초록 ▼

An improved apparatus and method for heating food products by forced air convection are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a tunnel heater having a tunnel-like cavity through which food products to be heated are conveyed. Air is drawn from within the tunnel cavity by a circulating blower arrangement

An improved apparatus and method for heating food products by forced air convection are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a tunnel heater having a tunnel-like cavity through which food products to be heated are conveyed. Air is drawn from within the tunnel cavity by a circulating blower arrangement, with air flow directed against the food products through upper and lower foraminous plates disposed above and below and adjacent to the tunnel cavity. Aerodynamically efficient ducting of the circulating air is provided by scroll-shaped passages positioned in association with the blower arrangement, and venturi-like passages positioned upstream of the foraminous upper and lower plates. A conveyor is provided for automatically advancing food products through the tunnel cavity, with heating of the food products taking place in an efficient and readily controlled manner.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for heating food products by convection, comprising: a housing having a tunnel-like cavity adapted to receive said food products; means for conveying said food products through said cavity; foraminous plate means disposed above and below said cavity; blower means for circulating air dra

An apparatus for heating food products by convection, comprising: a housing having a tunnel-like cavity adapted to receive said food products; means for conveying said food products through said cavity; foraminous plate means disposed above and below said cavity; blower means for circulating air drawn from said cavity through said plate means and against said food products; heating means for selectively heating said circulating air; and aerodynamically efficient duct means for guiding air flow from said blower means to said plate means, said duct means defining scroll-shaped passage means associated with said blower means, and venturi means disposed downstream of said passage means and upstream of said plate means for creating a relative increase in the pressure of the circulated air before passage through said plate means for heating said food products; said scroll-shaped passage means comprises a pair of scroll-shaped passages associated with said blower means arranged to respectively duct circulated air above and below said cavity for passage through said plate means.