Food processing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for processing consumable matter, which comprises: a. a support frame; b. means for conveying the consumable matter through the food processing means; c. means for processing the consumable matter, which are supported in the support frame, which comprises means for steaming the consumable matter, which comprises a steam source, s steam manifold which extends generally beneath the conveying means, and which includes a bottom surface thereof with an orifice therein, and a condensate pan which includes a bottom portion thereof which extends generaLly beneath the steam manifold, with a gap formed between the steam manifold orifice and the condensate pan bottom portion, and means for broiling the consumable matter.

Claim 3

A processing apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the broiling means comprises means for supplying air, means for supplying gas, means for mixing the gas supplied by the gas-supplying means and the air supplied by the air-supplying means, means for heating the consumable matter, means for connecting the heating means and the mixing means, and means for igniting the heating means.

Claim 4

A processing apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which the air supplying means comprises an air blower, a blower housing, means for driving the air blower, an air manifold, a first connector which connects the air manifold to the blower housing, a throttle valve which is connected to the air manifold, and a second connector which connects the throttle valve to the mixing means.

Claim 5

A processing apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which the gas supplying means comprises a gas source, a gas manifold, a first connector which connects the gas manifold to the gas source, a zero regulator which regulates the gas pressure to zero guage and which is connected to the mixing means, and a second connector which connects the zero regulator to the gas manifold.

Claim 6

A processing apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which the mixing means comprises an air-gas mixer, which includes a speed-increasing pressure-dropping air flow control throat portion and a limiting orifice gas flow control portion therein.

Claim 7

A processing apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which the heating means comprises a burner which includes a contoured refractory member which is scrubbed with ignited fuel from the mixing means, and which generates heat transfer therefrom to the consumable matter.

Claim 8

A processing apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which the heating means comprises burners, which extend alongside the conveyor generally thereabove and therebelow, which comprise contoured refractory members which are scrubbed with ignited fuel from the mixing means, and which generate heat transfer therefrom to the consumable matter.

Claim 9

A processing apparatus as recited in claim 7, in which the igniting means comprises a zero regulator, a first connector which connects the zero regulator with the gas source, an air gas mixer, a second connector which connects the air gas mixer with the air source, a third connector which connects the air gas mixer with the zero regulator, a pilot ignitor which ignites the fuel, and a fourth connector which connects the pilot ignitor to the air gas mixer.

Claim 10

A processing apparatus as recited in claim 8, in which the driving means further comprises means for adjusting the tension in the conveyor.

Claim 11

A processing apparatus as recited in claim 9, in which the driving means includes a variable-speed drive motor.

Claim 12

Apparatus for processing consumable matter, which comprises: a. a support frame; b. means for conveying the consumable matter through the food processing means; c. means for processing the consumable matter, which are supported in the support frame, which comprises means for steaming the consumable matter, which comprises a steam source, a steam manifold which extends generally beneath the conveying means, and which includes a bottom surface thereof with orifices therein, and a consensate pan which includes a bottom portion thereof which extends generally beneath the steam manifold, with gaps formed between the steam manifold orifices and the condensate pan bottom portion, and means for broiling the consumable matter.

Claim 13

Apparatus for processing consumable matter, which comprises: a. a support frame; b. means for conveying the consumable matter through the food processing means; c. means for processing the consumable matter, which are supported in the support frame, which comprises means for steaming the consumable matter, which comprises a steam source, a steam manifold which extends generally beneath the conveying means, and which includes a bottom surface thereof with orifices therein, and a consensate pan which includes a bottom portion thereof which extends generally beneath the steam manifold, with gaps formed between the steam manifold orifices and the condensate pan bottom portion, and means for broiling the consumable matter.

Claim 14

Apparatus for processing consumable matter, which comprises: a. a support frame; b. means for processing the consumable matter, which are supported in the support frame, which comprises means for steaming the consumable matter, and means for broiling the consumable matter; c. means for conveying the consumable matter through the food processinG means; and d. means for directing a draft for exhausting the food processing means, which comprises a steam hood, which extends generally above the steaming means and which includes an end opening therein, a broiler hood which extends generally above the broiling means and which includes an end opening therein which is aligned with the end opening of the steam hood, and an exhaust blower, which draws the exhaust draft through the steam hood and the broiler hood.

Claim 15

Apparatus for processing consumable matter, which comprises: a. a support frame; b. means for processing the consumable matter, which are supported in the support frame, which comprises means for steaming the consumable matter, and means for broiling the consumable matter; c. means for conveying the consumable matter through the food processinG means; and d. means for directing a draft for exhausting the food processing means, which comprises a steam hood, which extends generally above the steaming means and which includes an end opening therein, a broiler hood which extends generally above the broiling means and which includes an end opening therein which is aligned with the end opening of the steam hood, and an exhaust blower, which draws the exhaust draft through the steam hood and the broiler hood.

Claim 16

Apparatus for processing consumable matter which comprises: a. a support frame b. means for processing the consumable matter, which are supported in the support frame, which comprises means for steaming the consumable matter, and means for broiling the consumable matter; and c. means for conveying the consumable matter through the food processing means, which comprises a conveyor, which comprises a chain belt, and side loops which are connected to the sides of the chain belt, and means for driving the conveyor through the support frame, which includes a drive motor, a gear shaft which is rotatably journalled in the support frame, means for transmitting the motor drive to the gear shaft, and a gear sprocket which is keyed to the gear shaft and which includes gear teeth whose pitch corresponds to the pitch of the chain belt.

Claim 17

Apparatus for processing consumable matter which comprises: a. a support frame b. means for processing the consumable matter, which are supported in the support frame, which comprises means for steaming the consumable matter, and means for broiling the consumable matter; and c. means for conveying the consumable matter through the food processing means, which comprises a conveyor, which comprises a chain belt, and side loops which are connected to the sides of the chain belt, and means for driving the conveyor through the support frame, which includes a drive motor, a gear shaft which is rotatably journalled in the support frame, means for transmitting the motor drive to the gear shaft, and a gear sprocket which is keyed to the gear shaft and which includes gear teeth whose pitch corresponds to the pitch of the chain belt.