Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
099323400 | CEREAL-PUFFING | 43 |
20090205507 | PUFFING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CEREAL CRACKERS AND METHODS THEREOF - An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material. | 08-20-2009 |
20090205508 | PUFFING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CEREAL CRACKERS AND METHODS THEREOF - An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material. | 08-20-2009 |
20110214573 | APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CEREAL PUFFS - Provided is an apparatus for producing cereal puffs, which heats cereals under pressure by means of a continuous circulating operation, puffs the cereals several times by means of a multistage rising operation, and causes the puffed cereals, i.e. the cereal puffs, to stand by at a predetermined position, and then to be rapidly discharged in a forward direction. Thus, it is possible to process the cereal puffs in a uniform shape, and to discharge the cereal puffs in a constant direction. Further, it is possible to simultaneously produce a plurality of cereal puffs having a uniform shape by means of one heating and pressurizing operation in a single apparatus. | 09-08-2011 |
20120067224 | DEVICE FOR PUFFING SNACK AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING PUFFED SNACK FOOD - This invention is a device for puffing snacks and a system for producing puffed snack foods. This invention makes it possible to overcome wiring problems, reduce heating costs of equipment for heat-pressing the ingredients of puffed snack foods, and expand the scale of the device, thereby increasing production efficiency. Pellets of ingredients are transported along a conveyor belt ( | 03-22-2012 |
20130186284 | Puffing Apparatus For Producing Cereal Crackers And Methods Thereof - An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material. | 07-25-2013 |
099323500 | Corn-popper type | 38 |
20080223220 | POPCORN MAKER - A popcorn maker ( | 09-18-2008 |
20080295701 | POPCORN POPPER - The disclosed popcorn popper has a housing and a container for heating popcorn popping ingredients introduced into the container for popcorn making. The container can be pivoted with respect to the housing for emptying. The popcorn popper also has an induction heater with an induction coil disposed beneath the container for generating a alternating high-frequency magnetic field. The induction coil is pivotable together with the container. | 12-04-2008 |
20090223378 | POPCORN POPPING MACHINES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE - Popcorn popping machines and associated methods of manufacture and use are disclosed herein. A popcorn popping machine configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a housing having an interior portion and a first side portion opposite a second side portion. The popcorn popping machine also includes a corn mover, a heat source, and an air mover positioned in the interior portion. The air mover is positioned on a support shaft extending from the first side portion to the second side portion of the housing. In operation, the air mover is configured to direct heated air from the heat source to corn kernels moved through the interior portion by the corn mover. | 09-10-2009 |
20090277336 | SINGLE-SERVING DEVICE FOR THE DISPLAY AND COOKING OF IN PARTICULAR KERNELS OF CORN FOR MAKING POPCORN - A device for displaying and cooking food such as kernels of corn includes a container with a base that can store kernels of corn extended by a compensation zone that can assume at least two positions, one folded and the other unfolded. The compensation zone includes four faces: two retractable faces and two stiffening faces opposite, whereby the retractable faces each include a fold that is approximately at the center of each of these faces and parallel to the base. The stiffening faces each include a first fold that is approximately at the center of each of these faces and parallel to the base and diagonal folds, whereby the base is rigid over a height so as to delimit a restricted space in which kernels of corn are likely to be stored when the compensation zone is in the folded position. | 11-12-2009 |
20110120317 | Self Contained Popcorn Popper - An improved popcorn popper ( | 05-26-2011 |
20110174163 | Kettle corn kettle, lid, and utensils - A kettle, lid, and utensils for cooking kettle corn comprising, a kettle body, lid, utensil, and splatter guard. The kettle body contains curved annular side walls, bottom, and open top. The lid contains a central aperture and radial knob. The utensil contains a handle end, working end, and shaft connecting the handle end and working end. The splatter guard contains a central aperture and radial cut. The combination of these elements allows an individual to easily cook kettle corn on their home stove. | 07-21-2011 |
20110185914 | Popcorn Popping Machine With Overhead Oil Pump - A popcorn popping machine is provided including a cabinet, a popcorn popping kettle mounted within the cabinet, and a pump mounted at a height above a height of the kettle that is configured to pump oil from a container of oil and deliver the oil to the kettle. Control circuitry is provided for operating the pump to deliver oil to the kettle. | 08-04-2011 |
