Jeno's, Inc.

David F Nicholson

Roger F Parson

John L Carlson

Method and apparatus for draining and expunging excess oil from delicate pizza crusts which have been fried in oil, adapted for association with discharge mechanism of a crust fryer, functioning in cooperation therewith to receive, drain, and manipulatively reposition the crusts for packing into shipping cartons. Crusts discharged from the fryer at the infeed end fall into slots formed by adjacent vertical flights provided at spaced intervals on an inclined drain conveyor. The delicate crusts are held against deformation in upright position by the flights during their traverse of the conveyor length thus allowing for dripping drainage of oil from their respective surfaces. The oil so drained is collected in a drain pan positioned beneath the conveyor and at an angle sloping towards the frying mechanism at the infeed end of the conveyor. Oil collected by the drain pan is thus directed into an associated catch tank for subsequent return to the fryer. At the outfeed end of the drain conveyor, a discharge element receives the drained crusts and redeposits them topping side up, onto a discharge conveyor.

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Duluth, MN, United States of America

David F Nicholson