A method and arrangement is provided for setting a peak operating power level for an oven having an oven compartment, a user interface, and a controller having a memory with a maximum peak operating power level stored therein. The method includes the steps of displaying an oven set-up user interface window on the user interface during an initial start-up of the oven; in response to an input for selecting a maximum output for the oven, displaying a maximum output user interface window on the user interface. Further, after input of a peak operating power level, the method stores the peak operating power level in the memory and selectively provides a power control signal to generate heat that corresponds to the peak operating power level. The oven is either an electric oven or gas oven. In operation, the oven heats at the peak operating power level, which is less than the maximum peak operating power level.

A bread conveying apparatus for conveying bread, includes a conveyor device that has a container on which the bread is placed, and that conveys the container in a conveying direction; a guide member disposed on a downstream end portion side of the conveyor device in the conveying direction to releasably support the bread in cooperation with the container; and a chute member that discharges the bread conveyed by the conveyor device.

An automated production system is disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward an automated system for the continuous production of baked bread. The system can include a priming assembly having a dry ingredients priming unit and a wet ingredients priming unit. The dry ingredients priming unit can include a vertically-oriented hopper and a screw positioned within an interior region of the hopper, wherein the first screw extends along the central longitudinal axis of the hopper and is configured to rotate about its own central longitudinal axis. The system can also include a mixing assembly, a forming assembly, an oven, and a controller. The controller can be coupled to the priming assembly and configured to adjust the amount of dry ingredients delivered from the hopper to the mixing chamber by controlling rotation of the screw.

An automated production system is disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward an automated system for the continuous production of baked bread. The system can include a priming assembly having a dry ingredients priming unit and a wet ingredients priming unit. The dry ingredients priming unit can include a vertically-oriented hopper and a screw positioned within an interior region of the hopper, wherein the first screw extends along the central longitudinal axis of the hopper and is configured to rotate about its own central longitudinal axis. The system can also include a mixing assembly, a forming assembly, an oven, and a controller. The controller can be coupled to the priming assembly and configured to adjust the amount of dry ingredients delivered from the hopper to the mixing chamber by controlling rotation of the screw.

A conveyor tunnel oven incorporating a main baking chamber having a longitudinal end wall and an oppositely longitudinal end wall; and food item intake and output ports respectively opening the main baking chamber at the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal end walls; the conveyor tunnel oven further incorporating a food conveyor extending through the ports and the main baking chamber; conveyor tunnel oven further incorporating an auxiliary baking chamber and mounting plate combination attached to the main baking chamber, the mounting plate positioning the auxiliary baking chamber over a conveyor end selected from the group consisting of the food conveyor's longitudinal end and the food conveyor's oppositely longitudinal end.

A conveyor tunnel oven incorporating a main baking chamber having a longitudinal end wall and an oppositely longitudinal end wall; and food item intake and output ports respectively opening the main baking chamber at the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal end walls; the conveyor tunnel oven further incorporating a food conveyor extending through the ports and the main baking chamber; conveyor tunnel oven further incorporating an auxiliary baking chamber and mounting plate combination attached to the main baking chamber, the mounting plate positioning the auxiliary baking chamber over a conveyor end selected from the group consisting of the food conveyor's longitudinal end and the food conveyor's oppositely longitudinal end.

A monitoring and feedback system may provide real-time feedback on the bearings in the chain of a proofer/oven conveyor system. The system may detect a bearing seizure before any damage can occur to the track and/or may provide for improper lubrication detection. Accordingly, a chain section or a bearing may be pulled out of the conveyor system for repair/replacement, thereby prolonging the life of the conveyor system as a whole, including the conveyor chain and bearings.

A monitoring and feedback system may provide real-time feedback on the bearings in the chain of a proofer/oven conveyor system. The system may detect a bearing seizure before any damage can occur to the track and/or may provide for improper lubrication detection. Accordingly, a chain section or a bearing may be pulled out of the conveyor system for repair/replacement, thereby prolonging the life of the conveyor system as a whole, including the conveyor chain and bearings.

A method for selectively baking or crisp baking dough pieces based on a customer request for requested baked goods includes at least one input storage and at least one associated feeding device for respectively storing and feeding various kinds of dough pieces. A throughput baking oven selectively bakes or crisp bakes the dough pieces. The throughput oven has a conveyor for transporting the dough pieces through the baking oven. The throughput oven has only one oven space, and the conveyor has at least two conveyor belts passing through the oven space capable of simultaneously transporting dough pieces through the oven space. At least one output storage receives and stores the baked goods made from the dough pieces. After the customer request made through an operating unit, the requested baked goods are transported from the at least one output storage to the dispensing unit to be dispensed therein.

A material processing system includes an oven that cooks or bakes, with electrical resistance, dough contained within containers. The oven can include a frame defining, devices mounted, in a preselected pattern, on the frame for a reciprocal movement in a vertical direction during use of the system, each device configured to connect voltage to a respective container so as to cook or bake the dough with the electrical resistance, and one or more powered members configured to move the devices in the vertical direction. Conveyors are also provided to convey a plurality of rows of containers with a plurality of containers in each row along a material conveyance path, the conveyors disposed in a series with each other and with the oven along the material conveyance path, one of the conveyors disposed within the oven so as to position a batch of the containers in an alignment with the devices.