Selectively Energized Patents (Class 219/398)
  • Patent number: 12004686
    Abstract: Embodiments of the application disclose a heating control method, device and apparatus. The device is internally provided with a first heating tube and a second heating tube, and a cooking cavity between the first heating tube and the second heating tube is configured to place to-be-heated food. When time reaches a switching time point, a magnitude relationship between heating temperatures of the first heating tube and the second heating tube is switched, so that the effect of turning the food can be achieved to enable the food to be heated uniformly, and prevent a situation in which the food is undercooked or burnt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventors: Weijie Huang, Zhende Zhong
  • Patent number: 11653786
    Abstract: A table-top kitchen device, comprising a first food preparation chamber and at least a second food preparation chamber. The first and second food preparation chamber are operable simultaneously to prepare food that in use is received therein. The first and second food preparation chamber are physically separated from each other in such way that each chamber includes an autonomous cooking environment, wherein the cooking conditions, that is, a cooking method and/or at least one cooking parameter can differ per food preparation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Gert Samonigg, Marta Matusin, Christian Schmoeller, Franciscus Jozef Marie Starmans
  • Patent number: 11369012
    Abstract: A combination lifting mechanism for a microwave oven, or other appliance, and a cooking range ventilating hood. The lifting mechanism lifts the microwave within the open bottom portion of the hood and lowers the microwave oven for user access into the microwave oven. The lifting mechanism includes a support plate for the microwave oven and a lifting belt attached to the support plate. A motor wraps or unwraps a lifting belt onto a spool to either raise or lower the support plate. An isolation chamber is located in the open lower portion of the hood and is sized and configured to receive the microwave over therein to protect the microwave oven from cooking gas and grease when the range below is used during cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: William Langford, Chase Langford
  • Patent number: 11344156
    Abstract: A modular food holding system includes a plurality of individual modularized food holding chambers, each of the plurality of food holding chambers being physically and communicatively removably connected to one another. Each of the food holding chambers includes a food holding cavity and may further include a heating element and/or a cooling element for heating or cooling the food holding cavity. A chamber base is physically and communicatively removably connected to one of the food holding chambers and operation of at least one food holding chamber is controlled by the chamber base. A smart sensor is disposed within or connected to a food pan that is removably inserted within the food holding cavity of a food holding chamber. The smart sensor is configured to sense a characteristic of an interior environment of the food pan and communicate with the food holding chamber or the chamber base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MARMON FOODSERVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventor: Loren Veltrop
  • Patent number: 11255607
    Abstract: A method for operating a power-compensated fusion furnace that includes a power control system having one switching device per heating element, power measurement circuitry, a master temperature sensor, and a controller. Each switching device is electrically connected to a respective heating element. The controller, in conjunction with the switching devices, is able to individually control the electrical energy flowing to each heating element, thereby controlling the duty cycle of each heating element. The duty cycles are corrected for one or more of variations in the electrical resistance of each heating element and position-dependent variations in furnace cavity temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SPEX SAMPLE PREP LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Emmanuel LeMay, Marc Boivin
  • Patent number: 10969112
    Abstract: A switch for operating a heating element of a cooking appliance includes a first contact electrically connected with the heating element, a second contact electrically connected with a power source. A bimetal strip is configured to electrically connect and disconnect the first and second contacts. The switch further includes a rotatable cam member having a cam surface for operative engagement with a cam follower. The cam surface has a profile dimension that is at least partially variable about the rotational axis of the cam member and is configured to cause displacement of the cam follower as a function of its rotational orientation to thereby adjust an operating temperature of the heating element. The cam surface is configured such that the operating temperature can be adjusted up to but not beyond a predetermined maximum temperature via rotation of the cam member. Circuits incorporating such a switch also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantin Lamasanu, Lloyd Smith
  • Patent number: 10697644
    Abstract: An electric oven broils foodstuffs with either its oven door opened or closed. The operating parameters of the oven's broiling elements are altered based on the position of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, John F. Hines, James C. Johncock
  • Patent number: 10690352
    Abstract: A heating appliance generally includes a housing having a compartment and a door for selectively accessing the compartment. The compartment is sized to receive a food product. The heating appliance also includes a heating element disposed within the compartment for cooking the food product, and a control unit for operating the heating element to cook the food product without preheating the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Daniel Smith, Gerald Joseph McNerney, William James McClung, III, Casey Aaron Klock
  • Patent number: 10677472
    Abstract: A system and method for preheating a cooking chamber of an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance may include one or more heating elements that operate according to a control algorithm that prevents the center oven temperature from exceeding a maximum desired temperature threshold. The control algorithm accounts for discrepancies between the measured oven temperature and the actual center oven temperature, particularly when preheating a cold oven. As a result, the control algorithm selectively operates one or more of the heating elements after the measured oven temperature is above the maximum desired temperature threshold. Preheating the cooking chamber in this manner will improve overall cooking performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Scott Johnson, Sabrina Marie Hannah
  • Patent number: 10455983
    Abstract: A modular food holding system includes a plurality of individual modularized food holding chambers, each of the plurality of food holding chambers being physically and communicatively removably connected to one another. Each of the food holding chambers includes a food holding cavity and at least one of a heating element and/or a cooling element for heating or cooling the food holding cavity. A chamber base is physically and communicatively removably connected to one of the food holding chambers and operation of at least one food holding chamber is controlled by the chamber base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: PRINCE CASTLE LLC
    Inventor: Loren J. Veltrop
  • Patent number: 10240870
    Abstract: A method for operating a power-compensated fusion furnace that includes a power control system having one switching device per heating element, power measurement circuitry, a master temperature sensor, and a controller. Each switching device is electrically connected to a respective heating element. The controller, in conjunction with the switching devices, is able to individually control the electrical energy flowing to each heating element, thereby controlling the duty cycle of each heating element. The duty cycles are corrected for one or more of variations in the electrical resistance of each heating element and position-dependent variations in furnace cavity temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SPEX Sample Prep, LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Emmanuel LeMay, Marc Boivin
  • Patent number: 10208964
    Abstract: A method for reducing energy consumption in a steam cooker that includes a steam cooking cavity, a steam generator for delivering steam along a steam path to the steam cooking cavity, a steam outlet from the steam cooking cavity to a first flow path leading to a drain path. The method involves: (a) utilizing a second flow path from the steam outlet to a vent stack to deliver excess steam flows from the steam cooking cavity up the vent stack rather than down to the drain box; (b) sensing temperature within the vent stack; and (c) utilizing sensed temperature within the vent stack to regulate power of a heating unit of the steam generator to produce steam in a controlled manner that reduces flows of excess steam out of the steam cooking cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Timothy L. Cupp, Jeffrey L. Frock, Atul Saksena
  • Patent number: 10202572
    Abstract: A culture container includes a first transparent member being capable of keeping a predetermined temperature; a second transparent member facing to the first transparent member; a housing member to which the first transparent member and the second transparent member are adhered forming a culture space being capable of housing a well plate together with the first transparent member and the second transparent member; and a sealing member for sealing a liquid injected into the culture space between the first transparent member and the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Tanaka, Shinsuke Haga, Shin Hasegawa, Tatsuya Minakawa, Suguru Dowaki, Eriko Matsui
  • Patent number: 10154757
    Abstract: A modular food holding system includes a plurality of individual modularized food holding chambers, each of the plurality of food holding chambers being physically and communicatively removably connected to one another. Each of the food holding chambers includes a food holding cavity and at least one of a heating element and/or a cooling element for heating or cooling the food holding cavity. A chamber base is physically and communicatively removably connected to one of the food holding chambers and operation of at least one food holding chamber is controlled by the chamber base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: PRINCE CASTLE LLC
    Inventors: Loren J. Veltrop, Christine S. Laub, Eric William Larson, Greg Alan Thompson
  • Patent number: 9927128