20110247503 | BLOWER INTENSIFIED GAS FLAME KETTLE - A blower intensified gas flame kettle is disclosed. The kettle and gas burner jets of a gas burner are at least partially inserted into a first housing. Burning gases emanating from the gas burner jets are directed toward the kettle and contained by the first housing. The temperature and velocity of the burning gases are enhanced by action of a blower which blows air which mixes with flammable gas in the gas burner prior to burning. Higher temperatures and improved, radiant, conductive, and convection heating of the kettle are achieved. A mechanized stirrer is also disclosed which enhances heating of contents of the kettle by stirring the contents of the kettle. | 10-13-2011 |
20130276640 | POPCORN MACHINE HAVING A FILTER PASSAGE INLET CONNECTED TO A KETTLE ASSEMBLY - Popcorn machines having popping kettles in direct fluid communication with exhaust ducts are described herein. The effluent produced as a byproduct of corn popping travels directly from the kettle into an exhaust system of the popcorn machine via an exhaust duct that extends through a kettle cover or lid. The exhaust systems can include one or more filters configured to remove smoke, odors, and/or other particulate matter before venting the effluent into the surrounding area as filtered exhaust. | 10-24-2013 |
20130276641 | AIR POPCORN POPPER - Popcorn machines having fan assemblies and heat sources are described herein. The fan assemblies and the heat sources can be configured to provide heat to unpopped corn kernels to produce popcorn without the use of cooking oil. The popcorn machines can be configured for commercial use and can be mounted onto support structures that allow operators to rotate the popcorn machines. | 10-24-2013 |
20140251154 | POPCORN POPPING KETTLE AND STUD RETAINER ASSEMBLY - A popcorn popping assembly includes a popcorn popping kettle having a side wall extending from a bottom wall. The assembly includes a plurality of retainers. Each of the retainers includes a bottom wall extending between a pair of side walls. The side walls and the bottom wall define a cavity, and an aperture is formed in the bottom wall and defines an essentially closed shaped periphery. The assembly includes a plurality of studs, each configured to be inserted through a respective aperture of a respective retainer. A plurality of fasteners are each configured to be received within the cavity of a retainer and couple with a stud to secure the stud to the retainer. A temperature sensor may extend through at least one of the apertures. A stud may be configured to cooperate with the temperature sensor and hold the temperature sensor in a predetermined location. | 09-11-2014 |
20150047511 | Hot Air Popcorn Popper with Dual Wall Construction - A popcorn popping unit comprises a blower unit and a popping vessel. The popping vessel has first and second parts assemblable with one another to form the popping vessel. The first part is operatively mounted on the blower unit and the second part has an opening configured to vent pressurized air generated by the blower during cooking operations from the popping vessel through the opening. The popping vessel has at least a portion with inner and outer walls spaced apart from one another to form a double wall construction for the at least portion of the popping vessel. The inner wall may comprise glass and the outer wall may comprise plastic. The inner and outer walls may be transparent. | 02-19-2015 |
20150068407 | Spheroidal Popcorn Cooker - A popcorn cooker provides for a general spherical form composed of a lower hemispherical pan and upper hemispherical mesh screen that serves to vent steam while retaining popped kernels and grease. | 03-12-2015 |
20150082992 | POPCORN MACHINES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - Popcorn machines having modular construction that permits shipping in a disassembled condition while providing for quick and simple assembly are disclosed. The popcorn machines include an upper unit spaced from and above a base unit, a plurality of columns that extend vertically between and are connected to the upper unit and base unit. At least three side panels extend within the respective spaces located between the upper and base units and the between the spaced apart columns. The use of a wiring harness in a corner column facilitates the modular construction by permitting plug and socket connection of electrical cords when the upper and base units are connected to the plurality of columns. A side panel having slidable connectors at or near at least two opposed edges and a method of preparing to ship a popcorn machine also are disclosed. | 03-26-2015 |
20150082993 | POPCORN MACHINES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - Popcorn machines are disclosed having a construction that includes an upper unit spaced from and above a base unit and a plurality of columns that are spaced apart and slidably connected to the upper and base units thereby defining a cavity, wherein such popcorn machines include a first side having an opening through which the cavity is accessible and at least a second side having an opening through which the cavity is accessible. Side panels having vertical rails and a portion of a hinge along one side and a latch along another side, and a configuration of a popcorn machine having edge lighting, are disclosed. | 03-26-2015 |
20150082994 | POPCORN MACHINES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - Popcorn machines having a kettle support assembly connected to an upper unit and having kettle supports being configured to releasably support the kettle assembly, and wherein the kettle support assembly is movable relative to the upper unit are disclosed. An inner kettle bowl having a tool-free removable connection to an outer kettle bowl an electrical element removably connected to the bottom of the inner kettle bowl, as well as a venting assembly that is movable to selectively direct air exiting the venting assembly, also are disclosed. | 03-26-2015 |
20150366246 | POPCORN MACHINES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - Popcorn machines having modular construction that permits shipping in a disassembled condition while providing for quick and simple assembly are disclosed. A kettle is provided with a kettle closure assembly that may be quickly and easily removed without the use of tools by an operator. The kettle closure assembly may include a central mounting panel having one or more biased clips for engaging a lip on the kettle. In an alternative configuration, the kettle closure assembly may be provided with slotted apertures that cooperate with respective threaded fasteners on the kettle such that the kettle closure assembly maybe rotated into a locked position on the kettle and further secured by the threaded fasteners. | 12-24-2015 |
20160066605 | POPCORN POPPER - Embodiments of the device incorporate a container having a bowl section and a lid section. The bowl section has a base and a wall surrounding the base and terminating at its upper end in a rim. The lid section comprises a plurality of first and second panels that are hingedly coupled together. The first panels are hingedly coupled about the rim to pivot with respect to the bowl between open and closed configurations. The second panels are hingedly coupled to each other and to the first panels to substantially fill the spaces between the first panels when the first panels are in the open configuration. The second panels are also configured to at least partially fold with respect to the first panels and each other when the first panels are in the closed configuration. During use, the first panels can be moved into the closed configuration after corn kernels are placed in the bowl section to help retain heat within the container during popping. During popping, the corn kernels can urge the first panels from the closed configuration toward the open configuration as they pop inside the container, opening the lid section. After the popcorn has popped, the first and second panels can help retain the popped corn kernels in the container as they are eaten. | 03-10-2016 |
20160073664 | ENERGY EFFICIENT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POPPING POPCORN - A popcorn popper having a heat source transferring heat to a heating surface and also having a reflective surface for focusing the heat radiated by the heat source toward the heating surface. The popcorn popper can include a mechanical stirrer on the heating surface for shifting the kernels during heating and evenly distributing the kernels across the heating surface. The popcorn popper can have a cover with an integrated reservoir for holding toppings for the popcorn, wherein the reservoir is adapted to drain the topping through the cover without fouling the cover air vents and evenly distribute the topping onto the kernels. | 03-17-2016 |
20160249658 | Self Contained Popcorn Popper | 09-01-2016 |
099323600 | Coin control | 1 |
20140251155 | VENDING MACHINE FOR POPPING KERNELS - The present invention relates to a popcorn vending machine, comprising a kernel holding chamber configured to store and dispense kernels, a heating chamber comprising an inlet configured to receive kernels from the kernel holding chamber, a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels, a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a stable focused high intensity microwave region within the heating chamber, at least one air blower disposed in communication with the heating chamber, wherein the air blower is configured to blow air into the heating chamber, thereby moving kernels within the heating chamber and selectively removing popped flakes from the high intensity microwave region when popped, and a heating chamber outlet connected to the heating chamber for receiving popped flakes from the heating chamber and dispensing the popped flakes into a container. | 09-11-2014 |
099323700 | Automatic control or time means | 6 |
20090133585 | REMAINING POPPING OIL GAUGE AND METHODS - Oil remaining for use in popcorn popping is continuously weighed and a signal indicating the status of remaining oil is generated to warn when oil must be replenished. Apparatus and methods are disclosed. | 05-28-2009 |
20110083562 | Automatic Power Shut-Off To At Least A Portion Of A Cooking Apparatus - Methods to control power to a cooking appliance are provided. The methods include monitoring a power signal to the portion of the cooking appliance, including monitoring a current and/or voltage of the power signal. The methods also include selectively interrupting power to the portion of the cooking appliance in response to: determining that the current fails to exceed a current threshold within a time threshold, determining that the voltage fails to exceed a voltage threshold within a time threshold, deter mining that the current exceeds a current threshold for a first time threshold but fails to exceed the current threshold for a second time threshold, and determining that the voltage exceeds a voltage threshold for a first time threshold but fails to exceed the voltage threshold for a second time threshold. The methods also include temperature sensing and controlling the power signal based thereupon. | 04-14-2011 |
