Patent Description:
The present invention can be used, advantageously but not exclusively, for the industrial cooking of baked goods such as bread, focaccia, panettone and the like. The invention further concerns an industrial line comprising one or more ovens for cooking food products.

Industrial ovens in which food products are moved inside a cooking tunnel are known.

<CIT> discloses a known static oven of industrial type for cooking baked products such as bread, pizza and the like, which comprises a cooking chamber and a combustion chamber, in which the fumes generated in the combustion chamber can enter the cooking chamber.

<CIT> relates to an outdoor oven comprising a cooking chamber and a combustion chamber, in which both the flames and fumes generated in the combustion chamber can enter the cooking chamber.

However, it is known that it is necessary to obtain a good diffusion of heat inside a cooking tunnel, avoiding forced turbulence for balancing the heat along the entire extension of the tunnel.

There is therefore the need to perfect an oven for the industrial cooking of food products that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

To do this, it is necessary to solve the technical problem of identifying an optimal structure and method for heat distribution in the oven.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide an oven, and to devise a relative method which allows to obtain a good heat diffusion, allowing a more homogeneous cooking and a better browning of the food products.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an oven which allows to obtain an optimal distribution of the temperature therein.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an oven which is as automated as possible, allowing the temperature inside the cooking chamber to be optimally monitored and controlled.

In accordance with the above purposes, and to resolve the technical problem disclosed above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, an oven according to the present invention has been devised for cooking food products comprising an external casing internally having a cooking chamber delimited by internal lateral walls, by an upper wall and a bottom wall and having a front entrance aperture.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the oven comprises an internal casing of refractory material delimited by respective lateral walls and a bottom wall. The internal casing is disposed in the cooking chamber and is supported with respect to the bottom wall of the cooking chamber so as to be distanced therefrom, defining a lower interspace. The internal casing is laterally sized so that at least one lateral wall is distanced from the respective lateral wall of the cooking chamber, defining at least one lateral interspace in communication with the aforesaid lower interspace. The upper edges of the aforesaid lateral walls of the internal casing are distanced from the upper wall of the cooking chamber, defining an upper passage communicating with the at least one lateral interspace and with the inside of the internal casing.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said oven comprises transport means positioned in the internal casing and provided with a plurality of shelves for supporting the food products. The transport means are configured to advance the shelves in a working direction.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the oven comprises at least one combustion chamber, provided with a heat generating source, disposed under a horizontal lying plane of the bottom wall of the internal casing and having an aperture for the outlet of the combustion fumes in direct communication with the aforesaid lower interspace.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the oven comprises suction means having suction mouths disposed inside the bulk of the internal casing. The suction means are configured to cause a forced drawing of the combustion fumes generated by said heat generating source along a path of the combustion fumes which develops from the outlet aperture of the at least one combustion chamber along the lower interspace, ascending along the at least one lateral interspace and, through the at least one upper passage, entering inside the internal casing up to the aforesaid suction mouths disposed in the internal casing. The combustion fumes enter inside the internal casing according to a direction transverse to the working direction.

In doing so, at least the advantage is obtained that such a fumes movement path allows, in its passage along the lower interspace, to heat the lower part of the cooking chamber, for example the refractory of the lower wall, for cooking by irradiation from below, and at the same time to cook the food products by means of an enveloping heat from above. Thanks to such a solution, it is not necessary to provide further heating devices, since the combustion fumes and the heat generated by the combustion chamber are sufficient to cook both the lower part and the upper part of the food products.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lower interspace is subdivided, by means of a separation foil located transversely to said working direction, into corresponding two parts, each communicating through a corresponding lateral interspace and a corresponding upper passage with the inside of the internal casing, defining paths of the combustion fumes which develop from the outlet apertures of the combustion chambers, each along one of the parts of the lower interspace, ascending along the lateral interspaces and, through the upper passages, entering inside the internal casing according to substantially parallel directions and opposite senses to each other and both transverse to the working direction.

Thanks to the presence of the two combustion chambers, each communicating with the internal casing by means of a respective path of the fumes, it is possible to obtain greater homogeneity and uniformity of temperature therein, and consequently a better cooking of baked products.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the transport means are configured to advance the shelves in the working direction along a path which has a forward segment, from the front entrance aperture of said cooking chamber to an opposite end, and an opposite return segment.

A purpose of the present invention is also an industrial cooking line for cooking food products comprising one or more cooking ovens according to the invention, an apparatus for loading and unloading food products cooperating with the front entrance aperture and one or more apparatuses for feeding fuel into one or more combustion chambers.

Another purpose of the present invention is a functioning method for an oven, in which the method provides:.

According to another aspect of the invention, the method provides to generate combustion fumes by means of two heat generating sources of respective two combustion chambers, in which said combustion fumes enter respective parts in which the lower interspace is subdivided and follow respective paths of the combustion fumes which develop along the respective parts, ascend along said lateral interspaces and, through respective upper passages, enter inside the internal casing according to substantially parallel directions and opposite senses to each other and both transverse to said working direction.

According to one aspect of the invention, the method according to the invention provides to advance said food products along a forward segment from the front entrance aperture of said cooking chamber to an opposite end and along an opposite return segment.

With reference to <FIG>, an industrial oven <NUM> for cooking food products <NUM> according to the present invention, in accordance with a first embodiment, comprises an external casing <NUM> internally having a cooking chamber <NUM> delimited by lateral walls <NUM>, <NUM>, by an upper wall <NUM> and a bottom wall <NUM> and having a front entrance aperture <NUM>. The lateral walls <NUM>, <NUM> and the upper wall <NUM> can be at least lined in refractory material <NUM>, on their side facing the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

The oven <NUM> comprises an internal casing <NUM> of refractory material delimited by respective lateral walls <NUM>, <NUM> and by a bottom wall <NUM>.

The internal casing <NUM> is disposed in the cooking chamber <NUM>, supported with respect to the bottom wall <NUM> of the cooking chamber <NUM> so as to be distanced therefrom, defining a lower interspace <NUM>.

The internal casing <NUM> is laterally sized so that at least one lateral wall <NUM> is distanced from the respective lateral wall <NUM> of the cooking chamber <NUM>, defining a lateral interspace <NUM> in communication with the lower interspace <NUM>.

The other lateral wall <NUM> can be distanced from the respective lateral wall <NUM> of the cooking chamber <NUM>, defining a respective lateral interspace <NUM>.

At least one of the two lateral interspaces <NUM> or <NUM> can be separated from the lower interspace <NUM> by a separating element.

The upper edges of the lateral walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the internal casing <NUM> are distanced from the upper wall <NUM> of the cooking chamber <NUM>, defining at least one upper passage <NUM> communicating on one side with the lateral interspace <NUM> and on the other side with the inside of the internal casing <NUM>.

The oven <NUM> comprises transport means <NUM> (<FIG>) positioned in the internal casing <NUM> and configured to advance the food products <NUM> along a working direction WD.

The transport means <NUM> are preferably idle roller conveyors, although they can be made differently.

The transport means <NUM> are provided with a plurality of advancement bearings <NUM> and are provided with a plurality of shelves <NUM> for supporting the food products <NUM>.

The bearings <NUM> are adapted to rotate around an axis thereof to advance the shelves <NUM> in a working direction WD along a path which can have a forward segment D1, from the front entrance aperture <NUM> of the cooking chamber <NUM> to an opposite end, and an opposite return segment D2 (<FIG>).

Preferably, the bearings <NUM> cooperate with the shelves <NUM> only in correspondence with a peripheral part of the shelves <NUM>, in correspondence with the lateral walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the internal casing <NUM>. Advantageously, the bearings <NUM> have reduced friction with the shelves <NUM>, reducing the power required to move them. Alternatively, the bearings <NUM> can be replaced by rollers, which cross the entire internal casing <NUM>, or by similar elements.

Preferably and as shown in the figures, the cooking chamber <NUM> has a lower cooking level, corresponding to the forward segment D1, and an upper cooking level, corresponding to the return segment D2. According to embodiment variants not illustrated in the figures, the forward segment D1 is positioned above and the return return segment D2 is positioned below, or they are side by side or similar. Advantageously, the oven <NUM> thus assumes a compact configuration. Furthermore, it is possible to better manage the cooking on all sides of the food products <NUM>, suitably configuring the internal disposition of the cooking chamber <NUM> and controlling the circulation volumes and the fume temperatures.

According to a further embodiment not illustrated in the figures, the oven <NUM> can also be a "pass through" type oven, comprising an entrance side and an exit side different from the entrance side and a single flow level, in which the working flow follows a single forward segment.

The oven <NUM> comprises at least one combustion chamber <NUM>, disposed below a horizontal lying plane of the bottom wall <NUM> of the internal casing <NUM> and having an aperture <NUM> for the outlet of the combustion fumes in direct communication with the lower interspace <NUM>.

According to embodiments, only one combustion chamber <NUM> is provided, which is preferably positioned centrally with respect to the bulk of the oven <NUM>, but can also be positioned differently.

If the combustion chamber <NUM> is centrally positioned, a greater heat transfer to the bottom wall <NUM> of the internal casing <NUM> is obtained, helping to make the cooking of the food products <NUM> more effective.

The lower interspace <NUM> can advantageously extend below the entire bottom wall <NUM> so as to uniformly distribute the heat towards a lower zone of all the food products <NUM> disposed in the cooking chamber <NUM>.

If the combustion chamber <NUM> is positioned centrally, preferably neither of the two lateral interspaces <NUM>, <NUM> is separated from the lower interspace <NUM>. A path P of the combustion fumes, exiting from the aperture <NUM> of the combustion chamber <NUM>, can thus be subdivided into two branches P' and P", which respectively transit in said two interspaces <NUM>, <NUM> and cross respective upper passages <NUM>, <NUM> entering the internal casing <NUM> in opposite and transverse directions to the working direction WD.

The or each combustion chamber <NUM> is provided with a fuelled heat generating source <NUM>, e.g., a flame produced by a gas burner, pellet or other, or a hearth produced by the combustion of biomass, e.g., logs of wood or the like.

The oven <NUM> comprises suction means <NUM> having suction mouths <NUM> (<FIG>) disposed inside the bulk of the internal casing <NUM>.

The suction mouths <NUM> are preferably disposed under at least one of either the forward segment D1 and the return segment D2. Advantageously, thereby at least one of the two segments D1, D2 is hit by the combustion fumes, which thus lap the food products <NUM> from above.

The suction means <NUM> are configured to cause a forced drawing of the combustion fumes generated by the heat generating source <NUM> along the path P of the combustion fumes which develops from the outlet aperture <NUM> of the combustion chamber <NUM> along the lower interspace <NUM>, ascending at least along the lateral interspace <NUM> and, through at least the upper passage <NUM>, entering inside the internal casing <NUM> up to the suction mouths <NUM>. Advantageously, the shelves <NUM> can be distanced from each other, to facilitate the circulation of fumes.

The oven <NUM> further comprises pipes provided with fans which withdraw comburent air from the outside and bring it to the combustion chamber <NUM>.

The path P of the combustion fumes along said lower interspace <NUM> can develop at least in part along a direction transverse to the working direction WD.

With reference to <FIG> and in accordance with a second embodiment, an oven <NUM> comprises two combustion chambers <NUM>, <NUM>.

The combustion chambers <NUM>, <NUM> are preferably positioned, below the horizontal lying plane of the bottom wall <NUM>, respectively in correspondence with opposite sides of the oven <NUM>, for example (<FIG>) each in correspondence with a respective lateral wall <NUM>, <NUM> of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

The oven <NUM> comprises a lower interspace <NUM> divided, by means of a separation foil <NUM> located transversely to the working direction WD, into corresponding two parts <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>).

The lower interspace <NUM> as a whole, possibly subdivided into the two parts <NUM>, <NUM>, can advantageously extend below the entire bottom wall <NUM> so as to uniformly distribute the heat towards the lower zone of the food products <NUM>.

Each part <NUM>, <NUM> communicates with a corresponding lateral interspace <NUM>, <NUM> and with corresponding upper passages <NUM>, <NUM>, communicating on one side with the lateral interspaces <NUM>, <NUM> and on the other side with the inside of the internal casing <NUM>.

Paths P1, P2 (<FIG>) of the combustion fumes which develop from the outlet aperture <NUM> of the combustion chamber <NUM> along the parts <NUM>, <NUM> of the lower interspace <NUM>, ascending along the lateral interspaces <NUM>, <NUM> and, through the upper passages <NUM>, <NUM>, entering inside the internal casing <NUM> up to the suction mouths <NUM>, are thus defined.

The lateral interspaces <NUM>, <NUM> can be separated from the lower interspace <NUM> by a separating element <NUM> (<FIG>).

In particular, separating elements <NUM> are provided which respectively separate one of the parts <NUM>, <NUM> of the lower interspace <NUM> from the lateral interspace <NUM>, <NUM> communicating with the other part <NUM>, <NUM>. Thereby, each part <NUM>, <NUM> is connected to a single lateral interspace <NUM>, <NUM> and the two flows of the combustion fumes remain substantially separated along the respective paths P1, P2 up to the internal casing <NUM>.

Inside the internal casing <NUM>, the paths P1, P2 move according to substantially parallel directions and opposite senses to each other.

The aforesaid directions are both substantially transverse to the working direction WD. Advantageously, it is thereby possible to cook by means of an enveloping heat, first from one sense by means of the air exiting from one combustion chamber <NUM> and then from the other sense by means of the air exiting from the other combustion chamber <NUM>, for a uniform cooking.

With reference to <FIG> and in accordance with a third embodiment, an oven <NUM> comprises an evaporation chamber <NUM> positioned inside the cooking chamber <NUM>. The oven <NUM> is thus advantageously configured for cooking the food products <NUM> in a humid environment.

The evaporation chamber <NUM> comprises a steam emission device <NUM>. The evaporation chamber <NUM> can be a through chamber and closable by means of separating elements <NUM>, so as to be isolated from the combustion fumes and indirectly heated. Through chamber means a box-shaped chamber, having two inlet and outlet apertures, preferably one opposite the other.

The evaporation chamber <NUM> is delimited above by a separation wall <NUM>; below and laterally it can be delimited by the lateral walls <NUM>, <NUM> and by the bottom wall <NUM> of the internal casing <NUM> or it can be delimited by respective walls of the evaporation chamber <NUM>.

The separating elements <NUM> can be a sliding door, a curtain made of heat-resistant material such as Teflon, combinations thereof or the like, openable for the passage of the shelves <NUM>.

An aforesaid oven <NUM> comprising an evaporation chamber <NUM> can be defined as a humid cooking oven. Conversely, an oven <NUM>, <NUM> not comprising an evaporation chamber <NUM> can be defined a dry cooking oven.

In the case of a humid cooking oven <NUM> in which the evaporation chamber is positioned in correspondence with a lower forward segment D1, the suction mouths <NUM> are disposed below one of the segments D1, D2 but above the other segment D2, D1, i.e., in an intermediate position between the two segments D1, D2. In fact, the evaporation chamber <NUM> is closed at the top, not allowing the passage of combustion fumes.

In the case of a dry cooking oven <NUM>, <NUM>, the suction mouths <NUM> are disposed below the lower segment of the segments D1, D2 (<FIG> and <FIG>). The combustion fumes can thereby hit the food products <NUM> on both segments D1, D2, optimizing the cooking.

The present invention further concerns an industrial line <NUM> for cooking food products <NUM> (<FIG>). The line <NUM> can be a modular line, i.e., modular by means of one or more modules, understood as cooking ovens <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The line <NUM> comprises, in addition to the one or more modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, an apparatus <NUM> for loading and unloading food products <NUM> and one or more apparatuses <NUM> for feeding fuel into one or more combustion chambers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).

The ovens <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can comprise both a front entrance aperture <NUM>, with which the loading and unloading apparatus <NUM> is adapted to cooperate, and a rear aperture <NUM> on the opposite end of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

If the line <NUM> comprises several ovens <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> located in succession, the rear aperture <NUM> of one oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is located in communication with the front entrance aperture <NUM> of the next oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> so as to put the respective cooking chambers <NUM> in communication and allow the transit of the food products <NUM> through each of them.

In particular, the line <NUM> can comprise at least a first humid cooking oven <NUM> and at least one subsequent dry cooking oven <NUM>, <NUM>. Advantageously, the line <NUM> can thus allow steam cooking for the surface browning of the food products <NUM> and dry cooking for their internal uniform cooking.

The line <NUM> has two cooking levels in correspondence with each of which said food products <NUM> are moved in a forward sense V1 and in an opposite return sense V2. By way of example, one level can be a lower level corresponding to the forward segment D1, the other can be an upper level corresponding to the return segment D2 (<FIG>), but the cooking levels can also be reversed or side by side. Alternatively, the line <NUM> can also be of the "pass through" type, comprising an entrance side and an exit side different from the entrance side and a single flow level, in which the working flow follows a single forward segment.

The loading and unloading apparatus <NUM> comprises or cooperates with one or more external storage warehouses and/or conveyor belts <NUM>, <NUM> of supports <NUM> on which the products to be cooked <NUM> are positioned and leavened.

It further comprises means for transferring the products to be cooked <NUM> from the aforesaid leavening supports <NUM> to the cooking shelves <NUM> which will circulate inside the oven(s) <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The transfer means can comprise a "pick and place" device <NUM> adapted to move a conveyor which picks up the products to be cooked <NUM> from the leavening supports <NUM> and deposits them on the cooking shelves <NUM>.

The loading and unloading apparatus <NUM> comprises an insertion/extraction element <NUM>, comprising a double-belt transport system <NUM> with cleat <NUM>, or the like, adapted to support and move the shelves <NUM> entering or exiting the oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The insertion/extraction element <NUM> further comprises means for transferring the shelf <NUM> to/from the first oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the line <NUM>.

The insertion/extraction element <NUM> can be movable between two or more positions, for example a first and a second position in correspondence with the aforesaid cooking levels respectively for loading and unloading the shelves <NUM> into/from the oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. It can comprise a third position in correspondence with a "shelf loading" position, in which the "pick and place" device <NUM> can be configured to pick up the products to be cooked <NUM> from the leavening supports <NUM> and deposit/load them onto the cooking shelves <NUM> present on the insertion/extraction element <NUM>.

The insertion/extraction element <NUM> can be configured to move in correspondence with the aforesaid first position, in which the cleat <NUM> pushes the shelf <NUM> into the first oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The insertion/extraction element <NUM> can be configured to move in correspondence with the aforesaid second position, in which the shelf is pushed from the first oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to the transport system <NUM>. The loading and unloading apparatus <NUM> can then comprise means for moving the food products <NUM>, for example a pneumatic lift <NUM>, to lift the shelf <NUM> from one side and allow the sliding of the food products <NUM> onto the distancing transfer means <NUM>.

The line <NUM> comprises a movement apparatus <NUM> for moving the food products <NUM> between the aforesaid cooking levels. For example, the movement apparatus <NUM> can move vertically between a lower and an upper level.

The movement apparatus <NUM> can be disposed in correspondence with the rear aperture <NUM> of the or of the last oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the line <NUM>.

The line <NUM> further comprises thrust means <NUM> for thrusting the food products <NUM>, previously exited from the forward segment D1 and entered in the movement apparatus <NUM>, from there back inside the cooking chamber <NUM>. The thrust means <NUM> can comprise a thrust cleat <NUM> mounted on a motorized belt system <NUM> for thrusting the shelves <NUM> or the like.

The fuel feed apparatus <NUM> is configured to automatically feed the one or more combustion chambers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The feed apparatus <NUM> comprises temperature monitoring means <NUM> for regulating the feeding of fuel and automated insertion means <NUM> of said fuel into the one or more combustion chambers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Preferably, if the fuel is wood, the insertion means <NUM> comprise (<FIG>) a conveyor belt <NUM> provided with pockets <NUM> in which the wood is positioned. They further comprise pushing means <NUM> of the wood in the combustion chamber <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which can be driven to thrust when a door <NUM> of the combustion chamber <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is open.

The functioning of the oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> described so far, which corresponds to the method according to the present invention, comprises the following steps.

The method provides to generate combustion fumes by means of the heat generating source <NUM>.

The method provides to advance the food products <NUM> along a working direction WD inside the internal casing <NUM>.

The method provides to cause, by means of the suction mouths <NUM> disposed inside the bulk of the internal casing <NUM>, a forced drawing of combustion fumes generated by the heat generating source <NUM> along a path of the combustion fumes which develops from the outlet aperture <NUM> of the combustion chamber <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> along the lower interspace <NUM>, ascending at least along the lateral interspace <NUM> and, through at least the upper passage <NUM>, entering inside the internal casing <NUM> up to the suction mouths <NUM>.

The method provides to heat, by means of the combustion fumes passing along the lower interspace <NUM>, the external surface of the bottom wall <NUM> of the internal casing <NUM>, directly lapped by the combustion fumes;
The method provides to radiate heat from the bottom wall <NUM> towards the inside of the internal casing <NUM>, for cooking the food products <NUM> from below.

In particular, it provides to radiate heat from the bottom wall <NUM> for cooking food products <NUM> present on the forward segment D1 and/or return segment D2 where present.

The method provides to directly hit at least part of the food products <NUM> present in the internal casing <NUM> with the combustion fumes entering at least from the upper passage <NUM> into the internal casing <NUM>.

In particular, the combustion fumes can directly hit at least one of the forward segment D1 and/or return segment D2 where present.

If the suction mouths <NUM> are positioned between the forward segment D1 and the return segment D2 and these are positioned one above and one below, the combustion fumes will hit the food products <NUM> located in correspondence with the upper segment D1 or D2. If the suction mouths <NUM> are positioned below both the forward segment D1 and the return segment D2, the combustion fumes will hit all the food products <NUM> present in the casing <NUM>.

The method provides to move, by means of the transport means <NUM> positioned in the internal casing <NUM>, the food products <NUM> positioned on the plurality of support shelves <NUM>, in a working direction WP along the path which has the forward segment D1, from the front entrance aperture of the cooking chamber <NUM> to an opposite end, and the opposite return segment D2.

According to further embodiments, if the oven <NUM>, <NUM> comprises two combustion chambers <NUM>, <NUM>, the method provides to generate combustion fumes by means of two heat generating sources <NUM> of the respective two combustion chambers <NUM>, <NUM>.

In this case the combustion fumes enter one of the respective parts <NUM>, <NUM> of the lower interspace <NUM> and follow respective paths (P1, P2) of the combustion fumes which develop along the respective parts <NUM>, <NUM>, ascend along the lateral interspaces <NUM>, <NUM> and, through the upper passages <NUM>, <NUM>, enter inside the internal casing <NUM> according to substantially parallel directions and opposite senses to each other and both transverse to the working direction WD.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts and/or steps may be made to the oven <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, to the line <NUM> and to the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve other equivalent forms of ovens for cooking food products, lines comprising the same and related functioning method, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claim 1:
Oven (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for cooking food products (<NUM>) comprising an external casing (<NUM>) internally having a cooking chamber (<NUM>) delimited by lateral walls (<NUM>, <NUM>), by an upper wall (<NUM>) and a bottom wall (<NUM>) and having a front entrance aperture (<NUM>), wherein said oven comprises:
- an internal casing (<NUM>) disposed in said cooking chamber (<NUM>) supported with respect to said bottom wall (<NUM>) so as to define a lower interspace (<NUM>, <NUM>) communicating with at least one lateral interspace (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) given by the distancing between at least one lateral wall (<NUM>, <NUM>) of said internal casing (<NUM>) and said one lateral wall (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein said lateral walls (<NUM>,<NUM>) comprise upper edges distanced from said upper wall (<NUM>) defining at least one upper communication passage (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) between said at least one lateral interspace (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the inside of said internal casing (<NUM>);
- transport means (<NUM>) positioned in said internal casing (<NUM>) and provided with a plurality of shelves (<NUM>) for supporting said food products (<NUM>), able to advance in a working direction (WD),
- at least one combustion chamber (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), provided with a heat generating source (<NUM>), disposed under a horizontal lying plane of said bottom wall (<NUM>) and having an aperture (<NUM>) for the outlet of the combustion fumes in direct communication with said lower interspace (<NUM>, <NUM>);
- suction means (<NUM>) having suction mouths (<NUM>) disposed inside the bulk of said internal casing (<NUM>) and configured to cause a forced drawing of said combustion fumes along at least one path (P, P1, P2) which develops from said outlet aperture (<NUM>) to said at least one upper passage (<NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM>), entering inside said internal casing (<NUM>) according to a direction transverse to said working direction (WD).