second conveyor toaster device, which toasts two sides of a food product. The second conveyor toaster device uses a rib attached to the inside surface of a continuously rotating belt to keep the belt from running sideways on the runners.

Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.

Abstract: A compact conveyor oven is disclosed comprising a cooking chamber, thermal heating source, conveyor means and independent top and bottom airflow within the cooking chamber wherein substantially equal pressurization of the top and bottom airflows is achieved within the compact footprint.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for storing, treating and dispensing items of food, especially baked products, which device comprises at least two sections (2, 3). The inventive device is characterized by a plurality of supports (12) for receiving the items of food (9, 10) and a transport device (17, 20, 21, 22) that configures a closed transport cycle of the supports (12) between the sections (2, 3).

Abstract: A vestibule for use with a microwave oven having a conveyor mechanism passing there-through is designed to prevent microwave radiation from escaping to the surrounding atmosphere. The vestibule includes a choke region and a paddlewheel region with a trap region located directly there-between. The choke region includes a series of quarter wave choke networks or devices and the trap region includes a body having quarter wave chokes with microwave absorbent materials disposed therein which absorb microwave radiation that has passed through the choke region. The paddlewheel region includes at least two pairs of paddlewheels that are synchronized with the conveyor mechanism and each other to permit individual products to enter an open end of the vestibule while preventing microwave radiation from escaping therefrom. The paddlewheels are synchronized such that while one pair of paddlewheels is in an open state, the other pair is in the closed state.

Abstract: A modular pizza oven kit, pizza oven finger assembly support, and a method of operating a pizza oven at different speeds and a control arrangement for performing the method. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing noodle casings includes a take-out device disposed between two conveyers. One of the conveyers serves to transfer a noodle sheet that has been punched to form noodle casings. The other of the conveyers serves to transfer a remaining noodle sheet. The take-out device is operable between a first position at the transfer level of the conveyers and a second position for permitting the noodle casings to fall onto another conveyer.

Abstract: A flexible automatic broiler and method of use for variable batch cooking for particular use in quick serve and fast food service restaurants. The automatic cooking devices include a conveyorized cooking surface for alignment and discharge of food products, an altering/pulsating infrared energy radiation heat sources, and a control system. The arrangement and method facilitate a combination of batch preparation and made-to-order assembly of fast-food sandwiches.

Abstract: An oven and broiler for cooking foods using convection and radiant heat, including a housing defining a cooking chamber with an inlet for introducing uncooked foods into the cooking chamber, an outlet for discharging cooked foods and a conveyor for conveying food product from the inlet to the outlet, an array of heating elements, and a compressed air injection system for providing a bank of moving air over the food product during the early stages of cooking so as to break up the blanket of cold air over the food product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable household food cooker capable of receiving a food mixture and producing food items in a continuous fashion. The continuous food cooker generally includes a housing and a hopper. The hopper is disposed above the housing for receiving the food mixture and for dispensing the food mixture into the cooker. The continuous food cooker also includes a hot roller assembly for forming and cooking the food mixture, a hot roller drive assembly operatively attached to at least one roller, and a cutter for cutting the produced food item at a desired length. The hot roller assembly includes at least one rotatable roller and at least one heating element for heating the at least one roller. The at least one roller and the at least one heating element are disposed internally to the housing.

Abstract: One embodiment of a food heating device includes a platen (101) and an opening (103) disposed in the platen (101). The opening (103) is arranged and sized to receive a food product (203) from a first side of the platen (101) and to output the food product (203) to a second side of the platen (101). Alternative embodiments involve diagonally guiding a food product (203) along a different arrangements of platens (801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1401).

Abstract: A flexible automatic broiler and method of use for variable batch cooking for particular use in quick serve and fast food service restaurants. The automatic cooking devices include a conveyorized cooking surface for alignment and discharge of food products, an altering/pulsating infrared energy radiation heat sources, and a control system. The arrangement and method facilitate a combination of batch preparation and made-to-order assembly of fast-food sandwiches.

Abstract: Edges of English muffins and certain other types of bread products known to burn during toasting are protected from burning by a bread product edge toasting shield. One embodiment of the bread product edge shield is a baffle formed of orthogonal or substantially orthogonal metal strips. A second embodiment is a cylindrical tube. The edge toasting shield blocks infrared energy waves that would otherwise be incident upon the bread product edges at angles of incidence less than about eighty degrees relative to horizontal.

