Baking Oven With Modular Heating Element

Abstract

An oven for producing baked products has a plurality of baking irons (3) that are openable and closable and arranged in an elongated machine frame (1) along a continuous conveyor (2) that passes successively through a baking dough application region, a closing region, a baking area (4) for baking the baked products in which at least one heating arrangement (5) is provided for heating, an opening region, and a baked product removal region. The heating arrangement (5) comprises at least one heating element (6) that supplies thermal energy into the baking area (4). The oven has a first heating element receiving portion (14) at which the heating element (6) is detachably connected to the machine frame (1) via a guide device (15). The guide device (15) has at least one guide rail (16) and at least one guide element (17) that can be moved along the guide rail (16).

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A baking oven for producing baked edible products, comprising: multiple baking tongs (3) which are provided in an elongated machine frame (1) along an endless conveyor (2), can be opened and closed, are arranged in series and one after the other proceed through a baking mass application area for applying a baking mass to an opened baking tong (3), a closing area for closing the baking tongs (3), a baking chamber (4) for baking the baked products in the closed baking tongs (3), in which at least one heating arrangement (5) is provided for heating the baking tongs (3) located inside the baking chamber (4), an opening area for opening the baking tongs (3), and a baked product removal area for removing the baked products from the opened baking tongs (3), wherein the at least one heating arrangement (5) comprises at least one heatable or heated heating element (6) for supplying thermal energy to the baking chamber (4), wherein the baking oven comprises a first heating element holder (14) on which the at least one heating element (6) is releasably connected to the machine frame (1) via a guiding device (15), wherein the guiding device (15) has at least one guiding rail (16) and at least one guiding element (17) which is movable along the guiding rail (16).

17. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the guiding device (15) is configured as a drawer for the guided insertion and removal of the at least one heating element (6) into the baking oven or from the baking oven.

18. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the guiding device (15) comprises two guiding rails (16) that are parallel to one another and at least two guiding elements (17), wherein the two guiding elements (17) are respectively guided on a guiding rail (16) for the guided insertion and removal of the at least one heating element (6) into the baking oven or from the baking oven.

19. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the guiding elements (17) are configured as rotatably mounted rollers.

20. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein each of the guiding rails (16) has a first guide contour (22), the guiding element (17) is guided along the guide contour having an insertion section (20) extending along an insertion direction (19) for the guided insertion and removal of the at least one heating element (6) into the baking oven or from the baking oven, and the guide contour has an engagement section (21) deviating from the insertion direction (19) for engaging the heating element (6) in the baking oven.

21. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein each guiding rail (16) has a first guide contour (22) and a second guide contour (23), and two guiding elements (17) are provided which are guided along the guide contours, at least one of the guide contours of a guiding rail (16) has an insertion section (20) extending along an insertion direction (19) for the guided insertion and removal of the heating element (6) into the baking oven or from the baking oven, and at least one of the guide contours of the same guiding rail (16) has an engagement section (21) deviating from the insertion direction (19) for engaging the heating element (6) in the baking oven.

22. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the guiding rails (16) and/or the insertion direction (19) extend/s transversely to the direction of a longitudinal extent (24) of the elongated machine frame (1) and transversely to the direction of movement of the baking tongs (3) provided along the endless conveyor (2).

23. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the baking oven comprises a second heating element holder (25), and the at least one heating element (6) is connectable to the machine frame (1) at the first heating element holder (14), or at the second heating element holder (25) via the guiding device (15).

24. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the baking oven comprises a second heating element holder (25) and at least one additional heating element holder (26), and the at least one heating element (6) is connectable to the machine frame (1) at the first heating element holder (14), at the second heating element holder (25) or at the at least one additional heating element holder (26), via the guiding device (15).

25. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the baking chamber (4) is surrounded by a housing (9), the housing (9) comprises flaps (27) that can be opened and closed, the heating element holder (7) is arranged in the area of a flap (27) so that the at least one heating element (6) can be inserted into the baking chamber (4) through the opened flap (27).

26. The baking oven according to claim 24, wherein the baking chamber (4) is surrounded by a housing (9), the housing (9) comprises at least one flap (27) that can be opened and closed, and all the heating element holders (7, 14, 25, 26) are respectively arranged in the area of a flap (27) so that the at least one heating element (6) can be inserted into one of the heating element holders (7, 14, 25, 26) of the baking chamber (4) through the at least one opened flap (27).

27. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the at least one heating arrangement (5) comprises a plurality of heating elements (6), a plurality of heating element holders (7, 14, 25, 26) are provided, and the heating elements (6) are releasably connected to the machine frame (1) via guiding devices (15).

28. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the endless conveyor (2) extends along an upper transport surface (28) and along a lower transport surface (29) that is vertically spaced away from the upper transport surface (28), and at least one heating element holder (7, 14, 25, or 26) is arranged between the upper transport surface (28) and the lower transport surface (29).

29. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the at last one heating element (6) is configured as a gas-powered radiant burner.

30. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the at least one heating element (6) is configured as a downwardly directed gas-powered radiant burner.

31. The baking oven according to claim 16, wherein the baking oven comprises at least one upper heating element holder (7) on which an upper heating element is releasably connected to the machine frame (1) via a connection device (8), the baking chamber (4) is surrounded by the housing (9), the housing (9) has an opening (11) in the area of the upper heating element holder (7) that is closed or can be closed by means of a removable lid (10), and the opening (11) is at least partly covered by the upper heating element.

32. The baking oven according to claim 31, wherein the connection device (8) comprises at least one support (12) connected to the machine frame for vertically supporting the upper heating element.

33. The baking oven according to claim 31, wherein the upper heating element is arranged on the removable lid (10).

34. The baking oven according to claim 31, wherein the removable lid (10) is at least partly formed by the upper heating element.

35. A baking oven for producing baked edible products, comprising: an elongated machine frame (1); an endless conveyor (2); a baking chamber (4) including a heating arrangement (5) having at least one heating element (6) for supplying thermal energy to the baking chamber (4); multiple openable and closable baking tongs (3) arranged in series and provided in the elongated machine frame (1) along the endless conveyor (2), said tongs, one after the other, arranged to proceed through a baking mass application area for applying a baking mass to an opened baking tong (3), a closing area for closing the baking tongs (3), the baking chamber (4) for baking the baked products in the closed baking tongs (3), in which the heating arrangement (5) heats the baking tongs (3) located inside the baking chamber (4), an opening area for opening the baking tongs (3), and a baked product removal area for removing the baked products from the opened baking tongs (3); and wherein the baking oven comprises a first heating element holder (14) on which the at least one heating element (6) is releasably connected to the machine frame (1) via a guiding device (15), wherein the guiding device (15) has at least one guiding rail (16) and at least one guiding element (17) which is movable along the guiding rail (16).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] Subsequently, the invention is described further by means of an exemplary embodiment.

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view/sectional view of a possible design of a baking oven according to the invention.

[0073] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a sectional view according to section line A-A of FIG. 1.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a schematic oblique view of relevant components of a baking oven according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] Unless otherwise indicated, the numerals correspond to the following components: Machine frame 1, endless conveyor 2, baking tong 3, baking chamber 4, heating arrangement 5, heating element 6, heating element holder 7, connection device 8, housing 9, lid 10, opening 11, support 12, position centering means 13, first heating element holder 14, guiding device 15, guiding rail 16, guiding element 17, guide contour 18, insertion direction 19, insertion section 20, engagement section 21, first guide contour 22, second guide contour 23, direction of longitudinal extent (of the elongated machine frame) 24, second heating element holder 25, additional heating element holder 26, flap 27, upper transport surface 28, lower transport surface 29, pre-head 30, supply cabinet 31, port 32, service flap 33.

[0076] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partially sectional side view of a baking oven according to the invention. The baking oven has an elongated shape extending along the direction of longitudinal extent 24.

[0077] The baking oven comprises an endless conveyor 2, on which lined-up baking tongs 3 are provided, wherein only a few baking tongs are shown for the sake of clarity. The endless conveyor 2 extends from a pre-head 30, in which the following are provided one after the other along the conveying direction of the endless conveyor 2 or the baking tongs 3, respectively: a device for opening the baking tongs 3, a baked product removal area for removing the baked products from the opening baking tongs 3, a baking mass application area for applying a baking mass to an opened baking tong 3, and a closing area for closing the baking tongs 3. These components of the pre-head correspond to the state of the art and are therefore not shown for the sake of simplicity. Once the baking tongs 3 are closed, the baking tongs 3 leave the pre-head 30 and enter into a baking chamber 4. This baking chamber 4 comprises at least one heating arrangement 5 for heating the baking tongs 3 located inside the baking chamber 4. The heating arrangement 5 comprises at least one heating element 6, wherein two heating elements 6 are provided according to the present embodiment. According to the present embodiment, the endless conveyor 2 extends along an upper transport surface 28 and along a lower transport surface 29. According to the present embodiment, a heating element 6 of the heating arrangement 5 is arranged above the upper transport surface 28.