20120085242 | HALOGEN POPCORN MAKER WITH STIRRING ARM - A halogen popcorn maker with stirring arm includes a base, an aluminium container and a transparent lid. A halogen tube, a thermostat and a synchronised machine are installed in the base. A stirring arm is fixed to the aluminium container by a bolt and a bolt nut where the bolt is connected to the synchronised machine by a connecting shaft. The present invention allows popcorn to be heated and popped evenly without being burnt. In addition, the popcorn maker is easy for dismantlement in the purpose of washing. | 04-12-2012 |
20140102311 | Popcorn Making Machine with a Sensor for Control of Overloading - A popcorn making machine includes a case, a roaster mounted therein and provided with a circulated hot airflow, a feeding pipe receiving raw corn and delivering it into the roaster, a dosage unit capable of controlling a flow of raw corn into the feeding pipe, a sensor unit that includes a light source capable of irradiating light at least partially directed into the roaster containing a quantity of corn kernels, a sensor capable of producing an electric signal corresponding to a light flow received by the sensor, wherein the light flow particularly depends upon the quantity of corn kernels contained in the roaster, a light-guide for delivering the light flow from the roaster to the sensor, and a programmable electronic module capable of processing the electric signal produced by the sensor, associated with the dosage unit and capable of controlling thereof. Detail design of the sensor unit is also provided. | 04-17-2014 |
20160249656 | POPCORN POPPER | 09-01-2016 |
20160374377 | Popcorn Maker - A system for popping popcorn includes a housing, a container positioned in the housing, a cartridge containing unpopped popcorn kernels removably supported in the container, wherein the cartridge includes ferromagnetic material, a coil that creates an oscillating magnetic field that interacts with the ferromagnetic layer of the cartridge and generates an amount of heat in the cartridge, a vibrator coupled to the container for vibrating the container and the cartridge, and a receiving vessel for receiving popped popcorn positioned adjacent the container. | 12-29-2016 |
099323800 | With addition of flavoring material | 2 |
20090056558 | POPCORN MACHINES WITH TOPPING DISPENSING SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE - Popcorn machines having topping dispensing systems are disclosed herein. A popcorn machine configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure includes a popping kettle or other popping apparatus positioned in a cabinet. The popping apparatus is configured to heat un-popped corn kernels and pop the corn kernels. After popping, the corn is held in the cabinet. The popcorn machine of this embodiment further includes a topping outlet positioned in the cabinet and a topping pump. The topping outlet is operably connectable to a topping container, and the topping pump is configured to move topping from the topping container through the topping outlet and onto a serving portion of popcorn in response to operator activation of the pump. | 03-05-2009 |
20110088562 | Hot-air popcorn machine especially with a seasoning coater - A popcorn making machine includes a main unit comprising a fan pumping air into a chamber, enclosing a heater and a bowl. The bowl has sidewalls tapered downwardly with mini-nozzles attached thereto. Hot airflows are introduced from the chamber through the mini-nozzles into the bowl tangentially to its inner surface, forming a main hot airflow circulation. A central nozzle is mounted at the bowl's bottom, including slots, introducing additional airflows, tangential to the nozzle's surface, from the chamber into the bowl, forming an additional hot airflow circulation surrounding the nozzle, co-directed with the main circulation. The main unit comprises a receptacle collecting popcorn coming from the bowl. The claimed machine optionally includes a coater unit for coating popcorn with oil, salt, etc., and a compact cabinet enclosing the main and coater units. The above design provides for a fast and essentially even heating of corn kernels for efficient popping thereof. | 04-21-2011 |
099323900 | With feeding, conveying or discharging | 9 |
20110139013 | Bolt Retainer For Popcorn Popping Kettles - A bolt retainer for mounting a bolt having a head portion and a shank portion to a bottom wall of a kettle includes a pair of spaced apart side walls, a bottom wall extending between the pair of side walls and a notch formed in the bottom wall. The pair of spaced apart side walls and the bottom wall define a cavity that is configured to receive the head portion of the bolt therein with the shank portion of the bolt extending through the notch in a direction away from the bottom wall of the kettle. | 06-16-2011 |
20120266756 | POPCORN POPPING MACHINES AND OTHER MACHINES HAVING FLOW THROUGH DECKS FOR POPPING POPCORN AND PRODUCING OTHER TYPES OF EXPANDED FOOD - Systems, methods and machines for producing popcorn and other types or expanded food are disclosed herein. A machine in accordance with one embodiment includes a flow through cooking deck and a plurality of heating elements that extend along the length of the cooking deck. An agitating assembly having a plurality of paddles can be positioned above the cooking deck. A corn hopper can dispense corn kernels onto the cooking deck and the paddles of the agitating assembly can transport and agitate the corn kernels on the cooking deck. The paddles can be positioned at an angle to their direction of travel and can move the corn kernels from side to side as they move the corn kernels along the length of the cooking deck. | 10-25-2012 |
