Patent US5172328A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5172328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Food preparation system and method
Assignee: Restaurant Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1992-01-08
•
Granted: 1992-12-15
•
Expires: 2012-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A fully automated robotized system and method is provided for cooking food products. The system and method is especially useful for use in a quick service or fast food restaurant and, in one embodiment, is capable of cooking, on a fully automated basis, french fries, chicken nuggets, fish filets and chicken patties. In one embodiment, the system includes a robot, a bulk uncooked food dispensing station, a cooking station and a cooked food storage station. The system can be controlled by a computer operating and control station that controls and directs the robot to obtain bulk food from the dispensing station, place it in cooking position at the cooking station and when cooked, remove the food and deliver it to the storage station, at a rate required to fill anticipated customer orders. In one embodiment, the cooking station is a clamshell grill and the robot deposits on and retrieves from the grill hamburger patties in a predetermined horizontal array with a novel end of arm tool.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Cahlander
- 👤 David W. Carroll
- 👤 Robert A. Hanson
- 👤 Alfred C. Hollingsworth
- 👤 Richard O. Koehler
- 👤 John O. Reinertsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:08
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0064; G07F17/0078; G07F17/0085; A; A47; A47J; A47J27/00; A47J27/14; A47J37/00; A47J37/12; A47J37/1228
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 96
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A robotized fry cell for processing at least one type of bulk food comprising: (a) a dispensing station comprising a food dispenser for each type of bulk food, each dispenser capable of dispensing an amount of food into a container; (b) a cooking station comprising at least one fry vat for frying food contained in the container; (c) a robot capable of working in an area that determines a work area said robot capable of horizontal linear movement in said work area; (d) an end of arm robot tool for said robot, said robot capable of, in conjunction with said end of arm tool, selectively engaging, disengaging and moving, in said work area to said stations while engaged, said container for holding a quantity of food from said dispensing station; (e) said dispensing station and said cooking station being located with respect to said work area so that said robot can place said container means in a food receiving position with respect to any of said plurality of food dispensers, and in a cooking position with respect to said fry vat; and (f) a cooked food receiving station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A robotized fry cell for processing at least one type of bulk food comprising: (a) a dispensing station comprising a food dispenser for each type of bulk food, each dispenser capable of dispensing an amount of food into a container; (b) a cooking station comprising at least one fry vat for frying food contained in the container; (c) a robot capable of working in an area that determines a work area said robot capable of horizontal linear movement in said work area; (d) an end of arm robot tool for said robot, said robot capable of, in conjunction with said end of arm tool, selectively engaging, disengaging and moving, in said work area to said stations while engaged, said container for holding a quantity of food from said dispensing station; (e) said dispensing station and said cooking station being located with respect to said work area so that said robot can place said container means in a food receiving position with respect to any of said plurality of food dispensers, and in a cooking position with respect to said fry vat; and (f) a cooked food receiving station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fry cell of claim 1 further comprising basket rocking means associated with said fry vat for selectively rocking the container during cooking in said fry vat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fry cell of claim 1 further comprising stir means associated with said fry vat for stirring the food in the container during cooking in said fry vat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fry cell of claim 1 wherein said dispensing station comprises a separate food dispenser for chicken nuggets, fish filets and chicken patties.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fry cell of claim 4 further comprising dump means for dumping cooked food from-said container into said cooked food receiving station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The fry cell of claim 5 wherein said dump means comprises at least one pivotable platform capable of pivoting from a horizontal position for loading cooked food thereon to a relatively upright position for dumping food thereon into said cooked food receiving station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fry cell of claim 6 wherein said dump means comprises two of said pivotable platforms, one locked at each end of said cooking station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The fry cell of claim 7 wherein said cooked food receiving station comprises an area adjacent one end of said cooking station for receiving food from one of said pivotable platforms and another area adjacent the other end of said cooking station for receiving food from the other of said pivotable platforms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
206 words
