US 12,137,511 B2
Pattern recognizing appliance
Nick Bassill, Milwaukee, WI (US); John Scanlon, Milwaukee, WI (US); Ishan Shah, Milwaukee, WI (US); Fei Shang, Milwaukee, WI (US); and Max Walker, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Assigned to Hatco Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed by Hatco Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/826,625.
Application 17/826,625 is a continuation of application No. 15/984,006, filed on May 18, 2018, granted, now 11,375,587.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/508,822, filed on May 19, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0295609 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A47J 36/32 (2006.01); A47J 27/00 (2006.01); A47J 37/04 (2006.01); A47J 37/08 (2006.01); H05B 6/64 (2006.01); H05B 6/66 (2006.01); H05B 6/68 (2006.01); H05B 6/78 (2006.01)
CPC H05B 6/687 (2013.01) [A47J 27/004 (2013.01); A47J 36/32 (2013.01); A47J 36/321 (2018.08); A47J 37/045 (2013.01); A47J 37/08 (2013.01); A47J 37/0871 (2013.01); H05B 6/6438 (2013.01); H05B 6/6441 (2013.01); H05B 6/6455 (2013.01); H05B 6/6458 (2013.01); H05B 6/6464 (2013.01); H05B 6/668 (2013.01); H05B 6/782 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A food preparation appliance comprising:
a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a processing zone between the inlet and the outlet;
a conveyor configured to move a food product from the inlet, through the processing zone, and to the outlet;
a thermal element positioned within the processing zone;
a first sensor positioned along an exterior surface of the housing proximate the inlet of the housing, the first sensor configured to acquire pre-processing data regarding a pre-processing characteristic of the food product to be processed by the food preparation appliance;
a second sensor positioned within the processing zone, the second sensor configured to acquire processing data regarding an in-process characteristic of the food product;
a third sensor positioned along the exterior surface of the housing proximate the outlet of the housing, the third sensor configured to acquire post-processing data regarding a post-processing characteristic of the food product;
a fourth sensor positioned along a lateral side of the conveyor proximate the inlet; and
a fifth sensor positioned along the lateral side of the conveyor proximate the outlet.