20140102312 | Popcorn Making Machine with Corn Intake Control - A popcorn making machine includes a case enclosing a roaster with a circulated hot airflow therein, causing raw corn to pop up, a feeding pipe having an upper aperture for feeding raw corn thereinto and a lower aperture, and a trap mounted within the case. The trap has an upper entrance for receiving raw corn and a lower exit for discharging thereof into the roaster. The upper entrance is coupled with the lower aperture. The trap includes a body, having inner walls, and at least two blades attached to the inner walls on opposite sides thereof, and inwardly declined. A lower blade is inwardly protruded from the inner wall, so that it partially covers the lower exit. The trap prevents blocking the feeding pipe by corn kernels that otherwise would be capable of getting into and blocking thereof, thereby enhancing the machine's reliability and maintainability. Preferable trap dimensions are provided. | 04-17-2014 |
20140102313 | Popcorn Making Machine with Various Configurations of Roaster - A popcorn making machine is proposed in three embodiments including a roaster, provided with a circulated hot airflow, and a pipebranch coupled thereto, receiving popcorn from the roaster and discharging thereof. In the first embodiment, the roaster has truncated conical sidewalls, the pipebranch has a rectangular cross-section. In the second embodiment the roaster is configured as at least a portion of a deformed sphere having a lesser pole radius and a greater equator radius, the pipebranch is conjugated with the roaster without any acute angle, and continuously tapers transforming into a cylindrical shape. In the third preferred embodiment, the roaster and pipebranch are similar to the ones of the second embodiment, but the roaster additionally contains a central cavity configured in a cone-like shape, having a base, a cupola-like top, and a curved conjugation angle at the base. The aforementioned shapes reduce manufacturing costs and improve the popcorn machine's productivity. | 04-17-2014 |
20140251156 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR POPPING KERNELS - The present invention relates to improved devices and methods for popping popcorn, comprising moving popcorn kernels within a heating chamber with airflow and subjecting the popcorn kernels to focused microwave energy sufficient to cause the popcorn kernels to pop. In some embodiments, the devices and methods utilize a single-mode resonant microwave applicator to generate a standing microwave energy field comprising an array of one or more anti-node high intensity microwave regions and subjecting popcorn kernels to the microwave energy in the one or more high intensity microwave regions. | 09-11-2014 |
20140251157 | SINGLE-MODE MICROWAVE POPPING DEVICE - The present invention relates to an apparatus for popping kernels, comprising a heating chamber for containing kernels, a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels, a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a standing microwave energy field comprising an array of one or more high intensity microwave regions, and a device configured to move kernels within the high intensity microwave regions. | 09-11-2014 |
20180020864 | POPCORN MACHINES HAVING AUTOMATIC SIFTING SYSTEMS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF OPERATION | 01-25-2018 |
099323110 | Separating discharge | 2 |
20090126579 | POPCORN MACHINES AND OTHER MACHINES HAVING MULTIPLE HEAT ZONE COOKING SURFACES FOR PRODUCING POPCORN AND OTHER TYPES OF EXPANDED FOODS - Machines having multiple heat zone cooking surfaces for producing popcorn and other types of expanded foods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a kettle assembly for popping corn includes a popping surface having a first heat zone adjacent to a second heat zone. In this embodiment, the first heat zone is configured to receive a plurality of unpopped corn kernels, and heat the unpopped corn kernels to a first level. The second heat zone is configured to receive the unpopped corn kernels from the first heat zone, and heat the unpopped corn kernels to a second level, higher than the first level. In one aspect of this embodiment, the kettle assembly can include a first heating element positioned at least proximate to the first heat zone, and a second heating element positioned at least proximate to the second heat zone. The first heating element operates at a first temperature, and the second heating element operates at a second temperature, higher than the first temperature. | 05-21-2009 |
20150040773 | Popcorn dispenser - A popcorn dispenser for use with a popcorn maker. The dispenser includes a hopper having two openings, the first opening larger than the second opening and sides tapering from the first opening to the second opening. A kernel catcher is located in the bottom of the dispenser adjacent to the second opening. There is a paddle wheel including a shaft and paddle blades below the kernel catcher. A turn dial is operationally coupled to the shaft so that when rotated, the shaft and paddle wheels rotate caused kernels in the hopper to be moved from the hopper to a bowl below the hopper. | 02-12-2015 |