Patents by Inventor Melissa M. Hohler
Melissa M. Hohler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20240130565Abstract: A fryer and method for cooking food products is provided that automates the movement of baskets carrying the food products. The fryer) includes a cooking chamber with a heating element located therein for heating cooking medium in the cooking chamber. The fryer also includes at least one vertical transport assembly that selectively engages with and moves the basket vertically into and out of the cooking medium. A horizontal transport assembly selectively engages with and moves the basket horizontally between different positions. The horizontal transport assembly hands off the basket to and from the vertical transport assembly, and first and second hooks on the horizontal transport assembly engage with front and rear receiving mechanisms on the basket to continuously maintain at least two points of contact with the basket. This allows for controlled pivotal movements of the basket when food products are to be added or removed from the basket.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2024Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Steven V. Ricca, Thomas M. Smith
-
Patent number: 11910957Abstract: A fryer and method for cooking food products is provided that automates the movement of baskets carrying the food products. The fryer includes a cooking chamber with a heating element located therein for heating cooking medium in the cooking chamber. The fryer also includes at least one vertical transport assembly that selectively engages with and moves the basket vertically into and out of the cooking medium. A horizontal transport assembly selectively engages with and moves the basket horizontally between different positions. The horizontal transport assembly hands off the basket to and from the vertical transport assembly, and first and second hooks on the horizontal transport assembly engage with front and rear receiving mechanisms on the basket to continuously maintain at least two points of contact with the basket. This allows for controlled pivotal movements of the basket when food products are to be added or removed from the basket.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Steven V. Ricca, Thomas M. Smith
-
Publication number: 20240041257Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for controlling a heating system in a fryer. At startup, a setpoint temperature for a cooking medium is set to a melt temperature. While in melt mode, each of a plurality of heating elements each located in a different region of a fry pot is sequentially activated to control an amount of heat provided to the cooking medium. Once the cooking medium has reached the melt temperature, the setpoint temperature is increased to a target cooking temperature. While in cooking mode, if an order to cook a food product is not received within a predetermined time period, the setpoint temperature is set to an idle temperature which is below the target setpoint temperature and above the melt temperature. The target cooking temperature is adjusted using a set of setpoint bias temperatures that is selected based on a cooking load.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Kevin R. Romer
-
Patent number: 11819163Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for controlling a heating system in a fryer. At startup, a setpoint temperature for a cooking medium is set to a melt temperature. While in melt mode, each of a plurality of heating elements each located in a different region of a fry pot is sequentially activated to control an amount of heat provided to the cooking medium. Once the cooking medium has reached the melt temperature, the setpoint temperature is increased to a target cooking temperature. While in cooking mode, if an order to cook a food product is not received within a predetermined time period, the setpoint temperature is set to an idle temperature which is below the target setpoint temperature and above the melt temperature. The target cooking temperature is adjusted using a set of setpoint bias temperatures that is selected based on a cooking load.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Kevin R. Romer
-
Publication number: 20230093737Abstract: A fryer and method for cooking food products is provided that automates the movement of baskets carrying the food products. The fryer includes a cooking chamber with a heating element located therein for heating cooking medium in the cooking chamber. The fryer also includes at least one vertical transport assembly that selectively engages with and moves the basket vertically into and out of the cooking medium. A horizontal transport assembly selectively engages with and moves the basket horizontally between different positions. The horizontal transport assembly hands off the basket to and from the vertical transport assembly, and first and second hooks on the horizontal transport assembly engage with front and rear receiving mechanisms on the basket to continuously maintain at least two points of contact with the basket. This allows for controlled pivotal movements of the basket when food products are to be added or removed from the basket.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Steven V. Ricca, Thomas M. Smith
-
Patent number: 11529019Abstract: A fryer and method for cooking food products is provided that automates the movement of baskets carrying the food products. The fryer includes a cooking chamber with a heating element located therein for heating cooking medium in the cooking chamber. The fryer also includes at least one vertical transport assembly that selectively engages with and moves the basket vertically into and out of the cooking medium. A horizontal transport assembly selectively engages with and moves the basket horizontally between different positions. The horizontal transport assembly hands off the basket to and from the vertical transport assembly, and first and second hooks on the horizontal transport assembly engage with front and rear receiving mechanisms on the basket to continuously maintain at least two points of contact with the basket. This allows for controlled pivotal movements of the basket when food products are to be added or removed from the basket.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Steven V. Ricca, Thomas M. Smith, Brandon Whitt, Aaron Hill
