U.S. patent application number 11/408508 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for continuous cooking oven system.
Invention is credited to Ramesh M. Gunawardena, Scott M. Kane, Charles McVeagh, Owen E. Morey, James E. Randall, Robert Stacy.
Application Number | 20070131215 11/408508 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37806923 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070131215 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McVeagh; Charles ; et
al. |
June 14, 2007 |
Continuous cooking oven system
Abstract
A continuous cooking oven system including enclosure containing
a first cooking chamber in communication with a second cooking
chamber to efficiently and effectively cook and brown food
products. The continuous cooking oven system includes an first
conveyor for transporting food products through a helical path
within the first cooking chamber, a fan for circulating a heated
gaseous cooking medium throughout the first cooking chamber, a
second conveyor for transporting food products through a linear
path within the second cooking chamber, at least one impingement
air flow distribution chamber disposed above the second conveyor
within the second cooking chamber and at least one impingement air
flow distribution chamber disposed below the second conveyor within
the second cooking chamber, the impingement air flow distribution
chambers circulating a heated gaseous cooking medium throughout the
second cooking chamber. The first conveyor includes a
self-supporting pervious belt including a plurality of superimposed
tiers which define a pervious annulus through which the heat
gaseous cooking medium is circulated.
Inventors: |
McVeagh; Charles; (Huron,
OH) ; Kane; Scott M.; (Sandusky, OH) ;
Randall; James E.; (Huron, OH) ; Morey; Owen E.;
(Huron, OH) ; Stacy; Robert; (Sandusky, OH)
; Gunawardena; Ramesh M.; (Solon, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PAULEY PETERSEN & ERICKSON
2800 WEST HIGGINS ROAD
SUITE 365
HOFFMAN ESTATES
IL
60195
US
|
Family ID: |
37806923 |
Appl. No.: |
11/408508 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60750414 |
Dec 14, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/21A |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23L 5/17 20160801; A21B
1/245 20130101; A21B 1/26 20130101; A21B 1/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/021.00A |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/32 20060101
F24C015/32 |
Claims
1. A continuous cooking oven system, comprising: an enclosure
including a first cooking chamber in communication with a second
cooking chamber; a first continuous conveyor for transporting food
products through a helical path within the first cooking chamber,
the first continuous conveyor including a self-supporting pervious
belt including a plurality of superimposed tiers forming a pervious
annulus; a fan for circulating a heated gaseous cooking medium
within the first cooking chamber; a second continuous conveyor for
transporting food products through a linear path within the second
cooking chamber; at least one impingement air flow distribution
chamber disposed above the second continuous conveyor to circulate
a heated gaseous cooking medium within the second cooking chamber;
and at least one impingement air flow distribution chamber disposed
below the second continuous conveyor to circulate the heated
gaseous cooking medium within the second cooking chamber.
2. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 1, wherein the
second cooking chamber is in communication with an inlet opening of
the first cooking chamber.
3. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 1, wherein the
second cooking chamber is in communication with an outlet opening
of the first cooking chamber.
4. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 1, wherein the
second conveyor one of receives products from an outlet opening of
the first cooking chamber or supplies products to an inlet opening
of the first cooking chamber.
5. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 1, wherein the
second conveyor transports products from an outlet opening of the
first cooking chamber, through an inlet opening of the second
cooking chamber.
6. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 1, wherein the first
continuous conveyor transports the products in an upwardly
extending helical path within the first cooking chamber.
7. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 6, wherein the
second continuous conveyor transports the products in a downwardly
extending linear path within the second cooking chamber.
8. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 1, wherein the first
cooking chamber and the second cooking operate at comparable
temperature and humidity levels.
9. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 1, wherein the first
cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber operate at different
temperature and humidity levels.
10. A continuous cooking oven system, comprising: an enclosure
including a first cooking chamber having an outlet opening in
communication with an inlet opening of a second cooking chamber; a
first continuous conveyor for transporting food products through an
upwardly extending helical path within the first cooking chamber,
the first continuous conveyor including a self-supporting pervious
belt including a plurality of superimposed tiers which form the
helical path within the first cooking chamber, the superimposed
tiers forming a pervious annulus; a fan for circulating a heated
gaseous processing medium within the first cooking chamber; a
second continuous conveyor for transporting food products through a
downwardly extending linear path within the second cooking chamber;
at least one impingement air flow distribution chamber disposed
above the second continuous conveyor to circulate a heated gaseous
cooking medium in an upper portion of the second cooking chamber;
and at least one impingement air flow distribution chamber disposed
below the second continuous conveyor to circulate the heated
gaseous cooking medium in a lower portion of the second cooking
chamber.
11. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 10, wherein the
second continuous conveyor slopes downward at an angle of up to
about 30 degrees as measured from a bottom wall of the second
cooking chamber.
12. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 10, wherein the
first and second continuous conveyors comprise a single, continuous
conveyor belt.
13. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 10, wherein at
least one impingement air flow distribution chamber is disposed
above the second continuous conveyor adjacent an outlet opening of
the second cooking chamber.
14. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 10, wherein at
least one impingement air flow distribution chamber is disposed
below the second continuous conveyor adjacent an inlet opening of
the second cooking chamber.
15. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 10, wherein each
impingement air flow distribution chamber comprises at least one
independently controlled recirculation fan.
16. A continuous cooking oven system, comprising: an enclosure
including a first cooking chamber having an outlet opening in
communication with an inlet opening a second cooking chamber, each
cooking chamber containing a heated gaseous cooking medium; a first
continuous conveyor for transporting food products through an
upwardly extending helical path within the first cooking chamber,
the first continuous conveyor including a self-supporting pervious
belt including a plurality of superimposed tiers forming a pervious
annulus through which the heat gaseous cooking medium is
circulated; a fan means for circulating the heated gaseous
processing medium through the first continuous conveyor and the
pervious annulus and around the food products in a continuous
manner; a second continuous conveyor for transporting food products
through a downwardly extending linear path within the second
cooking chamber; at least one impingement air flow distribution
chamber disposed above the second continuous conveyor to circulate
the heated gaseous cooking medium in an upper portion of the second
cooking chamber; at least one impingement air flow distribution
chamber disposed below the second continuous conveyor to circulate
the heated gaseous cooking medium in a lower portion of the second
cooking chamber; and a thermal fluid heat exchanger positioned in
fluid communication with the second cooking chamber, wherein the
first and second continuous conveyors comprise a single, continuous
pervious conveyor belt.
17. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 16, wherein the
thermal fluid heat exchanger comprising a super heated steam heat
exchanger, a direct gas firec heat exchanger or an indirect gas
fired heat exchanger operated at a temperature of about 400.degree.
F. to about 750.degree. F.
18. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 16, further
comprising: a third cooking chamber having an outlet opening in
communication with an inlet opening of the first cooking chamber; a
third continuous conveyor for conveying food products through a
linear path within the third cooking chamber; and at least one
impingement air flow distribution chamber disposed within the third
cooking chamber to circulate a heated gaseous cooking medium within
the third cooking chamber.
19. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 16, further
comprising an in-place cleaning system disposed within the first
cooking chamber.
20. The continuous cooking oven system of claim 16, further
comprising an in-place cleaning system disposed within the second
cooking chamber.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application 60/750,414 filed on 14 Dec. 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention is directed to a continuous cooking oven
system for efficiently cooking and browning food products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Spiral ovens for cooking food products include a cooking
surface in the form of pervious conveyor belt for conveying the
food products through a cooking chamber in a helical path. A heat
source, such as steam, conventional convection and/or forced
convection, is provided within the cooking chamber for cooking the
food products. Spiral cooking ovens generally have a small
footprint while providing a relatively long processing path.
However, airflow in such spiral cooking ovens are often impeded and
do not directly impact the food products within the cooking
chamber. As a result, the food products are subjected to longer
cooking cycles which reduces product throughput. Additionally,
airflow in spiral cooking ovens is typically unidirectional which
limits the ability to brown food products efficiently and often
results in browning only occurring on one side of the product. For
some food products, browning on a single surface of the food
product is acceptable. However, for many food products such as, for
example, meat, poultry and bakery products, browning on both sides
of the product is desirable.
[0004] Continuous cooking ovens include a cooking surface in the
form of a pervious conveyor belt for conveying products through a
cooking chamber in a linear path. A heat source, such as steam,
conventional convection and/or forced convection, is provided
within the cooking chamber for cooking the food products. Linear
continuous cooking ovens generally provide an environment which
promotes uniform color and texture development across the conveyor
belt. However, the length and efficiency of linear cooking ovens is
limited by space considerations within the production facility.
[0005] There is a need or desire for a continuous cooking oven
system that efficiently cooks and browns food.
[0006] There is a further need or desire for a continuous cooking
oven system that occupies less space within a production
facility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In response to the discussed difficulties and problems
encountered in the prior art, a continuous cooking oven system for
efficiently cooking and browning food products has been
discovered.
[0008] A continuous cooking oven system according to the invention
includes an enclosure including a first cooking chamber in
communication with a second cooking chamber. Each cooking chamber
contains a heated gaseous cooking medium. A first continuous
conveyor transports food products through a helical path within the
first cooking chamber. The first continuous conveyor includes a
self-supporting pervious belt including a plurality of superimposed
tiers which define a pervious annulus through which the heated
gaseous cooking medium may be circulated in a continuous manner by
a fan. A second conveyor transports the food products through a
linear path within the second cooking chamber. At least one
impingement air flow distribution chamber is disposed above the
second conveyor within the second cooking chamber and at least one
impingement air flow distribution chamber is disposed below the
second conveyor within the second cooking chamber. Each impingement
air flow distribution chamber may include at least one
independently controlled recirculation fan. The second cooking
chamber may be in communication with the first cooking chamber via
the inlet opening or the outlet opening of the first cooking
chamber.
[0009] In another embodiment of the invention, an inlet opening of
the second cooking chamber of the continuous cooking oven system is
in communication with an outlet opening of the first cooking
chamber and the second conveyor defines a downwardly extending
linear path from the inlet opening of the second cooking chamber to
an outlet opening of the second cooking chamber.
[0010] In an additional embodiment of the invention, the continuous
cooking oven system may further include a thermal fluid heat
exchanger positioned in fluid communication with second cooking
chamber. A thermal fluid is circulated within the heat exchanger
and the heat exchanger operates at a temperature of about
450.degree. F. (about 230.degree. C.) to about 750.degree. F.
(400.degree. C).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of a continuous cooking oven
system according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a continuous cooking oven
system according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a partial schematic view of a first cooking
chamber of a continuous cooking oven system according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second cooking chamber of a
continuous cooking oven system according to one embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, the continuous cooking oven system 10
includes an enclosure 12 which includes a first cooking chamber 14
in communication with a second cooking chamber 16. Each of the
first and second cooking chambers 14, 16 contain a heated gaseous
cooking medium such as steam, heated air or both. The first cooking
chamber 14 includes an inlet opening 18 and an outlet opening 20
and second cooking chamber 16 includes an inlet opening 22 and an
outlet opening 24. The openings 18, 20, 22 and 24 are suitably made
as small as feasible to retard the egress of heated gaseous cooking
medium from the cooking chambers 14, 16.
[0016] In FIG. 1, the first and second cooking chambers 14, 16
share a common wall 26 such that inlet outlet opening 20 of the
first cooking chamber 14 and inlet opening 22 of the second cooking
chamber 16 are a common opening. In another embodiment (not shown),
the first cooking chamber 14 may be spaced apart from the second
cooking chamber by a space or a gap such that each chamber has it
own side wall. Suitably, the continuous cooking oven system 10
includes a common wall 26 between the first cooking chamber 14 and
the second cooking chamber 16 to minimize product cooling which may
occur when a defined space or gap is positioned between the first
and second cooking chamber.
[0017] In FIG. 1, the inlet opening 22 of the second cooking
chamber 16 is in communication with the outlet opening 20 of the
first cooking chamber. In another embodiment (not shown), the
outlet opening 24 of the second cooking chamber may be in
communication with the inlet opening 18 of the first cooking
chamber 14.
[0018] Referring again to FIG. 1, a first conveyor 28 is directed
into the first cooking chamber 14 through inlet opening 18 and is
designed to carry a large volume of food products to be cooked in
the continuous cooking oven system 10. The first conveyor 28 is
adapted to follow, through at least a portion of its length, a
spiral or helical path through the first cooking chamber 14.
Suitably, the first conveyor follows an upwardly extending helical
path through the first cooking chamber 14.
[0019] Suitably, the first conveyor 28 includes a pervious,
continuous conveyor belt 30 including a plurality of superimposed,
helically extending tiers forming a belt pile 32 and defining a
pervious annulus 34 therethrough. The continuous conveyor belt 30
is designed to fully support food products on at least one surface
but is formed to allow a heated gaseous cooking medium to readily
flow through the belt without being inhibited by the belt
structure. In general, conveyor belt 30 may include a plurality of
mutually articulated and interadjustable links forming the two
sides of the belt, including a bottom supporting portion interposed
between the links. The bottom supporting portions may be made of
wire or other surface forming material to provide a supporting
plane for the belt. The links are designed as spacers that are
arranged to support or be supported by an immediately overlying or
underlying tier of the conveyor belt. In this way the first
conveyor 28 is self-supporting and no separate belt support is
needed between the tiers of the spiral conveying system. Thus, the
entire space making up the helical conveyance path within the first
cooking chamber 14 is open to the flow of a heated gaseous cooking
medium therethrough.
