Food thawing cabinet and related methods
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsSteven T. Jackson, Henry L. Nguyen, Joseph F. Sanders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A food thawing apparatus includes a cabinet structure defining a thawing chamber, and at least one air mover and associated air flow structure for causing an air flow through the thawing chamber. At least one air heating element is positioned for heating the air flow. At least one shelf is positioned within the thawing chamber for supporting a food product in the thawing chamber, the shelf including at least one integrated shelf heating element. A control system is configured for controlling the air mover, the air heating element and the shelf heating element so as to thaw the food product.
Claims20
A food thawing apparatus, comprising:
- a cabinet structure defining a thawing chamber;
- at least one air mover and associated air flow structure for causing an air flow through the thawing chamber;
- at least one air heating element positioned for heating the air flow;
- at least one shelf positioned within the thawing chamber for supporting a food product in the thawing chamber, the shelf including at least one integrated shelf heating element;
- and
- a control system configured for controlling the air mover, the air heating element and the shelf heating element so as to maintain air and shelf temperature conditions suitable for thawing the food product.
A food thawing apparatus, comprising:
- a cabinet structure defining a thawing chamber;
- at least one shelf positioned within the thawing chamber for supporting a food product in the thawing chamber, the shelf including at least one integrated shelf heating element;
- a shelf temperature sensor for providing an output indicative of a temperature of the shelf;
- a control system configured for controlling the shelf heating element so as to thaw the food product by controlling the shelf heating element based at least in part upon the output of the shelf temperature sensor so as to maintain the temperature of the shelf at a shelf temperature set point;
- wherein the control system is configured to switch the shelf temperature set point from a first temperature set point to a second temperature set point based upon a monitored condition indicative of a frozen food load being placed upon the shelf.
A food thawing apparatus, comprising:
- a cabinet structure defining a thawing chamber;
- at least one air mover and associated air flow structure for causing an air flow through the thawing chamber;
- at least one shelf positioned within the thawing chamber for supporting a food product in the thawing chamber, the shelf including at least one integrated shelf heating element;
- a shelf temperature sensor;
- a control system configured for controlling the shelf heating element so as to thaw the food product by controlling the shelf heating element to maintain a shelf temperature set point, wherein the control system is configured to automatically adjust the shelf set point temperature set point based upon a monitored condition of the apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.