Abstract:
A conveyor oven and method with enhanced serviceability. The conveyor oven has a top portion that is pivotally affixed to a base portion so that the top portion can be titled rearwardly during servicing, thereby exposing the conveyor oven&#39;s components for service. Also, a hinged crumb tray assists in maintaining the integrity of the oven and avoiding fire, smoke or undesirable smells during operation of the oven.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/308,605, filed Feb. 26, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to a conveyor oven and method for easy access for maintenance in a small or very confined footprint area. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Space is essential in a restaurant and is typically very limited. The foodservice equipment does not always have room to operate or use all of its features due to limited footprint allowance for such foodservice equipment, especially in pre-existing restaurants. 
         [0006]    That is, space is very valuable in a make line at a restaurant, so much so that it could determine if the restaurant buys a new piece of equipment. Since this space is so valuable there is not going to be enough room to service the piece of equipment where it is located within the restaurant. As such, many service providers are required to remove the equipment from it location on the make line in order to service it. This results in additional downtime during servicing and requires additional servicemen, since equipment often requires more than one service person to remove from its location due to size and weight. 
         [0007]    Another service problem arises in the case of a crumb tray. If not timely serviced and left in a conveyor oven too long, unwanted smells and reduction in performance of the conveyor oven can result. Removal of crumb trays from conveyor ovens is usually extremely difficult because restaurants typically only provide enough make line space for an oven and provides no additional space to allow for ready removal of a conventional crumb tray. That is, if the oven is 30 inches long and is disposed within a 32 inch space, there is not much room for accessories, like a crumb tray, to slide in and out of the piece of equipment. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need for a conveyor oven and method that allows for servicing and maintenance in place within a restaurant&#39;s make line. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0009]    In an embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the conveyor oven comprises a housing defining an oven chamber. A conveyor extends through the inlet into the oven chamber. The conveyor comprises a conveyor belt driven to transport food product into the oven chamber. A member is configured with the housing and is rotatable about a pivot to provide access for maintenance. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the member is selected from the group consisting of: a crumb tray and a bottom portion. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the crumb tray comprises a first flat portion and a second flat portion that are rotatable about the pivot. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the first flat portion and the second flat portion are co-planar when the crumb tray is fully installed in the housing. The crumb tray further comprises a handle extending from the first flat portion to assist in removal and installation of the crumb tray in the housing by rotation about the pivot of the first flat portion away from or toward the second flat portion. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the crumb tray further comprises a hinge assembly attached to the first and second flat portions for rotation about the pivot. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the housing comprises a slot and a tray support. The crumb tray is configured with the housing via the slot and the tray support. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the bottom portion is attached to the housing at the pivot so that either the housing or the bottom portion can be rotated about the pivot between a closed position and an access position. The housing and bottom portion are flush with one another in the closed position and are apart from one another in the access position. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, a hinge assembly is attached to the housing and the bottom portion for rotation about the pivot. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, parts that require maintenance are disposed in the bottom portion. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the method comprises providing a housing defining an oven chamber in the conveyor oven and at least one member of the conveyor oven that is configured with the housing and rotating at least one of the member and the housing about a pivot to provide access for maintenance. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the member is selected from the group consisting of: a crumb tray and a bottom portion. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the crumb tray comprises a first flat portion and a second flat portion that are rotatable about the pivot. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the first flat portion and the second flat portion are co-planar when the crumb tray is fully installed in the housing. A handle extends from the first flat portion to assist in removal and installation of the crumb tray in the housing by rotation about the pivot of the first flat portion away from or toward the second flat portion. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the crumb tray further comprises a hinge assembly attached to the first and second flat portions for rotation about the pivot. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the housing comprises a slot and a tray support. The crumb tray is configured with the housing via the slot and the tray support. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the bottom portion is attached to the housing at the pivot so that either the housing or the bottom portion can be rotated about the pivot between a closed position and an access position. The housing and bottom portion are flush with one another in the closed position and are apart from one another in the access position. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, a hinge assembly is attached to the housing and the bottom portion for rotation about the pivot. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, parts that require maintenance are disposed in the bottom portion. 
         [0027]    The above-described and other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a top side perspective view of a conveyor oven according to the present disclosure. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a schematic top view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a schematic front view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a bottom side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  with the top portion tilted open to allow for cleaning of the components in a bottom compartment thereof. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a bottom front perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  tilted open. 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a schematic top side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  having a first side wall removed. 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a schematic top side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  having a second side wall removed. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a schematic exploded view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a schematic front right side partial perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is a schematic rear left side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is a schematic top left side perspective view of the hinged crumb tray of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 13  is a schematic left planar view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0041]    Referring to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1-4 , an exemplary embodiment of a conveyor oven according to the present disclosure is generally referred to by reference numeral  100 . Conveyor oven  100  comprises a conveyor  104 , a housing  120  and a conveyor frame  115 . Housing  120  has a first side wall  125 , a second side wall  130 , a first front wall  131 , a rear wall  132 , a second front wall  133 , a bottom wall  225  and a top wall  135  that define an oven cavity or oven chamber  200  having an inlet  201  and an outlet  323 . Housing  120  is connected to a bottom compartment  140 . Top wall  135  has apertures  145 . First side wall  125  covers a first compartment or side wall passage  150 . Second side wall  130  covers a second compartment or side wall passage  155 . A user interface  160  is disposed on first side wall  125 . A user can use user interface  160  to enter data for cooking instructions or other data for conveyor oven  100 . Conveyor  104  comprises a conveyor belt  195  that extends through inlet  201  into oven chamber  200  and is supported by housing  120 . Conveyor frame  115  surrounds at least a portion of conveyor belt  195  that is outside inlet  201 . 
         [0042]    Conveyor frame  115  is hollow as defined by an outer wall assembly  165  and an inner wall assembly  170  that form a frame compartment or passage  175  having an interior volume  180  therebetween. Outer wall assembly  165  has apertures  185  therethrough allowing fluid communication between interior volume  180  and an ambient environment surrounding conveyor frame  115 . Inner wall assembly  170  is connected to a drive shaft assembly  190 , which moves conveyor belt  195 . Food is placed on conveyor belt  195  by a user so that conveyor belt  195  moves the food from a position within conveyor frame  115  through oven chamber  200  to a rear tray  205 . Conveyor frame  115  may be connected above an external crumb tray  206  that collects any loose debris or particles from conveyor belt  195  due to the user placing food product on conveyor belt  195 . 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-6 , bottom compartment  140  comprises a bottom housing  210  with a base wall  211  and a base side wall  212  forming a bottom interior volume  215  that houses a fan  220 . When bottom compartment  140  is connected to housing  120 , interior volume  215  is covered by a bottom wall  225  of housing  120  and a first bottom side wall  230  of first compartment  150  and a second bottom side wall  235  of second compartment  155 . First bottom side wall  230  has apertures  240  therethrough and second bottom side wall  235  has apertures  245  therethrough to provide fluid communication between interior volume  215  and side wall compartments  150  and  155 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , first compartment  150  has a first back panel  265  surrounded by a first compartment side wall  270  forming a first compartment interior  271 . First back panel  265  has apertures  275  therethrough adjacent an edge that connects to first bottom side wall  230 . First compartment side wall  270  has an aperture  272  therethrough from first compartment interior  271  to interior volume  180  in conveyor frame  115 . 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , second compartment  155  has a second back panel  250  surrounded by a second compartment side wall  255  forming a second compartment interior  256 . Second back panel  250  has apertures  260  therethrough adjacent an edge that connects to second bottom side wall  230 . Second compartment side wall  255  has an aperture  257  therethrough from second compartment interior  256  to interior volume  180  in conveyor frame  115 . 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10-12 , an internal crumb tray  335  is disposed within a slot  303  of a scraper  300 , which includes a flat sheet of metal  302  affixed to housing  120  of conveyor oven  100 . Scraper  300  has an angled port  308  disposed at the top thereof and in close proximity to conveyor belt  195 , just prior to belt  195  making its turn at the exit side of conveyor oven  100 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , internal crumb tray  335  comprises a first flat portion  312 , a second flat portion  314  and a remover tab  305 . First flat portion  312  and second flat portion  314  are pivotally connected to one another via a hinge assembly  316 . 
         [0048]    In  FIGS. 10 and 11 , internal crumb tray  335  is installed in conveyor oven  100  via slot  303  beneath oven chamber  200  to collect cooking by-products (e.g., crumbs) that fall from conveyor belt  195  during cooking of the food products. In the fully installed position, internal crumb tray  335  is in fully extended configuration in which first and second flat portions are co-planar. In this position, only removal tab  305  is outside slot  303  of scraper  300 . Internal crumb tray  335  is supported by a ledge or rail (not shown) on the interior surfaces of back panels  250  and  270 . 
         [0049]    To remove internal crumb tray  335  from conveyor oven  100 , removal tab  305  is used to manually pull internal crumb tray  335  outwardly through slot  303 . When hinge assembly  316  is outside slot  303 , first flat portion  312  can be rotated upwardly of downwardly before sliding or pulling internal crumb tray  335  fully out of slot  303 . To install internal crumb tray  335 , second flat portion  314  is inserted into slot  303  and pushed until hinge assembly  316  enters conveyor oven  100 . Then the operator can use tab  305  to push first flat portion  312  and internal crumb tray  335  fully into conveyor oven  100 . 
         [0050]    Hinged crumb tray  335  makes maintenance of conveyor oven  100  much more user friendly, thereby ensuring that attendants will remove and empty hinged crumb tray  335  on a periodic basis, thereby more efficiently removing of debris and allows for more reflecting of heat in the cooking chamber of conveyor oven  100 , thus resulting in a better cook. Also, hinged crumb tray  335  allows it to be removed from very tight make line spaces and avoids having the service providers remove conveyor oven  100  itself from its current position. Hinged crumb tray  335  also removes items that may smell of char or other foods that might not be so appetizing. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  10 ,  11  and  13 , conveyor oven  100  also comprises a hinge assembly  406  that pivotally connects housing  120  and bottom compartment  140  to one another. Thus, housing  120  can be tilted open by pivoting rearward to allow a service provider access the internals of housing  120  and bottom compartment  140 . Bottom compartment  140  remains stationary as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  on a make line work platform (not shown) when housing  120  is tilted rearward. In the tilted position most of the critical components are exposed and accessible to a service person. 
         [0052]    One advantage of the novel hinged oven body is serviceability. That is the oven does not have to be removed from its current location to be worked on and it also helps save the service provider from getting hurt when trying to move the oven from its location during servicing. 
         [0053]    While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.