[go: up one dir, main page]

US20170099986A1 - Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food - Google Patents

Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20170099986A1
US20170099986A1 US15/267,172 US201615267172A US2017099986A1 US 20170099986 A1 US20170099986 A1 US 20170099986A1 US 201615267172 A US201615267172 A US 201615267172A US 2017099986 A1 US2017099986 A1 US 2017099986A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
food
endless conveyor
conveyor belt
housing
appliance
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US15/267,172
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Dipan Patel
Bhupendra R. Patel
Jignesh Patel
James R. Buchler
Francisco Vega
Ignacio Vega
Cheryl L. Panasik
Robert Lewis Cucchi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AJ Antunes and Co
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US15/267,172 priority Critical patent/US20170099986A1/en
Assigned to A. J. ANTUNES & CO. reassignment A. J. ANTUNES & CO. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: VEGA, IGNACIO, PATEL, BHUPENDRA, PANASIK, CHERYL L., BUCHLER, JAMES R., PATEL, DIPAN, PATEL, JIGNESH, VEGA, FRANCISCO
Priority to CN201680068231.3A priority patent/CN108463147A/zh
Priority to PCT/US2016/056166 priority patent/WO2017066104A1/fr
Priority to CA3001706A priority patent/CA3001706A1/fr
Priority to EP16855996.1A priority patent/EP3361920A4/fr
Publication of US20170099986A1 publication Critical patent/US20170099986A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J37/00—Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying
    • A47J37/04—Roasting apparatus with movably-mounted food supports or with movable heating implements; Spits
    • A47J37/045—Roasting apparatus with movably-mounted food supports or with movable heating implements; Spits with endless conveyors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A21—BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS
    • A21B—BAKERS' OVENS; MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR BAKING
    • A21B1/00—Bakers' ovens
    • A21B1/42—Bakers' ovens characterised by the baking surfaces moving during the baking
    • A21B1/48—Bakers' ovens characterised by the baking surfaces moving during the baking with surfaces in the form of an endless band
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J37/00—Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying
    • A47J37/06—Roasters; Grills; Sandwich grills

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to food preparation apparatus, equipment, or appliances, and more particularly to a grilling appliance for preparing various different types of food wherein the food is conveyed through the appliance, from a food insert end of the appliance to a food removal end of the appliance, by means of continuously movable flow-through upper and lower cooperating conveyors operatively associated with platen-type heating members over which the upper and lower conveyors are conveyed so as to be heated by the platen-type heating members and thereby, in turn, heat, brown, or carmelize the food as desired or required.
  • various types of apparatus, equipment, or appliances are utilized to cook or prepare various different types of food such as, for example, burritos, Panini sandwiches, crunch wraps, and the like.
  • the apparatus, equipment, or appliances that are conventionally employed are either flat grills which effectively cook or toast one side of the food, and then they cook or toast the other side of the food when the food is flipped or turned over onto its other side upon the flat grill.
  • clam-shell apparatus or appliances have also been employed which can effectively cook or toast both sides of the food simultaneously as a result of the food being placed upon a lower food support cooking platform or grill when the clamshell apparatus is disposed at its open position, and then the clamshell apparatus is pivotally moved to its closed position so as to bring the upper food cooking grill portion into contact with the food.
  • the operational drawback or disadvantage of such apparatus, equipment, or appliances is the fact that the cooking time is effectively monitored and necessarily controlled by means of the personnel doing the grilling or cooking, with the result that sometimes, the food is undercooked, overcooked, or even burned, neither one of which operations and resulting conditions produces a satisfactory and tasty end food product.
  • the overall objectives of the present invention are to provide a new and improved grilling appliance for cooking food which will overcome and eliminate the various disadvantages and drawbacks characteristic of conventional grilling apparatus, equipment, or appliances for cooking food, to provide a new and improved grilling appliance for cooking food which will effectively overcome and eliminate the poor cooking results often encountered with conventional grilling appliances, apparatus, or equipment for cooking food, to provide a new and improved grilling appliance which will enhance the efficiency of the food-cooking procedure or process, and to provide a new and improved grilling appliance which will automatically control the food-cooking procedure or process, from the beginning of the food-cooking cycle to the end of the food cooking cycle, so as to provide a properly cooked or re-thermalized and tasty end food product.
  • the grilling appliance comprises upper and lower endless conveyor belts which are routed over and around upper and lower heated platens and which are fabricated, for example, from PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene, which are adapted to be disposed in contact with the food articles being cooked, and yet the food articles will not adhere or stick to the conveyor belts.
  • the conveyor belts are flow-through conveyor belts, that is, they extend from a first food-insert end of the appliance toward a second oppositely disposed food-output end of the appliance, and consequently, depending upon the speed of the conveyor belts, which can be optimally controlled, the time during which the food articles are exposed to the heated conveyor belts, which are heated by means of the heated platens, is predetermined such that the food articles are not in fact undercooked or overcooked but are properly cooked so as to result in a very satisfactorily cooked and tasty end food product.
  • the disposition of the upper platen, around which the upper conveyor belt is routed can be adjusted with respect to the lower platen and the lower conveyor belt so as to effectively adjust the gap defined between the upper and lower platens and the upper and lower conveyor belts.
  • the grilling appliance can accommodate different foods having different height dimensions such as, for example, burritos, Panini sandwiches, crunch wraps, and the like. Still further, the appliance provides for the easy removal of the conveyor belts for cleaning, maintenance, or exchange of the belts.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the new and improved conveyor type grilling machine as constructed in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention and showing the various component parts thereof;
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the new and improved conveyor type grilling machine as illustrated within FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the new and improved conveyor-type grilling machine as illustrated within FIGS. 1 and 2 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the new and improved conveyor type grilling machine, similar to that of FIG. 1 , showing, however, the entry end and exit end doors of the grilling machine in their opened positions so as to facilitate, for example, maintenance, cleaning, and conveyor belt exchange operations which may need to be performed upon the appliance at predetermined times;
  • FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the new and improved conveyor type grilling machine as illustrated within FIGS. 1-4 showing the provision of, for example, a portion of the lower endless conveyor belt assembly, comprising the lower heated platen and tensioned idler roller, over and around which the lower conveyor belt is conducted so as to be heated by means of the lower heated platen;
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of an embodiment of a uniquely constructed endless conveyor belt, which may be used as an upper conveyor belt, a lower conveyor belt, or as both conveyor belts, whereby either one or both of the upper and/or lower surface portions of the cooked food product will effectively have grill lines formed thereon so as to simulate grill lines that would otherwise appear upon such food products if the food products were actually cooked, for example, upon a charcoal grill;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective plan view showing the installation of a food holding tray which may be fixedly secured upon the exit end of the grilling machine so as to effectively catch and hold the food products which have been cooked and which have been discharged from the grilling machine by means of the lower endless conveyor belt;
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the grilling appliance showing the internal components, comprising a rack and pinion drive mechanism, of the grilling compliance, which permits the upper endless conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen to have its elevational position, relative to the lower endless conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen, to be vertically adjusted so as to permit the grilling appliance to be utilized to cook different foods have different height or thickness dimensions, and wherein a circle area A is noted;
  • FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the circled area denoted A illustrated in FIG. 10 illustrating the details of the rack and pinion drive mechanism, the pilot pin locator plate having a multitude of pilot pin locator holes defined therein, and the pilot pin located upon the distal end of a pivotally or arcuately movable arm fixedly connected to the pinion of the rack and pinion drive mechanism, whereby the upper conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen are disposed at their lowest position relative to the lower conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen;
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the grilling appliance, similar to that of FIG. 8 , showing, however, the internal components, comprising the rack and pinion drive mechanism, of the grilling compliance, which permits the upper endless conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen to have its elevational position, relative to the lower endless conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen, to be vertically adjusted so as to permit the grilling appliance to be utilized to cook different foods have different height or thickness dimensions, and wherein a circle area B is noted; and
  • FIG. 9B an enlarged view of the circled area denoted B illustrated in FIG. 9 showing the details of the rack and pinion drive mechanism, the pilot pin locator plate having a multitude of pilot pin locator holes defined therein, and the pilot pin located upon the distal end of a pivotally or arcuately movable arm fixedly connected to the pinion of the rack and pinion drive mechanism, whereby the upper conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen are disposed at their highest position relative to the lower conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen;
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the grilling appliance with a side housing wall portion of the appliance illustrated as having been removed such that access can be gained to the internal components of the appliance in order to achieve a lower conveyor belt exchange operation;
  • FIG. 11A is a schematic front-side perspective view of the grilling appliance with a side housing wall portion of the appliance illustrated as having been removed such that access can be gained to the internal components of the appliance in order to achieve an upper conveyor belt exchange operation;
  • FIG. 11B is a schematic front-side perspective view of the grilling appliance, similar to that of FIG. 11A , wherein the side housing wall portion of the appliance illustrated has been removed such that access can be gained to the internal components of the appliance in order to achieve an upper conveyor belt exchange operation, and wherein the front access door has been moved to its open position, and the pair of pivot links, connecting the rack of the height adjustment mechanism for the upper conveyor belt to the upper conveyor belt mounting system, have been moved to their out-of-the way position so as to permit removal of the upper conveyor belt side cover so as to, in turn, permit access to and removal of the upper conveyor belt; and
  • FIG. 11C is a schematic front-side perspective view of the grilling appliance, similar to that of FIGS. 11A and 11B , wherein, as a result of the removal of the upper conveyor belt side cover, the upper conveyor belt can in fact be removed.
  • the new and improved conveyor-type grilling appliance 100 comprises a housing 102 within which a pair upper and lower conveyor belts 104 , 106 are disposed as can best be appreciated from FIGS. 1,3 , and 4 .
  • the upper and lower conveyor belts 104 , 106 are endless conveyor belts that flow through the housing 102 from a food product input or entrance end 108 of the housing 102 to a food product output or exit/discharge end 110 of the housing 102 .
  • the upper conveyor belt 104 is wholly enclosed within the housing 102 , while the opposite ends of the lower conveyor belt 106 extend beyond each end of the housing 102 .
  • a first movable platform region 112 of the lower conveyor belt 106 is defined at the food product input or entrance end 108 of the housing 102 for permitting food-cooking personnel to effectively place the food, to be cooked, onto the input platform region 112 of the lower conveyor belt 106 whereby the lower conveyor belt 106 will then move the food, to be cooked, into the appliance 100 .
  • the food, to be cooked will effectively be captured between the upper and lower conveyor belts 104 , 106 and will be propelled forwardly by the upper and lower conveyor belts 104 , 106 until the food exits from the oppositely disposed exit or discharge end 110 of the appliance housing 102 .
  • the oppositely disposed exit or discharge end 110 of the lower conveyor belt 106 disposed at the exit or discharge region of the appliance 100 , effectively forms a second movable platform region 114 from which food cooking personnel can re-move the cooked food.
  • a suitable tray 116 can be fixedly attached to the housing 102 at the exit or discharge end 110 of the appliance 100 for effectively catching and holding the cooked food 118 as the cooked food is discharged and deposited into the tray 116 by means of the mov-able lower conveyor belt 106 .
  • FIG. 5 there is disclosed a partial perspective view of, for example, a portion of the lower endless conveyor belt support and drive assembly 118 which is seen to comprise, for example, a lower heated platen 120 fixedly mounted upon a platen platform 121 and a tensioned front idler roller 122 over and around which the lower endless conveyor belt 106 , not shown, is conducted so as to be heated by means of the lower heated platen 120 .
  • a lower heated platen 120 fixedly mounted upon a platen platform 121 and a tensioned front idler roller 122 over and around which the lower endless conveyor belt 106 , not shown, is conducted so as to be heated by means of the lower heated platen 120 .
  • both the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104 , 106 are fabricated, for example, from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) such that the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104 , 106 , which are adapted to be disposed in contact with the food articles being cooked as a result of the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104 , 106 propelling the food to be cooked or re-thermalized through the appliance 100 from the food input or entrance end 108 of the housing 102 to the food output or exit/discharge end 110 of the housing 102 , will effectively prevent the food products being cooked from adhering or sticking to the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104 , 106 .
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • the drive system, not shown, for the rear drive roller can of course be any suitable conventional drive system, such as, for example, a suitable chain and sprocket drive assembly. It is to be further noted that a user interface or similar control panel 124 is provided upon a side wall portion of the housing 102 , as can best be seen in FIGS.
  • the temperature of both the upper and lower heated platens, exemplified by means of the lower heated platen 120 , as well as the speed of the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104 , 106 , which are driven at the same synchronous speed, can be optimally controlled so as to in turn control the real time during which the food articles are exposed to the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104 , 106 heated by means of the heated platens exemplified by means of the lower heated platen 120 .
  • the actual or real cooking time is effectively predetermined such that the food articles are not in fact undercooked or overcooked but are properly cooked or re-thermalized so as to result in a very satisfactorily cooked or re-thermalized and tasty end food product.
  • the endless conveyor belt 104 or 106 is fabricated from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), however, in accordance with the unique fabrication techniques employed in fabricating the endless conveyor belt 104 or 106 , it is seen that the endless conveyor belt 104 or 106 comprises a first base endless conveyor belt 104 or 106 fabricated from a first polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) component 126 , upon top of which a second polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) component 128 , comprising a plurality of transversely spaced strips, is fixedly secured.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • those regions of the composite endless conveyor belt 104 or 106 which have the transversely spaced strips defining the second polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 128 fixedly secured thereon, will effectively have a larger thickness dimension than those regions of the composite endless conveyor belt 104 or 106 which do not have the transversely spaced strips defining the second polyte-trafluoroethylene (PTFE) 128 fixedly secured thereon.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • the transversely spaced strips comprising the second polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 128 will effectively be forced into contact with the external surface portions of the food articles being conveyed through the appliance 102 , to a greater degree than that of the base endless conveyor belt portion 126 , so as to effectively form visual stripes upon the external surface portions of the food articles which simulate grill marks or lines that would appear upon the food articles as if the food articles had actually been cooked or prepared upon, for example, a charcoal grill.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • the disposition of the upper platen, around which the upper conveyor belt is routed can be adjusted with respect to the lower platen and the lower conveyor belt so as to effectively adjust the gap defined between the upper and lower platens and the upper and lower endless conveyor belts.
  • the grilling appliance can accommodate different foods having different height or thickness dimensions such as, for example, burritos, Panini sandwiches, crunch wraps, and the like.
  • the appliance provides for the easy removal of the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104 , 106 for cleaning, maintenance, or exchange of the conveyor belts 104 , 106 as may be needed or required. With reference therefore being made to FIGS.
  • both sides of the convey-ortype grilling appliance housing 102 are provided with a manual adjustment pilot pin 130 which is fixedly secured to a first distal end of a pilot pin mounting arm 132 , while the second opposite proximal end of the pilot pin mounting arm 132 is fixedly connected to the axial center of a circular disk-type pinion 134 , it being noted that only one adjustment system comprising one pilot pin 130 , one pilot pin mounting arm 132 , and one circular disk-type pinion 134 is illustrated in these side perspective views. These components can likewise be seen in FIGS. 1,2, and 4 , it being noted that the side wall of the appliance housing 102 is to be considered transparent for visual purposes of this disclosure so as to effectively see, for example, the mounting arm 132 which is disposed internally of the appliance housing 102 .
  • a rack 136 having gear teeth 138 formed upon an upper arcuate edge portion thereof, is provided for engagement with gear teeth 140 formed upon the outer circumferential peripheral surface of the pinion 134 , the rack 136 and pinion 134 assembly being biased toward their uppermost position by spring-biasing means, not shown.
  • a pilot pin locator plate 142 is provided with a multitude of pilot pin locator holes 144 which are defined within an arcuate array covering an angular extent of approximately 45° extending from a leftmost or western position upon the pilot pin locator plate 142 to a lowermost or southern position upon the pilot pin locator plate 142 .
  • the pilot pin 130 is a spring-biased pull-pin that is capable of being moved in a direction along the axis around which the pilot pin 130 is defined.
  • the pilot pin 130 is thus pulled axially outwardly so as to effectively be disengaged from one of the pilot pin locator holes 144 defined within the pilot pin locator plate 142 whereby the pilot pin 130 can then be moved toward another pilot pin locator hole 144 defined within the pilot pin locator plate 142 , and is permitted to be moved axially inwardly under the biasing force of its biasing spring, not shown, so as to permit the locking pin 130 to be inserted into another or different pilot pin locator hole 144 in order to effectively lock the upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt 104 at a particular vertical position with respect to the lower heated platen and the lower endless conveyor belt 106 when the vertical adjustment of the upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt 104 relative to the lower heated platen and the lower endless conveyor belt 106 is to be achieved.
  • Each pilot locator hole 144 permits the upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt 104 to be moved one quarter of an inch (0.25′′), vertically upwardly or vertically downwardly, with respect to the lower heated platen and the lower endless conveyor belt 106 .
  • FIGS. 8 and 8A it is seen that the upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt 104 are disposed at their lowermost position with respect to the lower heated platen and the lower endless conveyor belt 106 as a result of the pilot pin mounting arm 132 extending horizontally to the left and the pilot pin 130 being disposed within the uppermost and leftmost pilot pin locator hole 144 of the arcuate array of pilot pin locator holes 144 defined within the pilot pin locator plate 142 , whereas, as disclosed within FIGS.
  • an arcuate slot must be provided within a portion of each external side wall 146 of the housing 102 so as to permit the pilot pin 130 to project through the side wall 146 of the housing 102 and yet travel or be moved through its arcuate path when the pilot pin 130 is being moved from one pilot pin locator hole 144 to another pilot pin locator hole 144 in order to vertically adjust the disposition of the upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt 104 with respect to the lower heated platen and the lower endless conveyor belt 106 .
  • a linkage plate 148 having a substantially triangular configuration, is connected at one corner thereof to the rack 136 while another corner thereof is operatively connected to the drive chain, not shown, which is operatively associated with the upper conveyor belt drive roller.
  • the linkage plate 148 is seen to move, as can be appreciated with reference being made to FIGS. 8,9, and 9B , as the vertical adjustment of the upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt 104 , with respect to the lower heated platen and the lower endless conveyor belt 106 , is achieved in order to effectively eliminate any slack in the drive chain operatively associated with the upper conveyor belt drive roller.
  • a lower door 150 of the housing 102 operatively associated with and covering the lower conveyor belt idler roller 152 , is then initially moved from its closed position to its opened position so as to in fact provide access to the lower conveyor belt idler roller 152 .
  • the lower conveyor belt idler roller 152 which may be similar to conveyor belt idler roller 122 , is spring-biased by means of a suitable tensioning spring, not shown, whereby the lower conveyor belt 106 will remain properly tensioned about the lower conveyor belt drive roller, not shown, and the lower conveyor belt idler roller 152 .
  • an idler roller lock mechanism 154 which is mounted upon an interior side wall portion of the appliance 100 , is pivotally moved from its upper position, at which it is effectively disposed within a slot 156 which can best be seen in FIG. 10 , to a pivotally lower position at which the idler roller lock mechanism 154 is removed from the slot 156 .
  • the lower conveyor belt idler roller 152 may now be moved inwardly toward the internal part of the housing 102 and against the biasing force of its biasing spring, not shown, in view of the fact that the idler roller lock mechanism 154 has effectively been moved from a position at which it blocks the internal movement of the lower conveyor belt idler roller 152 to a position at which it no longer blocks the internal movement of the lower conveyor belt idler roller 152 . Therefore, the tension imposed upon the lower conveyor belt 106 by means of the spring-biased lower conveyor belt idler roller 152 has effectively been relieved, whereby the lower conveyor belt 106 can then be removed from its disposition overlying the lower conveyor belt drive and idler rollers as well as the lower heated platen.
  • each one of the rack and pinion assemblies 136 , 134 are operatively connected to each side of the upper conveyor belt heated platen platform, which may be similar to the heated platen platform 121 , by means of two linkage members 158 , 158 which can best be seen in FIG. 10 .
  • Each side set of linkage members 158 , 158 is pivotally attached or mounted at relatively central portions thereof to an interior sidewall portion 160 of the appliance 100 as at 162 .
  • Upper end portions of the linkage members 158 , 158 are pivotally connected to the rack 134 by means of a first set of pull-pins 164 , 164 which can best be seen in FIG. 10
  • lower end portions of the linkage members 158 , 158 are pivotally connected to the upper heated platen platform, not shown, by means of a second set of pull-pins 166 , 166 , as can also best be seen in FIG. 10 .
  • the next step in the procedure to be conducted in connection with the removal and exchange of the upper conveyor belt 104 is the removal of the first and second sets of pull-pins 164 , 166 so as to permit the opposite end portions of the linkage members 158 , 158 to be disconnected from the rack 134 and the upper heated platen platform, not illustrated.
  • the linkage members 158 , 158 can then be moved to horizontally oriented positions, as shown in FIG. 11A , at which positions the linkage members 158 , 158 no longer overlie an upper conveyor belt side cover panel 168 .
  • the upper conveyor belt side cover panel 168 can now be removed from the interior side wall portion 160 of the appliance as shown in FIG. 11B after suitable fasteners, not shown, are removed which have effectively connected the upper conveyor belt side cover panel 168 to the interior side wall portion 160 of the appliance 100 .
  • suitable fasteners not shown
  • the upper conveyor belt side cover panel 168 has a pair of arcuate slots 170 , 170 formed therein for permitting the second set of pull pins 166 , 166 , attached to the lower end portions of the linkage members 158 , 158 , to traverse such slots 170 , 170 as the rack and pinion assembly 136 , 134 serves to alter or adjust the vertical disposition of the upper heated platen and the upper conveyor belt 104 relative to the lower heated platen and the lower conveyor belt 106 .
  • the front or rear access door 172 of the appliance which is pivotally connected to and operatively associated with that end of the appliance 100 at which the upper conveyor belt idler roller 174 , as shown in FIG.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Baking, Grill, Roasting (AREA)
US15/267,172 2015-10-13 2016-09-16 Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food Abandoned US20170099986A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15/267,172 US20170099986A1 (en) 2015-10-13 2016-09-16 Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food
CN201680068231.3A CN108463147A (zh) 2015-10-13 2016-10-07 用于烹饪或再加热食物的传送式烧烤器具
PCT/US2016/056166 WO2017066104A1 (fr) 2015-10-13 2016-10-07 Appareil à griller de type transporteur pour cuire ou réchauffer un aliment
CA3001706A CA3001706A1 (fr) 2015-10-13 2016-10-07 Appareil a griller de type transporteur pour cuire ou rechauffer un aliment
EP16855996.1A EP3361920A4 (fr) 2015-10-13 2016-10-07 Appareil à griller de type transporteur pour cuire ou réchauffer un aliment

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201562240553P 2015-10-13 2015-10-13
US15/267,172 US20170099986A1 (en) 2015-10-13 2016-09-16 Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20170099986A1 true US20170099986A1 (en) 2017-04-13

Family

ID=58499083

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US15/267,172 Abandoned US20170099986A1 (en) 2015-10-13 2016-09-16 Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food
US15/267,180 Active 2037-12-20 US10258194B2 (en) 2015-10-13 2016-09-16 Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food with multiple independently controlled sets of conveyors defining multiple independently controlled cooking lanes

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US15/267,180 Active 2037-12-20 US10258194B2 (en) 2015-10-13 2016-09-16 Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food with multiple independently controlled sets of conveyors defining multiple independently controlled cooking lanes

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US20170099986A1 (fr)
EP (2) EP3361920A4 (fr)
CN (2) CN108471905B (fr)
CA (2) CA3001706A1 (fr)
WO (2) WO2017066105A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD823630S1 (en) * 2015-11-27 2018-07-24 Electrolux Professional S.P.A. Toaster oven
WO2019040439A1 (fr) * 2017-08-22 2019-02-28 Taylor Commercial Foodservice Inc. Grill automatisé comprenant un transporteur et une compression active
CN111182821A (zh) * 2017-10-05 2020-05-19 泰而勒商用食品服务公司 现下单现烹饪烤架及烧烤方法
EP4140371A1 (fr) * 2021-08-27 2023-03-01 Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc. Rampe de déchargement de grilloir
US11596265B2 (en) 2017-08-25 2023-03-07 Taylor Commercial Foodservice, Llc Multi-robotic arm cooking system
US12016107B2 (en) 2020-03-19 2024-06-18 Texas Research International, Inc. Continuous mode conveyor cooking utilizing hot air jet impingement and microwave energy

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10786115B2 (en) * 2017-05-03 2020-09-29 A. J. Antunes & Co. Food service equipment comprising a multiple-pass feeder conveyor and toaster with floating platen to accommodate different food products having different thickness dimensions
JP1605683S (fr) * 2017-05-03 2018-06-04
US11375587B2 (en) * 2017-05-19 2022-06-28 Hatco Corporation Pattern recognizing appliance
WO2019040588A1 (fr) * 2017-08-25 2019-02-28 Taylor Commercial Foodservice Inc. Système d'étagement de transporteur à grille
WO2020168038A1 (fr) * 2019-02-15 2020-08-20 Revolution Cooking, Llc Ensemble de chauffage pour appareil de cuisson
US11930825B2 (en) * 2019-11-05 2024-03-19 Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc. Dynamic cooking with limited control authority conveyor compensation
CA3160612C (fr) * 2019-12-04 2024-04-16 West Liberty Foods, L.L.C. Systemes, procedes et appareil de preparation et d'emballage d'aliments automatises
US12004689B2 (en) 2020-03-31 2024-06-11 Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc. Toaster with input control
CN111418620A (zh) * 2020-04-09 2020-07-17 广东真美食品股份有限公司 一种肉脯生产方法及装置
US20220221157A1 (en) * 2021-01-12 2022-07-14 Koninklijke Fabriek Inventum B.V. On-demand oven insert for aircraft galley

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3456578A (en) * 1967-12-14 1969-07-22 William Pinsly Automatic apparatus for cooking food
US3572258A (en) * 1969-05-09 1971-03-23 Buitoni Foods Corp Oven with spaced confronting conveyors
US3974353A (en) * 1973-05-18 1976-08-10 Teckton, Inc. Conveyorized microwave oven
US3987718A (en) * 1975-07-23 1976-10-26 Npi Corporation Hamburger patty and bun cooker
US4938126A (en) * 1988-05-09 1990-07-03 Rubio Manuel J Tortilla press apparatus
US4964392A (en) * 1988-07-05 1990-10-23 Middleby Marshall Inc. Baking oven
US5588354A (en) * 1995-09-21 1996-12-31 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Apparatus for conveyorized griddle-like cooking of food products
US6113967A (en) * 1998-09-24 2000-09-05 Formcook Ab Cooking and cooling process
US6201218B1 (en) * 1998-10-08 2001-03-13 The Frymaster Corporation Food cooking apparatus with removable conveyor assembly and serpentine heater providing non-uniform heating
US20050115418A1 (en) * 2003-12-02 2005-06-02 Sands Jeffrey L. Grilling component
US7297903B1 (en) * 2003-04-11 2007-11-20 A.J. Antunes & Company Faster universal contact toaster
US7325483B2 (en) * 2001-11-19 2008-02-05 Marek Szymanski Automated belt cooking machine pancakes or the like
US8846124B2 (en) * 2004-07-01 2014-09-30 General Mills, Inc. Apparatus and method for forming a pressed, baked food product
US20180317710A1 (en) * 2017-05-03 2018-11-08 Ignacio Vega Food service equipment comprising a multiple-pass feeder conveyor and toaster

Family Cites Families (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3646880A (en) * 1970-08-21 1972-03-07 Thermal Process Engineering Co Cooking grill
GB2076627B (en) * 1980-05-16 1984-10-03 United Biscuits Ltd Radiant heat cooking apparatus
US4389562A (en) * 1981-08-05 1983-06-21 Hatco Corporation Conveyor oven
US4441003A (en) * 1982-04-16 1984-04-03 Raytheon Company Conveyorized microwave oven with multiple lanes
SE435130B (sv) * 1983-02-17 1984-09-10 Scan Djupfryst Ab Sett och anordning for stekning av livsmedelsprodukter
US4554437A (en) * 1984-05-17 1985-11-19 Pet Incorporated Tunnel oven
US5044264A (en) * 1991-01-28 1991-09-03 Forney Robert B Cooking apparatus for producing grill stripes on cooked products
JPH0736603Y2 (ja) * 1992-10-14 1995-08-23 株式会社コメットカトウ 両面焼き用加熱調理器の隙間調節装置
US5575048A (en) * 1994-12-19 1996-11-19 Ruef; Helmut Apparatus for treating traveling textile material having expansion chambers
US6919122B2 (en) * 1999-07-08 2005-07-19 Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation Flexible composites with integral flights for use in high-temperature food processing equipment and methods for producing the same
AU768316B2 (en) * 1999-08-04 2003-12-11 Frymaster Corporation, The High speed variable size toaster
WO2002045516A2 (fr) * 2000-12-05 2002-06-13 Comdel, Inc. Four convoyeur a energie radiofrequence
AUPS213202A0 (en) * 2002-05-03 2002-06-06 Hlavaty, Penny Method & apparatus for heat treatment of foods
WO2005048790A2 (fr) * 2003-11-18 2005-06-02 Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. Combinaison grille-pain/four de caramelisation
CN200991164Y (zh) * 2006-12-19 2007-12-19 厦门灿坤实业股份有限公司 一种烤箱
ATE546263T1 (de) * 2007-08-06 2012-03-15 John Bean Technologies Corp Nachgiebiger niederhalteförderer für eine schneidemaschine
KR100846317B1 (ko) * 2008-05-07 2008-07-15 김인영 그릴의 높이 조절이 가능한 음식물 구이기
EP2579735A4 (fr) * 2010-06-11 2017-06-28 Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation Tapis de cuisson
US20120121782A1 (en) * 2010-11-17 2012-05-17 Prince Castle LLC Conveyor Toaster with Self-Aligning Belts
US10004358B2 (en) * 2012-05-16 2018-06-26 Hatco Corporation Toaster with controlled conveyor speed

