Pretzel oven with electronic heat control
AssigneeHot Sam Companies, Inc.
InventorCynthia C. Colaner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pretzel oven with electronic heat control bakes a plurality of pretzel-like bakery products in a continuous baking process. The pretzel oven includes a microprocessor-based control, a solid state relay for reduced maintenance and improved bakery production, an over heat temperature electrical source in the event of fire or other over temperature conditions. A caustic soda heater and thermostat regulate the temperature of a soda bath. A universal joint isolates the main drive motor from side loads and permits a tilting or angling thereof for enhanced lubricating properties. The salt box for salting the bakery products is separately controllable.
Claims34
An oven for baking a pretzel-like bakery product comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber having an enclosed top, bottom, rear and open front;
- at least one endless drive belt mounted to said housing translatable in a substantially vertical plane around a closed path of travel comprising travel segments including:
- a first substantially horizontal segment disposed near the top of the chamber;
- a second substantially horizontal segment disposed near the bottom of the chamber;
- a first substantially vertical segment disposed near the front of the chamber;
- and,
- a second substantially vertical segment disposed near the rear of the chamber;
- at least one carrier rack means, connected to said at least one endless drive belt, for supporting said pretzel-like bakery product in a substantially horizontal orientation as said at least one endless drive belt translates in said closed path of travel;
- drive means for translating said at least one endless drive belt through said closed path of travel such that said at least one carrier rack means advances through said chamber by passing along said second substantially horizontal travel segment, said second substantially vertical travel segment, said first substantially horizontal travel segment and then along said first substantially vertical travel segment;
- bakery means, in said chamber, for baking said pretzel-like bakery product responsive to a temperature control signal;
- and,
- electronic control means for sensing the temperature in said chamber and generating said temperature control signal when the temperature is below a predetermined set point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.