Back to results
US 12,446,727 B2Granted
Vertical heat transfer device
AssigneeMarmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc.
InventorSteven Shei
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat transfer device for thermal treatment of food items includes an enclosure defining an interior of the heat transfer device. A first and second driven conveyor systems are positioned within the enclosure. A first primary heater is arranged interior of the first chain conveyor belt. A first chain heater is arranged proximate to the first chain conveyor belt at a location of the first chain conveyor belt proximate to the opening. A second primary heater is arranged interior of the second chain conveyor belt. A second chain heater is arranged proximate to the second chain conveyor belt at a location of the second chain conveyor belt proximate to the opening.
Claims21
A heat transfer device for thermal treatment of food items, the heat transfer device comprising:
- an enclosure defining an interior of the heat transfer device, the enclosure having an opening therein to receive a food item for thermal treatment;
- a first driven conveyor system is positioned within the enclosure with a point of food item initial contact at the opening and comprises a first chain conveyor belt wherein the first chain conveyor belt is driven in a first direction from the opening into the interior;
- a second driven conveyor system is positioned within the enclosure with the point of food item initial contact at the opening and comprises a second chain conveyor belt, the second chain conveyor belt positioned opposed to the first chain conveyor belt, wherein the second chain conveyor belt is driven in a second direction from the opening into the interior, wherein the first and second directions are opposite to contact the food item at the point of food item initial contact between the first and second chain conveyor belts and pull the food item from the opening through the enclosure;
- a first primary heater arranged interior of the first chain conveyor belt and after the point of food item initial contact in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt, the first primary heater configured to direct IR heat energy into the food item;
- a first chain heater positioned within the enclosure prior to the point of food item initial contact in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt and prior to the opening in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt and configured to direct heat energy into the first chain conveyor belt to increase the temperature of the first chain conveyor belt to a searing temperature at the opening;
- a second primary heater arranged interior of the second chain conveyor belt and after the point of food item initial contact in the second direction of the second chain conveyor belt, the second primary heater configured to direct IR heat energy into the food item;
- and
- a second chain heater positioned within the enclosure prior to the point of food item initial contact in the second direction of the second chain conveyor belt and prior to the opening in the second direction of the second chain conveyor belt and configured to direct heat energy into the second chain conveyor belt to increase the temperature of the second chain conveyor belt to the searing temperature at the opening.
5 more elements
A heat transfer device for thermal treatment of food items, the heat transfer device comprising:
- an enclosure defining an interior of the heat transfer device, the enclosure having an opening therein to receive a food item for thermal treatment;
- a first driven conveyor system is positioned within the enclosure with a point of food item initial contact at the opening and comprises a first chain conveyor belt wherein the first chain conveyor belt is driven in a first direction from the opening into the interior;
- a second driven conveyor system is positioned within the enclosure with the point of food item initial contact at the opening and comprises a second chain conveyor belt, the second chain conveyor belt positioned opposed to the first chain conveyor belt, wherein the second chain conveyor belt is driven in a second direction from the opening into the interior, wherein the first and second directions are opposite to contact the food item at the point of food item initial contact between the first and second chain conveyor belts and pull the food item from the opening through the enclosure;
- a first primary heater arranged interior of the first chain conveyor belt and after the point of food item initial contact in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt;
- a first chain heater positioned within the enclosure prior to the point of food item initial contact in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt and prior to the opening in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt to direct heat energy into the first chain conveyor belt to increase the temperature of the first chain conveyor belt to a searing temperature at the opening;
- a second primary heater arranged interior of the second chain conveyor belt and after the point of food item initial contact in the second direction of the second chain conveyor belt;
- and
- a second chain heater positioned within the enclosure prior to the point of food item initial contact in the second direction of the second chain conveyor belt and prior to the opening in the second direction of the second chain conveyor belt to direct heat energy into the second chain conveyor belt to increase the temperature of the second chain conveyor belt to the searing temperature at the opening;
- wherein the first and second primary heaters are configured to direct IR heat energy into the food item and wherein portions of the first chain conveyor belt and the second chain conveyor belt following the first and second primary heaters in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt and the second chain conveyor belt are separated by a gap elongated in a vertical dimension, wherein the heat transfer device is configured to hold the food item oriented vertically within the gap between the first chain conveyor belt and the second chain conveyor belt and at least one of the first chain heater and the second chain heater is configured to increase the temperature of the respective at least one of the first chain conveyor belt and second chain conveyor belt to a temperature to sear the food item to at least one of the respective first chain conveyor belt and second chain conveyor belt to retain the food item vertically within the gap.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.