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3456578A (en) * 1967-12-14 1969-07-22 William Pinsly Automatic apparatus for cooking food
US3572258A (en) * 1969-05-09 1971-03-23 Buitoni Foods Corp Oven with spaced confronting conveyors
US3974353A (en) * 1973-05-18 1976-08-10 Teckton, Inc. Conveyorized microwave oven
US3987718A (en) * 1975-07-23 1976-10-26 Npi Corporation Hamburger patty and bun cooker
US4938126A (en) * 1988-05-09 1990-07-03 Rubio Manuel J Tortilla press apparatus
US4964392A (en) * 1988-07-05 1990-10-23 Middleby Marshall Inc. Baking oven
US5588354A (en) * 1995-09-21 1996-12-31 Marshall Air Systems, Inc. Apparatus for conveyorized griddle-like cooking of food products
US6113967A (en) * 1998-09-24 2000-09-05 Formcook Ab Cooking and cooling process
US6201218B1 (en) * 1998-10-08 2001-03-13 The Frymaster Corporation Food cooking apparatus with removable conveyor assembly and serpentine heater providing non-uniform heating
US7325483B2 (en) * 2001-11-19 2008-02-05 Marek Szymanski Automated belt cooking machine pancakes or the like
US7297903B1 (en) * 2003-04-11 2007-11-20 A.J. Antunes & Company Faster universal contact toaster
US20050115418A1 (en) * 2003-12-02 2005-06-02 Sands Jeffrey L. Grilling component
US8846124B2 (en) * 2004-07-01 2014-09-30 General Mills, Inc. Apparatus and method for forming a pressed, baked food product
US20180317710A1 (en) * 2017-05-03 2018-11-08 Ignacio Vega Food service equipment comprising a multiple-pass feeder conveyor and toaster

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD823630S1 (en) * 2015-11-27 2018-07-24 Electrolux Professional S.P.A. Toaster oven
WO2019040439A1 (fr) * 2017-08-22 2019-02-28 Taylor Commercial Foodservice Inc. Grill automatisé comprenant un transporteur et une compression active
CN111031867A (zh) * 2017-08-22 2020-04-17 泰而勒商用食品服务公司 具有传送器和主动压紧的自动烤架
US11596265B2 (en) 2017-08-25 2023-03-07 Taylor Commercial Foodservice, Llc Multi-robotic arm cooking system
CN111182821A (zh) * 2017-10-05 2020-05-19 泰而勒商用食品服务公司 现下单现烹饪烤架及烧烤方法
US12016107B2 (en) 2020-03-19 2024-06-18 Texas Research International, Inc. Continuous mode conveyor cooking utilizing hot air jet impingement and microwave energy
EP4140371A1 (fr) * 2021-08-27 2023-03-01 Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc. Rampe de déchargement de grilloir

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA3001715C (fr) 2020-07-07
WO2017066105A1 (fr) 2017-04-20
EP3361920A1 (fr) 2018-08-22
EP3361921A1 (fr) 2018-08-22
WO2017066104A1 (fr) 2017-04-20
CN108471905A (zh) 2018-08-31
US10258194B2 (en) 2019-04-16
EP3361920A4 (fr) 2018-12-05
EP3361921B1 (fr) 2021-03-03
CA3001715A1 (fr) 2017-04-20
CA3001706A1 (fr) 2017-04-20
CN108463147A (zh) 2018-08-28
US20170099987A1 (en) 2017-04-13
EP3361921A4 (fr) 2018-11-14
CN108471905B (zh) 2021-06-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10258194B2 (en) Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food with multiple independently controlled sets of conveyors defining multiple independently controlled cooking lanes
US4261257A (en) Toasting apparatus
US6630190B2 (en) Tostada forming and cooking
US3589274A (en) Continuous feed toaster
US5974956A (en) Staged rotisserie
US4667589A (en) Hamburger broiler
US3511358A (en) Sanitary quick opening drop plate conveyor for bakery goods
US9560853B2 (en) Return flow conveyor device for heating food items
KR101161840B1 (ko) 타공장치
KR20120121226A (ko) 튀김 장치
KR20170090051A (ko) 조미김용 가압장치
JPH04164414A (ja) 食品自動焼成装置
JP3506401B2 (ja) 食品材料の連続加熱処理装置
US4784869A (en) Method of broiling food patties on both sides using conveyors
JP5366049B2 (ja) 型焼き菓子の自動製造装置
KR20120016507A (ko) 부침개 제조장치 및 제조방법
EP4269289B1 (fr) Convoyeur pour un four de cuisson continue
EP2308359B1 (fr) Dispositif de cuisson
KR101458304B1 (ko) 조미 김 연속 철판 구이기
KR102356425B1 (ko) 김 구이기
TWI540965B (zh) 串燒製造裝置
JP2018089350A (ja) 自動搬送炙り装置
TW201429402A (zh) 自動燒烤機結構
KR102465742B1 (ko) 회전식 육류 구이장치
JPH0446567B2 (fr)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: A. J. ANTUNES & CO., ILLINOIS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PATEL, DIPAN;PATEL, BHUPENDRA;PATEL, JIGNESH;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20160815 TO 20160823;REEL/FRAME:040179/0834

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION