Henny Penny Corporation

William M Casey

David B Winter

Gary L Mercer

Charles B Leader

James D King

Bruce Wayne Miller

Tim A Landwehr

Robert W Stirling

Richard L Jones

Keith Lambert

Bradley Loase

Ben Krupp

Robert Panning

Douglas A Burkett

Melissa M Hohler

Edward J Florkey

John Hill

Mark Gogel

Manouchehr Shirali

Michael Manzella

Ned M Mote

Brian K Brooks

Rick Baden

Dave Casler

Chuck Tomecek

A fryer includes a cooking chamber for holding a cooking medium, at least one heating element positioned within the cooking chamber, and a chain conveyor for selectively advancing food product through the cooking chamber along a movement path. The chain conveyor includes first and second chains coupled together by a plurality of baskets extending therebetween. The movement path includes a series of legs, including a first leg wherein the food product moves substantially vertically from above the cooking medium to a greatest depth within the cooking medium and including a second leg subsequent to the first leg wherein the food product moves substantially horizontally at the greatest depth within the cooking medium. Automated filtering systems and methods for removing debris from cooking medium are also provided.

Oil filtration system and method for automated fryer

Methods for adjusting the pressure in a cooking chamber of a pressure fryer are provided. The pressure inside the cooking chamber is determined in response to detecting closure of a valve that vents the cooking chamber. The pressure in the chamber is compared to a predetermined pressure. If the pressure in the chamber is less than the predetermined pressure, a pressure assist system is activated. The pressure assist system includes an air pump and/or pressure source, and when activated, supplies a gas to the cooking chamber to increase the pressure in the cooking chamber. The pressure may be determined at a predetermined time after closure of the valve, and an amount of gas to be added to the cooking chamber determined based on a difference between the measured pressure and the predetermined pressure.

Pressure assist method for pressure fryer

A fryer includes a cooking chamber for holding a cooking medium at least one heating element positioned within the cooking chamber, and a chain conveyor for selectively advancing food product through the cooking chamber along a movement path. The chain conveyor includes first and second chains coupled together by a plurality of baskets extending therebetween. The movement path includes a series of legs, including a first leg wherein the food product moves substantially vertically from above the cooking medium to a greatest depth within the cooking medium and including a second leg subsequent to the first leg wherein the food product moves substantially horizontally at the greatest depth within the cooking medium. Automated filtering systems and methods for removing debris from cooking medium are also provided.

Automated fryer

An automatic fryer apparatus and method of frying food products includes a cooking chamber, a heating mechanism disposed in the cooking chamber, and a pump disposed at an end of the cooking chamber to circulate cooking medium within the cooking chamber. Food product is added to the cooking chamber and flows along with the cooking medium in a flow direction. A controller controls a plurality of gates by individually actuating each gate. The controller stores data regarding predetermined time periods, which regulate when to raise and lower each gate. Food product moves downstream of each gate along a flow direction when each respective gate is raised. Food product is automatically transferred to a holding station when it reaches an outlet end of the cooking chamber.

Automatic fryer

Systems and methods for adjusting the pressure in a cooking chamber of a pressure fryer. The pressure inside the cooking chamber is determined in response to detecting closure of a valve that vents the cooking chamber. The pressure in the chamber is compared to a predetermined pressure. If the pressure in the chamber is less than the predetermined pressure, a pressure assist system is activated. The pressure assist system includes an air pump and/or pressure source, and when activated, supplies a gas to the cooking chamber to increase the pressure in the cooking chamber. The pressure may be determined at a predetermined time after closure of the valve, and an amount of gas to be added to the cooking chamber determined based on a difference between the measured pressure and the predetermined pressure. Use of the pressure assist system allows for optimal cooking of batches of food of many sizes.

Pressure assist feature for pressure fryer

The invention is a basket lifting apparatus having a supporting beam mounted substantially perpendicular and adjacent to an upper rear edge of a vat and a pair of supporting chamber extending perpendicular to the supporting beam and above and parallel to the upper rear edge of the vat. A motor is suspended from each of the supporting chambers, and a drive shaft from each motor extends into the associated supporting chamber. A jacking screw is rotatably mounted on and extends below each of the supporting chambers. A combination of gears and a drive chain transfers the rotational movement of the drive shaft to rotational movement of the jacking screw, and a shielding sleeve engages threads on the jacking screw, such that the sleeve is raised or lowered by the rotational movement of the jacking screw. Each sleeve includes a fixing pin or bolt for engaging a basket mounting hinge.

Basket lifting apparatus, basket lifting hinge, and basket lifting control method

Fryer lifting lid

A method for filtering suspended materials from a cooking substance, e.g. oil or shortening, in a central filtration system,. The method including the steps of (i) receiving the cooking substance in a first tank 106 from a deep fryer and filtering in a first filtration stage through a separator,and returning to the first tank,; (ii) transitioning to a second stage by filling a second tank,; (iii) filtering in a second filtration stage through filters,and,; and (iv) holding the cooking substance in a heated tank,before returning to the deep fryer. Each stage commences when a certain condition is met, e.g. a predetermine level or weight of cooking substance in a tank or a predetermined clarity of the cooking substance.

Method for filtering suspended materials from cooking substances

A cooking medium management system and method from manipulating a cooking medium during cooking operations. The system has a controller generating a lock-out signal and a transfer signal, and selectively generating one control signal selected from the group consisting of a discard signal, a fresh fill signal, a drain signal, a filtration signal, and a polish signal. The system also has a cooking medium transfer pump and a transfer conduit for transferring the cooking medium to and from a frypot, wherein the transfer pump activates in response to the transfer signal. The system further includes a lock-out device, which receives the lock-out signal and disables a fryer heater. Moreover, this system includes a discard device, which receives the discard signal and includes the frypot, the drain pan, a drain valve and a cooking medium drain. The frypot and the drain pan are placed in communication with the transfer conduit via the drain valve. Subsequently, the drain pan and the cooking medium drain are placed in communication with the transfer conduit to discard used cooking medium. In addition, the system includes a fresh fill device, which receives the fresh fill signal and includes the frypot and a cooking medium source. The frypot and the cooking medium source are placed in communication with the transfer conduit to fill the frypot with fresh shortening. The system also includes a filtration device, which receives the filtration signal and places the frypot and drain pan in communication with the transfer conduit to filter the cooking medium. Finally, the system includes a polish device, which receives the polish signal and places the frypot and the drain pan in communication with the transfer conduit in response to the polish signal, fills the frypot to a predetermined level, and places the frypot and the drain pan in communication with the transfer conduit for a predetermined time period, and places the frypot and the drain pan out of communication with the transfer conduit after completion of the predetermined time period.

Cooking medium management system

A cooking medium management system and method from manipulating a cooking medium during cooking operations. The system has a controller generating a lock-out signal and a transfer signal, and selectively generating one control signal selected from the group consisting of a discard signal, a fresh fill signal, a drain signal, a filtration signal, and a polish signal. The system also has a cooking medium transfer pump and a transfer conduit for transferring the cooking medium to and from a frypot, wherein the transfer pump activates in response to the transfer signal. The system further includes a lock-out device, which receives the lock-out signal and disables a fryer heater. Moreover, this system includes a discard device, which receives the discard signal and includes the frypot, the drain pan, a drain valve and a cooking medium drain. The frypot and the drain pan are placed in communication with the transfer conduit via the drain valve. Subsequently, the drain pan and the cooking medium drain are placed in communication with the transfer conduit to discard used cooking medium. In addition, the system includes a fresh fill device, which receives the fresh fill signal and includes the frypot and a cooking medium source. The frypot and the cooking medium source are placed in communication with the transfer conduit to fill the frypot with fresh shortening.

Method for manipulating cooking medium during cooking operations

Growing community of inventors

Kettering, OH, United States of America

William M Casey