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Temperature detection system for food container induction heating system and method

  • US 10,237,924 B2
  • Filed: 03/15/2013
  • Issued: 03/19/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A real-time temperature detection system for detecting temperature within a metal food can during induction heating comprising:

  • an induction heating coil generating an alternating magnetic field;

    a metal can including side walls, at least one end, and a metal seam which mechanically joins and hermetically seals the end and side walls, the can positioned within the magnetic field generated by the induction coil, the sealed metal can including a food product within the sealed metal can, the magnetic field causing resistive heating of the metal walls;

    a rotatable structure engaged with at least one end wall of the metal can and configured to rotate the metal can about a longitudinal axis of the sealed metal can within the induction heating coil;

    a temperature sensing element hermetically sealed within the metal can to generate a signal indicative of the temperature of the food product during heating;

    a wireless transmitter;

    a lead extending through and sealed to one of the end or side walls to couple the temperature sensing element to the wireless transmitter such that the signal indicative of the temperature of the food product during heating is communicated from the temperature sensing element to the wireless transmitter; and

    a wireless receiver, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit data indicative of the temperature of the food product during heating to the wireless receiver, and the wireless receiver is configured to communicate the data indicative of the temperature of the food product during heating to a memory device configured to store data related to the signal received from the temperature sensing element;

    wherein the temperature sensing element, the lead and the wireless transmitter are rigidly coupled to the sealed metal can and the rotatable structure, such that the temperature sensing element, the lead and the wireless transmitter rotate with the rotatable structure and the sealed metal can as the sealed metal can is rotated within the induction coil.

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