Food preparation table and associated food pan with thermowell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020352322-A1
Application number	US-202016860180-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 28, 2020
Priority date	May 8, 2019
Publication date	Nov 12, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A food preparation table system includes a housing including a food item holding arrangement defining multiple food pan receiving locations. At least one food pan is located in one of the food pan receiving locations. A cooling system is provided for cooling the food pan. The food pan includes a wall at least in part defining a food receiving volume, a thermowell extending inward from the wall into the food receiving volume and a temperature sensor positioned within the thermowell. A food pan is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A food preparation table system, comprising:
a housing including a food item holding arrangement defining multiple food pan receiving locations; at least one food pan located in one of the food pan receiving locations; a cooling system for cooling the food pan; wherein the food pan comprises:
a wall at least in part defining a food receiving volume;
a thermowell extending inward from the wall into the food receiving volume; and
a temperature sensor positioned within the thermowell.

2 . The food preparation table system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller operatively connected to the temperature sensor and configured to read temperature sensor data from the temperature sensor and to record the temperature sensor data in a log in a memory of the controller.

3 . The food preparation table system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to repeatedly read temperature sensor data from the temperature sensor over time and store each temperature sensor data reading in the log in association with both a time stamp and an identifier specific to the temperature sensor.

4 . The food preparation table system of claim 1 , wherein the thermowell defines a barrier between the temperature sensor and food within the food receiving volume, which barrier prevents direct contact between the temperature sensor and food.

5 . The food preparation table system of claim 4 , wherein the barrier includes a thermal break segment between the wall and a temperature sense section of the thermowell.

6 . The food preparation table system of claim 5 , wherein the wall of the food pan is formed of a metal material and the thermal break segment is formed of a polymeric material, and a thermal conductivity of the thermal break segment is lower than a thermal conductivity of the wall.

7 . The food preparation table system of claim 6 , wherein the thermal conductivity of the thermal break segment is no more than five percent of the thermal conductivity of the wall.

8 . The food preparation table system of claim 5 , wherein the barrier includes an end segment adjacent the thermal break segment and defining the temperature sense section of the thermowell, wherein a thermal conductivity of the thermal break segment is no more than five percent of a thermal conductivity of the end segment.

9 . The food preparation table system of claim 5 , wherein the wall includes an opening defined by a rim that extends inwardly toward the food receiving volume, wherein the thermal break segment is connected to the rim of the opening by at least one of (i) a food grade epoxy, (ii) a gasketed press-fit connection, (iii) a snap-fit connection or (iv) a threaded connection.

10 . The food preparation table system of claim 1 , further comprising a multiplicity of additional food pans, wherein each additional food pan is located in one of the food pan receiving locations, and wherein each additional food pan comprises:
a wall at least in part defining a food receiving volume; a thermowell extending inward from the wall into the food receiving volume; and a temperature sensor positioned within the thermowell.

11 . The food preparation table system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller operatively connected to the temperature sensor and configured to read temperature sensor data from the temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control the cooling system based at least in part upon the temperature sensor data from the temperature sensor.

12 . The food preparation table system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of a valve, a compressor, a fan or a pump of the cooling system based at least in part upon the temperature sensor data from the temperature sensor.

13 . A food pan for use in a food preparation table system, the food pan comprising:
a bottom wall and a plurality of upright walls defining a food receiving volume of the food pan; an upper access opening with a surrounding set of support rims; a thermowell extending inward from one of the walls into the food receiving volume.

14 . The food pan of claim 13 , wherein the thermowell defines a barrier between the temperature sensor and the food receiving volume, for preventing direct contact between the temperature sensor and food.

15 . The food pan of claim 14 , wherein the barrier includes a thermal break segment between the wall and a temperature sense section of the thermowell.

16 . The food pan of claim 15 , wherein the wall of the food pan is formed of a metal material and the thermal break segment is formed of a polymeric material, and a thermal conductivity of the thermal break segment is lower than a thermal conductivity of the wall.

17 . The food pan of claim 16 , wherein the thermal conductivity of the thermal break segment is no more than one percent of the thermal conductivity of the wall.

18 . The food pan of claim 15 , wherein the barrier includes an end segment adjacent the thermal break segment and defining the temperature sense section of the thermowell, wherein a thermal conductivity of the thermal break segment is no more than one percent of a thermal conductivity of the end segment.

19 . The food pan of claim 15 , wherein the wall includes an opening defined by a rim that extends inwardly toward the food receiving volume, wherein the thermal break segment is connected to the rim of the opening by at least one of (i) a food grade epoxy, (ii) a gasketed press-fit connection, (iii) a snap-fit connection or (iv) a threaded connection.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Jackson Steven T
• Bieri Austin M
• Casserilla Brian L

Classifications

• A47F2003/0473

  Vending or display tables · CPC title

• A47F3/0439 Primary

  Cases or cabinets of the open type (A47F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47B2031/003

  with drawers, trays or shelves · CPC title

• A47B31/02 Primary

  with heating, cooling or ventilating means · CPC title

• A47J41/0061

  the elements being detachable or the food holding vessel being replaceable · CPC title