Method and apparatus for controlling cooking cycles in a cooking system
Patent 4636949 Issued on January 13, 1987. Estimated Expiration Date: 
March 7, 2004. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
March 7, 2004. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3466997 3655411 3734744 3821516 3904852 Electronic range with automatic electronic digital timer Probe mounting apparatus Fat frying timing system Programmable automatic controller Multi-product cooking computer InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 06/587004 filed on 03/07/1984US Classes:700/90, SPECIFIC APPLICATION, APPARATUS OR PROCESS219/442, Adjustable219/492, Comprising timing or cycling means219/494, Thermally responsive700/14, Time responsive (duration)700/17, Operator interface (e.g., display with control)700/299, Specific application of temperature responsive control system700/79, Having protection or reliability feature700/87, Editing/modifying99/327, By time99/332By timeExaminersPrimary: Smith, JerryAssistant: Lastova, John R. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesG05D 23/19 (20060101)G05B 19/042 (20060101) G05B 19/04 (20060101) AbstractMethod and apparatus for controlling the operation of a commercial deep-fryer cooker as used in preparing fried chicken or other food products. The controller (11), according to the invention, has been designed to control essentially all aspects of the cooking process and includes a number of features which enhance the flexibility of the system, allow it to be operated with greater efficiency and provide increased safeguards against accident or machine malfunction.Among the features provided by the invention is the capability of lengthening or shortening or changing the ending temperature of a cooking cycle without changing the overall cooking cycle. This permits fast changes to be made in a cooking cycle, even while it is in progress.The system also provides protection against a power failure by saving essential data relating to an interrupted cooking cycle so that the cycle can be resumed if the power is restored within a prescribed period of time.The system also provides for more efficient heat regulation, provides safeguards when cooking under pressure to significantly reduce the risk of accident, provides means for preventing cooking cycle programs from being entered improperly, and includes a variety of built-in diagnostic capabilities to ensure everything is working properly and to notify the operator of a malfunction. | |
