US 12,446,727 B2
Vertical heat transfer device
Steven Shei, Fort Wayne, IN (US)
Assigned to Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc., Osseo, MN (US)
Filed by Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc., Osseo, MN (US)
Filed on Sep. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/031,421.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/905,726, filed on Sep. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0085125 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A47J 37/06 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 37/0688 (2013.01) [A47J 37/0641 (2013.01); A47J 37/0664 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat transfer device for thermal treatment of food items, the heat transfer device comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior of the heat transfer device, the enclosure having an opening therein to receive a food item for thermal treatment;
a first driven conveyor system is positioned within the enclosure with a point of food item initial contact at the opening and comprises a first chain conveyor belt wherein the first chain conveyor belt is driven in a first direction from the opening into the interior;
a second driven conveyor system is positioned within the enclosure with the point of food item initial contact at the opening and comprises a second chain conveyor belt, the second chain conveyor belt positioned opposed to the first chain conveyor belt, wherein the second chain conveyor belt is driven in a second direction from the opening into the interior, wherein the first and second directions are opposite to contact the food item at the point of food item initial contact between the first and second chain conveyor belts and pull the food item from the opening through the enclosure;
a first primary heater arranged interior of the first chain conveyor belt and after the point of food item initial contact in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt, the first primary heater configured to direct IR heat energy into the food item;
a first chain heater positioned within the enclosure prior to the point of food item initial contact in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt and prior to the opening in the first direction of the first chain conveyor belt and configured to direct heat energy into the first chain conveyor belt to increase the temperature of the first chain conveyor belt to a searing temperature at the opening;
a second primary heater arranged interior of the second chain conveyor belt and after the point of food item initial contact in the second direction of the second chain conveyor belt, the second primary heater configured to direct IR heat energy into the food item; and
a second chain heater positioned within the enclosure prior to the point of food item initial contact in the second direction of the second chain conveyor belt and prior to the opening in the second direction of the second chain conveyor belt and configured to direct heat energy into the second chain conveyor belt to increase the temperature of the second chain conveyor belt to the searing temperature at the opening.