AMF Bakery Systems awarded U.S. patent

Richmond, VA —  The United States Patent Office awarded AMF Bakery Systems a new patent for its Guardian Oven Chain Management System.

AMF’s chain management system monitors several important conditions of the oven chain, which extends the life of the chain while reducing lubrication costs for traveling tray, tunnel, and continuous ovens. The system, assigned patent 9,730,456, can be applied to continuous final proofers, product coolers, conveyors or other bakery equipment with long lengths of chain.

The oven chain is a critical part in a high-speed bread or bun bakery, as a chain failure can result in an astronomical loss in both repair costs and production downtime. AMF’s Guardian System is designed to allow bakery operators to easily determine thermal expansion of the chain, the power required to drive the chain, variations in chain tracking, tensioning pressure and distance, and hydraulic chain tensioning.

“Predictable lubrication can save tens of thousands of dollars per year in lubricant,” said Philip Domenicucci, thermal product manager for AMF in a news release. “With proper maintenance, regular lubrication, and cleaning, it is possible to have oven chains running for upwards of 30 years or more. Conversely, if a chain is poorly maintained the life span can be reduced to 1 to 2 years.”