Temperature controller for a food merchandiser
AssigneeHussmann Corporation
InventorsMichael E. Devine, Michael D. Grassmuck, Mason E. Laster, Jr., Nai H. Mak
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Abstract
This invention is an apparatus for controlling food temperatures in a food warming cabinet having at least one food holding zone. The apparatus includes a first sensor for sensing a temperature representative of the temperature of the food, a heater, a second sensor for sensing a temperature representative of an operating condition of the apparatus, and a control circuit connected to receive sensed input signals from the first and second sensors, and being constructed and arranged for controlling the operation of the heater in response to the sensed input signals and for selecting a set point value forming an ideal temperature condition for the food.
Claims33
Apparatus for controlling food temperatures in a food warming cabinet having at least one food holding zone comprising:
- first means for sensing a temperature representative of the temperature of the food product;
- first temperature producing means forming a primary heat source;
- second means for sensing a temperature representative of an operating condition of the apparatus;
- and
- controller means connected to receive sensed input signals from said first and second means, and being constructed and arranged for controlling the operation of said first temperature producing means in response to the sensed input signals, said controller means including means for selecting a set point value forming an ideal temperature condition for the food product and first determining means for detecting when the temperature sensed by said first sensing means is below a minimum temperature for a predetermined time.
A device for controlling warming of food in a hot table, the hot table including an upper heat source and a lower heat source, the device comprising:
- first means for sensing a temperature representative of the temperature of the food;
- second means for sensing a temperature representative of the temperature of the lower heat source;
- controller means connected to receive sensed input signals from said first and second means and being constructed and arranged for controlling the operation of both the heat sources in response to the sensed input signals, said controller means including first determining means for determining when the temperature sensed by the first means is below a minimum temperature for a predetermined pierod of time.
A method of controlling food temperatures in a display fixture having at least one food holding zone and first and second temperature producing means therefor, comprising the steps of:
- (i) sensing a temperature condition of the food in the food holding zone and establishing an input data base representative of such condition,
- (ii) analyzing said input data base with respect to a predetermined set point value forming an ideal temperature condition for the food and producing a control signal;
- (iii) controlling the operating conditions of the first temperature producing means when said control signal exceeds the limits of a positive to negative tolerance range from said set point value, and
- (iv) regulating the intensity of the second temperature producing means when said control signal is within the tolerance range but deviates from said set point value whereby to substantially maintain said food holding zone at said set point value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.