    Abstract: A method for operating an oven appliance includes establishing a set temperature, operating a heating element of the oven appliance in order to heat a cooking chamber of the oven appliance to a target temperature with the heating element, and continually reducing the target temperature to the set temperature. A related control system for an oven appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Christopher Boedicker
  • Patent number: 9888530
    Abstract: An induction stove and induction cookware are disclosed herein. The induction stove includes a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm together forming an opening between the first arm and the second arm. At least one of the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm includes an induction source. The induction stove also includes rack disposed in the opening for supporting induction cookware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: Bernard Fryshman
  • Patent number: 9821413
    Abstract: A multi-operational welding-type system including a user interface supported by a support structure and including a first user interface device moveable between a welding position, a gouging position, and an off position, and a second user interface device configured to alter operation parameters of the multi-operational welding-type system. A controller is supported by the support structure and monitors the position of the first user interface device and utilizes the operational parameters supplied via the second user interface device. The multi-operational welding-type system may perform only one of a gouging-type process and a welding-type process at a given time depending on the position of the first user interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Feldhausen, Jeffrey W. Rappold, Gary A. Thyssen, Craig S. Knoener, Christopher D. McInnis, Brian A. Schwartz, Michael W. Hogan, Jeffrey P. Lenz
  • Patent number: 9375081
    Abstract: Wall-mounted cabinet comprising a body (1) on each side of which is arranged a linear actuator (4). The linear actuator comprises a spindle (6) with a spindle nut, where the spindle is driven by a reversible electric motor via a transmission. The spindle nut is attached directly or indirectly to the side of the body (1), such that the body is lowered or raised in dependency of the direction of the revolution of the motor. The construction has the advantage that the internal of the body is completely clean for mechanical parts which lowers and raises the body. Moreover, the actuators only take up minimum space on the outer side of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventors: Christoph Messing, Torben Basse
  • Publication number: 20140238972
    Abstract: A control unit can select a large-number control zone model in which the number of control zones, which are independently controlled, is large, and a small-number control zone model in which the number of control zones, which are independently controlled, is small. When a temperature is increased or decreased, the control unit can select the small-number control zone model so as to control, based on signals from temperature sensors of the respective control zones C1 . . . C5 whose number is small, heaters located on the respective control zones C1 . . . C5. When a temperature is stabilized, the control unit can select the large-number control zone model so as to control, based on signals signals from the temperature sensors of the respective control zones C1 . . . C10 whose number is large, the heaters located on the respective control zones C1 . . . C10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koji YOSHII, Tatsuya YAMAGUCHI, Wenling WANG, Takanori SAITO
  • Publication number: 20140158675
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a high temperature curing oven, comprising: a heating cavity a heater and a temperature monitor system. The heater includes a plurality of heating modules that can be controlled independently. The temperature monitor system includes: a thermocouple; an infrared monitor device; a signal processing module; and an executing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicants: HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yangkun Jing
  • Publication number: 20140076360
    Abstract: An oven includes a cooking chamber for housing food to be cooked, a control unit, and a reservoir for containing washing detergent at room temperature. The washing detergent has an activation temperature. The oven also includes a liquid supply arrangement selectively activated by the control unit for supplying the washing detergent into the cooking chamber, and one liquid heating element for heating the washing detergent and to be selectively activated by the control unit. During a washing cycle, the control unit performs the following ordered operations: a) activate the one liquid heating element for a first time period sufficient to increase its temperature to the activation temperature; b) deactivate the liquid heating element; c) when the temperature of the liquid heating element is about the activation temperature, activate the liquid supply arrangement so that the washing detergent is heated by the liquid heating element while supplied into the cooking chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Riccardo FURLANETTO, Michele SIMONATO, Paolo CESCOT
  • Patent number: 8569661
    Abstract: A household appliance includes a first oven, a second oven disposed above the first oven and a shared housing surrounding the first and second ovens. The shared housing includes two separable parts defining a partition plane between the first and second ovens. At least one connecting element forms a hinged connection between the two separable parts of the shared housing. Control, operating and display elements are disposed in a top part of the shared housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Lars Kemper, Joachim Render
