Food heating device
In one embodiment, a food heating device includes a first platen and a first conveyor arranged and spaced to transport a food product between the first platen ( 501 ) and the first conveyor ( 503 ). A second platen ( 501 ) and a second conveyor ( 503 ) arranged and spaced to transport the food product ( 203 ) between the second platen ( 501 ) and the second conveyor ( 503 ). A first end of the first platen ( 501 ) is disposed near a first end of the second conveyor ( 503 ) and a first end of the first conveyor ( 503 ) is disposed near a first end of the second platen ( 501 ) such that the food product ( 203 ) is automatically transferred from the first platen ( 501 ) to the second platen ( 501 ).
1. A food heating device comprising:
a first substantially planar platen having a first internal heating element located inside the first substantially planar platen and, a first conveyor arranged and spaced away from the first substantially planar platen by a first separation distance in order to transport a food product along and in contact with the first substantially planar platen and between the first substantially planar platen and the first conveyor, such that when the food product having first and second sides, is between the first conveyor and the first substantially planar platen, the first side of the food product will make direct contact with the first substantially planar platen;
a second substantially planar platen and a second conveyor, downstream of the first platen and first conveyor, the second platen having a second internal heating element located inside the second substantially planar platen and the second conveyor arranged and spaced away from the second substantially planar platen by a separation distance in order to transport the food product along and in contact with the second substantially planar platen between the second substantially planar platen and the second conveyor, such that when the food product is between the second conveyor and the second substantially planar platen, the second side of the food product will make direct contact with the second substantially planar platen.
2. The food heating device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one guide that directs the food product diagonally along at least one of the first platen and the second platen.
3. The food heating device of claim 1 , further comprising a third conveyor arranged and spaced to transport a second food product against the first platen and the third conveyor.
4. The food heating device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second platens are substantially horizontal.
5. The food heating device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second platens are substantially vertical.
6. The food heating device of claim 1 , wherein the first platen and the second platen are substantially parallel to each other.
7. The food heating device of claim 1 , wherein the first platen and the second platen are arranged and constructed to toast the food product.
8. The food heating device of claim 1 , wherein the food product is static relative to a belt of at least one of the first conveyor and the second conveyor.
9. A food heating device comprising:
a first platen having a first substantially planar surface circumscribed by a first edge, the first platen comprising a first heating element inside the platen, configured to heat the first platen;
a first conveyor arranged and spaced to transport a food product between the first platen and the first conveyor such that a first surface of the food product makes direct contact with the first substantially planar surface;
a second platen, downstream of the first platen, having a second substantially planar surface circumscribed by a second edge, the second platen comprising a second heating element inside the second platen, configured to heat the second platen;
a second conveyor, downstream of the first conveyor, arranged and spaced to transport the food product between the second platen and the second conveyor such that a second surface of the food product makes direct contact with the second substantially planar surface;
wherein the first edge faces the second conveyor and wherein the second edge faces the first conveyor.
10. The food heating device of claim 9 , further comprising at least one guide that directs the food product diagonally along at least one of the first platen and the second platen.
11. The food heating device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second conveyors are arranged so that, when the food product is between the first conveyor and first platen, the food product is transferred automatically to the second conveyor by the food heating device.
12. The food heating device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second conveyors are arranged so that, when the food product is between the first conveyor and first platen, the food product is transferred automatically to the second conveyor by the food heating device.
13. The food heating device of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the first platen is disposed near a first end of the second conveyor and wherein a first end of the first conveyor is disposed near a first end of the second platen such that the food product is heated on a first side by the first platen, and is thereafter transferred from the first platen to the second platen such that the food product is heated on an opposing second side by the second platen as the food product moves responsive to the first and second conveyors.
14. The food heating device of claim 9 , wherein a food product travels between the first conveyor and first platen and is heated on a first side by the first platen, the food product thereafter travels between the second conveyor and second platen and is heated on a second side by the second platen.
15. The food heating device of claim 3 further comprising a fourth conveyor arranged and spaced to transport a third food product against the second platen and the fourth conveyor.