US2139334A - Toasting machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1938.

L. V. REBOIS TOASTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 5, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 6, 1938. LVV. REBOIS TOASTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 5, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INYENTOR. oZem u W Yidlvtl- A TTORNEY Dec. 6, 1938. L, v. REBOIS TOASTING MACHINE Original Filed F'eb.' 5, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. m 02% WW 6M 5. m nd,

ATTORNEY TOASTING MACHINE Original Filed F619;} 5, 1936 7 sheets sheet 5 INVENTOR.

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Dec. 6, 1938. L v REE'm 2,139,334

TOASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 llll'ml'llllllllllllll l N m v INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY.

L. V. REBOIS TOASTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 5, 1936 Dec. 6, 1938.

Patented Dec. e, 1938 UNITED STATES TOASTING MACHINE Leon V. Rebels, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Brooks, Ltd., San Francisco, Calif., a Nevada common-law trust Application February 5, 1936, Serial No. 62,492 Renewed October 7, 1936 19 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for toasting sliced bread.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve the construction and operation of machines for toasting sliced bread"; to provide a machine of the character described comprising a cylindrical-shaped housing, or baking chamber, interior of which is mounted a rotatable table, said table carrying a plurality of radially extended spaced receiving plates upon which the sliced bread to be toasted is placed; to provide a vertically movable compressor plate for each receiving plate; to provide means for transmitting a step by step rotary movement to the table carrying the plates with a rest period between each movement; to provide means for raising the compressor plates once during each rotation of the table and during a rest period to permit removal of toasted slices and placing of slices to be toasted; to provide means for applying pressure to the compressor plates to slightly compress the slices to be toasted; to provide means for heating both the receiving and compressor plates; and, further, to provide means for stripping or releas- 5' ing toasted slices tending to adhere to the compressor plates.

The machine is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is a front view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the cam whereby pressureis applied to the compressor plates to slightly compress the bread to be toasted, said cam also includingthe notch to limit the step by step rotary movement of the table;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partially in section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in section, said section being taken centrally of the machine on line IV-IV Fig. '1; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line V--V 40 Fig. 4, said section showing a number of the upper heating elements and a number of said heating elements beingremoved to show the compressor plates; i

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the plates;

Fig. '7 is a bottom view of the machine, said view showing the driving mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the reciprocating cam plate, the housing in which it is mounted and the shaft and rollers actuating the same;

Fig-'9 is a plan view of the reciprocating cam plate;

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the same;'

Fig. 11 is a section in side elevation of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the same;

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are plan views showing the different positions assumed by the driving mechanism during one cycle of operation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 4, A indicates a base plate supported by legs 22. Formed centrally of the base plate is a vertically disposed bearing 3 and journaled therein is a vertically disposed shaft 4, on the upper end of which is secured a hub 5 provided with a plurality of radially extending arms 6, terminating in a ring 1. Bolted, or otherwise secured, to the ring is a second ring which is substantially channel-shaped in cross section as it consists of a base flange 8, a vertical web 9, and an inwardly turned top flange l0. Secured to the top flange l0 and extending radially and outwardly therefrom is a plurality of plates l l, which will hereinafter be referred to as receiving plates, and cooperating therewith are a plurality of vertically movable plates l2, which will hereinafter be referred to as compressor plates.

The receiving and compressor plates are arranged in pairs and the bread to be toasted is placed between them and when the toasting operation is completed the slices are removed. Mechanism must accordingly be provided for separating the plates at the time of delivering the slices to be toasted and also to permit removal of the finished toast. This is accomplished as follows.

Suitably secured to the base flange 8 at spaced intervals are vertically disposed downwardly extending crosshead guides l4. These guides are all identical in construction and the description of one will, accordingly, suffice. Slidably mounted in the guide is a crosshead member l5, and extending outwardly from the crosshead is a roller l6. Extending upwardly from the crosshead is a rod IT. This rod is guided in bearings, such as shown at [8 and I9, formed in the base flange 8 and the top flange Ill. The rod I! extends through and above the top flange l0 and on its upper end is secured an arm 20. The upper or compressor plate I2 is provided with a pair of lugs. The outer end of the arm 20 extends between these lugs and a pin 2| extends through the arm and the lugs and forms a pivotal connection between the arm and the upper compressor plate. It will, of course, be understood that there is one crosshead I5, rod I1 and arm 20 for each pair of plates, and it will also be understood that they will all be actuated in the same manner as will hereinafter be described.

The shaft 4, as previously stated, sup-ports the hub 5, the arm 6, the first-named ring I, and the second-named ring which is bolted thereto, and it also supports the plates upon which the bread slices are placed. This whole arrangement will be referred. to as a table. In addition to functioning as a table, it also carries the crosshead guides E4, the crossheads l5, the rods l1, and the upper or compressor plates l2. The table carrying all of this mechanism is rotatable in the bearing 3, and the weight of the mechanism is taken up by an anti-friction bearing 3* interp sed. between the upper end of the bearing 3 and the hub 5. The rotary movement of the table is a step by step rotary movement and is transmitted to the table as follows.

Extending crosswise of the machine, see Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 11, is a drive shaft 23 carrying a driving pulley 24, which is belt driven from an electric motor 25. Secured on the shaft 23 is a worm gear pinion 26, and meshing therewith is a worm gear 21 which is secured on a shaft 28, said shaft being vertically disposed and being supported in bearings 29 and 30. The driving shaft 23 is continuously rotated through means of the belt driven from the electric motor and so is the worm gear 21' and shaft 28. Shaft 28 carries a forkshaped crank arm 3| between the forks of which is journaled a roller 32. It also carries an upper crank arm 33 having a roller 34. A lower roller 35 is also employed but this is carried by the worm gear 21, see Fig. 8. Secured on the lower end of the shaft 4 is a gear 32*. This gear is engaged once during each revolution of the shaft 28 by the roller 32, and as the gear 32 is, in this instance. provided with twelve teeth each engagement of the roller 32 with the teeth of the gear 32 will rotate said gear and the shaft 4 onetwelfth of a revolution. During the remaining period of the rotation of the shaft 23 the shaft 4 and the table actuated thereby will remain stationary or assume its rest period.

During the rest period one of the compressor plates is raised so as to permit removal of the finished toast and placement of slices of bread to be toasted. The mechanism for raising the compressor plate comprises a reciprocally mounted cam, see Figs. 8 to 16, inclusive, the reciprocal cam being particularly shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The cam is in reality nothing more or less than a flat plate such as shown at 48, see Fig. 8, which is slidably mounted in the housing 4!. The plate is substantially rectangular in shape as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. Its upper face is provided'with two cams, indicated at 42 and 43. A pair of cams 43 and 42 are formed on the lower face which are substantially identicalin shape to the upper cams. The roller 32, as previously described, serves only one function, to-wit, that of engaging the teeth of the gear 32 so as to impart a step by step rotary movement to the table. The roller shown at 34 actuates the cams 42 and 43, and the rollershown at 35 actuates the cams '42 and 43 formed on the lower face of the reciprocating cam.

When the roller 32 has completed its transmission of motion to the gear 32, or in other words is leaving the tooth with which it engaged, as shown in Fig. 12, the table comes to a stop, or in other words reaches its rest period. At that in stant the upper roller 34 engages the end 42 of the cam 42 and as such pushes the cam plate in the direction of arrow a, see Fig. 12. This forward motion takes place while the roller 34 travels from the point 42 to the point 42 and while it travels from the point 42 to the point 42 there will be no movement of the cam plate, as the portion of the cam between the numerals 42 and 42* see Fig. 9, is the true arc of the path of the roller; in other words the roller during this period merely functions to hold the camplate in its advanced position. When the roller 34 reaches the end of the cam, or the point 42 the lower roller 35 will engage the inner face of the cam 43 on the lower side of the cam plate, and as this cam is a true are of the path traveled by the roller 35 the roller 35 will continue to hold the 0am plate in its advanced position.