  • Patent number: 8418684
    Abstract: A catalytic conversion unit treats emissions emanating from a cooking event. The unit comprises a housing to contain the other components that connects either directly or through the use of ancillary components to the oven cavity of a residential range, or oven. Contained within the housing are an electric heating element and a catalyst unit. The housing may connect to additional components to complete the venting of the exhaust to the atmosphere. The electric heating element is arranged so that infrared radiation from the hot surface of the element is visible by the inlet face of the catalyst. The power output of the heater is sized so that the catalyst reaches a minimum operating temperature to initiate the catalytic reaction in advance of the temperature increase in the air coming from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Catalytic Combustion Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Robinson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8420983
    Abstract: A steam cooker 1 has: a steam generation heater 52 generating steam; and a steam heating heater 41 heating the steam generated by the steam generation heater 52 to generate overheated steam and heating steam in a heating chamber 20 through circulation, an-article-to-be-heated F being cooked by use of steam fed into the heating chamber 20. The steam cooker 1 has: a first cooking step in which the article-to-be-heated F is cooked with supply of electric power to the steam generation heater 52 being larger than that to the steam heating heater 41; and a second cooking step in which the article-to-be-heated F is cooked with supply of electric power to the steam generation heater 52 being smaller than that to the steam heating heater 41. When the temperature of the article-to-be-heated F exceeds the fat melting temperature zone but is less than or equal to 100° C., the first cooking step is switched to the second cooking step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriko Ohashi, Yuko Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20130032586
    Abstract: The invention relates to a firing furnace for a tooth replacement or tooth prosthesis, with a firing chamber, at least one heating element for heating the firing chamber, a control unit for controlling the operation of the firing furnace, and a housing at least partially surrounding the firing chamber, wherein the firing furnace comprises at least one thermoelectric element for utilizing the waste heat generated by the firing furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: DEKEMA DENTAL-KERAMIKÖFEN GMBH
    Inventor: Stephan Miller
  • Patent number: 8367979
    Abstract: A household range includes a first oven having a first electric cooking element, and a second oven includes a second electric cooking element. A power management system is used to distribute power such that when the second electric cooking element is energized the first electric cooking element is de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Max Douglas Oyler, Siva Kiran Chekka
  • Patent number: 8304695
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven provided with bake, broil and multiple convection heating elements, as well as plural, multi-speed fans, for cooking a wide range of food. The various heating elements are sequentially operated on a predetermined priority basis in order to, along with the fans, establish numerous effective cooking sequences, such as a bake mode, a convection bake mode with no preheat, a convection bake mode with rapid preheat, a convection bake mode with standard preheat, and a convection roast mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Bonuso, Steven M. Swayne
  • Patent number: 8263907
    Abstract: A baker's oven 10 and a method of operating the baking oven 10. The baking oven 10 including heating means 50 arranged to underlie baking trays 31 to provide a substantial proportion of the heat to the baking trays 31 than to other portions of the oven, a temperature sensor 62 for providing a signal indicative of oven temperature. An interface 60 is adapted to receive information from a baker indicative of a bake program and information corresponding to products being loaded into the oven. The control means 61 is operatively connected to the heating means 50, the temperature sensor 62 and the interface 60 to receive signals corresponding to oven variables comprising the oven temperature and a fixed baking time indicative of the product. The control means 61 is adapted to deactivate the heating means 50 after a first predetermined portion of the fixed baking time has elapsed in response to the oven temperature reaching a trip temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Moffat Pty Limited
    Inventor: Paul Eaton Willett
  • Publication number: 20120223066
    Abstract: A control unit can select a large-number control zone model in which the number of control zones, which are independently controlled, is large, and a small-number control zone model in which the number of control zones, which are independently controlled, is small. When a temperature is increased or decreased, the control unit can select the small-number control zone model so as to control, based on signals from temperature sensors of the respective control zones C1 . . . C5 whose number is small, heaters located on the respective control zones C1 . . . C5. When a temperature is stabilized, the control unit can select the large-number control zone model so as to control, based on signals from the temperature sensors of the respective control zones C1 . . . C10 whose number is large, the heaters located on the respective control zones C1 . . . C10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koji YOSHII, Tatsuya YAMAGUCHI, Wenling WANG, Takanori SAITO
  • Patent number: 8258436
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating device including a heating compartment for holding an object-to-be-heated, an oven heater for heating the heating compartment, a circulation fan for supplying the heat of the oven heater to the heating compartment as hot air, a drive motor for driving the circulation fan, a grill heater in an upper part of the heating compartment, and a turntable on which the object-to-be-heated is mounted, the turntable being in the bottom of the heating compartment, in which the grill heater is disposed obliquely to a side surface of the heating compartment in a part of the upper part of the heating compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hisahiro Nishitani, Kouji Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 8247741
    Abstract: A system is provided for heating or cooling discrete, linearly conveyed substrates having a gap between a trailing edge of a first substrate and a leading edge of a following substrate in a conveyance direction. The system includes a chamber, and a conveyor operably configured within the chamber to move the substrates through at a conveyance rate. A plurality of individually controlled temperature control units, for example heating or cooling units, are disposed linearly within the chamber along the conveyance direction. A controller is in communication with the temperature control units and is configured to cycle output of the temperature control units from a steady-state temperature output as a function of the spatial position of the conveyed substrates within the chamber relative to the temperature control units so as to decrease temperature variances in the substrates caused by movement of the substrates through the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: PrimeStar Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Pepler, James Joseph Jones, Sean Timothy Halloran
  • Patent number: 8109263
    Abstract: An outdoor cooking grill includes a removable grease drip pan. The grease drip pan has a drain hole and a drain assembly having a plug that is selectively moveable to seal the drain hole. The user may use the drain assembly to drain grease and other liquid collected in the grease drip pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: David Adam Pliml
  • Patent number: 8053707
    Abstract: A barbecue grill for cooking an object. The barbecue grill includes a first resistive element subassembly energizable for generating heat to cook the object, and a second resistive element subassembly energizable for generating heat to cook the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Dimplex North America Limited
    Inventors: Victor Hoyles, Kristoffer Hess
  • Patent number: 8049142
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cabinet forming an oven cavity, a broil heating element, a bake heating element, a convection heating system and a controller. The convection heating system develops a flow of heated air into the oven cavity, and includes a fan and a convection heating element. The controller controls activations of the broil, bake and convection heating elements during an oven cavity preheating operation in which the broil heating element and the bake heating element are alternately activated while the convection heating element is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Blackson, Michel Perreault, Pierre Marcoux
  • Patent number: 8035062
    Abstract: A combination cooking oven is disclosed comprising a cooking cavity, a controller, thermal heating source, blower assembly, air directing means, deflecting means and a vent assembly wherein speed cooking or slower cooking of food products may be accomplished within the same appliance by movement of a gas baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. McFadden, David A. Bolton
  • Patent number: 8030598
    Abstract: An electric cooking assembly includes a main body portion that defines a cooking area. First and second cooking surfaces are contained within the cooking area. A first electric heating element arranged to provide heat to at least a portion of the first cooking surface, and a second electric heating element is arranged to heat at least a portion of the second cooking surface. The main body portion may include first and second hood members. The first hood member defines the cooking area and the second hood member is positioned at least partially within the cooking area and configured to decrease heat lost from the cooking assembly during preparation of food products in the cooking area. The second hood member is configured for adjustment between an open position providing access to the cooking surface and a closed position covering at least a portion of the cooking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: The Outdoor Greatroom Company LLLP
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bachinski, Douglas Mark Holm, Daniel Curtis Shimek, Robert Samuel Waddell, Eric Paul Hawkinson
  • Patent number: 7921767
    Abstract: A flexible automatic broiler and method of use for variable batch cooking for particular use in quick serve and fast food service restaurants. The automatic cooking devices include a conveyorized cooking surface for alignment and discharge of food products, an altering/pulsating infrared energy radiation heat sources, and a control system. The arrangement and method facilitate a combination of batch preparation and made-to-order assembly of fast-food sandwiches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Burger King Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Cook, Robert J. Wenzel, Mark Finck, Steven M. Shei, Clement J. Luebke
  • Patent number: 7812287
    Abstract: A method for controlling a pyrolysis cleaning process in an oven includes the steps: a) heating an oven cavity of the oven by switching on a heat source; b) measuring, using an oxygen sensor, an oxygen concentration in the oven cavity or in an exhaust-air conduit configured to discharge fumes from the oven cavity; c) comparing, in an evaluation circuitry of an electrical control unit, the measured oxygen concentration to a predefined limit value stored in a memory; d) operating, if the measured oxygen concentration drops below the limit value, the oven for a predefined first time interval with the heat source switched off, a duration of the first time interval being stored in the memory; and e) repeating steps b) through d) after the first time interval has ended; or f) repeating steps a) through d) if the measured oxygen concentration is equal to or greater than the limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kruempelmann, Juergen Scharmann, Ulrich Sillmen
  • Patent number: 7781702
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus is disclosed. The cooking apparatus includes a housing having a cooking chamber and a heating unit. The heating unit includes a partition plate detachably installed in the chamber, the partition plate partitioning the chamber into sub-chambers, and a heater configured to heat at least one of the sub-chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young-Sok Nam, Hyeun Sik Nam, Yong Soo Lee, Seong Ho Cho
  • Publication number: 20090218332
    Abstract: A boilerless combination convection steamer oven and controls logic therefor is provided having a cooking cavity formed of a steam generating space with two or more reservoirs and a cooking space, wherein the steam generating space is separated from the cooking space by a removable steam lid, any number from none to all of the reservoirs may be filled depending on the selected cooking mode, and each reservoir of the steam generating space is heated by a separate heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: UNIFIED BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Dipak J. Negandhi, Terry A. Owens, Bill Hemsath, George R. Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20090206070
    Abstract: An electronic control for a range including a control panel with a display surface, at least one control, and a display module. The display surface is substantially reflective, but allows transmission of light from an inside to an outside of the range. The display module includes an augmentation element to illuminate a display and transmit the illuminated display through the display surface. The display module can be disposed at an angle to the display surface. The display surface mimicking the surrounding material to allow the display surface to blend into the surface of the display module, with the surface being illuminated through designed to be camouflaged into the background. The at least one control can be a knob, a button, or a series of buttons or knobs. The display can provide function status of an item in the range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Matthew Ortner, Brent Bailey
  • Patent number: 7442900
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an apparatus for providing a uniform thermal profile to a plurality of large area substrates during thermal processing. In one embodiment, an apparatus for thermal processing large area substrates includes a chamber having a plurality of processing zones disposed therein that are coupled to a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism is adapted to vertically position the plurality of processing zones within the chamber. Each processing zone further includes an upper heated plate, a lower heated plate adapted to support a first substrate thereon and an unheated plate adapted to support a second substrate thereon, wherein the unheated plate is disposed between the upper and lower heated plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Inagawa, Akihiro Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20080237212
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cabinet forming an oven cavity, a broil heating element, a bake heating element, a convection heating system and a controller. The convection heating system develops a flow of heated air into the oven cavity, and includes a fan and a convection heating element. The controller controls activations of the broil, bake and convection heating elements during an oven cavity preheating operation in which the broil heating element and the bake heating element are alternately activated while the convection heating element is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Blackson, Michel Perreault, Pierre Marcoux
  • Patent number: 7378617
