Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved, simplified apparatus for rapidly cooking food in heated water with the assistance of increased pressure that provides the benefits of improved stirring capabilities, increased simplicity of the apparatus, and improved self-cleaning 3capabilities.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cooking snack food pieces features a drum-type fryer which transports individual, die-cut piece preforms through hot oil contained within a cooking tank defined between the periphery of the drum and a housing in which the drum is contained. Vacuum transfer and feed rollers transfer the individual piece preforms from a die-cutting roller assembly onto the drum for cooking, and a similar roller transfers the cooked snack food pieces from the drum to a take-away conveyor for subsequent, downstream processing. The pieces are retained by suction against molding surfaces of frying mold elements distributed over the periphery of the frying drum.

Abstract: The invention provides a valve opening/closing device for a fryer, in which the operation of opening/closing the oil discharge valve is easy, and with which it is possible to recognize with one glance whether it is in an open state or a closed state. In the valve opening/closing device 40, by opening and closing an oil discharge valve 35 placed in an oil discharge pipe 33, which extends from the bottom of an oil vat containing cooking oil, the oil discharge pipe opens and closes.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a lifting lid assembly for raising or lowering a lifting lid of a cooking vessel is described. The lifting lid assembly has a lifting lid, a first shaft and a second shaft. The first shaft and the second shaft are positioned on a first side and a second side of the lifting lid, respectively, where the first side is opposite the second side, each shaft supports the lifting lid, and an upper portion of each shaft is secured platform to the lifting lid. The lifting lid assembly further has a first and a second platform, which are secured to a lower portion of the first shaft and the second shaft, respectively, and a first cable and a second cable connected to the first platform and the second platform, respectively. The lifting lid assembly also has a first spring motor and a second spring motor, where the first spring motor is connected to the first platform by the first cable, and the second spring motor is connected to the second platform by the second cable.

Abstract: Apparatus for boiling eggs, includes a trough-shaped duct for receiving heated water, and a screw conveyor supported in the duct for rotation about an axis of rotation. The screw conveyor is configured for advancing eggs to be boiled from a feed station on one end of the duct to a discharge station on another end of the duct through the water in the duct. Water is conducted through the duct by a water-circulating system which includes a heat exchanger for continuously maintaining the water at a desired temperature. The water-circulating system has a plurality of water inlet ports which are spaced over the length of the duct and directed transversely to the longitudinal duct axis, with the water inlet ports terminating into the duct underneath the axis of rotation of the screw conveyor.

Abstract: The invention is a basket lifting apparatus having a supporting beam mounted substantially perpendicular and adjacent to an upper rear edge of a vat and a pair of supporting chamber extending perpendicular to the supporting beam and above and parallel to the upper rear edge of the vat. A motor is suspended from each of the supporting chambers, and a drive shaft from each motor extends into the associated supporting chamber. A jacking screw is rotatably mounted on and extends below each of the supporting chambers. A combination of gears and a drive chain transfers the rotational movement of the drive shaft to rotational movement of the jacking screw, and a shielding sleeve engages threads on the jacking screw, such that the sleeve is raised or lowered by the rotational movement of the jacking screw. Each sleeve includes a fixing pin or bolt for engaging a basket mounting hinge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing articles into a container or basket and for controlling the dispensing mechanism to more accurately, efficiently, and intelligently dispense the desired articles with less damages to the articles. The dispenser includes a primary storage location which can take the form of a bulk storage hopper, an accumulator storage location into which the dispensed articles are transferred during the dispensing of the articles. A reversing drum and a flexible, resilient diverter are configured and arranged to reduce article breakage and/or to transfer different types of articles. The drum is also designed to provide a self-alignment between the drum and a motor shaft when the drum is mounted onto the drum motor shaft. A load/weight sensing/measuring assembly accurately and intelligently weighs the articles in the accumulator by an adaptive weighing method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing articles into a container or basket and for controlling the dispensing mechanism to more accurately, efficiently, and intelligently dispense the desired articles with less damages to the articles. The dispenser includes a primary storage location which can take the form of a bulk storage hopper, an accumulator storage location into which the dispensed articles are transferred during the dispensing of the articles. A reversing drum and a flexible, resilient diverter are configured and arranged to reduce article breakage and/or to transfer different types of articles. The drum is also designed to provide a self-alignment between the drum and a motor shaft when the drum is mounted onto the drum motor shaft. A load/weight sensing/measuring assembly accurately and intelligently weighs the articles in the accumulator by an adaptive weighing method.

Abstract: A hot oil fryer for continuous frying duty in continuous food process lines has a conveyor belt that has an upper food-carrying upper run and a lower return run. Heat input is provided by rectangular or square heat exchanger tubes that are placed directly underneath the food-carrying run in order to support it from sagging as well as cut-down the span between the source of heat flowing inside the heat exchanger tubes and the sink of heat in the food product that is transported on top of the conveyor's food-carrying run. The conveyor includes an entrant ramp section having at least high and low operative positions. The cooking channel at the intake end is provided with a series of gutters as well as sediment drains to afford collection and filtration of floating debris as well as sinking debris.

Abstract: An electric fryer with an elevating mechanism, includes a housing, a top cover, a fryer body, heating elements, a food basket assembly, a temperature controller, a cutout fuse and a timer. The electric fryer also includes an elevating mechanism. It is capable of lifting or lowering the food basket automatically, thus realizing the automation of the frying process.

Abstract: A hot oil fryer for continuous frying duty in continuous food process lines has a conveyor belt that has an upper food-carrying upper run and a lower return run. Heat input is provided by rectangular or square heat exchanger tubes that are placed directly underneath the food-carrying run in order to support it from sagging as well as cut-down the span between the source of heat flowing inside the heat exchanger tubes and the sink of heat in the food product that is transported on top of the conveyor's food-carrying run. The conveyor includes an entrant ramp section having at least high and low operative positions. The cooking channel at the intake end is provided with a series of gutters as well as sediment drains to afford collection and filtration of floating debris as well as sinking debris.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a container, a spigot, a lid, and a food support. The container has a bottom surface and a side wall that extends upwardly from the bottom surface to a top edge of the side wall. The spigot is attached to the container side wall and has a valve member that is selectively positionable between opened and closed positions. The spigot valve member allows liquid contents of the container to drain from the container when in the opened position, and prevents the contents from draining out of the container when in the closed position. The food support is comprised of a perforated horizontal member with a perforated side wall extending upwardly from the horizontal member. A plurality of vertical members spaced around the periphery of the horizontal member extend upwardly from the horizontal member.

Abstract: A food product breading machine comprising a breading material reservoir, a breading station, a food product loading location, a discharge location from which breaded food products are discharged from the machine, and a perforate conveyor belt extending through the reservoir, the loading location, the breading station, and the discharge location. Breading material exiting the breading station falls through the conveyor and a reservoir intake opening below the conveyor belt between the breading station and the discharge location. Breaded food products remain on the belt and are conveyed to the discharge location. A breading support member is movable to a position beneath the conveyor belt between the breading station and the discharge location for preventing breading material from falling from the conveyor through the reservoir intake opening so that breading material is conveyed to the discharge location and the reservoir is emptied.

Abstract: A device for moving the basket of a fryer including a support body having hinged therein, on a first side, a bow member engaging its ends with the fryer basket, and, on a second side, a handle of the basket engaging the bow member. The device includes basket guide members for transforming a rotary motion of the handle and of the bow member about their respective axes of hinging to the support body, into a translatory motion of the basket inside said fryer.

Abstract: A food product breading machine having a battering unit supported by a breading unit. A battering unit conveyor system delivers food products to the breading unit. The breading unit has a breading reservoir, a breading station and a breading unit conveyor system. The battering unit conveyor system propels the food products in a generally horizontal direction to the breading unit. The breading unit conveyor system propels food products toward the breading station in a generally opposite direction. The breading unit conveyor system has first and second sections, one adjacent and below the battering unit conveyor end that conveys food products downwardly and horizontally toward the breading station, the other delivering food products from the first section through the breading station and discharging the breaded products. The second section has two tiers with breaded products from the first tier falling onto the second tier before being discharged from the machine.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance includes an external housing with a fixed or removable vat for cooking food and an electrical heater arranged under the vat and in thermal relationship with the vat. The appliance has a sensor for detecting a substantially vertical deformation of the vat base occurring while the appliance is operating, and for opening the electric power circuit of the heater when the detected deformation reaches a predetermined threshold corresponding to a substantially empty vat.

Abstract: A cooking system includes a sink having a basin recessed within a kitchen countertop. The sink is provided with a water inlet, a water outlet and an energy source for heating water introduced into the basin. The cooking system also includes a container that preferably has bottom and side wall portions provided with a plurality of through holes. The container is adapted to house food and to be positioned within the heated water of the basin in order to enable the food items in the container to be cooked.

Abstract: A fryer system has a vat having a front wall, back wall, two side walls, and a bottom. The bottom is sloped downwardly from the back wall toward the front wall. A trough extends along the front wall and a drain is located in the trough. In certain preferred embodiments, a spray nozzle is oriented to direct a flow of fluid across the bottom of the vat from the back wall toward the trough.

Abstract: Shown and described is a device for the discontinuous preparation of pasta such as spaghetti or similar, comprising a pasta supply unit (7); a pasta preparation unit closed off by inlet shutters (2) and outlet shutters (4), for cooking and draining the pasta; and a pasta dispenser unit where the design height has been reduced in that the pasta preparation unit comprises only a single chamber (1) which is used both for cooking and rinsing with cold water and draining the cooked pasta.

Abstract: A convertible drum-type coating apparatus for applying breading material to food products includes an in-line breader section, a rotary drum section, and an outflow section. The rotary drum is mounted on an elevator for lowering and lifting between a low use position and a high non-use position. The low use position is involved with tumbling the breading material and food product together to enhance the coating by the breading material, and in a sense the tumbling gives the appearance of dusting off excess breading material. The coating apparatus is convertible in that the rotary drum can be lifted out of the way to the high non-use position to allow substitution in favor of a bypass conveyor. Bypass of the drum is desired when running "formed" food products and the like, such as patties (eg., beef) or cakes (eg., fish), which are ordinarily too delicate to tumble in the drum.

Abstract: A fryer system and a frying process have a continuous through feed operation. On an endless conveyor mechanism for the fryer system, there is arranged a plurality of receiving containers, which can accept frying goods. The receiving containers, which are essentially enclosed, are formed having a fill orifice on an upper face and a closeable drain orifice on an underface. At at least one fill station, a defined amount of a heated frying fluid can be poured through the fill orifice into the receiving containers with the drain orifice closed. At at least one drain station the frying fluid can be emptied out of the receiving containers with the drain orifice open. Through the fryer system and its a frying process, the consumption of frying fluid and consumption of energy can be significantly reduced yielding a good frying result.

Abstract: Electric deep fat fryer comprising a vat (13) disposed in a housing (11) and containing a cooking bath (15), an electric heater (18) adapted to heat the cooking bath, a basket (20) for reception of foodstuffs to be fried, mounted in the vat (13), and a control panel (33) which provides automatic control of a cooking cycle of the foodstuffs to be fried. A cooking temperature is selected as a function of the type of particular foodstuff to be fried and is supplied to the automatic control. An image code of the quantity of the load in the basket (20) containing the foodstuffs to be fried is supplied to the automatic control (37). A cooking time for the foodstuffs to be fried is calculated as a function both of the temperature and of the quantity of foodstuff to be fried.

Abstract: A method for making bowl-shaped snack food products, e.g. tortilla chips. The method features placing chip preforms in open bowl-shaped cavities and partially frying the chip preforms by filling them with hot oil from above. Additionally, the preforms are partially fried from below by immersing the lower portions of the preforms in a vat of hot oil and transporting them through the hot oil. After cooking the preforms to a desired moisture content, at which point the preforms retain their bowl shapes outside of or independent of the mold cavities, the preforms are removed from the mold cavities and subsequently cooked to completion in a secondary frying operation.

Abstract: A horizontal stabilizing system for a fryer lifting lid is disclosed. The horizontal stabilizing system includes a vertical support and a U-shaped bracing member having central bracing member and a first and a second guide arm. The central bracing member has a first member face and a second member face. A mounting bracket is positioned on the second member face. A first stabilizing support is attached to the first guide arm, and a first guide rail is in slidable contact with the first stabilizing support. A second stabilizing support is attached to the second guide arm, and a second guide rail is in slidable contact with the second stabilizing support. In another embodiment, a cooking device having a horizontal stabilizing system comprises a fryer housing and a cooking vessel in the fryer housing. A vertical support having a central opening and extending in a substantially vertical direction is provided. A receiving bracket is inserted in the central opening of the vertical support.

Abstract: A supporting brace is employed to pivotally mount a fryer lifting lid on a monorail lifting device. The supporting brace includes a central bracing member having a first and a second member face and having a first and a second member end. A monorail mounting bracket is positioned on the second member face. A first pivot arm extends substantially perpendicular to the first member face at the first member end, and a second pivot arm extends substantially perpendicular to the first member face at the second member end. The first member end has a first member end height, and the second member end has a second member end height. The first pivot arm has a first pivot arm height and the second pivot arm has a second pivot arm height, such that the first member end height is greater than the first pivot arm height and the second member end height is greater than the second pivot arm height.

Abstract: A carrier for product trays of a fryer is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the carrier includes a first and a second upper horizontal support. The front portions of the upper horizontal supports are connected by a front stabilizing means, and a rear portion of the upper horizontal supports are connected by a rear stabilizing device. A rear vertical support extends downwardly from the rear of the carrier. At least one tray securing point is located on the rear vertical support and is adapted to detachably receive a product tray. The product tray may be placed in the carrier in from the side of the carrier or from an oblique angle to the carrier. In another embodiment, a carrier includes a first and second upper horizontal support. The front portions of the upper horizontal supports are connected by a front stabilizing device, and a rear portion of the upper horizontal supports are connected by a rear stabilizing device.

Abstract: An appliance for cooking food articles includes a receptacle for receiving a quantity of food articles to be cooked, and a sufficient quantity of cooking liquid to only partially immerse the food articles therein; a heater for heating the cooking liquid and the food articles when received therein; a paddle movably mounted with respect to the receptacle so as to be movable therein; and a periodically-reversing drive for driving the paddle back and forth in the receptacle to move the food articles therein back and forth through the cooking liquid. The appliance is particularly useful for frying as it causes all the surfaces of the food article to be crisply fried without absorbing undue quantities of the frying oil. The appliance is also useful for other applications including steaming food, cooking rice, and popping corn.

Abstract: A stock making kettle has a boiling tank opened at an upper part and having a stock outlet port on a bottom surface, a stock material cage made of a net-shaped member and installed movable into or out of the boiling tank, a scum removing plate covering the upper opening of the boiling tank and having a scum discharge port, a combustion chamber provided with burners and installed at lower side of the bottom surface of the boiling tank, and a flue connected to the combustion chamber and having an exhaust port and installed coming into contact with the bottom surface and the side surface of the boiling tank.

Abstract: A fryer for food products such as battered and breaded pieces of meat has a main conveyor with forward and return belt paths inside the fryer pan, the belt return dragging the pan bottom sweeping fines to one end for removal. A submerger conveyor prevents products from floating in the cooking oil which enters the fryer from above through oil inlet weirs. A plurality of weirs supply curtains of hot cooking oil in non-turbulent flow onto the food product covering the product as the product is conveyed on the main conveyor. The cooking oil is returned along defined lanes in the pan for reheating outside of the fryer. The food products are removed from the fryer in a cooked condition with the bread coatings intact.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooking food comprises a vessel (12) for hot liquid in which the food is to be cooked, and a basket (18) for holding an item of food to be cooked by being immersed in the liquid. The food can be introduced into and removed from the basket (18) from an opening (for example, in the top) of the latter. The basket is supported on support means, such as a wheel (16), and there is provided a retaining member such as a lid (100) for extending across the opening in the basket to retain food therein during cooking. The lid (100) is preferably mounted on the wheel (16) such that the removal of the basket (18) from the wheel (16) separates the basket (18) from the lid (100) to allow access to the interior of the basket(18).

Abstract: A motorized assist device for raising and lowering a lifting lid, includes a supporting brace for mounting the lifting lid. The supporting bracket has a central bracing member, and a monorail mounting bracket positioned on the central bracing member. A monorail has a receiving bracket for receiving the monorail mounting bracket. An I-beam framework is positioned within the monorail and has a pair of U-shaped guides. A carriage has a pair of wheels and is mounted on the framework, such that each of the U-shaped guides receives one of the pair of the wheels. The carriage is secured to the receiving bracket. A counterweight assembly is used for raising and lowering the carriage along the monorail.

Abstract: An electrical deep fryer has a pan, a housing, an electrical heating element, a compartment and a removable hinged lid. These components, except the heating element which is permanently fixed to the pan, are easily assembled, and dissembled for washing. The compartment incorporated all the electrical components for controlling and supplying power to the fryer that cannot be wetted without damage. Thus, the remaining parts of the fryer can be thoroughly washed when required, using a dish-washer if preferred.

Abstract: Pasta dough is blanched or cooked by forming a pasta dough into a plurality of continuous pasta dough strands and simultaneously directing leading ends of the continuous strands and water at a temperature sufficient to blanch or cook the strands into the inlet end of a pipe which descends vertically from the inlet end to an outlet end. The water contacts the strands and draws and conveys the strands through the pipe for a time sufficient to blanch or cook the strands. As the blanched or cooked strands and water exit from the pipe through the outlet end, the continuous strands are conveyed away from the pipe while draining and collecting water, which is recirculated to the pipe inlet end.

Abstract: The vacuum-heat processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a vacuum container forming a vacuum chamber; a hopper into which an object to be processed and a processing liquid adjusted to a first temperature are thrown, the hopper being arranged above and communicating with an intake port formed in an upper end portion of the vacuum container; a sealing member arranged between the hopper and the intake port of the vacuum container to keep the vacuum chamber airtight; a transport conveyor installed in the vacuum chamber below the intake port to receive at one end side thereof the object flowing down the hopper from the intake port through the sealing member and carry it to the other end side; a processing liquid showering nozzles installed in the vacuum chamber immediately above the transport conveyor to shower a processing liquid adjusted to a second temperature over the object on the transport conveyor; and a processing liquid tank containing a processing liquid adjusted to a third tempe

Abstract: A supporting brace is employed to pivotally mount a fryer lifting lid on a monorail lifting device. The supporting brace includes a central bracing member having a first and a second member face and having a first and a second member end. A monorail mounting bracket is positioned on the second member face. A first pivot arm extends substantially perpendicular to the first member face at the first member end, and a second pivot arm extends substantially perpendicular to the first member face at the second member end. The first member end has a first member end height, and the second member end has a second member end height. The first pivot arm has a first pivot arm height and the second pivot arm has a second pivot arm height, such that the first member end height is greater than the first pivot arm height and the second member end height is greater than the second pivot arm height.

Abstract: A food cooking assembly, restaurant system and restaurant methods. The food cooking assembly and system act to lift food from a cooking medium, such as frying oil or boiling water. The assembly and system are reliable and easy to maintain. The system may be implemented with a retrofit to an existing cooking device.

Abstract: An automatic bread maker comprises: an oven chamber having a heater, a kneader and a temperature sensor; a bread vessel detachably mounted within the oven chamber, for charging breadstuff; a steam-producing device for producing steam within the oven chamber; and a controller for controlling the steam-producing device wherein a steaming step of steaming dough is effected before a baking step of baking the dough.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus that provides an apparatus for continuously re-hydrating, cooking or blanching dried solid products. Specifically, the apparatus provides controlled high pressure and temperature to continuously re-hydrate, cook or blanch dried food products while maintaining food product integrity and quality.

Abstract: A food preparer includes a basket for holding the food to be prepared inserted within an outer receptacle. A timer-controllable mechanism raises the food basket out of boiling water contained in the outer receptacle after a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A convertible drum-type coating apparatus for applying breading material to food products includes an in-line breader section, a rotary drum section, and an outflow section. The rotary drum is mounted on an elevator for lowering and lifting between a low use position and a high non-use position. The low use position is involved with tumbling the breading material and food product together to enhance the coating by the breading material, and in a sense the tumbling gives the appearance of dusting off excess breading material. The coating apparatus is convertible in that the rotary drum can be lifted out of the way to the high non-use position to allow substitution in favor of a bypass conveyor. Bypass of the drum is desired when running "formed" food products and the like, such as patties (eg., beef) or cakes (eg., fish), which are ordinarily too delicate to tumble in the drum.

Abstract: The present invention features an electrical, frying appliance that uniformly cooks food items placed within its food basket. This frying appliance automatically immerses and extracts the cooking basket into and out of an aluminum oil bowl containing heated oil. In this fashion, the food in the basket is uniformly fried during the cooking cycle. The frying appliance contains a translationally movable basket that operates by a transmission wire driven by a shaft. The translational movement of the food basket allows the food in it to lie flat as it is immersed in the aluminum oil bowl. The food basket remains substantially horizontal during its movement between its immersed and non-immersed positions. In this fashion, the food items are prevented from shifting around in the frying basket. This allows the food to fry evenly within the basket and, when cycled, to be drained of oil periodically.

Abstract: A food product breading machine is disclosed that comprises a breading unit and a battering unit. The breading unit includes a breading material reservoir, a conveyor for moving food products and breading material along a travel path to a breading application station, and a breading material flow controlling system for creating a standing wave of breading material at the breading application station. The breading material flow controlling system comprises food product engaging elements movable toward and away from the conveyor to enable food products to pass through the standing wave and the application station while continuing to restrict the flow of breading material from the station. An adjustable plow projects into the breading approaching the application station to facilitate breading lateral sides of food products approaching the station.

Abstract: An improved self-contained frying machine is disclosed and claimed with significantly enhanced reliability, repeatability and maintenance. The extruder and dibber assemblies are not attached to any surface plates, thus permitting easy removal for cleaning. More significantly, the extruder assemblies are not connected to an upper shelf, thereby alleviating misalignment concerns. Efficient motor-driven rack and gear components are disclosed for the extruder assembly, dibber assembly, slide assembly and the carousel assembly. The electrical system comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) that is preferably mounted in a housing that is external to the machine, preferably resting on the top of the frying machine. The mounting of the PLC and other electrical components in an external box diminishes the interference from background noise introduced by the various motors. Various sensors positioned on the different assemblies provide real-time information to the PLC.

Abstract: An apparatus for the discontinuous preparation of farinaceous products such as spaghetti with a portioning apparatus for receiving the farinaceous products, a cooking chamber and a drainage chamber, with the inlet zone and the outlet zone of the cooking chamber and the drainage chamber each being closeable by valves which are arranged as flaps, with a single flap which is rotatable about a rotational axle being provided between the cooking chamber and the drainage chamber, and with the flaps in the inlet zone of the cooking chamber and the outlet zone of the drainage chamber being movable transversally to the inlet zone or the outlet zone.

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.

Abstract: A sterile-packed rice product is produced in a system including a rice filling device that fills an individual tray with a predetermined quantity of washed and soaked rice; a sterilization chamber that substantially air-tightly contains one or more of arrays of the trays with rice for sterilizing the rice with high-temperature pressurized steam introduced into the chamber; a water filling device that fills the trays with the sterilized rice with a predetermined quantity of water necessary for steam rice-cooking; a steam rice cooker that cooks the rice with a steam; and a sealing device that lids air-tightly that trays with the cooked rice. A clean booth surrounds a conveyor conveying the trays from the steam rice cooker to said sealing device, thus providing a predetermined cleanliness over an area covering at least a conveying path of the trays from an exit of the steam rice cooker to the sealing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing increased protein chicken meal. Product is loaded into a cooking vat that is 40 feet long by 5 feet wide by 4 feet deep, with a system of moving chain conveyors and paddles. These conveyors move the product at a predetermined speed through oil maintained at a temperature of approximately 360.degree. to 380.degree. F. for the entire length of the vessel, and dumps the product at the opposite end of entry. Oil is circulated through the vat at a rate of approximately 680 to 860 gallons per minute (gpm) to allow for the rapid removal of fat and moisture from skin and meat in a continuous process. The volume of oil in the cooking vat is approximately 4,500 gallons.

Abstract: A fine mesh filter screen is used in the fry pot of a deep fat fryer to remove all but the finest loose food particles after every cooking cycle, which otherwise burn and shorten the life of the cooking oil.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically frying food products is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vat (102) containing cooking oil (108). Heating elements (104) heat the cooking oil to the desired temperature. Baskets (106) hold food products within the cooking oil (108). A dumping mechanism (150) automatically removes each basket (106) in turn from the cooking oil (108) and dumps the food products from the basket (106) into a dump pan (152).

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food articles, such as frozen french fries, frozen chicken pieces, cheese sticks, and the like, having a support structure supporting a hopper, the hopper having a storage area positioned over an exit opening and a dispenser drum between the storage area and the exit opening. The dispenser drum is rotatably mounted in the hopper between two end walls on the hopper. The dispenser drum has an axis of rotation, a sealing lip at a first radius perpendicular to the axis of rotation and a catching lip at a second radius perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The second radius is longer than the first radius creating a non-cylindrical shaped dispenser drum. A diverter is pivotally mounted in the hopper. The diverter is positioned to be bumped by the dispenser drum to jostle food articles in the storage area. A driver portion is mounted on the support structure to engage and rotate the dispenser drum about the axis of rotation.