Air flow oven

Claim 2

An air flow oven comprising a vertical oven body, a continuously open access port into said body, inner and outer air ducts surrounding said access port, discharge vents in said ducts, the vents in the inner duct being directed inwardly toward the interior of said oven body, means for introducing pressurized ambient air into said outer duct for discharge through the vents thereof, and means for receiving heated air from said oven body and introducing said heated air into the inner duct for discharge through the vents thereof back to said oven body.

Claim 3

An air flow oven comprising a vertical oven body, a continuously open access port into said body, inner and outer air ducts surrounding said access port, discharge vents in said ducts, the vents in the inner duct being directed inwardly toward the interior of said oven body, means for introducing pressurized ambient air into said outer duct for discharge through the vents thereof, and means for receiving heated air from said oven body and introducing said heated air into the inner duct for discharge through the vents thereof back to said oven body.

Claim 4

An air flow oven comprising a vertical oven body, a continuously open access port into said body, inner and outer air ducts surrounding said access port, discharge vents in said ducts, the vents in the inner duct being directed inwardly toward the interior of said oven body, means for introducing pressurized ambient air into said outer duct for discharge through the vents thereof, and means for receiving heated air from said oven body and introducing said heated air into the inner duct for discharge through the vents thereof back to said oven body.

Claim 5

The oven of claim 1 wherein said access port opens vertically through said oven body.

Claim 6

The oven of claim 2 wherein said outer duct vents discharge approximately horizontally across the access port.

Claim 7

The oven of claim 3 wherein the vents in each duct are located peripherally thereabout so as to discharge inwardly completely about said access port.

Claim 8

The oven of claim 4 including air heating and humidifying means in the flow path of the heated air circulated through the inner duct and oven body.

Claim 9

The oven of claim 2 wherein said access port opens through the top of said oven body.

Claim 10

The oven of claim 5 wherein said access port opens through the bottom of said body.

Claim 11

The oven of claim 2 wherein said access port opens through the top of said oven body, the air discharging through the vents of the inner and outer ducts defining a pair of spaced port covering air curtains precluding the exiting of moisture and heat from the oven body.

Claim 12

The oven of claim 2 wherein said access port opens through the bottom of said body, the air discharging through the vents of the inner and outer ducTs defining a pair of spaced port covering air curtains precluding the exiting of moisture and heat from the oven body.

Claim 13

The oven of claim 5 including a vertically traveling food rack mounted within said oven, said rack comprising a series of separate food receiving pans and means mounting said pans for a selective moving of each pan vertically in a first direction through said oven body from the access port to the remote end of said body and then back again to said access port.

Claim 14

The oven of claim 10 wherein said means for moving said food receiving pans comprise a pair of spaced endless chains, upper and lower sprocket mounting rods, means mounting said rods for rotation, said chains being engaged over upper and lower pairs of rod mounted sprockets, and a plurality of pairs of arms afixed to and projecting outwardly from said chains at spaced points thereabout, each pair of arms suspending a food pan therebetween for a carrying of the food pan along therewith upon a movement of said chains.

Claim 15

The oven of claim 11 wherein each pan is engaged with the corresponding pair of arms through a pan mounted rod, the opposite ends of which are releasably retained within apertures defined in the associated pair of arms.

Claim 16

The oven of claim 1 including a vertically traveling food rack mounted within said oven, said rack comprising a series of separate food receiving pans and means mounting said pans for a selective moving of each pan vertically in a first direction through said oven body from the access port to the remote end of said body and then back again to said access port.

Claim 17

The oven of claim 1 including controlled exhaust means through said oven body remote from said access port, and means associated with said exhaust means to effect a forced discharged therethrough from the interior of the body to the atmosphere to assist in maintaining desired internal humidity and temperature conditions.

Claim 18

The oven of claim 1 wherein the vents in the inner duct are located peripherally thereabout so as to discharge inwardly completely about said access port, said means for receiving heated air from said oven body and introducing the air into the inner duct including at least one air passage exiting through said body from the interior thereof at a point remote from said access port, a closed chamber provided exteriorly of said body and communicating said air passage with said inner duct, said closed chamber incorporated air heating and air humidifying means in the air flow path therethrough from the air passage to the inner duct.

Claim 19

An air flow oven comprising a vertical oven body, an access port into the interior of said body through one end thereof, an air duct surrounding said access port, discharge ducts in said duct located peripherally thereabout and being inwardly directed toward the interior of said oven body completely about said access port, at least one air passage existing through said body from the interior thereof at the opposite end of the body from the access port, a closed chamber exteriorly of said body communicating said air passage with said duct for a continuous flow of air from the oven body through the air passage and closed chamber back into the duct for subsequent discharge into the interior of the oven, and air heating and air humidifying means provided in the closed chamber in the flow path of the air for a continuing heating and humidifying of the moving air, and means for effecting a forced movement of the air through the oven and communicated closed chamber.

Claim 20

An air flow oven comprising a vertical oven body, an access port into the interior of said body through one end thereof, an air duct surrounding said access port, discharge ducts in said duct located peripherally thereabout and being inwardly directed toward the interior of said oven body completely about said access port, at least one air passage existing through said body from the interior thereof at the opposite end of the body from the access port, a closed chamber exteriorly of said body communicating said air passage with said duct for a continuous flow of air from the oven body through the air passage and closed chamber back into the duct for subsequent discharge into the interior of the oven, and air heating and air humidifying means provided in the closed chamber in the flow path of the air for a continuing heating and humidifying of the moving air, and means for effecting a forced movement of the air through the oven and communicated closed chamber.

Claim 21

The oven of claim 16 including controlled exhaust means through said oven body remote from said access port, and means associated with said exhaust means to effect a forced discharge therethrough from the interior of the body to the atmosphere to assist in maintaining desired internal humidity and temperature conditions.