IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0233969
(2008-09-19)
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등록번호 |
US-8281779
(2012-10-09)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Wiker, John H.
- Panicker, Mohan K.
- Albert, Magdy A.
- Schjerven, Sr., William S.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
13 인용 특허 :
159 |
초록
▼
An oven according to some embodiments includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a heating element, a fan, a sensor for sensing the temperature of the oven chamber, a remote input device, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the remote input device and to change the fan or hea
An oven according to some embodiments includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a heating element, a fan, a sensor for sensing the temperature of the oven chamber, a remote input device, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the remote input device and to change the fan or heating element based at least in part upon the signal received from the remote input device. In a method of operating the oven according to some embodiments, the oven enters an operating mode from an energy-savings mode responsive to receiving an signal from a remote device.
대표청구항
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1. A conveyor oven for cooking food product, the conveyor oven comprising: a tunnel within which food product is cooked;a conveyor movable to convey food product through the tunnel;a heating element operable to generate heat to be provided to the tunnel;a fan operable to move air in the tunnel;an in
1. A conveyor oven for cooking food product, the conveyor oven comprising: a tunnel within which food product is cooked;a conveyor movable to convey food product through the tunnel;a heating element operable to generate heat to be provided to the tunnel;a fan operable to move air in the tunnel;an input device remote from the oven by which information reflecting food product to be cooked is transmitted; anda controller that controls at least one of the fan and the heating element, the controller changes operation of the oven to an energy saving mode, in which the fan moves air in the tunnel at a reduced speed, in response to passage of a period of time indicating the absence of food product from the tunnel,the controller also changes the output of the heating element in response to a change in oven temperature to maintain the oven substantially at a cooking temperature after the oven enters the energy saving mode, andthe controller also changes operation of the at least one of the fan and the heating element from the energy saving mode to a cooking mode prior to food product being placed on the conveyor in response to a signal initiated by the input device. 2. The oven of claim 1, wherein the input device is a user-manipulatable control. 3. The oven of claim 1, wherein the input device is a cash register. 4. The oven of claim 1, wherein the input device is a keypad. 5. The oven of claim 1, wherein the input device is an optical sensor. 6. The oven of claim 1, wherein the input device is a limit switch. 7. The oven of claim 1, wherein the input device is a computer. 8. The oven of claim 1, wherein the input device communicates with the oven wirelessly. 9. The oven of claim 1, wherein the input device communicates with the oven via the Internet. 10. A method of operating a conveyor oven for cooking food product, the method comprising: operating a conveyor movable to convey food product through a tunnel;operating a heating element operable to generate heat to be provided to the tunnel;operating a controller;sensing at least one of a temperature in the oven and the presence of food product on the conveyor;measuring a period of time indicating the absence of food product from the oven;changing operation of the oven from a cooking mode to an energy saving mode by the controller after passage of the period of time indicating the absence of food product from the oven, wherein in the energy saving mode (i) a fan moves air in the oven at a reduced speed and (ii) in response to a change in oven temperature the controller changes output of the heating element to maintain the oven substantially at a cooking temperature;receiving a signal representative of an order for cooked food product initiated by an input device operatively associated with the oven; andchanging operation of the fan from the energy saving mode to the cooking mode by the controller responsive to the signal representative of an order for cooked food product. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the oven detects the presence of a food product on the conveyor. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising delaying entering the cooking mode following receiving the signal representative of an order for cooked food product. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a period of delay based at least in part upon a desired length of time until initiation of a cooking process. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the period of delay based at least in part upon a sensed temperature of the oven. 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the period of delay based at least in part upon a length of time needed to prepare food product for cooking. 16. A conveyor oven for cooking food product wherein the conveyor oven has a cooking mode and an energy saving mode, the conveyor oven comprising: an oven chamber in which food is cooked;a conveyor for moving food product through the oven chamber;a heating element operable to generate heat to be provided to the oven chamber;a fan operable to move air in the oven chamber;at least one sensor positioned to detect at least one of a temperature in the oven and the presence of food product on the conveyor;an input device remote from the oven by which information reflecting food product to be cooked is transmitted; anda controller that controls at least one of the fan, the heating element and the conveyor, the controller changes the operation of the fan from a cooking mode to an energy saving mode, in which the fan moves air in the oven chamber at a reduced speed, in response to (i) detection of the absence of food product from the oven chamber based at least in part upon the operation of the sensor and (ii) passage of a first period of time indicating the absence of food product from the oven,the controller also changes the output of the heating element in response to a change in oven temperature to maintain the oven substantially at a cooking temperature after the oven enters the energy saving mode, andthe controller also changes operation of the fan from the energy saving mode to the cooking mode in response to receiving a signal initiated by the input device reflecting food product to be cooked. 17. The conveyor oven of claim 16 wherein in the energy saving mode, after the passage of a second period of time the fan is turned off. 18. The conveyor oven of claim 16 wherein in the energy saving mode, after the passage of a second period of time the output of the heating element is reduced. 19. The conveyor oven of claim 1, wherein the conveyor oven detects the presence of a food product on the conveyor. 20. The conveyor oven of claim 1, wherein the controller changes operation of the at least one of the fan and the heating element from the energy savings mode to the cooking mode following a period of delay. 21. The conveyor oven of claim 1, wherein the controller also determines a period of delay based at least in part upon a desired length of time until initiation of a cooking process. 22. The conveyor oven of claim 21, wherein the controller determines the period of delay based at least in part upon a sensed temperature of the oven. 23. The conveyor oven of claim 21, wherein the controller determines the period of delay based at least in part upon a length of time needed to prepare food product for cooking. 24. The conveyor oven of claim 1 wherein in the energy saving mode, after the passage of a second period of time the fan is turned off. 25. The conveyor oven of claim 1 wherein in the energy saving mode, after the passage of a second period of time the output of the heating element is reduced. 26. The conveyor oven of claim 1, wherein the input device is at least one sensor positioned to detect at least one of a temperature in the oven and the presence of food product upon the conveyor. 27. The conveyor oven of claim 1, wherein the input device is an optical sensor positioned to detect the presence of food product on the conveyor. 28. The conveyor oven of claim 1, wherein the input device detects a location of food product with respect to the tunnel. 29. The conveyor oven of claim 1, wherein the input device is at least one sensor positioned adjacent at least one of an entrance of the tunnel and an exit of the tunnel. 30. The conveyor oven of claim 29, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one optical sensor positioned to detect the presence of food product on the conveyor. 31. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device is a user-manipulatable control. 32. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device is a cash register. 33. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device is a keypad. 34. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device is an optical sensor. 35. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device is a limit switch. 36. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device is a computer. 37. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device communicates with the oven wirelessly. 38. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device communicates with the oven via the Internet. 39. The method of claim 10, further comprising: measuring a second period of time; andturning the fan off by the controller after passage of the second period of time. 40. The method of claim 10, further comprising: measuring a second period of time; andreducing the output of the heating element after passage of the second period of time. 41. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device is at least one sensor positioned to detect at least one of a temperature in the oven and the presence of food product upon the conveyor. 42. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device is an optical sensor positioned to detect the presence of food product on the conveyor. 43. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device detects a location of food product with respect to the tunnel. 44. The method of claim 10, wherein the input device is at least one sensor positioned adjacent at least one of an entrance of the tunnel and an exit of the tunnel. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one optical sensor positioned to detect the presence of food product on the conveyor. 46. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device is a user-manipulatable control. 47. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device is a cash register. 48. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device is a keypad. 49. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device is an optical sensor. 50. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device is a limit switch. 51. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device is a computer. 52. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device communicates with the oven wirelessly. 53. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device communicates with the oven via the Internet. 54. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the controller changes operation of the at least one of the fan and the heating element from the energy savings mode to the cooking mode following a period of delay. 55. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the controller also determines a period of delay based at least in part upon a desired length of time until initiation of a cooking process. 56. The conveyor oven of claim 55, wherein the controller determines the period of delay based at least in part upon a sensed temperature of the oven. 57. The conveyor oven of claim 55, wherein the controller determines the period of delay based at least in part upon a length of time needed to prepare food product for cooking. 58. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device is an optical sensor positioned to detect the presence of food product on the conveyor. 59. The conveyor oven of claim 16, wherein the input device detects a location of food product with respect to the oven chamber. 60. The conveyor oven of claim 59, wherein the input device is at least one sensor positioned adjacent at least one of an entrance of the oven chamber and an exit of the oven chamber. 61. The conveyor oven of claim 59, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one optical sensor positioned to detect the presence of food product on the conveyor.
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