Abstract: A popcorn popper is provided having a cabinet including a popcorn popping chamber, a kettle positioned within the popcorn popping chamber, at least one inlet provided in the top wall of the popcorn popping chamber configured to receive effluent from the kettle when popping popcorn and a recirculation passage in fluid communication with the at least one inlet that is configured to receive effluent from the at least one inlet. A filter is positioned in the recirculation passage and a blower including a housing in fluid communication with the recirculation passage is provided with an outlet of the housing being configured to direct filtered effluent into the popcorn popping chamber through the top wall and downwardly generally parallel to one of the side walls. A method of operating a popcorn popper is also provided.

Abstract: A popcorn popper is provided having a cabinet including a popcorn popping chamber, a kettle positioned within the popcorn popping chamber, at least one inlet provided in the top wall of the popcorn popping chamber configured to receive effluent from the kettle when popping popcorn and a recirculation passage in fluid communication with the at least one inlet that is configured to receive effluent from the at least one inlet. A filter is positioned in the recirculation passage and a blower including a housing in fluid communication with the recirculation passage is provided with an outlet of the housing being configured to direct filtered effluent into the popcorn popping chamber through the top wall and downwardly generally parallel to one of the side walls. A method of operating a popcorn popper is also provided.

Abstract: A popcorn popper is provided having a cabinet including a popcorn popping chamber, a kettle positioned within the popcorn popping chamber, at least one inlet provided in the top wall of the popcorn popping chamber configured to receive effluent from the kettle when popping popcorn and a recirculation passage in fluid communication with the at least one inlet that is configured to receive effluent from the at least one inlet. A filter is positioned in the recirculation passage and a blower including a housing in fluid communication with the recirculation passage is provided with an outlet of the housing being configured to direct filtered effluent into the popcorn popping chamber through the top wall and downwardly generally parallel to one of the side walls. A method of operating a popcorn popper is also provided.

Abstract: A self-contained popcorn popper has an open side provided with an air-flow curtain extending at least partially across the open side and directed inwardly. Effluent from popping flows upwardly into a “U”-shaped vent, through an effluent filter and flows into said air flow curtains to reduce particulate-bearing effluent emitted from the popper cabinet. Heated air is recirculated in a lower warming bin to maintain heat in popped corn dumped from a popping kettle and that air is recirculated in the bin, also to reduce emission of particulars into the environment surrounding the popper.

Abstract: A popcorn popper is provided having a cabinet including a popcorn popping chamber, a kettle positioned within the popcorn popping chamber, at least one inlet provided in the top wall of the popcorn popping chamber configured to receive effluent from the kettle when popping popcorn and a recirculation passage in fluid communication with the at least one inlet that is configured to receive effluent from the at least one inlet. A filter is positioned in the recirculation passage and a blower including a housing in fluid communication with the recirculation passage is provided with an outlet of the housing being configured to direct filtered effluent into the popcorn popping chamber through the top wall and downwardly generally parallel to one of the side walls. A method of operating a popcorn popper is also provided.

Abstract: A self-contained popcorn popper has an open side provided with an air-flow curtain extending at least partially across the open side and directed inwardly. Effluent from popping flows upwardly into a “U”-shaped vent, through an effluent filter and flows into said air flow curtains to reduce particulate-bearing effluent emitted from the popper cabinet. Heated air is recirculated in a lower warming bin to maintain heat in popped corn dumped from a popping kettle and that air is recirculated in the bin, also to reduce emission of particulars into the environment surrounding the popper.

Abstract: A self-contained popcorn popper has an open side provided with an air-flow curtain extending at least partially across the open side and directed inwardly. Effluent from popping flows upwardly into a “U”-shaped vent, through an effluent filter and flows into said air flow curtains to reduce particulate-bearing effluent emitted from the popper cabinet. Heated air is recirculated in a lower warming bin to maintain heat in popped corn dumped from a popping kettle and that air is recirculated in the bin, also to reduce emission of particulars into the environment surrounding the popper.

Abstract: A cotton candy machine includes a floss head comprised of a floss head cap, a heated filament spinning screen, a floss head base and a rotatable retaining cap, all removable from said head without tools by manually rotating said retaining cap. A floater includes a vane, a shank and a shank end. Sockets on the upper surface of the retaining cap capture the shanks of plural floaters. The floaters are relative rigid and of selective pitch to produce sugar fiber cooling air flow, and are non-porous for enhanced cleaning. The floss head is easily manually disassembled for cleaning.

Abstract: A self-contained popcorn popper has an open side provided with an air-flow curtain extending at least partially across the open side and directed inwardly. Effluent from popping flows upwardly into a “U”-shaped vent, through an effluent filter and flows into said air flow curtains to reduce particulate-bearing effluent emitted from the popper cabinet. Heated air is recirculated in a lower warming bin to maintain heat in popped corn dumped from a popping kettle and that air is recirculated in the bin, also to reduce emission of particulars into the environment surrounding the popper.

Abstract: A cotton candy machine includes a floss head comprised of a floss head cap, a heated filament spinning screen, a floss head base and a rotatable retaining cap, all removable from said head without tools by manually rotating said retaining cap. A floater includes a vane, a shank and a shank end. Sockets on the upper surface of the retaining cap capture the shanks of plural floaters. The floaters are relative rigid and of selective pitch to produce sugar fiber cooling air flow, and are non-porous for enhanced cleaning. The floss head is easily manually disassembled for cleaning.

Abstract: A funnel cake mold preferably has multiple mold cavities, each with opposed slotted ends for releasably receiving a stick extending from within the cavity and outwardly from both ends. The mold is placed in a hot oil fryer and funnel cake batter is poured into each cavity where it is partially cooked around the stick. The sticks and partially cooked cake is removed from the mold and remain in the oil for final cooking. Preliminarily, sticks are oriented on a floating frame, each stick in register with a mold cavity pressed down over the sticks to releasably retain them in a respective cavity. The cake on a stick can then be handled and eaten from the stick. Methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An oil delivery system for a popcorn popping machine to deliver cooking oil to a kettle of the popping machine. In one embodiment, the oil delivery system includes more or more containers of oil which are supported within a cabinet of the popping machine so that the outlet of each container is facing downwardly so as to be oriented along a vertical axis. Flexible tubing is provided to connect the outlets of the containers to a pump of the oil delivery system. Each container may comprise a flexible bag which is enclosed in a rectangular box. The outlets of the flexible bags include quick connect/disconnect connectors which are connected with quick connect/disconnect connectors provided on the flexible tubing. The oil delivery system is provided with a flow sensor to detect when a container of oil is empty and provide an alert to an operator to remove and replace the container with a filled container. An electronic valve is provided in the oil delivery system to control the flow of oil from the containers.

Abstract: An oil delivery system for a popcorn popping machine to deliver cooking oil to a kettle of the popping machine. In one embodiment, the oil delivery system includes more or more containers of oil which are supported within a cabinet of the popping machine so that the outlet of each container is facing downwardly so as to be oriented along a vertical axis. Flexible tubing is provided to connect the outlets of the containers to a pump of the oil delivery system. Each container may comprise a flexible bag which is enclosed in a rectangular box. The outlets of the flexible bags include quick connect/disconnect connectors which are connected with quick connect/disconnect connectors provided on the flexible tubing. The oil delivery system is provided with a flow sensor to detect when a container of oil is empty and provide an alert to an operator to remove and replace the container with a filled container. An electronic valve is provided in the oil delivery system to control the flow of oil from the containers.

Abstract: Oil remaining for use in popcorn popping is continuously weighed and a signal indicating the status of remaining oil is generated to warn when oil must be replenished. Apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved popcorn popper (10) has effluent filtration structure to treat the oil laden vapor and steam effluent from popping popcorn within the popper and with discharge of effluent having less than 5 milligrams of particulates per cubic meter of effluent discharged directly into the area in which the popper (10) is located. There is no need for external hoods or for external ducting of effluent to outside the area and facility in which the popcorn is popped. The filtering is carried out within the popper (10). A fire suppression system is provided to handle fires even within the kettle (14). Methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An oil delivery system for a popcorn popping machine to deliver cooking oil to a kettle of the popping machine. In one embodiment, the oil delivery system includes more or more containers of oil which are supported within a cabinet of the popping machine so that the outlet of each container is facing downwardly so as to be oriented along a vertical axis. Flexible tubing is provided to connect the outlets of the containers to a pump of the oil delivery system. Each container may comprise a flexible bag which is enclosed in a rectangular box. The outlets of the flexible bags include quick connect/disconnect connectors which are connected with quick connect/disconnect connectors provided on the flexible tubing. The oil delivery system is provided with a flow sensor to detect when a container of oil is empty and provide an alert to an operator to remove and replace the container with a filled container. An electronic valve is provided in the oil delivery system to control the flow of oil from the containers.

Abstract: A guard defined by a wire-like framework can be mounted on a popcorn kettle to prevent burns from kettle contact. The guard is lightweight, and has resilient connector elements spacing the guard from the kettle.