Oil supply for popcorn poppers
US5590582A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jan 7, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA23L7/187
- WIPO fieldFood chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An oil supply for popcorn poppers including a reservoir (26) for storing oil (28), a control housing (30) disposed above the reservoir (26), the control housing (30) having an inclined top surface (84) for supporting and heating a container (32) of congealed oil (34), a pump (72) for pumping liquified oil (28) in the reservoir (26) to a popping kettle (16), a heater (74) in the reservoir (26) for quickly heating congealed oil (28) therein, a conduit (76) for delivering oil to a popping kettle (16), and a conduit (92) for delivering liquified oil from the container (32) to the reservoir (26). The pump (72) is driven by a motor (70) contained inside the control housing (30) to deliver a measured amount of oil (28) to the kettle (16), made up by oil (34) from the container (32). A bleed hole (82) in the oil delivery conduit (76) allows pumped but not delivered oil to flow back into the heated reservoir (26) after each pump cycle so no oil remains in the delivery line (80) to congeal. Controls are disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.