Apparatus and method for non-contact detection and inductive heating of heat retentive food server warming plates

摘要

The present invention relates generally to inductive heating, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for non-contact detection and inductive heating of heat retentive food server warming plates used in institutional food service. The invention provides a non-contact detection and control circuit for an inductive heating apparatus for heating an inductively reactive heat radiating element built into a warming plate. The warming plate employed by the invention has an integral inductively reactive heat radiating element that is brought to a desired heating temperature such as 450 DEG F. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is configured like a conventional industrial cook stove and surface. Underneath the surface is a magnetic inductive coil controlled by the invention for inductively heating a reactive ferromagnetic heat radiating element that is placed on the surface.