US3869969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toasting apparatus
Assignee: WATERMILL ENGINEERING Ltd
•
Filing: 1973-06-25
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A toasting apparatus comprises carrier means mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, a plurality of frames circumferentially arranged on said carrier means for rotation therewith and adapted to hold items of food to be toasted. Drive means are provided for rotating said carrier means about said fixed axis such that the frames pass through a heating zone, whereat items of food loaded in the frames are toasted, to an unloading station at which said items of food are removed from said frames after toasting.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas Cecil William Th Sharp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:06
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J37/00; A47J37/04; A47J37/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A toasting apparatus, comprising a. a disc member mounted for rotation about a fixed axis; b. a plurality of frames circumferentially mounted on said disc member for rotation therewith, each of said frames being adapted to hold an item of food to be toasted, said frames being fixedly secured to the periphery of the disc member to form a drum-like structure therewith, said frames containing radially inwardly facing openings to permit items of food to be loaded from within the drum-like structure; c. drive means for rotating said disc member about said fixed axis; d. means defining a heating zone through which said frames successively pass during rotation of said disc member for toasting items of food loaded in said frames; and e. means defining an unloading station through which said frames successively pass following the passage thereof through said heating zone, thereby permitting removal of the items of food after toasting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A toasting apparatus, comprising a. a disc member mounted for rotation about a fixed axis; b. a plurality of frames circumferentially mounted on said disc member for rotation therewith, each of said frames being adapted to hold an item of food to be toasted, said frames being fixedly secured to the periphery of the disc member to form a drum-like structure therewith, said frames containing radially inwardly facing openings to permit items of food to be loaded from within the drum-like structure; c. drive means for rotating said disc member about said fixed axis; d. means defining a heating zone through which said frames successively pass during rotation of said disc member for toasting items of food loaded in said frames; and e. means defining an unloading station through which said frames successively pass following the passage thereof through said heating zone, thereby permitting removal of the items of food after toasting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
152 words
A toasting apparatus, comprising a. a disc member mounted for rotation about a fixed axis; b. a plurality of frames circumferentially mounted on said disc member for rotation therewith, each of said frames being adapted to hold an item of food to be toasted, said frames being fixedly secured to the periphery of the disc member to form a drum-like structure therewith, said frames containing radially inwardly facing openings to permit items of food to be loaded from within the drum-like structure; c. drive means for rotating said disc member about said fixed axis; d. means defining a heating zone through which said frames successively pass during rotation of said disc member for toasting items of food loaded in said frames; and e. means defining an unloading station through which said frames successively pass following the passage thereof through said heating zone, thereby permitting removal of the items of food after toasting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
152 words
A toasting apparatus, comprising a. a disc member mounted for rotation about a fixed axis; b. a plurality of frames circumferentially mounted on said disc member for rotation therewith, each of said frames being adapted to hold an item of food to be toasted, said frames being fixedly secured to the periphery of the disc member to form a drum-like structure therewith, said frames containing radially inwardly facing openings to permit items of food to be loaded from within the drum-like structure; c. drive means for rotating said disc member about said fixed axis; d. means defining a heating zone through which said frames successively pass during rotation of said disc member for toasting items of food loaded in said frames; and e. means defining an unloading station through which said frames successively pass following the passage thereof through said heating zone, thereby permitting removal of the items of food after toasting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising control means for altering the degree of toasting of said items of food.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control means comprises means for varying the amount of heat in said heating zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control means comprises means for varying the average speed of rotation of said frames about said fixed axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the drive means is arranged to rotate the carrier means disc member at a substantially constant speed, and the control means comprises means for selectively varying said constant speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control means comprises pre-selectable rotatable drive members arranged to transmit rotation from said drive means to said disc member through endless band means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said control means comprises a variable speed drive system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, comprising ejecting means including an ejector arranged to be driven in synchronism with the rotation of the disc member for ejecting said items of food from the frames as the frames pass through the unloading station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the drive means is arranged to rotate the disc member intermittently such that each frame is stationary in the heating zone for a predetermined period of time during each revolution of the disc member, and said control means comprisEs means for varying said predetermined period of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including switching means for controlling the operation of said drive means, and actuating means rotatable with said disc member carrier means for switching said switching means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said actuating means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart projections, each of which is associated with a respective frame and arranged to switch said switching means wereby the frames are indexed one at a time into the heating zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said switching of said switching means is arranged to cause said drive means to stop rotating said disc member, and said control means comprises means for causing said drive means to restart said rotation after said predetermined period time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor, said switching means is included in an electric supply circuit to the drive means such that switching of the switching means is arranged to cause an interruption of the electric supply to said electric motor, and said control means comprises an adjustable delay relay in said supply circuit for reconnecting said supply after a period of time predetermined by said delay relay.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 9, comprising ejecting means including an ejector member arranged to eject said items of food from said frames when said frames are stationary in said unloading station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disc member is arranged such that, in use, items of food are removed from said frames at the unloading station under the influence of gravity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising ejecting means at said unloading station for ejecting said items of food from said frames.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frames are adapted to hold substantially flat items of food substantially parallel to said disc member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein each frame is adapted to hold two flat items of food axially spaced apart.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said heating zone has heating elements spaced apart for toasting both sides of the substantially flat items of food.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said heating elements are controllable for toasting only one side of the substantially flat items of food.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frames are adapted to hold substantailly flat items of food substantially at right angles to said disc member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drum-like structure is mounted within a housing having an opening to allow the items of food to be loaded into said frames.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
66 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the disc member is arranged to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, the heating zone and the unloading station are situated in the upper region of the housing and a loading station is situated in the lower region thereof, and further comprising retaining means for retaining said items of food in the frames in the heating zone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said retaining means comprises at least one arcuate member extending adjacent the openings of the frames in the heating zone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toasting apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein a receiving means is arranged in said housing for receiving items of food from said unloading station.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |