U.S. patent application number 15/267172 was filed with the patent office on 2017-04-13 for conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food.
The applicant listed for this patent is JAMES R. BUCHLER, ROBERT LEWIS CUCCHI, CHERYL L. PANASIK, BHUPENDRA R. PATEL, DIPAN PATEL, JIGNESH PATEL, FRANCISCO VEGA, IGNACIO VEGA. Invention is credited to JAMES R. BUCHLER, ROBERT LEWIS CUCCHI, CHERYL L. PANASIK, BHUPENDRA R. PATEL, DIPAN PATEL, JIGNESH PATEL, FRANCISCO VEGA, IGNACIO VEGA.
Application Number | 20170099986 15/267172 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58499083 |
Filed Date | 2017-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170099986 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PATEL; DIPAN ; et
al. |
April 13, 2017 |
CONVEYOR-TYPE GRILLING APPLIANCE FOR COOKING OR RE-THERMALIZING
FOOD
Abstract
A grilling appliance is disclosed for preparing various
different types of food wherein the food is conveyed through the
appliance, from a food insert end of the appliance to a food
removal end of the appliance, by means of continuously movable
flow-through upper and lower cooperating conveyors operatively
associated with platen-type heating members over which the upper
and lower conveyors are conveyed so as to be heated by the
platen-type heating members and thereby, in turn, heat, brown, or
carmelize the food as desired or required.
Inventors: |
PATEL; DIPAN; (HOFFMAN
ESTATE, IL) ; PATEL; BHUPENDRA R.; (CAROL STREAM,
IL) ; PATEL; JIGNESH; (BARTLETT, IL) ;
BUCHLER; JAMES R.; (ORLAND PARK, IL) ; VEGA;
FRANCISCO; (CHICAGO, IL) ; VEGA; IGNACIO;
(COUNTRYSIDE, IL) ; PANASIK; CHERYL L.; (ELBURN,
IL) ; CUCCHI; ROBERT LEWIS; (MEDINAH, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PATEL; DIPAN
PATEL; BHUPENDRA R.
PATEL; JIGNESH
BUCHLER; JAMES R.
VEGA; FRANCISCO
VEGA; IGNACIO
PANASIK; CHERYL L.
CUCCHI; ROBERT LEWIS |
HOFFMAN ESTATE
CAROL STREAM
BARTLETT
ORLAND PARK
CHICAGO
COUNTRYSIDE
ELBURN
MEDINAH |
IL
IL
IL
IL
IL
IL
IL
IL |
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58499083 |
Appl. No.: |
15/267172 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62240553 |
Oct 13, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 37/06 20130101;
A21B 1/48 20130101; A47J 37/045 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47J 37/04 20060101
A47J037/04; A47J 37/06 20060101 A47J037/06 |
Claims
1. A conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or
re-thermalizing food, comprising: a housing; a food insert entrance
portion defined within a first end portion of said housing for
inputting food, to be cooked, into said housing; a food extraction
exit portion defined within a second opposite end portion of said
housing for extracting food, that has been cooked, out from said
housing; an upper endless conveyor belt and a lower endless
conveyor belt disposed within said housing and cooperating with
each other for propelling the food, to be cooked, from said food
insert entrance portion of said housing to said food extraction
exit portion of said housing; and a pair of heated platens
respectively associated with said upper and lower endless conveyor
belts for heating said pair of upper and lower conveyor belts
whereby said heated upper and lower conveyor belts cook the food
within said housing while the food is transported through said
housing from said food insert entrance portion of said housing to
said food extraction exit portion of said housing.
2. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said
upper endless conveyor belt is wholly disposed internally within
said housing while opposite end portions of said lower endless
conveyor belt are disposed externally of said housing so as to
define food insert and food output platforms upon which the food to
be cooked, and the cooked food, are respectively disposed.
3. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a
cooked food tray is fixedly attached to said exit end portion of
said housing for capturing cooked food products discharged from
said appliance housing by said lower endless conveyor belt.
4. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein; said
upper and lower endless conveyor belts are respectively disposed
around said pair of heated platens so as to be heated by said
heated platens.
5. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the
speed of said upper and lower endless conveyor belts is adjustable
so as to alter the time during which the food to be cooked is
exposed to and heated by said upper and lower endless conveyor
belts which are respectively heated by said pair of heated
platens.
6. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the
speed of said upper and lower endless conveyor belts is the same so
as to synchronously convey the food to be cooked through said
appliance housing.
7. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said
upper and lower endless conveyor belts are fabricated from
polytetrafluoroethylene so as to prevent the food to be cooked from
sticking to said upper and lower endless conveyor belts.
8. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 7, wherein: at
least one of said upper and lower endless conveyor belts,
fabricated from said polytetrafluoroethylene, comprises a composite
fabric wherein first linear portions of said composite fabric are
fabricated from polytetrafluoroethylene, are thicker than second
linear portions of said composite fabric fabricated from
polytetrafluoroethylene such that grill lines are effectively
impressed upon the cooked food so as to simulate the food having
been cooked upon a charcoal grill.
9. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said at
least one of said upper and lower endless conveyor belts,
fabricated from said composite fabric, comprises both of said upper
and lower endless conveyor belts.
10. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the
temperature of said pair of upper and lower heated platens is
adjustable.
11. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said
upper endless conveyor belt and said upper heated platen are
disposed at a predetermined distance from said lower endless
conveyor belt and said lower heated platen which is adjustable so
as to permit different food, having different thickness dimensions,
to be cooked within said housing of said grilling appliance.
12. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said
distance defined between said upper endless conveyor and said upper
heated platen, with respect to said lower endless conveyor and said
lower heated platen, is adjustable by a rack and pinion gear
assembly operatively connected to said upper heated platen.
13. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 12, further
comprising: a pilot pin locator plate operatively associated with
said rack and pinion gear assembly; a pilot pin operatively
connected to said pinion of said rack and pinion gear assembly; and
a plurality of pilot pin holes defined within said pilot pin
locator plate so as to permit adjustment of said rack and pinion
gear assembly, and adjustment of said upper heated platen
operatively connected to said rack and gear assembly, as a result
of said pilot pin being engaged within a predetermined one of said
pilot pin holes defined within said pilot pin locator plate.
14. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said
plurality of pilot pin locator holes defined within said pilot pin
locator plate are disposed within an arcuate array.
15. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said
plurality of pilot pin locator holes, defined within said pilot pin
locator plate, are spaced apart from each other a predetermined
distance such that when said pilot pin is moved from a particular
one of said plurality of pilot pin locator holes to an adjacent one
of said plurality of pilot pin locator holes, the distance between
said upper heated platen and said upper endless conveyor belt, with
respect to said lower heated platen and said lower endless conveyor
belt, will be approximately one quarter of an inch (0.25'').
16. The grilling machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said
upper and lower heated platens are respectively disposed upon upper
and lower platen platforms; and drive and idler rollers are
disposed upon opposite ends of said upper and lower platen
platforms.
17. The grilling machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said
upper and lower endless conveyor belts are respectively disposed
around said drive and idler rollers and are disposed above and
below said upper and lower platen platforms so as to effectively
encircle said drive and idler rollers, and said upper and lower
platen platforms.
18. The grilling appliance as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said
upper and lower endless conveyor belts are respectively removable
from said upper and lower platen platforms.
19. The grilling machine as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said
upper and lower idler rollers are spring biased so as to properly
tension said upper and lower endless conveyor belts disposed around
said upper and lower drive and idler rollers, and said upper and
lower heated platens.
20. The grilling machine as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said
upper and lower idler rollers can movable inwardly toward the
interior portion of said housing so as to reduce the tension
impressed upon said upper and lower endless conveyor belts so as to
permit said upper and lower endless conveyor belts to be removed
from said upper and lower platen platforms.
21. The grilling machine as set forth in claim 20, further
comprising: an idler roller locking mechanism operatively
associated with said lower idler roller and movable between a first
position at which said idler roller locking mechanism prevents said
idler roller from being moved inwardly so as to in turn prevent the
removal of said lower endless conveyor belt from said lower platen
platform, and a second position at which said idler roller locking
mechanism permits said idler roller to be moved inwardly so as to
in turn permit the removal of said lower endless conveyor belt from
said lower platen platform.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application is a non-provisional patent
application conversion of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 62/240,553 which was filed on Oct. 13, 2015, the priority
benefits of which are hereby claimed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to food preparation
apparatus, equipment, or appliances, and more particularly to a
grilling appliance for preparing various different types of food
wherein the food is conveyed through the appliance, from a food
insert end of the appliance to a food removal end of the appliance,
by means of continuously movable flow-through upper and lower
cooperating conveyors operatively associated with platen-type
heating members over which the upper and lower conveyors are
conveyed so as to be heated by the platen-type heating members and
thereby, in turn, heat, brown, or carmelize the food as desired or
required.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the food preparation industry, particularly within the
fast-food industry, various types of apparatus, equipment, or
appliances are utilized to cook or prepare various different types
of food such as, for example, burritos, Panini sandwiches, crunch
wraps, and the like. The apparatus, equipment, or appliances that
are conventionally employed are either flat grills which
effectively cook or toast one side of the food, and then they cook
or toast the other side of the food when the food is flipped or
turned over onto its other side upon the flat grill. Alternatively,
clam-shell apparatus or appliances have also been employed which
can effectively cook or toast both sides of the food simultaneously
as a result of the food being placed upon a lower food support
cooking platform or grill when the clamshell apparatus is disposed
at its open position, and then the clamshell apparatus is pivotally
moved to its closed position so as to bring the upper food cooking
grill portion into contact with the food. The operational drawback
or disadvantage of such apparatus, equipment, or appliances,
however, is the fact that the cooking time is effectively monitored
and necessarily controlled by means of the personnel doing the
grilling or cooking, with the result that sometimes, the food is
undercooked, overcooked, or even burned, neither one of which
operations and resulting conditions produces a satisfactory and
tasty end food product.
[0004] A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved
grilling appliance for cooking food wherein the aforenoted
disadvantages or operational drawbacks characteristic of
conventional cooking apparatus, equipment, or appliances are
effectively overcome or eliminated. More particularly, a need
exists in the art for a new and improved grilling appliance wherein
the cooking process or procedure is effectively controlled in such
a manner that the food being cooked or prepared cannot be
undercooked, overcooked, or burned. Still more particularly, a need
exists in the art for a new and improved grilling appliance wherein
the entire cooking procedure or process is automatically controlled
from the beginning of the cooking cycle to the end of the cooking
cycle and is predeterminedly controlled in light of the particular
food product that is being cooked or re-thermalized.
Overall Objectives of the Invention
[0005] The overall objectives of the present invention are to
provide a new and improved grilling appliance for cooking food
which will overcome and eliminate the various disadvantages and
drawbacks characteristic of conventional grilling apparatus,
equipment, or appliances for cooking food, to provide a new and
improved grilling appliance for cooking food which will effectively
overcome and eliminate the poor cooking results often encountered
with conventional grilling appliances, apparatus, or equipment for
cooking food, to provide a new and improved grilling appliance
which will enhance the efficiency of the food-cooking procedure or
process, and to provide a new and improved grilling appliance which
will automatically control the food-cooking procedure or process,
from the beginning of the food-cooking cycle to the end of the food
cooking cycle, so as to provide a properly cooked or re-thermalized
and tasty end food product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in
accordance with the teachings and principles of the present
invention through the provision of a new and improved grilling
appliance for cooking food wherein the grilling appliance comprises
upper and lower endless conveyor belts which are routed over and
around upper and lower heated platens and which are fabricated, for
example, from PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene, which are adapted to
be disposed in contact with the food articles being cooked, and yet
the food articles will not adhere or stick to the conveyor belts.
The conveyor belts are flow-through conveyor belts, that is, they
extend from a first food-insert end of the appliance toward a
second oppositely disposed food-output end of the appliance, and
consequently, depending upon the speed of the conveyor belts, which
can be optimally controlled, the time during which the food
articles are exposed to the heated conveyor belts, which are heated
by means of the heated platens, is predetermined such that the food
articles are not in fact undercooked or overcooked but are properly
cooked so as to result in a very satisfactorily cooked and tasty
end food product. It is further noted that the disposition of the
upper platen, around which the upper conveyor belt is routed, can
be adjusted with respect to the lower platen and the lower conveyor
belt so as to effectively adjust the gap defined between the upper
and lower platens and the upper and lower conveyor belts. In this
manner, the grilling appliance can accommodate different foods
having different height dimensions such as, for example, burritos,
Panini sandwiches, crunch wraps, and the like. Still further, the
appliance provides for the easy removal of the conveyor belts for
cleaning, maintenance, or exchange of the belts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Various other features and attendant advantages of the
present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate
like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the new
and improved conveyor type grilling machine as constructed in
accordance with the teachings and principles of the present
invention and showing the various component parts thereof;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the new and
improved conveyor type grilling machine as illustrated within FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the new and improved
conveyor-type grilling machine as illustrated within FIGS. 1 and
2;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the new
and improved conveyor type grilling machine, similar to that of
FIG. 1, showing, however, the entry end and exit end doors of the
grilling machine in their opened positions so as to facilitate, for
example, maintenance, cleaning, and conveyor belt exchange
operations which may need to be performed upon the appliance at
predetermined times;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the new and improved
conveyor type grilling machine as illustrated within FIGS. 1-4
showing the provision of, for example, a portion of the lower
endless conveyor belt assembly, comprising the lower heated platen
and tensioned idler roller, over and around which the lower
conveyor belt is conducted so as to be heated by means of the lower
heated platen;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an embodiment of a uniquely
constructed endless conveyor belt, which may be used as an upper
conveyor belt, a lower conveyor belt, or as both conveyor belts,
whereby either one or both of the upper and/or lower surface
portions of the cooked food product will effectively have grill
lines formed thereon so as to simulate grill lines that would
otherwise appear upon such food products if the food products were
actually cooked, for example, upon a charcoal grill;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective plan view showing the installation
of a food holding tray which may be fixedly secured upon the exit
end of the grilling machine so as to effectively catch and hold the
food products which have been cooked and which have been discharged
from the grilling machine by means of the lower endless conveyor
belt;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the
grilling appliance showing the internal components, comprising a
