Air impingement tunnel oven apparatus

Abstract

An air impingement tunnel oven is provided for very rapidly and evenly cooking food items carried horizontally through the tunnel on a suitable conveying mechanism. The oven is provided with upper and lower plenum ducts which are positioned in a vertically spaced relationship within the tunnel so that food items traversing the tunnel pass between them. Vertically facing wall portions of the plenum ducts have cross-sections which are defined by alternate series of generally V-shaped ridges which respectively project toward and away from the interior of their plenum ducts and extend generally perpendicular to the direction of food item travel within the tunnel. A series of rectangular air slots are formed in apex portions of the ridges which project away from their plenum duct interiors. Separate fans are utilized to supply heated tunnel air into the plenums in a direction generally parallel to the ridges therein, the ridges functioning to facilitate even air distribution to the air slots. Plenum air is discharged vertically through the slots and impinges upon upper and lower surfaces of the food items in an overlapping pattern to assure rapid and even cooking of the food items. The upper plenum ducts are vertically adjustable to compensate for height variations in the food items. Additionally, the ridges on the lower plenum duct are sloped and define drain troughs for receiving and draining away liquid falling from the food items. The impingement air supply system may also be used to supply cooling air to the food items.