# US 10,694,753 B2 · Food preparation apparatus and methods

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- Number: US 10,694,753 B2
- Document ID: US10694753B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/442,228
- Filed: 2017-02-24
- Published: 2017-06-08
- Granted: 2020-06-30
- Earliest claimed: 2013-05-23
- Assignees: Duke Manufacturing Co.
- Applicants: Duke Manufacturing Co.
- Inventors: Robert J. Reese; Philip Gregory Geerling; Jeffrey A. Stafford; Gregory Glen Stettes; Thomas E. Kieffer; Kim Charles Fietsam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10694753B2

## CPC

- A21B 1/40: characterised by the means for regulating the temperature
- A21B 3/00: Parts or accessories of ovens
- A21D 8/06: Baking processes
- F24C 7/08: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24C 15/327: {with air moisturising}
- G05B 19/106: {for selecting a program, variable or parameter}
- G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
- G06T 11/26: Drawing of charts or graphs
- G05B 2219/23121: Display graphics with corresponding text
- G05B 2219/23142: Colour display
- G05B 2219/23159: Display plurality of parameters simultaneously
- G05B 2219/23162: Display real time or time already elapsed or rest time for program
- G05B 2219/23168: Display progress of program
- G05B 2219/23377: Touch screen, with representation of buttons, machine on screen
- G05B 2219/23427: Selection out of several programs, parameters
- G05B 2219/2643: Oven, cooking
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
- G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
- A21B: BAKERS' OVENS; MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR BAKING (domestic baking equipment A47J37/00)
- A21D: TREATMENT OF FLOUR OR DOUGH FOR BAKING, e.g. BY ADDITION OF MATERIALS; BAKING; BAKERY PRODUCTS (preservation of flour or dough before baking A23B40/00; preservation of bakery products A23B45/00)
- F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Food preparation apparatus and associated methods. In one method, dough is proofed in an oven compartment and then baked in the same oven compartment. Temperature and/or humidity can be controlled during proofing and/or baking cycles. A blower may be used, for example, to exhaust gas to ambient to reduce heat and/or moisture in the compartment. For example, the blower may be used between proofing and baking cycles to prepare an environment in the oven compartment for the baking cycle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of baking bread, the method comprising:
receiving a dough within a baking compartment of an oven;
controlling temperature and humidity in the baking compartment according to a dough proofing recipe for proofing the dough to proof the dough in the baking compartment by causing the dough to rise, said controlling the temperature comprising operating a first blower to move gas into the baking compartment and operating at least one heating element to heat the gas;
after at least partially proofing the dough in the baking compartment, actively exhausting gas from the baking compartment out a vent of the oven to ambient atmosphere by operating a second blower different than the first blower, said actively exhausting gas from the baking compartment causing humidity in the baking compartment to reduce;
controlling temperature and humidity in the baking compartment according to a baking recipe for baking the dough to bake the dough into bread, said controlling the temperature comprising operating the first blower to move gas into the baking compartment and operating the at least one heating element to heat the gas.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, after baking the dough into bread, removing the bread from the baking compartment and actively exhausting gas from the baking compartment out the vent of the oven to the ambient atmosphere by operating the second blower to reduce temperature in the baking compartment, and then proofing another dough within the baking compartment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein controlling temperature and humidity in the baking compartment according to the baking recipe occurs automatically, without requiring user input after controlling the temperature and humidity in the baking compartment according to the proofing recipe.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, before controlling temperature and humidity in the baking compartment according to the dough proofing recipe, controlling temperature in the baking compartment according to a dough retard recipe for retarding the dough to retard fermentation of yeast in the dough, the dough retard recipe having a set point temperature lower than a set point temperature of the dough proofing recipe.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein actively exhausting gas from the baking compartment out the vent of the oven comprises operating the second blower to pull gas from the baking compartment to move the gas toward the ambient atmosphere.

### Claim 6

A method of baking a food product, the method comprising:
inserting an unrisen food product into a baking compartment of a baking device through a door opening in the baking device;
allowing the unrisen food product to rest within the baking compartment for a time to allow the unrisen food product to rise;
operating a secondary blower to move gas from the baking compartment through an exhaust opening in the baking device to ambient atmosphere after the time to allow the unrisen food product to rise is complete, the exhaust opening being different from the door opening; and
heating the baking compartment to bake the food product, wherein heating the baking compartment includes operating a primary blower to move heated gas in the baking compartment, the primary blower being different from the secondary blower.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein heating the baking compartment to bake the food product comprises operating at least one heating element and operating the primary blower to move heated gas to the baking compartment.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method as set forth in claim 7, further comprising operating the secondary blower after heating the baking compartment to bake the food product.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein operating the secondary blower after heating the baking compartment comprises operating the secondary blower to rapidly cool the baking compartment to prepare for receiving another unrisen food product within the baking compartment and for allowing the another unrisen food product to rest within the baking compartment for a time to allow the another unrisen food product to rise.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein operating the secondary blower after heating the baking compartment causes the secondary blower to pull gas from the baking compartment to move the gas toward the ambient atmosphere.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the method further comprises introducing water onto the primary blower to increase humidity within the baking compartment.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein heating the baking compartment to bake the food product occurs automatically without requiring user input after said allowing the unrisen food product to rest within the baking compartment to rise.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising, before said allowing the unrisen food product to rest within the baking compartment to rise, operating the baking device according to a retard recipe for retarding the food product with the food product in the baking compartment to retard fermentation of yeast in the food product.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein operating the secondary blower to move gas from the baking compartment to the ambient atmosphere after the time to allow the unrisen food product to rise is complete causes the secondary blower to pull gas from the baking compartment to move the gas toward the ambient atmosphere.

### Claim 15 (depends on 6)

The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein operating the secondary blower to move gas from the baking compartment to the ambient atmosphere occurs automatically without requiring user input after the time to allow the unrisen food product to rise is complete.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein heating the baking compartment to bake the food product occurs automatically without requiring user input after said operating the secondary blower to move the gas from the baking compartment to the ambient atmosphere.

### Claim 17 (depends on 6)

The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising controlling humidity within the baking compartment.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein controlling humidity within the baking compartment comprises increasing humidity according to a humidity setting of the baking device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein controlling the humidity within the baking compartment occurs during at least one of allowing the unrisen food product to rest within the baking compartment or heating the baking compartment to bake the food product.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein controlling the humidity includes generating steam via a steam generator and delivering the steam to the baking compartment through a conduit connected to the steam generator.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein actively exhausting gas from the baking compartment occurs automatically without requiring user input after at least partially proofing the dough in the baking compartment.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein controlling temperature and humidity in the baking compartment according to the baking recipe occurs automatically without requiring user input after said actively exhausting gas from the baking compartment.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein controlling the humidity within the baking compartment according to the dough proofing recipe begins automatically without requiring user input.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein controlling the humidity within the baking compartment according to the baking recipe begins automatically without requiring user input.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein controlling the humidity in the baking compartment according to the dough proofing recipe includes generating steam via a steam generator and delivering the steam to the baking compartment through a conduit connected to the steam generator.

### Claim 26

An oven for proofing and baking dough, the oven comprising:
a baking compartment configured to receive the dough;
a first blower configured to move gas within the baking compartment;
a heating system configured to control the temperature within the baking compartment, the heating system including at least one heating element;
a humidification system configured to control the humidity within the baking compartment;
a venting system configured to selectively vent gas from the baking compartment, the venting system including a vent and a second blower, different than the first blower, configured to exhaust gas from the baking compartment out of the vent; and
a controller configured to control the operation of the first blower, the heating system, the humidification system, and the venting system, the controller including a processor and a tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium including processor executable instructions for controlling the operation of the first blower, the heating system, the humidification system and the venting system when the instructions are executed by the processor, the instructions including instructions for:
controlling the temperature and humidity in the baking compartment according to a dough proofing recipe for proofing the dough to proof the dough in the baking compartment by causing the dough to rise, said instructions for controlling the temperature comprising instructions for operating the first blower to move gas into the baking compartment and instructions for operating said at least one heating element to heat the gas, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes the dough proofing recipe;
operating the second blower, after at least partially proofing the dough in the baking compartment, to exhaust gas from the baking compartment out the vent to reduce the humidity in the baking compartment; and
controlling the temperature and humidity in the baking compartment according to a baking recipe for baking the dough to bake the dough into bread, said instructions for controlling the temperature comprising instructions for operating the first blower to move gas into the baking compartment and instructions for operating the at least one heating element to heat the gas, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes the baking recipe.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The oven as set forth in claim 26, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for operating the second blower, after baking the dough into bread, to exhaust gas from the baking compartment out the vent to reduce the temperature in the baking compartment.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The oven as set forth in claim 26, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for automatically, without requiring user input after proofing the dough, controlling the temperature and the humidity in the baking compartment according to the baking recipe.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

The oven as set forth in claim 26, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for controlling the temperature in the baking compartment according to a dough retard recipe for retarding the dough to retard fermentation of yeast in the dough, the dough retard recipe having a set point temperature lower than a set point temperature of the dough proofing recipe; wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes the dough retard recipe.

### Claim 30 (depends on 26)

The oven as set forth in claim 26, wherein the second blower is configured to pull the gas from the baking compartment to exhaust the gas from the baking compartment out the vent.

### Claim 31 (depends on 26)

The oven as set forth in claim 26, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for automatically, without requiring user input after at least partially proofing the dough, operating the second blower to exhaust gas from the baking compartment after the dough is at least partially proofed in the baking compartment.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The oven as set forth in claim 31, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for automatically, without requiring user input after proofing the dough, controlling the temperature and the humidity in the baking compartment according to the baking recipe.

### Claim 33 (depends on 26)

The oven as set forth in claim 26, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for automatically beginning, without requiring user input, controlling the humidity within the baking compartment according to the dough proofing recipe.

### Claim 34 (depends on 26)

The oven as set forth in claim 26, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for automatically beginning, without requiring user input, controlling the humidity within the baking compartment according to the baking recipe.

### Claim 35 (depends on 26)

The oven as set forth in claim 26, further comprising a steam generator for generating steam and a conduit connected to the steam generator for delivering the generated steam to the baking compartment, wherein the instructions for controlling the humidity in the baking compartment according to the dough proofing recipe include instructions for generating steam via the steam generator.

### Claim 36

An oven for proofing and baking an unrisen food product, the oven comprising:
a baking compartment configured to receive the unrisen food product and to allow the unrisen food product to rest for a time to allow the unrisen food product to rise;
a door opening in communication with the baking compartment and configured to allow the unrisen food product to be inserted into the baking compartment by moving the unrisen food product through the door opening;
a door to the baking compartment, the door movable between a closed position closing the door opening to the baking compartment and an open position allowing access to the baking compartment via the door opening;
an exhaust opening in communication with the baking compartment, the exhaust opening being different from the door opening;
an exhaust blower configured to move gas from the baking compartment through the exhaust opening to ambient atmosphere;
a primary blower, different from the exhaust blower, configured to move gas in the baking compartment;
a heating system configured to control the temperature within the baking compartment; and
a controller configured to control the operation of the exhaust blower and the heating system, the controller including a processor and a tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium including processor executable instructions for controlling operation of the primary blower, the exhaust blower, and the heating system when the instructions are executed by the processor, the instructions including instructions for:
operating the exhaust blower to move gas from the baking compartment through the exhaust opening in the baking device to ambient atmosphere after a time to allow the unrisen food product to rise in the baking compartment is complete; and
heating the baking compartment to bake the food product via the heating system, wherein heating the baking compartment includes operating the primary blower to move gas in the baking compartment.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The oven as set forth in claim 36, wherein the heating system includes at least one heating element, wherein the said instructions for heating the baking compartment include instructions for operating said at least one heating element to heat the gas and instructions for operating the primary blower to move heated gas to the baking compartment.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The oven as set forth in claim 37, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for operating the exhaust blower after heating the baking compartment.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The oven as set forth in claim 38, wherein said instructions for operating the exhaust blower after heating the baking compartment comprises instructions for operating the exhaust blower to rapidly cool the baking compartment to prepare for receiving another unrisen food product within the baking compartment.

