Dynamic cooking with limited control authority conveyor compensation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11930825-B2
Application number	US-202017090442-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2020
Priority date	Nov 5, 2019
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A heat transfer system is arranged to cook multiple diverse food products. The heat transfer system includes at least one heat source. The at least one heat source is arranged within an enclosure and is operable by a controller to emit heat energy into the enclosure. First and second cooking conveyors are arranged within the enclosure. The first cooking conveyor is configured to move a first food product through the enclosure. The second cooking conveyor is configured to move a second food product through the enclosure. A speed of the first cooking conveyor and a speed of the second cooking conveyor are independently controlled to independently adjust the cooking time of the first food product and the second food product during operation of the heat transfer system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A heat transfer system for cooking multiple diverse food products, the heat transfer system comprising:
a heat source arranged within an enclosure and operable by a controller to emit heat energy into the enclosure;
a first cooking conveyor arranged within the enclosure to a first move food product through the enclosure past the heat source, wherein the heat source directs heat energy at the first cooking conveyor;
a second cooking conveyor arranged within the enclosure to move a second food product through the enclosure past the heat source, wherein the heat source directs heat energy at the second cooking conveyor;
further comprising at least one temperature sensor located within the enclosure, wherein the at least one temperature sensor provides temperature measurements to the controller for use in operating the heat source with the controller to achieve a target temperature at the at least one temperature sensor within the enclosure;
wherein speeds of the first cooking conveyor and the second cooking conveyor are independently controlled to adjust a cooking time of the first food product relative to the second food product;
wherein the controller identifies a limited control authority condition of the heat transfer system upon a detection of a flare-up condition localized to the first cooking conveyor or the second cooking conveyor and operates at least one of the first cooking conveyor or the second cooking conveyor in response to the identification of the limited control authority condition; and
wherein the flare-up condition is localized to the first cooking conveyor, and in response to the detection of the flare-up condition, the controller operates to decrease a speed of the second cooking conveyor.

2. The heat transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the flare-up condition is detected based upon a rapid localized increase in temperature.

3. The heat transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the flare-up condition is detected based upon imaging within the enclosure.

4. The heat transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the flare-up condition is localized to the first cooking conveyor, and in response to the detection of the flare-up condition, the controller operates to increase a speed of the first cooking conveyor.

5. The heat transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature at the first cooking conveyor and second temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature at the second cooking conveyor, the controller monitors the temperature measurements from the first and second temperature sensors, and identifies the limited control authority condition based at least in part upon the temperature measurements.

6. The heat transfer system of claim 5 , wherein the limited control authority condition is identified by the controller upon a rapid localized increase in the temperature measurements by one of the first temperature sensor or the second temperature sensor.

7. The heat transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the first food product is different from the second food product.

8. A heat transfer system for cooking multiple diverse food products, the heat transfer system comprising:
a heat source arranged within an enclosure and operable by a controller to emit heat energy into the enclosure;
a first cooking conveyor arranged within the enclosure to a first move food product through the enclosure past the heat source, wherein the heat source directs heat energy at the first cooking conveyor;
a second cooking conveyor arranged within the enclosure to move a second food product through the enclosure past the heat source, wherein the heat source directs heat energy at the second cooking conveyor;
wherein speeds of the first cooking conveyor and the second cooking conveyor are independently controlled to adjust a cooking time of the first food product relative to the second food product;
wherein the heat source comprises a heating element configured to emit radiant heat from an effective surface area of the heating element having an elongated length dimension and having a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension, wherein the width dimension of the effective surface area varies along the heating element.

9. The heat transfer system of claim 8 , wherein the elongated length dimension is perpendicular to a direction of operation of the first cooking conveyor and the second cooking conveyor.

10. The heat transfer system of claim 9 , further comprising a mask positioned between the heating element and the first and second cooking conveyors, wherein the mask defines a first width dimension of effective surface area of the heating element at the center of the enclosure and a second width dimension at sides of the enclosure, wherein the first width dimension is smaller than the second width dimension.

11. The heat transfer system of claim 9 , further comprising a mask positioned relative to the heating element, wherein the mask defines the effective surface area of the heating element along the heating element, wherein the mask is movable relative to the heating element to modify the effective surface area of the heating element during operation of the heat transfer appliance.

12. The heat transfer system of claim 11 , wherein the movement of the mask is responsive to a temperature within an open interior within the enclosure.

13. A heat transfer system for cooking multiple diverse food products, the heat transfer system comprising:
a heat source arranged within an enclosure and operable by a controller to emit heat energy into the enclosure;
a first cooking conveyor arranged within the enclosure to a first move food product through the enclosure past the heat source, wherein the heat source directs heat energy at the first cooking conveyor;
a second cooking conveyor arranged within the enclosure to move a second food product through the enclosure past the heat source, wherein the heat source directs heat energy at the second cooking conveyor;
further comprising at least one temperature sensor located within the enclosure, wherein the at least one temperature sensor provides temperature measurements to the controller for use in operating the heat source with the controller to achieve a target temperature at the at least one temperature sensor within the enclosure;
wherein speeds of the first cooking conveyor and the second cooking conveyor are independently controlled to adjust a cooking time of the first food product relative to the second food product;
wherein the controller identifies a limited control authority condition of the heat transfer system upon a detection of a flare-up condition localized to the first cooking conveyor or the second cooking conveyor and operates at least one of the first cooking conveyor or the second cooking conveyor in response to the identification of the limited control authority condition; and
wherein the flare-up condition is localized to the first cooking conveyor, and in response to the detection of the flare-up condition, the controller operates to increase a speed of the first cooking conveyor.

14. The heat transfer system of claim 13 , wherein the flare-up condition is detected based upon a rapid localized increase in temperature.

15. The heat transfer system of claim 13 , wherein the flare-up condition is detected based upon imaging within the enclosure.

16. The heat transfer system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature at the first coo

Assignees

• Marmon Foodservice Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Sammon Jonathan
• Wittneben Thomas
• Klostermann Greg
• Zelek Leonard
• Popov Nikolay
• Shei Steven

Classifications

• A21B1/48 Primary

  with surfaces in the form of an endless band · CPC title

• A21B1/40

  characterised by the means for regulating the temperature · CPC title

• G05D23/1951

  with control of the working time of a temperature controlling device · CPC title

• G05D23/1917 Primary

  using digital means · CPC title