US 12,342,961 B2
Toaster with input control
Christopher Lyons, Western Springs, IL (US); Kyle Kestner, Schaumburg, IL (US); Greg Klostermann, Arlington Heights, IL (US); Elizabeth Bertness, Batavia, IL (US); Michael Rainone, Palestine, TX (US); and Caleb Nehls, Tyler, TX (US)
Assigned to Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc., Osseo, MN (US)
Filed by Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc., Osseo, MN (US)
Filed on May 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/654,973.
Application 18/654,973 is a division of application No. 17/217,396, filed on Mar. 30, 2021, granted, now 12,004,689, issued on Jun. 11, 2024.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/002,603, filed on Mar. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0415331 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. A47J 37/08 (2006.01); A47J 36/32 (2006.01); B65G 43/08 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 37/0857 (2013.01) [A47J 36/32 (2013.01); B65G 43/08 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0233 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0291 (2013.01); B65G 2203/044 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a conveyor toaster comprising a cabinet, an opening extending through the cabinet and configured to receive a food product, a conveyor assembly positioned within the cabinet and associated with the opening, the conveyor assembly comprising a conveyor belt configured to be operated by a drive motor to transport the food product past a heating element, an input sensor configured to detect the food product, and a processor operably coupled to the input sensor and the conveyor assembly, the method comprising:
operating the conveyor assembly in an idle condition at a second belt speed in response to the processor;
detecting a food product proximate the opening based upon a signal from the input sensor to the processor;
operating the conveyor assembly in an operation condition at a first belt speed in response to the processor, wherein the first belt speed is greater than the second belt speed;
starting a timer to run for a configurable demand period;
evaluating the signal from the input sensor for a change in a status of the signal;
determining that an additional food product is not detected proximate the opening;
detecting an expiration of the configurable demand period; and
operating the conveyor assembly in the idle condition at the second belt speed.