US1692956A - Frankfurt machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,956

. 'r. c. RUSS ELL FRANKFURT MACHINE Filed June 13, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l ,i a H will E L. v u

Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,956

I T. C. RUSSELL FRANKFURT MACHINE v @wanlldmbnflw Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,956 T. C. RUSSELL FRANKFURT MACHINE Filed June 13, 1927. '4 Sheets-Sheet 5 v fizaezzib? 5 15 7720/2245 C favor/Z Z9 WHUM Y dwa T. c. RUSSELL FRANKFURT MACHINE Nov. 27, 1928.

Filed June 13, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ffassel/ "4 c/2% 5 [120"612 to? 7220mm? 6. fyflumd,

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

THOMAS C. RUSSELL, 01* EVANSTON, ILLII\ TOIS, ASSIGIIQB TO ADAM. H, KULIKOVSK-I,

' OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

FRANKFURT MACHINE.

Application 7 filed June 13,

This invention relates to Frankfurt roasting machines and its object is the provis on of a generally improved, simplified and inexpensive machine producing improved results and suitable for public display.

The present invention-provides for auto matically discharging the Frankfurts at the end of the cooking period and for automaticallydelivering them to a heated storage bin where they may be kept in proper heated condition.

The inventionalso provides suitable bun or roll storage compartments and for heating these and the Frankfurt bin from the cools, ing heater, the Frankfurt bin to a hi ghertem perature than the bun or roll compartments to maintain both the Frankfurts and the rolls in 'proper heated condition notwithstanding their different character and their different heat requirements.

The invention further provides a sectionalized heating arrangement in which the heat output may be conveniently controlled to meet different cooking requirements. Duri ng dull hours when the machine isoperating at only a fraction of its full capacity the heater sections, not required, maybe turned off and when the machine is operating at. full capacity the heater sections may allbe turned on to provide the corresponding maximum heat output. It is unnecessary in the present machine to use the full. heat output whenthe machine is operating at only afraction of its full capacity. V I

Still further the invention provides for minimizing heat losses by radiation and otherwise The-invention also provides for draining the grease away, as it is formed and with a minimum of smoking and pre-heating as Well as in such a manner that the succeeding Frankfurts are not subjected. thereto. The invention further provides a sanitary machine in which dirt andgrease accumulations are avoided and in whichjall. vapors and odors are effectively shut-off from the room and discharged through a suitable flue arrangement.

The machine requires little attention in operation, makes a pleasing display and the entire Frankfurt and roll or bunstorage box is adapted for convenient removal to permit complete access to themachine for cleaning or attention.

Whilethe advantages-of such provisions as these in a cooking machine of this sort Will Serial No. 193,629.

panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of. a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side ele'vational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line Fig. 4 is a rear view with the back wall of the machine partially broken away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentarydetail section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail elevation of the conveyor; i i

Fig. 8 is a detail section taken onthe line 88 of Fig.7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line v99 of Fig. 3; p t

Fig. 10 is a detail cross section through one of the trough forming channels showing the disposition of the heater therein, and shoW- ing the mannerof closing the same against heat losses and grease ingress;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 1 and i Fig. 12 is a: circuit diagram. showing the heater and motor circuit connections.

Referring to the drawings the machine shown comprises an upright sheet metal housing 5 having a base 6 and side Walls 8, 8. The rear vertical marginal edge of each of the side walls 8, 8 has angle guides 9 suitably secured thereto at 12 with their transversely extending flanges spaced to receive the adj acent vertical margins of a removable back wall is (Fig. 6) which is slidahly mounted in the guides 9 to be conveniently Withdrawn and replaced. By lifting or completely withdrawing the hack 1% the rear of the housing 5 is opened and convenient access to the inside of the machine is permitted.

The bottom of thehousingf) is closed by the base or bottom wall 5 and the housing may be suitably supported on feet 15. The vertical front Wall 16 is relatively short, as shown angle member 20 and a suitably mounted amount of heat.

downwardly and inwardly inclined flange or bracket 21 which supports the lower end or" the diagonal or inclined cooking troughs designated generally at 22 with their side enclosures. The back 01" the machine is provided internally and near the top with an angle bracket 23 which is fixedly secured and preferably independently of the slidable back 1% and which serves to suitably support the upper ends of the cooking troughs 22.

At the back of the machine and extending vertically is a stack 24 having side walls 25 and a front wall 26, which front wall is pro vided with an opening 2, through which the roasted or cooked Frankturts are discharged from the machine. The opening 27 may be provided with a suitable swingable door or this opening may be otherwis suitably enclosed or. semi-enclosed to exclude the discharge of vapors or odors therefrom. The stack discharges into a line 28 which may be suitably led out. to discharge the smoke, vapor-s, odors and t is like, to the outside or at least out of the room in which the cooking machine is arranged.

The cooking troughs 22 are formed by a plurality of channels 3O which are preterably formed of German silver or other suitable metal or material having a minimum undesirable action on the Frankturts or other articles or food which is cooked. The closed bases 32 of the channels 80 are rounded as showiiin Fig. 10 and these closed rounded bases are presented outwardly and upwardly. The parallel sides 33 of each channel are spaced relatively close together and housed in each channel 30 and between the relatively closely spaced parallel sides 33 is a suitable heater designated generally at 34 in Fig. 10.

Each heater 84- comprises a suitable resistance conductor 35 which may be bent back and forth at 36 10) and doubled over at 37 with mica or other suitable insulating material interposed between the doubled over sides of the resistance element and also wrapped over and covering th same, as shown at 38. The heater may be of any suit, able or preferred construction, that shown providing a heating element which is fiat, accommodates itself admirably between the sides 33 of the channels 30 and at the same time provides for giving oil the desired These heaters 34. extend through the channels 30 from the lower support 21 but preferably terminate a distance from the. upper support 23. They extend a distance to provide the desired cooking or roasting period in. the movement of the Frankturts through the troughs 22 from where they are introduced at the lower ends of the troughs to a point in their upward inclined travel. The Frankfurts are discharged from the upper ends of the troughs 22 through the opening 27 and the heaters may terminate short of the position of the Frankfurts in the troughs 22 from which they are discharged therefrom so that there will be no unnecessary heating of the troughs afterthe Frankfurts have been discharged,

that is, there will be no unnecessary heating of the upper portions of the troughs from which the hrankturts are discharged. The resistance elcn'ients 35 explained pi'e'lerably doubled back to provide already n'ients 30 are rolled over and beaded at 45. securing the asbestos sheet 43' and underlying plate cl ily inplace each channel 30.

/Vhen the 'channels iiO are arranged together in parallel spacedrelation they form the cooking troughs 22 between them. These troughs 22 open-outwardly and their bottoms are formed by the lower flared mar ins of the channels 30, these flared in ns being separated slightly to provide the slots 48. one of which extends continuously through the bottom of each cooking trough.

The Frankfurt carrier is in the endless conveyor comprising a less chains onebeyond group of cooking troughs, as shown in Fig. 4:. Each chain 50 is trained over and driven at the top by suitable sprockets the .yjournaled at upon opposite sides of the niacnine.

The Frankfurtcarrier or conveyor may be driven by a suitable electric motor supported upon. a shelf 61 which extends across and IS in turn supported at its oppos teends on angle members 62suitably secure to the side walls The motor slatt 53 drives a worm 6% which meshes with and in turn drives a worm wheel 65 suitably tired upon a vertical drive shaft 66 to turn the san'ie therewith. The shatt 66 is jeurnaled'at its lower end at 67 and near its upper end 68 and. above the bearing 68 the shaft 66 has a worm 69 which meshes with and drives a worm wheel 70 fixed upon the cross shaft 56 to turn the T16 therewith.

The conveyor or carrier chains 50 have l) ti slats 72 extending transversely therebetween and suit-ably secured at 73 attheir opposite ends thereto. These slats- 72 and'the chains constitute a unitary conveyor which when the V a-heated storage bin 90 having a centralheat-- motor is-turned on travels over the sprockets 52 and 53, theouter run o't'this-eonveyor traveling beneath thechannels- 30L Secured at Withiough suitable angle bases to the slats 72 are the prongs 75' which feed the Franlrfurts through the troughs 22 with the move ment of the conveyor or carrier. The num ber of prongs 75 on each slat 72 is equal to the number of slots 48,-that is, the number ofprongs on each slat is equalto the number of troughs 22 so that each slat 72 willv have a prong 7 5 for each'trough 22. The prongs 7 Sin the outer run of the conveyor" project through the slots -18 and operate centrally and longitudinally through the troughs 22. They are spaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor sufli ciently to receive the Franle furts therebetween, as shown in dotted lines at 78 in Fig. 3. This spacing may, of course, be varied or even adjustable if desired.

Extendingtransverselybeneath the troughs 22 near the'upper endsthereot is across shaft 80 having; aplurality of'fingers 82 fined on this shaft 80 to turn therewith. The fingers 82 extend into andare swingable one in each I of the troughs 22 andthe shaftSO is normally held in position with the fingers 82 positioned as shown in full lines in Fig; 5 by suitable counterweight means-83 on an arm 84 (Fig.

' 5) fixed to the shaft 80. In operation the Frankfurts or other articles are laid in'the troughs 22between the prongs 7 5 as they starttheir upward movement throughthe troughs. That is the Frankfurts are introduced at the lower ends of the troughs which lower ends open outwardly and'are exposed at 85 (Figs. 1 and 3). They'are introduced ust ahead of the prongs 75 they start their upward inclined movement and as the conveyor travels over the sprockets 52 and 53 the llOIlgS 75:1nove the Frankfurts diago nally'upwardly through the trouarh, 22 into position near theupper ends of the troughs and for discharge through the opening 27. As the Frank-turt's reach this position the fingers 82. are swune' from their fullline positions, as shown in Fig. 5 to their dotted line positions, turning the Frankturts over and 'dischargingthem frointhe' troughs through the opening 27.

The fingers 82'are swung into their dotted line positions-by an arm 86 pivoted at 87 on aibmcket 88. The arm 86 has an angular poition 89'whi c h lies in the'p'ath of the slats 72 near the upper limitv of their upward movement andas the slats 72'ena'age the angular portion. 89 of the arm 86' this arm is swung into itsdottedlinepositionthcreby, as shown in Fig. 5, its free angular end engaging the arm 84 and turning the sh aft 80 to swing the fingers 821I1t'0 their dotted linepositions discharging the Frankfurts at the upper endso'f thetroughs22 with the cooperation ofeach slat 72 with the arm 86.

The front of the machine is provided with ed Frankfurt storage compartment 92 and a compartment 93 on each of the opposite sides of: the same for storing; rollsor buns for making up sandwiches, for example; The Frankfurt inlet 945' at the top of the compartment 92 may be closed by a trap door 95 pivoted at 96 and normally closed by a counterweight 97 As the Frankfurts are discharged from the upper ends of the troughs 22 they strikethedoor 95 swinging it intothe position shown in'dotted lines in Fig. 3 and pass on into the heated storage compartment 92. The-top of this compartment may be closed'by a wall 98 and'the tops of the side compartments '93 are preferably open and provided with a door 99 pivoted at 100 and provided with a finger piece lOl' by means of which the door 99 may be swung into itsopen dotted line position for the-introduction of rolls buns into the side compartments 93. The lower ends of the compartments 92 and 93 may be closed by a door 103-having transparent panes 104 through which the interiors of the compartments 92 and 93 maybe viewed. The door 103 may be held closed bva latch 105 and is preferably pivoted at itslower end' tobe swung into the open dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit convenient withdrawal oif' the Frankfurts and buns from the lower ends oi. the compartments 92 and 93. as desired.

From the foregoing: it will be apparent that the Frankfurt storage bin 92 which is sepa rate from the bun or roll bins 93 overlies the heaters and is heated directly thereby, whereas the compartments 93 by their side disposal are heated by radiation from the directly heated compartment 92 and from the heaters 34;. I This heats the compartment 92 to a higher temperature than the compartments93 keeping; theFranlr-furts good and warm and in proper condition for sale as called to]; and at the same time keeping the buns or rolls warm without heating them to as great an extent as the Frankturts. i For maiutainin the condition of the stored Frankfurts the bin 92 maybe provided at the bottom with a pan or trough 108 (Fig. 3) open at'thetop and holding a body'of water, as shown. The opentop oi" the pan or trouah 108 may be covered with a screen 109, which will prevent the Frankfiurts from falling into the water and which will at the same time perinit the vapor to pass oil freely into the bin 92 the wall 115.

' bin may be replaced by replacing it upon the machine and engaging the lugs 112 through the openings 114.- and with the upper edge of Suitably mounted inward and c:-: ending diagonally beneath the cooking troughs 22 is a drip plate or grease shield 120 which receives the grease as it drips from the Frankfurts in their upward inclined travel and directs the same downwardly to the pan or drawer18, as

shown in Fig. 3. Obviously, the slots 18 in addition to permitting the prongs 75 to' pass therethrough and into the cooking troughs provide continuous drain slots through which the grease may drip vertically as formed, and without running down on the Frankfurts below. This avoids any undesirable action on the following Frankfurts and prevents preheating of the grease, minimizing smoking and making for a sanitary machine in. which there are no dirt or grease accumulations. Furthermore, the rolling of the beads 15 along the marginal. edges of the spread ends of the channels 30 drains the grease down and away from the heaters 3 1. The grease shield 120 may, of course, be slidably mounted for convenient removal, as desired. Such a mounting is shown at 121 in 9 with the fixed or stationary sides 123 suitably secured to the sides 124: which enclose the diagonal front of the machine .along the sides of the cooking troughs As shown in Fig. 12 the heaters 84 and the motor are supplied with current from suitable line conductors 125 and 126. For this purpose the heater and motorcircuit of the machine may be provided with a suitable detachable connector for connection with any suitable or preferred current outlet, such as,

for example, an Edison outlet. well.

known in the art. The motor may be a Universal motor or it may be adapted for A. C. or D. C. current as desired.

The heaters 8 1 may be connected in pairs, as shown, each pair being controlled by a suitable switch 128. The: heater circuit is preferably so connected that the circuit through anypair of heaters cannot be closed without closing the motor circuit which is controller by a suitable switch 130. Obviously, by closing the switch 130 the circuit through the motor 60 is closed and the Frankfurt carrier or conveyor is driven thereby to move the prongs 7 5 upwardly through the cooking troughs 22. Then by closing the switch controlling the two heaters 3 1 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 12 the opposite. sides of the cooking troughs to the left are heated. .W' hen the switch for the two heaters 3 lto the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, is closed the opposite sides of the righthand cooking trough are heated and by closing the circuit through the intermediate or central two heaters the three intermediate troughs 22 are heated on each side. v

The switches 128 are selectively and induspendently controllable so that the heating may be sectionalized, asdesired. It is, therefore, unnecessary to run the machine fully heated under minimum cooking load or 'dur' ing idle periods. The heaters for one cock ing trough may be turned on' when the output from that trough is sufiicient and when it is desired two troughs may be turned on or three or all of them. This further minimizes the heat loss during idle periods.

lt ferely as illustrative of a particular-embodiment of the invention therev are four Frankfurts cooking in each trough 22 all of the time, provided all troughs are operating and Frankfurt-s are being introducedat the bottom of each as they are clischarged froni, the top or upper ends. One trough turns out or discharges say, one cooked Frankfurtpcr minutes, which would result in each Frankfui't cooking about four minutes from its in troduction into the bottom of the trough to its discharge from the upper end of the trough. This may, of course, all be varied, as

desired, and is referredto merely as illustrative of a particular embodiment of the in vention. V V Obviously, the Frankfurts do not require attention upon being introduced into the ma chine to determine whether or not they have been cooked or roasted sufficiently, but upon being once introduced are automatically discharged at the end of a predetermined period,

which may be'regulated to determinethe'desired'cooking. The, speed of travel of the carrier or conveyor may be. changed by changing the ratio of the worms and cooperat ing'worm wheels. The cooked Frankfurts are automatically delivered to a heated storbin which maintains them in proper condition until sold or called for. The machine may be conveniently opened or disassembled for inspection, cleaning or repair and in use is effectively closed against heat losses and against the escape of vapors or odors into the room. The grease delivered to the'pan 18 may be removed from time to time merely by withdrawing and replacing thispan.

I claim 1. In combination, a longitudinal cooking trough, heater means extending along said trough, an endless conveyor operable adjacent said trough, means on said conveyor and for feeding the articles through'said trough with the movement of the conveyor, Said trough being inclined and having means to permit grease to drain vertically therefrom as formed, a drip pan underlying said trough for receiving the grease from said trough, a storage bin overlying said cookingtrough and heated by said heater means, means for automatically discharging the articles as cooked from said conveyor and into said compartment, and means on said conveyor for actuating said last means with the movement of the conveyor.

2. In combination, a longitudinal cooking trough, heater means extending along said trough, an endless conveyor operable adjacent said trough, means on said conveyor for feeding the articles through said trough With the movement of the conveyor, said trough being inclined and having means to permit grease to drain vertically therefrom as formed, a drip pan underlying said trough for receiving the grease from said trough, a storage bin overlying said cooking trough and heated by said heater means, means for automatically discharging the articles as cooked from said conveyor and into said central compartment, means on said conveyor for actuating said last means-With the movement of tl re conveyor, a vertical enclosing casing, and a flue stack leading off from the top of the casing adj acent the upper end of the cooking trough.

3. In combination, a longitudinally slotted cooking trough, heater means extending along said trough, an endless conveyor operable adjacent said trough, prongs on said conveyor and extending through the slot in said trough for feeding the articles through said trough With the movement of the conveyor, said trough being inclined to permit grease to drain vertically through said slot as formed, a drip pan underlying said slot for receiving the grease from said'trough, a storage bin overlying said cooking trough and heated by said heater means, said storage bin com 'arising a detachably mounted bin having a centrally disposed Frankfurt storage compartment heated directly by said heater means, compartments on opposite sides of said central compartment heated by radiation therefrom and adaptedfor storing buns, means for automatically discharging the articles as cooked from said conveyor and into'said central compartment, means on said conveyor for actuating said last means with the movement of the conveyor, a vertical enclosing casing, a flue stack leading off from the top of the casing adjacent the upper end of the cooking trough, a driving motor Within the casing, a driving connection from said motor to said conveyor, and a slidably mounted back Wall adapted to be opened or removed to permit access to the interior of the casing, a

1 4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an enclosing casing having vertical sides and a 'slidably removable back, a plurality of cooking troughs inclined from the front of the casing and supported adjacent the back and near the top of the casing, a vertical stack opening upwardly from' the back of the casing, and a storage bin detachably supported over said cooking troughs, said stack having an opening for the delivery of cooked articles from said troughs to said bin. e

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an enclosing casing having vertical sides and a slidably removable Wall,

a plurality of cooking troughs inclined from' the front of the casing and supported adj acent the back and near the top of the casing, a vertical stack opening upwardly from the back of the casing, a storage bin supported over said cooking troughs, said stack having an opening for the delivery of cooked articles from said troughs to said bin, an endless conveyor for feeding the articles through said troughs, and means actuated by the movement of said conveyor for discharging the articles from said troughs through said stack and into said storage bin. v

In Witness Whereof,I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of June, 1927.

THOMAS C. RUSSELL.

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