Abstract: A multiple panel cooking oven having individual controls for combined conductive and radiant heating. Each panel comprises an upper heating element for conductive heating and a lower heating element for radiant heating to obtain uniform baking within a zone between panels in the oven. A control panel having displays and keypads interfaces with a processor which provides control signals for adjusting the temperature of the heating elements of the panels. Cooking energy efficiency is increased through the use of radiative and conductive heat transfer, to reduce bake times by significantly increasing heat transfer to the food products. Independent cook zones allow preparation of multiple products simultaneously under different cooking conditions. The oven, in one embodiment may include a convection heating mode of operation. In an alternative embodiment no convection mode is provided and the sole source of heat is provided by the conductive/radiant panels.

Abstract: A multirack speedcook oven includes a cooking cavity, a plurality of racks within the cooking cavity, an RF generation module operationally coupled to the cooking cavity and configured to deliver microwave energy into the cooking cavity, at least one heat source positioned within the cavity and configured to supply heat energy to the cooking cavity, and a control configured to accept data regarding said plurality of racks, the control operationally coupled to the RF generation module, and the at least one heat source for selective control thereof based on the accepted data.

Abstract: A control circuit for control of a media heating device of a dental handpiece has a heating current circuit in which there is arranged a switch which can be actuated by hand, for the activation of the heating device. In order to be able to purposively deactivate the heating device, a further controllable switch element is arranged in the heating current circuit, which switch element can be set in dependence upon an external control signal into a conducting or non-conducting condition.

Abstract: A laundry drier has a heater control circuit for controlling the drive of a heater using one of a plurality of high voltages, using a switching circuit realized by a form C contact relay provided between a current-buffered microcomputer output and plurality of heater drivers, so that heater drive capability is ensured even if the current buffer output fails and so that dangerous short-circuit conditions are avoided even if the microcomputer experiences a logical malfunction. The heater control circuit includes a heater for being driven by a plurality of high voltages via a plurality of heater drivers; a microcomputer for outputting a control signal according to a user input, the control signal determining the high voltage drive of the heater; and a heater control interface for generating a plurality of heater control signals corresponding to the plurality of high voltages, based on the control signal of the microcomputer, the plurality of heater control signals selectively enabling only one heater driver.

Abstract: The present invention discloses to an improved oven controller structure, which adds an external insulating cover to a controller disposed at the periphery of an oven according to the position of placing the oven, and the controller could be changed to one with cable transmission, wireless sensing, or embedded controller according to the predetermined configuration. The controller is detachable from the oven, and the oven can be controlled rapidly by a controller at the outside of the housing and the information about the operation of each component of inside the oven is known.

Abstract: Disclosed are a key input apparatus in an electronic oven and a control method thereof enabling to reduce a size of a circuit as well as provide a simple design of the key input control part. A key input apparatus in an electronic oven includes a signal level producing part receiving input signals having a uniform level and producing signals having various levels, and a control part receiving the signals having the various levels through one input port and carrying out operations corresponding the signals having the various levels.

Abstract: A control system for bathers includes an electronic controller which controls operation of an electric heater assembly connected in a water flow path for heating water. The heater assembly includes a heater housing and electric heater element. A solid state water temperature sensor apparatus provides electrical temperature signals to the controller indicative of water temperature at separated first and second locations on or within the heater housing. The presence of water in the heater housing is detected electronically, by turning on the heater, and monitoring the temperature sensors for unusual temperature rises or other faults for a period of time thereafter. A solid state water presence sensor apparatus can also be used to determine the presence of water within the heater housing, providing electrical water presence signals to the controller indicative of the presence or absence of a body of water within the heater housing.

Abstract: The device for regulation of a generator of hot fluid in liquid or gaseous phase comprises a vat provided with at least one heating body, a pump for supplying the vat with cold liquid, and at least one appliance supplied by the hot fluid leaving the vat. This regulation device comprises a detector (15, 20, 24) of the liquid level present in the vat, comprising a float (15, 16) connected by a flexible tube (20) to a ferrule (24) passing in sealed fashion through the cover of the vat. An angle switch (M) is disposed immediately adjacent the float (15, 16), its electrical conductor leaving the vat through said flexible tube (20).