An automated system for cooking food products comprising: (a) a robot capable of working in an area that determines a work area, said robot capable of horizontal linear movement in said work area; (b) at least one bulk uncooked food dispenser for dispensing uncooked food pieces into a moveable container located in said work area; (c) at least one cooking station in said work area for cooking food products; (d) storage means in or adjacent said work area for receiving and storing cooked food; (e) discharge means for discharging into said storage means food cooked by said cooking means; and (f) said robot including an end of arm tool, said robot capable of, in conjunction with said end of arm tool, selectively engaging, disengaging and moving said container to desired locations in said work area and for placing said plurality of food pieces in cooking position with respect to said cooking means while said food pieces are contained in said container, said desired locations including an uncooked food dispensing position for receiving food into said container from said food dispenser, at least one cooking position at said cooking station for cooking said food pieces and an unloading location where cooked food is unloaded from said container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
206 words
An automated system for cooking food products comprising: (a) a robot capable of working in an area that determines a work area, said robot capable of horizontal linear movement in said work area; (b) at least one bulk uncooked food dispenser for dispensing uncooked food pieces into a moveable container located in said work area; (c) at least one cooking station in said work area for cooking food products; (d) storage means in or adjacent said work area for receiving and storing cooked food; (e) discharge means for discharging into said storage means food cooked by said cooking means; and (f) said robot including an end of arm tool, said robot capable of, in conjunction with said end of arm tool, selectively engaging, disengaging and moving said container to desired locations in said work area and for placing said plurality of food pieces in cooking position with respect to said cooking means while said food pieces are contained in said container, said desired locations including an uncooked food dispensing position for receiving food into said container from said food dispenser, at least one cooking position at said cooking station for cooking said food pieces and an unloading location where cooked food is unloaded from said container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The automated system of claim 9 wherein said container means comprises at least one fry basket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The automated system of claim 9 wherein said bulk uncooked food dispenser is a french fry dispenser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The automated system of claim 11, said system further comprising a second food dispenser that is a chicken nugget dispenser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The robotized system of claim 12 wherein said storage means comprise separate storage locations for cooked french fries and chicken nuggets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The automated system of claim 9 wherein said bulk uncooked food dispenser is a chicken nugget dispenser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The automated system of claim 14, said bulk uncooked food dispenser further comprises a second food dispenser for dispensing chicken patties and a third food dispenser for dispensing fish filets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The robotized system of claim 15 wherein said storage means comprise separate storage location for cooked chicken patties and chicken nuggets.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The robotized system of claim 9 wherein said food dispensing station can dispense at least one type of uncooked foods selected from the group consisting of french fries, chicken nuggets, fish filets and chicken patties.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The robotized system of claim 9 wherein each of said food dispensers is capable of dispensing a preselected amount of food into said container.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The automated system of claim 9 wherein said cooking station comprises a grill surface for grilling food.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The automated system of claim 19 wherein said grill is a clamshell grill.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The automated system of claim 19 wherein said robot is moveable horizontally along a linear substantially horizontal track.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The automated system of claim 9 wherein said moveable container forms part of said end of arm tool and comprises a fixture for dispensing and retrieving food on a grill surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The automated system of claim 22 wherein said bulk uncooked food dispenser is a food patty dispenser.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
The automated system of claim 23 wherein said fixture comprises a first subfixture for receiving uncooked food patties from said food patty dispenser and delivering and depositing with said robot said uncooked food patties on said grill surface and a second subfixture for retrieving cooked food patties from said grill surface and for delivering them by said robot to said storage means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The automated system of claim 24 wherein said first subfixture includes a first hoop member and a first selectively moveable spatula member locatable beneath said hoop member, for containing and depositing food patties in a spaced apart horizontal array.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The automated system of claim 25 wherein said second subfixture includes a second hoop member and a second selectively moveable spatula member locatable beneath said second hoop member for retrieving from said grill surface and depositing at said storage means cooked food patties in said horizontal array.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The automated system of claim 26 wherein said horizontal array is a linear horizontal array composed of rows and columns.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The automated system of claim 26 further comprising means for selectively coupling an decoupling said first and second subfixtures in vertical registry with each other.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automated system of claim 28 wherein said second subfixtures is located above said first subfixture when said subfixtures are in vertical registry with each other.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The automated system of claim 29 wherein said robot can transport said second subfixture without said first subfixture and said robot can also transport said first and second subfixtures in vertical registry with each other.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
