With Other Treating Or Handling Of Material Patents (Class 99/352)
  • Patent number: 11576386
    Abstract: A rotary dough molding machine (10). The machine has a frame (6), a die roller (4) rotatably mounted to the frame (6), a knife (3) for scraping dough from the die roller (4), the knife (3) extending along the die roller (4), and a driver for moving the knife (3) between a scraping position and an inactive position, with the driver having a first drive (1) acting on the first end (31) of the knife (3) and a second drive (2) acting on the second end (32) of the knife (3). The first drive (1) and the second drive (2) can be actuated independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Snorre Krogh Biehe, Hans Henrik Jochumsen, Tomas Eg Kjersgaard, Stefan Jiraschek
  • Patent number: 11517154
    Abstract: A tray assembly for use with an existing cutting board to provide additional storage and space when cooking. The assembly includes at least two adjustable legs that are securable to the cutting board for either raising the cutting board above a surface or suspending the cutting board between two walls, such as a sink. One end of each leg includes a fastener, such as a C-clamp for attaching to the cutting board. The assembly further includes four trays movably secured to a plate. The plate is configured to rest beneath the cutting board when in a raised position. Each tray is positioned along a distinct sidewall of the plate and configured to extend beyond the edges of the cutting board when extended. For additional storage, a divider frame secures to each tray when in the extended position, forming an additional center tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Rennie West
  • Patent number: 11399556
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for treating a product with steam. The apparatus includes a treatment tunnel having an entrance opening and an exit opening for introducing and discharging the product, respectively. The apparatus includes a transport unit for transporting the product from the entrance opening to the exit opening and a steam feed unit for feeding steam into the treatment tunnel. The apparatus includes one or more nozzles in communication with the steam feed unit arranged for directing a jet of steam at the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: SOLUTHERM B.V., ORANGEWORKS B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Jellema, Jelle Luutzen Nijdam
  • Patent number: 11320151
    Abstract: A method for self-testing and checking certain functions of a cooking appliance in the form of a convection oven, a steamer, or a combination of the two, namely, a convection steamer, which comprises a cooking chamber or compartment, which can be closed by a cooking compartment door, a plurality of actuators such as pumps, at least one heating device, at least one steam injection/generating device, at least one flow-generating device such as a blower, and flaps and/or valves as well as temperature sensors and an appliance control unit. The temperature sensors of the cooking appliance and the functionality of the actuators of the cooking appliance can be checked in that the detected temperatures and temperature profiles are compared with the reference temperature values or reference temperature profiles which are to be expected during operation of the actuator in question, and which are stored in the electronic appliance control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Peter Helm
  • Patent number: 11259664
    Abstract: A cooking appliance is provided. The cooking appliance comprises a cooker body for receiving food and a lid for covering the cooker body. The cooking appliance has a front side for facilitating cooking operations and a rear side spaced apart from the front side. The cooker body comprises at least one latch slot disposed on an inclined rear side of the cooker body. The lid comprises at least one latch bar disposed on a periphery thereof and extending outwardly therefrom. When the lid is detached from the cooker body, the latch bar is operable to be inserted into the corresponding latch slot to secure the lid at the inclined rear side of the cooker body, allowing a user to secure the lid to the latch slot without reaching a rear side of the cooker body by hand, and to retrieve the food without accidentally contacting the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Instant Brands Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Qin, Yok Chong Chi, Jiwei Wang
  • Patent number: 11209169
    Abstract: A cooking system includes a housing having a hollow interior, a heating element operable to heat to said hollow interior, a food support surface arranged within said hollow interior, and a combustible substrate module removably positionable in said housing. When positioned in the housing, the combustible substrate module is arranged in fluid communication with the hollow interior and the combustible substrate module is disposed remote of the food support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
    Inventors: Christopher T. Martin, Christopher Smith, John M. Steinmetz, Joshua D. Anthony
  • Patent number: 11202454
    Abstract: A smoker device for an outdoor cooking unit comprises a top, a back, two sides, and a hinged front door, all of which are substantially solid, and together forming an interior chamber with an open bottom. The smoker device rests on a grilling surface of a cooking unit. A perforated chimney box is fixably mounted inside the interior chamber, with a removable chip box positioned at the bottom of the chimney box, and a hinged hatch at the top. Removable food racks and a vessel for liquids may also be present inside the interior chamber. An adjustable air damper allows air exchange between the interior chamber and ambient air. The device allows an existing outdoor cooking unit to convert to a multi-rack vertical smoker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: David Leibell
  • Patent number: 10966560
    Abstract: A fully automated cooking system achieves unmanned and fully automated meal cooking through a mobile transport device, multiple cooking devices, multiple heating devices and other peripheral devices. The mobile transport device uses a circulating conveyor belt to form a cyclic travel path, along which a feeding station area, a heating station area, a discharging station area and a cleaning station area are defined. Each station area is provided with corresponding equipment, such as feeding device, heating device and cleaning device. Each cooking device includes a swivel mechanism disposed on the circulating conveyor belt, and a heating container coupled to the swivel mechanism. The heating container can stir the ingredients when heated and pour out food when cooking is complete. The heating device can be an electric heating device or a fuel gas heating device for heating the heating container to cook food, thereby achieving fully automated cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Po-Lin Hsu, Chien-Yu Hsu
  • Patent number: 10852005
    Abstract: Household appliance (1) for cooking and/or baking food stuffs or bakery ware (2) comprising a heatable cavity (3) for placing the food stuffs or bakery ware (2), an access door (4) for accessing the cavity (3), a compartment (5) located exterior of said cavity (3), said compartment being in fluid communication with said cavity (3) by at least one duct (6), a control unit (10), at least one first sensor (8) located in the compartment (5) and being connected to the control unit (10), and wherein the at least one first sensor (8) is capable of measuring a first input value in said compartment (5), and at least one second sensor (9) capable of measuring a second input value, wherein said second input value is a temperature value wherein said control unit comprises a matrix of humidity index values, said matrix being deposited in said control unit (10), and wherein said control unit (10) is capable of correlating said input value of said at least one first sensor (8) to a humidity index value from said matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Paolo Faraldi, Edoardo Betti, Arianna Bozzato, Evi Hessenauer, Giovanni Di Piano, Lorenzo Mucciarella, Milka Bekjarova, Lorenzo Gattei, Nicola Guida
  • Patent number: 10842162
    Abstract: An indoor smoker includes a cabinet including an exhaust duct, a smoking chamber, a firebox, and a bypass duct extending between the firebox and the exhaust duct. The indoor smoker further includes a system of dampers and check valves to regulate the flow of smoke and air within the indoor smoker. A controller may regulate these features to terminate a smoking process by asphyxiating the combustible material and evacuating the smoking chamber, to pause a process by evacuating the smoking chamber while permitting bleed air into the smoldering chamber, or to continue a normal smoking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomas Garces, Samuel Vincent DuPlessis
  • Patent number: 10292531
    Abstract: A cooking device includes a housing assembly, a cooking structure, a first heat source, and a second heat source. The housing assembly defines a single, integrated cooking volume that includes a central portion disposed between a first portion and a second portion. The cooking structure has a cooking surface arranged for placement of a foodstuff and is disposed between the central portion and the first portion. The first heat source is positioned a first distance from the cooking structure in a first direction. The first heat source is disposed in the central portion and arranged to heat the cooking structure via convection. The second heat source is disposed a second distance, which is greater than the first distance, from the cooking structure in the first direction. The second heat source is disposed in the second portion and is arranged to provide thermal energy indirectly to the first portion and the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Innovative Product Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Hancock, Christopher N. Schenck
  • Patent number: 10213049
    Abstract: A rotisserie adapter apparatus for use with a cooking device includes an annular cylindrical base. The base has an inner wall about a central opening, the inner wall having a substantially consistent depth about the base. The base also includes a top surface abutting the inner wall and an outer wall abutting the top surface, the outer wall having a depth ranging from a first depth at a front of the base comparable to the depth of the inner wall to a near zero depth at a back of the annular cylindrical base. A bottom surface of the base connects between a bottom of the outer wall and an outer surface of the inner wall. At least two notches are formed in the inner wall, wherein the central opening is positioned between notches, and wherein at least one of the notches extends through the top surface of the cylindrical base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: KAMADO CONCEPTS, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Frank Skrodzki, Gary F. Bertassi
  • Patent number: 10039305
    Abstract: A method for heat treating a packaged product includes providing a channel with a liquid disposed therein, the channel having a electrodes disposed in and spaced apart along a treatment portion of the channel, pressurizing the liquid in the treatment portion of the channel, transporting the packaged product, including a product disposed within a package, along the channel including transporting the packaged product through the treatment portion of the channel, heating the packaged product in the treatment portion of the channel including causing emission of radio frequency waves between the plurality of electrodes and into the treatment portion of the channel including forming an electrical field in the treatment portion of the channel, and shielding the electrical field in the treatment portion of the channel using a shield which forms a cavity around the treatment portion of the channel, the cavity being configured to substantially confine the electrical field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Top B.V.
    Inventors: Aart-Jan van der Voort, Henricus Franciscus Maria van den Bosch, Henricus Johannes Schuten
  • Patent number: 9914223
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for assembling a pizza, including a pizza sauce spreading station, a cheese spreading station and a pepperoni applying station. A robot including a stationary base and an articulating arm having a gripper attached to the end is operable to grip a pizza pan having pizza dough therein to allow said robot to move the pan throughout the pizza sauce spreading station, and to a rotary dial system including the cheese spreading station and the pepperoni applying station. The robot arm manipulates the pizza pan in the sauce spreading station and the rotary dial system manipulates the pizza pan in the cheese station and the pepperoni applying station to properly distribute the cheese and pepperoni on the pizza.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Cathryn Fritz-Jung, David Scrivano, David Strother, Amanda B. Thomas, Sean M. Heslip, Kent A. Deemter, Tyler W. McCoy, Bret A. Hoeksema
  • Patent number: 9854939
    Abstract: A device for grilling and cooking food. The device should be easy to produce and safe to handle. The device includes a pan made of steel with lateral walls and a heating surface for cooking food, which heating surface is disposed largely horizontal, optionally with a slight incline inwards, and which is connected to the lateral walls. The pan includes a grate-like intermediate base disposed parallel to the heating surface, with the heating surface disposed at least along one of the lateral walls of the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WETZEL AG
    Inventor: Martin Maurer
  • Patent number: 9526255
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device (10) in a rack oven (1) for adjusting the mutual height between a support (2) including horizontal heat preserving plates (3) and a bread-carrying rack (4) of breads, which device includes a first connection point (13) for connection to the heat preserving support (2) inside the oven (1); a first driving arrangement (11) for regulating the height of the first connection point (13) and the heat preserving plates (3) of the support from a first, passive position to a second, active position. A second driving arrangement (12) including a second connection point (14) for connection to the bread-carrying rack is arranged to adjust the height of the second connection point (14) with respect to the first connection point (13) in order to adjust the distance between the horizontal heat preserving plates (3) of the support (2) and the bread-carrying rack (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: REVENT INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Anton Galjaard, Tom Halve
  • Patent number: 9096392
    Abstract: A conveyor belt steam cleaning device to clean a continuous loop conveyor belt of a conveyor stand including a housing attached to a conveyor belt stand, a steam spraying unit and a wiping unit disposed below the housing, and a steamer unit disposed below the conveyor stand. The steamer unit includes a boiler, a water collection tray, a pump, a filter and an actuator. The actuator is in operational communication with a power source, the boiler and the pump. The boiler contains and heats water to the temperature required create steam. The steam is transferred to the steam spraying unit which dispenses steam to clean and the wiping unit dries the belt as it moves under the housing. Condensate from the steam is collected in the water collection tray. The pump drains the water collection tray and pumps the condensate through the filter and recycles it back to the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Sergio S. Barragan
  • Patent number: 9016195
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a melon juice concentrate, such as watermelon juice concentrate, includes a finisher with brushes for separating melon flesh from melon rind including leaving at least 1/16 inch flesh on the rind and screens for separating juice from flesh. The apparatus also includes a steamer to reduce bacteria count on whole melon, a chopper for chopping melons into pieces less than about 16 inches square, an extractor for extracting juice from the flesh, and an evaporator for concentrating melon juice to form melon juice concentrate. The steamer includes a cylinder frame, steam jets directing steam through apertures in the cylinder frame at whole melon therein, and a motivator to move the whole melon along the cylinder frame. The apparatus can also process cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and other melon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Milne Fruit Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. DeJong, Eric A. Johnson, David L. Luther, Gordon R. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20150079233
    Abstract: A process to coagulate wasted eggs which includes an acidification step of the liquid egg, followed by a coagulation step using a heat exchanger, such as a scraped surface heat exchanger, and optionally a drying step. The obtained coagulated egg product has useful properties and can be used as animal food. The process allows the disposal of wasted eggs generated in the poultry and related industries and the production of a valuable by-product with high protein and fat content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Oscar Calleja Araque, Ruth Vivas Fermín, Jorge Galarza Sanz
  • Patent number: 8980356
    Abstract: An improved method of making a baked pastry, particularly, a shell or wrap for a samosa from a pastry dough in a convection baking oven having a convection atmosphere, the method comprising baking the dough in the oven at a baking temperature for a baking period of time, the improvement having the convection atmosphere with a sufficiently moist atmosphere for the duration of the baking time to prevent the pastry from becoming dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Reza Mecklai
  • Publication number: 20150030736
    Abstract: A meat smoker/cooker device is provided and includes a fuel chamber having a fuel chamber structure which includes a fuel chamber sidewall that defines a fuel chamber cavity, wherein the fuel chamber sidewall includes a first mounting hole, a second mounting hole and a sidewall slot communicated with the chamber cavity. Additionally, the meat smoker device also includes a fuel container having a container rim and being located within the chamber cavity proximate the slot bottom and an ignition article having an ignition article handle, an ignition article mounting structure and a heating element, wherein the ignition article handle includes a handle portion movably located within the sidewall slot and wherein the ignition article mounting structure is configured to mountingly engage with the first and second mounting hole, such that the ignition article is configurable between a first and second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Luther, Michael Luther, Arnold Tang
  • Patent number: 8931402
    Abstract: Provided is a sealing gasket for a cooking utensil, the utensil includes a vessel and a lid; at least one first locking member and at least one second locking member, the sealing gasket being designed to be interposed between the lid and the vessel and being characterized in that it is designed so that, while the lid is docking with the vessel, said sealing gasket fits over the top rim and comes into contact with said lid and with said vessel while the first locking member is situated at a first height (h61) greater than or equal to the height (h8) at which the second locking member is situated, and is then depressed under the weight of the lid alone to bring the first locking member to a second height (h62) that is less than the height (h8) at which the second locking member is situated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Chameroy, Michel Pierre Cartigny
  • Patent number: 8926306
    Abstract: A food product press having a mold base, a press assembly having a plurality of press bodies, and blade spaces between the press bodies, a plurality of blades slidable within the blade spaces, and a blade operating mechanism for moving the blades relative to the press bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Peter Harrison
  • Patent number: 8875620
    Abstract: A racking system for a deep fryer, wherein the deep fryer contains cooking oil, the racking system includes a housing; at least one rack that carries a food product; an actuator operatively associated with the rack to raise and lower the rack within the housing. The system further includes a sensor that detects a property of the cooking oil; and a controller that receives a signal to initiate a cooking cycle based on the property and sends a signal to permit activation of the actuator to raise and lower the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Frymaster L.L.C.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Jones, Henry Preston Hutson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140322408
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying images to food items, such as toast, includes a controllable at least one controllable heating elements directed to as to be disposed along a surface of an associated food item. The heating element is controllable along the surface in accordance with stored image data to apply the image to a food item. Image data is receivable from a data device such as a smart phone, tablet or computer either via a direct data connection or via a wide area network such as the Internet. Images are retrievable in accordance with payment or sponsorship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Zeta Function LLC
    Inventors: Rajesh Khosla, Kush Chandra Khosla, Sauren Khosla
  • Patent number: 8863654
    Abstract: A cooking device has a casing 1, a heating chamber 8 provided in the casing 1, an exhaust tube 18 for guiding exhaust from inside of the heating chamber 8 through an electric component chamber 9 in the casing 1 to front face side, and a dew receiving container 4 that is provided on front face side of the casing 1 and that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust tube 18 to outside of the casing 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Asami, Takashi Utsumi, Shinya Ueda, Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8826806
    Abstract: Apparatus for cooking foods such as pasta rice including a container which receives a liquid to be heated and a cooking strainer-basket partially submerged in the liquid for cooking within the container, the container and the basket configured to have cooperating selectively engaging support members for alternatively positioning of the basket in the liquid for cooking of the food and repositioning of the basket above the liquid to provide for straining of the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Agostino Difante
  • Patent number: 8820222
    Abstract: Described herein is a cooking assembly, generally comprising two major components, these components being a cooking pan and an insert 24 having a perforated portion which would retain the desired food component within the pan, and allow the fluid component to be removed through the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Magellan Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Andre Dean Cloutier, Debra Lynne Sasken-Duff
  • Patent number: 8808780
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for making shaped food chip products (2) including hotplates (3) (4) that are arranged in such way that, when in use, food snacks are hold between the hotplates and where at least one hotplate surface is covered with a steam permeable membrane (5). Also a method for making food chip product (2) including feeding slices of food in a monolayered between hotplates (3, 4) where at least one of the hotplate surfaces pressing on the food snack is covered with a membrane (5) that guidance the steam away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Anders Fredlund
  • Publication number: 20140216268
    Abstract: A food cooking apparatus is disclosed. The food cooking apparatus comprises a smoker with a smoker cabinet and an oven with an oven cabinet. The oven typically overlies the smoker. Both the smoker and oven have separate independently controlled heating elements. The walls of the cabinets of the smoker and the oven are adapted such that almost all or no gas passes from the underlying smoker to the overlying oven. This is achieved by having a solid wall between the interior of the oven separating it from the interior of the smoker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Alfinity USA, LLC
    Inventor: Joe Burch
  • Patent number: 8663727
    Abstract: A cooked rice molding method includes a first supplying step of spreading cooked rice in a plate form on rolling-up plates deployed horizontally, a second supplying step of placing a dried laver sheet and ingredients on the cooked rice, a first pressing step of folding a first rotating plate and a second rotating plate disposed on two sides of a base plate in a direction to erect at approximate right angles with respect to the base plate, and a second pressing step of folding the third rotating plate rotatably attached to the first rotating plate at a side opposite to the base plate, to a base plate side. Then, the method includes a repositioning step of deploying the rolling-up plates in the horizontal state, and rotating the cooked rice about 90 degrees on the rolling-up bamboo plate. Finally, the first pressing step is repeated again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventors: Takashi Hosogane, Atsushi Numabe
  • Patent number: 8656828
    Abstract: An electric oven includes a cooking chamber having at least one heating member and at least one support member for supporting food, the cooking chamber being provided with a movable pressing member for pressing the food against the support member to cook the food while kept pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: De' Longhi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe De' Longhi
  • Publication number: 20140007779
    Abstract: A combination bread making and ice cream making machine has a specially configured interface, a freezer bowl and an ice cream making scraper blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Breville Pty Limited
    Inventors: Richard Hoare, Garth Ryan
  • Patent number: 8616122
    Abstract: Food preparation systems and methods for quickly and conveniently preparing filled food items. The system may comprise a pan having at least one formed pocket, perimeter track(s), one or more dividing ribs, and dividing track(s). A dough cutting tool may be inserted into and guided along the perimeter track(s) and dividing track(s) to slice excess dough away from the filled food item. The present invention may further comprise a roller tool that simultaneously cuts through the dough as well as flutes or crimps the dough along both sides of the cutting edge. One or more tactile indicators may also be provided on the underside of the pan to allow a user to easily locate the perimeter track(s) and dividing track(s) when the pan is covered with dough. Filled food items may then either be baked within the inventive pan or moved to a conventional baking pan or sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Ezaspie, LLC
    Inventor: Jon Smallegan
  • Publication number: 20130309377
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a dough, in particular a dough for bread for toasting, by means of an extruder. The extruder has at least two extruder shafts along which kneading elements for admixing a gas into a dough are arranged in at least one kneading section. Gas can be drawn off along a gas-removal section and therefore a defined proportion of the gas is established in the dough. Furthermore, a mould for discharge of the dough is arranged at the output of the extruder. A nozzle device is arranged at an input region of the extruder, it being possible for said nozzle device to be used to spray a preparation liquid onto a dough base material under pressure in order to form a starter dough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: HB-FEINMECHANIK GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bonifaz ENDRASS
  • Publication number: 20130295252
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and devices for mass producing cooked, cooled egg products having a grill fried egg appearance. One device includes a portion for positioning whole, intact, shelled eggs positioned laterally across and above a cooking mold conveyor, and a portion for cracking the eggshells and depositing the eggs into cooking molds on the conveyor. Some devices and methods include an egg yolk splitter for rupturing the egg yolk sac to deposit a whole egg having a ruptured egg yolk into each mold. Other devices and methods include irregular shaped egg molds for providing a mass produced cooked egg having a natural, irregular shaped outlines and/or surfaces. Devices and methods according to the present invention can be used to produce irregular, outlined shaped cooked egg products including whole eggs, formulated eggs, or eggs made from scrambled egg mixes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jason W. Mathews, Ted A. Kurpgeweit, Dale E. Weaver
  • Publication number: 20130284031
    Abstract: A device for optimally preparing food according to the sous-vide method using a device for preparing food according to the sous-vide method (vacuum cooking method), wherein the food is surrounded by a vacuum bag. A heating element surrounds the vacuum bag of the cooking product and is designed as a heating foil or cover or as a heating gel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Bernd Braukmann
  • Publication number: 20130255509
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric pressure cooker with a removable flip cover comprising a cooker body (1) and cooker cover (2), wherein a supporting arm (3) is provided on the surface of the cooker cover (2), a positioning seat (5) corresponding to the supporting arm (3) is arranged at the edge of the cooker body (1), a positioning and supporting point (7) is provided on the positioning seat (5), and the lower part of the supporting arm (3) movably slips over and slidably contacts the positioning and supporting point (7). The electric pressure cooker has a simple structure and it is convenient to wash the flip cover without the need for special parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Zhigang He, Zhibin Huang
  • Publication number: 20130236622
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of wafers and more particularly to the use of a batter aerating system to obtain wafers with an effective density of at most 0.16 g/cm3, and with sufficient strength to be able to remove them from the wafer baking plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: Abdessamad Arrachid, Rodolfo De Acutis, Hugh Powell, Richard Leadbeater, Stephen Coe
  • Patent number: 8513571
    Abstract: An improved tortilla conveying system, for sequentially conveying a plurality of tortillas to be warmed, is disclosed. The conveying system provides a stack of tortillas and automatically conveys tortillas sequentially through a tortilla warmer. The tortillas are stored in a container. A dragger at least frictionally engages the top side of the top tortilla, dragging the tortilla off of the top of the container for subsequent heating by a heating element of the tortilla warmer. In some embodiments, the tortilla container can automatically elevate the stack of tortillas, so a top tortilla always remains exposed at the top of the container. In other embodiments, an extractor delivers the tortilla outside of the heating system once the tortilla is sufficiently warmed. The tortillas are warmed in sequence by a heating element, via conduction, convection, and/or radiation. In some embodiments, various components of the conveyer are synchronized, via a gearbox for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Ricardo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8474369
    Abstract: A cooking skillet that provides a unique automatic stirring system for continuously stirring foods during cooking. The cooking skillet comprises a base, a receptacle, a heating element, and an automatic stirring system. The automatic stirring system comprises a stirring wand located in the receptacle and a bracket located in the base. The stirring wand and the bracket are attracted to each other through magnetic forces that provide sufficient magnetism to attract one to the other. A motor is attached to the bracket by a connecting rod and provides the means to rotate the bracket in a clockwise direction. The magnetism between the magnets in the bracket and the magnets in the stirring wand forces the stirring wand to rotate in connection with the bracket. During rotation, the stirring wand is designed to mix the food contained within the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Walter B. Herbst
  • Patent number: 8445049
    Abstract: A system and method of packaging a food product which provides a long shelf life, wherein the food product is cooked on rollers heated to 500° to 550° F. degrees in an oven heated to 750° to 800° F. for less than ten minutes and then enters a blast chiller at about 5° F. After cooling the product to 40° F. the product is placed in a cook-in bag, seasonings are added and the bag is vacuum-sealed and stored in a cooler at about 40° F. or lower. The seasonings are irradiated prior to being added to the food product to further control pathogen growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: David J. Skender
  • Patent number: 8425958
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an assembly comprising a food product (15) to be heated or cooked in a microwave device, a packaging (13) surrounding said food product, wherein said packaging has at least one surface to come into contact with said food product and is made at least partly of a susceptor, and a heat shrinking film (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Antoine Bontemps, Loic Faulon
  • Publication number: 20130068113
    Abstract: Provided is a sealing gasket for a cooking utensil, the utensil includes a vessel and a lid; at least one first locking member and at least one second locking member, the sealing gasket being designed to be interposed between the lid and the vessel and being characterized in that it is designed so that, while the lid is docking with the vessel, said sealing gasket fits over the top rim and comes into contact with said lid and with said vessel while the first locking member is situated at a first height (h61) greater than or equal to the height (h8) at which the second locking member is situated, and is then depressed under the weight of the lid alone to bring the first locking member to a second height (h62) that is less than the height (h8) at which the second locking member is situated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Chameroy, Michel Pierre Cartigny
  • Publication number: 20130068112
    Abstract: A portable electric potato strips baking device includes a main body, a heating chamber, a cylindrical portion, a tubular heating portion and a control chamber. The heating chamber is disposed inside the main body and provides the space for the baking of potato strips. The cylindrical portion is disposed inside the heating chamber and can rotate. In use, potato strips are placed inside the cylindrical portion. The tubular heating portion is disposed on the outside of the cylindrical portion and is used to cook the potato strips placed inside the cylindrical portion. A positioning plate may be rotated to adjust the orientation of the tubular heating portion. The control chamber is disposed inside the heating chamber and has a motor, which drives the cylindrical portion and hence allows potato strips to be baked evenly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Wei-Teh HO
  • Publication number: 20130025469
    Abstract: Described herein is a cooking assembly, generally comprising two major components, these components being a cooking pan and an insert 24 having a perforated portion which would retain the desired food component within the pan, and allow the fluid component to be removed through the perforations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Andre Dean Cloutier, Debra Lynne Sasken-Duff
  • Patent number: 8312807
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus comprising a top end having a generally concave cooking surface adapted to also act as a base stand; and a bottom end comprising a plurality of posts adapted to also act as a food preparation device holder upon vertically rotating the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventors: Emilio M. Martinez, Edit M. Martinez
  • Publication number: 20120247344
    Abstract: A dispensing mechanism is described for rapid and efficient production of injera bread. A flour/water batter mix is dispensed from a holding tank through a dispensing slot onto a conveyor belt, for transport to cooking and packaging stages. The holding tank may dispense onto the interior of a rotating drum type pierced with hole patterns through which the batter flows in the proper shape on to the conveyor belt, or the batter may pass through an oscillating plate with a half-moon pattern that forms injera patties on the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Ma
  • Patent number: 8276505
    Abstract: An automated food preparation system is described. It allows precise, automated control of the food preparation process, and has the ability to perform an automated cleanup. It comprises at least one manipulator to process and move ingredients, a control system, an autonomously accessible ingredient storage system, and at least one cooking receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: David Benjamin Buehler
  • Publication number: 20120234184
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a spatula assembly and a cooking container comprising an upper access opening and an inner, cooking surface having a spherical surface portion. The spatula assembly includes a spatula driver and a curved spatula pivotally mounted to the cooking container for moving along the cooking surface and about a pivot axis between first and second positions. The pivot axis passes through the center point of the spherical surface portion. The spatula assembly may be constructed so that at least one of the first and second positions is above the pivot axis. The curved spatula may also include a spatula body having an outer surface and a barrier member extending radially inwardly from the outer surface, the outer surface contacting the cooking surface of the cooking container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Don M. Wong