Portable unit for heating packaged food

• US 4,455,478 A
• Filed: 09/03/1982
• Issued: 06/19/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunset Limited
• Original Assignee: Sunset Limited
• Inventors: Guibert, Raul
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, B. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US06/414,880
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 219/400, 219/385, 219/386, 219/387, 432/64, 34/211, 34/212, 34/213, 34/215, 34/191, 34/195, 34/197, 126/21 A, 126/21 R, 312/236, 62/418, 165/DIG. 25, 165/DIG. 26
• US Class Current: 219/400
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/365 Thawing subsequent to freezing
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/003 with forced air circulation

Abstract

A portable unit for heating packages containing pre-cooked cold food, the unit acting to rapidly heat up the food to a service temperature level and to thereafter maintain this level. The unit includes a case having a rack therein divided by shelves into a series of compartments, each adapted to receive a food package. Standing vertically behind the rack is an air modulator including a stationary outer tube having a series of longitudinally-aligned ports communicating with the respective compartments. Rotating within the outer tube is an inner tube having a series of angularly-displaced holes which successively register with the ports in the course of a rotary cycle. Air drawn from the free region in the front of the rack is conveyed through a heater station and from there blown into the inner tube to create a pressure differential between the free region and the inner tube. As a consequence, the heated air is projected successively through the ports into the compartments whereby the heated air flowing at high velocity through each compartment has a pulsatory waveform which acts to rapidly heat the food therein.

Claims

1. A unit for heating packages of food to a predetermined temperature level, said unit comprising:

A. a case having a rack therein divided by shelves into compartments having open fronts for receiving the food packages, said rack being positioned in the case to define a rear air region therein, each shelf having spaced upper and lower walls to define a plenum therebetween having a rear inlet communicating with said region, said walls having holes therein;

B. means to heat the air in the region and to blow it at high velocity into the inlets of the shelves whereby hot air is emitted into the compartments through the holes to heat the food therein, and

C. means to periodically interrupt the flow of hot air into the inlets whereby the food in the compartments is subjected to a pulsatory wave of hot air whose pulses are at a temperature well above said predetermined level, the intervals between pulses permitting inward transfer of heat into the body of the food to an extent preventing heating of the body above said level.

2. A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plenum is provided with an outlet to direct hot air across the front opening to each compartment to create an air curtain.

3. A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said food package is a pre-cooked meal contained in a sealed tray which rests on the top wall of the shelf, which top wall has spacers to permit air circulation in the resultant space under the tray.