Patent US3886346A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3886346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reheating and reconstitution apparatus
Assignee: MEYERS SYSTEMS AND Tech Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-19
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A food reheating and reconstitution apparatus and method is presented employing thermoelectric devices, infrared heaters, and moisturizing for a vertically stacked array of food trays. The hot junctions of the thermoelectric device heat the bottom of a food tray; the cold junctions of that thermoelectric device provide a cooling effect for the surface of the food at the next lower tray to prevent scorching from the infrared heaters which heat the upper surface of the food in that lower tray; and the hot junctions of the thermoelectric device heat a water supply to provide moisturizing vapor for the food.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter G Meyers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:13
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B31/00; A47B31/02; A47B2031/026; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/918; Y10S165/919
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for heating a material to be heated, including: first thermoelectric means positioned on a first side of material at a first station to be heated, said first thermoelectric means having opposed hot and cold junctions, the hot junctions of said first thermoelectric means being positioned to serve as a heat source for said first side of the material to be heated; second thermoelectric means positioned on a second side of the material to be heated, said second thermoelectric means having opposed hot and cold junctions, the cold junctions of said second thermoelectric means being positioned to serve as a heat sink for said second side of the material to be heated; and infrared heating means positioned adjacent said second thermoelectric means to serve as a heat source for said second side of the material to be heated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for heating a material to be heated, including: first thermoelectric means positioned on a first side of material at a first station to be heated, said first thermoelectric means having opposed hot and cold junctions, the hot junctions of said first thermoelectric means being positioned to serve as a heat source for said first side of the material to be heated; second thermoelectric means positioned on a second side of the material to be heated, said second thermoelectric means having opposed hot and cold junctions, the cold junctions of said second thermoelectric means being positioned to serve as a heat sink for said second side of the material to be heated; and infrared heating means positioned adjacent said second thermoelectric means to serve as a heat source for said second side of the material to be heated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
Heating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said first and second thermoelectric means are in a spaced apart array; and including infrared heating means positioned adjacent said first thermoelectric means to serve as a heat source for material at a second station to be heated, said cold junctions of said first thermoelectric device being positioned to serve as a heat sink for material at the second station to be heated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Heating apparatus as in claim 2 wherein: said hot junctions of saId second thermoelectric means is positioned to serve as a heat source for material at a third station to be heated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
205 words
Apparatus for heating a material to be heated, including: first condition control means positioned on a first side of a first station at which material is to be heated and on a second side of a second station; and second condition control means positioned on a second side of the first station at which material is to be heated and on a first side of a third station, the first, second and third stations being in a spaced apart array; each of said condition control means having thermoelectric means with opposed hot and cold junctions, infrared heating means adjacent the thermoelectric means, and heat transfer means adjacent the hot junctions; said heat transfer means of said first condition control means being positioned adjacent the first station and serving to transfer heat from the hot junctions of the first condition control means to a part of the material to be heated at the first station; said infrared heating means of said second condition control means serving as a heat source for another part of the material at the first station; said cold junctions of said second condition control means being positioned to serve as a heat sink with respect to the material at the first station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
205 words
Apparatus for heating a material to be heated, including: first condition control means positioned on a first side of a first station at which material is to be heated and on a second side of a second station; and second condition control means positioned on a second side of the first station at which material is to be heated and on a first side of a third station, the first, second and third stations being in a spaced apart array; each of said condition control means having thermoelectric means with opposed hot and cold junctions, infrared heating means adjacent the thermoelectric means, and heat transfer means adjacent the hot junctions; said heat transfer means of said first condition control means being positioned adjacent the first station and serving to transfer heat from the hot junctions of the first condition control means to a part of the material to be heated at the first station; said infrared heating means of said second condition control means serving as a heat source for another part of the material at the first station; said cold junctions of said second condition control means being positioned to serve as a heat sink with respect to the material at the first station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Heating apparatus as in claim 4 wherein: said heat transfer means includes steam chamber means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Heating apparatus as in claim 5 including: means for delivering water vapor from said steam chamber means to the material at the first station for conditioning thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
Heating apparatus as in claim 4 wherein: material is to be heated at said second and third stations; said cold junctions of said first condition control means is positioned to serve as a heat sink for the material at said second seation; said infrared heating means of said first condition control means is positioned to serve as a heat source for a part of the material at the second station; and said heat transfer means of said second condition control means is positioned adjacent the second station and serves to transfer heat from the hot junctions of the second condition control means to part of the material to be heated at the first station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Heating apparatus as in claim 4 wherein: said condition control means is a module with hot and cold junctions of the thermoelectric means in a linear array and the infrared heating means along side said linear array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for heating food including: at least one station at which food is to be heated; first condition control means below said station; second condition control means above said station; each of said condition control means having thermoelectric means with opposed hot and cold junctions, infrared heating means adjacent the thermoelectric means, and heat transfer means adjacent the hot junction; said heat transfer means of said first condition control means serving to transfer heat from the hot junctions of the thermoelectric means thereof to the lower part of the food to be heated at the station; said infrared heating means of said second condition control means serving to deliver heat the upper part of the food to be heated at the station; and said cold junctions of the thermoelectric means of the second condition control means serving as a heat sink with respect to the upper part of the food to be heated at the station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for heating food including: at least one station at which food is to be heated; first condition control means below said station; second condition control means above said station; each of said condition control means having thermoelectric means with opposed hot and cold junctions, infrared heating means adjacent the thermoelectric means, and heat transfer means adjacent the hot junction; said heat transfer means of said first condition control means serving to transfer heat from the hot junctions of the thermoelectric means thereof to the lower part of the food to be heated at the station; said infrared heating means of said second condition control means serving to deliver heat the upper part of the food to be heated at the station; and said cold junctions of the thermoelectric means of the second condition control means serving as a heat sink with respect to the upper part of the food to be heated at the station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Heating apparatus as in claim 9 including: means for moisturizing the food to be heated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Heating apparatus as in claim 9 wherein: said heat transfer means includes steam chamber means; and including means for delivering water vapor from the steam chamber of one of said condition control means to the upper part of the food at the station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
Heating apparatus as in claim 9 including: a plurality of stations in a vertically spaced apart array at which food is to be heated; and further including first and second of said condition control means below and above each station, respectively.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |