The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 2013
Filed:
Jul. 23, 2010
Alan E. Hairsine, Gaylord, MN (US);
Jason W. Mathews, Gaylord, MN (US);
Ted A. Kurpgeweit, Wayne, NE (US);
Dale E. Weaver, Lenox, IA (US);
Alan E. Hairsine, Gaylord, MN (US);
Jason W. Mathews, Gaylord, MN (US);
Ted A. Kurpgeweit, Wayne, NE (US);
Dale E. Weaver, Lenox, IA (US);
Michael Foods, Inc., Minnetonka, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention includes methods and devices for mass producing cooked, cooled egg products having a grill fried egg appearance. One device includes a portion for positioning whole, intact, shelled eggs positioned laterally across and above a cooking mold conveyor, and a portion for cracking the eggshells and depositing the eggs into cooking molds on the conveyor. Some devices and methods include an egg yolk splitter for rupturing the egg yolk sac to deposit a whole egg having a ruptured egg yolk into each mold. Other devices and methods include irregular shaped egg molds for providing a mass produced cooked egg having a natural, irregular shaped outlines and/or surfaces. Devices and methods according to the present invention can be used to produce irregular, outlined shaped cooked egg products including whole eggs, formulated eggs, or eggs made from scrambled egg mixes. The pre-cooked eggs can be delivered pathogen free to fast food establishments and reheated for consumers in less time than required to cook the egg.