-
Publication number: 20220279972Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for controlling a heating system in a fryer. At startup, a setpoint temperature for a cooking medium is set to a melt temperature. While in melt mode, each of a plurality of heating elements each located in a different region of a fry pot is sequentially activated to control an amount of heat provided to the cooking medium. Once the cooking medium has reached the melt temperature, the setpoint temperature is increased to a target cooking temperature. While in cooking mode, if an order to cook a food product is not received within a predetermined time period, the setpoint temperature is set to an idle temperature which is below the target setpoint temperature and above the melt temperature. The target cooking temperature is adjusted using a set of setpoint bias temperatures that is selected based on a cooking load.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2021Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Kevin R. Romer
-
Patent number: 11185190Abstract: A fryer includes a cooking chamber for holding a cooking medium and at least one heating element positioned within the cooking chamber. The fryer further includes a conveyor belt for selectively advancing food product through the cooking chamber. The conveyor belt includes first and second chains coupled together by a plurality of elongate members extending therebetween. The conveyor belt further includes a plurality of paddles coupled to the first and second chains and extending therebetween to define a plurality of compartments. Each of the plurality of paddles includes a screen, and each compartment is sized to receive at least a portion of the food product. The conveyor belt defines a continuous loop.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Thomas M. Smith, Steven V. Ricca
-
Patent number: 10945559Abstract: An automatic fryer apparatus and method of frying food products includes a cooking chamber, a heating mechanism disposed in the cooking chamber, and a pump disposed at an end of the cooking chamber to circulate cooking medium within the cooking chamber. Food product is added to the cooking chamber and flows along with the cooking medium in a flow direction. A controller controls a plurality of gates by individually actuating each gate. The controller stores data regarding predetermined time periods, which regulate when to raise and lower each gate. Food product moves downstream of each gate along a flow direction when each respective gate is raised. Food product is automatically transferred to a holding station when it reaches an outlet end of the cooking chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Charles Leader, Chuck Tomecek, John Hill, Dave Casler, Michael Manzella, Rick Baden, William M. Casey, Melissa M. Hohler, Edward J. Florkey, Manouchehr Shirali, Douglas A. Burkett, Mark Gogel, Brian K. Brooks
-
Publication number: 20200305646Abstract: A fryer and method for cooking food products is provided that automates the movement of baskets carrying the food products. The fryer includes a cooking chamber with a heating element located therein for heating cooking medium in the cooking chamber. The fryer also includes at least one vertical transport assembly that selectively engages with and moves the basket vertically into and out of the cooking medium. A horizontal transport assembly selectively engages with and moves the basket horizontally between different positions. The horizontal transport assembly hands off the basket to and from the vertical transport assembly, and first and second hooks on the horizontal transport assembly engage with front and rear receiving mechanisms on the basket to continuously maintain at least two points of contact with the basket. This allows for controlled pivotal movements of the basket when food products are to be added or removed from the basket.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Steven V. Ricca, Thomas M. Smith, Brandon Whitt, Aaron Hill
-
Publication number: 20200060475Abstract: A fryer includes a cooking chamber for holding a cooking medium and at least one heating element positioned within the cooking chamber. The fryer further includes a conveyor belt for selectively advancing food product through the cooking chamber. The conveyor belt includes first and second chains coupled together by a plurality of elongate members extending therebetween. The conveyor belt further includes a plurality of paddles coupled to the first and second chains and extending therebetween to define a plurality of compartments. Each of the plurality of paddles includes a screen, and each compartment is sized to receive at least a portion of the food product. The conveyor belt defines a continuous loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Thomas M. Smith, Steven V. Ricca
-
Patent number: 10517432Abstract: A fryer apparatus includes a cooking chamber to hold cooking medium and cook food products within, a filter pan removably attached to the cooking chamber, a tube connecting the filter pan to the cooking chamber, and a pump configured to circulate cooking medium. The filter pan has a bottom wall surrounded by four side walls and an inlet passage configured to receive cooking medium into the filter pan. A filter element is removably attached to the bottom wall of filter pan and extends in a lateral direction along a length of the fryer apparatus and may have two bends spaced laterally from each other. A plug may be attached to the filter element and an outlet passage attached to the plug and configured to discharge the cooking medium.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Thomas M. Smith, Kendall Lynn Olinger
-
