Temperature-control device and temperature-control method
AssigneeBarkey GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsMichael Balluff, Harry Rempel, Christian Petrach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for controlling the temperature of and thawing a temperature-controlled product, with a housing containing the temperature-controlled product, a heating module for introducing heat at least at one side of the temperature-controlled product and an actuating member, using which movement can be introduced into the temperature-controlled product. The actuating member is designed as a mechanical actuating element which extends along and ideally makes direct contact with the temperature-controlled product, and which can be controlled such that it executes a periodic and/or non-periodic movement.
Claims18
An apparatus for controlling a temperature of and thawing of a temperature-controlled product (1), comprising a housing (2), containing
- the temperature-controlled product (1) having at least first and second faces (15, 15′),
- a heating module (10) adapted for introducing heat to at least one face (15, 15′) of the temperature-controlled product (1),
- a mechanical actuation element (12, 13) positioned between the temperature-controlled product (1) and the heating module (10), by means of which the temperature-controlled product (1) is configured to be moved relative to the heating module,
- wherein the mechanical actuation element (12, 13) is a rod element wherein rods (19, 19′) surrounding an opening (32) are adapted to make direct contact with the temperature-controlled product (1) and which is configured to be actuated so as to perform a periodic and/or non-periodic movement.
An apparatus for controlling a temperature of and thawing of a temperature-controlled product (1), comprising a housing (2), containing
- a space for housing the temperature-controlled product (1) having at least first and second faces,
- a heating module (10) adapted for introducing heat to at least one face (15, 15′) of the temperature-controlled product (1),
- a mechanical actuation element (12, 13), by means of which the temperature-controlled product (1) is configured to be moved relative to the heating module,
- wherein the mechanical actuation element (12, 13) is a rod element wherein rods (19, 19′) surrounding an opening (32) are adapted to make direct contact with the temperature-controlled product (1) and which is configured to be actuated so as to perform a periodic and/or non-periodic movement, wherein a resting surface area of the actuation element (12, 13) on the temperature-controlled product (1) and/or on a heating element (9, 14) is smaller than 10% of the face (15, 15′) of the temperature-controlled product (1) facing the actuation element (12, 13) and/or of an upper face (11) or lower face (17) of the heating element (9, 14) facing the actuation element (12, 13).
A method for controlling the temperature of and thawing of a temperature-controlled product (1), comprising
- introducing heat from a heat module to the temperature-controlled product (1) while a compressive force (FD11, FD12, FD21, FD22) is exerted on part of the temperature-controlled product (1) in a specified time interval (TD) by means of an actuation element (12, 13, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55) moving relative to the heat module, wherein the actuation element is a mechanical actuation element (12, 13) positioned between the temperature-controlled product (1) and the heating module (10), by means of which the temperature-controlled product (1) is configured to be moved relative to the heating module, wherein the mechanical actuation element (12, 13) is a rod element wherein rods (19, 19′) surrounding an opening (32) are adapted to make direct contact with the temperature-controlled product (1) and which is configured to be actuated so as to perform a periodic and/or non-periodic movement, and
- changing a duration of action, a size of action and/or an intensity of action of the actuation element (12, 13, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55) on the basis of a specified point in time of a temperature-control process (TD) and/or an operating or process parameter of the temperature-controlled product (1).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.