Warming apparatus

• US 20060043087A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Western Industries Incorporated (B-G Western Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hochschild, Richard C. Jr., Jonovic, Scott A., Gagas, John M., Stair, Daniel E. II
• Granted Patent: US 7,488,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/391
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/18 Arrangement of compartments additional to cooking compartments, e.g. for warming or for storing utensils or fuel containers; Arrangement of additional heating or cooking apparatus, e.g. grills
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat

Abstract

An electronically controlled warmer drawer includes an enclosure having sides and a top and a bottom defining a chamber. A movable holder is coupled to the enclosure for movement between a retracted position to support objects within the chamber and an extended position external to the chamber to permit access to the objects by a user. A heating system operates to heat the chamber and a ventilation system operates to move air through the chamber. A user interface with multiple inputs controls a temperature within the chamber. A detection system detects a condition within the chamber and provide a signal representative of the condition. A display device displays information for perception by a user, and an electronic control system interfaces with the heating system and the ventilation system and the user interface and the detection system and the display device so the objects can be maintained at a desired temperature.

Claims

1. A warmer drawer, comprising:

an enclosure defining a chamber and having an opening;

a movable portion configured to be reciprocally moved within the chamber;

a heating element configured to provide heat to the chamber;

a user interface configured to receive input from a user for controlling operation of the warmer drawer;

at least one sensor configured to provide a signal representative of a temperature in the chamber; and

an electronic control system interfacing with the heating element, and the user interface and the sensor and operable to control a supply of electrical power in a continuous and regulated manner to the heating element during operation of the warmer drawer.

2. The warmer drawer of claim 1 wherein the electronic control system comprises a positive temperature coefficient of resistance controller.

3. The warmer drawer of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a touch pad device having a plurality of input elements.

4. The warmer drawer of claim 3 wherein the touch pad device comprises an operating technology selected from the group consisting of piezo electric, capacitance, inductive, resistance, infrared, and high frequency.

5. The warmer drawer of claim 3 wherein the touch pad device comprises a membrane switch.

6. The warmer drawer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is operable remotely from the enclosure to permit a user to control operation of the warmer drawer from a remote location.

7. The warmer drawer of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensing device, a humidity sensor and an infrared temperature sensing device.

8. The warmer drawer of claim 7 wherein the temperature sensing device is selected from the group consisting of a thermostat, a thermal protector, a thermal cutoff, a thermal switch, a thermocouple, a PCB thermostat, a time delay relay, a bulb and capillary device, a cold control, a bimetallic device, a pressure switch, resistance temperature detector, a snap action switch, and a thermistor.

9. The warmer drawer of claim 1 further comprising a display device configured to provide information to a user.

10. The warmer drawer of claim 9 wherein the display device is configured to display alpha-numeric text in at least one of a stationary manner and a scrolling manner.

11. The warmer drawer of claim 9 wherein the display device is configured to display graphic images for perception by a user.

12. The warmer drawer of claim 11 wherein the display device comprises a display panel having technology selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, liquid crystal display, plasma, dot matrix, and vacuum fluorescent display.

13. The warmer drawer of claim 9 wherein the display device is integrated with the user interface.

14. The warmer drawer of claim 1 further comprising a ventilation system operably interfacing with the electronic control system.

15. The warmer drawer of claim 14 wherein the ventilation system comprises a fan configured to circulate air within the chamber.

16. The warmer drawer of claim 15 wherein the fan is coupled to the enclosure.

17. The warmer drawer of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is mountable within another appliance selected from the group consisting of a range, a mini-oven, a toaster oven, a steam drawer, a baking drawer, a boiling oven, a broiling oven.

18. The warmer drawer of claim 15 wherein the heating element is integrated with the fan.

19. The warmer drawer of claim 14 wherein the ventilation system comprises a plurality of apertures in the enclosure and a variably positionable damper operable to regulate a flow of air through the apertures.

20. The warmer drawer of claim 19 further comprising an actuator operable to position the damper in response to a signal from the electronic control system.

