Patent US3570393A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3570393A
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Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-09-11
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Granted: 1971-03-16
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Expires: 1989-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A taco shell forming and cooking apparatus including a beltlike conveyor web formed of a plurality of discrete flexible or articulated segments which are drawn through a cooking bath while being deformed in a predetermined manner. A forming means is disposed above the conveyor web so as to mate therewith as the web is deformed and drawn through the cooking bath. A food product in sheet form placed on the conveyor will be deformed by the mating web, and forming means will be cooked as it is drawn through the cooking bath. Upon emerging from the bath, the forming means is disengaged from the conveyor web, and the shaped and cooked product is removed from the conveyor web before the conveyor web is again returned to its normal configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank R Schy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:48
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J37/00; A47J37/12; A47J37/1214; A21; A21B; A21B5/00; A21B5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
Means for forming and cooking a food product comprising: a cooking bath through which said food product may be passed for cooking; an endless conveyor means for carrying said food product through said cooking bath; an endless web means disposed proximate said conveyor means so that that a portion thereof operatively engages a portion of said conveyor means to sandwich said food product therebetween as it is passed through said cooking bath, said portion of said web thereafter disengaging said portion of said conveyor means; means for deforming said conveyor means and said web means along the engaging portions thereof so as to cause said food product to assume a predetermined configuration during the time of passage through said cooking bath; means for removing said food product from said conveyor means at a point proximate the point where said web means disengages said conveyor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
Means for forming and cooking a food product comprising: a cooking bath through which said food product may be passed for cooking; an endless conveyor means for carrying said food product through said cooking bath; an endless web means disposed proximate said conveyor means so that that a portion thereof operatively engages a portion of said conveyor means to sandwich said food product therebetween as it is passed through said cooking bath, said portion of said web thereafter disengaging said portion of said conveyor means; means for deforming said conveyor means and said web means along the engaging portions thereof so as to cause said food product to assume a predetermined configuration during the time of passage through said cooking bath; means for removing said food product from said conveyor means at a point proximate the point where said web means disengages said conveyor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Means for forming and cooking a food product as recited in claim 1 wherein said deforming means causes the engaging portions of said conveyor means and said web means to be deformed in a generally U-shaped configuration as viewed transverse to the direction of movement thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
Means for forming and cooking a food product as recited in claim 2 wherein said conveyor means is comprised of a plurality of segments including a center member operatively attached to a conveyor drive means and a pair of side flaps one of which is pivotally attached to one side of said center member and the other of which is pivotally attached to the other side of said center member so as to enable the conveyor means to be deformed into said U-shaped configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Means for forming and cooking a food product as recited in claim 3 wherein said web means is comprised of a plurality of segments which are deformable into a generally U-shaped configuration as viewed transverse to the direction of movement thereof so as to mate with the deformed segments of said conveyor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
Means for forming and cooking a food product as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for removing said food material from said conveyor means includes a second conveyor means for receiving said food product in its cooked configuration and transporting it away from said cooking bath without causing further deformation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
Means for deforming and heating a material in sheet form comprising: a heating means through which said sheet material may be drawn for causing said material to be heated; an endless conveyor means for carrying said sheet material through said heating means; conveyor deforming means for causing a portion of said conveyor means to be deformed into a predetermined configuration as viewed in a cross section taken transverse to the direction of movement of said conveyor means so as to allow said sheet material to likewise be deformed into said predetermined configuration as it is drawn through said heating means; and means for removing said sheet material from said conveyor means after it has been drawn a predetermined distance through said heating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
Means for deforming and heating a material in sheet form comprising: a heating means through which said sheet material may be drawn for causing said material to be heated; an endless conveyor means for carrying said sheet material through said heating means; conveyor deforming means for causing a portion of said conveyor means to be deformed into a predetermined configuration as viewed in a cross section taken transverse to the direction of movement of said conveyor means so as to allow said sheet material to likewise be deformed into said predetermined configuration as it is drawn through said heating means; and means for removing said sheet material from said conveyor means after it has been drawn a predetermined distance through said heating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
Means for forming and heating a material in sheet form as recited in claim 6 wherein said conveyor means is comprised of a plurality of articulated segments which are deformable into said predetermined configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
Means for forming and heatinG a material in sheet form as recited in claim 7 and further including a means disposed above said conveyor means and said sheet material for causing said sheet material to be deformed over said conveyor means as it is caused to pass through said heating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
Means for forming and heating a material in sheet form as recited in claim 8 wherein said means disposed above said conveyor means is a continuous web means which is caused to engage said sheet material and said conveyor means and to be deformed thereover along at least a portion of the length of said conveyor means which is deformed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Means for forming and heating a material in sheet form as recited in claim 9 wherein said web means is comprised of a plurality of articulated segments which are arranged to conform to the deformed configuration of said conveyor means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Means for forming and heating a material in sheet form as recited in claim 10 wherein said conveyor deforming means causes said conveyor means to be deformed into a generally U-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus comprising: a cooking vessel through which the uncooked starting material may be drawn for causing said material to be cooked; an endless beltlike conveyor means for carrying said material through said cooking vessel; conveyor deforming means for causing the material carrying portion of said conveyor means to be deformed into a predetermined configuration so as to allow said material to likewise be deformed into said predetermined configuration as it is drawn through said cooking vessel; and means for removing the resulting formed and cooked material from said conveyor means after it has been drawn a predetermined distance through said cooking vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus comprising: a cooking vessel through which the uncooked starting material may be drawn for causing said material to be cooked; an endless beltlike conveyor means for carrying said material through said cooking vessel; conveyor deforming means for causing the material carrying portion of said conveyor means to be deformed into a predetermined configuration so as to allow said material to likewise be deformed into said predetermined configuration as it is drawn through said cooking vessel; and means for removing the resulting formed and cooked material from said conveyor means after it has been drawn a predetermined distance through said cooking vessel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said predetermined configuration is generally U-shaped as viewed in a cross section taken transverse to the direction of movement of said conveyor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus as recited in claim 13 and further including means operatively engaged by said conveyor means and said material for causing said material to be deformed over said conveyor means as it is drawn through said cooking vessel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said means operatively engaged by said conveyor means and said material is a fixed tunnellike member suitably configured for causing said material to be deformed over said conveyor means as it is engaged thereby.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said last named means is a continuous web means which is engaged by said conveyor means and said material and is deformed thereover along at least a portion of the deformed length of said conveyor means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said conveyor means is comprised of a plurality of articulated segments which are deformable into said U-shaped configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said web means is comprised of a plurality of articulated segments which are adapted to conform to the deformed configuration of said conveyor means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
Taco shell forming and cooking apparatus as recited in claim 12 and further including means for deforming said material over the deformed material carrying portion of said conveyor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |