A gas manifold for a convection conveyor oven includes an elongated housing having a wall that at least partially encloses an interior volume; a gas inlet in fluid communication with the interior volume and extending through the wall; a plurality of gas outlets in fluid communication with the interior volume and extending through the wall; a plurality of seat inserts removably coupled with a plurality of gas outlets; a plurality of valve openings formed in the wall and aligned opposite the plurality of gas outlets; and at least one valve removably coupled to the wall and aligned with a first valve opening, wherein the valve is aligned with a first gas outlet and has a first position in which a first seat insert is not in fluid communication with the gas inlet.

A thermal processing apparatus (20) includes a spiral conveyor system (22) configured into an ascending spiral stack (26). An inner mezzanine (40) is disposed within the circular interior of the stack (26) and an exterior mezzanine (42) encircles the spiral stack. The mezzanines divide the processing chamber (32) into a plurality of processing zones. A sealing system (90) seals the interior mezzanine (40) relative to the spiral stack (26). A sealing system (130) seals the outer mezzanine (42) relative to the exterior of the spiral stack, and a seal system (132) seals the outer mezzanine relative to the walls (56, 58) of the housing, thereby to limit the leakage of the processing fluid between the mezzanines and the spiral stack (26) and housing walls so that as much as the thermal processing medium is possible is forced through the spiral stack for processing work products carried on the conveyor system (22).

A thermal processing apparatus (20) includes a spiral conveyor system (22) configured into an ascending spiral stack (26). An air balance tunnel (40) includes a tunnel housing (76) positioned inside of a thermal processing chamber adjacent an outlet opening (36). A conveyor belt (24) travels through the housing on its way out of the processing chamber. An air pervious ejector assembly (78) is positioned within the housing at an elevation above the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious evacuation sheet (80) is located within the housing at a location beneath the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious cover assembly (150) is positioned over the conveyor belt (24) at a location just before the conveyor belt enters the air balance tunnel (40). The cover sheet (150) is connectable to the ejector assembly (78) so as to remove the ejector assembly from the tunnel housing (76) by manually moving the cover assembly (150).

The present technology is to be used in used in pizzerias and other food restaurants to fully substitute manual labor in food processing. The present technology utilizes a modular principle for flexibility. It allows tuning the machine to (1) different dishes like pizza, chicken wings or hamburgers (2) different sizes and shapes of the room and (3) different orders capacity. The machine utilizes autonomous driving robots with autopilot for food logistics between ingredient stations and for the refilling of the stations with ingredients. Autonomous autopilot robot allows to precisely position the food to cook, e.g. pizza, with the ingredient station for precisely topping or other food processing. Precise interposition allows deep food customization by a client with the possibility of making drawings on food using ingredients. The matrix modular structure of the machine allows parallel orders execution. It is extremely beneficial in peak hours.

A heat transfer system is arranged to cook multiple diverse food products. The heat transfer system includes at least one heat source. The at least one heat source is arranged within an enclosure and is operable by a controller to emit heat energy into the enclosure. First and second cooking conveyors are arranged within the enclosure. The first cooking conveyor is configured to move a first food product through the enclosure. The second cooking conveyor is configured to move a second food product through the enclosure. A speed of the first cooking conveyor and a speed of the second cooking conveyor are independently controlled to independently adjust the cooking time of the first food product and the second food product during operation of the heat transfer system.

A heat transfer system is arranged to cook multiple diverse food products. The heat transfer system includes at least one heat source. The at least one heat source is arranged within an enclosure and is operable by a controller to emit heat energy into the enclosure. First and second cooking conveyors are arranged within the enclosure. The first cooking conveyor is configured to move a first food product through the enclosure. The second cooking conveyor is configured to move a second food product through the enclosure. A speed of the first cooking conveyor and a speed of the second cooking conveyor are independently controlled to independently adjust the cooking time of the first food product and the second food product during operation of the heat transfer system.

A cooking apparatus having a cooking chamber, a cooking drawer, a solid fuel support drawer, gas burners, and an ash drawer. One of the cassettes positionable in the cooking drawer can be a belt conveyor which can transport food between end doors of the cooking chamber. A front door of the chamber, when open, allows for the cooking drawer with a partially-cooked food item to be removed and moved to another location for inspection/manipulation of the food item, and then returned to the cooking chamber. Infrared burners on the ceiling of the cooking chamber are directed down to the cooking drawer. Hot exhaust gases in the cooking chamber pass through the housing to a top area for food cooking/warming. A flickering flame assembly creates flickering flames in the back of the chamber which are visible from both the front and the back of the cooking apparatus.

A cooking apparatus having a cooking chamber, a cooking drawer, a solid fuel support drawer, gas burners, and an ash drawer. One of the cassettes positionable in the cooking drawer can be a belt conveyor which can transport food between end doors of the cooking chamber. A front door of the chamber, when open, allows for the cooking drawer with a partially-cooked food item to be removed and moved to another location for inspection/manipulation of the food item, and then returned to the cooking chamber. Infrared burners on the ceiling of the cooking chamber are directed down to the cooking drawer. Hot exhaust gases in the cooking chamber pass through the housing to a top area for food cooking/warming. A flickering flame assembly creates flickering flames in the back of the chamber which are visible from both the front and the back of the cooking apparatus.

Conveyor ovens for cooking food according to various embodiments include one or more passive tubes in a plenum positioned opposite one or more burner tubes, wherein the passive tubes have outer walls with apertures therethrough. In some cases, a burner assembly for a conveyor oven includes at least one burner tube extending into a plenum and positioned to receive at least a portion of a flame emitted by the burner assembly, wherein a rifling plate extends through the burner tube and is slidingly positioned within the burner tube. Also, in some cases a baffle in a plenum of the oven is positioned opposite the burner tube and defines a fluid conduit having an entrance into which air heated from the burner tube is received and an exit separate from the entrance and through which air is discharged.

Conveyor ovens for cooking food according to various embodiments include one or more passive tubes in a plenum positioned opposite one or more burner tubes, wherein the passive tubes have outer walls with apertures therethrough. In some cases, a burner assembly for a conveyor oven includes at least one burner tube extending into a plenum and positioned to receive at least a portion of a flame emitted by the burner assembly, wherein a rifling plate extends through the burner tube and is slidingly positioned within the burner tube. Also, in some cases a baffle in a plenum of the oven is positioned opposite the burner tube and defines a fluid conduit having an entrance into which air heated from the burner tube is received and an exit separate from the entrance and through which air is discharged.