INDUCTION HEATING SYSTEM

• US 20120138597A1
• Filed: 02/14/2012
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hatco Corporation (Lanxess AG)
• Original Assignee: Hatco Corporation (Lanxess AG)
• Inventors: Quella, John, Witt, Allan
• Granted Patent: US 8,968,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/621
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/24 Warming devices
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/12 of paper or cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/03 3 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/12 on paper layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/70 Food packaging
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2519/02 RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/10 of paper or cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 29/005 next to another layer of paper or cardboard layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1303 Paper containing [e.g., paperboard, cardboard, fiberboard, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1359 Three or more layers [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/139 Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article

Abstract

An induction heating system includes a first heating surface and an induction coil located adjacent the first heating surface. The induction heating system also includes food packaging configured to be placed on the first heating surface. The food packaging contains a current conducting material such that the food packaging is inductively heated to a temperature sufficient to heat food when the induction coil is energized.

Claims

1. An induction heating system, comprising:

a first heating surface;

an induction coil located adjacent the first heating surface; and

food packaging configured to be placed on the first heating surface, the food packaging comprising a current conducting material such that the food packaging is inductively heated to a temperature sufficient to heat food when the induction coil is energized.

2. The induction heating system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic control unit connected to the induction coil, the electronic control unit configured to control the induction coil.

3. The induction heating system of claim 2, further comprising an RF tag incorporated into the food packaging.

4. The induction heating system of claim 3, wherein the RF tag is configured to automatically provide the electronic control unit with information.

5. The induction heating system of claim 4, wherein the RF tag provides the electronic control unit with heating instructions.

6. The induction heating system of claim 3, wherein the RF tag comprises a temperature sensor, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to turn off the at least one inductive coil when a preset temperature is detected.

7. The induction heating system of claim 1, further comprising another induction coil, wherein a first one of the induction coils corresponds to a first zone and a second one of the induction coils corresponds to a second zone.

8. The induction heating system of claim 7, further comprising a second heating surface.

9. The induction heating system of claim 8, wherein the first heating surface corresponds to the first zone and is configured to heat food at a first temperature and the second heating surface corresponds to the second zone and is configured to heat food at a second temperature different than the first temperature.

10. An induction heating system, comprising:

a first heating surface;

an induction coil configured to be located adjacent the first heating surface; and

an electronic control unit configured to control the induction coil to heat food provided within food packaging on the first heating surface, the food packaging comprising a current conducting material.

11. The induction heating system of claim 10, further comprising an RF tag incorporated into the food packaging.

12. The induction heating system of claim 11, wherein the RF tag provides the electronic control unit with heating instructions.

13. The induction heating system of claim 11, wherein the RF tag comprises a temperature sensor, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to turn off the inductive coil when a preset temperature is reached.

14. The induction heating system of claim 10, further comprising a second heating surface.

15. The induction heating system of claim 14, wherein the second heating surface is provided above the first heating surface.

16. The induction heating system of claim 15, wherein the induction coil is capable of heating the food packaging from above the food packaging and below the food packaging.

17. The induction heating system of claim 16, wherein the food packaging comprises current conducting material in a top and a bottom of the food packaging.

18. The induction heating system of claim 14, wherein the first heating surface corresponds to a first zone and is configured to heat food at a first temperature and the second heating surface corresponds to a second zone and is configured to heat food at a second temperature different than the first temperature.

19. The induction heating system of claim 10, wherein the electronic control unit comprises a plurality of programs which are specific to a number of different food products.

20. The induction heating system of claim 10, further comprising a sensor configured to determine how much energy is being used by the induction coil to estimate a number of food products provided on the first heating surface.