[0020] The first cooking chamber 14 is separated into a high
pressure region 36 and low pressure region 38 by a mezzanine floor
40 disposed within the first cooking chamber 14. The inlet opening
18 may be disposed in the low pressure region 38 and the outlet
opening 20 may be disposed in the high pressure region 36. An
exhaust stack 48 may be disposed adjacent the inlet opening 18 of
the first cooking chamber 14 to regulate the egress and ingress of
air and to equalize pressure at the inlet opening 18.
[0021] The interior of the first cooking chamber 14 may be
regularly or frequently cleaned to maintain the sanitary conditions
required for food processing equipment. Suitably, as shown in FIG.
2, an in-place cleaning system 42 may be disposed within the first
cooking chamber 14. The cleaning system may include a plurality of
spray nozzles or balls 44 disposed at various locations and coupled
to a supply pipe 46. Suitably, the supply pipes 46 are coupled to a
source of cleaning fluid (not shown). Suitably, the cleaning fluid
is supplied to the spray nozzles 44 under pressure to effectively
drive the cleaning fluid into grease or soil found on the surfaces
of the first cooking chamber 14.
[0022] A desired cooking environment is created within the first
cooking chamber 14 by providing at least one source of heat such as
steam, super heated steam or heated air either alone or in
combination. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the heated gaseous cooking
medium may be introduced in the low pressure region 38 of the first
cooking chamber at a location adjacent one or more recirculating
fans 50. The fan(s) 50 act to continuously circulate the heated
gaseous medium from the low pressure region 38 to the high pressure
region 36 separated by mezzanine floor 40. Suitably, the one or
more fans 50 are housed within the first cooking chamber 14 such
that a suction side of the fan is disposed in the low pressure
region 38 while a high pressure side of the fan 50 is disposed in
the high pressure region 36 of the first cooking chamber 14. In
this way, the heated gaseous cooking medium may be circulated into
the high pressure region 36 at high velocity. The fan 50 may
include a flow diverter structure (not shown) to facilitate
circulation of the heated gaseous cooking medium within the first
cooking chamber 14. It should be recognized that the desired
velocity at which the cooking medium is circulated throughout the
first cooking chamber 14 may be varied by modifying the speed of
the fan 50. Suitably, the fan 50 may be operated at a velocity of
about 100 fpm (about 30 m/min) to about 1000 fpm (about 305 m/min)
in the first cooking chamber 14.
[0023] Suitably, the gaseous cooking medium and/or air may be
circulated within the first cooking chamber 14 such that the
cooking medium and/or air is fully directed down onto a top surface
of food products, directed up onto a bottom surface of food
products and/or directed onto both the top and bottom surfaces of
food products as they are transported through the first cooking
chamber 14. Advantageously, the direction of airflow or gaseous
medium flow may be controlled by the user on a predefined and/or
adjustable time basis. Suitably, the pattern of air or gaseous
cooking medium flow within the first cooking chamber 14 may be
alternated between different flow patterns at preset or adjustable
rates or may be programmed to follow a predefined time-based
sequence of flow patterns.
[0024] Suitably, the fans 50 may be controlled along with one or
more internal air flow dampers (not shown) which are positioned
within the first cooking chamber 14 as means of continuously
reversing the air flow within chamber 14 on a user defined
interval. Controlling the air flow in this manner within the first
cooking chamber 14 allows the heated gaseous medium to be directed
toward both the top and bottom surfaces of food products as they
are transported through the chamber 14 and thereby allows a user to
control the color development (i.e., browning) of the food
products.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, in the alternative or in combination
with fan 50, steam may be supplied under pressure to the interior
of the first cooking chamber 14 via a steam supply 52. Suitably,
the steam supply 52 may be disposed relative to the fan 50 in the
high pressure region 36.
[0026] The gaseous cooking medium in the first cooking chamber 14
may be heated using an indirect gas heating system, a direct gas
heating system, steam, super heated steam and/or electric heating
system. The provision of various sources of heated gaseous cooking
medium allows a great amount of versatility in the operation of the
continuous cooking oven system 10.
