Patent Abstract:
A conveyor oven is provided that includes a conveyor assembly having an inlet section, and inner section and an outlet section. The conveyor assembly facilitates ease of removal by an enduser by allowing a single person to perform removal in a confined space.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/431,636, filed Jan. 11, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a conveyor oven. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a conveyor oven and method that has an improved design to aid in installation and removal of the parts of the oven as, for example, the conveyor assembly. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In the market place today, end users of conveyor type ovens often have to consider conveyor removal and installation in their buying decision in order to accommodate physical constraints imposed by their kitchen layout that affects removal of parts for routine cleaning and maintenance. This factor is increasingly important for certain segments of the market since many end users are interested in kitchen layouts with smaller space constraints. In addition, distributors are looking to minimize their inventory of items while maintaining, or expanding, their base of potential customers for each application of the products they carry. 
         [0006]    A conventional conveyor oven has a conveyor assembly, or conveyor assemblies, which must be removed either from the front of the oven or from either end of the conveyor oven. Furthermore, the conveyor assembly is often removed in one large section. Products that offer front removal of the conveyor assembly must be installed in an area where the layout has immediate space available. Products that offer removal of the conveyor assembly from the ends must provide adequate space towards the ends of the conveyor oven. In the case of larger conveyor ovens, the process of removing the conveyor assembly often requires the use of two people in order to avoid damage to the unit and to prevent unsafe working conditions. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, the layout of other kitchen equipment surrounding the oven is an additional factor that must be considered when purchasing a conveyor oven. Due to space constraints inherent to some kitchen layouts, some kitchen layouts are better suited for removal of the conveyor from the front of the oven while other layouts are better suited for removal of the conveyor from the ends of the oven. This can often limit the selection of conveyors available for an enduser to purchase. 
         [0008]    Thus, there is a need for a conveyor oven that can be easily installed and function in a wide range of kitchen layouts. 
         [0009]    There is also a need for a conveyor oven, which allows for the installation and removal of the parts of a conveyor oven to be performed by one person. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0010]    The belt of the conveyor assembly has a splicing method for the belt which allows the end user to disconnect the belt without the aid of tools in a time period of under one minute after the release of a belt tension quick release tensioner assembly. Once the belt has been removed, the inner section(s) can be removed from the interior of the oven by picking the conveyor section vertically upwards and off of the alignment slots and support brackets located at the ends of each section. Larger ovens may require more than one interior conveyor section and thus may have additional alignment and support brackets located towards the inner portions of the oven. The drive end section for the conveyor may then be removed by first disengaging the drive mechanism and then rotating the conveyor upward and pushing downward so that the interlocking mechanism can be disengaged. This allows for the section to be removed from the oven at that time. The process is then repeated for the non-drive end section with the exception that no drive mechanism is present. The drive end and non-drive end sections include a leveling mechanism to maintain proper angular orientation of the conveyor with respect to the center section(s). These sections can be installed and removed in no particular order. 
         [0011]    A conveyor oven according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a housing that defines an oven chamber with at least one opening. A conveyor assembly is disposed in the oven to convey food products in the oven toward or away from the opening and is removably mounted to the housing. A fastening mechanism comprises a plurality of first portions affixed to the conveyor assembly and a like plurality of second portions affixed to the housing. The first and second portions comprise mating elements that removably mount the conveyor assembly to the housing. 
         [0012]    A conveyor oven according to another embodiment of the present disclosure further comprises a door disposed on the housing that, when open, permits installation and removal of the conveyor assembly. 
         [0013]    In a conveyor oven according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the conveyor assembly comprises a first section and a second section. The first section is disposed in the oven and the fastening mechanism mounts the first section to the housing. The second section is disposed outside the oven chamber adjacent the opening. A second fastening mechanism comprises at least a first portion affixed to the housing and at least a second portion affixed to the second section. The first and second portions of the second fastening mechanism comprise mating elements that removably mount the second section to the housing adjacent the opening. 
         [0014]    In a conveyor oven according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing comprises a first opening corresponding to the at least one opening, and a second opening. The first section is disposed between the first and second openings. The conveyor assembly further comprises a third section that is disposed outside the oven chamber adjacent the second opening. A third fastening mechanism comprises at least a first portion affixed to the housing and at least a second portion affixed to the third section. The first and second portions of the third fastening mechanism comprise mating elements that removably mount the third section to the housing adjacent the second opening. 
         [0015]    In a conveyor oven according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the conveyor assembly further comprises a belt that is readily fastened to an endless condition and unfastened to a non-endless condition without a tool. 
         [0016]    A method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises removing a conveyor assembly from a conveyor oven that comprises a housing defining an oven chamber with at least one opening. The method comprises converting a belt of the conveyor assembly from an endless condition to a non-endless condition; removing the non-endless condition belt from the conveyor assembly; dislodging a plurality of portions of a fastening mechanism carried by the conveyor assembly from a plurality of mating fastening portions carried by the housing to free the conveyor assembly from the housing; and removing the freed conveyor assembly from the oven chamber. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the belt of the conveyor assembly is converted from an endless condition to a non-endless condition without a tool. 
