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US 12,490,858 B2Granted
System and method of broiler heating element control
AssigneeMarmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc.
InventorsNicholas Mandarino, Jonathan Sammon, Benjamin Slotarski, Christian Braun, Leonard Zelek
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Abstract
A plurality of heat sources are arranged about at least one conveyor. The plurality of heat sources are configured to output heat towards the at least one conveyor. At least one temperature sensor is arranged at a food product inlet relative to the at least one conveyor. A controller is configured to receive temperature measurements from the at least one temperature sensor and to operate at least one heat source of the plurality of heat sources between a high fire condition and a low fire condition in an idle mode operation and a cooking mode operation.
Claims14
A heat transfer system for heat treating a food product comprising:
- an enclosure comprising a food product inlet, a food product outlet, and a plurality of walls;
- at least one conveyor extending into the enclosure from the food product inlet;
- a plurality of heat sources arranged about the at least one conveyor, the plurality of heat sources configured to output heat towards the at least one conveyor;
- at least one temperature sensor arranged at the food product inlet relative to the at least one conveyor;
- and
- a controller configured to receive temperature measurements from the at least one temperature sensor and to operate at least one heat source of the plurality of heat sources between a high fire condition and a low fire condition in an first mode operation and a second mode operation;
- wherein the controller, in the first mode operation, is configured to maintain the temperature measurements between a first temperature setpoint and an upper temperature setpoint, the upper temperature setpoint being above the first temperature setpoint;
- wherein the controller switches to operate in the second mode operation when the temperature measurements received by the controller fall below a lower temperature setpoint below the first temperature setpoint, and in the second mode operation the controller is configured to operate at least one heat source of the plurality of heat sources in the high fire condition for a predetermined time period that begins after the temperature measurements received by the controller rise above the lower temperature setpoint.
5 more elements
A heat transfer system for heat treating a food product comprising:
- an enclosure comprising a food product inlet, a food product outlet, and a plurality of walls;
- at least one conveyor extending into the enclosure from the food product inlet;
- a plurality of heat sources arranged about the at least one conveyor, the plurality of heat sources configured to output heat towards the at least one conveyor and the plurality of heat sources comprises a first heat source positioned above the conveyor and configured to remain in a low fire condition and a second heat source is positioned above the conveyor towards the food product inlet and configured to operate at the low fire condition and a high fire condition, wherein the first heat source is internal the enclosure from the second heat source;
- at least one temperature sensor arranged at the food product inlet relative to the at least one conveyor;
- and
- a controller configured to receive temperature measurements from the at least one temperature sensor and to operate the second heat source between the high fire condition and the low fire condition in a first mode operation and a second mode operation.
3 more elements
A method of heat treating a food product, the method comprising:
- providing a heat transfer system comprising an enclosure comprising a food product inlet, a food product outlet, and a plurality of walls, a conveyor, a plurality of heat sources arranged about the conveyor, the plurality of heat sources configured to output heat towards the conveyor, at least one temperature sensor arranged at the food product inlet relative to the conveyor, and a controller;
- monitoring a current temperature at the at least one temperature sensor;
- determining a mode of operation between an first mode and a second mode with the controller based upon the current temperature;
- operating at least one of the heat sources between a high fire condition and a low fire condition based upon the current temperature from the at least one temperature sensor and the mode of operation;
- wherein the first mode of operation comprises operating at least one of the heat sources between the high fire condition and the low fire condition to maintain the current temperature between a first temperature setpoint and an upper temperature setpoint, the upper temperature setpoint being greater than the first temperature setpoint,
- wherein the controller determines the second mode of operation if the current temperature falls below a lower temperature setpoint, the lower temperature setpoint being below the first temperature setpoint;
- and
- wherein the second mode of operation comprises:
- operating at least one heat source of the plurality of heat sources in the high fire condition;
- starting a timer when the current temperature exceeds the lower temperature setpoint;
- and
- when the timer exceeds a predetermined time, operating the at least one heat source of the plurality of heat sources in the low fire condition and determining the first mode of operation.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.