Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating air includes a UV illumination source in a housing and arranged to expose air to UV illumination suitable to inactivate microorganisms. One or more light baffles can be arranged so that UV illumination is incident on an inlet or outlet side of the light baffle. First and second light baffles can operate as a catalyst element and each can respectively have first and second pluralities of air flow channels extending in first and second directions from an inlet side to an outlet side of the light baffle. The first and second directions can be arranged at an angle such that UV illumination is prevented transmission through the first and second light baffles. Air flow channels of a baffle can extend in a direction from an inlet side to an outlet side of the light baffle and can be inclined relative to the inlet side of the baffle by a slant angle of 10 degrees to 45 degrees.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for fluidly coupling item storage totes to a conditioning system, e.g., to heat, cool or otherwise condition the interior spaces of the totes. Totes may be stacked vertically and ducts of the totes fluidly coupled so conditioned gas can flow between totes and the conditioning system. Locating features on upper and lower surfaces of totes may aid in locating stacked totes relative to each other and/or in fluidly coupling totes with each other.

Abstract: A heating assembly for a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven. The heating assembly can have one or more elements arranged to emit radiation in a wavelength range of 0.75 to 10 microns with a radiative flux of at least 3,000 to 5,000 Watts/sq.cm at a distance of 10 cm from the plurality of heating elements, and/or to emit visible light in a wavelength range of 570 to 800 nanometers, and/or emit radiation in a wavelength range of 0.75 to 10 microns with a ratio of the radiating area to the total area of each heating element being 5% to 25%, and/or emit radiation in a wavelength range of 0.75 to 10 microns toward a cooking space with a ratio of a total radiating area of the plurality of heating elements to an area of the cooking space receiving the radiation is 1% to 20%.

Abstract: A heating arrangement for a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven. Heating elements can be exposed in a cavity of the appliance and can have a shield that permits infrared energy to pass but blocks microwaves and/or provides physical support for internal components such as a quartz tube or resistance element. The shield can be grounded to one or more cavity walls by grounding elements that engage with the shield and a portion of the cavity wall. The heating element can emit a greater amount of infrared radiation in one direction than an opposite direction, e.g., due to a convex or other shape of the resistance element. Sets of heating elements can be controlled so that a second element begins to emit visible light at a same time that a first element stops emitting visible light. Convection air can be directed at one or more heating elements, which diffuse the air flow or otherwise prevent flow of air directly to food in the cavity.

Abstract: A heating arrangement for a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven. Heating elements can be exposed in a cavity of the appliance and can have a shield that permits infrared energy to pass but blocks microwaves and/or provides physical support for internal components such as a quartz tube or resistance element. The shield can be grounded to one or more cavity walls by grounding elements that engage with the shield and a portion of the cavity wall. The heating element can emit a greater amount of infrared radiation in one direction than an opposite direction, e.g., due to a convex or other shape of the resistance element. Sets of heating elements can be controlled so that a second element begins to emit visible light at a same time that a first element stops emitting visible light. Convection air can be directed at one or more heating elements, which diffuse the air flow or otherwise prevent flow of air directly to food in the cavity.

Abstract: A heating arrangement for a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven. Heating elements can be exposed in a cavity of the appliance and can have a shield that permits infrared energy to pass but blocks microwaves and/or provides physical support for internal components such as a quartz tube or resistance element. The shield can be grounded to one or more cavity walls by grounding elements that engage with the shield and a portion of the cavity wall. The heating element can emit a greater amount of infrared radiation in one direction than an opposite direction, e.g., due to a convex or other shape of the resistance element. Sets of heating elements can be controlled so that a second element begins to emit visible light at a same time that a first element stops emitting visible light. Convection air can be directed at one or more heating elements, which diffuse the air flow or otherwise prevent flow of air directly to food in the cavity.

Abstract: A heating arrangement for a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven. Heating elements can be exposed in a cavity of the appliance and can have a shield that permits infrared energy to pass but blocks microwaves and/or provides physical support for internal components such as a quartz tube or resistance element. The shield can be grounded to one or more cavity walls by grounding elements that engage with the shield and a portion of the cavity wall. The heating element can emit a greater amount of infrared radiation in one direction than an opposite direction, e.g., due to a convex or other shape of the resistance element. Sets of heating elements can be controlled so that a second element begins to emit visible light at a same time that a first element stops emitting visible light. Convection air can be directed at one or more heating elements, which diffuse the air flow or otherwise prevent flow of air directly to food in the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating air. A housing can enclose a heating zone and an oxidizing zone positioned downstream of the heating zone with respect to a flow direction of the air being treated. A catalyst in the oxidizing zone oxidizes contaminants from the air, and an air mover positioned is configured to move air from an air inlet through the housing to an air outlet. An air treatment cycle can include an air cleaning mode at a high air flow and a self-cleaning mode at a lower air flow. A heater is operated during the self cleaning mode to oxidize contaminants that on the catalyst from the air cleaning mode.