[0078] Further, an additional heating element 6 of the heating arrangement 5 is provided between the upper transport surface 28 and the lower transport surface 29. The two heating elements 6 are preferably configured as downwardly directed heating elements. Preferably, the heating elements 6 of this embodiment are configured as radiant burners the heat radiation of which is directed downwardly to a large extent.

[0079] The heating elements 6 are respectively provided on a heating element holder 7. In addition to the heating element holders 7, on each of which one heating element 6 is provided, additional heating element holders 7 are provided, which are left free according to this embodiment. Hence, more heating element holders 7 than heating elements 6 are provided in the baking oven. This, for example, enables the burner characteristic to be changed by moving one heating element 6 from one heating element holder 7 to another heating element holder 7. In particular, at least one second heating element holder 25 or one further heating element holder 26, respectively, can be s provided.

[0080] In the present embodiment, the baking oven comprises a housing 9. This housing 9 surrounds at least the baking chamber 4. The housing 9 preferably also surrounds the pre-head 30. The housing 9 is preferably arranged on a machine frame 1.

[0081] The housing 9 is preferably configured as substantially closed. This means in particular that the housing 9 surrounds the baking chamber 4 in its entirety and thus delimits it in relation to the environment. However, openings may be present in the housing 9. In particular, at least one opening is provided in the wall between the pre-head 30 and the baking chamber 4, wherein the endless conveyor 3 is passed through this opening.

[0082] Preferably, the baking chamber 4 further comprises a vent for venting the combustion chamber gases and optionally an opening for supplying a convection flow. In the baking oven according to FIG. 1 heating elements 6 may be provided on the different heating element holders 7, in particular on the second heating element holder 25 and/or the additional heating element holder 26.

[0083] According to the present embodiment, the baking oven comprises a plurality of heating element holders 7, in particular a first heating element holder 14, a second heating element holder 25 and an additional heating element holder 26. In addition, one upper first heating element holder and one lower first heating element holder, one upper second heating element holder and one lower second heating element holder as well as one upper additional heating element holder and one lower additional heating element holder are provided respectively. Preferably, all the upper heating element holders are designed in such a way that the upper heating elements are lid-shaped or attached to a lid-shaped body. Preferably, all the lower heating element holders are designed in such a way that the lower heating element/s can be inserted from the side.

[0084] Along the extension of the baking oven, in particular along the direction of longitudinal extent 24, a plurality of heating element holders 7 is provided. In the area of each heating element holder a lid 10 may be provided for allowing the heating element 6 to be connected to the machine frame 1 or the housing 9, respectively, via a connection device 8. These lids 10 are delimited in their extension along the direction of longitudinal extent 24. In particular, their size slightly exceeds the size of the area of the heating element holder 7 so that the heating element 6 can be mounted on the baking oven from above. Preferably, all the lids 10 have the same dimensions so that their position can be chosen. Hence, a plurality of lids is provided, wherein these lids are only optionally provided with a heating element.

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a baking oven according to section line A-A of FIG. 1. In the present view of FIG. 2, the direction of longitudinal extent 24 of the machine frame 1 extends in a projecting manner.

[0086] In the shown section of the baking oven a heating arrangement 5 with two heating elements 6 is provided. The baking chamber 4 is surrounded by a housing 9, wherein the housing 9 is supported by the machine frame 1. The housing 9 can optionally be part of the machine frame 1. The heating elements 6 are respectively arranged on a heating element holder 7. The upper heating element 6 is connected to the housing 9 or to the machine frame 1, respectively, via a connection device 8. The housing 9 comprises an opening 11 that can be closed by means of a lid 10. This opening 11 is at least partly covered by the heating element 6. In the present embodiment, the heating element 6 is arranged on the lid 10, in particular on the lower side of the lid, so that the heating element 6 closes the opening 11 together with the lid 10 and thus covers the baking chamber 4 from above. To this end, the connection device 8 comprises a support 12 onto which a part of the lid 10 or of the heating element 6 can be placed for supporting the arrangement. In addition, the connection device 8 comprises preferably at least one position centering means 13 which allows the position of the heating element 6, and in particular of the lid 10, to be horizontally centered in relation to the machine frame 1 or the housing 9, respectively.

