US 12,088,954 B2
Infrared toaster
Steven Shei, Fort Wayne, IN (US); Nick Mandarino, Carol Stream, IL (US); David E. Paton, Bartlett, IL (US); Benjamin Slotarski, Carol Stream, IL (US); and Jason Pittenger, Carol Stream, IL (US)
Assigned to Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc., Osseo, MN (US)
Filed by Marmon FoodserviceTechnologies, Inc., Osseo, MN (US)
Filed on May 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/311,488.
Application 18/311,488 is a continuation of application No. 16/814,414, filed on Mar. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,677,901.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/817,277, filed on Mar. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0344959 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 23/698 (2023.01); A47J 37/08 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06T 7/90 (2017.01); H04N 5/33 (2023.01); G06V 10/56 (2022.01); G06V 20/68 (2022.01)
CPC H04N 5/33 (2013.01) [A47J 37/0807 (2013.01); A47J 37/0857 (2013.01); A47J 37/0871 (2013.01); G06T 7/0004 (2013.01); G06T 7/90 (2017.01); H04N 23/698 (2023.01); G06T 2207/10024 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10048 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30128 (2013.01); G06V 10/56 (2022.01); G06V 20/68 (2022.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A toaster comprising:
a support configured to hold a food product;
an infrared (IR) source arranged relative to the support and operable to direct IR energy to the food product on the support;
a light source arranged relative to the support and configured to direct red light towards the support and configured to illuminate the food product on the support while the IR source operates to direct IR energy;
a sensor directed towards the support and operable to acquire data representative of an amount of light received by the sensor;
a processor that successively receives the data from the sensor, the processor analyzes the successively received data when red light is directed at the support to determine when the food product is received on the support, upon which the processor operates the IR source to direct IR energy to the food product on the support and operates the light source to illuminate the food product, the processor then analyzes the successively received data in comparison against a model representing various toasting levels, and based upon the analysis the processor operates the IR source to terminate operation directing IR energy when the received data reaches a predetermined toasting level in the model; and
an ejector operatively connected to the support and to the processor, wherein the processor operates the ejector to remove the food product from proximity to the IR source when the predetermined toasting level is reached.