Abstract:
A conveyor oven having a hollow conveyor frame that supports a conveyor belt within an oven chamber of the oven. A cooling fan draws air from ambient that flows through the hollow conveyor frame to cool its exterior surface to prevent harm to an operator of the oven. The cooling air may also flow through passages adjacent other exterior surfaces of the oven.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/308,555, 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 and, in particular, to a conveyor oven and method with cooled exterior surfaces. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Conveyorized ovens include a conveyor belt that moves food from a position where a user places the food on a conveyor belt through an oven cavity where the food is cooked and out of the oven cavity to be retrieved by the user. Most conveyor frames on conveyorized ovens, for example, toasters, do not have to worry about getting too hot because the ambient air in the room is enough to keep it cool. Most conveyorized toasters do not operate at a temperature high enough to heat the conveyor frame above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It is desirable to reduce a time required for heating food in an oven. Such time requirements would require use of more wattage that causes heat in the oven cavity where the food is heated to escape and undesirably conduct into the conveyor frame, which can cause injury should a user contact the frame. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a conveyor oven and method with cooling of external surfaces for user safety. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    An embodiment of a conveyor oven according to the present disclosure comprises a housing defining an oven chamber with an inlet. A conveyor extends through the inlet into the oven chamber and comprises a conveyor belt. A hollow conveyor frame defines a passage and surrounds an end of the conveyor belt that extends outside the inlet. A heating element supplies heat to cook food product on the conveyor belt. A fan is in fluid communication with the passage and draws air from ambient to flow through the passage to cool the hollow conveyor frame. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, there is provided one or more apertures through which the air flows to ambient after passing through the passage of the hollow conveyor frame. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, at least one of the apertures is located in the hollow conveyor frame. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the housing comprises a first side wall that has an interior wall and an exterior wall defining a first side wall passage that is in fluid communication with the passage of the hollow conveyor frame. The air from ambient also flows through the first side wall passage to cool the exterior wall. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the housing comprises a second side wall that has an interior wall and an exterior wall defining a second side wall passage that is in fluid communication with the passage of the hollow conveyor frame. The air from ambient also flows through the second side wall passage to cool the exterior wall. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the conveyor oven further comprises a bottom compartment that is disposed below the oven chamber and that is in fluid communication with the passage. At least one aperture to ambient is disposed in the bottom compartment. The fan is disposed in the bottom compartment to draw the air from ambient via the aperture. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the conveyor oven further comprises a tray disposed remotely of the inlet. The conveyor belt conveys the food product through the inlet and the oven chamber and delivers the food product to the tray. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the conveyor oven of the present disclosure, the tray is at least partly disposed outside the oven chamber. 
         [0015]    An embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure cools one or more surfaces of a conveyor oven. Heat is applied to a conveyor that extends through the inlet into an oven chamber of the conveyor oven and that comprises a conveyor belt. An end of the conveyor belt that extends outside the inlet is surrounded with a hollow conveyor frame defining a passage. A fan is in fluid communication with the passage and draws air from ambient to flow through the passage to cool the hollow conveyor frame. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the method further comprises flowing the air through one or more apertures to ambient after passing through the passage of the hollow conveyor frame. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, at least one of the apertures is located in the hollow conveyor frame. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the conveyor oven further comprises one or more side walls, each of which includes an interior wall and an exterior wall defining a side wall passage that is in fluid communication with the passage of the hollow conveyor frame. The air from ambient also flows through the side wall passage to cool the exterior wall. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the fan is disposed in a bottom compartment that is located below the oven chamber and that is in fluid communication with the passage. The fan draws air from ambient via at least one aperture disposed in the bottom compartment. 
         [0020]    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 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a top side perspective view of a conveyor oven according to the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a schematic top view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a schematic front view of the oven conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a bottom side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  with a top tilted from the bottom compartment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a bottom front perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  with a top tilted from the bottom compartment. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a schematic top side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  having a first side wall removed. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a schematic top side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  having a second side wall removed. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a schematic partial top side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  having the second side wall removed. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a schematic exploded view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a schematic exploded view of the conveyor frame of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a schematic bottom view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  indicating an airflow path. 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a schematic top side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  having the first side wall removed indicating the airflow path. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a schematic top side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  having the second side wall removed indicating the airflow path. 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a schematic front side perspective view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  having the second side wall removed indicating the airflow path. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0036]    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 . 
         [0037]    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 . 
         [0038]    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 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 9 , 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 . 
         [0040]    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  235 . Second compartment side wall  255  has an aperture  257  therethrough from second compartment interior  256  to interior volume  180  in conveyor frame  115 . 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 11 , conveyor frame  115  has outer wall assembly  165  and inner wall assembly  170  that form a hollow frame compartment or passage  175  having interior volume  180  therebetween. Outer wall assembly  165  and inner wall assembly  170  are connected, for example, by screws, to form interior volume  180  therebetween. Outer wall assembly  165  has an outer front portion  285 , a first outer side portion  290 , and a second outer side portion  295 . Inner wall assembly  170  has an inner front portion  300 , a first inner side portion  305 , and a second inner side portion  310 . First outer side portion  290  and first inner side portion  305  form a first side passage. Second outer side portion  295  and second inner side portion  310  form a second side passage. Outer front portion  285  and inner front portion  300  form a front passage. Outer wall assembly  165  connects to inner wall assembly  170  forming interior volume  180  that is continuous among first side passage, front passage and second side passage. Outer front portion  285  has apertures  185  therethrough as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  10 . Inner wall assembly  170  is connected to drive shaft assembly  190  by a belt tensioner assembly  280 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  10 , top wall  135  covers a pair of fans (not shown). The pair of fans may be connected to top wall  135 . Front wall  131  forms a first duct with a top panel  320  and rear wall  132  forms a second duct with top panel  320 . The fans draw air through the first duct and the second duct through the fans and through apertures  145  through top wall  135 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , heating elements  325  are connected between first compartment  150  and second compartment  155 . A reflecting assembly  330  may be positioned between top panel  320  and heating elements  325 . An interior crumb tray  335  may be placed between bottom wall  225  and conveyor belt  195 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , base wall  211  has an aperture  340  therethrough that provides fluid communication between bottom interior volume or passage  215  and an ambient environment of oven  100 . Fan  220  draws air from the ambient environment through aperture  340 , as shown by arrows A, into passage  215  in bottom compartment  140 . The air is at a temperature that is lower than a temperature within passage  215 . The air passes from passage  215  through apertures  240  in first bottom side wall  230  and apertures  275  in first back panel  265  into first compartment passage  271 , as shown by arrows B. The air passes from first compartment passage  271  through aperture  272  in first compartment side wall  270  into passage  180  of frame compartment  175 , as shown by arrows C. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the air also passes from passage  215  through apertures  240  in second bottom side wall  235  and apertures  260  in second back panel  250  into second compartment passage  256 , as shown by arrows D. The air passes from second compartment passage  256  through aperture  257  in second compartment side wall  255  into passage  180  of frame compartment  175 , as shown by arrows E. The air flows through passage  180  and exits passage  180  through apertures  185  in outer wall assembly  165 , as shown by arrows F. First compartment  150  and second compartment  155  are pressurized with the air cooling first side wall  125 , second side wall  130 , first back panel  265 , first compartment side wall  270 , second back panel  256 , and second compartment side wall  255 . The air flows from a high pressure environment in first compartment  150  and second compartment  155  to a low pressure area in passage  180  cooling conveyor frame  115  so that a user will not be burned by conveyor frame  115  allowing oven  100  to be placed at any height for operation. 
         [0046]    The heat required to maintain oven cavity  200  at a desired temperature causes critical sheetmetal components of oven  100  to rise above about 140 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result conveyor frame  115  becomes undesirably too hot and causes injury to the user when touched. Conveyor frame  115  that is hollow with passage  180  allows cool air from first compartment  150  and second compartment  155  to be pulled from first compartment  150  and second compartment  155  through conveyor frame  115  and out apertures  185  at an end of conveyor frame  115 . The cool air from first compartment  150  and second compartment  155  transfers heat away from material of conveyor frame  115 , for example, sheetmetal. 
         [0047]    It should also be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “upper”, “lower”, “above”, “below”, and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
         [0048]    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.