rack and pinion drive mechanism, of the grilling compliance, which
permits the upper endless conveyor belt and its operatively
associated heated platen to have its elevational position, relative
to the lower endless conveyor belt and its operatively associated
heated platen, to be vertically adjusted so as to permit the
grilling appliance to be utilized to cook different foods have
different height or thickness dimensions, and wherein a circle area
A is noted;
[0016] FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the circled area denoted A
illustrated in FIG. 10 illustrating the details of the rack and
pinion drive mechanism, the pilot pin locator plate having a
multitude of pilot pin locator holes defined therein, and the pilot
pin located upon the distal end of a pivotally or arcuately movable
arm fixedly connected to the pinion of the rack and pinion drive
mechanism, whereby the upper conveyor belt and its operatively
associated heated platen are disposed at their lowest position
relative to the lower conveyor belt and its operatively associated
heated platen;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the
grilling appliance, similar to that of FIG. 8, showing, however,
the internal components, comprising the rack and pinion drive
mechanism, of the grilling compliance, which permits the upper
endless conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen
to have its elevational position, relative to the lower endless
conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated platen, to be
vertically adjusted so as to permit the grilling appliance to be
utilized to cook different foods have different height or thickness
dimensions, and wherein a circle area B is noted; and
[0018] FIG. 9B an enlarged view of the circled area denoted B
illustrated in FIG. 9 showing the details of the rack and pinion
drive mechanism, the pilot pin locator plate having a multitude of
pilot pin locator holes defined therein, and the pilot pin located
upon the distal end of a pivotally or arcuately movable arm fixedly
connected to the pinion of the rack and pinion drive mechanism,
whereby the upper conveyor belt and its operatively associated
heated platen are disposed at their highest position relative to
the lower conveyor belt and its operatively associated heated
platen;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a schematic front-side perspective view of the
grilling appliance with a side housing wall portion of the
appliance illustrated as having been removed such that access can
be gained to the internal components of the appliance in order to
achieve a lower conveyor belt exchange operation;
[0020] FIG. 11A is a schematic front-side perspective view of the
grilling appliance with a side housing wall portion of the
appliance illustrated as having been removed such that access can
be gained to the internal components of the appliance in order to
achieve an upper conveyor belt exchange operation;
[0021] FIG. 11B is a schematic front-side perspective view of the
grilling appliance, similar to that of FIG. 11A, wherein the side
housing wall portion of the appliance illustrated has been removed
such that access can be gained to the internal components of the
appliance in order to achieve an upper conveyor belt exchange
operation, and wherein the front access door has been moved to its
open position, and the pair of pivot links, connecting the rack of
the height adjustment mechanism for the upper conveyor belt to the
upper conveyor belt mounting system, have been moved to their
out-of-the way position so as to permit removal of the upper
conveyor belt side cover so as to, in turn, permit access to and
removal of the upper conveyor belt; and
[0022] FIG. 11C is a schematic front-side perspective view of the
grilling appliance, similar to that of FIGS. 11A and 11B, wherein,
as a result of the removal of the upper conveyor belt side cover,
the upper conveyor belt can in fact be removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
FIGS. 1-5 thereof, a new and improved conveyor-type grilling
appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food is disclosed and is
generally indicated by the reference character 100. More
particularly, it is seen that the new and improved conveyor-type
grilling appliance 100 comprises a housing 102 within which a pair
upper and lower conveyor belts 104, 106 are disposed as can best be
appreciated from FIGS. 1,3, and 4. The upper and lower conveyor
belts 104,106 are endless conveyor belts that flow through the
housing 102 from a food product input or entrance end 108 of the
housing 102 to a food product output or exit/discharge end 110 of
the housing 102. The upper conveyor belt 104 is wholly enclosed
within the housing 102, while the opposite ends of the lower
conveyor belt 106 extend beyond each end of the housing 102. In
this manner, a first movable platform region 112 of the lower
conveyor belt 106 is defined at the food product input or entrance
end 108 of the housing 102 for permitting food-cooking personnel to
effectively place the food, to be cooked, onto the input platform
region 112 of the lower conveyor belt 106 whereby the lower
conveyor belt 106 will then move the food, to be cooked, into the
appliance 100. Once the food, to be cooked, is inside the appliance
100, the food, to be cooked, will effectively be captured between
the upper and lower conveyor belts 104,106 and will be propelled
forwardly by the upper and lower conveyor belts 104, 106 until the
food exits from the oppositely disposed exit or discharge end 110
of the appliance housing 102. The oppositely disposed exit or
discharge end 110 of the lower conveyor belt 106, disposed at the
exit or discharge region of the appliance 100, effectively forms a
second movable platform region 114 from which food cooking
personnel can re-move the cooked food. Alternatively, as disclosed
within FIG. 7, a suitable tray 116 can be fixedly attached to the
housing 102 at the exit or discharge end 110 of the appliance 100
for effectively catching and holding the cooked food 118 as the
cooked food is discharged and deposited into the tray 116 by means
of the mov-able lower conveyor belt 106.
[0024] With reference being made to FIG. 5, there is disclosed a
partial perspective view of, for example, a portion of the lower
endless conveyor belt support and drive assembly 118 which is seen
to comprise, for example, a lower heated platen 120 fixedly mounted
upon a platen platform 121 and a tensioned front idler roller 122
over and around which the lower endless conveyor belt 106, not
shown, is conducted so as to be heated by means of the lower heated
platen 120. A rear drive roller, not shown, is also provided, and
both the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104,106 are
fabricated, for example, from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) such
that the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104,106, which are
adapted to be disposed in contact with the food articles being
cooked as a result of the upper and lower endless conveyor belts
104,106 propelling the food to be cooked or re-thermalized through
the appliance 100 from the food input or entrance end 108 of the
housing 102 to the food output or exit/discharge end 110 of the
housing 102, will effectively prevent the food products being
cooked from adhering or sticking to the upper and lower endless
conveyor belts 104,106. The drive system, not shown, for the rear
drive roller can of course be any suitable conventional drive
system, such as, for example, a suitable chain and sprocket drive
assembly. It is to be further noted that a user interface or
similar control panel 124 is provided upon a side wall portion of
the housing 102, as can best be seen in FIGS. 1,2, and 4, in this
manner, the temperature of both the upper and lower heated platens,
exemplified by means of the lower heated platen 120, as well as the
speed of the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104,106, which
are driven at the same synchronous speed, can be optimally
controlled so as to in turn control the real time during which the
food articles are exposed to the upper and lower endless conveyor
belts 104,106 heated by means of the heated platens exemplified by
means of the lower heated platen 120. In this manner, the actual or
real cooking time is effectively predetermined such that the food
articles are not in fact undercooked or overcooked but are properly
cooked or re-thermalized so as to result in a very satisfactorily
cooked or re-thermalized and tasty end food product.
[0025] With reference being made to FIG. 6, there is disclosed a
uniquely fabricated conveyor belt which may be used either as the
upper endless conveyor belt 104, the endless lower conveyor belt
106, or as both the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104,106.
As has been noted, the endless conveyor belt 104 or 106 is
fabricated from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), however, in
accordance with the unique fabrication techniques employed in
fabricating the endless conveyor belt 104 or 106, it is seen that
the endless conveyor belt 104 or 106 comprises a first base endless
conveyor belt 104 or 106 fabricated from a first
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) component 126, upon top of which a
second polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) component 128, comprising a
plurality of transversely spaced strips, is fixedly secured.
Accordingly, those regions of the composite endless conveyor belt
104 or 106, which have the transversely spaced strips defining the
second polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 128 fixedly secured thereon,
will effectively have a larger thickness dimension than those
regions of the composite endless conveyor belt 104 or 106 which do
not have the transversely spaced strips defining the second
polyte-trafluoroethylene (PTFE) 128 fixedly secured thereon.
Accordingly, as the food articles are conveyed through the
appliance housing 102 by means of the operatively cooperative upper
and lower endless conveyor belts 104,106, the transversely spaced
strips comprising the second polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 128
will effectively be forced into contact with the external surface
portions of the food articles being conveyed through the appliance
102, to a greater degree than that of the base endless conveyor
belt portion 126, so as to effectively form visual stripes upon the
external surface portions of the food articles which simulate grill
marks or lines that would appear upon the food articles as if the
food articles had actually been cooked or prepared upon, for
example, a charcoal grill.
[0026] It is lastly noted that the disposition of the upper platen,
around which the upper conveyor belt is routed, can be adjusted
with respect to the lower platen and the lower conveyor belt so as
to effectively adjust the gap defined between the upper and lower
platens and the upper and lower endless conveyor belts. In this
manner, the grilling appliance can accommodate different foods
having different height or thickness dimensions such as, for
example, burritos, Panini sandwiches, crunch wraps, and the like.
Still further, the appliance provides for the easy removal of the
upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104,106 for cleaning,
maintenance, or exchange of the conveyor belts 104,106 as may be
needed or required. With reference therefore being made to FIGS.
8,8A,9, and 9B, the vertical adjustment of the upper heated platen
and the upper endless conveyor belt 104 that is disposed
therearound, with respect to the lower heated platen and the lower
endless conveyor belt 106 disposed therearound, will be discussed
first. It is to be noted that while the vertical adjustment of the
upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt 104, with
respect to the lower heated platen and the lower endless conveyor
belt 106 can be achieved by various means, including the use of,
for example, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical actuators, a
manual adjustment system has been incorporated within the
conveyor-type grilling appliance 100 of the present invention. As
disclosed within FIGS. 8,8A,9, and 9B, both sides of the
convey-ortype grilling appliance housing 102 are provided with a
manual adjustment pilot pin 130 which is fixedly secured to a first
distal end of a pilot pin mounting arm 132, while the second
opposite proximal end of the pilot pin mounting arm 132 is fixedly
connected to the axial center of a circular disk-type pinion 134,
it being noted that only one adjustment system comprising one pilot
pin 130, one pilot pin mounting arm 132, and one circular disk-type
pinion 134 is illustrated in these side perspective views. These
components can likewise be seen in FIGS. 1,2, and 4, it being noted
that the side wall of the appliance housing 102 is to be considered
transparent for visual purposes of this disclosure so as to
effectively see, for example, the mounting arm 132 which is
disposed internally of the appliance housing 102.
[0027] In addition to the aforenoted components, a rack 136, having
gear teeth 138 formed upon an upper arcuate edge portion thereof,
is provided for engagement with gear teeth 140 formed upon the
outer circumferential peripheral surface of the pinion 134, the
rack 136 and pinion 134 assembly being biased toward their
uppermost position by spring-biasing means, not shown. Still
further, a pilot pin locator plate 142 is provided with a multitude
of pilot pin locator holes 144 which are defined within an arcuate
array covering an angular extent of approximately 45.degree.
extending from a leftmost or western position upon the pilot pin
locator plate 142 to a lowermost or southern position upon the
pilot pin locator plate 142. The pilot pin 130 is a spring-biased
pull-pin that is capable of being moved in a direction along the
axis around which the pilot pin 130 is defined. The pilot pin 130
is thus pulled axially outwardly so as to effectively be disengaged
from one of the pilot pin locator holes 144 defined within the
pilot pin locator plate 142 whereby the pilot pin 130 can then be
moved toward another pilot pin locator hole 144 defined within the
pilot pin locator plate 142, and is permitted to be moved axially
inwardly under the biasing force of its biasing spring, not shown,
so as to permit the locking pin 130 to be inserted into another or
different pilot pin locator hole 144 in order to effectively lock
the upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt 104 at
a particular vertical position with respect to the lower heated
platen and the lower endless conveyor belt 106 when the vertical
adjustment of the upper heated platen and the upper endless
conveyor belt 104 relative to the lower heated platen and the lower
endless conveyor belt 106 is to be achieved.
[0028] Each pilot locator hole 144 permits the upper heated platen
and the upper endless conveyor belt 104 to be moved one quarter of
an inch (0.25''), vertically upwardly or vertically downwardly,
with respect to the lower heated platen and the lower endless
conveyor belt 106. As disclosed within FIGS. 8 and 8A, it is seen
that the upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt
104 are disposed at their lowermost position with respect to the
lower heated platen and the lower endless conveyor belt 106 as a
result of the pilot pin mounting arm 132 extending horizontally to
the left and the pilot pin 130 being disposed within the uppermost
and leftmost pilot pin locator hole 144 of the arcuate array of
pilot pin locator holes 144 defined within the pilot pin locator
plate 142, whereas, as disclosed within FIGS. 9 and 9B, it is seen
that the upper heated platen and the upper endless conveyor belt
104 are disposed at their uppermost position with respect to the
lower heated platen and the lower endless conveyor belt 106 as a
result of the pilot pin mounting arm 132 extending substantially
vertically downwardly whereby the pilot pin 130 is disposed within
the lowermost or southernmost pilot pin locator hole 144 of the
arcuate array of pilot pin locator holes 144 defined within the
pilot pin locator plate 142. It is to be lastly noted that an
arcuate slot, not shown, must be provided within a portion of each
external side wall 146 of the housing 102 so as to permit the pilot
pin 130 to project through the side wall 146 of the housing 102 and
yet travel or be moved through its arcuate path when the pilot pin
130 is being moved from one pilot pin locator hole 144 to another
pilot pin locator hole 144 in order to vertically adjust the
disposition of the upper heated platen and the upper endless
conveyor belt 104 with respect to the lower heated platen and the
lower endless conveyor belt 106. In addition, a linkage plate 148,
having a substantially triangular configuration, is connected at
one corner thereof to the rack 136 while another corner thereof is
operatively connected to the drive chain, not shown, which is
operatively associated with the upper conveyor belt drive roller.
The linkage plate 148 is seen to move, as can be appreciated with
reference being made to FIGS. 8,9, and 9B, as the vertical
adjustment of the upper heated platen and the upper endless
conveyor belt 104, with respect to the lower heated platen and the
lower endless conveyor belt 106, is achieved in order to
effectively eliminate any slack in the drive chain operatively
associated with the upper conveyor belt drive roller.
[0029] Lastly, with reference being made to FIGS. 10 and 11A-11C,
the removal of the upper and lower endless conveyor belts 104,106,
for cleaning, maintenance, or exchange of the conveyor belts
104,106 as may be needed or required, will now be discussed. With
reference first being made to FIG. 10, the removal and exchange of
the lower conveyor belt 106 will be discussed first. In order to
remove and exchange the lower conveyor belt 106, one of the
external side walls 146 of the housing 102 is initially removed so
as to provide access to the inner components of the appliance 100.
A lower door 150 of the housing 102, operatively associated with
and covering the lower conveyor belt idler roller 152, is then
initially moved from its closed position to its opened position so
as to in fact provide access to the lower conveyor belt idler
roller 152. The lower conveyor belt idler roller 152, which may be
similar to conveyor belt idler roller 122, is spring-biased by
means of a suitable tensioning spring, not shown, whereby the lower
conveyor belt 106 will remain properly tensioned about the lower
conveyor belt drive roller, not shown, and the lower conveyor belt
idler roller 152. In addition, an idler roller lock mechanism 154,
which is mounted upon an interior side wall portion of the
appliance 100, is pivotally moved from its upper position, at which
it is effectively disposed within a slot 156 which can best be seen
in FIG. 10, to a pivotally lower position at which the idler roller
lock mechanism 154 is removed from the slot 156. Accordingly, the
lower conveyor belt idler roller 152 may now be moved inwardly
toward the internal part of the housing 102 and against the biasing
force of its biasing spring, not shown, in view of the fact that
the idler roller lock mechanism 154 has effectively been moved from
a position at which it blocks the internal movement of the lower
conveyor belt idler roller 152 to a position at which it no longer
blocks the internal movement of the lower conveyor belt idler
roller 152. Therefore, the tension imposed upon the lower conveyor
belt 106 by means of the spring-biased lower conveyor belt idler
roller 152 has effectively been relieved, whereby the lower
conveyor belt 106 can then be removed from its disposition
overlying the lower conveyor belt drive and idler rollers as well
as the lower heated platen.
[0030] With reference lastly being made to FIGS. 11A-11C, the
removal and exchange of the upper conveyor belt 104 will now be
discussed. Once again, one of the side walls 146 of the appliance
is initially removed so as to permit personnel to gain access to
the interior components of the appliance. The rack and pinion
assemblies 136,134 have been moved to and locked at their uppermost
positions. It is seen that each one of the rack and pinion
assemblies 136,134 are operatively connected to each side of the
upper conveyor belt heated platen platform, which may be similar to
the heated platen platform 121, by means of two linkage members
158,158 which can best be seen in FIG. 10. Each side set of linkage
members 158,158 is pivotally attached or mounted at relatively
central portions thereof to an interior sidewall portion 160 of the
appliance 100 as at 162. Upper end portions of the linkage members
158,158 are pivotally connected to the rack 134 by means of a first
set of pull-pins 164,164 which can best be seen in FIG. 10, while
lower end portions of the linkage members 158,158 are pivotally
connected to the upper heated platen platform, not shown, by means
of a second set of pull-pins 166,166, as can also best be seen in
FIG. 10. Accordingly, the next step in the procedure to be
conducted in connection with the removal and exchange of the upper
conveyor belt 104 is the removal of the first and second sets of
pull-pins 164, 166 so as to permit the opposite end portions of the
linkage members 158,158 to be disconnected from the rack 134 and
the upper heated platen platform, not illustrated. The linkage
members 158,158 can then be moved to horizontally oriented
positions, as shown in FIG. 11A, at which positions the linkage
members 158, 158 no longer overlie an upper conveyor belt side
cover panel 168.
[0031] Accordingly, the upper conveyor belt side cover panel 168
can now be removed from the interior side wall portion 160 of the
appliance as shown in FIG. 11B after suitable fasteners, not shown,
are removed which have effectively connected the upper conveyor
belt side cover panel 168 to the interior side wall portion 160 of
the appliance 100. As can also best be seen in FIG. 11B, the upper
conveyor belt side cover panel 168 has a pair of arcuate slots
170,170 formed therein for permitting the second set of pull pins
166,166, attached to the lower end portions of the linkage members
158,158, to traverse such slots 170,170 as the rack and pinion
assembly 136,134 serves to alter or adjust the vertical disposition
of the upper heated platen and the upper conveyor belt 104 relative
to the lower heated platen and the lower conveyor belt 106. Once
the foregoing procedures have been accomplished, the front or rear
access door 172 of the appliance, which is pivotally connected to
and operatively associated with that end of the appliance 100 at
which the upper conveyor belt idler roller 174, as shown in FIG.
11C, is positioned, is moved to and locked at its opened position.
Access is now gained with respect to the upper conveyor belt 104
and its idler roller 174. As was the case with the removal or
exchange operation previously noted in connection with the lower
conveyor belt 106, the upper conveyor belt idler roller 174 may now
be moved inwardly toward the internal part of the housing 102 and
against the biasing force of its biasing spring, not shown.
Therefore, the tension imposed upon the upper conveyor belt 104 by
means of the spring-biased up-per conveyor belt idler roller 174
has effectively been relieved, whereby the upper conveyor belt 104
can then be removed from its disposition overlying the upper
conveyor belt drive and idler rollers as well as the upper heated
platen.
[0032] Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
KEY TO REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE DRAWINGS
[0033] 100--Conveyor type grilling appliance [0034] 102--Housing of
100 [0035] 104--Upper endless conveyor belt [0036] 106--Lower
endless conveyor belt [0037] 108--Food product input/entrance end
of housing 102 [0038] 110--Food product output or exit/discharge
end of housing 102 [0039] 112--First movable platform region of
lower conveyor belt 106 [0040] 114--Second movable platform region
of lower conveyor belt 106 [0041] 116--Food product discharge tray
at food product discharge end of 102 [0042] 118--Lower endless
conveyor belt sup-port and drive assembly 118 [0043] 120--Lower
heated platen [0044] 121--Platen platform [0045] 122--Lower front
tensioned conveyor belt idler roller [0046] 124--User
interface/control panel upon side wall portion of housing 102
[0047] 126--First base polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) component
[0048] 128--Second polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sealed atop 126
[0049] 130--Adjustment pilot pin [0050] 132--Pilot pin mounting arm
[0051] 134--Pinion of upper platen/conveyor belt adjustment system
[0052] 136--Rack of upper platen/conveyor belt adjustment system
[0053] 138--Gear teeth of rack 136 [0054] 140--Gear teeth of pinion
134 [0055] 142--Pilot pin locator plate [0056] 144--Pilot pin
locator holes defined within pilot pin locator plate 142 [0057]
146--Side wall of housing 102 [0058] 148--Linkage plate [0059]
150--Lower door of housing 102 [0060] 152--Lower front tensioned
conveyor belt idler roller [0061] 154--Idler roller lock mechanism
[0062] 156--Slot for accommodating idler roller lock mechanism in
its up position [0063] 158--Linkage members connecting the
rack/pinion to upper heated platen [0064] 160--Interior side wall
of appliance 100 [0065] 162--Pivotal attachment of linkages 158 to
160 [0066] 164--First set of pull-pins connecting linkage members
158 to rack 136 [0067] 166--Second set of pull-pins connecting
linkage members 158 to upper platen [0068] 168--Upper conveyor belt
side cover panel [0069] 170--Arcuate slots within side cover panel
168 [0070] 172--Access door of appliance 100 [0071] 174--Upper
conveyor belt idler roller
* * * * *