US4226176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bread toaster
Assignee: ELECTRO DEASTIR DI NEBULONI ANGELO & CSNC
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Filing: 1979-05-01
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Granted: 1980-10-07
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Expires: 1999-05-01
Abstract
Abstract Bread is toasted by being moved by a conveyor, in upright position, between a plurality of radiant heating elements. The conveyor is provided with vertically spaced metal endless belts that carry between them pusher members. The bread is fed toward the conveyor by a spring-urged feeder, whereby slices of bread are removed one by one from the stacked series of slices by the pushers on the conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Giannino Macchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:33
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J37/00; A47J37/06; A47J37/08; A47J37/0857
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
An automatic toaster comprising, in combination, an elongated horizontal parallelepipedal housing, said housing having adjacent one end thereof an opening for the introduction of bread slices to be toasted and adjacent the other end thereof an opening for the exit of toasted bread slices, means to insert automatically and one by one the bread slices to be toasted into said housing through the first opening from a stack of bread slices, two vertically spaced horizontal endless metal conveyor members disposed in the housing, rolls in the housing adjacent opposite ends of the housing about which said conveyor members circulate, said first opening being positioned so as to feed bread slices to said conveyor members at a location between said rolls an electric motor for driving one of said rolls in rotation to circulate said endless conveyor members, cross members on the endless conveyor members and interconnecting the endless conveyor members to push bread slices lengthwise along the housing from the first opening to the second opening, electric resistance heating means for heating the bread slices conveyed by said conveyor members, fixed guide means to hold the bread slices out of contact with the electric resistance heating means and to position the bread slices along their path of movement from the first opening to the second opening, and time delay means for heating said heating means for a predetermined period of time prior to actuation of said motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
An automatic toaster comprising, in combination, an elongated horizontal parallelepipedal housing, said housing having adjacent one end thereof an opening for the introduction of bread slices to be toasted and adjacent the other end thereof an opening for the exit of toasted bread slices, means to insert automatically and one by one the bread slices to be toasted into said housing through the first opening from a stack of bread slices, two vertically spaced horizontal endless metal conveyor members disposed in the housing, rolls in the housing adjacent opposite ends of the housing about which said conveyor members circulate, said first opening being positioned so as to feed bread slices to said conveyor members at a location between said rolls an electric motor for driving one of said rolls in rotation to circulate said endless conveyor members, cross members on the endless conveyor members and interconnecting the endless conveyor members to push bread slices lengthwise along the housing from the first opening to the second opening, electric resistance heating means for heating the bread slices conveyed by said conveyor members, fixed guide means to hold the bread slices out of contact with the electric resistance heating means and to position the bread slices along their path of movement from the first opening to the second opening, and time delay means for heating said heating means for a predetermined period of time prior to actuation of said motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toaster as claimed in claim 1, said cross members comprising members that are L-shaped in cross section having a base secured to the conveyor members and an upstanding portion that contacts and pushes said bread slices, said base being on the side of said upstanding portion which is opposite the side of said upstanding portion that contacts said bread slices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A toaster as claimed in claim 1, said guide means comprising vertically spaced apart horizontal members extending lengthwise of said housing and disposed between said electric heating means and said endless conveyor members, said cross members extending away from said endless conveyor members toward said guide means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
A toaster as claimed in claim 1, said means for automatically inserting said bread slices comprising a bracket in the form of an upwardly open trough to receive a stack of bread slices on edge in upright position with said bread slices parallel to the run of said endless conveyor members along which said bread slices are to be conveyed, said trough extending outwardly from said housing adjacent one end of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the length of the housing, and a spring-urged member that urges said stack of bread slices toward said conveyor members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A toaster as claimed in claim 1, said time-delay means comprising a manually operable switch for initiating actuation of the toaster, and in circuit with said manually operable switch a time-delay switch for actuating said motor after the lapse of a predetermined period of time.
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) | 1983-10-07 | 1984-04-07 | 1984-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-07 | 1988-04-07 | 1988-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-07 | 1992-04-07 | 1992-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |