Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing baked products such as sponge cake and crepe sheet for wrapping jam, cream or the similar filling. A sponge cake batter or a crepe batter therefor comprises a starch hydrolysate, a water-soluble thickening agent and/or gluten, in addition to conventional basic raw materials. The batter is treated on a baking roller comprising a stationary tubular body of a magnetic material, an exciting coil body arranged on the stationary tubular body and a rotatable outer hollow cylindrical member of a magnetic material.

Abstract: This cooking apparatus includes a housing assembly providing a heating chamber having an entrance and an exit, and a conveyor assembly extending through the heating chamber and having end portions extending outwardly of the heating chamber. The heating chamber includes vestibule portions at each end and heater elements within the chamber provide zone-controlled heating. The conveyor assembly includes stationary rails defining a coplanar product-receiving surface alternating with moving rails defining a coplanar product-receiving surface having orbitral motion relative to the stationary surface to lift the product, transport it forwardly and deposit it so that the product moves intermittently through the heating chamber.

Abstract: The invention concerns a baking pan assembly for forming a cavity in a muffin to which a filling may be subsequently added. The recessed cup portion of a baking pan is provided with a keyed-orifice. A conical or other symmetrical insert having a key mate with the orifice, such that the insert is centrally located in the recessed cup bottom. Alternately, single use conical or other symmetrical inserts may be placed in the recessed cup, made of paper, foil, heat resistant plastic, etc. A retaining plate may be positioned above the pan if desired to restrain the batter as it rises to form a flattened surface opposite the cavity for perfect stability once the muffin is inverted.

Abstract: A hot water tank particularly for a beverage brewing apparatus of the infusion type in which the hot water tank has a water draw-off tap at a position between the top and bottom of the tank and a thermostat above the outlet in the tank to the tap and a control means connected to the thermostat such that water may only be drawn off through the tap when the temperature of water above the tap outlet is at least as high as a predetermined temperature. The controller ensures that the user cannot draw water from the tank until the temperature of the water reaches the predetermined temperature. A water supply to the tank bottom ensures that the tank is kept full of water and in the case of the brewing apparatus this ensures feeding of hot water to an infusion spray head. Preferably the tap is prevented from being enabled to draw off water while infusion is taking place due to the provision of a control valve in the connection between the tap and the water tank.

Abstract: A band feeding and tightening apparatus for a band strapping machine comprises a main shaft rotatably placed at a lateral position of a serial connection of a motor and a reduction gear device; a high speed revolution transmitting means to transmit a rotational force at the high speed side of the reduction gear device to the main shaft; a low speed revolution transmitting means to transmit a rotational force at the low speed side of the reduction gear to the main shaft through an electromagnetic clutch; a stationary shaft placed in parallel to the main shaft, the stationary shaft rotatably supporting a feed roller and a power transmitting means to transmit a rotational force of the high speed revolution transmitting mean to the feed roller through a friction clutch; and the return roller mounted on the main shaft through a one-way clutch.

Abstract: A can compactor in which there is relative movement between a cam and a can, in a direction generally tangential to the can. Such relative movement progressively collapses the can sides, following which the can ends are bent over further than they were bent as the result of the can-side collapsing.

Abstract: A beverage brewing apparatus of the infusion type in which a hot water tank contains several infusion charges, the tank is connected at the top to a conduit extending to an infusion sprayer over a pan containing granular matter to be infused, replenishing water is supplied to the bottom of the tank and is used to force a top charge of water in the tank into the pan, a heater for the tank is controlled by a lower thermostat in the tank and an upper thermostat indicates when the top charge is at the correct temperature for infusion to take place. The arrangements ensure a ready supply of hot water for further infusions while reducing the instant power requirements for the heater.

Abstract: A frying device for foods comprises a metallic frying member, cast from an aluminum alloy, with a plurality of oil-filled pores and cavities of specified defined size which act to prevent the food being fried in the device from sticking to the metal frying member. The walls of the frying device are provided with a plurality of openings to enable cooking gases to escape. Less than 50% of the surface oil as is used in conventional roasting devices is required in my device.The device and method are particularly adapted for the production of multilayered food products, where a plurality of layers of a product are automatically laid down in timed sequence within the roasting device.

Abstract: Described is a coffee percolator the brewing cycle of which is controlled by control means. This coffee percolator is provided with further control means effective to initiate and to control a hot flushing operation for preheating those parts of the coffee percolator which come into contact with the coffee separately from the brewing cycle proper.

Abstract: A machine for making funnel cakes includes a holding tank for containing a generally fluid batter, a channel suitable for containing a cooking liquid, and a heater for heating the cooking liquid in the channel to a temperatures suitable for cooking funnel cakes. A plate is disposed at one end of the channel in an upper position adjacent the surface of the cooking liquid. A dispensing head dispenses a predetermined amount of batter from the holding tank onto the plate, and a pneumatic cylinder moves the plate from its upper position in which the batter forms a generally solid, uncooked product to a lower position in which the solid uncooked product floats away from the plate. A submerged track in the channel leads away from the deposit station. The funnel cake is guided along this track submerged in the cooking liquid to completely cook the funnel cake as it moves along the track. At the end of the track, the funnel cake is automatically removed from the cooking liquid.

Abstract: A custom cone machine for the use on or off the place of dispersement for use of edible containers to serve varying types of food, such as dairy products, salads, etc. fresh and of varying ingredients commensurate with the type of food served. The machine is fully automatic in the timing, cooking and ejection of the finished cone. The injection of the batter requiring approximately 3 seconds, is with a hand held batter injector that does not require any particular skill in its use. Due to is being automatic in all phases of the cooking and ejection cycle, eliminates the handling of hot cones and equipment by the operator and is a distinct safety advantage over the present on-site cone making machines.Due to its unique injection and cycling action varying shapes, designs and sizes of food or dairy products, edible serving containers can be produced in a like manner as of the cones by the design and shape of the cooking heads.

Abstract: An inflatable chamber (2) is placed inside an outer support body (1), and the outer wall (3) of the inflatable chamber is pressed against the inside wall of the support body by plates (9) and draw bars (10), in such a manner that the inside wall (4) has substantially the same diameter (DGO) when the chamber (2) is under atmospheric pressure and when the chamber is under its maximum pressure for compressing the body against which the inside wall (4) is pressed.

Abstract: A hydra-extractor includes an extractor screw and dewatering chamber, a cone for directing dried material to a plug cutter, the plug cutter, and a discharge chute. Associated power apparatus is mounted on the hydra-extractor. A novel cone is provided which is hyberolic in shape, composed of a high density urethane, and separable into two parts. The cone is affixed to the plug cutter which is also separable into two parts. The plug cutter is affixed to and rotated by the extractor screw shaft.

Abstract: In a hay baler for producing rolled bales of the type having a shaping chamber in which the hay introduced in the form of a sheet is wound on itself around a horizontal axis (XX'), a tying mechanism has two distributors for ties which are mounted to swivel under the action of a control means to perform a reciprocating movement along the shaping chamber from a rest position near one end of the chamber to an end-of-tying position near the opposite end of the chamber. The distributors are mounted to rotate around an axis (Y) fixed to one of the side walls of the baler while the control means is fixed to the other side wall. An actuator with a reciprocating movement controlled by the control means first successively drives the distributors from the rest position to the end-of-tying position in the vicinity of which a severing means interrupts the ties, then returns the distributors to the rest position.

Abstract: A microcomputer-controlled, integrated cooking apparatus for automatically preparing culinary dishes. The constituent ingredients of a particular dish are loaded into a compartmentalized carousel, which is mounted on the cooking apparatus. The apparatus includes a memory for storing one or more recipe programs. The recipe program specifies schedules for dispensing the ingredients from the carousel into a cooking vessel, for heating the vessel (either covered or uncovered), and for stirring the contents of the vessel. These operations are performed automatically under control of the microcomputer.

Abstract: A steam cooking device having an outer shell with an open top and an open bottom. A cover closes the open top. The open bottom is sized to fit about a heating element. A support member is provided within the outer shell, for supporting food to be cooked. This support member is spaced above the bottom of the outer shell to provide space within the shell for a water container.

Abstract: An improved trash receptacle is provided according to this invention. The invention is particularly directed to trash containers of the type having a top assembly having a frame and a pivoting door which encloses a central opening of the frame. The improvement comprises a pivot means for the door including a pivot member and a socket which enable the door to be retained in its normal position by gravity, but which permits the door to be easily detached from the frame to enable it to be inserted into the trash container to compress material therein. Once the user has completed the compaction step, the door is re-engaged with the frame.

Abstract: This invention is a multiple-food cooker that includes an outer pot containing several smaller pots shaped to fit inside and supported on a rack, and each smaller pot having ears for easy grasp to lift out when hot; the outer pot being closable by a cover.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for preparing hot food products in portions of predetermined size by rehydrating a dehydrated food product to provide a dough that can be shaped and heated. The apparatus includes means for storing bags of dehydrated product and for opening individual bags as needed to maintain a desired level of dehydrated product in a hopper. Rehydration means are provided, including a metering chamber to meter a portion of the dehydrated food product, and a rehydration head to uniformly wet the dehydrated food product to form a coherent dough. The dough is passed through a forming means to form it into predetermined pieces that are extruded from a forming chamber, and a wire knife passes linearly across the forming chamber to separate the extruded product therefrom. A product transfer conveyor is provided to convey the shaped dough pieces to a fryer vessel in which heated frying oil is provided.

Abstract: A dual-purpose baking pan assembly suitable for use in a conventional oven wherein the assembly as well as the food therein are exposed to a high-temperature atmosphere, and in a microwave oven wherein the atmosphere is close to ambient temperature and the assembly and the food are subjected to microwave energy. All components of the assembly are formed of a dielectric material unaffected by microwave energy and capable of withstanding high temperatures. The assembly is constituted by a circular base which fits into an annular groove formed in a cylindrical shell defined by a pair of complementary half-sections whose rear ends are hinged together by a removable pivot pin and whose front ends are joinable by a detachable clamp. Thus, after a food product is baked in the assembly, the shell thereof may be detached from the base to expose the food product without disrupting its structure.