Abstract: A built-in apparatus and method for treating air including a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet. An air mover positioned near the air outlet is configured to draw the air through the air inlet. The housing encloses an air treatment zone, such as including an oxidizing zone, and an ozone removal zone positioned downstream of the air treatment zone and oxidizing zone. The air treatment zone includes UV light and/or ozone that partially oxidizes the chemical contaminants in the air treatment zone. A catalyst in the oxidizing zone oxidizes elements within the air treatment zone. The ozone removal zone includes a second, different catalyst material. A UV bulb that may or may not generate ozone is positioned within or downstream of the first and/or second catalyst materials to assist catalyst oxidation and/or self-clean the apparatus.

Abstract: A cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a lifting arm including ribs that form a support surface for a food product in a cooking cavity of the appliance. Each rib can include an opening configured to permit infrared radiation from a heating assembly to pass through the rib to the food product supported by the lifting arm and/or to reduce a thermal mass and capacitance of the lifting arm. The heating assembly can include a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element can have a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidably movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support.

Abstract: A cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a lifting arm including ribs that form a support surface for a food product in a cooking cavity of the appliance. Each rib can include an opening configured to permit infrared radiation from a heating assembly to pass through the rib to the food product supported by the lifting arm and/or to reduce a thermal mass and capacitance of the lifting arm. The heating assembly can include a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element can have a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidably movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support.

Abstract: A heating assembly for a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element may be flexible, e.g., having a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The support and/or heating element may define a sheet, e.g., having a length and width. The heating element may have openings in the sheet. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidable movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support when the support and heating element are bent into a curved shape.

Abstract: A heating assembly for a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven. The heating assembly can have one or more elements arranged to emit radiation in a wavelength range of 0.75 to 10 microns with a radiative flux of at least 3,000 to 5,000 Watts/sq.cm at a distance of 10 cm from the plurality of heating elements, and/or to emit visible light in a wavelength range of 570 to 800 nanometers, and/or emit radiation in a wavelength range of 0.75 to 10 microns with a ratio of the radiating area to the total area of each heating element being 5% to 25%, and/or emit radiation in a wavelength range of 0.75 to 10 microns toward a cooking space with a ratio of a total radiating area of the plurality of heating elements to an area of the cooking space receiving the radiation is 1% to 20%.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating air includes a UV illumination source in a housing and arranged to expose air to UV illumination suitable to inactivate microorganisms. One or more light baffles can be arranged so that UV illumination is incident on an inlet or outlet side of the light baffle. First and second light baffles can operate as a catalyst element and each can respectively have first and second pluralities of air flow channels extending in first and second directions from an inlet side to an outlet side of the light baffle. The first and second directions can be arranged at an angle such that UV illumination is prevented transmission through the first and second light baffles. Air flow channels of a baffle can extend in a direction from an inlet side to an outlet side of the light baffle and can be inclined relative to the inlet side of the baffle by a slant angle of 10 degrees to 45 degrees.

Abstract: A cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a lifting arm including ribs that form a support surface for a food product in a cooking cavity of the appliance. Each rib can include an opening configured to permit infrared radiation from a heating assembly to pass through the rib to the food product supported by the lifting arm and/or to reduce a thermal mass and capacitance of the lifting arm. The heating assembly can include a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element can have a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidably movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support.

Abstract: A built-in apparatus and method for treating air including a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet. An air mover positioned near the air outlet is configured to draw the air through the air inlet. The housing encloses an air treatment zone, such as including an oxidizing zone, and an ozone removal zone positioned downstream of the air treatment zone and oxidizing zone. The air treatment zone includes UV light and/or ozone that partially oxidizes the chemical contaminants in the air treatment zone. A catalyst in the oxidizing zone oxidizes elements within the air treatment zone. The ozone removal zone includes a second, different catalyst material. A UV bulb that may or may not generate ozone is positioned within or downstream of the first and/or second catalyst materials to assist catalyst oxidation and/or self-clean the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating air includes a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet, the housing enclosing an air treatment zone and an ozone removal zone, wherein the ozone removal zone is positioned downstream of the air treatment zone with respect to a flow direction of the air being treated, an ozone generator in the air treatment zone configured to generate ozone from the air, wherein the ozone generated by the ozone generator treats the air in the air treatment zone, catalyst in the ozone removal zone that removes at least a portion of the ozone generated the ozone generator, a particle matter (PM) filter positioned between the air treatment zone and the ozone removal zone, wherein the ozone generated by the ozone generator treats the PM filter, and an air mover positioned near the air outlet configured to draw the air through the air inlet.