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US 5,310,978 AGranted
Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature and surface texture of a food product
AssigneePatentsmith Corporation
InventorsDonald P. Smith, Michael J. Dobie, Alden B. Sparman, Sr., John R. Norris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for vending a hot food product wherein a sealed container is moved from a protective sleeve and deposited in an oven where heat is transferred to the container for initially melting a protective sealing film and then heating the food product. After the food product has been heated, the container is removed from the oven and reinserted into the protective sleeve prior to dispensing the heated food product.
Claims19
An oven for controlling the temperature and surface texture of a food product comprising:
- a cabinet;
- perforated dividing means in said cabinet dividing the interior of the cabinet into a cooking chamber and an air heating chamber;
- circulating means in said air heating chamber to draw air through said perforated dividing means and dispensing air from said air heating chamber into said cooking chamber;
- heater means in said air heating chamber between said perforated dividing means and said air circulating means;
- microwave heating means communicating with said cooking chamber, said perforated dividing means preventing transfer of microwave energy from said cooking chamber to said air heating chamber;
- and means positioning said heater means whereby the temperature of said air circulating means is greater than the temperature of said perforated dividing means.
3 more elements
An oven for controlling the temperature and surface texture of a food product comprising:
- a cabinet;
- perforated dividing means in said cabinet dividing the interior of the cabinet into a cooking chamber and an air heating chamber;
- circulating means in said air heating chamber to draw air through said perforated dividing means;
- a duct formed by a perforated plate having an array of passages formed therein for dispensing air from said air heating chamber into said cooking chamber;
- an array of tubes secured to said perforated plate for receiving air flowing through said passages;
- means pivotally mounting said duct in said cabinet for reciprocal movement of said tubes;
- heater means in said air heating chamber between said perforated dividing means and said circulating means;
- microwave heating means communicating with said cooking chamber, said perforated dividing means being adapted to prevent transfer of microwave energy from said cooking chamber to said heating chamber;
- and means positioning said heater means whereby the temperature of said circulating means is greater than the temperature of said perforated dividing means.
6 more elements
An oven for controlling the temperature and surface texture of food product comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a perforated dividing plate in said cabinet dividing the interior of the cabinet into a cooking chamber and an air heating chamber;
- circulating means in said air heating chamber for drawing air through said perforated dividing plate and for dispensing air from said air heating chamber into said cooking chamber;
- heater means in said air heating chamber between said perforated dividing plate and said circulating means;
- microwave heating means communicating with said cooking chamber, said perforated dividing plate being constructed of metallic material having perforations with relatively small openings equivalent to more than 50% of the surface area of the plate, said plate being configured to prevent microwave energy from passing from said cooking chamber into said air heating chamber;
- and means positioning said heater means whereby the temperature of said circulating means is greater than the temperature of said perforated dividing plate.
3 more elements
An oven for controlling the temperature and surface texture of a food product comprising:
- a cabinet having an interior;
- microwave heating means communicating with the interior of said cabinet;
- a perforated plate mounted in said cabinet for dividing the interior of the cabinet into an air conditioning chamber and a cooking chamber;
- blower means in said air conditioning chamber, said blower means drawing air from said cooking chamber through said perforated plate and dispensing air from said air conditioning chamber into said cooking chamber, said perforated plate having small openings configured to prevent passage of microwave energy from said cooking chamber into said air conditioning chamber;
- and
- heating means in said air conditioning chamber positioned to heat air flowing through said perforated plate in a recirculating path to said cooking chamber.
3 more elements
An oven for controlling the temperature and surface texture of a food product comprising:
- a cabinet having an interior;
- perforated dividing means for dividing the interior of the cabinet into a cooking chamber and an air heating chamber, said perforate dividing means for preventing transfer of microwave energy from said cooking chamber to said air heating chamber;
- means for delivering microwave energy into said cooking chamber;
- air dispensing duct in said cooking chamber, said air dispensing duct having microwave reflective surfaces;
- means for moving said air dispensing duct whereby said microwave reflective surfaces thereon stir the microwave energy in the cooking chamber;
- air circulating means in said air heating chamber to draw air through said perforated dividing means and to deliver air to said air dispensing duct;
- heater means in said air heating chamber between said perforated dividing means and said air dispensing duct for controlling temperature of air dispensed into said cooking chamber.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.