### Claim 40 (depends on 38)

The oven as set forth in claim 38, wherein the exhaust blower is configured to pull the gas from the baking compartment to move the gas toward the ambient atmosphere.

### Claim 41 (depends on 36)

The oven as set forth in claim 36, further comprising a humidification system configured to introduce water onto the primary blower to increase humidity within the baking compartment.

### Claim 42 (depends on 36)

The oven as set forth in claim 36, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for automatically beginning, without requiring user input after the time to allow the unrisen food product to rise is complete, said heating the baking compartment to bake the food product.

### Claim 43 (depends on 36)

The oven as set forth in claim 36, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for operating the baking device according to a retard recipe for retarding the food product with the food product in the baking compartment to retard fermentation of yeast in the food product before said allowing the unrisen food product to rest within the baking compartment to rise.

### Claim 44 (depends on 36)

The oven as set forth in claim 36, wherein the secondary blower is configured to pull the gas from the baking compartment to move the gas toward the ambient atmosphere.

### Claim 45 (depends on 36)

The oven as set forth in claim 36, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for automatically, without requiring user input after the time to allow the unrisen food product to rise is complete, operating the secondary blower to move gas from the baking compartment to the ambient atmosphere after the time to allow the unrisen food product to rise is complete.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The oven as set forth in claim 45, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for automatically, without requiring user input after the time to allow the unrisen food product to rise is complete, heating the baking compartment to bake the food product after said operating the secondary blower to move the gas from the baking compartment to the ambient atmosphere.

### Claim 47 (depends on 36)

The oven as set forth in claim 36, further comprising a humidification system configured to control the humidity within the baking compartment, the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium including instructions for controlling the humidification system.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The oven as set forth in claim 47, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for automatically beginning, without requiring user input, controlling the humidity within the baking compartment via the humidification system.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The oven as set forth in claim 48, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for controlling the humidity within the baking compartment via the humidification system during at least one of allowing the unrisen food product to rest within the baking compartment or heating the baking compartment to bake the food product.

### Claim 50 (depends on 47)

The oven as set forth in claim 47, further comprising a humidity sensor configured to sense the humidity in the baking compartment and to send a signal to the controller corresponding to the sensed humidity, the controller configured to control the humidification system based on the signal.

### Claim 51 (depends on 47)

The oven as set forth in claim 47, wherein the humidification system includes a steam generator for generating steam and a conduit connected to the steam generator for delivering the generated steam to the baking compartment, wherein the instructions for controlling the humidification system include instructions for controlling the steam generator.

### Claim 52 (depends on 6)

The method as set forth in claim 6:
wherein operating the secondary blower to move gas from the baking compartment to the ambient atmosphere occurs automatically without requiring user input after the time to allow the unrisen food product to rise is complete;
wherein heating the baking compartment to bake the food product occurs automatically without requiring user input after said allowing the unrisen food product to rest within the baking compartment to rise;
further comprising, during at least one of allowing the unrisen food product to rest within the baking compartment or heating the baking compartment to bake the food product, controlling humidity within the baking compartment, wherein controlling humidity within the baking compartment comprises increasing humidity according to a humidity setting of the baking device; and
further comprising operating the secondary blower after heating the baking compartment to bake the food product.

### Claim 53 (depends on 36)

The oven as set forth in claim 36, wherein the tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions for:
operating the secondary blower to move gas from the baking compartment to the ambient atmosphere automatically without requiring user input after the time to allow the unrisen food product to rise is complete;
heating the baking compartment to bake the food product automatically without requiring user input after said time to allow the unrisen food product to rise in the baking compartment is complete;
during at least one of said time to allow the unrisen food product to rise in the baking compartment or heating the baking compartment to bake the food product, controlling humidity within the baking compartment, wherein controlling humidity within the baking compartment comprises increasing humidity according to a humidity setting of the oven; and
operating the secondary blower after heating the baking compartment to bake the food product.