When the roller 35 reaches the end of the cam 43 the upper roller 34 will reach and engage the continue to hold the cam plate in its advanced or forward position, and when the roller 34 reaches the end of the cam 43, the lower roller 35 will engage the cam 42* at the point indicated at 42 and as it engages this cam surface it will push the cam plate back to its normal position; the complete return movement of the plate taking place when the roller 35 reaches the point 42. The remaining portion of the cam is a true are and the roller when traveling over the latter part of the cam will thus merely function to hold the cam plate in the retracted position. Plainly speaking, the upper roller 34 advances the cam plate during its first engagement with the cam 42. The roller 34 and the cooperating roller 35 then function to hold or retain the cam plate in the advanced position, and only during the latter part of the revolution the lower roller 35 functions to return the cam plate when it engages the cam 42 at the point 42 I Disposed in front of the cam plate, see Figs. 11 and 12, is a bearing bracket 50 which is secured to the lower face of the base plate A. Pivotally mounted in this bearing bracket is a shaft 5| and secured thereon is a bell crank having one arm 52 and a second arm 53. Also secured on the shaft 5| is a counterweight 54. Connecting the forward end of the cam plate with the arm 53 of the bell crank is a connecting rod 55. Suitably mounted in a crosshead guide 55 disposed in front of the base plate A is acrosshead web 51 having a lower crosshead 58 and an upper crosshead 59. This crosshead is raised or lowered in accordance with the movement of the cam plate. When the cam plate advances, as previously described, connecting rod 55 will transmit a rocking movement to the bell crank and the arm 52 will engage the lower crosshead and raise the web and the upper crosshead 59 and, conversely, when the cam plate is retracted the crossheads 59 and 58 will be lowered. The crossheads '58 and '59 assume a lowered position when the table reaches a rest period and it may further be stated that when a table reaches a rest period a crosshead l5 and a roller [6 will align with the crosshead 59. That is, the crosshead 59 is U-shaped, as clearly shown in Fig. 11, and a roller I5 will enter and remain centrally within the same. Just after it has entered, the crossheads 59 and 58 will be raised, hence crosshead l5 will be raised and so will the rod H, the arm 20 and the upper compressor plate l2. This raising movement of the upper compressor plate takes place only once during each complete revolution of the table, and as the step by step rotary movement takes place in twelve successive movements there will be twelve sets of plates. These plates will remain closed or in contact with the bread placed between them during eleven-twelfths of the revolution and during the remaining one-twelfth a compressor plate will be raised as just described to permit removal of finished toast and to permit replacement with slices to be toasted.

To make it convenient for an operator to reach inwardly between the plates to remove and replace the slices, the compressor plate can obviously be raised any distance desired. By tilting the plate, as shown at 60 in Fig. 4, the space is obviously increased without imparting too much of a raising movement to the compressor plate.

The compressor plate, as previously stated, is pivoted to the outer end of the arm 20 by the pin 2 I, hence by placing a pair of stationary pins, such as shown at 6 I, at the point where the compressor plates are raised the pins will engage the inner ends of the plates and transmit swinging movement thereto, so that a greater space is provided between the outer ends of the plates than between the inner ends. This increase in space obviously facilitates removal and replacement of the bread slices.

In some instances there is a tendency for the bread to adhere to the upper plate. To avoid that, stripping means may be employed. A simple form of stripping mechanism is obtained by drilling holes in the compressor plate and insertceiving plate the pins 62 will engage the upper surface of said slices and the plate 63 will be raised. On the other hand, when the compressor plate is raised, as shown in Fig. 4, the weight of the plate 63 will push the pins against the toast which tends to adhere and the pins will thus force the toasted slices away from the plate and release them.

The cycle of operation will be as follows: With the plates separated as shown at the right hand side of. Fig. l, slices of bread to be toasted are placed on the receiving plate. This takes place during the rest period of the table. The moment the rest period is over the sliding cam is retracted, the bell crank comprising arms 52 and 53 is reversed, the crossheads 58 and 59 are lowered and the crosshead will also be lowered, and so will the compressor plate l2. The moment it is lowered the table will be rotated one-twelfth of a revolution and a new set of plates will come into position to be supplied.