21. The warmer drawer of claim 20 wherein the actuator comprises at least one of a solenoid drive device, a screw drive device, a gear drive device, a motor driven device, a cylinder driven device, a biasing member, a bi-metal device, an electromagnetic device and an electronically actuated device.

22. The warmer drawer of claim 15 wherein the fan is located remotely from the chamber and communicates with the chamber via a duct.

23. The warmer drawer of claim 22 wherein the heating element is located remotely from the chamber and communicates with the chamber via a duct.

24. The warmer drawer of claim 1 wherein an air temperature contained within the chamber is maintained at a predetermined temperature.

25. The warmer drawer of claim 1 wherein the touch pad device comprises an operating technology selected from the group consisting of a padless soft touch technology, a padless touch digital encoder, a magnetic switch, a field effect device, a charge transfer device, a hall effect device, a transistor, a micro encoder, an induction device, a capacitance device, and an inductive device.

26. A warming apparatus, comprising:

an enclosure defining a chamber configured to receive one or more objects therein;

a heating device communicating with the chamber;

a detection system having at least one sensor operable to detect a temperature within the chamber;

a user interface configured for interaction with a user and operable to establish a desired temperature for the chamber;

an electronic control system configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor and the user interface to control the operation of the heating device to attain and maintain the desired temperature within the chamber.

27. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the heating device comprises a heat pump operable to increase and decrease a temperature within the chamber.

28. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the heating device comprises a thermoelectric module operable to warm or cool the objects in the chamber.

29. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the heating device is operable to conduct at least one of the functions of baking, broiling, roasting, steaming and boiling within the chamber.

30. The warming apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a display device having a screen portion operable to convey information to a user related to operation of the warmer drawer.

31. The warming apparatus of claim 30 wherein the information includes at least one of operating information, temperature information, functions, messages, time and diagnostics.

32. The warming apparatus of claim 26 further comprising an illumination source within the chamber.

33. The warming apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a mobile structure coupled to the enclosure.

34. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the electronic control system comprises a microprocessor operable to interface with one or more of the heating device, the detection system, the user interface and a ventilation system and a display device.

35. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the heating device comprises a heating element configured to receive a supply of electrical current regulated by the electronic control system within a range between a minimum current and a maximum current during operation of the warming apparatus.

36. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user interface is operable for wireless remote control operation of the warming apparatus.

37. The warming apparatus of claim 36 wherein the wireless remote control operation is accomplished by at least one of a sound activated signal, a radio frequency signal, an electromagnetic signal, and a computer control system.

38. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the enclosure is configured to be removably received for independent operation within any one or more of a fixed structure, a mobile structure and an appliance.

39. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the enclosure is configured to be combined with other enclosures in at least one of a horizontal arrangement and a vertical arrangement.

40. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the enclosure further comprises at least one of a selectively movable door, a lid, and a cover configured to provide access to the chamber by a user.

41. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a thermostat, a thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector, and infrared sensor, a bimetallic device, a time delay relay, a switch, a thermistor and a bulb and capillary device.

42. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the at least one sensor comprises an infrared sensor configured to detect and transmit a signal representative of a temperature of an object within the chamber.

43. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the at least one sensor is a scanning device configured to scan and detect a temperature within the chamber.

44. The warming apparatus of claim 26 wherein the heating device comprises a thermoelectric module operable to warm or cool air in the chamber.

45. An electronically controlled warmer drawer, comprising:

an enclosure having sides and a top and a bottom defining a chamber;

a movable holder coupled to the enclosure and configured for movement between a retracted position to support objects within the chamber and an extended position at least partially external to the chamber and configured to permit access to the objects by a user;

a heating system operable to heat the chamber;

a ventilation system operable to move air through the chamber;

a user interface having a plurality of inputs configured to control a temperature within the chamber;

a detection system configured to detect a condition within the chamber and provide a signal representative of the condition;

a display device having a panel configured to display information for perception by a user; and

an electronic control system coupled to the enclosure and interfacing with the heating system and the ventilation system and the user interface and the detection system and the display device so the objects can be maintained at a desired temperature.

46. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 further comprising a drive system operable to position the movable holder within a travel range between the retracted position and the extended position.

47. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 46 wherein the drive system comprises a screw drive system.

48. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 46 wherein the electronic control system comprises an activation system having sensors that detect a stop point and transmit a control signal to the drive system.

49. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 48 wherein the drive system comprises a motor and the activation system is operable to detect an increase in resistance from the motor when the movable holder is proximate the stop point to control movement of the movable holder.

50. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 48 further comprising a stepper motor interfacing with the activation system and operable to define the stop point.

51. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 further comprising an aromatic material disposed within the chamber.

52. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the aromatic material is disposed within a container communicating with the chamber.

53. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 further comprising a mobile pedestal coupled to the enclosure.

54. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the ventilation system comprises a variable speed fan capable of being controlled by the electronic control system and operable to move air within the chamber.

55. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the ventilation system comprises apertures formed in at least one of the sides, the top and the bottom, and a damper device operable to increase ventilation in the chamber by uncovering the apertures and operable to decrease ventilation in the chamber by covering the apertures.

56. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 55 further comprising an actuator capable of receiving a signal from the electronic control system to reposition the damper device.

57. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 further comprising a timer device interfacing with the electronic control system and operable to initiate and terminate operation of the heating system.

58. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the user interface comprises a tactile switch.

59. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the user interface and the display device and the electronic control system comprise sealed modules capable of permitting use in outdoor environments.

60. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the heating system and the ventilation system are integrated as a fan and heating apparatus unit fluidly communicating with the chamber.

61. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the condition comprises at least one of a temperature and a humidity of air within the chamber.

62. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the condition comprises a temperature of the object within the chamber.

63. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the enclosure, the movable holder, the heating system, the ventilation system, the user interface, the detection system, the display device and the electronic control system are provided as a modular unit configured for use in a device.

64. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 further comprising at least one of a transparent viewing panel and a transparent pan configured to permit viewing of the chamber.

65. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein the heating system comprises at least one of a cross flow blower with an integrated heating element, an axial fan and heater unit, a wire heating element, a sheathed heating element, a heat plate, a thermal ceramic heater, a flexible heater, a thin film heating element, a light source, an inductive heating element, a heat pump, a microwave device, an infrared heater, and electromagnetic heating device, a radio frequency heating device, a sonic heating device, a heat exchanger, a gas fuel product, and a solid fuel product

66. The electronically controlled warmer drawer of claim 45 wherein at least one of the display device and the user interface comprises a drive device operable to selectively expose and conceal at least one of the display device and the user interface.

67. An electronically controlled multi-use warming appliance, comprising:

an enclosure defining a chamber configured to receive one or more objects therein;

a first heating device communicating with the chamber and a second heating device communicating with the chamber;

a detection system having a temperature sensing device communicating with the chamber;

a user interface configured for interaction with a user and operable to establish a desired temperature within the chamber;

an electronic control system configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensing device and the user interface to control operation of the first heating device and the second heating device.

68. The electronically controlled multi-use warming appliance of claim 67 wherein the first heating device is selected from the group consisting of a cross flow blower with an integrated heating element, an axial fan and heater unit, a wire heating element, a sheathed heating element, a heat plate, a thermal ceramic heater, a flexible heater, a thin film heating element, a light source, an inductive heating element, a heat pump, an infrared heater, and electromagnetic heating device, a radio frequency heating device, a sonic heating device, a heat exchanger, a gas fuel product, and a solid fuel product

69. The electronically controlled multi-use warming appliance of claim 68 wherein the first heating device is configured for at least one of cooking, toasting, baking, broiling and boiling.

70. The electronically controlled multi-use warming appliance of claim 69 wherein the second heating device comprises a microwave device.

71. The electronically controlled multi-use warming appliance of claim 67 wherein the enclosure is at least partially surrounded by a cabinet and combined with at least one other appliance.

72. The electronically controlled multi-use warming appliance of claim 71 wherein the at least one other appliance comprises one or more of a range, a mini-oven, a toaster oven, a steam drawer, a baking drawer, a boiling oven, a broiling oven and a microwave oven.