US3896715A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic appliance for cooking and distributing measured quantities of hot food products
Assignee: Metatron Investments Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-22
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1992-11-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for cooking and distributing measured quantities of hot food products comprising a perforated basket having an aperture in which is mounted a chute for introducing food products into the interior of the basket, the basket and chute unit being mounted for movement between a first position in which the basket is immersed in a cooking liquid in a tank and a second position in which the basket is withdrawn from the tank. A rotatable wheel with radial partitions is mounted in the interior of the basket to divide the same into sectors, each of which is intended to contain one measured quantity of food product. A pivotable abutment is fixed in the tank to enter the basket through a slit therein and to effect rotation of the rotatable wheel to cause the partitions thereof to rotate through one sector each time the basket and chute unit undergoes one cycle of movement. As the basket moves from the second position to the first position and empty sector receives a predetermined portion of product and when the basket moves from the first position to the second position, cooked product from one of the sectors is delivered via the chute into an awaiting container.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Mascret
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:42
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0064; G07F17/0078; A; A47; A47J; A47J37/00; A47J37/12; A47J37/1228; G07F9/00; G07F9/10; G07F9/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
Apparatus for cooking and distributing measured quantities of hot food products, the apparatus comprising a tank for containing a hot cooking liquid; a basket and chute unit consisting of a perforated basket having an aperture and a chute in communication with the aperture for introducing food products into the interior of the basket and for removing food products therefrom; means for moving the unit between a first position in which the basket is immersed in the cooking liquid and a second position in which the basket is withdrawn from the tank; means for partitioning the interior of the basket into sectors each intended to contain one measured quantity of food product, said partitioning means being mounted so as to be rotatable in the basket; a device for imparting rotation to said partitioning means to cause the partitioning means to rotate through one sector each time the basket-and-chute unit moves towards one of said positions of the basket; a magazine for containing a reserve of the food product to be cooked and provided with an aperture through which said product can pour and including means for driving the product towards said aperture; a two-position productmeasuring member which, in a first position, takes from the aperture of thE magazine a predetermined portion of product, and in its second position allows said portion to pour into the chute of the basket, a driving mechanism for moving the measuring member in synchronism with the movement of the basket-and-chute unit; means for receiving a stack of receptacles each intended to receive a cooked portion of product which is tipped from one of the sectors of the basket; and a mechanism for distributing said receptacles in synchronism with the movement of the basket-and-chute unit and operable to bring an end receptacle from the stack into a position accessible to the consumer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
Apparatus for cooking and distributing measured quantities of hot food products, the apparatus comprising a tank for containing a hot cooking liquid; a basket and chute unit consisting of a perforated basket having an aperture and a chute in communication with the aperture for introducing food products into the interior of the basket and for removing food products therefrom; means for moving the unit between a first position in which the basket is immersed in the cooking liquid and a second position in which the basket is withdrawn from the tank; means for partitioning the interior of the basket into sectors each intended to contain one measured quantity of food product, said partitioning means being mounted so as to be rotatable in the basket; a device for imparting rotation to said partitioning means to cause the partitioning means to rotate through one sector each time the basket-and-chute unit moves towards one of said positions of the basket; a magazine for containing a reserve of the food product to be cooked and provided with an aperture through which said product can pour and including means for driving the product towards said aperture; a two-position productmeasuring member which, in a first position, takes from the aperture of thE magazine a predetermined portion of product, and in its second position allows said portion to pour into the chute of the basket, a driving mechanism for moving the measuring member in synchronism with the movement of the basket-and-chute unit; means for receiving a stack of receptacles each intended to receive a cooked portion of product which is tipped from one of the sectors of the basket; and a mechanism for distributing said receptacles in synchronism with the movement of the basket-and-chute unit and operable to bring an end receptacle from the stack into a position accessible to the consumer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distributing mechanism is operable to bring said end receptacle into position before the cooked product portion is tipped out.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said basket and chute unit is pivotally mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pivot of the unit is located on the chute and comprises a horizontal spindle journalled in the tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partitioning means comprises a rotatable wheel comprising a plurality of perforated radially extending partitions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said wheel is rotatable in one direction only, said device for rotating said partitioning means comprising an abutment disposed in the tank, said abutment being disposed so as to enter the basket through a slit provided in the latter and to relatively move along this slit while the basket is moving towards its immersed position in order to come to bear against and rotate a partition on the wheel situated downstream of the abutment considered in the direction of wheel rotation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said abutment is mounted for pivoting about a spindle between a biased lower position in which it is disposed while the basket is moving downwards towards the tank and an upper position towards which it is urged while the basket is moving upwards against its bias by a partition situated upstream of the abutment, said wheel remaining immovable with respect to the basket during this upward movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product driving means comprises at least one spiral element rotationally driven about its axis in such a direction as to push the product towards the aperture in the magazine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring member comprises a cylindrical element mounted so as to rotate in the aperture of the magazine and having a peripheral wall with a recess whose volume corresponds to that of the measured quantity of product to be distributed, said recess coming alternately into position below the aperture of the magazine in order to be loaded with product and above the chute of the basket into which the measured quantity of product is tipped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle-distributing mechanism comprises a guide column for slidably receiving a stack of receptacles each comprising a projecting lip, and a frame mounted around the column for a reciprocating movement transvere of the column, said frame carrying two pairs of ledges each for supporting the stack of receptacles by the lip of the bottom receptacle in the stack, said pairs of ledges being offset in height by a distance substantially equal to the height of a receptacle lip and being so disposed on the frame as to take it in turns to support the stack of receptacles each time the movement of the frame changes direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the upper two ledges have a tapered shape which enables them to be introduced between the lips of two lowermost receptacles in the stack and to separate the bottom receptacle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising a cranked lever having two arms, the reciprocating movement of the frame being effected by said cranked lever one of the arms of which is fast with the pivoting spindle of the basKet-and-chute unit, and the other arm is engaged inside a vertical U-section bar fast with the frame.
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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) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |