Electrical Heating Patents (Class 366/146)
  • Patent number: 5934177
    Abstract: An automatic bread maker capable of permitting a user to easily perform a necessary work in using the bread maker, such as setting of menu and preparation of materials, without referring to an operation manual or a cooking recipe. This automatic bread maker comprises: a bread baking mold having a kneading blade at an inner bottom portion thereof; a baking case for detachably accommodating said bread baking mold and having a heater mounted along an inner wall surface thereof; a temperature detector for detecting temperature in the baking case; a memory for storing a plurality of bread making menus and data regarding each menu; a display device for displaying various data stored in the memory; an input operation panel for inputting a start command of a bread making operation and selection of the bread making menu; and controller for invoking various data from the memory in accordance with the bread making menu inputted through the input means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: MK Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Takeda, Fumihiko Akahane
  • Patent number: 5901637
    Abstract: A kitchen appliance in the form of an oven for baking, roasting and broiling is associated with a bread making apparatus featuring a bread baking pan adapted to be selectively placed into the oven. The oven includes heating elements at least at the top and bottom of the oven chamber. The bread making apparatus includes a metallic pan with a structure for locating the pan at a predetermined position within the oven chamber. In this position, a drive mechanism can rotate a blade for kneading dough in the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Appliance Development Corporation
    Inventors: Dov Z. Glucksman, Karl H. Weidemann
  • Patent number: 5887512
    Abstract: An automatic bread producing machine includes, in a baking chamber, a vessel unit having a bread vessel where a mixing vane for mixing bread ingredients is rotatably provided and a cylindrical bread vessel support fixed to an underside of the bread vessel. The bread vessel support has stoppers formed on the lower circumference thereof. The machine further includes a vessel mounting support mounted at the bottom of the baking chamber for receiving therein the bread vessel support. The vessel mounting support has cutouts formed at its circumferential wall for receiving and firmly holding the stoppers, respectively. Recessed portions are further formed at the circumferential wall of the vessel mounting support for guiding the stoppers to positions adjacent to the corresponding cutouts, respectively. Each cutout is provided adjacent to a lower end of the recessed portion and at one side of the recessed portion located in a rotation direction of the mixing vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kakimoto, Takahiro Ohshita, Noriyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5882113
    Abstract: There is disclosed a device for homogenizing and/or heating a liquid or mashy substance contained in a container. The container is connectable with the device. The device includes a socket element for retaining and fixing a container containing the liquid or mashy substance and a base body capable of being connected with the socket element. The base body includes a device for homogenizing the liquid or mashy substance and/or a device for heating the liquid or mashy substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Dep Corporation
    Inventor: Maria Binder
  • Patent number: 5860357
    Abstract: A breadmaker having a container sealingly mounted to the top of a housing and an electric heating element is mounted to an outside surface. A paddle is mounted at the bottom of the container and driven in use by an electric motor. Because the container is sealed in place in the housing, no foodstuff can enter the housing. Because the heating of the container is direct, less heat is wasted. The paddle may be lifted at the end of the baking cycle to aid removal of the cooled bread loaf. A hinged lid that is partially opened by a spring biassed plunger at the end of each baking cycle allows for ventilation of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Chiaphus Industries, Limited
    Inventors: Jimmy Siu Yim Yung, John Duncan McNair
  • Patent number: 5860355
    Abstract: An automatic bread maker comprises: an oven chamber having a heater, a kneader and a temperature sensor; a bread vessel mounted within the oven chamber, ingredients being charged into the bread vessel; and controller for controlling the heater so as for a temperature within the oven chamber, which is detected by the temperature sensor to be maintained at a fermentation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: MK Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Takeda, Makoto Nasu, Yuji Takatsu
  • Patent number: 5855164
    Abstract: A roasting apparatus includes an outer annular wall, an inner annular wall disposed in the outer annular wall to define a roasting chamber, a radiant heating element disposed on an inner surface of the inner annular wall, an oil accumulating plate disposed in the roasting chamber and having a hub portion underneath thereof and coaxial with a rotating shaft in the roasting chamber, a roasting rack member above the oil accumulating plate, a speed reduction mechanism to couple the rotating shaft and the hub portion such that the latter rotates at a speed slower than that of the rotating shaft to drive the oil accumulating plate and the roasting rack member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Inventor: Hanh Chiang
  • Patent number: 5839358
    Abstract: A kneading paddle extraction device for removing the kneading paddle from a loaf of bread made by an automatic bread making machine, while minimizing damage to the loaf, is provided. A kneading paddle containing a substantially central aperture for receiving a motor shaft is grasped by one or more rods, each rod having a hook which is inserted through the aperture, with the preferred embodiment additionally utilizing a sliding wedge for grasping the kneading paddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Edward Malecki
  • Patent number: 5836237
    Abstract: An apparatus for baking bread and making ice cram includes a housing unit, a bread baking assembly, an ice-cream making assembly and a base assembly. A selected one of the bread baking assembly and the ice-cream making assembly can be mounted into the housing unit and can be activated by a motor-driven member of the base assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: Hanh Chiang
  • Patent number: 5834739
    Abstract: A stirring hot plate (20) having an electrical heating element (30) embedded in a generally horizontal plate (26) for supporting a vessel containing a substance to be selectively heated and stirred. The stirring hot plate (20) has a high temperature enclosure (84) mounted to the bottom of the plate (26) that receives the ends (32, 33) of the electrical heating element (30). A stirring device drive (64) and control (68) are mounted in a low temperature enclosure (86). A tubular conduit (96) has one end (107) connected to the low temperature enclosure (86), and an opposite end (98) connected to the high temperature enclosures (84). The tubular conduit (96) has an internal passage (97) for receiving and carrying wires (76, 80, 83) between the high and the low temperature enclosures (84, 86).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Barnstead/Thermolyne Corporation
    Inventors: Mark David Lockwood, Steven C. Peake
  • Patent number: 5829344
    Abstract: A kitchen appliance for preparing yogurt, soft frozen yogurt and ice cream, hard frozen yogurt and ice cream, and cheese. The appliance includes a container having a generally square open top around the periphery of which are switch actuators or contacts. A square cover having a plurality of vent openings formed therethrough and electrical switch devices positioned about its periphery for cooperation with those on the rim of the container is used to select the mode of operation for accommodating the type of food item being prepared based on which of the four possible ways it can be positioned on the container. A motor-driven paddle device is rotationally journaled with respect to the cover and the motors therefor are adapted to be driven either continuously or with a predetermined duty cycle, dependent upon the product being made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Arnold J. Lande
  • Patent number: 5829341
    Abstract: An automatic cooker is capable of cooking food according to automatic cooking data stored in a control card. The automatic cooker includes a cooking container for receiving raw food therein, a cooking implement assembly for performing at least one cooking operation on the food in the cooking container, a housing formed with a card slot for insertion of the control card, and a card-type controller mounted in the housing and connected to the cooking implement assembly. The controller receives removably the control card that is inserted from an exterior of the housing via the card slot, and reads the automatic cooking data stored in the control card so as to control operation of the cooking implement assembly in accordance with the automatic cooking data read from the control card in order to cook the food in the cooking container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Jenny Lin
  • Patent number: 5826495
    Abstract: A single loaf breadmaker has a container sealingly mounted to the top of a housing and an electric heating element is mounted to an outside surface. A paddle is mounted at the bottom of the container and driven in use by an electric motor . Because the container is sealed in place in the housing and because the heating of the container is direct, no foodstuff can enter the housing and much less heat is wasted. Means are described for lifting the paddle at the end of backing to aid removal of each cooked bread loaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Chiaphua Industries Limited
    Inventors: Jimmy Siu Yim Yung, John Duncan McNair
  • Patent number: 5819636
    Abstract: The invention concerns a multi-functional programmable food processor for the preparation of cooked dishes, comprising a principal body, a processing receptacle, a container, divided into several compartments destined to contain the ingredients, arranged above the receptacle, each compartment featuring an aperture, rotary disk for connecting compartments of the container with the receptacle and drive mechanism, utensils for handling the ingredients within the receptacle and with the respective drive mechanisms, heating the receptacle, microprocessor for programming and control of the processor wherein the container is mounted fixed on receptacle via an intermediate element in operating position, whereby the receptacle, the container and the intermediate element constitute a set mounted fixed on the body of the processor in operating position, and rotary disk for connecting compartments of the container with the receptacle arranged within the intermediate element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Gentech Sarl
    Inventor: Alaa Khashoggi
  • Patent number: 5799567
    Abstract: The invention concerns a food processor (1) with a mixing vessel (6) and a drive mechanism (8) for an agitator (10) in the mixing vessel (6), the lower region of which can be heated. As an improvement on a food processor (1) of this type, it is proposed that a weighing device (16) should be provided and that the weighing device (16) should determine the weight of a mixing pot support (7) including a heating unit (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Dorner
  • Patent number: 5797313
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical appliance for automatically preparing a baby-feeding formulation at a prescribed hour, and for maintaining the prepared formulation at a preferred temperature for a limited period of time prior to consumption by an infant. The device may be powered by any power source for providing either alternating current or direct current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Tamara Rothley
  • Patent number: 5794521
    Abstract: An improved breadmaker not only has a baking pan placed inside a baking chamber above a heater but also a centrifugal fan for pushing air upward therethrough. A partition wall with upper and lower openings separates the fan from the baking pan such that the upwardly pushed hot air is caused to flow downward around the baking pan. The baking pan is thereby heated uniformly and heat energy is efficiently utilized. Many processing programs are stored for producing different kinds of bread by using different ingredients. Each processing program is assigned a code and can be selected by specifying the code associated with it from a control panel. Ingredients to be used in each of the programs may be in a premixed form in a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Simon K. C. Yung
  • Patent number: 5771784
    Abstract: The present invention features a bread-making machine that has a kneading paddle which remains in the bucket after the baking cycle. The bread-making machine automatically entraps, or vertically constrains, the kneading paddle to the rotating drive shaft. Upon the initial rotation of the drive shaft, the paddle shifts backwardly with respect to the drive shaft under a reactive, inertial force. The paddle will rotate approximately twenty-five degrees in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the shaft. This is made possible by the looseness of the fit of the drive shaft within the paddle's bore. A lip positioned on the top of the drive shaft will engage the top surface of the paddle hub, when the paddle is caused to shift. This engagement will capture the paddle, causing it to become vertically constrained to the drive shaft. Upon completion of the baking cycle, the baked bread can be removed without the paddle, which remains affixed to the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Pentalpha Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventor: John C. K. Sham
  • Patent number: 5768978
    Abstract: A food processor with an agitator within a mixing vessel includes a drive mechanism for driving the agitator. Heat is applied to a lower region of the vessel during a holding of the vessel in a narrowly enclosing seat having a cylindrical wall region encircling a part of the vessel exclusive of a gap in the wall. An adjustment device enables enlargement and contraction of the wall region to facilitate emplacement and removal of the vessel with respect to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Dorner, Volker Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5750158
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating and blending thermoplastic material prior to delivering the material into the barrel of an extruder has an elongated housing which contains two intermeshing feed screws that are driven to rotate in the same direction. Controlled heating is provided by electric band heaters which encircle the exterior of the housing, and electric cartridge heating elements fitted into aluminum cores that are received by an axial bore in each of the feed screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Cincinnati Milacron Inc.
    Inventors: Siegfried R. Wissmann, William T. Schmitt, David E. Murdock
  • Patent number: 5749285
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a food processor with a mixing vessel (4) and a drive mechanism for an agitator in the mixing vessel (4), where the mixing vessel (4) has in its lower region an opening of substantially circular cross-section. To make this type of food processor more practicable the invention proposes that the cross-section of the upper opening be elliptical and that a geometric mid-point (19') of the upper opening cross-section be offset from a mid-point (19) of the lower opening cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Dorner, Uwe Kemker, Hans-Peter Simm, Oliver Lapp
  • Patent number: 5735190
    Abstract: The present invention features a combination bread-baker and a convection oven that bakes or cooks food thoroughly and evenly. Air is circulated through the baking or cooking chamber via a fan disposed in the side of the baking/cooking chamber. Steam can be introduced into the baking/cooking chamber during a cooking cycle by means of a steam-generator. A water reservoir supplies water to a steam-generating tube that is contiguously adjacent a portion of the heating coil. A microprocessor digitally controls both the baking and the cooking cycles. A pair of sensors positioned about the baking/cooking chamber send signals to the microprocessor that indicate levels of both heat and humidity within the chamber. The sensors continuously monitor the baking or cooking conditions within the chamber. The microprocessor uses the updated information to continuously adjust either the amount of steam being introduced, or the speed of the fan for adjusting the circulating air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: John C. K. Sham
  • Patent number: 5704277
    Abstract: An improved breadmaker not only has a baking pan placed inside a baking chamber above a heater but also a centrifugal fan for pushing air upward therethrough. A partition wall with upper and lower openings separates the fan from the baking pan such that the upwardly pushed hot air is caused to flow downward around the baking pan. The baking pan is thereby heated uniformly and heat energy is efficiently utilized. Many processing programs are stored for producing different kinds of bread by using different ingredients. Each processing program is assigned a code and can be selected by specifying the code associated with it from a control panel. Ingredients to be used in each of the programs may be in a premixed form in a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Simon K. C. Yung
  • Patent number: 5636922
    Abstract: A soap chip recycler presents a housing having inner and outer walls surrounding an interior, vertical compartment. The compartment presents a lower dissolution zone having a motor-driven blade assembly and a dispenser zone above the dissolution zone. A pump assembly extends through a lid, the latter engaging a rim surrounding an aperture in the top wall of the housing. The pump assembly includes a depending conduit extending into the compartment and terminating above the dissolution zone. The energized coil heats the compartment to a temperature consistent with soap liquefaction. The over/under zone relationship directs any soap particles approaching a solidified state to the bottom of the compartment for pulverization by the blade assembly so as to preclude interference with the pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Daryl O. Clark
  • Patent number: 5628240
    Abstract: A bread baking apparatus makes dough by kneading raw ingredients tossed into a bread baking case installed in an oven, and baking after fermentation. The object of this invention is to conveniently provide attractive-appearing bread having a specified expanded volume and a prespecified color when baked. Namely, in order to prevent undesirable results, such as expanding more or less than specified in the fermenting process, or being affected by external room temperature and humidity which has penetrated the oven through a glass lid installed on the baking oven, this apparatus is provided with means for detecting fermenting conditions while fermenting, and means for extending the fermenting process time. This apparatus is further provided with baking timer means for defining the color of the final baked product by applying temperature measuring means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5615605
    Abstract: An automatic bread producing apparatus includes a member defining a baking chamber having an opening. A movable lid serves to selectively block and unblock the opening of the baking chamber. A bread mold is disposed in the baking chamber. A controller generates a command signal. An added-food feeding device disposed in the lid is operative for feeding added food into the bread mold. The added-food feeding device is automatically activated in response to the command signal generated by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kakimoto, Noriyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5605090
    Abstract: A bread maker for baking a bread, having a memory for memorizing appropriate processing time data previously for kneading, rising and baking dough in accordance with a ratio of water to the weight of the ingredients. The data includes plural levels to be operated. In the bread maker, a ratio of the weight of water to the weight of the ingredients is calculated based on the weighed value, and which level the ratio belongs to is judged. Then, appropriate processing time for kneading, rising and baking in accordance with the ratio are set automatically, so that high-quality bread can be always made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Funai Techno-Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobunori Mantani, Hisanobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5590583
    Abstract: An appliance which includes an inner compartment with one zone in which uncooked bagels can be boiled and a second zone for subsequently baking the boiled bagels. The same appliance can also be used to make bagel doughs and to both make and bake other yeast doughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: PMI International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert G. Harrison
  • Patent number: 5590585
    Abstract: A bread maker having a reference value setting section for updating a reference value corresponding to a target temperature every heater-on/off control operation, the reference value serving to stabilize a current temperature to the target temperature by comparing the current temperature with the reference value and controlling a heater on the basis of a temperature difference between the current temperature and the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isaya Morishita
  • Patent number: 5589394
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide apparatuses and methods for preparing fluid. In one method, a heater thermally associated with a housing for receiving fluid is operated to apply thermal energy to the housing. A second predetermined volume of a second fluid is introduced to the housing. The second predetermined volume of the second fluid is moved with the housing for a first predetermined time period. The first predetermined volume of the first fluid is introduced to the housing. The first predetermined volume of first fluid and the second predetermined volume of second fluid are moved with the housing for a second predetermined time period. The first predetermined volume of first fluid and the second predetermined volume of second fluid are removed from the housing. Another embodiment provides an apparatus comprising a first housing for containing fluid. A second housing is operatively connected with the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Young R. Kim, Kenneth E. Iles, Roderick W. Larue
  • Patent number: 5584230
    Abstract: A bread baking apparatus makes dough by kneading raw ingredients tossed into a bread baking case installed in an oven, and baking after fermentation. The object of this invention is to conveniently provide attractive-appearing bread having a specified expanded volume and a prespecified color when baked. Namely, in order to prevent undesirable results, such as expanding more or less than specified in the fermenting process, or being affected by external room temperature and humidity which has penetrated the oven through a glass lid installed on the baking oven, this apparatus is provided with means for detecting fermenting conditions while fermenting, and means for extending the fermenting process time. This apparatus is further provided with baking timer means for defining the color of the final baked product by applying temperature measuring means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Yoshida, Yasumasu Hironaka, Hisanobu Tanaka, Hironobu Shimokubo
  • Patent number: 5564826
    Abstract: A bath shaker (10) is provided for agitating liquid baths. The bath shaker (10) incorporates a "flexible parallelogram" mode of movement wherein a bath shelf (20) is attached to and supported by two, parallel opposing flexible arms (112). Present on each flexible arm (112) is a first attachment portion (124) sandwichedly held by an upright extension (120) and a first hold plate (110), the arrangement causing the first attachment portion (124) to serve as a flexible hinge. A drive mechanism (16) produces a reciprocating action of the bath shelf (20) through the use of an eccentric (80) and a pivoting lever (46) attached to both the eccentric (80) and the bath shelf (20). The flexible parallelogram arrangement defines the reciprocating motion to be substantially rectilinear and makes for an entirely noiseless mode of travel, while producing an extremely smooth transition between reciprocations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Robbins Scientific Corporation
    Inventors: Hans D. Neumann, Arthur J. Robbins, David J. Wright
  • Patent number: 5562020
    Abstract: A stirring blade driving device for a bread maker. In the device, a stirring blade is rotated by a motor having a main coil and speed-changing coils, and the respective coils of the motor are selectively connected to an ac power supply by a plurality of triacs. The on/off operation of the triacs is controlled by a microcomputer in accordance with the number of revolutions of the stirring blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Shigeshiro
  • Patent number: 5549383
    Abstract: A screw-type extrusion machine has a housing with at least one housing bore, in which a screw shaft is arranged. The housing has outer surfaces, which have a non-constant distance to the wall of the at least one bore. The outer surfaces are provided with heating elements. In order to attain an approximately constant temperature along the circumference of the wall of the at least one bore, heating elements of a different specific heating capacity are arranged sectionally on the outer surfaces of the housing, the heating elements being such formed that the heating temperature at the wall of the at least one bore is approximately constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Werner & Pfleiderer, GmbH
    Inventors: Arno Knoll, Gerhard Weihrich, Hans Wobbe
  • Patent number: 5549382
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically stirring foodstuffs in a kitchen environment are provided. The apparatus and method use a stove top having a plurality of cooking locations, the stove top having a top surface to support a plurality of cooking vessels and a means for heating in operable association with each of the cooking locations, and a driver means for driving an agitator device wherein the driver means is positioned in axial alignment with at least one of the cooking locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventors: Bernard A. Correia, II, Philip B. Kirk, II
  • Patent number: 5547277
    Abstract: A preheating screw for the simultaneous mixing and heating of fine-grained or paste-like substances, in which intensive heat transfer takes place during transport of the substance by use of a rotating hollow screw that is filled with a heat-transfer medium, preferably a fluid, heat being transfered from the heat-transfer medium to the product by way of the heated hollow screw. An electrical heating device is installed in a hollow screw shaft, and is supplied with electrical energy via sliding contacts positioned on the outside of the screw shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz AG
    Inventors: Heinz Caspelherr, Ulrich Huwel
  • Patent number: 5531153
    Abstract: A bread baking apparatus having a bread container, a mixer for mixing ingredients in the container to form a dough, and an oven for baking the dough, and further having a storage unit for storing a plurality of bread types, bread recipes and bread processing operating times, a display unit for displaying the plurality of bread types, a selection unit for selecting one of the displayed bread types, with the display unit further displaying the recipe of the selected bread type, a control unit for controlling the time of operation of the apparatus, and a start unit for starting the mixing and baking. A method of baking bread utilizing such baking apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: MK Seiko, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiki Maruyama, Makoto Nasu, Yoshisada Misawa, Soichi Takeda
  • Patent number: 5529391
    Abstract: A magnetic stirring device which also provides for simultaneous heating/cooling of samples. The magnetic stirring apparatus comprises a plurality of wells into which respective vessels can be placed and continuously stirred by motivating a magnetic stirring bar therein with a three phase frequency controller. Simultaneously, the temperature of the vessels can be maintained at a predetermined temperature either above or below room temperature by means of thermoelectric elements in contact with a heat conducting block within which the wells are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: L. Allen Kindman, Ronald F. Overaker, Brian C. Dodge
  • Patent number: 5528979
    Abstract: A bread baking device enables automatic preheating of bread materials in the bread baking device provided with a bread baking oven (1), a bread baking vessel (13) installed in the baking oven (1), and the lid (3) openably installed on the baking oven, and by mixing raw ingredients to produce dough, and bakes bread after fermentation of the dough. The bread baking device includes a sensor (117) for detecting the temperature in the baking oven, a preheating control device (52a) heating the temperature in the baking oven to a pre-set temperature by comparing the detected temperature in the baking oven by applying the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5520094
    Abstract: A cooking device includes an electrical motor disposed within a housing to drive, via a mechanical transmission including belt-pulley system, a stirring blade rotatably disposed within a food container which is also fixed within the housing for stirring food placed within the food container. Electrical heating elements and temperature sensor are provided within the housing for respectively heating the food container and determining the temperature of the food container. A micro-processor based control system is provided to be in electrical connection with the motor, the electrical heating elements and the temperature sensor for controlling the operation of the cooking device. The control system has a control panel to be accessible and operated by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Eloofa Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Li-Hua Lu
  • Patent number: 5513557
    Abstract: The baking apparatus includes a surrounding wall that defines a heating chamber, and a kneading case provided centrally in the chamber. The surrounding wall has an upper opening and a lower opening which are formed through the surrounding wall. A guide fin unit is installed on the surrounding wall near the lower opening so as to guide air to enter into the chamber via the lower opening to flow upward along a passage defined between the surrounding wall and the kneading case. The kneading case is provided with a shaking blade that has a vertical rotating shaft adapted to be fastened to the motor shaft of a driving motor, a horizontal plate projecting radially from the rotating shaft, and a trapezoidal sheet fixed on and inclined relative to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: Ming-Shan Chiang
  • Patent number: 5488898
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying liquid to particulate materials using a single drive motor to operate both the upper particle dispersing disc and the lower liquid dispersing disc, the latter disc being driven at a much higher speed than the former. The two dispersing discs have coaxial drive, one hollow drive shaft within the other, but are driven at different rotational speeds optimum for the material being dispersed from the respective discs. The liquid is fed through the inner hollow drive shaft to its disc. The particulate feed rate is controllable with a presettable throttling or feed rate regulator sleeve. The sleeve has tooth features cooperative with abutment features of the underlying particle dispersing disc to neutralize lumps, chunks and pieces of paper and the like in the feed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Hough International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Hough
  • Patent number: 5477776
    Abstract: A shaft supporting mechanism for a mixing and kneading device including a shaft which is driven by a motor, a mixing and kneading blade having an insertion hole which is to be inserted into the shaft. The shaft has a D cut surface formed thereon, and at the end of the D cut surface, a sloped corner facet consisting of edge portions each having an inclination is formed. On the other hand, the mixing and kneading blade has a plane abutment surface formed as a portion of the inner wall of the insertion hole. The mixing and kneading blade is inserted into the shaft in such a manner that the abutment surface is meshed with the D cut surface, to rotate the mixing and kneading blade while the shaft is rotated by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Shimokubo, Atsunori Zensai
  • Patent number: 5463936
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for serving the dual purposes of baking bread and for churning butter. The apparatus includes a processing chamber which releasably receives a pan which retains the ingredients to be processed. The pan includes a paddle which rotates to stir bread and to churn butter. The processing chamber further includes a heating element surrounding the pan which heats the pan during a bread baking operation. A power controller controls a motor which drives the stirring paddle and controls the heater during a bread baking operation. A switch is supplied between the power controller and the power supply to disconnect the power controller during a butter churning operation. The switch further connects the motor which drives the stirring paddle directly to the power source when the switch is set in a butter churning position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Toastmaster Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Clark, Joel J. Terrell, III
  • Patent number: 5445061
    Abstract: A baking and cooking machine which can knead dough and bake bread, but can also be used as a general oven for grilling, broiling and steaming food products. The device is rectangular in shape and the oven heating system includes a heating element and a fan, with a baffle arranged to conduct and direct a large part of the heated air into the oven chamber and against the side walls to thereby augment the heat in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: George Barradas
  • Patent number: 5441754
    Abstract: A cotton candy machine includes a spinner head having upper and lower spinner elements spaced apart at least by about 1/2 inch and defining with a spacer a common sugar chamber operatively communicating with each spinner element. Sugar from the common chamber is directed to each element where it is heated and issues from the head in molten form. Upper and lower apertures of the apparatus are at least about 7/8 inch from respective apertures in other spinner element. The number of same size servings for the same initial amount of sugar is substantially increased over prior heads with elements or apertures not so spaced apart, while energy requirements are at the same time substantially decreased. Apparatus and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Gold Medal Products Co.
    Inventor: John C. Evans, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5438915
    Abstract: A temperature sensor assembly is used for an automatic baking machine which includes an oven and a container disposed within the oven so as to bake bread therein. The oven has a heat device mounted therein so as to heat the container. The temperature sensor assembly includes a shell member, a sensor element, a bias unit, and a housing member. The shell member is attached to the inner wall of the oven and has a heat transfer portion near the container. The heat transfer portion is made of a material which permits heat to transfer therethrough. The sensor element contacts the heat transfer portion of the shell member so as to detect a temperature of the heat transfer portion, and has a pair of conducting legs respectively adapted to be connected electrically to two conducting wires of the heat device so as to signal and actuate the heat device to heat the container when the temperature of the heat transfer portion is below a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Shang-Hsien Chen
  • Patent number: 5435235
    Abstract: A bread making machine having a bread case being releasably attached to an oven chamber and receiving ingredients therein and subjecting the ingredients to bread making processes such as a kneading process, a leavening process, and a baking process within the same oven chamber. In the bread making machine, the bread making operation is stopped temporarily before the baking process and then resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5433844
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for pathogen reduction in waste where dewatered sludge having a solids content in the range of 10-60% is mixed with a selected alkaline additive selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide or calcium carbonate group. Hydration to calcium hydroxide occurs with an attendant release of heat. The pH of the sludge is then elevated and the heat of the hydration reaction is retained. Supplemental heat is added to the sludge, either to preheat the sludge prior to mixing it, or while mixing it, or both, such that effective neutralization of pathogens results. The supplemental heat is added by indirectly heating the sludge by heat generated by electric elements carried either in the mixing member, or by the chamber, or both, with electric power being supplied from outside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: RDP Company
    Inventor: Paul G. Christy
  • Patent number: 5433139
    Abstract: A bread making machine that prepares a dough by mixing and kneading water and ingredients poured into a bread baking case, leavens the dough, and thereafter bakes the leavened dough. The bread making machine is provided with an outside air temperature detector and an outside air humidity detector, and a dough leavening condition corresponding to a predetermined bread rising degree is set based on the correlational data on outside air temperatures and outside air humidities in function of dough rising degree and the values detected by the outside air temperature and humidity detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Kitagawa, Takashi Miyamoto