Of Heat And Material Patents (Class 99/326)
  • Publication number: 20080202347
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a toaster, in particular to a recognition device of the toaster. A sliding rack which can be moved up and down is provided within a housing of the toaster, and the sliding rack is connected with a toast rack. An end of the toast rack is fixedly connected to an end of a bracket, an assembly composed of the toast rack and the bracket is hinged to the sliding rack, an end portion of the bracket is connected with the sliding rack through a spring, and a sensor is fixed to the toaster for sensing the angular displacement of the assembly. One end of the bracket is hinged to the sliding rack and the other end thereof is connected with the sliding rack through the spring. Compared with the prior art, the toast rack of the present invention can be driven to rotate upwards at a certain angle about a center defined by the hinged point under the resilient force of a spring. When a bread slice is disposed into the toast rack, the toast rack is reset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: CRASTAL TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN CO., LTD)
    Inventors: Huajin Chen, Youying Long
  • Publication number: 20080181992
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a bread product including: an input means for entering product variables; a processor for determining a production schedule for producing product; a thawer for thawing or partially thawing substantially planar frozen dough pieces; a moulder for working the thawed or partially thawed dough in accordance with predetermined process steps; and an oven for baking the product; the processor controlling or instructing an operator to control the operation of the thawer, shaper and oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Paul Eaton Willett
  • Publication number: 20080156198
    Abstract: A machine for toasting a marshmallow loaded on a pick and concurrently melting at least a portion of a chocolate bar provided on a separate support. A housing has an internal heat source, a rotatable pick holder shaped to removably and securely receive a pick and support the marshmallow in proximity to the heat source, and a coupling to rotate a so engaged pick. The coupling can be a manual control gearingly coupled to the pick holder. A moveable cover can support the heat source and place it in proximity with a marshmallow-bearing portion of the pick when in a closed position yet move aside for loading and unloading ingredients. A method for making s'mores toasts marshmallows while actively melting chocolate and provides for selective rotation of the marshmallow within the housing during the toasting step by moving a control that is safely disposed exterior of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Melanie LEASON, David LEASON
  • Publication number: 20080092749
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic vending machine for noodles, capable of sanitarily cooking them. The automatic vending machine for noodles comprises a discharging hole, which is formed at the door, and it is opened and closed by a discharging door. A coin machine and a door are installed at the inside of the main body. A metallic disposable vessel for holding the noodles and spices is stored in the inside of the noodle storing part. The disposable vessels are automatically released from the noodles storing part by means of the disposable vessel supplying part. The disposable vessels are transmitted to predetermined positions by means of the disposable vessel conveying part. The disposable vessels are automatically released from the main body through the discharging door by the disposable vessel discharging part. The control part controls operations of the constitutional elements of the automatic vending machine as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Kyoung-Duk Kim
  • Patent number: 7337706
    Abstract: The present invention is made for the purpose of providing a full automatic rice cooking apparatus that can automatically carry out all of the steps from rice measuring to rice boiling and further washing of a rice kettle after use. This purpose is achieved by an automatic rice cooking apparatus, where a rice supplier supplies a predetermined amount of rice into a rice kettle, a rice rinsing means may rinse the rice, and then a rice boiling means boils the rice while placing the rice kettle at a predetermined position. The apparatus includes a rice kettle washing means for washing an inner wall of the rice kettle 32 placed at the predetermined position after the rice boiling and a controller for controlling the rice supplier, the rice rinsing means, the rice boiling means and the rice kettle washing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Nippo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7296509
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bread maker. The bread maker comprises: a main body having a door opening and forming a bread making space; a door opening/closing the door opening; a baking tray in the bread making space; a tray sensor sensing whether the baking tray is mounted in the bread making space; and a controller controlling a bread making process to be performed on the basis of a sensing signal from the tray sensor when the baking tray is mounted in the bread making space. Thus, operational errors are prevented since the bread maker is operates only when a baking tray is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-ryong Park, Yong-hyun Kwon, Chul Kim, Tae-uk Lee, Han-jun Sung, Jang-woo Lee, Dong-bin Lim
  • Patent number: 7238923
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus and method thereof capable of performing a cooking process based upon a cooking condition corresponding to the amount of food introduced into a cooking chamber when the cooking process is performed using a bar code printed on a food package to be cooked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Keun Kim, Seok Weon Hong, Yu Jeub Ha, Hyun Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 7231871
    Abstract: Baking apparatus for baking edible products located on a conveying surface and preferably travelling along a conveyor track, comprising a number of electric infrared radiators arranged above the conveyor track. The infrared radiators each comprise at least one spiral filament having a gastight, infrared radiation-transmitting, breakable casing, in particular a glass casing. The baking apparatus further comprises monitoring means for monitoring breakage of the casings of the infrared radiators. The invention also relates to a method for baking an edible product by means of an electric infrared radiator having a breakable casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Wegra Beheer B.V.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Johannes E. M. Wilbers
  • Patent number: 7080593
    Abstract: A controlled cooking system (CCS) that monitors, measures, and controls the internal temperature of foods placed in an oven having a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) antenna(s), a transmitter/receiver/interrogator/reader/microprocessor (TRIRM) module and an RFID tag with built-in temperature sensor. The RFID tag is buried in the food being cooked and is energized and enabled by an RF signal of pre-determined frequency. The tag output is an RF “backscatter signal” having encoded temperature data indicative of the internal temperature of the food that the tag is buried in. The backscatter signal is received and decoded by the antenna(s) and the TRIRM module incorporating a programmed cooking/baking temperatures for various foods. If the decoded temperature is below a user-set temperature, the TRIRM module allows the oven to remain on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Inventor: David Frankel
  • Patent number: 7013798
    Abstract: A toaster having: a frame enclosing an open heating chamber; a bread supporting carriage mounted in the chamber and vertically movable relative to the frame, the carriage being retainable in a lowered position for toasting; an extension piece fixed to the carriage; a restoring element coupled between the frame and the extension piece for urging the carriage upwardly away from the lowered position to a first bread discharge position; and a control mechanism for controlling the position for the carriage. The control mechanism includes: a lever mounted for rotation about a first axis, a crank element extending perpendicular to the first axis and connected to the lever for rotation as a unit therewith, and a cam device connected to the extension piece and engaged by the crank element at a location spaced from the first axis for converting rotational movements of the actuating lever into vertical movements of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Julian Arnedo, Guy Mauffrey
  • Patent number: 7012220
    Abstract: A cooking appliance employing rapid cook technology includes an electronic oven control system employing an alpha-numeric data entry and display arrangement. The cooking appliance includes a display which incorporates a series of vertically spaced information display zones, with each of the zones being capable of displaying both alpha and numeric data to a user of the appliance. Text and numeric data can be entered by the user through a ten-digit keypad provided on a control panel of the appliance. Each labeled numeric key (0–9) can be used to input a corresponding numeric data symbol, as well as additional text information. This arrangement advantageously makes purchasing and operating a sophisticated cooking appliance more appealing and less intimidating to a consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corp.
    Inventors: Mark A. Boyer, Jill L. Means
  • Patent number: 6962290
    Abstract: A bread maker including a pair of kneading drums inside an oven compartment, to which are attached opposite ends of a mixing bag containing bread ingredients, the kneading drums reversing rotary direction periodically; a bar code scanner to read a bar code on the mixing bag; a drum driving part rotating the kneading drums in clockwise and counterclockwise directions; a bar code reading checking part sensing whether the bar code scanner is reading the bar code; and a controller determining whether the bar code scanner is reading the bar code based upon a sensed signal output from the bar code reading checking part, and controlling the drum driving part to rotate the kneading drums at a bar code reading speed while the bar code scanner reads the bar code, and at a faster dough kneading speed when the bar code scanner has completely read the bar code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-hyun Kwon, Dong-bin Lim, Jang-woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6827005
    Abstract: An automated broiling and cutting device for the production of cooked Doner meat. A rotating unit carries meat containers for holding Doner meat to be cooked. The meat containers rotate about the broiling units and the cutting unit. Automated control of cooking and cutting is performed via a central control and adjustment panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Ayhan Babacan
  • Patent number: 6813575
    Abstract: A cooking system having a cooking appliance and a remote computer. The cooking appliance has a programmable control module that controls a heating device. The heating device is in communication with and provides heat to a cooking location. The programmable control module is in communication with the remote computer unit via a wireless communication link. In a preferred embodiment, the remote computer unit is a Palm Pilot and the wireless communication link is an infrared (IR) link. Also, in the preferred embodiment, a temperature acquisition module is in communication with the Palm Pilot via a serial link. A temperature probe is connected to the temperature acquisition module. The temperature probe is in communication with the cooking location and senses the temperature of the cooking location. The sensed temperature is transmitted via the temperature acquisition module to the Palm Pilot. In a preferred embodiment, the Palm Pilot is used to transmit calibration instructions to the programmable control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Quebec, Inc.
