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IPC Subclass
A21B

BAKERS' OVENS; MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR BAKING

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Class:
BAKING; EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING OR PROCESSING DOUGHS; DOUGHS FOR BAKING
Subclass:
BAKERS' OVENS; MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR BAKING

Description

Subclass A21B encompasses bakers' ovens and mechanical equipment used in the baking process, including oven design, heating systems, and loading/unloading mechanisms. It covers equipment for industrial and commercial baking operations, such as tunnel ovens, batch ovens, and auxiliary machinery for dough handling during baking. This subclass excludes dough preparation and processing equipment (covered under A21C) and food preparation devices outside the baking context, focusing specifically on the thermal treatment and mechanical handling of dough and batter in baking applications.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass A21B recorded 16,786 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,040 in 2013 to 1,798 in 2023 (+73%), peaking at 2,115 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class A21 are KVASENKOV OLEG IVANOVICH (482 applications), JOYOUNG COMPANY (322 applications) and HAAS FOOD EQUIPMENT (307 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

A21B ranks 3rd of 3 subclasses with filings in A21, with 16,786 applications between 2013 and 2023, 19.6% of the class. Annual filings grew 73% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+24%).

Subclasses of class A21 by patent applications, 2013–2023
RankSubclassTitleApplicationsShare
1A21D, Treatment of Flour or Dough for Baking, e.g. by Addition of Materials; Baking; Bakery ProductsTreatment of Flour or Dough for Baking, e.g. by Addition of Materials; Baking; Bakery Products35,63841.7%
2A21C, Machines or Equipment for Making or Processing Doughs; Handling Baked Articles Made From DoughMachines or Equipment for Making or Processing Doughs; Handling Baked Articles Made From Dough33,10038.7%
3A21BBakers' Ovens; Machines or Equipment for Baking16,78619.6%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Domestic baking equipment

Related Keywords

BAKING -ovensBAKING -vesselsCOOKING of dough products in bakeriesovens for COOKINGGAUFFRE ironsGIRDLES [= griddles]GRIDDLEScooking- OVENSmaking PASTRY(IES)making PIE(S)baking TINS

5 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • A21B 2/00 Baking apparatus employing high-frequency or infrared heating
  • A21B 7/00 Baking plants

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A21, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. KVASENKOV OLEG IVANOVICH RU 482
  2. JOYOUNG COMPANY 322
  3. HAAS FOOD EQUIPMENT AT 307
  4. GENERAL MILLS US 304
  5. ADEKA CORPORATION 207
  6. JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 196
  7. NOVOZYMES DK 186
  8. INTERCONTINENTAL GREAT BRANDS (KRAFT FOODS) US 181
  9. NESTEC CH 177
  10. NESTLE CH 171