Oven apparatus for efficiently cooking food

摘要

A conveyor oven for cooking food items, having a conveyor belt that passes through the oven. The conveyor belt may include a plurality of tablets composed of a stone-like material attached to a stainless steel linking assembly, or alternatively, a drive chain. Infrared radiation heat sources are provided above and below the conveyor belt. Food passing through the oven on the conveyor belt is cooked by heat transferred directly from radiant heat sources. Cooking is also facilitated by heating stone-like tablets of the conveyor belt with infrared heat sources inserted inside the conveyor belt loop. Heat is transferred from the tablets to the food items, producing superior qualities in the cooked food. Waste heat is reduced by providing a means for automatic control of the heating elements.