Temp. and humidity control unit for bakery proving chamber - contains humidifier and heater in compartment attached externally to chamber wall

摘要

An auxiliary unit for maintaining the temp. and humidity of a bread proving chamber at predetermined levels. The unit is contained in a compartment which is attached to the exterior of the chamber. The compartment contains a fan which draws air from the chamber via an extraction port and returns the air to the chamber via a recycling port. As air passes through the compartment, it is humidified as necessary by a water vapouriser and is warmed as necessary by heaters. The vapourised and heaters are controlled w.r.t. signals from hygrostat and thermostat detecting elements located in the air stream drawn through the extraction port. The water vapouriser pref. comprises an open-topped tank contg. an electric immersion heater. Downstream of the vapouriser, the humidified air is warmed by passing through a battery of electric resistance heating elements. Appts. is used for controlling the temp. and humidity of the atmos. in a bakery proving chamber for batches of loaves prior to baking. Improved crust quality is obtd. when dough pieces are supported on metal shelves of trollies to be transferred fully loaded, to a baking oven. The unit can be inexpensively and rapidly added to existing proving chambers.