Patent Application
20190297926
The following disclosure relates generally to popcorn machines and, more particularly, to popcorn machines having troughs that facilitate cleaning and inspection of components of the popcorn machines, and associated systems and methods.
Popcorn machines are known in the art. One type of conventional popcorn machine makes popcorn by heating corn kernels in oil. Another type of popcorn machine, known as a “dry” popcorn machine, makes popcorn by heating corn kernels in hot air. In a “dry” popcorn machine, the corn kernels are subjected to a current of hot air to heat the kernels to the popping temperature. After popping the popcorn in the hot air, flavoring (e.g., butter, caramel, oil, etc.) can be added to the popcorn if desired. Popcorn machines using hot air to pop large quantities of popcorn are typically used for commercial purposes. In some instances, it can be difficult to inspect and/or clean some components of these machines.
The following disclosure describes various embodiments of popcorn machines having troughs that facilitate inspection and/or cleaning of components of the popcorn machines, and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine configured in accordance with the present technology includes a perforated trough positioned at least partially within an interior portion of a housing. An auger can be positioned at least partially within the trough and rotatable to move ingredients (e.g., popcorn) through the trough. The popcorn machine can further include a heat source and an air mover. The air mover can be configured to direct heated air from the heat source through the perforated trough to heat the ingredients therein. Although several embodiments of the present technology can include all of these features, other embodiments may omit particular features, components and/or procedures. A person of ordinary skill in the relevant art, therefore, will understand that the present technology, which includes associated devices, systems, and methods, may include other embodiments with additional elements or steps, and/or may include other embodiments without several of the features or steps shown and described below with reference to
As discussed in further detail below, many existing popcorn machines do not provide for the efficient and/or easy inspection of the popping drum or popping chamber. For example, some existing popcorn machines include a screen (e.g., a perforated sheet) fixedly attached around an auger so that the screen and auger rotate together to move ingredients through the popcorn machine. The present technology includes several embodiments of popcorn machines and associated systems and methods that facilitate easy access to and/or inspection of components within the popcorn machine. Certain details are set forth in the following description and
In the illustrated embodiment, the popcorn machine 100 includes a cabinet or housing 102 having a first end 110, a second end 112, side covers 103 (only a first side cover 103a, a second side cover 103b, and a third side cover 103c are visible in
The housing 102 at least partially encloses a corn mover 120 (e.g., a screw conveyor, anauger, etc.) and a trough 130 (e.g., a perforated trough). More particularly, the trough 130 extends between the first and second ends 110, 112 of the housing 102 and, as best seen in
As further illustrated in
The popcorn machine 100 can further include an inlet assembly (e.g., a hopper assembly) 140 coupled to the first end 110 of the housing 102 and configured to load ingredients (e.g., unpopped kernels of corn), and an outlet assembly (e.g., a discharge assembly) 150 coupled to the second end 112 of the housing 102 and configured to dispense the popped ingredients (e.g., popped popcorn). More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the inlet assembly 140 includes a hopper 142 having a removable lid 144. In operation, the lid 144 can be removed and unpopped ingredients may be poured or otherwise loaded into the hopper 142. The inlet assembly 140 can direct the unpopped ingredients through the first end 110 (e.g., through an opening 107 in the second side cover 103b) of the housing 102 and into the channel 132. The outlet assembly 150 includes a removable upper cover (not pictured in
In the illustrated embodiment, the popcorn machine 100 further includes a bearing assembly cover 114 which, as described in further detail below, at least partially encases and/or hides a bearing assembly that is operatively coupled to a motor. In some embodiments, the popcorn machine 100 is portable or mobile. For example, the popcorn machine 100 can include one more lockable rollers (not pictured in
In some embodiments, the auger 120 is rotatably positioned proximate a bottom portion 233 of the trough 130. More specifically, an outer diameter of the auger 120 can be about the same as, but slightly less than, a diameter of the bottom portion 233 of the trough 130 such that there is relatively little clearance between the auger 120 and the bottom portion 233 of the trough 130. In certain embodiments, the distance between the auger 120 and the bottom portion 233 of the trough 130 is less than a minimum dimension of ingredients to be added to the popcorn machine 100 to facilitate movement of the ingredients through the trough 130. For example, in certain embodiments, the distance between the auger 120 and the bottom portion 233 of the trough 130 can be less than about an average diameter, minimum diameter, etc., of an unpopped corn kernel.
In the embodiment illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the first end portion 263 of the support shaft 262 extends outwardly beyond the first bearing assembly 266 and is operably coupled to a first pulley 282. A chain or belt 284 operably couples the first pulley 282 to a second pulley 286. The second pulley 286 is coupled to (e.g., carried by) a drive shaft 288 extending from and operably coupled to a motor 289. As a result, in operation, the motor 289 rotates the second pulley 286, which drives the first pulley 282 via the belt 284. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor 289 is attached to a lower portion of the housing 102. In other embodiments, however, the motor 289 can be positioned in other locations. For example, the motor 289 can be positioned on the side of the housing 102 above, below, or laterally spaced apart from the first bearing assembly 266. In still further embodiments, the motor 289 can be operably coupled directly to the first end portion 263 of the support shaft 262 to drive the support shaft 262 without the use of the first pulley 282, the belt 284, and/or the second pulley 286.
As best seen in
In operation, the trough 130 can act as a fluidized bed dryer when heated air is forced through the trough 130 to pop ingredients (e.g., corn kernels). In particular, the auger 120 can be rotated as described in detail above to move ingredients through the channel 132 over the slot 394. As the corn kernels are moved over the slot 394, the air mover 160 forces heated air through the slot 394 to pop the corn kernels. More specifically, the heat source 270 heats the surrounding air in the first side portion 391 of the housing 102. In some embodiments, the air is heated to between about 420-450 degrees Fahrenheit (e.g., about 435 degrees Fahrenheit). In other embodiments, however, the air can be heated to be more or less than about 435 degrees Fahrenheit. The air mover 260 draws the heated air, indicated by arrow 396, from the first side portion 391 through the air intake portion 361 and forces the heated air, indicated by arrow 397, from the second side portion 392 through the slot 394 and then through the perforations in the trough 130. As the heated air passes into the channel 132 through the trough 130, corn kernels on the bottom of the trough 130 are lifted and agitated by the force of the air and behave like a fluid. The high velocity of the heated air provides a very high heat transfer rate for popping the kernels. The heated air can then pass through the perforations in the trough 130 and into first side portion 391. That is, after the air passes at least partially through the channel 132, indicated by arrow 398, the air returns to the first side portion 391 of the housing 102 and can again travel by the heat source 270 and into the air intake portion 361 of the air mover 260.
Referring to
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present technology. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications or alterations can be made to the components or systems disclosed herein. Moreover, certain aspects of the present technology described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the present technology. Accordingly, the inventions are not limited except as by the appended claims.