[0087] This position centering means 13 may, for example, be configured as a centering rail, as can be seen in FIG. 2, for example. However, also centering bolts, for example, or other centering means may be provided.

[0088] In the present embodiment, the upper heating element 6 is configured as a lid-shaped body.

[0089] The baking oven further comprises a lower heating element 6 which is connected to the machine frame 1 via a guiding device 15. The guiding device 15 comprises a guiding rail 16 and at least one, preferably more, guiding element/s 17. In the present embodiment, four guiding elements 17 are provided, wherein only two guiding elements 17 are shown in the figure. In the present embodiment, the guiding rail 16 comprises two guide contours 18. The guiding rail 16 extends substantially along the insertion direction 19. The guide contour 18 comprises an insertion section 20 which follows the insertion direction 19. In addition, the guide contour 18 comprises an engagement section 21 deviating from the insertion direction 19.

[0090] In the present embodiment, a first guide contour 22 and a second guide contour 23 are provided. The two guide contours 22, 23 are in particular used for guiding different guiding elements 17. As in this embodiment, one guiding rail 16 each is preferably provided on both sides of the heating element 6. In particular, the guiding rails 16 can be symmetrical.

[0091] The guiding elements 17 are preferably configured as rollers and in particular as rotatably mounted rollers. This allows the friction between the guiding rail 16, in particular the guide contour 18, and the guiding element 17 to be decreased. The guiding elements preferably protrude from both sides of the heating element.

[0092] The used heating elements 6 can have a weight of several kilos. In particular, the heating may lead to thermal stresses and a clamping of the heating element in the guiding rails 16. By providing mounted rollers, the insertion and the removal of the heating elements 6 is facilitated.

[0093] The lower heating element 6 may be inserted and removed through a flap 27, which is for example configured as a lateral door of the oven.

[0094] Furthermore, the baking oven according to the invention may have a supply cabinet 31. This supply cabinet 31 is only shown schematically and can, for example, comprise ports for supplying the fuel and the primary oxygen or the primary air, respectively. The supply cabinet 31 is preferably configured as moveable supply cabinet and/or built in such a way that it can be easily moved and/or transported to the respective occupied heating element holder 7 by means of a transport trolley or crane, for connecting the heating elements 6 to the supply cabinet 31. The heating elements 6, for example, have ports 32 for the supply of the fuel mixture, whichas in the present embodiment of the lower heating elementfor example extend through the housing 9 in order to be able to be connected to the supply cabinet 31 on the outside of the housing 9. The supply cabinet 31, for its part, is connected to a fuel pipe for being able to supply the fuel to the heating elements 6. Furthermore, ignition and monitoring electrodes are run and/or provided between the heat and the supply cabinet. These ignition and monitoring electrodes can be quickly loosened and re-connected without tools.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows an oblique view of parts of the baking oven of FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein no components are shown apart from the significant components of the heating arrangement 5 or the connection device 8 and the guiding device 15, respectively. The heating elements 6 are in turn connected to the machine frame 1 via the connection device 8 or the guiding device 15, respectively. The heating elements 6 have ports 32 for the connection to the supply cabinet 31, which is not shown. While the lower heating element 6 can be inserted into the baking oven in the insertion direction 19 and removed from the baking oven counter to the insertion direction 19, in the present embodiment, the upper heating element 6 is placed on the machine frame 1 from above in a lid-like manner, in order to particularly cover the opening 11 of the housing 9 (not shown). To this end, the heating element 6 is fixedly connected to a lid 10.

[0096] On the back sides of the heating elements 6, one service flap 33 each is provided. This service flap 33 allows components of the heating element, for example the ignition device, to be checked and maintained without having to dismantle the heating element 6 in its entirety.

[0097] According to a preferred embodiment the guiding elements 17, in particular four guiding elements 17, are provided on the heating element 6. According to this embodiment, the guiding rails 16 are preferably arranged on the machine frame 1. This allows the heating element 6 to be introduced into the baking oven or to be removed from the baking oven by guiding the guiding elements 17 along the guiding rails 16. The guiding elements 17 are configured as guiding elements 17 which jut out substantially transversely to the s insertion direction 19 and which, in particular, comprise rotatably mounted rollers. The rotational axis of these rollers preferably also extends transversely to the insertion direction 19.

[0098] However, it is basically also in keeping with the concept of the invention to provide the guiding elements 17 on the machine frame 1 and the guiding rails 16 on the heating element 6.