Publication number: 20180325317Abstract: An automatic fryer apparatus and method of frying food products includes a cooking chamber, a heating mechanism disposed in the cooking chamber, and a pump disposed at an end of the cooking chamber to circulate cooking medium within the cooking chamber. Food product is added to the cooking chamber and flows along with the cooking medium in a flow direction. A controller controls a plurality of gates by individually actuating each gate. The controller stores data regarding predetermined time periods, which regulate when to raise and lower each gate. Food product moves downstream of each gate along a flow direction when each respective gate is raised. Food product is automatically transferred to a holding station when it reaches an outlet end of the cooking chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2015Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Charles Leader, Chuck Tomecek, John Hill, Dave Casler, Michael Manzella, Rick Baden, William M. Casey, Melissa M. Hohler, Edward J. Florkey, Manouchehr Shirali, Douglas A. Burkett, Mark Gogel, Brian K. Brooks
-
Publication number: 20180084949Abstract: A fryer apparatus includes a cooking chamber to hold cooking medium and cook food products within, a filter pan removably attached to the cooking chamber, a tube connecting the filter pan to the cooking chamber, and a pump configured to circulate cooking medium. The filter pan has a bottom wall surrounded by four side walls and an inlet passage configured to receive cooking medium into the filter pan. A filter element is removably attached to the bottom wall of filter pan and extends in a lateral direction along a length of the fryer apparatus and may have two bends spaced laterally from each other. A plug may be attached to the filter element and an outlet passage attached to the plug and configured to discharge the cooking medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. HOHLER, Thomas M. SMITH, Kendall Lynn OLINGER
-
Publication number: 20120240789Abstract: A fryer apparatus includes at least one cooking vessel that stores a cooking medium therein, a melter, a flow path, and a hopper pump that draws cooking medium from the melter to the cooking vessel. The melter includes a hopper that stores the cooking medium, a cradle, and a wiring. The cradle surrounds the hopper on 3 sides and the bottom, and the hopper may be removably inserted into the cradle. The cradle includes two side walls, a rear wall, and a bottom wall. A heating element is placed on an interior of each wall. When the hopper is installed in the cradle, heat is transmitted from the heating elements of the cradle through the hopper, and into the cooking medium, which allows the cooking medium to be stored at a temperature above an ambient temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventors: Melissa M. HOHLER, Jon Barry LOHNES
-
Patent number: 6627855Abstract: A merchandiser for displaying food products and holding such food products at a controlled temperature has a well divided into three or more well sections, wherein each of the well sections receives a serving tray and wherein the serving trays collectively have a center line. A rear access door, a pair of side plates, and a transparent front plate, together with the well, define a food product holding cavity. A pair of supporting brackets position a merchandiser heating and control device above the well. The merchandiser heating and control device has a heating compartment, which positions three or more heating elements and three or more illuminating elements substantially above the center line of the serving trays, wherein the heating compartment includes three or more circulating fans for circulating heated air from the heating compartment into the holding cavity.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Peter J. Koopman, Robert T. Wood, Thomas M. Smith
-
Publication number: 20030052116Abstract: A merchandiser for displaying food products and holding such food products at a controlled temperature has a well divided into three or more well sections, wherein each of the well sections receives a serving tray and wherein the serving trays collectively have a center line. A rear access door, a pair of side plates, and a transparent front plate, together with the well, define a food product holding cavity. A pair of supporting brackets position a merchandiser heating and control device above the well. The merchandiser heating and control device has a heating compartment, which positions three or more heating elements and three or more illuminating elements substantially above the center line of the serving trays, wherein the heating compartment includes three or more circulating fans for circulating heated air from the heating compartment into the holding cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Peter J. Koopman, Robert T. Wood, Thomas M. Smith
-
Patent number: 6259065Abstract: A merchandiser for displaying food products and holding such food products at a controlled temperature has a well divided into three or more well sections, wherein each of the well sections receives a serving tray and wherein the serving trays collectively have a center line. A rear access door, a pair of side plates, and a transparent front plate, together with the well, define a food product holding cavity. A pair of supporting brackets position a merchandiser heating and control device above the well. The merchandiser heating and control device has a heating compartment, which positions three or more heating elements and three or more illuminating elements substantially above the center line of the serving trays, wherein the heating compartment includes three or more circulating fans for circulating heated air from the heating compartment into the holding cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2000Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Peter J. Koopman, Robert T. Wood, Thomas M. Smith
-
Patent number: D471738Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2002Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Robert T. Wood, Timothy L. Gunsalus, Edward J. Florkey
-
Patent number: D498616Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2003Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Henny Penny CorporationInventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Jon B. Lohnes, Gary F. Summons, Robert Thomas Wood