Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Husqvarna Ab

Joshua M Linton

Michele Sclocchi

Paul J Storiz

Giorgio Grimaldi

Christopher Hopper

Daniele Chirico

Marco Bullo

Francesco Gambato

Fabrizio Dughiero

A food preparation device may include at least two energy sources, a chamber into which at least two types of energy are providable via the at least two energy sources, and a cooking controller operably coupled to the at least two energy sources to selectively distribute power to respective ones of the at least two energy sources. The at least two energy sources may include a radio frequency (RF) capacitive heating source and a cold air source.

Multi-functional RF capacitive heating food preparation device

An oven may include a cooking chamber configured to receive a food product, an EM heating system configured to provide EM energy into the cooking chamber using solid state electronic components, and control electronics configured to control the EM heating system. The control electronics are configured to enable user selection of a cooking program associated with cooking the food product. The control electronics select a first algorithm to direct application of the EM energy to the food product. The control electronics perform a learning process to receive feedback on execution of the cooking program during execution of the cooking program according to the first algorithm. Responsive to detecting a trigger event during the learning process, the control electronics are configured to select a second algorithm that is different from the first algorithm to direct application of the EM energy to the food product during execution of the cooking program.

Oven with machine learning based algorithm selection strategy

A food preparation device may include a tunnel cavity having a prep portion and a cooking portion, a conveyor belt extending through a length of the tunnel cavity, a cooking controller operably coupled to the prep portion and the cooking portion to selectively distribute power to at least a radio frequency (RF) capacitive heating source and a cold air source in the prep portion and at least a heat source in the cooking portion, and an interface panel. The prep portion and the cooking portion are positioned in a linear series in the tunnel cavity. The RF capacitive heating source comprises a ground plate and an anode plate.

Dynamic capacitive RF food heating tunnel

An oven may include a cooking chamber configured to receive a heat modulating material (HMM), a radio frequency (RF) heating system configured to provide RF energy into the cooking chamber, and a cooking controller configured to control the frequency of RF energy provided by the RF heating system into the cooking chamber. The MINI may be configured to contain a food product and may include a thermally active section. The thermally active section may include a base matrix and a particulate material dispersed in the base matrix.

Heat modulating food packaging material

An oven may include a cooking chamber configured to receive a food product, a radio frequency (RF) heating system configured to provide RF energy into the cooking chamber; and an energy conversion assembly provided as a cooking surface of the oven. The energy conversion assembly may be configured to convert at least some of the RF energy into thermal energy for heating the food product, while at least some other portion of the RF energy is directly applied to the food product to heat the food product.

Apparatus for providing customizable heat zones in an oven

An oven accessory may include a frame structure formed of a material that is substantially invisible to RF energy and a plurality of removable inserts. The frame structure may include legs and a periphery supported by the legs to be elevated above a base disposed within an oven. The periphery may define a receiving opening and lie in a first plane that is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to a second plane in which the base lies. At least some of the removable inserts may be configured to be interchangeably disposed at the receiving opening independently of each other. At least one of the removable inserts may be configured to define at least one elevated food holding location to combine with at least one other food holding location to enable support of a food product in a substantially vertical orientation.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Joshua M Linton