         [0018]    A method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises installing a conveyor assembly to a conveyor oven that comprises a housing defining an oven chamber with at least one opening. The method comprises: engaging a plurality of portions of a fastening mechanism carried by the conveyor assembly with a plurality of mating fastening portions carried by the housing to removably secure the conveyor assembly to the housing; and securing a belt to the conveyor assembly. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the belt in a non-endless condition is wrapped about the conveyor assembly and then converted to an endless condition. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the engaging step comprises: engaging a first plurality of portions of a first fastening mechanism carried by a first section of the conveyor assembly in the oven with a first plurality of mating fastening portions carried by the housing to removably secure the first section to the housing in the oven chamber; and engaging at least one second portion of a second fastening mechanism carried by a second section of the conveyor assembly with at least one second mating portion of the second fastening mechanism carried by the housing to removably secure the second section to the housing outside the oven chamber adjacent the opening. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, the housing further defines a second opening of the oven chamber. The engaging step further comprises engaging at least a third portion of a third fastening mechanism carried by a third section of the conveyor assembly with at least a third mating portion of the third fastening mechanism carried by the housing to removably secure the third section to the housing outside the oven chamber adjacent the second opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Other and further benefits, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure and: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conveyor oven of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a view of detail A of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a view of detail B of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the conveyor oven of  FIG. 1  with the middle conveyor section elevated. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a conveyor oven  20  according to the present disclosure comprises a housing  24 , which preferably has a box structure. Housing  24  comprises a bottom cap  50 , a top cap  52 , a back wall  54 , a left side wall  56  and a right side wall  58 . Bottom cap  50  is fastened to left side wall  56  and right side wall  58  at locations near their respective bottoms. Top cap  52  is fastened to left side wall  56  and right side wall  58 . Back wall  54  is fastened to right side wall  58  and left side wall  56  near their respective rears. A door (not shown) is attached to the front of housing  24 . For example, the door can be attached with hinges to a front top rail  40  and/or to left side wall  56  and right side wall  58 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , conveyor oven  20  further comprises an oven chamber  80  disposed to the front of an interior divider wall  68  and a chamber  82  disposed between interior divider wall  68  and back wall  54 . A thermal source, a blower and ductwork (none of which is shown on the drawing) are disposed in chamber  82 . The blower circulates heated air among oven chamber  80  and chamber  82  via the ductwork. The circulating air is heated by the thermal source, which can be any suitable heater that heats the circulating air. For example, the thermal source may be a gas burner, electric heater or other thermal source. Chamber  82  extends beyond right side wall  58  to accommodate a gas burner. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , conveyor oven  20  is adapted for use on a flat surface above a floor, for example, a table top, a counter top a shelf or other flat surface. In other embodiments conveyor oven  20  may have legs or other supporting structure for stand-alone use on a floor. 
         [0031]    A left port or opening  84  is located in left side wall  56  and a right port or opening  86  is located in right side wall  58  in alignment with oven chamber  80 . A conveyor assembly  90  is partly disposed within oven chamber  80  and partly outside of oven chamber  80 . To this end, conveyor assembly  90  extends through left and right openings  84  and  86  for the loading and removal of food products. 
         [0032]    Conveyor assembly  90  comprises a belt  98 , a left section  92 , a right section  94  and an interior section  96 . Belt  98  has an endless condition or configuration and a non-endless condition or configuration. In the endless configuration, belt  98  extends around left section  92 , interior section  96  and right section  94 . Belt  98  is driven by any suitable motive device and linkage to convey food through oven chamber  80  in a direction to enter via one of left and right openings  84  and  86  and exit via the other. For example, if belt  98  is driven in the direction denoted by arrow  100  in  FIG. 2 , the food would enter oven chamber  80  via right opening  86  and exit via left opening  84 . Belt  98  is disposed around a wheel  102  in left section  92  and around a wheel  104  in right section  94 . Wheel  104  is mounted on an axle  106 , which is driven by a motor (not shown) to impart motion of belt  98  in the direction shown by arrow  100 . Wheel  102  is mounted on an axle  108 , which is an idle axle (i.e., not a driven axle). In other embodiments, the roles of wheels  102  and  104  may be reversed with wheel  102  being the driven wheel  102  and wheel  104  being the idle wheel. 
         [0033]    As mentioned above, conveyor assembly  90  is removable by one person in a very short time for the purpose of cleaning, service, maintenance or other purpose. This is a result of features that are included in conveyor oven  20 . These features include the separate independent sections  92 ,  94  and  96  and the manner of their connections to housing  24  and belt  98  and its mounting and disengagement from wheels  102  and  104 . 
         [0034]    A tension adjuster  110  is connected via a linkage  112  that moves axle  108  back and forth along the length of belt  98 . Tension adjuster  110  in some designs is operated manually by the end user to provide a quick release of tension of belt  98 . The range of motion is large enough to loosen belt  98  from wheel  102  to an extent that allows belt  98  to become disengaged from wheel  92 . 
         [0035]    Conveyor belt  98  is assembled with a splicing technique into the endless configuration. The splicing technique allows an end user to convert belt  98  from the endless configuration to the non-endless configuration by disconnecting the splice without the aid of tools in a very short time, for example, about one minute or less. An example of this belting is the EZ splice belting of the Wire Belt Company of America. This belt can be quickly removed by pulling the two belt sides together at the splice and rotating the “hooked” belt section out of the other belt section. 
         [0036]    Turning to the mounting on housing  24  of conveyor assembly  90 , left section  92  is mounted to left side wall  56  and right section  94  is mounted to right side wall  58  with interlock mechanisms that allow quick disconnects by an end user. It will be appreciated that the interlock mechanisms are each mounted at the same level or height. As the interlock mechanisms for left section  92  and right section  94  are the same, only the interlock mechanism for right section  94  shown at detail A in  FIG. 2  and in more detail in  FIG. 3  will be described. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an interlock mechanism  120  comprises a slot  122  formed in an end of right section  94  of conveyor assembly  90  and a post  124  formed or attached to right side wall  58 . A similar interlock mechanism is provided for the opposite side of right section  94  and right side wall  58 . To install right section  94  to housing  24 , right section  94  is oriented toward the vertical so that the slots  122  are brought into engagement with posts  124  of right side wall  58 . Slots  122  preferably have a shape that retains or interlocks posts  124  when right section  94  is rotated to its installed position shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Although many such shapes are possible, a preferred shape is an upside down J-shaped slot in which post  122  fits in the crook of the J. 
         [0038]    To remove right section  94  (after belt  98  has been removed), the end user disengages the drive mechanism and merely rotates right section  94  upward and pushes downward to disengage the interlock (i.e., until post  124  disengages from slot  122 ) and then pulls right section  94  away from conveyor oven  20 . It will be appreciated that left section  92  is similarly quickly installed to and removed from left side wall  56  except that left section  92  has no drive mechanism. As noted previously, for removal, belt  98  must be removed by reducing belt tension with tension adjuster  110 . Then belt  98  is despliced and removed by pulling it off conveyor assembly  20 . For installation, belt  98  is threaded around wheels  102  and  104  and then spliced. Tension adjuster  110  is then operated to bring belt  98  to the proper tension for cooking. 
         [0039]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a leveling mechanism  130  maintains proper angular orientation of the conveyor left and right sections  92  and  94  with respect to interior section  96 . Leveling mechanism  130  comprises a bracket  132  affixed to a bottom side of right section  94 . Bracket  132  carries a plunger  134  with an adjustable knob  136 . Knob  136  is manually adjustable by an end user to change the angular orientation of right section  94  of conveyor assembly  90 . Plunger  134  is in contact with right side wall  58  so that as knob  136  is turned, right section  94  rotates upwardly or downwardly based on the turning direction of knob  136 . A like leveling mechanism  130  is provided for the opposite side of right section  94 . Like leveling mechanisms  130  are provided on left front section  92  to maintain proper angular orientation of left section  92  with interior section  96  of conveyor assembly  90 . 
         [0040]    Interior section  96  is mounted to housing  24  with a fastening mechanism  140  shown at detail B in  FIG. 1  and in an expanded view in  FIG. 4 . There are four fastening mechanisms  140 , one for each corner of interior section  96  and corresponding locations of left side wall  56  and right side wall  58 . As the four fastening mechanisms  140  are identical, only the fastening mechanism  140  that fastens the right front corner of interior section  96  to right side wall  58  will be described. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , fastening mechanism  140  comprises a slot portion  142  that is affixed to an inner wall frame  70 . Slot portion  142  comprises a slot  144 . Fastening mechanism  140  also comprises a tab  146  that is mounted to a bottom of interior section  96  and that extends vertically downward at a location where it will mate with slot  144  of slot portion  142  on inner wall frame  70 . To install interior section  96  of conveyor assembly to housing  24 , interior section  96  is moved inside oven chamber  80  via an open door with its tabs  146  extending downward from its four corners and then lowered into registration with slots  144  of left side inner wall frame  70  and right side inner wall frame  70 . To remove interior section  96  from conveyor assembly  90 , the door is opened and interior section  96  is lifted upwardly to disengage fastening mechanisms  140  (i.e., until tabs  146  are clear of their respective slots  144 ) and then moved out of oven chamber  80  via the open door.  FIG. 5  shows interior section  96  in an elevated position prior to engagement with or after disengagement from fastening mechanisms  140 . 
         [0042]    Consequently, cleaning and maintaining the oven  10  is simplified because the orientation of the oven  10  does not hinder access by maintenance and cleaning personnel. 
         [0043]    The present disclosure having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8