Abstract: A fully automated robotized system and method is provided for cooking food products. The system and method is especially useful for use in a quick service or fast food restaurant and, in one embodiment, is capable of cooking, on a fully automated basis, french fries, chicken nuggets, fish filets and chicken patties. In one embodiment, the system includes a robot, a bulk uncooked food dispensing station, a cooking station and a cooked food storage station. The system can be controlled by a computer operating and control station that controls and directs the robot to obtain bulk food from the dispensing station, place it in cooking position at the cooking station and when cooked, remove the food and deliver it to the storage station, at a rate required to fill anticipated customer orders.

Abstract: A portioning dispenser for dispensing food items from bulk item containers is disclosed in which the dispenser can open and empty a bulk container and dispense a portion of its contents. In one embodiment, a container can be slit open and tipped on a pivotable platform to spill its contents to a feeder for further distribution while retaining a stack of unopened boxes thereabove. In some embodiments, the dispenser can discard an emptied container and replace it with an unopened container moved from a container hopper. In other embodiments, a vibrating feeder is used to shake emptied items into a transfer tray for weighing and dispensing. Additionally, a method for dispensing portions of bulk food items from bulk containers is disclosed which employs several of the steps mentioned above.

Abstract: A basket of cooked food products is mounted on a support structure. The support structure is rigidly mounted to a rotatable shaft. The shaft is rotated through a predetermined angle so that the basket is tilted. The contents of the basket is then dumped out of the basket. The basket may be held by a first and second clamps which hold the basket at opposite ends.

Abstract: A high tensile strength transmission cable having a plurality of main compacted strands. The strands surround, and are adjacent to, an uncompacted core which may form or contain one or more signal transmission elements such as fiber-optic or electrical cable members.

Abstract: A fully automated robotized system and method is provided for cooking food products. The system and method is especially useful for use in a quick service or fast food restaurant and, in one embodiment, is capable of cooking, on a fully automated basis, french fries, chicken nuggets, fish filets and chicken patties. In one embodiment, the system includes a robot, a bulk uncooked food dispensing station, a cooking station and a cooked food storage station. The system can be controlled by a computer operating and control station that controls and directs the robot to obtain bulk food from the dispensing station, place it in cooking position at the cooking station and when cooked, remove the food and deliver it to the storage station, at a rate required to fill anticipated customer orders.

Abstract: A high tensile strength transmission cable having a plurality of main compacted strands. The strands surround, and are adjacent to, an uncompacted and moveable core which may form or contain one or more transmission elements. A method for making such a high strength transmission cable includes the steps of compacting the cable formed by a plurality of pre-compacted strands wound around a hard core wire, opening the strands to replace the hard core wire with a soft core containing transmission elements, and then closing the strands.

Abstract: Coating of woven materials so that not only the outer surfaces are coated has been a problem. Now, a solution to that problem is the following: Woven materials are coated with materials, for example with metals or with pyrolytic carbon, which materials are deposited in Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) reactions using a fluidized bed so that the porosity of the woven material is retained and so that the tiny filaments which make up the strands which are woven (including inner as well as outer filaments) are substantially uniformly coated.