Abstract: A cooking appliance including a cooktop incorporates a plurality of control element arrays for regulating spaced heating zones, a downdraft venting system that includes a grill provided on the cooktop, and a timing device. In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, electronic control components are utilized and openings are formed in a ceramic-based face plate portion of the cooktop to accommodate mounting of the electronic control components generally flush with an exposed surface of the face plate portion.

Abstract: A system for controlling power applied to a resistor array within a heating pad is provided. The system includes a power supply for connecting the system to a power source, a resistor array positioned within a heating pad for generating heat based on a selected heat level, and a control unit for determining the level of heat to be generated and the duration of time power is applied to the resistor array. In an embodiment, the control unit includes a timing device for generating one of an initial set time period and a shortened time period, at the expiration of either of which the supply of power to the system is terminated. The control unit further includes a mechanism which can initiate the shortened time period in place of the initial set time period. The mechanism may be used to reset the shortened time period to its full duration, after an elapsed period, each time the mechanism is activated.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven cavity having an associated access door provided with a cavity viewing window, a control panel for setting both a desired cooking function and a heat source operating time period, and a light for illuminating the oven cavity of the appliance. The light is controlled so as to be automatically activated prior to the expiration of the set time period for the selected cooking operation in order to bring the attention of the user to viewing the progress of the cooking operation without unnecessarily opening the oven cavity door. If, after viewing the food being cooked, it is determined that further cooking time is warranted, then the process of adding additional cooking time will function to re-set the automatic light activating feature of the invention.

Abstract: A temperature controller for electric cooking appliances includes a activating button movably provided on an outer surface and a temperature controller fixed inside an electric cooking appliance. The temperature controller has a shaft and a gear fixed on an end of the shaft. The activating button has a connect member extending in the electric cooking appliance, and a base connected to the connect member, which has a rack formed under an upper wall to engage the gear. The rack has a width at least equal to the linear moving distance of the shaft. Then the activating button is moved rightward and leftward, letting the base with the rack move also so that the gear is rotated by the rack, with the shaft rotating to move forward or backward so as to set the wide range of temperature with many stages to be got for heating the electric cooking appliance.

Abstract: A temperature sensitive timing assembly for a toaster appliance includes a single bimetallic element having a first portion connected to a support bracket, which in turn is mounted on a mounting bracket for pivotal movement relative to the mounting bracket. A spring is positioned between the mounting bracket and the support bracket to bias the support bracket toward the mounting bracket. A stop is mounted to the mounting bracket which locks the support bracket in a fixed position when actuated by the toaster carriage assembly at the beginning of a toasting cycle. The bimetallic element has a second portion which operatively activates the toaster lock release assembly at the end of a toasting cycle. The bimetallic element also has a third portion which operatively allows the support bracket to reposition at the end of a toasting cycle so as to provide virtually immediate initiation of the next toasting cycle providing substantially the same toast color as the previous toasting cycle.

Abstract: A heating element with a radiant heating body for glass ceramic hobs, including four heating conductors which extend substantially concentrically and parallel to each other; and a ten-stage switch for switching said heating conductors through the intermediary of five output terminals.

Abstract: An electronic selector knob circuit (10) which uses a tapped potentiometer (POT1) to provide accurate operation without requiring factory calibration. The potentiometer (POT1) is calibrated through on-board circuitry which includes a tap voltage biasing device and which monitors operation on a continual basis through both a current monitor (16) and a voltage monitor (18). A redundant disable circuit (14) provides a redundant hardware means for shutting off all oven heating elements.

Abstract: A stove including circuitry to facilitate avoidance of fires such as may be caused by grease or another flammable substance present on the stove burner. The circuitry detects when such burner has been set above a predetermined temperature or power level for a selected duration and responsively disengages same. In presently preferred embodiments, the circuitry includes an indicator circuit operative to produce an output when the predetermined temperature or power level has been exceeded. This output initiates operation of a timer circuit which will itself produce an output after the selected duration. An appropriate switching circuit is provided to then disengage the burner as desired.

Abstract: A microwave oven and a cash register system of a store in which an employee of a store, who is requested to operate the microwave oven, can run the store efficiently while reducing the waiting time for shoppers and suppressing losses deriving from incorrect operation of the microwave oven. The microwave oven includes an irradiator for irradiating microwaves to heat articles, an article information reader for reading article information from an article information recording medium arranged on the surface of the article, and a heating control unit for controlling the irradiator to operate at a condition determined based on the article information read by the article information reader.

Abstract: A toaster having a movable bakery product shield for enhanced toasting quality. A wide slot cavity to receive bakery goods for toasting is defined on one side thereof by an upstanding, stationary product retainer spaced apart from a heating element and, on the other side thereof, by a movable product retainer having a deflector shield connected along its upper edge. Interiorally of the toaster, a carriage mechanism is mounted on an end wall for vertical reciprocal movement between an up position and a down position. Connected to the carriage mechanism and extending longitudinally through the slot cavity is a bread support shelf which is inclined toward the stationary product retainer to cause the lower edge of a bread slice placed in the toaster slot to engage the stationary product retainer.

Abstract: An electric toaster having an automatic resetting heat reduction assembly. The toaster includes one or more cavities to receive bagels, bread, or other food products, and a plurality of heating elements located within the cavities to toast the food products. A carriage assembly movable between a raised nontoasting position and a lowered toasting position lowers and raises the food products into and out of the toasting cavities. When lowered to the toasting position, the carriage assembly activates a heat activation assembly which completes an electrical circuit between a power source and the heating elements, thereby energizing the heating elements to toast the food products. The toaster also includes a heat reduction assembly settable between an original full heat position and a depressed reduced heat position.

Abstract: A toaster having an automatic shut-off. The toaster includes a cavity to receive bread and which includes a heating element which may be selectively energized by a switch to cause toasting of the bread. The toaster also includes a carriage mechanism to move the bread between up and down positions. The carriage mechanism includes a bread support extending into the cavity. The bread support is connected to a support frame which rides upon a vertical slide rod. Also mounted upon the slide rod is a lock frame mounted to allow limited movement with respect to the support frame. A spring is connected to the lock frame to bias it into an up position, and the lock frame includes a lock mechanism to releasable maintain it in a down position. The switch for activating the heating elements is activated when the lock frame is in this down position. A release mechanism is provided to release the lock mechanism.

Abstract: A toast shade selector includes a rotatable shaft interposed between aligned openings in upstanding plates of a mounting bracket. A cam on the shaft is rotated in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to regulate the toasting time intervals. A spring carried by the shaft biases the cam against an adjusting nut and also biases a portion of the shaft into one of the openings. Both the shaft and the cam are made from sheet metal.

Abstract: A power control circuit for supplying electrical power from a power source to an electrical appliance having a heating element, which circuit comprises an input for connection to a power source, an output for connection to a heating element, and supply elements between the input and the output for supplying power at a first, relatively higher level for a predetermined start-up time interval, and at a second, relatively lower level after the predetermined start-up time interval has elapsed.After the start-up time interval, first timing elements brings into operation second timing elements which switches a silicon controlled rectifier off or on, via a NAND gate and transistor to supply power intermittently to the heating element.

Abstract: A microwave oven has an oven main body with a built-in heater unit and a remote controller which includes a bar code reader for reading a bar code of mutually related multiple data, memory for storing a plural sets of the multiple data read by the bar code reader, a display device for displaying the multiple data; a transmitting device for sending to the oven main body the data selected from the plural sets of the multiple data stored in the memory; and a control unit for data selection and transmission.

Abstract: A cooking appliance has a sensor for detecting vapor generated from heated food and a control circuit which controls heating of the food according to signal outputs from the sensor. The control circuit is operated so as to ignore signal outputs from the sensor for a specified period of time after the food is reversed and/or its position is changed before the sensor has detected the heated state detection point to compensate for an accumulation of vapor during the intermediate food handling.

Abstract: Cooker automatically controlling the heating process when bringing a food material to the boil on an electric hotplate and preventing it from boiling over at the end of the heating process. At the beginning of the heating process the power supplied to an electric hotplate can be set to a constant value which can be selected. A microprocessor continuously determines the rise in the temperature of the base of the pan as a function of time. At a pan-base temperature above about 70.degree. C. the actual value of the rise in temperature is compared with a present desired value and when deviations occur the heating power is switched over so as to approximate the actual value of the rise in temperature to the desired value. At a pan-base temperature above about 90.degree. C. a bending point in the temperature rise of the pan base is reached after which the heating power is switched off.

Abstract: In the case of an electric cooker with at least two electric hotplates having several heating resistors and controlled via separate power control devices, one hotplate has a high power additional heating resistor for an initial cooking operation. While intermediately connecting a temperature switch and an additional contact of the associated power control device, the additional heating resistor is connected to the electric mains via a further additional contact. The further additional contact is a component of the power control device of the other electric hotplate and is only closed if its power consumption drops below a predetermined switching value.

Abstract: A smoke detector is mounted externally of but adjacent to an electric kitchen range and supplies an electrical signal when smoke is detected. Such signal actuates a relay to interrupt the supply of power to the range. The relay can be interposed between the range plug and its wall receptacle so that no modification to the internal range circuitry is required, and can require a manual resetting operation before the supply of power to the range is resumed.

Abstract: An electrical heating system for use in heating surfaces. A heating element is constructed of mesh screen comprised of small gauge wires which are spaced in a close mesh arrangement such that the total surface area of the wires is substantially equal to or greater than the adjacent area of the surface to be heated. The longitudinal wires are electrically conductive and are preferably made of a nonferrous metal and the transverse wires are coated with an insulating material. The heating element is positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent the surface to be heated. The heating system includes electronic circuitry which essentially eliminates transmission of power surges, voltage spikes and chatter when the heating system is connected to an alternating current power source. The heating system also includes protective circuits and devices for preventing injury or damage due to transformer overheating, or due to under-current or over-current conditions.

Abstract: A utensil removal detection arrangement for a cooking appliance incorporating an automatic surface unit. The duration of time intervals during which the sensed utensil temperature for a turned-on surface unit is less than a threshold temperature is measured. If such a time interval exceeds a predetermined time limit, the surface unit is de-energized and a user discernible signal is generated indicating to the user that no utensil is present on the surface unit.

Abstract: A power control arrangement for an automatic surface unit in a cooking appliance which enables the user to select Warm, Simmer, Boil and Fry cooking modes and to select from a plurality of heat settings for each mode. The heat settings for each mode have associated with them a minimum steady state temperature and a steady state power level. The control system compares the output from a utensil temperature sensor with various reference values determined by the mode and heat setting selected and depending upon the comparison, operates the surface unit at the corresponding steady state power level or at a transient power level to rapidly bring the utensil temperature to the desired temperature for the selected mode and heat setting with minimum temperature overshoot.

Abstract: A power control arrangement for a cooking appliance incorporating an automatic surface unit for automatically detecting the occurrence of a boil dry condition for a utensil placed on the surface unit when operating in the Boil mode. In accordance with one form of the invention a boil dry condition is indicated when the rate of increase of sensed utensil temperature exceeds a predetermined reference rate, or the sensed utensil temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature.

Abstract: An induction heating apparatus for cooking includes an induction heating coil which generates a high frequency time-varying magnetic field used to heat a metal object; a high frequency inverting circuit which supplies a high frequency AC signal to the heating coil in response to the supply of power from a power source to control the heating coil to generate the magnetic field; a switch for connecting and interrupting the supply of power to the inverting circuit; a magnetic material detecting circuit which detects whether the object is made of a ferromagnetic material and which produces a magnetic detecting signal in response thereto; a control circuit which controls the inverting circuit in response to the magnetic detecting signal in the sense to supply the AC signal to the heating coil when the object is made of a ferromagnetic material; a switch circuit for supplying an override signal to the control circuit to cause the latter to control the inverting circuit in the sense to supply the AC signal to the he

Abstract: An electric hot water heater energy saver incorporates an electrically operated timer which is provided with contacts preferably by a timer motor. The contacts are operable to open and close an electric circuit, preferably several times during a twenty-four hour period. Electrical energy, typically from a 220 volt line, is connected to the timer motor and separately to the electrical contacts. The electrical contacts are connected in series with the electrical energy source and electrical heater element of an electric hot water heater. A step down transformer provides a signal voltage. A contactor is provided with its contacts connected across the timer motor operated contacts. A switch, preferably located remotely in a living area, is connected in series with the signal voltage and when closed, operates the contactor to supply electrical energy to the hot water heater element by the timing of the timer motor.

Abstract: An electrical heating system for use in heating surfaces. A heating element is constructed of mesh screen comprised of nonferrous, small gauge metal wires which are spaced in a cloth mesh arrangement such that the total surface area of the wires is substantially equal to or greater than the adjacent area of the surface to be heated. The heating element is positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent the surface to be heated. The heating system includes electronic circuitry which essentially eliminates transmission of power surges, voltage spikes and chatter when the heating system is connected to an alternating current power source. The heating system also includes protective circuits and devices for preventing injury or damage due to transformer overheating, or due to under-current or over-current conditions. An optional electronic circuit permits use of the device for preventing formation of ice on surfaces in an efficient and economical manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adhesively bonding together in edge abutting relationship two sheets of woven, felted or other textile such as carpet using a joining tape which includes electrically conductive-metal foil or wires and an integral layer of heat softenable adhesive. Electric current is passed through the foil or wires to thereby heat and soften the adhesive. A control circuit senses the voltage and current in the foil or wires and controls the current in accordance with an adjustable predetermined value to heat the adhesive to a temperature at which the adhesive becomes tacky. The control circuit maintains the adhesive in the tacky state while the abutting edges which overlap the tape are adjusted as required to form the desired join. The control circult is then adjusted to increase the current in the foil or wires to increase the temperature thereof and melt the adhesive so that it flows into the material of the sheets.

Abstract: A power control method and apparatus maintains a constant average power at an electrical load, such as a fuser in an electrophotocopy machine. A power monitor measures the average power delivered to the load and compares the measured power to a predetermined power. A digital network receives an input signal from the power monitor and controls the coupling of power from an ac source to the load. When load power is less than a predetermined level, the digital network couples every half cycle of the ac power source to the load. When the load power is equal to or greater than the predetermined power, the digital network couples every third ac half cycle to the load. As a result, only half cycles of sequentially opposite polarity are coupled to the load.

Abstract: An aquarium heater including a housing and a tube depending therefrom. An electric heating element is disposed in the bottom portion of the tube and a thermostatic control chassis is disposed in the upper portion of the tube. The control chassis includes two opposing housing sections matingly engaged in a nesting relationship to form a cylindrical housing unit which snugly fits into the tube and supports a bimetallic thermostatic switch together with associated circuitry and lead wires such that the thermostatic circuit elements are maintained securely positioned within the tube. The housing includes a gasket situated between a lip of the tube and the bottom wall of the housing, and a locking ring which clamps the rim of the tube in place. The tube is thereby held securely to the housing independently of the control chassis.

Abstract: A fully automatic system for providing electrical energy to heating and/or hot water systems in facilities serviced by single phase a.c. comprising a three-phase generator driven by single phase a.c. motor means intermittently operated on a load requirement basis wherein the three-phase generator output is normally maintained in an open-circuited condition. Upon controlled load demand, the motor means is energized and the three-phase output is connected to the load only upon achieving optimum operating speed, at which time switch means automatically connects the load to the three-phase output, which on-line condition is maintained until thermostatic control means senses the fact that the system has achieved the desired temperature level at which time the single phase motor means is deenergized.Additional sensing means are provided for protecting the system against damage due to excessive temperature and/or low level conditions.

Abstract: Electric installation circuitry that provides means for interconnecting with conventional storage-type electric water heaters of the sort energized from three-wire mains and controlled as to energy use thermostatically, the combination of hand switching and automatic signaling to supply both cues and means for the users of such water heaters to effect energy savings.

Abstract: An aquarium heater including a housing and a tube depending therefrom. An electric heating element is disposed in the bottom portion of the tube and a thermostatic control chassis is disposed in the upper portion of the tube. The control chassis includes two opposing housing sections matingly engaged in a nesting relationship to form a cylindrical housing unit which snugly fits into the tube and supports a bimetallic thermostatic switch together with associated circuitry and lead wires such that the thermostatic circuit elements are maintained securely positioned within the tube. The housing includes a gasket situated between a lip of the tube and the bottom wall of the housing, and a locking ring which clamps the rim of the tube in place. The tube is thereby held securely to the housing independently of the control chassis.

Abstract: A control circuit useful in commercial cooking appliances, such as deep fat fryers, having electric heating elements and separate operating and safety controls including full power transmitting contactors for independently energizing and/or deenergizing the heating elements. The simplified control is economical, but reliable, and utilizes the safety control contactor connected in series power circuit with the heating elements and a single relay to establish both an on operating circuit for normal cooking conditions where the operating control cycles on and off to maintain the desired operating temperatures and a safety circuit that deenergizes all heating elements should an overheat condition occur and further that requires manual release or reset to again render the appliance operative.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a fermenting heater for a vessel which is disposed below the bottom of the vessel and a fermenting heater for an oven chamber which, together with the fermenting heater for the vessel, can be turned ON. A kneading switch, fermenting/baking switch and a release switch for opening these switches are disposed on the front surface of the apparatus housing. Likewise, an exclusive time setter, automatic time setter and baking time setter are disposed on the front surface of the apparatus housing. A kneading circuit, fermenting/baking circuit, kneading/fermenting circuit and fermenting/baking circuit are selectively controlled by selecting a combination of the switches and time setters to perform a kneading step, fermenting step and baking step either singly or in combination.

Abstract: A toast load selector mechanism for use with toasters accommodating varying toast loads of from one to a plurality of bread slices or other food items for toasting and having a toasting time interval timer including a manually operable brownness control knob for adjusting the toasting time interval, the brownness control movable through an adjustment range between a first position setting a minimum time interval for toasting a minimum toast load to the lightest brown condition and a second position setting a maximum time interval for toasting the maximum toast load to the darkest brown condition. The toast load selector mechanism comprises a toast load selector member which is mounted concentrically with the brownness control knob, the toast load selector member defining first and second stops limiting the adjustment range of the brownness control to a subrange applicable to a given toast load selected by the toast load selector member.

Abstract: A radiant furnace for firing ceramic material provides for accurate control over the rate of increase of the ceramic material temperature during a firing operation. Heat is radiated in the furnace from an electrically controlled heater. A first programming signal is produced to represent a manually selected rate at which the temperature is to be raised, and a second programming signal is produced to represent a manually selected target temperature beyond which the ceramic material temperature is not to be raised. Circuitry responsive to the first and second programming signals produces a command signal varying in magnitude to define a ramp having a peak value. The command signal is applied to a closed-loop heating control subsystem employing a thermo-sensitive transducer for providing a feedback signal.

Abstract: A circuit for connecting to an alternating current electric network having at least one phase a high-power electric heating device, such as a sauna heater, provided with a plurality of electric heating elements. Each phase of the network is evenly divided into a number of separate part leads such that the total number of part leads are arranged in two equal series. A first switch is arranged to simultaneously open and close all of the part leads of both series. A second multipolar switch controlled by a thermostat is adapted to open at least one of the separate part leads of one of the series. Each heating element is connected in circuit with one part lead from each series of part leads. The network may be three phase with the heating elements being delta-connected.

Abstract: An indicating type timing device for use in fast food preparation is provided to time cooking processes in which a food product is cooked by immersing it in a heated cooking medium. Since various food products, such as french fries, fried onion rings, fried fish, and the like require different cooking times, the unit is adapted to properly time the cooking of these different products, irrespective of the initial temperature of the food product or the cooking time.The timing device uses a voltage controlled oscillator and associated counting circuit. The base frequency of the oscillator is set by the charge on the capacitor in one of a selected series of RC timing circuits. A thermistor continually measures the temperature of the cooking medium (such as shortening) and produces a voltage that varies the base frequency of the oscillator (increasing the frequency for increased measured temperatures).

Abstract: A temperature control system comprises a heat sink heatable upon application of electric power thereto, an AC power source for heating the heat sink, temperature detector means for detecting the temperature of the heat sink, and control means for controlling the electric power applied to the heat sink in accordance with an output signal from the detector means so that the heat sink maintains its required temperature. The control means is operable to cause application of a full power of the power source to the heat sink at the initial heating stage thereof and application of a partial power of the power source to the heat sink when the temperature thereof is in the vicinity of the required temperature.