Abstract: Baking apparatus for baking edible products located on a conveying surface and preferably traveling along a conveyor track, comprising a number of electric infrared radiators arranged above the conveyor track. The infrared radiators each comprise at least one spiral filament having a gastight, infrared radiation-transmitting, breakable casing, in particular a glass casing. The baking apparatus further comprises monitoring means for monitoring breakage of the casings of the infrared radiators. The invention also relates to a method for baking an edible product by means of an electric infrared radiator having a breakable casing.

Abstract: The present invention is a sliding toaster. Slices of bread to be toasted are placed on the sliding plate out of the toaster body, and the sliding plate is slid into the toaster body by fitting into the channels in the toaster body. After the bread is toasted, sliding plate is taken from the toaster body by sliding it.

Abstract: A food item is cooked in a cooking device and transferred to a heated holding table by two exit conveyors. The food item then falls onto one of two transfer conveyors that move perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the exit conveyors. The food items travel on the transfer conveyors and then fall onto a main conveyor. The main conveyor moves in a direction that is parallel to the direction of movement of the exit conveyors. If the food item has not been manually removed from the main conveyor after a predetermined amount of time, the food item falls off the main conveyor and into a drawer waste chute for disposal.

Abstract: A replacement type grill device includes a receiving case defined with a supply opening for supplying broiling rods toward feed screws; an inclined vibration plate forming a bottom of the receiving case, located to be inclined toward the supply opening, and having one end which is coupled to an inner sidewall of the receiving case by a hinge to be rotatable in upward and downward directions and the other end which is positioned adjacent to the supply opening of the receiving case and serves as a free end; vibration generation means for vibrating the inclined vibration plate in response to rotation of a feed control lever and thereby vibratorily accomplishing arrangement of the broiling rods; and arrangement means installed on another inner sidewall of the receiving case to limit a gap between the inclined vibration plate and the arrangement means so that individual supply of broiling rods can be ensured.

Abstract: A dual-sided, conveyor toaster provides operator-adjustable conveyors that are also operator removable. The removable conveyor assemblies are chain driven and removably supported in the toaster by re-positionable mounting mechanisms embodied as either adjustable pins that engage fixed slots or adjustable slots that engage fixed pins. Fixed pins can be located on the conveyor and engage adjustable slots in the toaster; adjustable pins can be located on the toaster and engage fixed slots on the conveyor. The conveyor assemblies use non-marring plates to urge food products against the heated platen surfaces and to carry the food products across the platen.

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: An oven for heating a product is provided. The oven includes a partially enclosed housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a conveyor to move a product through the housing. The oven additionally includes a steam system for boiling liquid with an associated steam pipe and a heating element provided within the housing.

Abstract: For forming a ready-to-bake, endless dough ring, a dough piece is first round kneaded in a round-kneading station and then fermented in a fermenting station. In a pressure station, flattening pressure is exerted on two sides of the dough piece for a flat round piece to produce. After a relaxation interval, an inside hole is punched into the relaxed dough piece in a punching station, with a dough ring being obtained. The individual stations of a corresponding dough treatment system are connected to each other by means of a conveyor. Then secondary fermenting of the shaped dough ring takes place, which is followed by baking of a ring article. The result is an efficient method of forming a ready-to-bake, endless dough ring. Producing the baked ring article can be completely automated.

Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a food heating device includes a first platen and a first conveyor arranged and spaced to transport a food product between the first platen (501) and the first conveyor (503). A second platen (501) and a second conveyor (503) arranged and spaced to transport the food product (203) between the second platen (501) and the second conveyor (503). A first end of the first platen (501) is disposed near a first end of the second conveyor (503) and a first end of the first conveyor (503) is disposed near a first end of the second platen (501) such that the food product (203) is automatically transferred from the first platen (501) to the second platen (501).

Abstract: A food heating device (100) includes a first conveyor (107) having a first thermally-conductive belt (105) and a second conveyor (107) having a second thermally-conductive belt (105). A first platen (101) is disposed on a first side of the first thermally-conductive belt (105) and a second platen (103) disposed on a first side of the second thermally-conductive belt (105). The first conveyor (107) and the second conveyor (107) are arranged and spaced to transport a food product (201, 203, 205) between a second side of the first thermally-conductive belt (105) and a second side of the second thermally-conductive belt (105).

Abstract: A food heating device includes a platen (101) and a pair of conveyor segments (103). A first conveyor segment is arranged and spaced to transport a food product (201, 203, 205) between a first side of the platen (101) and the first conveyor segment (103). A second conveyor segment (103/703/903) is arranged and spaced to transport the food product between a second side of the platen (101) and the second conveyor segment (103/703/903). A transfer device (505/705) may be disposed at one end of the platen (101) such that the transfer device transfers the food product (203) from the first side of the platen (101) to the second side of the platen (101).

Abstract: A food heating device usable as a toaster, fryer or warmer uses a metal plate having separately heated regions separated by a thermal break. The separately heated regions use separately energized and controlled heating elements embedded to the material from which the metal plate is made. One region can be kept hot while the other region is shut off or kept at a lower temperature until demand requires both sides to be heated. Separating the regions by a thermal break reduces heat transfer from the hot side to the cool side.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing molten mass, especially chocolate mass, from a rear bottom portion of items, especially confectionaries, includes a first and a second conveyor belt for transporting the items in a conveying direction perpendicular to the working width of the apparatus. The second conveyor belt is located adjacent to the fist conveyor belt and downstream of the first conveyor belt as seen in the conveying direction. A driven hollow shaft is located in a gap portion between the two conveyor belts, it extends over the working width, and it is supported from its inside and within the working width.

Abstract: Cone-shaped food items and cones having various food stuffs in them are cooked by placing a cone-shaped food item into a cone-shaped heating station that travels through an oven and past an inclined heater element. The heating station rotates the cone-shaped food item so that it is uniformly heated as it passes through the oven.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooking oven for bread, patisserie and pastry products or similar, including at least one cooking chamber with a fixed or moving floor, on which products are supported during cooking, whether directly or on a suitable cooking support, such as a plate a mesh or a cooking mold. There is also a radiant heating device for the floor arranged under the floor, called a floor hotplate. The floor and the floor hotplate have a space therebetween, the space being provided for closed-circuit convective circulation of a heating fluid, the floor having a permeable embodiment for a complementary heating of the products through the same by convection. The oven permits a combination at the floor of heating by conduction and radiation with heating by convection.

Abstract: A tunnel oven including a case enclosing a baking chamber, the baking chamber having a lateral side, an oppositely lateral side, a longitudinal end, and an oppositely longitudinal end, the case having longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal end walls respectively bounding the baking chamber's longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal ends; the tunnel oven further including first and second food passage ports respectively extending through the case's longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal end walls, the first food passage port having lateral and oppositely lateral sides; the tunnel oven further including a heater connected operatively to the case; the tunnel oven further including a food conveyor extending longitudinally through the baking chamber; the tunnel oven further including a plenum mounted within the baking chamber's lateral side, the plenum being opened by a blower port and by at least a first duct port; the tunnel oven further including an air blower mounted in communication with the plenum's blow

Abstract: An apparatus and method for toasting a piece of bread are disclosed. The apparatus includes a base to support the piece of bread so that the bread can rest thereon. Some heating elements are placed near to the two faces of the bread such that when the bread is conveyed in a horizontal direction while it is kept in a vertical position, the two faces of the bread can be uniformly heated.

Abstract: A flexible composite with integral flights is provided and methods for making the same. The composite is made from, for example, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene or other polymer. The composites are useful for making conveyor belts for use in high temperature food processing, and particularly for contact toasters. The conveyor belts are an improvement over the prior art in that they prevent slippage of the articles conveyed, may be manufactured at low cost, and are relatively easy to clean.

Abstract: A frothing device adaptable to a steam outlet for producing milk froth comprising a steam inlet, a milk inlet, an air inlet, a vacuum chamber adapted to receive steam, liquid milk and air therein, a restriction with a limited cross-section adapted for conducting the product there through at high velocity, an emulsifying chamber; the emulsifying chamber having an outlet for draining the product froth out of the chamber and a froth flow regulation system configured for breaking the kinetic energy of the froth stream and for changing its direction sufficiently so that the froth is gently delivered out of the device. The frothing device can be mounted on a coffee machine to deliver cappuccino upon a push of a button.

Abstract: An apparatus for gas treatment of products rises a housing having top, bottom and side walls; a conveyor belt for transporting the products along a first path in the housing; a tunnel having perforated walls and enclosing the conveyor belt along the first path; a gas circulation device communicating with the tunnel via the perforated walls for circulating gas into the tunnel in the form of gas jets impinging upon the products carried by the conveyor belt, and out of the tunnel in a return channel back to the gas circulation device; and a gas conditioning device positioned in the return channel. At least one substantially vertical part of the connecting walls of the high-pressure chamber is removable so as to provide access to the inside of the pressure chamber, and at least one of the side walls of the housing along the high-pressure chamber may be movable so as to widen the space between at least one wall and the high-pressure chamber.