The position where the separation of plates takes place is obviously the feeding or removing position as the finished toast is removed and the fresh bread slices are placed on the plates the moment the finished toast is removed. It is at this station that an operator is seated or otherwise positioned and it is at this point that the crossheads 5B and 59 are arranged. The cycle of operation takes place over and over again until the table has made one complete revolution, the time period being just sufficient to brown the toast to the degree desired.

It has previously been stated that the bread is slightly compressed during the toasting operation. This is accomplished by providing a cam such as shown at ill in Figs. 1 and 2. This cam is U-shaped. In Fig. 1 the feeding position is indicated at B and it will here be noted that the crossheads 58 and 59 and the frame 56, in which they are guided, are directly in alignment therewith. When the plates have been separated the finished toast removed and the new slices placed back in position, the plates are closed and the table will be moved one-twelfth of a revolution. As it moves the one-twelfth revolution, the crosshead I5 and roller l 6 of the plates, which has last been opened, will reach the position shown at 18; that is, the crosshead roller IE will enter in under the cam 10 which is U-shaped. The entrance edge of the cam is tapered, as shown at H, and as such exerts a downward pressure on the roller and crosshead and as it moves downward a slight distance rod l1 and arm 20 will also move downward and such downward movement obviously places a pressure on the plate [2 and compresses the bread to the degree desired.

The cam 1|] forms still another function. By referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that a notch 12 is formed therein. will enter this notch the moment the table reaches the end of its step by step movement and overrunning of the table when advanced step by step is thusavoided. The cam 10 is carried by a rod 13 suitably guided and supported in the base plate A. A spring is interposed between the base plate and the lower end of the rod, as shown at M, and by providing an adjusting nut 15 on the lower end the tension of the spring may be increased or decreased and more or less pressure may be exerted during the compressing action on the bread.

The table, or rather the plates II and I2 attached to the flange l0, travels within an annular baking chamber generally indicated at C. This chamber is stationary and the table or the plates carried thereby travels Within the same. The chamber consists of a base section 18, an annular side wall 19, and a top 80. heating elements, or the like, are placed above and below the plates, as indicated at 8| and 81 and the plates are thus heated both by convection and radiation. Any other suitable heating means may obviously be employed. To avoid heat losses the walls forming the chamber will be lagged with insulating material as indicated. An inner wall will also be provided, as shown at 19*, but as this is supported by the ring I it will rotate. A stationary cover 82 is supported by the cover 8!], hence a completely enclosed chamber is formed in which the table rotates. There is, however, one opening and that is shown in Fig. 1, this opening being necessary to permit insertion and removal of the bread to be toasted. Ordinarily heat would escape through this opening but this is not the case in the present instance as bailie plates 83 are secured to the table and interposed between the plates. These baffles arrange themselves alongthe lines indicated at 84 and 85 whenever a set of plates align with the feeding opening and any heat loss is thus avoided.

The plates upon which the bread is placed may be of any shape desired. A plate of suitable shape is shown in Fig. 6. These plates may be ribbed for heat conductivity and rigidity and. they may be provided with any embossed designs desired so that embossing and marking of the toast may be accomplished.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

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

1. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a compressor plate cooperating with each receiving p ate, means for transmitting step by step rotary movementto the table with a rest period between each step, and means for raising and lowering each compressor plate with relation to its cooperating receiving plate once during each complete revolution of the table, said raising or lowering movement taking place during a rest period.

2. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to The crosshead roller l6 Electric receive sliced bread to be toasted, a compressor plate cooperating with each receiving plate,

means for transmitting step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, means for raising and lowering each compressor plate with relation to its cooperating receiving plate once during each complete revolution of the table, said raising or lowering movement taking place during a rest period, a housing surrounding and enclosing the table and forming a heat retaining chamber, and means for heating the receiving and the compressor plates.

8. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a compressor plate cooperating with each receiving plate, means for transmitting step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, means for raising and lowering each compressor plate with relation to its cooperating receiving plate once during each complete revolution of the table, said raising or lowering movement taking place during a rest period, and means maintaining the compressor plates in a raised position for a predetermined period of time before lowering the same.

4. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a compressor plate cooperating with each receiving plate, means for transmitting step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, means for raising and lowering each compressor plate with relation to its cooperating receiving plate once during each complete revolution-of the table, said raising or lowering movement taking place during a rest period, means maintaining the compressor plates in a raised position for a predetermined period of time before lowering the same, and means for tilting each compressor plate when raised.

5. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a compressor plate cooperating with each receiving plate, means for transmitting step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period beween each step, means for raising and lowering each compressor plate with relation to its cooperating receiving plate once during each complete revolution of the table, said raising or lowering movement taking place during a rest period, and means for automatically releasing toast tending to adhere to the compressor plates when said plates are raised.

6. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a compressor plate cooperating with each receiving plate, means for transmitting step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, means for raising and lowering each compressor plate with relation to its cooperating receiving plate once during each complete revolution of the table, said raising or lowering movement taking place during a rest period, and a knock-out member carried by each compressor plate and operable during raising movement of the compressor plates to release toast tending to adhere to the compressor plates.

7. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a plurality of crosshead guides carried by the table, one in alignment with each receiving plate, a crosshead reciprocally mounted in each guide, a lifter rod carried by each crosshead, a compressor plate carried by each lifter rod, said compressor and receiving plates being arranged in pairs, means for transmitting a step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, a second crosshead inv the path of travel of the first-named crossheads for engaging each of said crossheads once during a revolution of the table, said engagement taking place during a rest period, and means engageable with the second crosshead for lifting it and the first-named crosshead with which it engages.

8. In a machine of the character described, a table having a. plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a plurality of crosshead guides carried by the table, one in alignment with each receiving plate, a crosshead reciprocally mounted in each guide, a lifter rod carried by each crosshead, a compressor plate carried by each lifter rod, said compressor and receiving plates being arranged in pairs, means for transmitting a step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, a second crosshead in the path of travel of the first-named crossheads for engaging each of said crossheads once during a revolution of the table, said engagement taking place during a rest period, means engageable with the second crosshead for lifting it and the first-named crosshead with which it engages, and means for maintaining the crossheads in lifted position for a predetermined period of time and for then lowering the same before the end of the rest period.

9. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a plurality of crosshead guides carried by the table, one in alignment with each receiving plate, a crosshead reciprocally mounted in each guide, a lifter rod carried by each crosshead, a compressor plate carried by each lifter rod, said compressor and receiving plates being arranged in pairs, means for transmitting a step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, a second crosshead in the path of travel of the first-named crossheads for engaging each of said crossheads once during a revolution of the table, said engagement taking place during a rest period, a bell crank connected with the second named crosshead to lift it and the first-named crosshead with which it engages.

10. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a plurality of crosshead guides carried by the table, one in alignment with each receiving plate, a crosshead reciprocally mounted in each guide, a lifter rod carried by each crosshead, a compressor plate carried by each lifter rod, said compressor and receiving plates being arranged in pairs, means for transmitting a step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, a second crosshead in the path of travel of the first-named crossheads for engaging each of said crossheads once during a revolution of the table, said engagement taking place during a rest period, a bell crank connected with the second-named crosshead to lift it and the firstnamed crosshead with which it engages, a drive shaft and a common means driven by said shaft for intermittently actuating the bell crank and for transmitting the step by step rotary movement to the table.

11. In a machine of the character described, a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a plurality of crosshead guides carried by the table, one in alignment with each receiving plate, a crosshead reciprocally mounted in each guide, a lifter rod carried by each crosshead, a compressor plate carried by each lifter rod, said compressor and receiving plates being arranged in pairs, means for transmitting a step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, a second crosshead in the path of travel of the first-named crossheads for engaging each of said crossheads once during a revolution of the table, said engagement taking place during a rest period, a bell crank connected with the secondnamed crosshead to lift it and the first-named crosshead with which it engages, a drive shaft, a common means driven by said shaft for intermittently actuating the bell crank and for transmitting the step by step rotary movement to the table, and other means for stopping and limiting the step by step movement of the table.

12. In a machine of the character described-a table having a plurality of receiving plates to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a plurality of crosshead guides carried by the table, one in alignment with each receiving plate, a crosshead reciprocally mounted in each guide, a lifter rod carried by each crosshead, a compressor plate carried by each lifter rod, said compressor and receiving plates being arranged in pairs, means for transmitting a step by step rotary movement to the table with a rest period between each step, a second crosshead in the path of travel of the first-named crossheads for engaging each of said crossheads once during a revolution of the table, said engagement taking place during a rest period, a bell crank connected with the second named crosshead to lift it and the first-named crosshead with which it engages, a drive shaft, a rotor driven thereby, means on the rotor for transmitting the step by step rotary movement to the table, a reciprocally mounted cam plate, means; in the rotor for transmitting reciprocal movement to the cam plate, and a connecting rod connecting the cam plate with one end of the bell crank.

13. A toasting machine comprising a housing having a toasting chamber formed therein, said chamber having an inlet and a discharge opening, a conveyor, a receiving plate on the conveyor to receive a slice of bread to be toasted, a compres sor plate cooperaitng and traveling therewith, cam actuated means for applying pressure to the plates during their traverse of the oven chamber to compress the bread slice to a relatively thin wafer, means for imparting movement to the conveyor and the plates with a rest period between each movement to allow removal of toast and replacement thereof with bread to be toasted, and means for separating the plates.

14. In a machine of the character described a conveyor having a receiving plate to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a compressor plate cooperating therewith, means for transmitting movement to the conveyor and the plates, cam actuated means for applying pressure to the plates during their traverse of the oven chamber to compress the bread slice to a relatively thin wafer, and means for separating the plates to permit removal of toast and replacement thereof with bread to be toasted.

15. In a machine of the character described a table, a receiving plate on the table to receive sliced bread to be toasted, a compressor plate cooperating with the receiving plate, means for transmitting movement to the table and the plates, cam actuated means for applying pressure to the plates during their traverse of the oven chamber to compress the bread slice to a relatively thin wafer, and means for raising and lowering the compressor plate with relation to the receiving plate to permit removal of toast and replacement thereof with bread to be toasted.

16. A toasting machine having in combination an enclosed oven with a feed opening and a discharge opening, an endless conveyor within the oven, said conveyor provided with pairs of toasting plates adapted to receive between the plates of each pair a slice of bread to be toasted, cam actuated means for applying pressure through the plates to the bread slice to press the latter to a relatively thin wafer whilst traversing the oven space, and means for applying heat to the said compressed wafer through the plates.

17. A toasting machine having in combination an enclosed oven with a feed opening and a discharge opening, an endless conveyor within the oven, said conveyor provided with pairs of toasting plates adapted to receive between the plates of each pair a slice of bread to be toasted, cam actuated means for applying pressure through the plates to the bread slice to press the latter to a relatively thin wafer whilst traversing the oven space, and heating elements within the oven above and below the conveyor for applying heat to the compressed Wafer through the plates.

18. A toast-making machine comprising an enclosed casing having a feed opening, an endless traveling conveyor within said casing, a series of toasting plates carried by said conveyor, a second and complementary series of toasting plates mounted for movement towards and from the first series of plates, means for automatical- 1y separating the plates at a point adjacent the feed opening to receive sliced bread as the conveyor operates, cam actuated means for bringing opposed plates together and for holding same closed during the major travel of the plates for compressing a bread slice to a relatively thin wafer, means for applying heat to the closed plates, and means for automatically opening the plates for discharging the toasted product.

19. A toasting machine comprising a housing having a circular chamber formed therein, said housing having an inlet and outlet opening formed therein, in communication with the chamber, said housing having an open space formed between the inlet and outlet openings, a carrier rotatably mounted in the chamber, a receiving plate on the carrier to receive the slice of bread to betoasted, a compressor plate cooperating and traveling with the receiving plate, means for applying pressure to the compressor plate during traverse of the chamber, to compress the bread slice to a relatively thin wafer, means for causing the carrier and compressor plate to traverse the chamber and to come to a rest when in register with the open space between the inlet and outlet openings, and means for separating the plates when they have come to rest and for again closing them, said period LEON V. REBOIS.

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