61 words
The automated system of claim 30 further comprising means for selectively moving said second spatula from a first position where said second spatula is located beneath said second hoop for supporting food patties in said second hoop to a second position where said second spatula is retracted from said hoop for permitting food patties to be discharged from said second hoop.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
62 words
The automated system of claim 31 further comprising means for selectively moving said first spatula from a first position where said first spatula is located beneath said first hoop for supporting food patties in said first hoop to a second position wherein said first spatula is retracted from said first loop for permitting food patties to be discharged from said first hoop.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
53 words
The robotized system of claim 9 further comprising computer operating and control means for controlling and directing said robot to engage and transport said food container in sequence to and from said food dispensing station and to and from said cooking means at a frequency based on an anticipated volume of customer orders.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 33 wherein said anticipated volume of customers orders is based on stored data stored in said computer operating and control means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 34 wherein at least part of said stored data is based on data collected on a real time basis from customer orders for that day.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 34 wherein at least a portion of said data is based on historical data.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 34 wherein said stored data contains the anticipated volume of customer orders based on food type on an hourly basis.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 33 wherein said computer operating and control means includes conflict determining means for determining whether a proposed system operation would conflict with any current or future system operation already set in motion by dispensing food for said current or future operation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 38 wherein said computer operating and control means includes means for determining when a proposed system operation can be started and completed without conflict with any current or future system operation already set in motion by dispensing food for said current or future operation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The automated system of claim 9 further comprising an at least substantially horizontal linear track along which track the robot is moveable horizontally.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The robotized system of claim 40 wherein said bulk uncooked food dispenser, said cooking station and said storage means are in a linear array with respect to each other.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
100 words
An automated system for grilling food products comprising: (a) a robot capable of working in an area that determines a work area; (b) at least one bulk uncooked food dispenser for dispensing uncooked food pieces into a moveable container located in said work area; (c) at least one cooking station in said work area having a cooking surface for cooking a plurality of pieces of food therein; (d) said robot including an end of arm tool comprising a fixture assembly for dispensing and retrieving in a predetermined horizontal planar array a plurality of pieces of food on said cooking surface.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
100 words
An automated system for grilling food products comprising: (a) a robot capable of working in an area that determines a work area; (b) at least one bulk uncooked food dispenser for dispensing uncooked food pieces into a moveable container located in said work area; (c) at least one cooking station in said work area having a cooking surface for cooking a plurality of pieces of food therein; (d) said robot including an end of arm tool comprising a fixture assembly for dispensing and retrieving in a predetermined horizontal planar array a plurality of pieces of food on said cooking surface.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The automated system of claim 42 wherein said cooking surface is a grill surface.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
13 words
The automated system of claim 43 wherein said grill is a clamshell grill.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
The automated system of claim 42 wherein said uncooked food dispenser is a food patty dispenser.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
63 words
The automated system of claim 45 wherein said fixture assembly comprises a first subfixture for receiving uncooked food patties from said food patty dispenser and delivering and depositing with said robot said uncooked food patties on said grill surface and a second subfixture for retrieving cooked food patties from said grill surface and for delivering them by said robot to a storage means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
39 words
