Automated food frying device and method
First Claim
1. A device for the automated frying of foods comprising:
- (a) a fry vat for containing and heating cooking oil;
(b) at least one fry wheel having at least a generally circular perimeter and a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an opening towards the perimeter, the fry wheel mounted for rotational movement relative to the radial axis of the wheel, which radial axis is disposed above the normal operating level of the frying oil in the fry vat;
(c) a drive mechanism for rotating the fry wheel;
(d) a sensing device for sensing the level of cooking oil in the fry vat;
(e) a control system for operating the drive mechanism to rotate the fry wheel in one direction to cause food deposited into one of the compartments to travel through the cooking oil in the fry vat over a period of time to fry the food and out of the cooking oil for subsequent discharge of the food from the compartment, wherein the control system adjusts the speed of rotation based on the level of cooking oil in the fry vat.
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Abstract
An automated food processing system is provided that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a container, for example, an individual portion-sized container. The system includes separate automated modules for dispensing, frying and packaging food. An automated dispensing device dispenses a predetermined portion of food from a bulk storage container or food dispensing magazine. Food is dispensed from the automated dispensing device to an automated fry device that can include at least one circular fry wheel having a plurality of food containing compartments. After the food is fried, it is dispensed from the fry device to an automated packaging device. The automated packaging device dispenses food to a container, for example, an individual portion-sized container that is retrieved, erected and held in position for filling by an automated container handling system. After a food container is filled, a conveyor system transports the container to a pick-up location.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for the automated frying of foods comprising:
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(a) a fry vat for containing and heating cooking oil;
(b) at least one fry wheel having at least a generally circular perimeter and a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an opening towards the perimeter, the fry wheel mounted for rotational movement relative to the radial axis of the wheel, which radial axis is disposed above the normal operating level of the frying oil in the fry vat;
(c) a drive mechanism for rotating the fry wheel;
(d) a sensing device for sensing the level of cooking oil in the fry vat;
(e) a control system for operating the drive mechanism to rotate the fry wheel in one direction to cause food deposited into one of the compartments to travel through the cooking oil in the fry vat over a period of time to fry the food and out of the cooking oil for subsequent discharge of the food from the compartment, wherein the control system adjusts the speed of rotation based on the level of cooking oil in the fry vat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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4. An automated method of frying food comprising:
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(a) placing food in a fry wheel compartment of a fry wheel having at least a generally circular perimeter and a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an opening towards the perimeter, the fry wheel mounted for rotational movement relative to the radial axis of the wheel which radial axis is disposed above the normal operating level of the frying oil in a fry vat having heated cooking oil therein;
(b) sensing the level of cooking oil in the fry vat;
(c) rotating the fry wheel in one direction to cause the food deposited into one of the compartments to travel through the cooking oil in the fry vat over a period of time to fry the food and to move the food out of the cooking oil for subsequent discharge of the food from the compartment, wherein the speed of said rotating is related to the level of cooking oil in the fry vat. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 20)
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Specification