Abstract: The present disclosure provides a grill having a movable upper platen and a lower platen, the latter of which holds food products that are cooked by between the platens. The upper platen has a platen arm, locking drive, and locking pin connected thereto. An actuator, drive shaft, and drive shaft head are operably connected to the platen arm. During operation of the grill, the locking drive drives the locking pin into the drive shaft head, holding the upper platen parallel to the lower platen, even when greater downward pressure is applied by the actuator than the weight of the upper platen. In prior art devices, applying this kind of pressure would cause the upper platen to become nonparallel to the lower platen, causing uneven cooking. Locking the upper platen horizontally ensures that the upper platen will not go out of horizontal level when it comes into contact with food products on the lower platen.

Abstract: A thermal composite which can be used in induction heating or cooking devices. The composite comprises a surface layer made of a food-safe material, an induction layer made of a carbon-based material, an insulation layer, and an induction heating element. The heating element heats the induction layer directly, through the insulation layer, which in turn heats the surface layer. There can also be a structural support layer between the insulation layer and the heating element.

Abstract: The grill of the present disclosure provides multiple heating zones within a front-to-back direction of each cooking platen. Each cooking zone has a heating element associated therewith. The heating elements can be independently controlled, so that each of the heating zones can be operated at a different temperature if necessary. A controller can monitor and adjust the heat output of each element with a temperature probe that measures the temperature of the surface of the grill plate. One or more of the heating elements can be a gas burner. Electrical heating elements may also be used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining and regulating the temperature of an article with inductive properties which is heated inductively by means of an induction device, wherein the induction device contains an induction coil, means for producing an induction resonant circuit and a support element arranged above the induction coil and having a first side, which acts as support face for the article, and a second side, which is directed towards the inductive coil. At least one temperature sensor is fitted to the second side. The resonant frequency of the induction resonant circuit is measured via detection means and the temperature of the article is calculated from the measured resonant frequency, wherein the resonant frequency is related to the temperature of the article by virtue of a mathematical function, and the function is determined by determining at least two absolute temperature calibration values of the article at respectively different resonant frequencies.

Abstract: The modular grill of the present disclosure contains a plurality of removably connected sub-unit grills, each having their own associated control system. This allows for easy servicing and removal of each sub-unit. In addition, each sub-unit can be set to different cooking parameters if desired, thus allowing for the cooking of different products within the same grill.

Abstract: The grill of the present disclosure provides multiple heating zones within a front-to-back direction of each cooking platen. Each cooking zone has a heating element associated therewith. The heating elements can be independently controlled, so that each of the heating zones can be operated at a different temperature if necessary. A controller can monitor and adjust the heat output of each element with a temperature probe that measures the temperature of the surface of the grill plate. One or more of the heating elements can be a gas burner. Electrical heating elements may also be used.

Abstract: The grill of the present disclosure provides a multi-zone cooking surface with separate, discrete zones that are thermally isolated from one another. This allows for cooking in only one zone while avoiding the problem of heat loss to adjacent zones that are not in use, or are operating at different or lower temperatures. The individual cooking zones are separated by a gap that is filled with a thermally insulating material. Each zone can have an independent associated temperature control.

Abstract: The grills of the present disclosure provide several devices and methods for ensuring that cooking platens are level and provide the correct amount of pressure when cooking a food product. In contrast to currently available cooking devices, those of the present disclosure can be automatically leveled on set up, and adjust during or after operation, thus being able to withstand unpredicted events or normal use that may knock the grills out of level.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an adjustable control device using a knob assembly with adjustable temperature scale. A knob and a bezel that bears the temperature scale are assembled and the temperature scale is calibrated without physically changing any internals within the adjustable control device. The knob and bezel are secured to the adjustable control device so that the knob and bezel assembly can transmit an input load from a user through to the adjustable control device and so that the bezel can be rotated relative to the knob which remains fixed to an input shaft of the control for calibration purposes.

Abstract: A convection oven with laminar airflow and/or moisture injection. A radial airflow fan is used to provide a circulating airflow that is substantially even and substantially turbulence free. The circulating airflow is provided to an oven chamber via a plurality of egress ports that rim a divider wall disposed between the oven chamber and a fan chamber. The airflow interleaves with a plurality of pans in the oven chamber to provide a laminar airflow. Moisture is injected into the circulating airflow either upstream of the fan or by flashing water onto the hot blades of the fan from either the low pressure side or the high pressure side of the fan.

Abstract: A grill having a platen with a plurality of heating zones. Each heating zone has a heating unit. Thermal transfer between adjacent heat zones is limited by air gaps and insulation. The heater unit of each zone has a heater that is disposed to attain substantially uniform temperature of the platen for that zone before a temperature sensor senses a set temperature during either pre-heat or recovery modes.