# US 10,480,855 B2 · Heated shelf for a freeze-drying system having a leading folded edge that does not catch on food being removed from the system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,855 B2 - Document ID: US10480855B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/818,665 - Filed: 2017-11-20 - Published: 2018-05-17 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-08 - Applicants: Robert M. Parker - Inventors: Robert M. Parker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480855B2 ## CPC - F26B 5/044: {for drying materials in a batch operation in an enclosure having a plurality of shelves which may be heated (F26B5/045 takes precedence)} - F26B 5/06: the process involving freezing - F26B 9/066: {the products to be dried being disposed on one or more containers, which may have at least partly gas-previous walls, e.g. trays or shelves in a stack (F26B9/003 takes precedence; in combination with duct systems F26B21/00)} - F26B 23/04: using electric heating (F26B23/10 takes precedence) - F26B 25/063: {Movable containers or receptacles, e.g. carts, trolleys, pallet-boxes (for use in freeze-drying apparatus F26B5/06; in general B62D)} - F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27) ## Abstract A freeze-drying system includes a vented cart for operation in a pressure-controlled chamber, and a plurality of heated shelves disposed in the vented cart. Each heated shelf includes a planar sheet made from a thermally conductive material. The planar sheet is folded to provide a top portion configured to conduct heat to a tray resting on the top portion, a bottom portion disposed opposite the top portion, and a folded leading edge. A heating element is secured between the top portion and the bottom portion so as to be disposed in thermally conductive contact with either the top portion or the bottom portion. The top portion is configured to conduct heat to a tray resting on the top portion. The leading folded edge permits food items to slide out of the freeze-drying system, even though pressing along the bottom portion of the heated shelf, without catching on the food. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A freeze-drying system comprising: a vented cart configured for operation in a pressure controlled chamber of the freeze-drying system; and a plurality of heated shelves disposed in the vented cart, at least one heated shelf of the plurality of heated shelves including: a planar sheet formed from a thermally conductive material, and folded so as to form a top portion configured to conduct heat to a tray when the tray is resting on the top portion of the planar sheet, and a bottom portion disposed opposite the top portion; a heating element secured between the top portion and the bottom portion, the heating element having a surface disposed in thermally conductive contact with the top portion; and wherein the plurality of heated shelves is configured for control by a temperature controller of the freeze-drying system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is secured to the top portion of the at least one heated shelf. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is secured to the bottom portion of the at least one heated shelf. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is secured to the top portion of the at least one heated shelf by a thermally conductive adhesive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is secured to the bottom portion of the at least one heated shelf by a thermally conductive adhesive. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the at least one heated shelf is formed from a thermally conductive material, and wherein the heating element is disposed in thermally conductive contact with the top portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the at least one heated shelf is formed from a thermally conductive material, and wherein the heating element is disposed in thermally conductive contact with the bottom portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the vented cart includes a pair of opposed sidewalls, each having a plurality of rails respectively associated with each of the plurality of heated shelves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The freeze-drying system of claim 8, wherein at least one sidewall of the pair of opposed sidewalls includes an opening disposed proximate to one or more opposed rails supporting the at least one heated shelf for receiving an electrical cord associated with the at least one heated shelf. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the top portion and bottom portion of the at least one heated shelf engage one another at a side portion to form a grooved interconnecting structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the top portion and bottom portion of the at least one heated shelf meet one another at a side portion to form a folded structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The freeze-drying system of claim 10, wherein the grooved interconnecting structure at the side portion is configured to rest upon a pair of respective rails that support the at least one heated shelf within an interior of the vented cart. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The freeze-drying system of claim 1, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion of the at least one heated shelf engage one another at a first side portion to form a grooved interconnecting structure, and at a second side portion form a folded structure, wherein the grooved interconnecting structure and the folded structure secure the first planar sheet with the second planar sheet to hold the heating element therebetween. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The freeze-drying system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the grooved interconnecting structure and the folded structure are configured to rest upon a pair of respective rails that support the at least one heated shelf within an interior of the vented cart.