Patents Assigned to National ICEE Corporation
  • Patent number: 5033363
    Abstract: An automatic, hot air corn popping machine has a feed conveyor to transport unpopped corn from a reservoir to the base of a popping tube forming part of the popping chamber, a damper-controlled blower and a thermostatically-controlled heater to heat and blow air to pop corn in the popping chamber. A control circuit is provided with a reprogrammable microcomputer which permits independent variation by digital incrementation of various operating parameters of the machine over continuous ranges to permit rapid, convenience and accurate adjustment of the machine, even while the machine operates, to configure the machine for optimal popcorn production at any selected production rate and to compensate for variations in popping chambers and in the nominal levels of local line voltages occurring in different locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: National Icee Corporation
    Inventors: Michael H. King, Donald J. Porada, Lee W. Poppe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4704827
    Abstract: A modular booth structure is provided which is particularly useful in merchandising of food and drink items. The booth comprises a free-standing base portion comprising a plurality of vertical panels arranged to form a rectangular enclosure, a door in one of the panels, a plurality of cabinet units disposed within the enclosure and against the panels, with each of the cabinet units having a substantially planar top surface forming a countertop within the enclosure. The base includes a first plumbing system comprising a sink, a supply of water for the sink, a heater unit for heating water delivered to the sink, means for delivering water to the sink, and a holding tank for collecting water discharged from the sink. A second plumbing system is also provided which comprises a supply of water for a beverage dispenser, a supply of carbon dioxide for a beverage dispenser, and means for delivering water to the beverage dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: National Icee Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Murphy, Henry Belszek
  • Patent number: 4438682
    Abstract: A popcorn popping machine adapted for cyclic operation has a feed conveyor for transporting unpopped corn from the reservoir to the base of the popping tube. A heating chamber has a plurality of heating elements over which air flows on its way through conveying ducts to the popping tube. A manually operable selector switch is adapted to be set at a plurality of positions. This switch controls electric circuitry which controls the operation of the feed conveyor for different preselected segments of a cyclic time period. The number of heating elements which are energized are also controlled by the setting of the selector switch. The selector switch also controls the setting of a damper in the air flow conveying duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: National ICEE Corporation
    Inventors: Michael H. King, Lee W. Poppe, Jr., Oscar A. Wurtenberg
  • Patent number: D299891
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: National Icee Corporation
    Inventor: Henry Belszek