US3861289A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Taco shell fryer
Assignee: Ikon Office Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-08
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Granted: 1975-01-21
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Expires: 1993-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A taco fryer has a frame on which is supported an open top tank for containing heated frying oil. An endless, pan conveyor travels on the frame so as to dip down into and rise out of the oil. A horizontally extending rod on the pan conveyor supports pairs of complementary pan portions mounted to move between a first position with both pan portions occupying the same plane and a second position with both pan portions depending from the frame. During this movement a tortilla supported on the pan portions bends over the rod and is pressed toward the rod and the pan portions. This is done by a belt draped over the rod and pan portions and suspended from a continuous belt conveyor having a portion traveling generally parallel to the pan conveyor. The belt conveyor structure can be raised and lowered for cleaning purposes. The belt conveyor and the pan conveyor converge and diverge in order that tortillas can be loaded onto and taco shells can be unloaded from the pan portions.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward D Baker
- 👤 Nils Lang-Ree
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:02
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J37/00; A47J37/12; A47J37/1214; A21; A21B; A21B5/00; A21B5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A taco shell fryer comprising an open top tank for cooking oil; a pan conveyor including a pair of transversely spaced chains arranged in closed loops parallel to each other; means for supporting at least a portion of said pan conveyor to travel in a path leading down into, through and up out of said tank; a rod connected at opposite ends to said chains and extending transversely of said path; a pair of complementary pan plates hinged on and extending from opposite sides of said rod on said pan conveyor; a belt conveyor; a flexible link belt suspended transversely in a catenary curve from said belt conveyor; and means for supporting said belt conveyor to lower said belt from a position spaced above said rod and pan plates into a position draped over and at least partially around said rod and said pan plates as said pan conveyor travels in said path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A taco shell fryer comprising an open top tank for cooking oil; a pan conveyor including a pair of transversely spaced chains arranged in closed loops parallel to each other; means for supporting at least a portion of said pan conveyor to travel in a path leading down into, through and up out of said tank; a rod connected at opposite ends to said chains and extending transversely of said path; a pair of complementary pan plates hinged on and extending from opposite sides of said rod on said pan conveyor; a belt conveyor; a flexible link belt suspended transversely in a catenary curve from said belt conveyor; and means for supporting said belt conveyor to lower said belt from a position spaced above said rod and pan plates into a position draped over and at least partially around said rod and said pan plates as said pan conveyor travels in said path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A taco shell fryer as in claim 1 in which each one of said pair of complementary pan plates includes a plurality of transversely spaced upstanding lugs for laterally positioning portions of taco shells thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A taco shell fryer as in claim 1 in which said pan conveyor cross rod is round and said pair of complementary pan plates are symmetrically pivoted on said cross rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A taco shell fryer as in claim 3 including means for pivotally moving said pan plates on said cross rod between a first coplanar position and a second depending mutually parallel position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A taco shell fryer as in claim 4 in which said moving means moves said pan plates simultaneously between said first position in which both pan plates are in substantially the same horizontal plane and said second position in which each pan plate is disposed approximately ninety degrees to said first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
A taco shell fryer comprising a frame, an open top tank supported on said frame, an endless pan conveyor including a pair of parallel chains mounted to travel on said frame and arranged with at least a portion of the upper run of said pan conveyor travelling through a portion of said tank, a horizontally extending rod supported transversely on and between said chains on said pan conveyor, a pair of complementary pan plates, means for mounting said pan plates to pivot symmetrically about the axis of said rod, means for pivoting said pan plates during travel of said pan conveyor, an endless belt conveyor mounted to travel on said frame and arranged with at least a portion of the lower run of said belt conveyor converging toward and diverging from said portion of the upper run of said pan conveyor, and a flexible chain belt section secured to said belt conveyor in position to drape onto and at least partially around said rod and said pan plates in said converging and diverging portions of the upper run of said pan conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
182 words
A taco shell fryer comprising a frame, an open top tank supported on said frame, an endless pan conveyor including a pair of parallel chains mounted to travel on said frame and arranged with at least a portion of the upper run of said pan conveyor travelling through a portion of said tank, a horizontally extending rod supported transversely on and between said chains on said pan conveyor, a pair of complementary pan plates, means for mounting said pan plates to pivot symmetrically about the axis of said rod, means for pivoting said pan plates during travel of said pan conveyor, an endless belt conveyor mounted to travel on said frame and arranged with at least a portion of the lower run of said belt conveyor converging toward and diverging from said portion of the upper run of said pan conveyor, and a flexible chain belt section secured to said belt conveyor in position to drape onto and at least partially around said rod and said pan plates in said converging and diverging portions of the upper run of said pan conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A taco shell fryer as in claim 6 in which each of said pan plates is movable on said rod by a crank arm, and tracks on said frame guide said crank arm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A taco shell fryer as in claim 6 in which each of said pan plates has a taco-receiving surface substantially tangent to the surface of said rod.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-20 | 1978-07-22 | 1979-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-20 | 1982-07-22 | 1983-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-20 | 1986-07-22 | 1987-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |