Automatic donut making system

Claim 2

In a donut making system having discharge means for successively discharging shaped dough units, a proofer chamber providing predetermined conditions of temperature and humidity, and a fryer for cooking said dough units into donuts, the combination comprising endless conveyer means having a first path portion effectively exposed within said proofer chamber and between said discharge means and said fryer, and a further path portion effectively not exposed within said proofer chamber and between said discharge means and said fryer, reversible drive means connected to said conveyer means for driving said conveyer means in either of two directions, and control means connected to said drive means for selecting either of two directions of drive, whereby said dough units are moved from said discharge means through said first path portion effectively exposed within said proofer chamber for raising of the dough and to said fryer when said conveyer means is driven in one direction, and said dough units are moved from said discharge means to said fryer through said further path portion effectively not exposed within said proofer chamber when said conveyer means is driven in the opposite direction.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said further path portion is external to said proofer chamber.

Claim 4

In a donut making system having discharge means for successiVely discharging shaped dough units, a proofer chamber providing predetermined conditions of temperature and humidity, and a fryer for cooking said dough units into donuts, the combination comprising endless conneyer means having a first path portion extended within said proofer chamber and between said discharge means and said fryer, and a further path portion not exposed to said proofer between said discharge means and said fryer, the length of said first path portion being at least about 12 times the length of said further path portion, reversible drive means connected to said conveyer means for driving said conveyer means in either of two directions, and control means connected to said drive means for selecting either of two directions of drive, whereby said dough units are moved from said discharge means through first path portion extended within said proofer chamber for raising of the dough and to said fryer when said conveyer means is driven in one direction, and said dough units are moved from said discharge means to said fryer through said further path portion when said conveyer means is driven in the opposite direction.

Claim 5

In a donut making system having discharge means for successiVely discharging shaped dough units, a proofer chamber providing predetermined conditions of temperature and humidity, and a fryer for cooking said dough units into donuts, the combination comprising endless conneyer means having a first path portion extended within said proofer chamber and between said discharge means and said fryer, and a further path portion not exposed to said proofer between said discharge means and said fryer, the length of said first path portion being at least about 12 times the length of said further path portion, reversible drive means connected to said conveyer means for driving said conveyer means in either of two directions, and control means connected to said drive means for selecting either of two directions of drive, whereby said dough units are moved from said discharge means through first path portion extended within said proofer chamber for raising of the dough and to said fryer when said conveyer means is driven in one direction, and said dough units are moved from said discharge means to said fryer through said further path portion when said conveyer means is driven in the opposite direction.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2, wherein said conveyer means has a plurality of spaced carriers for conveying said shaped dough units, the lengths of said conveyer means first path portion and further path portion being each an integral multiple of a common distance increment, whereby a said carrier successively occupies an accept position with respect to said discharge means in which a shaped dough unit is discharged onto said carrier, and an immersing position with respect to said fryer in which said dough unit is within said fryer for cooking and removal, regardless of the direction in which said conveyer means is driven between said discharge means and said fryer.

Claim 7

In a donut making system having discharge means for successively discharging shaped dough units at equal time intervals, a proofer chamber providing predetermined conditions of temperature and humidity, and a fryer for cooking said dough units into donuts, the combination comprising endless conveyer means having a first path portion effectively exposed within said proofer chamber and between said discharge means and said fryer, and a further path portion effectively not exposed within said proofer chamber and between said discharge means and said fryer, said conveyer means having a plurality of carriers equally spaced throughout its length for conveying said shaped dough units, reversible drive means connected to said conveyer means for successively driving said conveyer means through equal distance increments at equal time intervals, control means connected to said drive means for selecting either of two directions of drive, the lengths of said conveyer means first path portion and further path portion being each an integral multiple of said distance increment, and the length of said first path portion being at least about twenty times the length of said further path portion, a said carrier being successively at rest in an accept position with respect to said discharge means in which a shaped dough unit is discharged onto said carrier, and an immersing position with respect to said fryer in which said dough unit is within said fryer for cooking and removal from said carrier, regardless of the direction in which said conveyer means is driven between said discharge means and said fryer, whereby said dough units are removed from said discharge means through said first path portion effectively exposed within said proofer chamber for raising of the dough and to said fryer when said conveyer means is driven in one direction, and said dough units are moved from said discharge means to said fryer through said further path portion effectively not exposed within said proofer chamber when said conveyer means is driven in the opposite direction.

Claim 8

In a donut making system having discharge means for successively discharging shaped dough units at equal time intervals, a proofer chamber providing predetermined conditions of temperature and humidity, and a fryer for cooking said dough units into donuts, the combination comprising endless conveyer means having a first path portion effectively exposed within said proofer chamber and between said discharge means and said fryer, and a further path portion effectively not exposed within said proofer chamber and between said discharge means and said fryer, said conveyer means having a plurality of carriers equally spaced throughout its length for conveying said shaped dough units, reversible drive means connected to said conveyer means for successively driving said conveyer means through equal distance increments at equal time intervals, control means connected to said drive means for selecting either of two directions of drive, the lengths of said conveyer means first path portion and further path portion being each an integral multiple of said distance increment, and the length of said first path portion being at least about twenty times the length of said further path portion, a said carrier being successively at rest in an accept position with respect to said discharge means in which a shaped dough unit is discharged onto said carrier, and an immersing position with respect to said fryer in which said dough unit is within said fryer for cooking and removal from said carrier, regardless of the direction in which said conveyer means is driven between said discharge means and said fryer, whereby said dough units are removed from said discharge means through said first path portion effectively exposed within said proofer chamber for raising of the dough and to said fryer when said conveyer means is driven in one direction, and said dough units are moved from said discharge means to said fryer through said further path portion effectively not exposed within said proofer chamber when said conveyer means is driven in the opposite direction.