Low-headroom popcorn popper

Abstract

A low-headroom popcorn popper, particularly for under-cabinet mounting, employs a charging drawer alongside an intermediate chute for entering kernels of corn into a popping chamber. The corn remains in the charging drawer until a charging slide is pushed to permit the corn to enter the popping chamber. A horizontal air path between a blower and a plenum surrounding the popping chamber further reduces headroom. Air enters the perimeter of the popping chamber from the plenum in a horizontal swirling motion produced by slanted louvers. A door closes an open bottom of the popping chamber to permit removal of unpopped kernels of corn and other debris therefrom. Heater elements are disposed in the plenum chamber non-uniformly in angle about the popping chamber to attain a substantially uniform air temperature entering the popping chamber. Separation of popped corn from unpopped kernels of corn is attained using two cylindrical sections connected by a diverging conical section. Popped corn rises upward on the air stream until it passes over a dam, whereupon it falls down a discharge chute. An electrical control system controls a WAIT light and a READY light to indicate to a user the time that an optimum popping temperature exists in the popping chamber. An overtemperature sensor deenergizes the heater, blower and the ready light, and energizes the WAIT light when an unsafe temperature is approached.