POWER MODULATOR FOR INFRARED CONVEYOR OVEN

摘要

A system and method to control the power supplied to heating elements of a conveyor oven. The conveyor oven includes a plurality of heating elements to evenly distribute heat in an oven compartment. During peak-loads, the current draw of the heating elements may exceed available power of a power supply. Therefore, a system and method to reduce the total current draw of the plurality of heating elements is provided. The system includes a controller configured to perform the methods disclosed herein. The methods effectively lower the total current draw by rapidly cycling a plurality of relays connected to each of the plurality of heating elements to achieve even distribution of heat and reduced current draw during peak-loads.

主权项

1. A conveyor oven comprising:
an oven compartment; a conveyor extending through the oven compartment; a motor that drives the conveyor; a first heating element; a first relay that controls a current flow to the first heating element; a power supply that receives external power and distributes power to components within the conveyor oven; and a controller connected to the power supply and to the first relay, the controller configured to send a heating element control signal to the first relay, the heating element control signal pulsed such that the first relay is repeatedly actuated to reduce an average current to the first heating element.