US2041175A - Frying and cooking apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1936. w. L. GooDMAN FRYING AND COOKING APPARATUS Filed July l0, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 MANN i J wwf/iwi? OOOOOOOOOQOOOOOOQD0000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGOOOGOOOOOO O0 ,OOOOOOOOOGOOOOOOOOOOGOOO0000000000000000OGOOGOOOOOOQOOOO 0 .00000000000000000000000000000000000OOOGCOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOO mw mvkw May 19, 1936 w. L. GOODMAN 2,041,175

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May 19, 1936. w` 1 GOODMAN 2,041,175

FRYING AND COOKING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May V19, 1936 f'ZMLllf 'i FRYING ANncooKmG APPARATUS William ne'ecooamas, ghigno, nl..` amm, to., l

Bear-Stewart Co., a corporation of 1111110,l

Application July 10, 1931, Serial No. 549,923

" s claims. (o1. 53-4) .This invention relates tdapparatus for frying and cooking doughnuts or similar articles.

An object yof the invention is the provision oi' an improved vmachine or apparatusl for more thoroughly, evenly, and speedily cooking doughnuts and the like. A specific object, among others, is the provision of improved means for conveying formed but uncooked doughnuts through a cooking medium to cook lthe same. Another object is the provision of mechanism for so cooking doughnuts and like material without turning the same.

Still another object is the provision of improved'timing mechanism employed in such apparatus especially in connection with pluralitiesof such apparatus.

The invention also has for an object the provision 'of mechanism for accomplishing the said results which will be simple of construction, easy of manufacture and relatively inexpensive.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the specication hereinafter set forth.

y The invention consists in `the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. v

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, and'in which:

Fig. 1 isY an elevational view of a. preferred form of the machine of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the machine 'shown in Fig. 1, with the upper hood removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the ma'- chine, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5- is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on theline 5-5 of Fig. 4;`

Fig-6 is a detail sectional view of the feeding and forming mechanism; Fig. 7 is a plan viewof a modied form of the device, with the hood removed;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially on the line `8--8 ofv Fig. 7, showing the mechanismfor operating the modified form;

Fig. 9r is a detail sectional view ofthe means for operating tlleffeeding` and forming mechanism;`k v 10 is aplan sectional view of the mechanism ShoWninfFig. 9, takenfon the line IIIA-I0 of Fig. 9; and".

Fi"g.`11` is `a "detail sectional view, taken substantially on the line `I lT-I of Fig. `l0, illustratmgjthemeaus `for adjusting the; feeding and .The preferred form of construction as illustratedin the drawings comprises a housing I5 having `side walls I3 and I1, and end walls I8 and I9; The housing is supported by e. plurality of legs 20, and the adjacent legs are connected 5 by braces 2|. The housing I5, as shown, is provided with lower and upper angle irons 22 and 23, respectively, for reinforcement. Suspended from the upper angle irons 23 is a cooking uid container 24, as particularly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 10 3, 4, and 5, said container being open at the top `25. The container 24 has an inclined bottom `2li, as especially shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, the

purpose of which is to permit the cooking fluid contained therein to drain into a. drain pipe 21 l5 controlled by a valve 23.

Mounted at one end of the housing I5 upon one of the angle irons 23 is a standard 29 which is further secured by brace members 30, said brace members being also aixed to one of the said angle irons 23. The standard 29 has integral with its lowermost extremity' a hinged yoke member 3|, which is provided with a swiveling wing nut 32' adapted to lock the hinge portions of the yoke member 3|. The purpose of the yoke member 3| is to provide a support for a. hopper 33, which may have contained therein a doughnut mixture from which portions may be cut and formed into doughnuts. The Vhopper may be detachably mounted in the yoke member 3| by 30 operating-the swiveling wing nut 32 and moving the same out of engagement with the movable portion of the yoke member 3| so that the movable portion may be swung outwardly. The hopper 33 may be positioned thereupon against the 35 fixed portion of the yoke member 3| and the movable portion may then be swung toward the xed portion and the two portions locked together by means of the wing nut 32 to securely retain the hopper therein. 40

The upper end of the1standard`29 is provided with an overhanging arm 34, whose end terminates at a point substantially above the center of the neck 'portion 35 of the hopper 33 and the arm 34 at its end 36 is split and apertured to receive and` accommodate a vertically reciprocating doughnut forming member 31. A collar 38 is provided on the top of the end 36 of the arm 34 for guiding the Vmovement of the member 31. The reciprocation of the member 31 is'accom- 50 plished by a bifurcated rock arm 39 vwhich operates a pin rigidly mountedl on a `block 4| secured to the member 31. The', operating and timing mechanism for this rock and other lrelated mechanismwill'be hereinafter 55 more in detail. The lower end of the member 31 is provided with a forming head 42 which is cylindrical in form and the diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of the port 43 of the neck portion 35 of the hopper 33, whereby the port 43 will be closed when the head 42 is located within the port in raised position.

For the purpose of operating dough cutting elements, a rock arm 44 is provided, bifurcated similarly to rock arm 39. The bifurcated portions are constructed and arranged to engage a pair of pins 45 which are secured to a block 46 slidable on the doughnut forming member 31. Also fixed to the block 46 are a pair of vertical reciprocatory rod members 41 which are equipped at their lower ends with a cylindrical member 48 similar in form and dimensions to the member 42, which member 48 is apertured at 49 to allow for the reciprocation of the member 31. The rod members 41 have a parallel vertical relationship, not only with each other, but with the member 31, and are adapted to reciprocate in apertures 50 in block 4I.

The rock arm 39 operates the pin which is mounted to the member 31 and thereby rocks or reciprocates the member 31 vertically. In the same manner the rock arm 44 rocks or reciprocates the member 48 vertically through the port 43 of the neck portion 35 of the hopper 33. In the operation of these elements the member 48 may be rocked through the instrumentality of the rock arm 44 to its uppermost position which is indicated at 48 in Fig. 6. At the same time the member 42 -may be rocked vertically to its uppermost position as indicated by 42 by virtue of the rock arm 39. When both members 48 and 42 have been so raised to their uppermost positions, port 43 will then have beenopened, that is, member 48 will have been reciprocated upwardly out of the port, and if the dough or other mixture in the hopper is of such fluidity as to be responsive to gravity, the dough or other substance may then flow into the port 43,. In case the dough is not of such a nature as to `flow of its own accord into the port, I have provided for suctional force, in the downward movement of the member 42 in my preferred form as shown especially in Fig. 6. The forming member 42, after both it and the member 48 have been rocked to their uppermost positions, starts its downward reciprocation in advance of the downward reciprocation of the member 48, and thereby suction maybe created sufllcient to draw the dough or other medium into the port 43. When suillcientdough has been transmitted into the port 43, the member 48 is reciprocated downwardly and prevents any further dough being conveyed into the port 43, the relation between the reciprocatory movements of the members 42 and 48 depending upon the amount of dough desired. When the member 48 has been reciprocated downwardly into the port 43 and has closed the same, the member 42 continues its downward reciprocation until forming member 42 projects downwardly from the port 43. At the same time the member 42 is thus being projected downwardly the member 48 is following, at a slightly faster rate if desired, and the member 48 may assist in positioning the dough on the upper surface of the forming member 42 and further may assist by its pushing action in the discharge of the dough on the forming member 42. When the forming member 42 has been projected downwardly out of the port'43, the dough, being no longer retained on the upper surface of the member 42 by the walls of the port 43, flows by the force of gravity from the upper surface of the member 42 over the edge 5| of the me'mber 42 into the cooking fluid. There results a doughnut having a hole in the center, which doughnut is uncooked. The general operating mechanism for the hopper is related to the entire device and will be described more in detail hereinafter, for convenience.

Mounted in the cooking fluid container 24 is a double threaded screw propeller or conveyor 52. The propeller 52 comprises a shaft 53 which is journaled in bearings 54 and 55. 'I'he bearing 54 is higher than the bearing 55, and it is thereby rendered possible to journal one end of shaft 52 higher than the other and to provide thereby an inclined shaft and propeller as particularly appears in Fig. 4, and in the preferred form shown the shaft and conveyor have been inclined downwardly from the feeding to the discharge end. The function of the screw-threaded propeller or conveyor is to advance the doughnuts from the feeding end to the discharge end by means of a counterclockwise movement of the conveyor 52. 'I'he propeller or conveyor is mounted in operation in the container 24 in the cooking uid there- 25 is loosely supported by brackets 58 and 59 rest- 35 ing on thev container 24, the brackets being secured at their other ends to the Submerging guide 51, thereby holding the same in suspended position over the conveyor. As particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the guide 51 extends longitudinally the whole length of the propeller or conveyor and is semi-cylindrical transversely. It may be observed that the bracket 58 is shorter than the bracket 59, which permits the submerging guide 51 to be arranged in an inclined position over the propeller or conveyor 52, the inclination being downwardly from the feeding to the discharge end.

Submerging guide 51 is provided with a plurality of perforations 68, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. At the feeding end of the device directly under the neck of the hopper and registering with the cutting and forming members of the doughnut forming mechanism, the Submerging guide 51 is provided with an opening 6|. As will be particularly apparent from Figs. 3 and 4, the purpose of this opening is to permit the formed but uncooked doughnut to pass downwardly through the Submerging guide 51 into the cooking fluid which is contained in the container 24.

For convenience, a reserve tank or reservoir may be arranged above the container 24 for containing a reserve of lard or other cooking medium, which may be heated by obvious means to a suitable degree. A drawoil valve may be provided in said reservoir which is adapted to discharge into the container 24 so that the fluid in the container 24 may be replenished after it is used and the desired level therein maintained substantially constant.

With respect to the cooking medium, the level thereof is arranged so that in my preferred form somewhat more than one-half of the Submerging guide 51 is submerged entirely in the cooking fluid.

With respect to the other portion of the submergingguide- 6 1, the upper part thereof extends above the cooking medium. The arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 4, and the level of the lard is clearly illustrated by-line 62. -At.62' it-will be seen that the lline of the level ofthe lard and the line of the upper surface of the submerging guide intersect. At 62" the line of the level of the lard is .shown to be above thel top of the submerging l0 guide 51.

At 62"' it will be seen that the top of the submerging guide 51 is located above the level of the lard. y 1

The cooking medium may be heated to the proper degree by the provision of gas Jets 63 and 64 through which gas is supplied'by means of supply pipe 66, valves 66 and 81 being provided for control.

Also mounted upon the shaft 63 cf the screw propeller or conveyor 52 `are a pair of plates 68 and 69. In operation one or the other of these plates is turned upwardly to receive a formed but "uncooked doughnut when the same is dumped from the forming'member 42 into the cooking medium. Among other functions of these plates,

they are so constructed and arranged as to limit and iniiuence the fall of the uncooked'doughnut so that the same will have a desired shape and will not be crushed or injured.

In the general operation of the elements so far 3"" disclosed the cookingand forming members 48 and 42 may be actuated by their respective rock arms to form and deposit an uncooked doughnut in the cooking fluid, which doughnut may be received by one of the plates 68 or 69. While the 3" hopper is being operated, the screw conveyor is being rotated in a counter-clockwise motion and when the uncoc ked doughnut has been dumped upon one of the )lates 68 or 69, one of the threads 56 of the screw propeller 52 will, by its action upon 0 the cooking fluid and upon the uncooked doughnut, floating in the cooking medium., cause the same to move forward from the feeding to the discharge end.

It will be noted from Fig. 4 that when the 45 doughnut is first dropped inthe cooking fluid, the

doughnut after rising to the surface floats in the cooking medium and only the under portion is submerged, and only the under portion is cooked. As the doughnut is advanced by the threads of `the screw propeller in their counter-clockwise motion the space between the top of the subrnerging guide 51 and the level of the lard is gradually diminished land in due course the upper 55 surface of the doughnut comesin contact with the submerging guide 51. By virtue of its contact with the cooking fluid the submerging guide has become heated and operates to cook the doughnut on its upper side. As the doughnut progresses from the feeding to the discharge .end it' gradually 0 charge end of the device. Mounted upon the submergingguide `51 is a guide 10, especially shown in Fig. 4, which is arranged at the discharge end of the submerging guide 51. Also arranged adjacent the discharge end of the submerging guide is a discharge conveyor 1I mounted upon rollers 12 and 13 journaled-in hearings 14 and 16.

It may be observed that the upper roller12 is disposed above the level of the lard and that the lower roller 13 is disposed under. the level of the lard in the container 2L 'Ihe construction and arrangement is such that when the cooked doughnut reaches the discharge end of the submerging -guide. 51 it will then float upwardly underV the guide 10 until it dropsonthe conveyor 1| and is carried to a discharge chute 16. A hood 11 is arranged above the housing I5, being mounted upon the members 23. The upper end of the hood 11 is provided with a discharge neck 18 adapted to cooperate with the sleeve member 19 of a suction fan '80 which is provided for the purpose of carrying olf-gases, vapors, etcetera. The hoodA may be readily removed by raising the sleeve gear 82 which meshes witha bevel gear 83 on a vertically depending shaft 84 mounted in bear ings 85. The shaft 84 is provided at its lower end with a bevel gear 86 which meshes with a bevel gear 81 on countershaft 88 journaled in bearings At its forward end the shaft 88 has mounted thereupon a spur gear 90 in mesh with a pinion 9| mounted on a motor shaft 92 of the motor 93. The motor 93 is supported by a platform 94 which is secured `to the framework of the housing I5. Also mounted on the shaft 88 is a sprocket 95 driving a chain 96, which rotates a sprocket 91 mounted on `a shaft 98 which is journaled in bearings S9. The bearings 99 are mounted upon channels I0!! secured to that portion of the angle iron 23 which extends beyond the feeding end oiv the housing. Also mounted on the shaft 98 is a sprocket l 0 I carrying a chain |02, which drives a sprocket |03, which is fixed on the propeller shaft 53 and thereby provision is made for transmitting power from the motor to the conveyor shaft. By this arrangement the propeller or conveyor is operated in counter-clockwise motion to advance the doughnuts from the feeding to the discharge end of the mechanism.

Also mounted on the shaft 98 is a gear |06 which meshes with a gear |05 on aA stud shaft |06 journaled in bearings |01 and |08. mounted on the shaft |06 is a sprocket |09 carrying a chain H0, which drives a sprocket Ill, which is loose on the shaft H2. A journal H3 is provided for the shaft H2. The other end of the shaft ||2 is journaled in a. housing member H4. .A clutch H5 having a handle ||6 is provided on the shaft ||2 and adapted to be engaged with the sprocket Ill, and thereby the power from said sprocket may be transmitted to said shaft H2.

ln reference to the rock arms 39 and 44 mentioned heretofore, the same are pivoted to the stud lll which is integral with the lhousing member iid. The rock arms 39 and 44 are provided with arcuate slots H8 through which the shaft H2 extends. Mounted at one end of the shaft H2 is a cam M9 which is constructed and arranged for cooperation with a roller H20 pivoted `on arm 39. A spring i2l has one end ai`xed to the housing lill and the other end connected to the arm 39 whereby the arm 39V is normally held in raised position. It will readily be understood that the arm 39 will be held in raised position until the cam hump |22 engages the roller |20,

AlSO

when the arm 39 will be depressed, causing the member 31 to be reciprocated downwardly.

Mounted adjacent to the cam ||3 is another manner as the cam ||9 operates the roller |20,

and thereby the cam |23 operates to reciprocate the rock arm 44 and the member 43. In the same manner also a spring |26 is provided to retain the arm 44 in raised position. As particularly shown in Fig. 10, means are provided for regulating the action of the cutting member 43 and thereby controlling the amount of dough or other material which is to be cut for each unit; that'fis to prov-ide for various sizes of doughnuts, cakes, etcetera. I'his is accomplished by mounting a disc |21 as shown in detail in Fig. 1l. The disc |21 is provided with arcuate slots |20, and adapted to protrude through the arcuate slots are a pair of bolts |29 by which the disc |21 may be secured to a flanged disc |30 whose hub is keyed to the shaft ||2 at |3|. By loosening the bolts and revolving the member |21 the cam |23 may be adjusted to regulate the amount of dough which is to be fed for particular units, and by tightening the bolts thereon the relationship may be definitely preserved.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a modified form of my device. In some respects this' device is similar to the structure set forth hereinbefore. In Fig. 7 there is shown a structure in which there is one container |32 for the cooking fluid, and mounted within the container |32 is a pair of propellers or conveyors |33 and |34 which are similar to the propeller 52 hereinbefore described. The propellers |33 andv |34 are each equipped with pairs of plates |35 and |36, respectively, and mounted above the conveyors |33 and |34 are submerging guides |31 and |36 which are perforated as at |39. Also provided on the submerging guides 31 and |33 are openings |40 and 4| through which a formed but uncooked doughnut may be passed from a twin hopper |42 into a cooking fluid.

In Fig. 8 I have shown in detail a preferred form of my twin hopper. The only difference between the twin hopper |42 proper and the hopper 33 is that the hopper |42 is provided with two neck portions. `'Ihe hopper |42 is mounted on twin standards |43 and |44 in a manner similar to the mounting of the hopper 33. Also mounted to be reciprocated vertically in the standard |43 is a rod |45 having. integral therewith at its lower extremity a forming member |46, and also suitably mounted to be reciprocated vertically in relation to th member |45 portions of the twin hopper, to cut and press.

unitary portions of dough into the neck portion and against the member |46, and the member |46 is similarly reciprocated vertically through the neck portion and projects downwardly therefrom to allow the do'ugh deposited thereon to fall on to form an uncooked doughnut.

Similarly mounted on the standard |44 or in relation thereto is member |45' having member |40' formed integrally therewith, and member |41' having member |40' formed integran! therewith, which areoperated by members'` |40' and |50 in the same manner in which the members |45, |46, |41,and |43 are operated by rock arms |49 and |50. The arms |40 and |50 are operated by cams and other elements actuated by the shaft which parts are substantially similar to the parts described hereinbefore :ln relation to rock arms 39 and 44, shaft |5| corresponding to shaft 2. The same mechanism is provided in relation to standard |44 for the operation of the rock arms |49' and |50','said elements being actuated by a shaft |5I' corresponding to the shaft II2, and it is understood that the members |45' and |41' are reciprocated through the other neck portion of the twin hopper.

The shaft |5| has loosely mounted thereon a sprocket |52, and likewise the shaft |5|' has loosely mounted thereon a sprocket |52. Clutches |53 and |53' are provided for the purpose of connecting the shaft to the sprocket to transmit the power from the sprockets. As will more fully hereinafter appear, if only the clutch |53 is closed, then only the hopper mechanism mounted in relation to the standard |43 will operate, and the mechanism mounted in relation to the standard |44 will be inoperative, as power will not be transmitted to the shaft |5|. However, if it is desired to operate both hoppers, then both clutches may be thrown closed and power will be transmitted from both sprockets |52 and |52' on the shafts |5| and |5I.

The sprockets |52 andv |52?, as will clearly appear from Figs. 'I and 8, carry chains, which drive sprockets |54 and |54', said sprockets being mounted on shafts |55 and |55' upon which are in turn mounted gears |56 and |56. Gear |56 is in mesh with gear |56' and is operated thereby. Also mounted on the shaft |55 is a sprocket `|51 which is driven by a chain engaged by sprocket |56 mounted on a shaft |59 on which in turn a gear |60 is also mounted. The gear |60 is in mesh with a pinion |6| mounted on the shaft |62 of a motor |63.

The power lfor the conveyors is also transmitted from the shaft |55 to the propellers |33 and |34. Shaft |55 has a pair of sprockets |64 and |65. Sprocket |64 drives a chain |66, which engages sprocket |61, which sprocket is connected to the propeller |33. Similarly there is a chain drive from the sprocket |65 to a sprocket 63 connected to the conveyor |34.

It will be seen that from the foregoing mechanism power will be supplied by the motor |63 and transmitted to the shaft iss and the sprocket thereon, from whence the power will be transmitted tothe shaft |55', andl from this shaft power will be transmitted to the propellers |33 and |34, and from this same shaft |55 power will also be transmitted to the shafts |5| and |5|' by the sprocket elements hereinbefore described.

The modified form of the device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 has a discharge conveyor having a guiding plate |69 which is adapted to guide the cooked doughnuts after the same have traveled to the end of the submerging guides |31 and |33. There is also provided adjacent to the plate |69 the lower end of an endless conveyor adapted to receive the cooked doughnuts and convey them to a discharge chute |1|. The conveyor |10 is operated by the shaft |59 through doughnut.

the medium of a plurality of bevel gears, as clearly appears from Fig. 'I.

By the structure disclosed, timing mechanism has been provided whereby the rock arms may be related to the propeller, not only where the single units are employed but "also where my modified structure is used. Referring to Fig. 8,

it may be observed that for every revolution of .Y the propeller or conveyor |33 4there will be two revolutions of the shaft |5I. In other words, every time the shaft |5| rotates, one formed but uncooked doughnut will be deposited, whereas, when the conveyor makes one completevrevolution, both of the plates will have been presented to the hopper, andv will each have received one Bythe mechanism especiallyas shown in Fig. 8, means have been provided whereby every time the doughnut cutting and forming mechanism is actuated to deposit a doughnut, one of the plates |35 will be squarely presented for the reception of a doughnut.

In the operation of the device in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, when the motor is operated power lis transmitted through the various gears,

shafts and sprocketsv to the shaft H2 which will cause the vertical reciprocation of the members 31 and 41. It is understood that a quantity of doughnut material or other such material has been placed in the hopper 33. The member 48 will be reciprocated vertically upwardly from the port 43, and the member 42 will be reciprocated upwardly into the port 43. In my preferred form, both members 48 and 42 will travel upwardly but the memberv 42 will start its downward reciprocation in advance of the member 43, although the relative movement may be adjusted to the particular circumstances. With the downward movement of the member 42, suction will be cref ated which will cause a certain amount of doughnut material to be sucked down into the port 43 if the doughnut material is not of such fluidity as to iow by gravity into the port 43 of its own accord.V After the requisite amount of material has been conveyed into the port 43 the member 48 will be reciprocated downwardly into the port, preventing further transmission of material into the port and the member 48 may continue downwardly to assist in the positioning of the material on the member 42. Continuing its downward reciprocation, the member 42 will be projected downwardly out of the port 43, and the material retained thereon no longer being contained by the walls of the port 43, will flow by gravity from the upper surface of the member 42 over the edge 5| into the cooking fiuid.

As clearly appears from Fig. 4, the uncooked doughnut drops by gravity into the cooking medium and strikes one of the plates 63 or 69 which will intercept the downward travel of the uncooked doughnut and prevent contact with portions of the propeller which might result in mutilation of the doughnut, or other injury. It is understood that the propeller is so timed that when the doughnut is dropped from the hopper the upper surface of one of the plates 63 or 69 will be presented to the doughnut. The doughnut after striking the plate rises to the surface and noats thereon and is conveyed in the `cooking medium by flotation as a result of the counterclockwise movement of one of the threads of the double threaded sc rew propeller or conveyor shown. As described hereinbefore in detail, the doughnut at first is out of contact entirely with the submerging guide 51, as pointed out hereinbefore at 62", but later, because the submerging 5 guide 51 is inclined downwardly and gradually passes from above the surface of the cooking medium into and beneath the surface thereof, the doughnut floating on 'the top of the cooking medium gradually contacts the submerging guide 51, and from that point on is gradually submerged and forced from the feeding end to the discharge end, floating under and in contact with the submerging guide 51. As stated hereinbefore, the .point 62 shows more or less thepoint of initial contact between the doughnut and the submerging guide 51, while point'32" shows the doughnut and the submerging guide entirely sub- 'merged in the cooking medium. While the is reached the upper side of. the doughnut is cooked, andthe rate of cooking from that point on ofthe upper side is sufficiently greater than that of the rate of the under side so as to permit the upper side to be evenly cooked with the under side when the doughnut reaches the discharge end of the conveyor, although the under side has been cooking over a longer period of travel. By

Athis means Without any turning over of the doughnut or any similar expedient, an evenly and thoroughly cooked doughnut is attained with an adjustable amount of cooking uid contained therein and without the cracking and other defects as in many if not all of the processes heretofore in use, not to mention the advantages with respect to cleanliness and handling. After the doughnuts reach the end of the submerging guide they are permitted to travel upwardly under the inclined plate 10 and are directed onto the conveyor which conveys them to the discharge end.

In the modified form, by the structure shown in Figs. 7 and 8, either one or both of the hopper mechanisms may be operated through the clutches H53 and |53. Both of the clutches may be thrown and then power will be transmitted from the motor to the shaft |55', from which power may be transmitted to the plurality of conveyors and to the plurality of hopper mechanisms.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit' of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of. construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Cooking apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a tank for holding a cooking fluid, means for feeding doughnuts or the like to be cooked into said fluid, a conveyor located in said tank for advancing the uncooked doughnuts from the feeding end through the fluidto the discharge end of said apparatus, and a plate on said conveyor mounted beneath the feeding means in the cooking fluid to receive said doughnuts or the like after'the same have been fed into the fluid, -to prevent the same from being mutilated.

2. Cooking apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a tank for holding a cooking iiuid, means for feeding material to be cooked .into said fluid, a propeller screw for advancing material from the feeding to the discharge end, a semi-cylindrical guide superimposed over said propeller, one -end of which is located above the level of the cooking fluid adjacent the feeding meansfrom which said guide is incline'd downwardly -through the fluid so that its other end is 'completely submerged.

3. Cooking apparatus of the character de scribed comprising, in combination, a tank for holding a cooking fluid, means for feeding doughnuts or the like to be cooked into said fluid, a propeller llocated in said tank for advancing the uncooked doughnuts from the feeding end through the fluid to the discharge end of said apparatus, means on the propeller mounted beneath the feeding means in the cooking fluid for receiving the doughnuts after the same have been fed into the fluid to prevent the same from being mutilated.

4. In cooking apparatus of the character described, a cooking fluid tank, means for advanc- Ving articles to be cooked through said tank,

and a member superimposed over said advancing means, said member being inclined relative to the tank downwardly from the feedingr to the discharge end so as to permit the articles to be cooked to float on the surface during the first portion of their advance through the tank to partially cook the articles on their upper exposed sides, and thereafter to submerge the articles during the latter portion of their advance.

through the tank.

5. Cooking apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a tank for holding a cooking uid, means for conveying material to be cooked into said fluid, and a rotary plate on said means in said cooking fluid upon which the material is adapted to be received and from which it is adapted to be conveyed through the cooking medium.

6. In cooking apparatus of the character described, a cooking fluid tank, aspiral propeller for advancing doughnuts through the cooking fluid, said propeller being inclined relative to the tank downwardly from the feeding to the discharge end, and a curved guide substantially conforming to the upper portion of said propeller and similarly inclined.

.'7. Cooking apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a tank for holding a cooking fluid, means for conveying material to be cooked into said fluid, and ro-l tary means on said conveying means in said cooking fluid upon which the material is adapted to be received and from which it is adapted to be conveyed through the cooking medium.v

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