    Inventor: Benoit Laflamme
  • Patent number: 6800314
    Abstract: A multi-tier rotary grill for grilling and heating food items such as hot dogs, sausages, metts and similar food items. The rotary grill includes heated rollers that are arranged in vertically spaced apart roller tiers. The rollers in the multiple roller tiers lie in common respective planes that are substantially parallel to each other and may slope upwardly from a front to a back of the rotary grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Gold Medal Products Company
    Inventors: John C. Evans, A. Scott Perttola
  • Publication number: 20040173103
    Abstract: A full-automatic cooking machine comprises a raw ingredient storage and supply section, a pre-cooking section, a cooking section, and a electric control cabinet integrated into a box-shaped machine. A programmable controller controls all the action of the machine. The raw ingredient storage and supply section has an alley formed with hundreds of supply drawer. A servo manipulator moves along the alley to collect raw ingredients, then dispenses them into a frying pan in the cooking section. The cooking section has four frying pans mounted on a turntable capable of revolving the four frying pans to four working station: pre-heating station, loading station, stir-frying station, and clean station. They work in a parallel way. A pendent servo robot arm with spatula works on the stir-frying section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: James Won
  • Patent number: 6786133
    Abstract: A coffer maker includes a support unit having a base member formed with a neck that extends inwardly from a side portion thereof and that defines a bottom recess in the base member. A brewing unit is mounted on the support unit. A position adjustable control unit is mounted movably on the neck, extends into the bottom recess in the base member, and includes a control seat projecting outwardly from the bottom recess, and formed with a plurality of control switches electrically connected to the brewing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sheng-Fang Cheng
  • Publication number: 20040011207
    Abstract: A bread maker including a pair of kneading drums inside an oven compartment, to which are attached opposite ends of a mixing bag containing bread ingredients, the kneading drums reversing rotary direction periodically; a bar code scanner to read a bar code on the mixing bag; a drum driving part rotating the kneading drums in clockwise and counterclockwise directions; a bar code reading checking part sensing whether the bar code scanner is reading the bar code; and a controller determining whether the bar code scanner is reading the bar code based upon a sensed signal output from the bar code reading checking part, and controlling the drum driving part to rotate the kneading drums at a bar code reading speed while the bar code scanner reads the bar code, and at a faster dough kneading speed when the bar code scanner has completely read the bar code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Hyun Kwon, Dong-Bin Lim, Jang-Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20030140796
    Abstract: A bread maker with hot air circulating means, comprises a housing defining the outer appearance of the bread maker; a baking oven; a bread barrel; a stirring bar; a drive mechanism; a upper assembly; a control panel assembly; a control unit and a circulating means being mounted on the side wall of the baking oven, and the air communication port of the circulating means being disposed on the position adjacent to the inlet and outlet of the baking oven. The circulating means comprises a fan and an air duct. The fan is mounted inside of said air duct and an air communicating port of the air duct is disposed adjacent to the inlet and outlet of the baking oven. The air inlet and outlet of the baking oven are formed on the side wall of the baking oven. The hot air inside of the baking oven is directed into a loop airflow by the rotation of the fan disposed in the circulating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Donglei Wang
  • Patent number: 6582744
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for cooking, cutting and preparing the doner meat automatically and without any human intervention in the same amount and form for service and an integrated instrument for cooking and cutting doner. This invention relates to a method for cooking the front sides of the meat boxes which are filled and frozen beforehand, by rotating said meat boxes around a center arranged circularly or with multi sides having 4, 5 or 7 cookers (radiant or LPG), cutting the cooked meat part and sending the cooked meat part for cooking again by rotating around itself and carrying out of these operations at a pre-determined amount and speed without human intervention controlled from a central command and turning table and a integrated doner cooking and cutting instrument for performing this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Ayhan Babacan
  • Patent number: 6561081
    Abstract: An automatic bread slice-toasting oven comprises a case, a toasting chamber, a guide rail form toasting shelf, an electrical transmission mechanism and a timing control circuit. A push rod provided with push claws is provided beneath the toasting shelf, the push claws are hinged to the two ends of the push rod via pivot pins respectively, the push rod is connected to the transmission mechanism. The motor rotates in the positive and negative directions by the controlling of the timing control circuit so as to reciprocate the push rod, so that the front claw on the push rod pushes the toasted bread slice out of the toasting chamber and the rear claw pushes a bread slice to be toasted into the toasting chamber. The toasting can be carried out automatically, continuously and alternatively by setting the time period of toasting with safety and convenience, thus increasing the efficiency of toasting greatly and ensuring the quality of the toasted bread slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Hairong Xu
  • Publication number: 20030066827
    Abstract: An appliance control system is configured to operate an appliance in at least a normal mode and a holiday mode wherein normal mode operation of appliance feature elements is altered to better conform to religious customs, such as Orthodox Jewish customs. In response to user manipulation of a control interface panel, the control system is configured to enter the holiday mode upon user manipulation of the control interface panel with a designated key sequence. When in the holiday mode, response to user manipulation of the control interface panel is delayed for a randomly determined time, and appliance features of the normal mode that violate religious custom are disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, Kresimir Odorcic, Tanveer Iqbal, John Steven Holmes
  • Patent number: 6528103
    Abstract: The invention relates to a product and process for blanching or cooking food strands wherein the food strand is conveyed through a blanching tank on a conveyor immersed within the tank, wherein the conveyor includes bearing members for allowing the food strand to hang on a plurality of suspenders of the conveyor while forming a plurality of free suspended loops between each adjacent bearing member when operatively arranged to hang the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Giuliano Pegoraro, Lars Hesslow, Lars Askman
  • Publication number: 20020189462
    Abstract: An automatic cooking monitor, control device and method are described which are able to cook a food item of any weight to an exact degree of doneness by either alerting a user to provide a substantially ambient temperature environment to a food item having been heated to a primary referenced internal temperature prior to final doneness; or by automatically and rapidly providing a reduced temperature environment in response to the food item's internal temperature then alerting the user to the conclusion of an adiabatic cycle as recognized by the monitor and control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: William Younger Guess
  • Patent number: 6484623
    Abstract: A baking apparatus with a toaster comprises a main body; a baking part disposed at one side of the main body, and having a lid mounted at an upper portion thereof so as to be opened and closed by a hinge, a pot mounting portion for receiving a pot, a first heat generator formed at an inside wall of the pot mounting portion, and a rotational shaft protruded at a lower center portion of the pot mounting portion so that a stirring wing is inserted thereon; a toasting part disposed at the other side of the main body, and having a toasting chamber for receiving a slice of bread, a second heat generator formed at an inside wall of the toasting chamber, a lever for applying power source to the second heat generator and guiding the slice of bread, a crumb tray for removing bread crumbs, a driving motor for driving the rotational shaft of the baking part, and an operating portion for applying the power source to the driving motor and the first heat generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kaiser Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong-Man Yoon, Jong-Deuk Jeong, Jin-Kook Park
  • Publication number: 20020108500
    Abstract: A horizontal axis rotisserie oven with versatile electronic controls. The rotisserie further includes: an improved spit for quick mounting of food, and a door which hides blemishes due to normal use, and easily referenced food cooking indexes, and means for keeping countertops clean.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Alan L. Backus, Ron Popeil
  • Patent number: 6431057
    Abstract: A toaster includes a toasting rack moveable between upper and lower positions. A lever arm with a handle is operable to move the toasting rack between the upper and lower positions. A user releasable latch retains the toaster rack in the upper position. When the latch is released the toasting rack falls to the lower position and a toasting cycle begins. At the end of a toasting cycle the toasting rack is moved to the upper position by manual operation of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Simatelex Manufactory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Wah Leung, Chi Chung Fung, Shek Chuen Luk
  • Patent number: 6410066
    Abstract: A continuous oven cooking system, a controller for use in the continuous oven cooking system, and a method performed by the controller are disclosed. The system, controller, and method are used to administer a continuous oven cooking process performed on a line of food items and provide on-line handling of a deviation in a specific scheduled parameter during the process. In addition to the controller, the continuous oven cooking system includes a oven. The controller controls the oven in performing the process according to scheduled parameters. When a deviation in the specific scheduled parameter occurs, the controller identifies those of the food items that in response will have (a) an accumulated lethality predicted to be delivered to them during the continuous oven cooking process that is less than a target lethality, or (b) have a core temperature at the end of the continuous oven cooking process that is less than a target core temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhijun Weng
  • Patent number: 6311608
    Abstract: A toaster includes a housing having an upper wall with bagel half shaped openings; toasting chambers in the housing accessible through the openings and having bagel half shapes; a bread rack in each toasting chamber; inner/outer heating coils surrounding each toasting chamber; electric contacts in the housing for activation of the heating coils; a raising/lowering mechanism connected with the bread racks for moving the bread racks up and down, and including first and second lateral portions connected to opposite ends of the bread racks; first and second guides mounted to the housing for guiding the first and second lateral portions with a small tolerance, a yoke housing connected with the first lateral portion and slidably movable relative to the housing, a lever slidably moving the yoke housing; a yoke slidably movable relative to the yoke housing and closing the electric contacts when the bread racks and yoke are lowered, and a first spring biasing the yoke upwardly; an electromagnet holding the yoke in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George Hardin, Cliff Spencer
  • Patent number: 6299921
    Abstract: A method for cooking in a cooking device which has a cooking chamber and a measuring device to detect variables pertaining to a given state of food which is being cooked. The variables vary according to the cooking process. The cooking process is carried out according to at least one measured value corresponding to a cooking state variable. The cooking process is also carried out according to one of several values corresponding to a derivative of a cooking state variable obtained as a function of a duration of the cooking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Erhard Löffler, Peter Kohlstrung, Thomas Schweinfest-Feile
  • Publication number: 20010002674
    Abstract: A vending apparatus for dispensing pre-cooked pizzas (P) packaged inside corresponding sealed containers (E). The apparatus comprises a casing (1) containing a plurality of operating assemblies (7, 13, 17, 25, 31, 37) for picking up a pizza (P) from a refrigerated storage unit (5) and transferring it, after taking it out of its container (E), to an electric heating oven (30), and then to a delivery mouth (34), in a corresponding disposable tray (T).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: June 7, 2001
    Inventors: Amulio Gubbini, Giovanni Demaggio
  • Patent number: 6205910
    Abstract: A toaster/heater assembly for toasting and heating food products has a housing containing a frame, and a heating chamber having a toaster/heater ensemble which heats two compartments of the chamber. The ensemble has a middle unit and two side units, each of which are divided into two insulating boards having side edges with nibs separated by notches. A pair of lower terminals are spaced from each other and connected to ends of a heating element. For the side units, the heating element winds from a terminal around the nibs and notches of one board section to then cross to the other board section to likewise wind, so that almost all of the strands of the element face a heating compartment. The middle unit heating element winds through the notches and nibs and crosses to the other board section and likewise winds about it so that heat radiates from both of its sides to two different compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Star Manufacturing International Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Daro Vaughn
  • Patent number: 6123012
    Abstract: A toaster includes a housing having an upper wall with bagel half shaped openings; toasting chambers in the housing accessible through the openings and having bagel half shapes; a bread rack in each toasting chamber; inner/outer heating coils surrounding each toasting chamber; electric contacts in the housing for activation of the heating coils; a raising/lowering mechanism connected with the bread racks for moving the bread racks up and down, and including first and second lateral portions connected to opposite ends of the bread racks; first and second guides mounted to the housing for guiding the first and second lateral portions with a small tolerance, a yoke housing connected with the first lateral portion and slidably movable relative to the housing, a lever slidably moving the yoke housing; a yoke slidably movable relative to the yoke housing and closing the electric contacts when the bread racks and yoke are lowered, and a first spring biasing the yoke upwardly; an electromagnet holding the yoke in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George Hardin, Cliff Spencer
  • Patent number: 6113966
    Abstract: A rapid cycle household automatic breadmaker for producing bread has a total cycle time in the order of about one hour, including a kneading cycle of 10 minutes, a rise time cycle of twenty minutes and a baking cycle of thirty minutes. In producing a loaf of bread, the bread ingredients are preheated by hot water to a preheat temperature of about 49.degree. C. to 54.degree. C. and maintained at the preheat temperature for the duration of the kneading cycle and for at least a portion of the rise time. The bread dough is baked at a temperature of about 216.degree. C. to 232.degree. C. during the baking cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: The West Bend Company
    Inventors: David C. Belongia, Joanne V. Turchany
  • Patent number: 6095034
    Abstract: A bread making machine having an automated dispenser unit and a pause function is described. The automated dispenser unit is integrated within a chamber lid covering a bread making chamber in which bread making ingredients are mixed, kneaded, and baked. The automated dispenser accepts certain ingredients, such as fruit and/or nuts, which are automatically added to the bread making chamber after significant processing of other ingredients in the bread making chamber has occurred. The automatic dispenser unit includes a dispenser door adjacent to the bread making chamber. The dispenser door is held in a closed position by a latch assembly. The latch assembly is mechanically linked to a solenoid core, which moves in response to a control signal issued by electronic control circuitry, causing the dispenser door to open. The bread making machine includes a pause function, which allows a user to temporarily suspend the bread making operation at any time, by pressing a pause key on a user interface keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Salton-Maxim Housewares, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sit, Leonard Dreimann, Barbara A. Westfield
  • Patent number: 6062128
    Abstract: A toaster with at least one toasting chamber for receiving goods to be toasted such as slices of toast is disclosed. The toaster has at least one loading opening and at least one discharge opening for loading goods to be toasted and for removing toasted goods. It also includes a transport device for transporting toasted goods through the toaster. The functional elements of this toaster are surrounded by a wall of a housing supported on a chassis. The transport device moves one or several pieces of toasted goods in the toasting chamber by means of a spiral guiding system on a spiral transport path from the loading opening to the discharge opening. At the same time, the toasted goods are continuously and substantially uniformly exposed to the heat irradiated by at least one spiral heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Glenn Rolus Borgward
  • Patent number: 6058828
    Abstract: A continuous cooking system for solid daily dishes comprising a cooker wherein the solid dishes are advanced spirally in a first-in-first-out manner, and during the process the dishes are heated by an external heating medium; a driving mechanism for generating actuating force for actuating the spiral advance in the cooker; and a sensing control mechanism for sensing the temperature in the cooker and for controlling the volume of the external heating medium to be dispensed and the actuating force of the driving mechanism according to said temperature. By means of this, the solid dishes can be fed continuously into the cooker and cooked dishes can be delivered continuously out the cooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Food Industry Research and Development Institute
    Inventors: Shyan-Chiin Wei, Jong-Jyh Chen, Li-Hwang Chen, Fuh-Juin Kao, Kai-Heng Yu
  • Patent number: 5957037
    Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus for use in the production of sugar confectionery or for tempering chocolate including a vessel with a tubular heat transfer surface. The vessel defines an inlet and outlet higher than the inlet. Heat exchangers, such as steam jackets and modulating valves are provided for supplying heat to or removing heat from the heat transfer surface. A shaft is located longitudinally along the length of the vessel and is provided with at least one piston. The shaft is reciprocated in the vessel so that the product is agitated and substantially the entire heat transfer surface of the vessel is swept by the piston during each reciprocation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Yorkshire Process Plant Limited
    Inventor: Anthony John Paget
  • Patent number: 5947005
    Abstract: A bread making machine having an automated dispenser unit and a pause function is described. The automated dispenser unit is integrated within a chamber lid covering a bread making chamber in which bread making ingredients are mixed, kneaded, and baked. The automated dispenser accepts certain ingredients, such as fruit and/or nuts, which are automatically added to the bread making chamber after significant processing of other ingredients in the bread making chamber has occurred. The automatic dispenser unit includes a dispenser door adjacent to the bread making chamber. The dispenser door is held in a closed position by a latch assembly. The latch assembly is mechanically linked to a solenoid core, which moves in response to a control signal issued by electronic control circuitry, causing the dispenser door to open. The bread making machine includes a pause function, which allows a user to temporarily suspend the bread making operation at any time, by pressing a pause key on a user interface keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Salton-Maxim Housewares, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sit, Leonard Dreimann, Barbara A. Westfield
  • Patent number: 5901637
    Abstract: A kitchen appliance in the form of an oven for baking, roasting and broiling is associated with a bread making apparatus featuring a bread baking pan adapted to be selectively placed into the oven. The oven includes heating elements at least at the top and bottom of the oven chamber. The bread making apparatus includes a metallic pan with a structure for locating the pan at a predetermined position within the oven chamber. In this position, a drive mechanism can rotate a blade for kneading dough in the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Appliance Development Corporation
    Inventors: Dov Z. Glucksman, Karl H. Weidemann
  • Patent number: 5881632
    Abstract: A computerized cooker is described which sequentially enters numerous food items into various cooking pots and introduces liquid ingredients as well. Food is cooked in accordance with a specified computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Fadoul George Fadoul
  • Patent number: 5873299
    Abstract: A machine for dispensing food items has a cooling unit for accommodating packages of edible inner part and separately outer baked dough part; a unit for opening a package with the edible inner part; a unit for withdrawing individual edible inner part from the open package; a unit for thermal processing of each edible inner part; a unit for opening a box with outer baked dough part; a unit for placing the thermally treated edible inner part into the outer baked dough part in the open package; a unit for warming up the outer baked dough part with the edible inner part located inside the outer baked dough part so as to form a finished food item; a unit for dispensing the thusly formed finished food item; and a transporting a unit for displacing packages with the edible inner parts, the individual inner part, the boxes with the outer baked dough part, and the finished food items between said preceding means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Leonid Leykin
  • Patent number: 5829341
    Abstract: An automatic cooker is capable of cooking food according to automatic cooking data stored in a control card. The automatic cooker includes a cooking container for receiving raw food therein, a cooking implement assembly for performing at least one cooking operation on the food in the cooking container, a housing formed with a card slot for insertion of the control card, and a card-type controller mounted in the housing and connected to the cooking implement assembly. The controller receives removably the control card that is inserted from an exterior of the housing via the card slot, and reads the automatic cooking data stored in the control card so as to control operation of the cooking implement assembly in accordance with the automatic cooking data read from the control card in order to cook the food in the cooking container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Jenny Lin
  • Patent number: 5819636
    Abstract: The invention concerns a multi-functional programmable food processor for the preparation of cooked dishes, comprising a principal body, a processing receptacle, a container, divided into several compartments destined to contain the ingredients, arranged above the receptacle, each compartment featuring an aperture, rotary disk for connecting compartments of the container with the receptacle and drive mechanism, utensils for handling the ingredients within the receptacle and with the respective drive mechanisms, heating the receptacle, microprocessor for programming and control of the processor wherein the container is mounted fixed on receptacle via an intermediate element in operating position, whereby the receptacle, the container and the intermediate element constitute a set mounted fixed on the body of the processor in operating position, and rotary disk for connecting compartments of the container with the receptacle arranged within the intermediate element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Gentech Sarl
    Inventor: Alaa Khashoggi
  • Patent number: 5778766
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic breadmaker having toaster oven function. The breadmaker includes a housing having a base member, a top, a rear wall, and two lateral side walls which form an oven cavity with a front opening for receiving a bread pan containing a kneading member and dough, and wherein the front edges of the lateral side walls are slopped downward and forward for facilitating the installation and removal of the bread pan; a front access door hinged to the housing for selectively closing the front opening of the oven cavity; a top heating element mounted on the housing and disposed inside the oven cavity and adjacent to the top thereof; a bottom heating element mounted on the housing and disposed inside the oven cavity and adjacent to the bottom thereof; means for driving the kneading member to mix the dough; and means for control the operation of the driving means and the top and bottom heating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Donglei Wang
  • Patent number: 5761988
    Abstract: A rice cooker is placed on a turntable, and uncooked rice is poured thereinto. As the uncooked rice is poured-in, a motor rotates the turntable alternately clockwise and counterclockwise to cause the rice to be evenly distributed therein. The cooker carries a signal emitter which is received by a receiver that is connected to the motor for controlling the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Bong Lee
  • Patent number: 5664481
    Abstract: A toaster having a movable bakery product shield for enhanced toasting quality. A wide slot cavity to receive bakery goods for toasting is defined on one side thereof by an upstanding, stationary product retainer spaced apart from a heating element and, on the other side thereof, by a movable product retainer having a deflector shield connected along its upper edge. Interiorally of the toaster, a carriage mechanism is mounted on an end wall for vertical reciprocal movement between an up position and a down position. Connected to the carriage mechanism and extending longitudinally through the slot cavity is a bread support shelf which is inclined toward the stationary product retainer to cause the lower edge of a bread slice placed in the toaster slot to engage the stationary product retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Toastmaster Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Huggler
  • Patent number: 5644974
    Abstract: An electric toaster having an automatic resetting heat reduction assembly. The toaster includes one or more cavities to receive bagels, bread, or other food products, and a plurality of heating elements located within the cavities to toast the food products. A carriage assembly movable between a raised nontoasting position and a lowered toasting position lowers and raises the food products into and out of the toasting cavities. When lowered to the toasting position, the carriage assembly activates a heat activation assembly which completes an electrical circuit between a power source and the heating elements, thereby energizing the heating elements to toast the food products. The toaster also includes a heat reduction assembly settable between an original full heat position and a depressed reduced heat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Toastmaster, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Slavin
  • Patent number: 5643626
    Abstract: Potato chips having hardbite texture and flavor characteristics of kettle-fried potato chips are produced in an apparatus comprising a fry kettle with cooking oil circulation and heat transfer means. Production efficiency is greatly increased over conventional batch preparation of kettle-style chips; batch size is significantly increased and total fry time is advantageously decreased. In certain embodiments the batchwise preparation process includes the step of selecting texture-setting potato slice dehydration rate conditions for at least a segment of the frying time, which ends before the moisture content of the slices is reduced to about 45% by weight or less. Selecting appropriate dehydration rate conditions enables the production of potato chips of a variety of textural characteristics over varying cooking oil time/temperature profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: William Douglas Henson, William Roman Slovak, Constantine Trifon Dalson, Brenda Dee Slay
  • Patent number: 5628240
    Abstract: A bread baking apparatus makes dough by kneading raw ingredients tossed into a bread baking case installed in an oven, and baking after fermentation. The object of this invention is to conveniently provide attractive-appearing bread having a specified expanded volume and a prespecified color when baked. Namely, in order to prevent undesirable results, such as expanding more or less than specified in the fermenting process, or being affected by external room temperature and humidity which has penetrated the oven through a glass lid installed on the baking oven, this apparatus is provided with means for detecting fermenting conditions while fermenting, and means for extending the fermenting process time. This apparatus is further provided with baking timer means for defining the color of the final baked product by applying temperature measuring means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Yoshida