[0027] In one embodiment, steam may be used exclusively in the
first cooking chamber 14, and slow thorough cooking of the food
products may be achieved more efficiently. In a steam only
environment, food products travel through the first cooking chamber
14 for slow cooking at a temperature of about 200.degree. F. (about
95.degree. C.) to about 600.degree. F. (about 315.degree. C.) in a
high humidity or steam environment. In this way the food products
may be thoroughly cooked while maintaining their moisture
content.
[0028] Alternatively, a burner or other heat source may be used to
achieve temperatures between about 90.degree. F. (about 32.degree.
C.) and about 600.degree. F. (about 315.degree. C.) or about
200.degree. F. (about 95.degree. C.) to about 450.degree. F. (about
235.degree. C.) in the first cooking chamber 14. When used in
combination, the steam supply and burner provide a high temperature
cooking environment in conjunction with a high humidity or steam
environment for more efficient cooking of food products.
[0029] Suitably, the temperature and/or humidity levels within the
first cooking chamber 14 may be selectably controlled based upon
the type of food product being cooked in the continuous cooking
oven system 10.
[0030] A second continuous conveyor 54 is disposed within the
second cooking chamber 16 to transport food products from the inlet
opening 22, through a linear path within the second cooking chamber
16, to the outlet opening 24 of the second cooking chamber 16.
Suitably, the second continuous conveyor 54 may transport food
product through a downwardly extending path within the second
cooking chamber 16. Suitably, the slope of the second continuous
conveyor 54 is selected to prevent food products from sliding down
or slipping off of the conveyor. In one embodiment, the second
continuous conveyor 54 may slope downward at an angle 58 of up to
about 30 degrees as measured from a floor 56 of the second cooking
chamber 16, or about 5 to about 20 degrees or about 12 degrees.
Orienting the second conveyor in this manner reduces the amount of
space the continuous cooking oven system 10 occupies within a
production facility.
[0031] In one embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 2, the first
continuous conveyor 28 and the second continuous conveyor 54 may be
in the form of a single continuous pervious conveyor belt 30.
Suitably, the conveyor belt 30 enters the first cooking chamber 14
through inlet opening 18, travels through an upwardly extending
helical path from a low pressure region 38 to a high pressure
region 36 within the first cooking chamber 14, exits the first
cooking chamber 14 through outlet opening 20, enters the second
cooking chamber 16 through inlet opening 22, travels through a
downwardly extending path within the second cooking chamber 16 to
the outlet opening 24 of the second cooking chamber 16. Suitably,
food products carried on the conveyor belt 30 are transferred to
another conveyor or collection apparatus at the outlet opening 24
of the second cooking chamber 16. The conveyor belt 30 then travels
through an upwardly extending path within the second cooking
chamber 16, exits the second cooking chamber 16 through inlet
opening 22, enters the first cooking chamber 14 through outlet
opening 20, travels through a downwardly extending linear path from
the high pressure region 36 to the low pressure region 38 within
the first cooking chamber 14, and exits the first cooking chamber
through the inlet opening 18.
[0032] A desired cooking environment is created within the second
cooking chamber 16 by providing at least one source of heat such as
steam, super heated steam and/or heated air. Suitably, the desired
cooking environment is created within the second cooking chamber 16
by providing a source of heated gaseous cooking medium such as
heated air which is circulated about the food products within the
second cooking chamber 16. Advantageously, the heated gaseous
cooking medium is circulated at a high velocity and an elevated
temperature such that the heated gaseous cooking medium impinges
upon the surfaces of the food product thereby causing the products
to brown evenly on both an upper surface and a lower surface.
[0033] Suitably, the heated gaseous cooking medium is circulated
within the second cooking chamber 16 at a velocity of about 400 fpm
(about 120 m/min) to about 5000 fpm (about 1525 m/min).
[0034] Suitably, the heated gaseous cooking medium is circulated
within the second cooking chamber 16 at a temperature of about
200.degree. F. (about 95.degree. C.) to about 750.degree. F. (about
400.degree. C.).
[0035] Referring to FIG. 4, the heated gaseous cooking medium is
circulated within the second cooking chamber 16 by at least one
impingement air flow distribution chamber 60 disposed above the
second continuous conveyor 54 to circulate the heated gaseous
cooking medium in an upper portion 66 of the second cooking chamber
16 and at least one impingement air flow distribution chamber 62
disposed below the second continuous conveyor 54 to circulate the
heated gaseous cooking medium in a lower portion 68 of the second
cooking chamber 16. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, at least
one impingement air flow distribution chamber 60 is disposed above
the second continuous conveyor 54 adjacent the outlet opening 24
within the second oven chamber 16 and at least one impingement air
flow distribution chamber 62 is disposed below the second
continuous conveyor 54 adjacent the inlet opening 22 within the
second cooking chamber 16. The impingement air flow distribution
chambers may include a combination of forced draft air flow and
induced air flow to generate desired and uniform conditions
throughout the second cooking chamber 16.
[0036] Each impingement air flow distribution chamber 60, 62
includes at least one recirculation fan (not shown). Suitably, each
recirculation fan is independently controlled such that the fan
speed may be varied to achieve desired attributes. For example, a
recirculation fan of the impingement air flow distribution chamber
62 may be operated at a higher speed than a recirculation fan of
impingement air flow distribution chamber 60 to ensure that a
bottom surface of the food products browns at a level comparable to
an upper surface of the food products which may have been partially
browned in the first cooking chamber 14.
[0037] Suitably, the gaseous cooking medium within the second
cooking chamber 16 may be heated using a direct gas heating system,
an indirect gas heating system, steam, super heated steam, an
indirect thermal oil heating system and/or an electric heating
system. In one embodiment, the continuous cooking oven 10 may
include a thermal fluid heat exchanger (not shown) in fluid
communication with the second cooking chamber 16. The thermal fluid
heat exchanger suitably directs heated gaseous cooking medium from
the impingement air flow distribution chambers 60, 62 through the
second cooking chamber 16 and across the second continuous conveyor
54. The thermal fluid heat exchange may be a super heated steam
exchange, a direct gas fired heat exchanger or an indirect gas
fired heat exchange. In one embodiment, the thermal fluid heat
exchanger may be a flat plate heat exchanger, fin and tube heat
exchanger or similar heat exchanger that includes an internally
circulating flow of thermal fluid. The thermal fluid may suitably
include synthetic thermal fluid oil such as a silicon based thermal
fluid oil. Suitably, the heat exchange operates at a temperature of
about 400.degree. F. (about 205.degree. C.) to about 750.degree. F.
(about 400.degree. C.). Thermal fluid heating permits a higher
humidity oven atmosphere than conventional gas-fired heating
systems because of the absence of moisture diluting entering
combustion air.
[0038] The continuous cooking oven system 10 may further include a
steam supply in communication with second cooking chamber 16.
Referring to FIG. 4, steam may be supplied under pressure to the
interior of the second cooking chamber 16 via a steam supply
64.
[0039] Suitably, the first cooking chamber 14 and the second
cooking chamber 16 may be operated under similar conditions. For
example, the first and second cooking chamber 14, 16 may be
operated with comparable air flow, air temperature and humidity
levels. Alternatively, the first cooking chamber 14 and the second
cooking chamber may be operated under different conditions.
[0040] Additionally, an in-place cleaning system may be disposed
within the second cooking chamber 16 to remove grease and soil
generated during the cooking process.
[0041] Food products which may be suitably cooked within the
continuous cooking oven system 10 include, but are not limited to,
beef, pork, fish, poultry, bakery products and/or other food
products including food products having various coatings applied to
at least a portion of an outer surface. Advantageously,
temperature, humidity, air and/or heated gaseous cooking medium
velocity and flow, and conveyor speed as well as other cooking
parameters may be selectably controlled based on the type of food
product to be cooked in order to achieve desired product quality
and consistency. Suitably, the cooking parameters in each cooking
chamber 14, 16 may be independently, selectably controlled.
[0042] In a further embodiment, not shown, a continuous cooking
oven system may include a first cooking chamber disposed between
and in serial communication with second and third cooking chambers.
Each cooking chamber contains a heated gaseous cooking medium. A
second conveyor transports food products through a linear path
within the second cooking chamber to an inlet of the first cooking
chamber. A first continuous conveyor continuous conveyor transport
food products to be cooked through a helical path within the first
cooking chamber to an inlet of the third cooking chamber. A third
continuous conveyor transports food products from an outlet of the
first cooking chamber through a linear path, suitably a downwardly
extending linear path, within the third cooking chamber. Suitably,
the second and third cooking chambers may use, at least in part, an
air impingement system as described above to cook and/or brown food
products on upper and lower surfaces, while the first cooking
chamber may use, in part, a steam impingement system as described
above to cook food products within the first cooking chamber.
Suitably, the second and third cooking chambers include at least
one impingement air distribution chamber disposed within each
cooking chamber to circulate a heated gaseous cooking medium within
each chamber.
[0043] While in the foregoing specification this invention has been
described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and
many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is
susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the
details described herein can be varied considerably without
departing from the basic principles of the invention.
* * * * *