Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a refrigeration system, a first sensor in communication with the refrigerated airflow in a discharge passageway to sense a discharge airflow temperature, and a second sensor is in communication with the refrigerated airflow in the return passageway to sense a return airflow temperature. A controller is in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor and controls a temperature of the product within a predetermined temperature range that is between about 22 degrees Fahrenheit and 23 degrees Fahrenheit based on at least one of the discharge airflow temperature and the return airflow temperature. The controller is further programmed to operate the refrigeration system such that the discharge airflow temperature is maintained above a temperature between about 10 degrees Fahrenheit and 30 degrees Fahrenheit to regulate an evaporation temperature of the evaporator to avoid freezing the product.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case, a refrigeration system, a sensor, and a controller. The refrigeration system is operable in a defrost mode defrosting the evaporator, and a refrigeration mode discharging a refrigerated airflow into the product storage area to refrigerate the product and to maintain the product within a predetermined temperature range without freezing the product, and to receive the refrigerated airflow along a return passageway. The sensor senses one or more defrost conditions of the case. The controller controls the refrigeration system in the refrigeration mode and in the defrost mode, and includes an algorithm for calculating when to initiate the defrost mode and for calculating a duration of the defrost mode. The controller is programmed to vary the refrigeration system between the refrigeration mode and the defrost mode based on the signals indicative of the defrost conditions and the calculations by the algorithm.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case and a refrigeration system in communication with a product storage area of the case. The case includes a case top, a discharge passageway, and a return passageway, and the case top has a lower wall, a front wall, and a deflector. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration circuit that has a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator in series, where the evaporator is disposed in the case top. The refrigeration system further includes a fan that cooperates with the lower wall, the front wall, and the deflector to discharge a substantially laminar refrigerated airflow into and through the product storage area to refrigerate the product within a predetermined temperature range without directing the refrigerated airflow directly at the product.

Abstract: A merchandiser communication system including a first plurality of merchandisers arranged in a first row and a second plurality of merchandisers arranged in a second row. Each of the merchandisers includes a light assembly coupled to a case to illuminate a product display area, a light sensor coupled to the case to detect light pulses, and a microcontroller. The light sensor is in visual proximity with one or more of the adjacent merchandisers located across the aisle. The microcontroller is in electrical communication with the light assembly and the light sensor to operate the light assembly to encode the signal in light pulses of the light assembly that are not detectable by a human eye. The communication system also includes a visible light-based communication network in communication with the merchandisers and is operable to communicate the encoded light pulses among the merchandisers via the light assemblies and the light sensors.

Abstract: An air sanitization system including a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an ozone generator disposed in the housing and positioned between the inlet and outlet, at least one fiber optic cable positioned in visible proximity to the ozone generator, a visible light detector, and a controller. The housing is configured to receive a flow of an oxygen-containing gas through the inlet, and the ozone generator generates ozone from the flow of oxygen-containing gas. The at least one fiber optic cable is configured to receive and transmit visible light from the ozone generator. The visible light detector detects an amount of visible light transmitted by the at least one fiber optic cable. The controller is in communication with the visible light detector for determining whether the amount of visible light transmitted by the at least one fiber optic cable corresponds to a failure of the ozone generator.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case and a refrigeration system in communication with a product storage area of the case. The case includes a case top, a discharge passageway, and a return passageway, and the case top has a lower wall, a front wall, and a deflector. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration circuit that has a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator in series, where the evaporator is disposed in the case top. The refrigeration system further includes a fan that cooperates with the lower wall, the front wall, and the deflector to discharge a substantially laminar refrigerated airflow into and through the product storage area to refrigerate the product within a predetermined temperature range without directing the refrigerated airflow directly at the product.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case, a refrigeration system, a sensor, and a controller. The refrigeration system is operable in a defrost mode defrosting the evaporator, and a refrigeration mode discharging a refrigerated airflow into the product storage area to refrigerate the product and to maintain the product within a predetermined temperature range without freezing the product, and to receive the refrigerated airflow along a return passageway. The sensor senses one or more defrost conditions of the case. The controller controls the refrigeration system in the refrigeration mode and in the defrost mode, and includes an algorithm for calculating when to initiate the defrost mode and for calculating a duration of the defrost mode. The controller is programmed to vary the refrigeration system between the refrigeration mode and the defrost mode based on the signals indicative of the defrost conditions and the calculations by the algorithm.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a refrigeration system, a first sensor in communication with the refrigerated airflow in a discharge passageway to sense a discharge airflow temperature, and a second sensor is in communication with the refrigerated airflow in the return passageway to sense a return airflow temperature. A controller is in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor and controls a temperature of the product within a predetermined temperature range that is between about 22 degrees Fahrenheit and 23 degrees Fahrenheit based on at least one of the discharge airflow temperature and the return airflow temperature. The controller is further programmed to operate the refrigeration system such that the discharge airflow temperature is maintained above a temperature between about 10 degrees Fahrenheit and 30 degrees Fahrenheit to regulate an evaporation temperature of the evaporator to avoid freezing the product.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser that includes a case, a refrigeration system, at least one sensor, a controller, and a display. The refrigeration system is in communication with a product storage area of the case, and discharges a refrigerated airflow into the product storage area to refrigerate product. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator coupled in series. The sensor is in communication with the refrigerated airflow to sense an airflow temperature and to generate a signal indicative of the airflow temperature. The controller is in electrical communication with the sensor to receive the signal indicative of the airflow temperature, and includes an algorithm that calculates a temperature of the product based on the signal indicative of the airflow temperature. The display is coupled to the case and is visible from outside the case, and is in electrical communication with the controller to show the calculated product temperature.

Abstract: An air sanitization system including a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an ozone generator disposed in the housing and positioned between the inlet and outlet, at least one fiber optic cable positioned in visible proximity to the ozone generator, a visible light detector, and a controller. The housing is configured to receive a flow of an oxygen-containing gas through the inlet, and the ozone generator generates ozone from the flow of oxygen-containing gas. The at least one fiber optic cable is configured to receive and transmit visible light from the ozone generator. The visible light detector detects an amount of visible light transmitted by the at least one fiber optic cable. The controller is in communication with the visible light detector for determining whether the amount of visible light transmitted by the at least one fiber optic cable corresponds to a failure of the ozone generator.

Abstract: A merchandiser communication system including a first plurality of merchandisers arranged in a first row and a second plurality of merchandisers arranged in a second row. Each of the merchandisers includes a light assembly coupled to a case to illuminate a product display area, a light sensor coupled to the case to detect light pulses, and a microcontroller. The light sensor is in visual proximity with one or more of the adjacent merchandisers located across the aisle. The microcontroller is in electrical communication with the light assembly and the light sensor to operate the light assembly to encode the signal in light pulses of the light assembly that are not detectable by a human eye. The communication system also includes a visible light-based communication network in communication with the merchandisers and is operable to communicate the encoded light pulses among the merchandisers via the light assemblies and the light sensors.

Abstract: A refrigeration case monitoring system. In one embodiment, the refrigeration case monitoring system includes a first fiber optic cable, a second fiber optic cable, and a control system having a first sensing channel and a second sensing channel. The first fiber optic cable transmits a signal that is indicative of a refrigeration case condition. The second fiber optic cable transmits a signal that is indicative of a second refrigeration case condition. The control system receives the signals from the first and second fiber optic cables using the first and second sensing channels, processes the signals, and provides an output related to the first and second refrigeration case conditions.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser that includes a case, a refrigeration system, at least one sensor, a controller, and a display. The refrigeration system is in communication with a product storage area of the case, and discharges a refrigerated airflow into the product storage area to refrigerate product. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator coupled in series. The sensor is in communication with the refrigerated airflow to sense an airflow temperature and to generate a signal indicative of the airflow temperature. The controller is in electrical communication with the sensor to receive the signal indicative of the airflow temperature, and includes an algorithm that calculates a temperature of the product based on the signal indicative of the airflow temperature. The display is coupled to the case and is visible from outside the case, and is in electrical communication with the controller to show the calculated product temperature.

Abstract: An infrared tunnel oven includes one or more oven tiers each having a horizontal cooking tunnel with entrance and exit at opposite ends, the tier(s) being supported by a base. Each tunnel is divided along its length into multiple heating zones. The roof and hearth surfaces of each tunnel are heated by electrical heating panels for direct IR emission from the roof and hearth for direct absorption by food products conveyed through the tunnel by a continuous speed-controllable conveyor. Microprocessor-controlled circuitry monitors, by a thermocouple arrangement, the temperature of the roof and hearth in each zone, controlling the electric heating panels to maintain preselected roof and hearth temperatures in each such zone. The microprocessor also controls the conveyor speed for conveying of products along the length of the tunnel within a preselected cooking time. User selection of temperatures in the different zones and cooking time, as well as other functions, is provided by keypad entry.

Abstract: An oven-broiler includes modular units each having a tunnel-form cooking chamber formed by a tubular inner member, a heating arrangement extending around at least portions of the inner member for heating same to predetermined temperatures for emission of infrared radiant energy into the chamber for heating of products conveyed therein from one end to the other. The heating arrangement is either electrically energized, thermostatically controlled panels or a gas combustion chamber. The heating arrangement and tubular inner member are enclosed by a tubular outer member supported by a caster-equipped base. Such a modular unit is joinable into a multiple-unit oven of various possible lengths by securement of flanges at opposite ends.

Abstract: A method of flameless broiling or baking in a tunnel oven of greasy meat products, which method comprises the steps of heating the interior tunnel surfaces of the tunnel oven to provide for cooking of the meat products in the tunnel oven by infrared radiant energy emitted directly from the surfaces, entrapping a substantially quiescent, oxygen-starved heated tunnel atmosphere having a slight overpressure within the tunnel oven, conveying the meat products through the tunnel atmosphere within the tunnel oven by first carrying the meat products upwardly at an angle inclined to the horizontal through an open entrance of the tunnel oven and into the atmosphere, carrying them along the length of the tunnel oven within the tunnel atmosphere while heating the meat products by the emission of infrared radiation directly from the interior tunnel surfaces resulting from the heating thereof, and subsequently conveying them downwardly at an angle inclined to the horizontal out of the tunnel atmosphere through an open exi

Abstract: An open hearth oven having an opening at the front thereof is provided with a shield arrangement for shielding against escape through the oven opening of infrared radiation emitted by radiating elements within the oven chamber. The shielding structure permits the introduction of objects into the oven chamber for being heated therein by infrared radiation while reflecting radiation back into the oven chamber. The shielding is configured and positioned for allowing introduction and removal of the objects without movement or removal of the shielding. Yet it is swingably mounted for being swung upwardly to a retracted position for facilitating access to the oven chamber through the opening. The shielding may be lowered in the retracted position but is selectively released to swing to the radiation blocking position as by use of a peel, such as utilized for handling of food products. The shielding is also readily removable from the oven, such as for cleaning.

Abstract: A traveling oven system is adapted for use synchronously with an extrinsic conveyor, particularly for shrink wrapping purposes by heating an object such as a pallette, package, or other article of manufacture covered by a polyethylene film bag to shrink the bag about the same. The system includes a bell-type oven having a housing with side wall portions, front and rear wall portions, and a top wall, being open at the lower end and having infrared heating panels on predetermined wall portions. The oven is supported above the conveyor by a tram carried by a gantry extending along the conveyor for vertical movement of the oven with respect to the conveyor and also for horizontal movement in forward and reverse directions along a reach of the conveyor. A vertical drive is included for vertically reciprocally moving the oven between an upper position with the lower end of the oven above objects at least partially enclosing such objects for heating thereof.

Abstract: A process time control system of a digital type has a sensor associated with a motor used for driving a product through a process length and logic circuits for providing a timing pulse corresponding to a time increment for the product to traverse a small process length increment. During this timing pulse clock pulses having a high pulse repetition rate, calibrated to correspond to a predetermined time increment per process length increment, are supplied to a BCD counter and compared by a digital comparator to a BCD number representing a preselected desired process time. The comparator and associated logic gates provide a signals for causing the count of an up-down counter to be incremented either down or up, respectively, according to whatever the BCD count is greater or less, respectively, than the preselected BCD number. A clock pulse source provides slow rate incrementing pulses for this purpose.