Automated fry vat and method

a fry vat and automatic technology, applied in the field of automatic food processing, can solve the problems of customer delays and/or stale food, waste of food or unusable food, and other problems, and achieve the effect of reducing the number of customers, reducing the number of fry vats, and improving the efficiency of the fry va

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-03-13
SUS GERALD A +15
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The system enables consistent and efficient food preparation and packaging with reduced labor costs and improved health and safety by automating the dispensing, frying, and packaging of food items like French fries, chicken nuggets, and other products, ensuring precise control over food quantity and quality.

Problems solved by technology

For example, lunchtime and dinnertime may be extremely busy while other periods may be relatively slow.
Difficulties in proper scheduling of food production during peak and non-peak periods can cause customer delays and / or stale, wasted or unusable food.
Food preparation can be labor intensive, and thus, the labor cost can be a large portion of the total cost of the prepared food.
An additional problem is that in sparsely populated and other areas where quick-service restaurants are located, such as along interstate highways, for example, recruiting sufficient numbers of suitable employees is difficult.
As a result, stores relying totally on human operators will at times be overstaffed and at other times be understaffed.
Also, problems and potential problems can exist in restaurants where people directly prepare food.
While there have been various improvements in commercial equipment used for cooking food in quick-service restaurants, such restaurants are believed to be substantially all manually operated and relatively labor intensive.

Method used

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  • Automated fry vat and method
  • Automated fry vat and method
  • Automated fry vat and method

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Embodiment Construction

General

[0201] In accordance with the present invention, an automated food processing system and method is provided. The automated food processing system and method in accordance with the invention allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container or alternatively dispensed to a food holding area for subsequent processing by a human operator.

[0202] Referring to the Figures generally, where like reference numerals refer to like elements, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 3 and 74 and 76, there is illustrated an automated food processing system 100 in accordance with the invention and an automated food processing system 1100 in accordance with the invention. Automated food processing systems 100 and 1100 include a food dispensing device 200, 1200, a fry device 400, 1400 and a food packaging device 600, 1600, respectively. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each of dispensing, fry and packaging devices 200, 400 and 600, and 1200, 1400 and...

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Abstract

A device and method for automated frying of foods is provided. The device includes a fry vat for containing and heating cooking oil, at least one circular fry wheel with a plurality of compartments having openings towards the perimeter of the fry wheel, a drive mechanism for rotating the fry wheel, and an overflow passageway located above a normal operating level of cooking oil in the fry vat. The fry wheel rotates about a radial axis disposed above the normal operating level of the cooking oil. A control mechanism for causing the drive mechanism to rotate the fry wheel back and forth to simulate shaking of a fry basket may be included. A food inlet is preferably included adjacent the overflow passageway or a foam deck including the overflow passageway. In a preferred method, the fry wheel submerges food in cooking oil and shakes the submerged food in a fry basket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 419,523, filed on Apr. 21, 2003, pending. Application Ser. No. 10 / 419,523 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 127,202, filed on Apr. 22, 2002, pending; Ser. No. 10 / 127,203, filed on Apr. 22, 2002, granted, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,633; Ser. No. 10 / 127,309, filed on Apr. 22, 2002, granted, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,157; No. 10 / 127,311, filed on Apr. 22, 2002, abandoned; Ser. No. 10 / 127,369, filed on Apr. 22, 2002, pending; Ser. No. 10 / 127,390, filed on Apr. 22, 2002, abandoned; Ser. No. 10 / 127,398, filed on Apr. 22, 2002, granted, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,676; and Ser. No. 10 / 127,400, filed on Apr. 22, 2002, the entire disclosure of each of the foregoing applications is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to automated food processing. More particularly, the invention relates to automated food dispens...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A47J37/12A23L1/01A23L5/10B65B43/30
CPCB65B43/305A47J37/1228
InventorSUS, GERALD A.SCHACKMUTH, GLENNCONLEY, CRAIGDORSTEN, RONEWALD, HENRY T.HONG, JENNY M.CESTE, MARIO G.CORLISS, JOHN M.COURIER, ANDREWDAY, WILLIAMJONES, DOUGLOZOUSKI, JAMESNEVAREZ, ROBERTOPINNOW, CURTIS CLARENCESTANGER, KEITHGOODWIN, JOSEPH A.
OwnerSUS GERALD A