GB2266831A - Bakery equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A baking tray is in the form of a baking not 20 and carrier therefor. The carrier comprises: a frame 11 of substantially rectangular plan with a peripheral member of substantially beam section. At least two longitudinal members 16 extend between first facing sides of the peripheral member. Each longitudinal member is of a beam section having first and second edges, the first edge locating a cusp region of a baking net extending over the frame 11; the second edge providing a recess whereby the longitudinal member can receive the first edge of a similar longitudinal member on a contiguously disposed baking tray. Each second side of the frame incorporates, or serves to locate, demountable means whereby a side of the baking net can be secured to the second side. The peripheral member or a longitudinal member may be of aluminium alloy or magnesium. The baking net or the carrier or both are coated with a non-stick material such as, or including, a silicone. <IMAGE>

Description

BAKERY EQUIPMENT This invention relates to baking equipment and is particularly concerned with a baking tray. In particular a baking tray is used for the baking of loaves which are substantially longer than they are wide such as baguette and stick loaves. Dough pieces for such loaves in their unbaked condition and initially during baking are structurally weak and need to be supported along their length and to at least some extent around the bottom and partway up the side of the loaf.

In order to support the loaf the tray has a number of parallel longitudinal rods over which are laid a baking net which is shaped into a series of parallel channels each pair of channels being separated by a raised cusp which serves to lie over one of the longitudinal rods of the tray. The outer edges of the baking net parallel to the cusps are demountably locked to side rails of the tray or are turned over to provide an edge pocket through which a side rod can be pushed before being clipped onto the remainder of the tray. The baking net is a moulded textile pre-formed into its corrugated shape. The formed textile is then sprayed or otherwise coated with a silicone rubber which serves to retain the preformed shape, withstand high temperature and provide a non-stick coating to the bread supporting regions of the net.

Existing baking trays present a number of problems in use. The generally wire formed frame while serving to support the preformed baking net is not structurally strong. In particular the use of demountable side rods mounts on the tray structure results in eventual deformation of the side rods or the frame or both to the extent that the outermost channel on each side of the baking net closest to the side rods become so deformed that bread for baking can no longer be placed in them. Since a typical baking tray will hold between five and eight loaves the inability to use the outermost channels results in volume losses of between 40 to 25% can occur which is particularly significant in the context of heating and shift usage.

According to the present invention there is provided a baking tray in the form of a baking net and carrier for the baking net characterised in that the carrier comprises: 1a frame of substantially rectangular plan with a peripheral member of substantially beam section wherein the depth of the beam is substantially greater than its width and the beam depth of the peripheral member lies perpendicular to the frame plan; 2 at least two longitudinal members extending between first facing sides of the peripheral member at positions intermediate while being parallel to the other two facing sides (the second facing sides) of the peripheral members relative to the first; each longitudinal member being of a beam section having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge serving to locate a cusp region of a baking net extending over the frame; the second edge providing a recess whereby the longitudinal member can receive the first edge (whether or not covered by a cusp region of a baking net as aforesaid) of a similar longitudinal member on a contiguously disposed baking tray of similar type 3 each second side of the frame incorporating, or serving to locate, demountable means whereby a side of the baking net can be secured to the second side; the second side being further adapted to nest with a similar side member of a contiguously juxtaposed baking tray of similar type.

Preferably the longitudinal members are shaped in cross section so as to provide an extended surface for supporting the baking net when the net supports a bread component liable to expand.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame of a baking tray; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the frame of Figure 1 prior to the mounting of a baking net; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled combination of frame and baking net; Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on section W-IV of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a stack of units of the type shown in Figure 3.

Where an item is shown in more than one figure it is given the same reference in each.

Figure 1 shows a baking tray frame 11 made up of a rectangular outer frame of four sides 12, 13, 14, 15.

Sides 12 and 14 are each equipped with integral upper channel members, respectively members 12A, 14A containing a channel, respectively channels 12B, 14B.

Sides 13, 15 are linked by longitudinal members 16, 17, 18, 19.

Figure 2 shows the tray frame 11 of Figure 1 just before baking net 20 is located on it.

The net 20 is preformed to the shape shown by locating a textile net material on a former to give it the corrugated appearance shown. This shape is then temporarily maintained to enable a silicone rubber to be sprayed on to cover the net material so once the sprayed material had dried the net 20 is capable of repeated use at the high baking temperatures required while providing a non-stick surface for bread deposited in channels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. This particular baking net 20 is intended for baking 5 baguette loaves which are of long tapering section.

The net 20 is secured to the tray frame 11 by way of its edges 26, 27 and rods 28, 29.

Typically rod 28 is slightly angled at one end so having been pushed into pocket 26A of edge 26 the combination of pocket 26A and rod 28 are pressed into channel 14B the they are retained in place by virtue of the angled rod end being straightened while in the channel 12B. The channels 12B, 14B are in this case are shown pointing generally upwardly. They can point inwardly or outwardly so that the channel is not unduly exposed to impact damage if trays are dropped one upon another. The direction in which they point must provide that the edges of the net 20 overlie the side members 12A, 14A so that dough material will not normally expand to the extent that the dough touches any metal part of the tray.

Figure 3 shows a completed tray 10 ready for use with baking net 20 secured to tray frame 11 as described earlier.

In an alternative arrangement angled rods are dispensed with and instead on fabricating the baking net each of the edges 26, 27 instead of being formed as an empty pocket to receive a rod are permanently formed around a length of cord so that the edges are substantial greater in thickness than the remainder of the net. The thickened edges are then drawn into the channels 12B, 14B from the end of the tray to form a close fitting coupling with the channels so providing a simple and effective connection between net and tray without the need for rods or other additional appendages. The net is capable of repeated usage but given its eventual loss of coating or physical damage it is readily drawn out of connection with the channels and a new or reconditioned net inserted.

Figure 4 shows in more detail the sections of side 14 and of longitudinal members 16, 17. Each side and member is an extruded aluminium alloy section. It will be seen that member 14A is offset from, and angled relative to, the side 14 this serves to enable the trays to be readily stacked one on another. Likewise longitudinal member 16 has a section incorporating an upper rounded spine 30 and a bifurcated lower section with legs 31, 32 which provide for a clearance volume 33 which enables the upper rounded spine of a similar tray on which tray 10 sits to have a working clearance.

Figure 5 shows a stack of trays identical to that described in Figure 3 as tray 10. It will be seen that a large number of such trays are readily stacked as a nested heap following use so as to be easily stored and then re-used.

In the present invention the frame is of substantially rectangular plan with a peripheral member of substantially beam section wherein the depth of the beam is substantially greater than its width and the beam depth of the peripheral member lies perpendicular to the frame plan. The provision of the beam section can either be by way of a single member as shown in the drawings of the exemplary embodiment or by way of a composite member made up of a number of members linked to provide the beam section described. Typically this composite member could be made up of a number of circular or other section items linked so as to provide for increased stiffness in the depth. An example of such a composite member would be a number of circular section items linked at intervals to provide a beam which, vertically, had a dimension made up of, say four circular section members and the intervening space between them, and horizontally a dimension of one circular member. Likewise each of the longitudinal members extending between first facing sides of the peripheral member at positions intermediate while being parallel to the other two facing sides (the second facing sides) of the peripheral members relative to the first could be composite in construction.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS 1A baking tray in the form of a baking net and carrier for the baking net characterised in that the carrier comprises:

1 a frame of substantially rectangular plan with a peripheral member of substantially beam section wherein the depth of the beam is substantially greater than its width and the beam depth of the peripheral member lies perpendicular to the frame plan;

2 at least two longitudinal members extending between first facing sides of the peripheral member at positions intermediate while being parallel to the other two facing sides (the second facing sides) of the peripheral members relative to the first; each longitudinal member being of a beam section having an first edge and a second edge, the first edge serving to locate a cusp region of a baking net extending over the frame; the second edge providing a recess whereby the longitudinal member can receive the first edge (whether or not covered by a cusp region of a baking net as aforesaid) of a similar longitudinal member on a contiguously disposed baking tray of similar type

3 each second side of the frame incorporating, or serving to locate, demountable means whereby a side of the baking net can be secured to the second side; the second side being further adapted to nest with a similar side member of a contiguously juxtaposed baking tray of similar type.

2 A baking tray a claimed in Claim 1 wherein the peripheral member or a longitudinal member are of composite construction.

3 A baking tray as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the peripheral member or a longitudinal member are of extruded material.

4 A baking tray as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the material is an aluminium alloy or magnesium.

5 A baking tray as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the baking net or the carrier or both are coated with a non-stick material such as, or including, a silicone.

6 A baking tray as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7 A baking oven incorporating at least one baking tray as claimed in any preceding claim.