EP1039823A1 - Conveyorized bun griller with non-marking belts - Google Patents
Conveyorized bun griller with non-marking beltsInfo
- Publication number
- EP1039823A1 EP1039823A1 EP98964257A EP98964257A EP1039823A1 EP 1039823 A1 EP1039823 A1 EP 1039823A1 EP 98964257 A EP98964257 A EP 98964257A EP 98964257 A EP98964257 A EP 98964257A EP 1039823 A1 EP1039823 A1 EP 1039823A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- bun
- griller
- conveyor
- belt
- conveyor belt
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J37/00—Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying
- A47J37/06—Roasters; Grills; Sandwich grills
- A47J37/08—Bread-toasters
- A47J37/0864—Bun toasters
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J37/00—Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying
- A47J37/06—Roasters; Grills; Sandwich grills
- A47J37/08—Bread-toasters
- A47J37/0857—Bread-toasters with bread supports or heating means movable during the toasting operation
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a mechanized bun grilling device having a bun conveyor belt that does not mark the exterior of the buns during grilling.
- it relates to a high temperature, solid weave non-stick conveyor belt for use in a conveyorized bun griller.
- conveyor bun grilling The method of moving product in a conveyor across a hot surface to toast the product is referred to as conveyor bun grilling. This grilling method requires the bun to be pressed against the hot surface as it is moved along the conveyor, to provide quick, even toasting.
- Horizontal grillers having a heated bun discharge and holding area are known in the art. These grillers preferably utilize a spring tension track support to apply pressure to the bun, to ensure even and adequate grilling.
- grillers of this design have been subject to certain limitations. For example, while the spring tension track support provides a more uniform toasting of the cut side of the bun, by pressing the cut surface firmly and evenly against the grilling surface, it also leaves markings on the exterior of the bun. The pressure applied by the spring tension track support creates these markings on the rounded surface of the bun These markings can be considered to be aesthetically undesirable.
- a conveyor bun griller is needed that can effectively grill the cut surfaces of a bun, without creating undesirable markings or impressions on the exterior of the bun.
- Different wire type conveyor belts having tighter spacings were evaluated in attempting to reduce the incidence of bun marking.
- the belt with the tightest spacing tested was a wire mesh belt that was 90% closed.
- These wire mesh belts were heavy, however, which reduced the ability of the spring track to conform to the shape of the bun.
- the metal conveyors continued to cause an impression or conveyor mark on the bun, and accordingly, were not satisfactory.
- a conveyor bun griller is needed that can prevent markings on the exterior of the bun, while conveying the bun reliably, without catching or stalling.
- the goal is to maximize the initial pressure applied to the bun while the bun is most resilient ("preferably below about 13 OOF). This allows for maximum heat transfer. Once the bun absorbs heat the softened product will deform. Thus, the compression by the belt is reduced at the end of the cycle.
- the present invention provides a conveyor bun griller having a conveyor belt with a textured low-friction surface with thermally conductive properties. This surface has more friction than an untextured low-friction surface, thus permitting the buns to be grilled without aesthetically undesirable markings, but also without creating handling problems for users of the griller.
- Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred conveyor bun griller of the present invention
- Figure 2 is a cross section of a conveyor belt track of the griller of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 3 is a partial cross section of an alternate embodiment conveyor belt according to the present invention.
- FIG. 1 A preferred conveyor bun griller 10 is depicted in Figure 1.
- Griller 10 includes conveyor belt 12, seated between spring tension track support 14 and hot top platen 16.
- Conveyor belt 12 accepts bun B and carries bun B through griller 10.
- Bun B is held in contact with platen 16 under variable tension by track support 14, to ensure proper grilling.
- top surface 18 of conveyor belt 12 is made of a high temperature, low friction surface such as polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone material. It is preferred that this surface be textured, having more friction than an untextured surface of the same material. Of the high temperature belts tested, the silicone material provided the best results.
- One, two, or a greater number of parallel conveyor belts 12 can be used.
- a conventional metal conveyor belt can be overlaid with a high temperature belt. This dual system is less preferred, however, because it increases the cost and complexity of griller 10.
- a preferred griller 10 includes a conveyor belt 12 formed of a solid weave of low-friction, high temperature material such as polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone material.
- the lower belt is made of a silicone material.
- This silicone material has increased friction, providing the optimal means of transferring the bun, in addition to adding heat to the bun product.
- the weave of the material provides some friction, to enable the conveyor belt 12 to accept and convey bun B reliably through griller 10.
- a moderate amount of friction can also be provided to conveyor belt 12 through patterning and other texturizing methods.
- the solid weave low-friction conveyor belt 12 must thus preferably be operated without a metal conveyor belt. This presents a need for a drive system that can move the conveyor belt 12, without the advantages of metal gear teeth mating into a metal conveyor.
- the grillers 10 of the present invention having a low-friction belt only, without a metal conveyor, are preferably driven by pinch rollers 20 and 22.
- the conveyor belt 12 is formed into an endless loop, which runs between first and second pinch rollers 20 and 22.
- First pinch roller 20 turns as the drive roller, while second pinch roller 22, under tension, maintains pressure between conveyor belt 12 and first pinch roller 20. This drive method allows the conveyor belt 12 to operate loosely over the track support 14.
- track support 14 preferably includes track support crown 30 supported by leaf spring 32.
- Leaf spring 32 is in turn supported by vertical guide pin 34.
- griller 10 is preferably provided with a top platen 16 having a handle 48 and a hinge 50 to allow top platen 16 to be lifted away from conveyor belt 12. This permits the area of conveyor belt 12 to be accessed for cleaning or bun retrieval.
- the bun B having passed on conveyor belt 12 through griller 10 preferably for about 30 to 35 seconds), drops into holding area 24.
- the toasted bun B has a preferred internal temperature of about 158 to 1700F, at the middle, or centroid, of bun B.
- bun B In holding area 24, bun B must hold for up to about 5 minutes with a desirable texture (no surface hardening) and a minimum temperature of about HOOF.
- holding area 24 includes a water pan 26, preferably a stationary pan with a drain (not shown), Water pan 26 provides a humidified environment within holding area 24, to maintain bun B at near-optimal condition. Water pan 26 can be heated by heater 28 to rapidly humidify holding area 24. Water pan 26 can also be removable, in which case a drain would not be necessary.
- Holding area 24 can be enclosed with a translucent vertical strips 25 to act as an air block door to reduce the effects of ambient temperature and humidity on the holding environment.
- the textured conveyor belt 12 can be used over a metal conveyor 36, as shown in Figure 3.
- This metal conveyor 36 preferably has coarse 5/8 inch cross wire spacing.
- polytetrafluoroethylene sleeve 38 is placed over metal conveyor 36, and is seamed onto and looped around two adjacent bars 40, 42 of metal conveyor 36.
- a loose flap or tab 43 of polytetrafluoroethylene can then be seamed to conveyor belt 12 over bars 40, 42 to protect the belt connection points.
- This construction permits retrofitted use of an existing metal conveyor 36, while allowing bars 40 and 42 to be engaged by teeth 44 of drive sprocket 46.
- the polytetrafluoroethylene can be a black material.
- the low friction textured surface belts may be any belt having the properties of a low friction and textured surface.
- embodiments according to the invention may use either a silicone material belt or a polytetrafluoroethylene belt.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Belt Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US6887997P | 1997-12-26 | 1997-12-26 | |
US68879P | 1997-12-26 | ||
PCT/US1998/027349 WO1999033382A1 (en) | 1997-12-26 | 1998-12-23 | Conveyorized bun griller with non-marking belts |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1039823A1 true EP1039823A1 (en) | 2000-10-04 |
EP1039823A4 EP1039823A4 (en) | 2001-03-14 |
Family
ID=22085299
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP98964257A Withdrawn EP1039823A4 (en) | 1997-12-26 | 1998-12-23 | Conveyorized bun griller with non-marking belts |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1039823A4 (en) |
AU (1) | AU1942899A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2319331A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999033382A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3548405A4 (en) | 2016-11-29 | 2020-07-29 | Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation | Composite belt profile |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5044264A (en) * | 1991-01-28 | 1991-09-03 | Forney Robert B | Cooking apparatus for producing grill stripes on cooked products |
GB2254247A (en) * | 1990-10-09 | 1992-10-07 | Gen Dispensing Syst | Infusor |
EP0557221A1 (en) * | 1992-02-18 | 1993-08-25 | Seb S.A. | Toaster with inclined conveying plane |
EP0655215A1 (en) * | 1993-11-29 | 1995-05-31 | G.S. Blodgett Corporation | Improved belt cooking apparatus |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4444094A (en) * | 1982-09-24 | 1984-04-24 | Taylor Freezer Company | Intermittent automatic grill for hamburger patties |
US4523520A (en) * | 1984-01-17 | 1985-06-18 | North Side Packing Company | Meat processing equipment |
US4701340A (en) * | 1985-12-09 | 1987-10-20 | Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. | Impingement and steam oven apparatus for preparing food products |
-
1998
- 1998-12-23 CA CA002319331A patent/CA2319331A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-12-23 AU AU19428/99A patent/AU1942899A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-12-23 EP EP98964257A patent/EP1039823A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-12-23 WO PCT/US1998/027349 patent/WO1999033382A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2254247A (en) * | 1990-10-09 | 1992-10-07 | Gen Dispensing Syst | Infusor |
US5044264A (en) * | 1991-01-28 | 1991-09-03 | Forney Robert B | Cooking apparatus for producing grill stripes on cooked products |
EP0557221A1 (en) * | 1992-02-18 | 1993-08-25 | Seb S.A. | Toaster with inclined conveying plane |
EP0655215A1 (en) * | 1993-11-29 | 1995-05-31 | G.S. Blodgett Corporation | Improved belt cooking apparatus |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of WO9933382A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2319331A1 (en) | 1999-07-08 |
AU1942899A (en) | 1999-07-19 |
EP1039823A4 (en) | 2001-03-14 |
WO1999033382A1 (en) | 1999-07-08 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20000725 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: FINCK, MARK, HARLOW |
|
A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20010125 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A4 Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Free format text: 7A 47J 37/00 A, 7A 47J 37/08 B |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20020411 |
|
GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20030408 |