    Abstract: A heating system for a cooking appliance includes a first upper heating element and a second upper heating element positioned within a cooking cavity defined by a cabinet of the cooking appliance. The cooking cavity is configured to support a food item therein during a cooking process. Each of the first upper heating element and the second upper heating element is positioned with respect to an upper portion of the food item. A lower heating element is positioned within the cooking cavity. The lower heating element is positioned with respect to a bottom portion of the food item. A controller is operatively coupled to the lower heating element and the first and second upper heating elements. The controller is configured to asynchronously energize the first upper heating element and the second upper heating element to heat the upper portion of the food item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Sherry Leigh Layne Brockman
  • Patent number: 7368686
    Abstract: An electric cooking appliance is provided. The electric cooking appliance includes a plurality of surface heating elements and a plurality of sensors configured to monitor an operational status of a corresponding surface heating element. The electric cooking appliance also includes a first cooking unit, a second cooking unit and an electronic control to facilitate sharing power between the first cooking unit and the second cooking unit based on the operational status of the plurality of surface heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John L. Etheredge, Philip A. Barber, Brian Henninger, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7348519
    Abstract: A multi-zone griddle with an upper substantially continuous layer of metal adapted for cooking a food product thereon. The upper substantially continuous layer of metal is positioned adjacent to a first lower layer of metal and is displaced a predetermined distance relative to the upper substantially continuous layer of metal to form a space therebetween. A second lower layer of metal is displaced a predetermined distance relative to the upper substantially continuous layer of metal to form a space therebetween. At least one serpentine passageway is formed in the space between the first lower layer of metal and the upper substantially continuous layer of metal. The at least one serpentine passageway may be connected to a source of heated fluid for providing heat to a portion of the upper substantially continuous layer of metal that corresponds to the position adjacent to the at least one serpentine passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Thermodyne Foodservice Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William Federspiel, Timothy Tippmann
  • Patent number: 7342202
    Abstract: An electric cooking assembly includes a main body portion that defines a cooking area. First and second cooking surfaces are contained within the cooking area. A first electric heating element arranged to provide heat to at least a portion of the first cooking surface, and a second electric heating element is arranged to heat at least a portion of the second cooking surface. The main body portion may include first and second hood members. The first hood member defines the cooking area and the second hood member is positioned at least partially within the cooking area and configured to decrease heat lost from the cooking assembly during preparation of food products in the cooking area. The second hood member is configured for adjustment between an open position providing access to the cooking surface and a closed position covering at least a portion of the cooking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Fire Stone Home Products, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bachinski, Douglas Mark Holm, Daniel Curtis Shimek, Robert Samuel Waddell, Eric Paul Hawkinson
  • Patent number: 7304270
    Abstract: A range for heating foods having a body comprising a top surface, a first chamber located within the range, a second chamber located within the range, multiple heating elements arranged on the top surface for cooking food, an upper and lower heating element arranged within the first chamber, a warming element arranged within the second chamber, a control system further having a central processor for controlling the operation of the range, and an operator interface operatively connected to the central processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Fisher
  • Patent number: 7196291
    Abstract: An improved food oven apparatus and related methods for preparing food utilizing digitally controlled heating elements and a smoker unit. User-operable controls in communication with a digital controller allow for independent control of the heating elements and the smoker unit. One or more electric fans can be provided for reducing condensation from forming within a control unit of the food oven. A heating element connection assembly can also be provided for reducing stress exerted on the heating elements caused by the repeated expansion and contraction of the compartment. The food oven can also be provided with an air cleaning apparatus configured to perform a multi-stage cleaning process, thereby eliminating the need for a separate fixed hood system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Inventor: Herman Cothran
  • Patent number: 7091452
    Abstract: A conveyor type oven (10) for processing food products (32) and a method of use that includes heating sections and/or zones, each of the heating sections/and or zones being individually temperature controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: American Permanent Ware Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Kingdon, Christopher J. Adelmann, Abel Anthony Arellano, Joe Louis Gallardo