Patent ID: 6063421
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: A23L,A47J

Abstract:
Apparatus for rethermalizing of a pre-cooked food product, comprising:a support;a heating chamber on the support adapted to receive a heating fluid;a controlled valve for supplying heating fluid to the heating chamber;at least one rethermalizing receptacle for holding the food product;a first heater for heating the heating fluid in the heating chamber;a first temperature sensor disposed in the heating chamber;a first level sensor for sensing the level of the heating fluid in the heating chamber;a driving device for moving the rethermalizing receptacle from a first position outside the heating chamber to a second position within the heating chamber to rethermalize the food product;an electronic controller receiving an input from said temperature sensor and an input from said level sensor and having an output for controlling the controlled valve to maintain the level of the heating fluid in the heating chamber at a preset level; the controller further having an output for controlling the heater for heating the heating fluid when it has reached a predetermined level and for maintaining the temperature of the heating fluid at a preset temperature; said controller preventing said driving device from moving the rethermalizing receptacle to the second position unless the level of the heating fluid is at the preset level and the temperature of the heating fluid is at the preset temperature; said controller further comprising a timer for maintaining the rethermalizing receptacle in the second position for a preset period of time and for controlling the driving device to move the rethermalizing receptacle to the first position after said preset period of time.