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An apparatus for the automatic, continuous popping of popcorn having an upper storage compartment, heating coils for providing heat inside the upper storage compartment, a popcorn popping kettle, a lower storage compartment housing electrical components, a corn supply, a salt supply and an oil suppl

An apparatus for the automatic, continuous popping of popcorn having an upper storage compartment, heating coils for providing heat inside the upper storage compartment, a popcorn popping kettle, a lower storage compartment housing electrical components, a corn supply, a salt supply and an oil supply. The apparatus preferably includes a vacuum source for directing a predetermined amount of corn and salt from their supplies into the popping kettle, and a submersible pump for delivering a predetermined amount of oil into the popping kettle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An automated corn popping apparatus comprising: kettle means for heating oil and popping corn therein; means for delivering oil to said kettle means; means for delivering uniform predetermined amounts of corn and salt to said kettle means; means for emptying the contents of said kettle mean

1. An automated corn popping apparatus comprising: kettle means for heating oil and popping corn therein; means for delivering oil to said kettle means; means for delivering uniform predetermined amounts of corn and salt to said kettle means; means for emptying the contents of said kettle means at predetermined intervals; and means for energizing each of the preceding means according to a predetermined sequence so that the kettle means is heated prior to the introduction of oil, corn and salt therein, and is emptied after substantially all of the corn has popped. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said corn delivery means includes a chamber located above said kettle, means for periodically removing said predetermined amount of corn from a supply prior to delivering said amount to said kettle means. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said chamber comprises a container having a feed line connected to said corn supply, and sloped bottom walls extending to outlet means; and a vacuum line connected to vacuum generating means. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said outlet means comprises a hinged closure member located on a bottom portion of said chamber, said closure member being retained in a closed position when said chamber is under vacuum, and movable to an open position by the weight of the corn in said chamber when the vacuum is terminated and wherein said vacuum generating means includes a vacuum motor. 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said salt delivery means includes a hopper for retaining a supply of salt therein, and valve means connected to said vacuum line, said valve means normally being maintained in a closed position, but capable opening when vacuum is present in said vacuum line to deliver a predetermined amount of salt to said kettle means. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the amount of salt to be delivered to said kettle means proportionally corresponds to the amount of corn to be delivered. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said oil delivery means includes an oil supply tank; means for heating said oil to a predetermined temperature; means for maintaining said predetermined temperature of said oil; and pumping means for delivery of said heated oil to said kettle means. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said pumping means includes a submersible pump located adjacent the bottom of said oil supply tank and conduit means extending from said pump to said kettle means. 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said oil temperature maintaining means includes a 24 volt heating element. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energizing means comprises a digital programmer timer. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said kettle means further comprises a thermostat operatively associated with said digital programmer so that said digital programmer is not operated until said thermostat senses that said kettle means has achieved an appropriate corn popping temperature. 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said emptying means includes motor means connected to said kettle means by at least one elongated arm member, whereby operation of said motor causes said kettle means to pivot from an upright position to an inclined position so that said contents are emptied prior to returning said kettle means to said upright position. 13. An automated popcorn popping and warming apparatus comprising: the automated popcorn popping apparatus of claim 1; a bin including a first portion for supporting said popping apparatus and a second portion for holding popped corn; and a base for supporting said bin and including means for supplying heated air to said second bin portion to keep said popped corn warm. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a popcorn warming chamber located adjacent said second bin portion and including a chute member in a wall between said warming chamber and second bin portion. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said popcorn warming chamber comprises: first storage means for holding an amount of bulk food at a predetermined temperature above room temperature; second storage means located above said first storage means for holding a plurality of individualized food portions; means for heating air for said first storage means for warming said bulk food to said predetermined temperature; means for connecting said first and second storage means to enable heated air in said first storage means to pass into said second storage means; and means for returning heated air from said second storage means to said first means. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said connecting means comprises a common wall located between said first and second storage means and having a plurality of apertures therein, and said second storage means includes means for supporting said individualized food portions, said support means including means for enabling heated air to pass therethrough or therearound. 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the heat returning means comprises at least one conduit connecting said first and second storage means; and wherein said conduit includes blower means for circulating said air from said second storage means to said first storage means. 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the heat returning means comprises at least one conduit connecting said first and second storage means, and wherein said means for heating air comprises an electric heater located on a wall within said first storage means. 19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first and second storage means each includes separate means for access thereinto, said access means of said second storage means being at least partially transparent for viewing said individualized food portions therein. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said first and second storage means are connected by a common wall having a plurality of apertures therein, the apertures in a portion of said common wall being sufficiently large to allow unpopped corn to pass therethrough and further comprising a drawer in said second compartment beneath said common wall portion for retaining unpopped corn for removal from said apparatus. 21. An automated popcorn popping and warming apparatus comprising: a first storage compartment for holding an amount of popped corn; means for heating said first storage compartment to a predetermined temperature for warming said popped corn; popcorn popping means; a second storage compartment for supporting said first compartment and housing electrical components; corn supply means; salt supply means; popping oil supply means; means for directing a predetermined amount of said corn, salt and oil to said popping means; and means for dispensing popped corn from said popping means to said first storage compartment. 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said corn supply means and oil supply means are located within said second storage compartment. 23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said oil supply means is a sealed container comprising pumping means and conduit means for directing said oil to said popcorn popping means. 24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said means for directing predetermined amounts of said corn to said popcorn popping means comprises a chamber, conduit means extending from said corn supply means to said chamber and means for withdrawing a predetermined amount of said corn from said corn supply means to said chamber, said chamber located above said popcorn popping means and including means for dispensing said predetermined amount of corn thereinto. 25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said dispensing means comprises a hinged closure member located on a bottom portion of said chamber, said closure member being retained in a closed position when said chamber is under vacuum, and movable to an open position by the weight of the corn in said chamber when the vacuum is terminated. 26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said salt delivery means includes a hopper for retaining a supply of salt therein, and valve means connected to a vacuum line, said valve means normally being maintained in a closed position, but opening when vacuum is present in said vacuum line to deliver a predetermined amount of salt to said popcorn popping means. 27. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said popcorn popping means comprises receptacle means for receiving said corn and means for heating said corn to an appropriate popping temperature, said receptacle means being made from a conductive material, said heating means comprising heating coils adjacent said receptacle. 28. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said popcorn dispensing means includes a motor and said receptacle means is pivotably mounted within said first storage compartment with said motor connected to said receptacle means through at least one elongated arm member such that operation of said motor pivots said receptacle means from an upright position to an inclined position whereby said popped corn is dispensed from said receptacle to said first storage compartment. 29. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first storage compartment comprises a chute for delivering popped corn to an adjacent popcorn warming chamber. 30. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first storage compartment heating means comprises an electric , heating coil and means for directing heated air into said first storage compartment. 31. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said popcorn warming chamber comprises: first storage means for holding an amount of bulk food at a predetermined temperature above room temperature; second storage means located above said first storage means for holding a plurality of individualized food portions; means for heating air for said first storage means for warming said bulk food to said predetermined temperature; means for connecting said first and second storage means to enable heated air in said first storage means to pass into said second storage means; and means for returning heated air from said second storage means to said first means. 32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said connecting means comprises a common wall located between said first and second storage means and having a plurality of apertures therein, and said second storage means includes means for supporting said individualized food portions, said support means including means for enabling heated air to pass therethrough or therearound. 33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the heat returning means comprises at least one conduit connecting said first and second storage means; and wherein said conduit includes blower means for circulating said air from said second storage means to said first storage means. 34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the heat returning means comprises at least one conduit connecting said first and second storage means, and wherein said means for heating air comprises an electric heater located on a wall within said first storage means. 35. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first and second storage means each includes separate means for access thereinto, said access means of said second storage means being at least partially transparent for viewing said individualized food portions therein. 36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said first and second storage means are connected by a common wall having a plurality of apertures therein, the apertures in a portion of said common wall being sufficiently large to allow unpopped corn to pass therethrough and further comprising a drawer in said second compartment beneath said common wall portion for retaining of unpopped corn for removal from said apparatus.