AMF Bakery Systems (AMF) has announced that the United States Patent Office has awarded the company a new patent (Patent 9,730,456) for the Guardian Oven Chain Management System. AMF’s Chain Management System monitors several important conditions of the oven chain extending the life of the chain while greatly reducing lubrication costs for traveling tray, tunnel, and continuous ovens. The Guardian Chain Management System can be easily applied to continuous final proofers, product coolers, conveyors or other bakery equipment with long lengths of chain.

The oven chain is recognized as the most 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 allows 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, all of which are unprecedented in oven technology.

“Predictable lubrication can save tens of thousands of dollars per year in lubricant,” mentioned Philip Domenicucci, thermal product manager for AMF. “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.”