Foods and beverages: apparatus – Cereal-puffing – Corn-popper type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-05
2001-05-22
Simone, Timothy F. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Cereal-puffing
Corn-popper type
C099S323900, C099S348000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234063
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to machines used for preparing popcorn and more specifically, to a popcorn machine which uses a solid state controller to automatically control the popping operation.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Popcorn popping machines for concession stand, restaurant or home use are well known. Generally, such popping machines have a cabinet or case in which the popcorn is both cooked and stored. The unpopped corn (kernels) is typically loaded into a kettle suspended from the top of the popcorn case, combined with cooking oil, and heated. The kettle has electrical heating elements to heat the oil and corn kernels and thereby effect popping of the kernels. As the popcorn fills the kettle, an initial portion of the popcorn discharges into the popcorn case and the remainder is subsequently dumped out of the kettle. An exhaust blower is used to vent the interior of the case. The oil is typically stored in a solid form and liquefied by a heating element just before the oil is needed.
In popcorn machines known presently, the various parts of the machine such as oil injection, kettle heating and exhaust systems are activated manually. Thus, the user must correctly add popcorn and oil, activate the kettle heat, and turn off the kettle heat when finished. Previously, thermostats have been used to control kettle heat at an operating temperature of around 500° F. and to prevent the cooking kettle from reaching unacceptably high temperatures. Further, with manual operations the user is subject to risk of injury from any direct contact with hot oil, kettle or heating elements.
Recently, electronic controls have been introduced to automate various parts of the cooking cycle. Using such electronic controls, monitoring popping functions has been possible. This has made the popping operation more efficient, however, the level of electronic control still requires the monitoring of many functions. Additionally, manual labor is required to clean and reset the popping machine. Finally, with automation, cooking parameters such as temperature control, corn and oil amounts, and activation times must be manually set. Such settings often require use of variable analog circuit components such as DIP switches which require the machine to be shut down and such switches are difficult to access.
Thus, there is a need for an automated popcorn controller which controls the popping operation. There is a further need for an automated popcorn controller which permits cooking parameters to be adjusted without having to reset analog circuit components. There is also a need for a controller that provides automated functions for maintenance and monitoring purposes. There is also a need for an automated controller which stores operation data to determine machine finction for diagnostic analysis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These needs may be addressed by the present invention which is embodied in an operation system used in combination with a popcorn machine. The popcorn machine includes a case for holding popped corn, an electrically heated popcorn kettle located within the case and an oil pump operably connected to a source of popping oil to supply oil to the popcorn kettle. The system has electrical circuitry for connecting the kettle and oil pump to a source of electricity. The system also has a processor operably connected to the electrical circuitry to programmably control operation of the kettle and oil pump during a cooking cycle of activating the oil pump to add oil to the kettle, heating the kettle at a set temperature to produce popcorn. A display is coupled to the processor and shows selection choices to change operating parameters for the cooking cycle.
The invention is also embodied in a control system in combination with a popcorn machine. The popcorn machine includes an area for holding popped corn, an electrically heated popcorn kettle located within the case and an oil pump operably connected to a source of popping oil to supply oil to the popcorn kettle. The system has electrical circuitry for connecting the kettle and oil pump to a source of electricity. The system also has a microprocessor operably connected to the electrical circuitry to programmably control operation of the kettle and oil pump during a cooking cycle of activating the oil pump to add oil to the kettle and heating the kettle at a set temperature to produce popcorn. A memory is coupled to the processor and stores the number of times a cooking cycle is activated for a set period of time.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are not limiting but are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the method and system of the invention. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2123663 (1938-07-01), Roach
patent: 2549449 (1951-04-01), Gibson
patent: 2586347 (1952-02-01), Kloster
patent: 2654823 (1953-10-01), Altemiller
patent: 2812704 (1957-11-01), Hawks
patent: 2856841 (1958-10-01), Cretors et al.
patent: 2907264 (1959-10-01), Bashway
patent: 2939379 (1960-06-01), Schmitt
patent: 3095326 (1963-06-01), Green et al.
patent: 3554115 (1971-01-01), Manley et al.
patent: 3739953 (1973-06-01), Cretors
patent: 4120236 (1978-10-01), Blomberg
patent: 4178843 (1979-12-01), Crabtree et al.
patent: 4182229 (1980-01-01), VandeWalker
patent: 4288686 (1981-09-01), Cretors
patent: 4763568 (1988-08-01), Kiczek
patent: 5033363 (1991-07-01), King et al.
patent: 5035173 (1991-07-01), Stein et al.
patent: 5301601 (1994-04-01), Cretors
patent: 5397219 (1995-03-01), Cretors
patent: 5555792 (1996-09-01), Stein et al.
patent: 5590582 (1997-01-01), Weiss
patent: 5662024 (1997-09-01), Cretors
patent: 5694830 (1997-12-01), Hodgson et al.
patent: 5743172 (1998-04-01), Weiss et al.
patent: 5871792 (1999-02-01), Weiss et al.
patent: 6000318 (1999-12-01), Weiss et al.
Cretors Charles D.
Evers Gilbert J.
Vidojevic Nenad
C. Cretons and Company
Mayer Brown & Platt
Simone Timothy F.
LandOfFree
Solid state controlled popcorn machine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Solid state controlled popcorn machine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Solid state controlled popcorn machine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2493735