The automated system of claim 46 wherein said first subfixture includes a first hoop member and a first selectively moveable spatula member locatable beneath said hoop member, for containing and depositing food patties in a spaced apart horizontal array.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
47 words
The automated system of claim 47 wherein said second subfixture includes a second hoop member and a second selectively moveable spatula member locatable beneath said second hoop member for retrieving from said grill surface and depositing at said storage means cooked food patties in said horizontal array.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
The automated system of claim 48 wherein said horizontal array is a linear horizontal array composed of rows and columns.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automated system of claim 48 wherein said comprising means for selectively coupling an decoupling said first and second subfixtures in vertical registry with each other.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automated system of claim 50 wherein said second subfixtures is located above said first subfixture when said subfixtures are in vertical registry with each other.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
35 words
The automated system of claim 51 wherein said robot can transport said second subfixture without said first subfixture and said robot can also transport said first and second subfixtures in vertical registry with each other.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
62 words
The automated system of claim 52 wherein said comprising means for selectively moving said second spatula from a first position where said second spatula is located beneath said second hoop for supporting food patties in said second hoop to a second position where said second spatula is retracted from said hoop for permitting food patties to be discharged from said second hoop.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
62 words
The automated system of claim 53 further comprising means for selectively moving said first spatula from a first position where said first spatula is located beneath said first hoop for supporting food patties in said first hoop to a second position wherein said first spatula is retracted from said first hoop for permitting food patties to be discharged from said first hoop.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
31 words
The automated system of claim 52 further comprising shuttle means for horizontally transporting said first subfixture to and from a position beneath said robot to a position adjacent said patty dispenser.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
33 words
The automated system of claim 55 wherein said cooking station comprises a clamshell grill, the system further comprising means for closing said clamshell grill after uncooked patties have been deposited therein for cooking.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
21 words
The automated system of claim 56 further comprising means for opening said clamshell grill after said uncooked patties have been cooked.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
22 words
The automated system of claim 42 further comprising an at least substantially horizontal linear track along which said robot is moveable horizontally.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
55 words
The robotized system of claim 42 further comprising computer operating and control means for controlling and directing said system to engage and transport said end of arm tool in sequence to and from said food dispensing station and to and from said cooking station at a frequency based on an anticipated volume of customer orders.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 59 wherein said anticipated volume of customers orders is base on stored data stored in said computer operating and control means.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 60 wherein at least a part of said stored data is based on data collected on a real time basis from customer orders for that day.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 60 wherein at least a portion of said data is based on historical data.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 60 wherein said stored data contains the anticipated volume of customer orders based on food type on an hourly basis.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 59 wherein said computer operating and control means includes conflict determining means.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 64 wherein said computer operating and control means includes means for determining when a proposed system operation can be started and completed without conflict with any current or future system operation already set in motion by dispensing food for said current or future operation.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
197 words
A robotized fry cell for processing at least one type of bulk food comprising: (a) a dispensing station comprising a food dispenser for each type of bulk food, each dispenser capable of dispensing an amount of food into a container; (b) a cooking station comprising at least one fry vat; (c) a robot capable of working in an area that determines a work area said robot capable of horizontal linear movement in said work area; (d) an end of arm robot tool for said robot, said robot capable of, in conjunction with said end of arm tool, selectively engaging, disengaging and moving, in said work area to said stations while engaged, said container for holding a quantity of food from said dispensing station; (e) said dispensing station and said cooking station being located with respect to said work area so that said robot can place said container means in a food receiving position with respect to any of said plurality of food dispensers, and in a cooking position with respect to said fry vat; (f) a cooked food receiving station; and (g) dump means for dumping cooked food from said container into said cooked food receiving station.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
197 words
A robotized fry cell for processing at least one type of bulk food comprising: (a) a dispensing station comprising a food dispenser for each type of bulk food, each dispenser capable of dispensing an amount of food into a container; (b) a cooking station comprising at least one fry vat; (c) a robot capable of working in an area that determines a work area said robot capable of horizontal linear movement in said work area; (d) an end of arm robot tool for said robot, said robot capable of, in conjunction with said end of arm tool, selectively engaging, disengaging and moving, in said work area to said stations while engaged, said container for holding a quantity of food from said dispensing station; (e) said dispensing station and said cooking station being located with respect to said work area so that said robot can place said container means in a food receiving position with respect to any of said plurality of food dispensers, and in a cooking position with respect to said fry vat; (f) a cooked food receiving station; and (g) dump means for dumping cooked food from said container into said cooked food receiving station.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
43 words
The fry cell of claim 66 wherein said dump means comprises at least one pivotable platform capable of pivoting from a horizontal position for loading cooked food thereon to a relatively upright position for dumping food thereon into said cooked food receiving station.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fry cell of claim 67 wherein said dump means comprises two of said pivotable platforms, one located at each end of said cooking station.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
52 words
The fry cell of claim 68 wherein said cooked food receiving station comprises an area adjacent one end of said cooking station for receiving food from one of said pivotable platforms and another area adjacent the other end of said cooking station for receiving food from the other of said pivotable platforms.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
179 words
An automated system for cooking food products comprising: (a) a work area containing food dispensing, cooking and storage stations and defining a work area in which an operator can interface with said stations; (b) fixture means in said work area for transporting, dispensing and retrieving food in a horizontal array, moveable by the operator to and from said dispensing, cooking and storage stations; (c) said food dispensing station for dispensing food and comprising at least one food dispenser for dispensing uncooked food pieces in the horizontal array onto said food transporting, dispensing and retrieving fixture located in said work area; (d) said cooking station comprising at least one grill surface for grilling said food pieces; (e) said storage station for receiving and storing cooked food; (f) said operator comprising automated means for automatically transferring said fixture means from said dispensing station to said cooking station where said food pieces can be dispensed by said fixture means in the array and subsequently retrieved by said fixture means manipulated by said operator after cooking by said cooking station in the array.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
179 words
An automated system for cooking food products comprising: (a) a work area containing food dispensing, cooking and storage stations and defining a work area in which an operator can interface with said stations; (b) fixture means in said work area for transporting, dispensing and retrieving food in a horizontal array, moveable by the operator to and from said dispensing, cooking and storage stations; (c) said food dispensing station for dispensing food and comprising at least one food dispenser for dispensing uncooked food pieces in the horizontal array onto said food transporting, dispensing and retrieving fixture located in said work area; (d) said cooking station comprising at least one grill surface for grilling said food pieces; (e) said storage station for receiving and storing cooked food; (f) said operator comprising automated means for automatically transferring said fixture means from said dispensing station to said cooking station where said food pieces can be dispensed by said fixture means in the array and subsequently retrieved by said fixture means manipulated by said operator after cooking by said cooking station in the array.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 70 wherein said food dispenser is a hamburger patty dispenser.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 71 wherein said operator is a mechanical device for transporting and operating said fixture comprising a vertically disposed cylinder for vertical movement of said fixture, a horizontal linear track for horizontal movement of said fixture.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
63 words
The automated system of claim 72 wherein said fixture means comprises a first subfixture for receiving uncooked food patties from said food patty dispenser and delivering and depositing with said operator said uncooked food patties on said grill surface and a second subfixture for retrieving cooked food patties from said grill surface and for delivering them by said robot to said storage means.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
39 words
The automated system of claim 73 wherein said first subfixture includes a first hoop member and a first selectively moveable spatula member locatable beneath said hoop member, for containing and depositing food patties in a spaced apart horizontal array.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
47 words
The automated system of claim 74 wherein said second subfixture includes a second hoop member and a second selectively moveable spatula member locatable beneath said second hoop member for retrieving from said grill surface and depositing at said storage means cooked food patties in said horizontal array.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
20 words
The automated system of claim 75 wherein said horizontal array is a linear horizontal array composed of rows and columns.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
25 words
The automated system of claim 75 further comprising means for selectively coupling and decoupling said first and second subfixtures in vertical registry with each other.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automated system of claim 7 wherein said second subfixtures is located above said first subfixture when said subfixtures are in vertical registry with each other.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
35 words
The automated system of claim 78 wherein said operator can transport said second subfixture without said first subfixture and said operator can also transport said first and second subfixtures in vertical registry with each other.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
61 words
The automated system of claim 79 further comprising means for selectively moving said second spatula from a first position where said second spatula is located beneath said second hoop for supporting food patties in said second hoop to a second position where said second spatula is retracted from said hoop for permitting food patties to be discharged from said second hoop.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
62 words
The automated system of claim 80 further comprising means for selectively moving said first spatula from a first position where said first spatula is located beneath said first hoop for supporting food patties in said first hoop to a second position wherein said first spatula is retracted from said first loop for permitting food patties to be discharged from said first hoop.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
28 words
The automated system of claim 79 further comprising a horizontal transfer shuttle for horizontally transporting said first subfixture to and from said operator and said food dispensing station.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 70 further comprising computer operating and control means for controlling and directing the operator to engage and transport said fixture means in sequence to and from said food dispensing station and to and from said cooking station at a frequency based on an anticipated volume of customer orders.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 83 wherein said anticipated volume of customers orders is base on stored data stored in said computer operating and control means.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 84 wherein at least part of said store data is based on data collected on a real time basis from customer orders for the day.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 83 wherein said computer operating and control means includes conflict determining means for determining whether a proposed system operation would conflict with any current or future system operation already set in motion by dispensing food for said current or future operation.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 86 wherein said computer operation and control means includes means for determining when a proposed system operation can be started and completed without conflict with any current or future system operation already set in motion by dispensing food for said current or future operation.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 70 wherein said cooking station comprises a clamshell grill having upper and lower grill platens.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 88 further comprising scraper means for periodically scraping the upper and lower grill platens to remove cooking residue from the grill platens.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 88 further comprising upper and lower platen scrapers mounted for movement across the surface of said upper and lower grill platens, each of said respective grill platen, said upper platen scraper mounted to said lower platen scraper.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 90 further comprises a cylinder for moving said upper and lower platen scrapers across said grill platens.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2466386A
Cited
US1630676A
Cited
US1961990A
Cited
US1755699A
Cited
US1927318A
Cited
US2253027A
Cited
US2475523A
Cited
US2575643A
Cited
US2807203A
Cited
US2841074A
Cited
US2777212A
Cited
US3033059A
Cited
US3080999A
Cited
US3183856A
Cited
US3266442A
Cited
US3262593A
Cited
US3279635A
Cited
US3273488A
Cited
US3412478A
Cited
US3347152A
Cited
US3340790A
Cited
US3408920A
Cited
US3448677A
Cited
US3377963A
Cited
US3391633A
Cited
US3442423A
Cited
US3442200A
Cited
US3641263A
Cited
DE1574245A1
Cited
US3474891A
Cited
US3413911A
Cited
US3587446A
Cited
US3557682A
Cited
US3505072A
Cited
US3645196A
Cited
US3685432A
Cited
US3653541A
Cited
US3665842A
Cited
US3716383A
Cited
US3690247A
Cited
US3750810A
Cited
US3747785A
Cited
US3866795A
Cited
JPS5078345A
Cited
US3965807A
Cited
US3954052A
Cited
US3908531A
Cited
US3910535A
Cited
US4163489A
Cited
US3942426A
Cited
US4071149A
Cited
US3987718A
Cited
US3984009A
Cited
US4044660A
Cited
US4074793A
Cited
US4270669A
Cited
US4179985A
Cited
US4339220A
Cited
US4233495A
Cited
US4228730A
Cited
US4289064A
Cited
US4226176A
Cited
US4213380A
Cited
US4281594A
Cited
US4295771A
Cited
FR2483206A1
Cited
FR2491031A1
Cited
US4345514A
Cited
US4396336A
Cited
US4457665A
Cited
US4503507A
Cited
US4489647A
Cited
US4437396A
Cited
US4553222A
Cited
US4595333A
Cited
US4616971A
Cited
US4611749A
Cited
US4685386A
Cited
US4628974A
Cited
DD226185A1
Cited
US4543702A
Cited
US4627785A
Cited
US4664590A
Cited
GB2161294A
Cited
US4567819A
Cited
US4657466A
Cited
US4742455A
Cited
US4700617A
Cited
FR2597239A1
Cited
US4836111A
Cited
US4688549A
Cited
US4719849A
Cited
US4719850A
Cited
GB2200039A
Cited
US4748902A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-15 | 1996-06-15 | 1996-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-15 | 2000-06-15 | 2000-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-15 | 2004-06-15 | 2004-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |