Feb.

12, 1952

G. J. WRIGHT ETAL

2,585,364

PROCESS FOR COATING AND COOKING FRANKFURTERS

Filed Nov. 22, 1948

Sheets-Sheet 1

INVEENTORS

faeaf J VI/Q/GHT

Y 44261 1/ M/e/ H7

W @%

Feb. 12, 1952

G. J. WRIGHT ETAL

2,585,364

PROCESS FOR COATING AND COOKING FRANKFURTERS

Filed Nov. 22, 1948

8 Sheets-Sheet 3

mum.

\W

INVENTORS

G06 J. VI/Q/GHT
BY PAL/PH <1 WQ/GHT

Feb. 12, 1952

G. J. WRIGHT ETAL
:PROCESS FOR COATING AND COOKING VFRANKFURTERS

2,585,364

Feb. 12, 1952

G. J. WRlGHT ETAL'

2,585,364

PROCESS FOR COATING AND COOKING FR'ANKFUR'IERS

Filed Nov. 22,_l948

8 Sheets-Sheet 5

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INVENTORS

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Feb. 12, 1952

G_ J, wRlGHT ETAL

2,585,364

PROCESS FOR COATING AND cooxmc FRANKFURTERS

Filed Nov. 22, 1948
8 Sheets-Sheet 6

42

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42

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Feb- 12, .1952

G. J. WRIGHT EFAL

2,585,364

PROCESS FOR COATING AND COOKING FRANKFURTERS

Filed Nov. 22, 1948

3%

8 S?eets~Sheet 7

Feb. 12, 1952

e. .1: WRIGHT ETAL

2,585,364

PROCESS FOR COATING "VAND COOKING FRANKFURTERS

Filed Nov. 22, 1948
8 Sheets-Sheet 8

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650265
BY

IQAAPH

NTO

Patented Feb. 12, 1952

2,585,364

UNITED FS TATTEZS PATENT OFFICE

PROCESS FOR COATINGAND COOKING
FRANKFURTERS
George J. Wright, Berkeley, and Ralph .J. Wright,
Albany, OaliL, :assignors, by mesne assignments,
to Fritter-Chcf Corporation, BerkeleyrCalif .a
corporation of California 1

ApplicatinnLNovember 22, 1948, Serial No. 61,316

:lCla'ims. (01. 997-107.)

-2

The invention relates to machines and proc

esses :for preparing and cooking of articles ,such

Figure 42 is aside view partly in section-of the

machine illustrated in Figure :1, the general plane

as frankf-urters.

of, the .section being taken on the line 2-2 of

An object of the invention is to provide a ma

chine and process of the character described in

which the frankfurter is coated with batter,

cooked therewith in a hot oil bath to provide 1a
fritter encased ?ankiurter, and delivered as a

the latter ?gure.

Figure 3 is :a cross-sectional view on .asome

what enlarged scale and taken substantially on

the plane of line 33 ofFigure .12.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal

cooked product ready toeahall by a iully auto

sectional view of the receiving :end of the ma
matic and completely mechanized apparatus. 10 chine and portion adjacent thereto.
Another object of the invention is to provide
Figure 5 is aljfragmentary top plan viewof :the
a machine and process of the character above
portion of the machine illustrated in Figure 4..
which will produce completely .cooked and ready
Figure ,6 is .an end elevation of the machine
to eat :fritter enclosed .frankfurters in rapid ,suc
taken from the delivery end, with the cooking
cession, and wherein the frankf-urters and iritter 15 oil container broken away and shown in section.

batter are carried through the several operations

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view similar

of the machine and process untouched :by human

to Figure 5 but showing the delivery end and

hands.

A further object of the invention is to pro

adjacent portion of the machine.

.
Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the por

vide a machine and process .of the character 20 tion of (the machineshown in Figure 17, the plane
above which will provide a properly cooked
of the section being indicated by the line 88
Irankfur-ter encased in a delectable fritterqtype
of Figure -7,.
4
coating replacing the conventional frankfurter
Figure 9 is a detail side view, partly in section,
bun, the completed .food product being .a most
of an intermittent gear mechanism utilized in
palatable, generally improved and more digest 25 connection with the discharge operation.
ible type of food of the character described.
The frankfurter machine illustrated in the
.An additional object of the present invention
accompanying drawings includes a series of suc
is to provide an improved method of and appar
cessively arranged and co-acting mechanisms by
'ratus {or coating an uncooked .frankfurter with
means of which frankfurters and batter are sup
batter preparatory to cooking wherein the 30 plied to one end .of the machine, carried through
method a-?ords and the apparatus provides autoa succession .of steps wherein the Irankfurters
matic means for rapidly coating the .trankfurter
are coated with batter, then cooked with the
with batter, with all of the ,frankiurter so proc
batter coating in a hot .oil bath, and ?nally de
essed coated uniformly with a proper thickness
livered in a completely cooked state, ready to eat,
of batter.
35 all in a rapid sequential order. Preferably, the
,Still another object of the invention is to pro
several parts of the machine are unitarily sup
vide a process and apparatus .for cooking the
ported on a frame 15, and desirably, for com
frankfuiter and the batter coating together
mercial purposes, the several parts are contained
while immersed in the cooking .oil .in such a
in an attractive housing with appropriate win
manner that uniformity of product of improved 40 dows for viewing of automatic operations and
quality is insured.

The invention possesses other objects and lea

tures of advantage, some of which, with the store
going, will be .set forth in the following .descripe

openings ,,for input of the frankfurters and

batter, and a discharge opening for the com

pleted food product. The housing, being purely

a display feature of the machine, is not here

tion of the preferred form of the ill-if?ntion which 45 illustrated.

is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and
hereinabove noted, the food product pro
forming part .of the speci?cation. It is to be
duced by the process and apparatus of the pres
understood, however, that Variations in the
sent invention is a fritter-encased cooked frank

showing made by the said drawings and descrip

furter and improved means and process ishere
tion may be adopted within the scopeoi the in 50 in provided for coating an uncooked frankiur
vention as set forthin the -claims.
Referring to said drawings;

'

Figure 1 is a top plan View 9.! .81 ilhllkiful'li?

cooking machine constructed in accordaocewith

the present invention.

ter with batter. In accordance with the pres

sent invention, an uncookedqfrankfurter I B of

standard elongated shape is caused to pass the
periphery of a batter coated roller I! in close
proximity thereto, so as to intersect the batter

2,685,364

4
coating thereon, and during such inter-engage
ment of the frankfurter and batter coating on
the roller, the frankfurter and roller are caused

to rotate about their respective longitudinal

axes so as to transfer a uniform coating of bat

ter to the periphery of the frankfurter. Frank

furters are introduced to the machine by being
initially deposited upon a conveyor 18 which
comprises a pair of endless chains l9 and 2|

tures of conveyor 35 is its support of

furters exclusively at the opposite ends
frankfurters with the entire periphery
franlrfurter exposed for processing as

frank
of the
of the
herein

provided and to additionally permit rotation of

the- frankiurteravhile being so supported about
its longitudinaliaxis. v'I'his. important support
ing of the frankfurter is herein provided by a

plurality of impaling pins carried by the con~

supported and spaced in substantially parallel 10 ,veyor 39 in transversely spaced and aligned re
lation'rso as to be insertable into and remov
vertical planes and having transversely aligned

upper and lower runs 22 and 23. Connected

between the chains is and 2l- and. extending

able from the opposite ends of the frankfurter

axially thereof. - As will be best seen from Fig

ures 3 an'ddQ-thse pins are arranged in trans

horizontally therebetween are} a plurality of
dish-shaped trays 2A Which,'as viewed in Fig 15 verselyaligned pairs each consisting of the pins

M and42fand are spaced at regular intervals

along the lengthjofthe conveyor.
The conveyor 39 consists of two endless chains
45 and 44 mounted in spaced substantially ver
The top run 22 of therconveyor moves from
left to right, as viewed iin Figures 4 and 5, to 20 tical planes at the opposite ends of the con
veyor l8 and the cylinder 28, and having up
a delivery end 26 of'the conveyor about which

ure 5, are of elongated form arranged with their "

concave side upper most on thetop run 22 for 1
receiving in each of the trays a frankfurter. ,

theltrays 24' swing downwardly and invert to

, per and lower runs 46 and 41 with the corre

sponding runs ofv the chains having parallel

courses of movement. One end 58 of the con
point, the franlrffurters l6 are deposited onto
a pair of transversely spaced arcuate ?ngers 25 veyor _39'is' concentrically aligned with the pas
sageway 32 so that the corresponding ends oi
2?, which, in turn, guide the frankfurters down
chains 43 de?ne the opposite ends of the-pas;
wardly and slightly rearwardly onto the periph
the under run 23 of the conveyor. At this

cry of a rotating cylinder 28.

This cylinder is

. mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis

sageway 32 and are caused to move in an ar

cuate course precisely aligned with the arcuate

directly under and approximately co-terminous 30 spaceof the passageway. The pins 41 and 42,
as above mentioned, are carried transversely of
with the transverse dimension of the conveyor

the conveyor and the inner extremities 49 and

18 so that the frankfurters are deposited onto
SI of the pins project into the space between
the periphery of the cylinder 28 with their lon
thechains E3 and 4G. As an important fea
g'itudinal axes approximately horizontally ar
ranged. Provided on the periphery of thecylin 35 ture'of the construction of the, pins, the lat
ter are reciprocally carried in sleeves 52 and 53,
de'r 28 in circumferentially spaced relation are
also providing the spacers for the respective
a plurality of elevator bars 29 which extend
chains, and additionally the pins are journalled
longitudinally of the cylinder and serve to pick
for rotation in these sleeves. Accordingly, the
up in succession frankfurters deposited on the
roller periphery and to carry such frankfurters 40 pins 4| and I32v 'are carried by their respective
in an arcuate course of movement with the cyl
inder. Spaced around one side of the cylinder,

chains 43 and 44 in an arcuate course of move

ment around'the end 48 of the conveyor in a

being the leitside as viewed in Figure 4, are

a plurality or spring supported pressure rolls

position substantially precisely at the transverse

center of the arcuate passageway 32 in which

3! which are mounted in an arcuate arrange

rrientv in spaced concentric relation to the cyl

inder 28 so as to de?ne an arcuate passage

way- 32 therebetween.

As will be best seen from

Figures 3 and 4, the pressure rolls 3| are of

hollow tubulariorm, each mounted on a cen

tra'lly'a'rranged helical spring 33 which extends

lengthwise through the rolls and is secured at

opposite spirally reducedlends 36 and 35, to

arcuately shaped supporting arms 3,! and. 3B dis
possum vertical planes adjacent the opposite

': the frankfurter's are carried and supported as

above described. '

A common drive for chains 43 and 44 is prod

vided so that the opposite pins 4| and 42 are
moved in unison and in transversely aligned
relation, such movement is timed to the move

ment _of'_ the conveyor 39 and the cylinder 28, so

that the pins 4! and 42 are moved through the
space 32 at the same speed as frankfurters are
deposited onto and carried by the elevator bars
29 on the periphery of the cylinder 28. The ar

The rolls 3! are thus

rangement and support of the conveyor 39 is such

resiliently supported for movement to and from

the periphery of the cylinder 28 while at the
same time being permitted free individual rota
tion. Preferably, the radial spacing between the
cylinder periphery and the rolls 3|, that is, the
transverse dimension of the passageway 32, is

that the upper run 46 moves to the left, as viewed

in Figures .4 and 5, so as to enter the passageway

ends of the-cylinder 28.

somewhat less than the normal thicknes or di

ameter or the frankfurter, whereby the latter,

in being transported the passageway, will be
firmly and rigidly supported between the pe
riphery of, the cylinder and the succession of
rolls 3|.

Advantage istaken of this ?rmly supported

positioning of the frankfurter and its precise
course of movement through the passageway;
32 for transfer of the frankfurter to a second

conveyor 33 for movement to the batter coat-.

ing roller Bl and to other parts and opera
tions'Yof the machine. One of the principaljea; __

32 at the'upper end thereof above the cylinder

' 28.

Likewise, the driving of conveyor l8 in a

timed relation to the conveyor 39 and cylinder 28,

e?ects a depositing of frankfurters onto the cylin
der 28 at intervals corresponding to their speed
of removal by the. elevator bars 29. Also, the
timing between conveyor, 39 and cylinder 28 is

such that each frankfurter carried through space

32 will be at all times directly aligned with a

pair of pins 49 and 51.

The transfer of the frankfurter onto the pins
49 and 5! is e?ected by causing an inward dis
placement of the pins while traversing the
passageway 32 so that these pins will be inserted
from a relatively retracted or outward position
into the opposite ends of a frankfurter being

simultaneously carried through, the passageway

2153.556?!

61

asabov? described Means .for so displacing the

pins here v.consist of a pair of identicalcams 5s
=l!16"1.T.11!IIt1 at the opposite sidesqf the ma

the frankfnltter during its rotation. the roller. .1 1

is iikewise rotated, the rotation of theproller func
tioning to provide aconstant supply of batter to

chine generally aligned with the passageway s2.

{Iihesebams are of segmented cylindrical shape

the frankfurter being coated. Actually, it vhas

been found desirable to supply batter to the inter

having end faces which spiral inwardly and serve

engaged area with the frankfurter at a faster

to engage heads 51 and 58 on the outer ends of

pins 4| and #42 so as to urge and displace these

rate than the movement of the frankfurter. In

this manner, the batter is crowded onto and
heaped upon the surface of the frankfurterso

pins in an inward direction while traversing the

passageway 32.
The batter applying roller l1 hereinabove noted
is inounted with its periphery in close proximity
to the bottom run 41 of the conveyor v3'9 so as to

present its periphery in co-acting relation to

frankfurters carried by the lower run of the con
veyor upon leaving the conveyor end 48, where

the 'frankfurters are transferred to the conveyor

as above described. As will be thus seen from

10 as to permit a desired thick coating to form on

the frankfurter with a constant surplusage of

batter from which to draw. The action is greatly
facilitated by selecting a direction of rotation of
the roller wherein the top of the roller moves
.' toward the oncoming ,frankfurter. This is a
counter-clockwise direction of rotation as viewed
in Figure 4. Also, to insure a maximum relative
movement of the frankfurter in the batter car

Figures 4 and 5, the roller is journalled for ro

ried up and supported by the roller, the .frank
tation upon a horizontal shaft 59, parallel to the _ furter is caused torotate in a direction advancing

bottom runs 41 of the chains 43 and Ml and has

a length somewhat less than the spacing between
theseruns so that the full length of the roller
periphery is presented in the space traversed by
the frankfurter. As will be seen in Figure 4, the

the lower side of the frankfurter intothe batter,

that is, a counter-clockwise rotation of the frank.
furter as viewed in Figure 4. This latter rotation
of the frankfurter also assists in the elevation
of the accumulated mass of batter at the forward

frankfurters I6 are carried by the bottom run 41

of the conveyor in close proximity to the top of
the roller [1, a recommended spacing being .ap

side of the frankfurter, thereby tending to raise

this mass over and around the frankfurter,

whereby the frankfurter is thoroughly and com

proximately

Batter is arranged to be supplied to the periph 30

pletely enveloped by the batter.

While various relative diameters and rotating

cry of roller ii for transfer to the frankfurters

asabove described, and means for so supplying
the batter here consist of a batter container 6;!

speeds of the roller and frankfurther may be

within which the periphery of the roller is caused

a proportioning of the roller diameter to a

toimo've. PreferablyQthe container 6| is of suf?

cient size vto carry batter for a considerable period

of operation of the machine, and extends from a

point somewhat ahead of roller I! to the front

used, particularly with various typesof batter,

ithas been found that fora relatively stiff batter
frankfurter diameter approximately as indicated
in the drawings is satisfactory. The usual di
meter of a fran'kfurter to be processed is ap

proximately '/8" and the corresponding roller

diameter, as here shown, is approximately .,_3..

end of the machine, that is, the left end as viewed

in Figure l. Widthwise, as will be seen from 40 For these relative diameters, a rotation of the
Figures 2 and 5, vthe container 6| has a somewhat
roller of approximately three revolutions to each

greater dimension than the length of the roller

fl'l, so that the full length of the roller will be

immersed in batter with which the container is

filled. Preferably, the bottom 62 inclines down
wardly toward the roller I! to permit ?lling oi
the container from the end of the machine and
to insure a proper ?ow of the batter to the roller
periphery. .As will be also noted from Figures 1

two revolutions of the frankiurter produces sat

isfactory results. As will be appreciated, the
peripheral speed of the roller determines the
amount of batter which is fed to the inter-en
gaged area of the frankfurter and better coating,
and this speed of rotation of the roller is de
pendent upon the amount of batter to betrans
fer-red to the frankfurter and also upon the con

and 4, the axis of the roller shaft 59 is approxi 50

sistency of the batter itself. A batter coating
mately at the top 63 of the batter container, so
of approximately 116'} on the frankfurter is de
that the upper portion of the roller periphery
sirable>
extends above the level of the batter at all times,
As above explainedythe iinpaling pins GI and
The roller is arranged to be rotated so as to coat
.42 are fully inserted into the opposite ends of
the entire roller periphery with batter and par
the frankfurter during its course of movement
ticularly that portion extending above the con
through the ;arcuate passageway 32 and as the
tainer, and preferably a batter consistency and
frankfurter emerges from the lower .end of the
texture is used that will provide a relatively thick
passageway it becomes disengaged from the
coating of batter on the roller, say approximately
%" in thickness. 'In this manner, a frankfurter 60 lowermost roller 3| and is thereafter supported
exclusively by the pins .49 and 51. Such latter
traversing the top of the roller in closely spaced
sup-port not onlylexposes-the full length of the
relation thereto, as above described, will inter
fran-kfurter to the roller I? but also mounts the
sect the batter coating, indicated by numeral 64
on Figure 4.
v
franli-furter for rotation with its coaxially inserted
In accordance with the present invention and
pins. Rotation 'ofthe frankfurter is obtained
as a principal feature thereof, the frankfurter is
by causing the rotation of one of the pins 42
caused to rotate about its longitudinal axis dur
which, as will be seenfrom Figure 5, is'formed
ing the period of engagement of the frankfurter
with a ?attened extremity 5| in contrast to the
with the batter coating 64 on the roller, so as'to
pointed cylindrical extremity 453 of pin ill. Each
bring all peripheral portions of the frankfurter
70 of the pins 42 is provided, adjacent the head
into contact with the batter coating. In other
58 thereon, with a pinion 68 which is engaged,

words, the frankfurter is caused to rotate at least

one complete revolution while in contact with
the batter supported on the roller H. In order

to have batter continuously available for coating

when in proximity to batter roller ll, with a

rack '61. The latter, as will be seen from Figure
3, overlies the pinion so as to impart thereto a

75 desired direction of rotation as above described,

2,585,864

7
and has a length extending lengthwise of the
travel of the conveyor by a distance extending
over the period of engagement of a frankfurter
with roller 11.

The fully coated frankfurter is carried by the

lower run 4-1 of the conveyor 39 from the batter
roller IT to the surface of a hot oil bath 68 con

is well above the ?oat level of the coated frank

furter in the oil, affords a result greatly superior
to that obtained from allowing the frankfurter to

be cooked While entirely submerged. By contrast,

where the frankfurter and its batter coating are
fully submerged in the hot oil and retained there

in for the required cooking period, the portion

of the batter coating next to the frankfurter tends

tained in an open top trough-like receptacle 89
to remain doughy or soggy. On the other hand,
extending from adjacent the roller I! to ad
jacent the opposite or delivery end of the ma 10 where the frankfurter is rotated as herein de
scribed, with substantially only the batter thick
chine. Preferably, rotation of the frankfurter
ness submerged, the batter coating is uniformly
is continued from the roller H to the hot oil
cooked throughout its entire mass and is likewise
bath so as to assist in the uniform distribution
thoroughly and uniformly heated. As will be ap
of the batter around the periphery of the frank
furter and to retain such distribution. How 15 preciated, in the cooking process of the present
invention, as above described, a majority of the
ever, the direction of rotation of the frank
outer peripheral surface of the batter coating is
furter at its point of immersion in the oil is
exposed to the air above the surface of the oil,
preferably reversed from that at the roller, so
and the peripheral area submerged is being con
that the forward surface of the franlzfurter
moves downwardly into the oil, that is, a clock 20 stantly carried up into the air space above the
oil by rotation of the frankfurter. A considerable
wise rotation as viewed in Figure 4. Accordingly,
portion, therefore, of the cooking of the present
a second rack 'il, forming substantial extension
food product occurs in a heated atmosphere con
of rack 6'1, is provided, but at an elevation to
ducive to the escape of vaporized oil and moisture
engage the under side of pinions 66. As will
be seen from Figure 4, the receptacle B9 is 25 products. It is apparent that this arrangement
is largely instrumental in obtaining a fritter en
mounted somewhat below the roller 17 and
closure for the frankfurter which is completely
spaced forwardly therefrom, and the bottom run
cooked, relatively oil free and of a- desired aerated
41 of the conveyor is caused to descend rather
texture. At the same time, by insuring a rela
sharply over idler rollers I2, into the container,
so as to bring the frankfurter in contact with 30 tively oil-free fritter coating, the frankfurter it
self is kept from absorbing an excess of. cooking
the liquid. As the frankfurter is caused to con
oil and is thus made more palatable and more
tinue its rotation while coming in contact with
readily digestible.
the liquid, the engagement of the surface of the
Under certain circumstances, as for di?erent
batter with the oil causes a ?ow of the batter
into a. ?nal uniform distribution around the 35 types of batters, it may be desired to cause the
product to traverse the oil at different levels.
frankfurter and a smoothing out of the surface
One way of affording this in a very simple man
of the batter. At the same time, the batter coat
ner is to tilt the machine slightly by having one
ing, upon rotating through the oil, sets in its
end somewhat higher than the other.
smooth and uniformly distributed state.
The oil in container 69 may be heated in any
As another important feature of the present 40
suitable manner, and is heated, in the present
invention, the batter encased frankfurter is
embodiment, by means of a plurality of electrical
caused to traverse the hot oil bath in such a
heating elements 11, preferably thermostatically
manner and while being rotated, as to produce
controlled to maintain an oil temperature of ap
a greatly improved product. More particularly,
we have found that the frankfurter should be

submerged in the oil by approximately the depth

only of its batter coating. As will be seen from
Figure 4, the lower runs 41 of the conveyor are

engaged under idler wheels 13, thus disposing

the pins 4| and 42 just above the upper surface
14 of the coil in the receptacle 69. Also, means

is provided for rotating pins 42, and the frank

furters carried thereby, throughout their entire
course of movement through the receptacle 69.
This means is furnished in part by the afore
described rack H, which terminates at a point
shortly after immersion of the frankfurters into
the oil bath, and rotation is continued for the
remaining travel in the container by a rack 16
which re-engages the pinions on their upper
sides after leaving rack II. With the arrange
ment of racks as thus set forth, the frankfurters
are caused to reverse their direction of rotation

after entry into the oil and through the majority

of the cooking operation turn in a counter
clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings.
By turning of the frankfurter contra to its di

rection of movement lengthwise in the receptacle,

maximum surface displacement of the frank
furter in the oil results, with an attendant ac

_ proximately 390 F. to 400 F. Also desirably, the

outer wall of the container 69 is appropriately
insulated, as with a jacket or shell of insulation

material '18.
As will be best seen from Figures 1 and 2, the
batter coated frankfurter iscarried by the lower
run 41 of conveyor 39 into the cooking container
69 adjacent one end thereof, being the left end
as viewed in the drawings, and thereafter trav
erses the surface 14 of the oil to adjacent the op
posite end of the container, from where the frank
furter is carried up out of the container into the
delivery mechanism. As will be understood, the
length of the container 69 and the relative speed
of travel of conveyor 39 determine the cooking
duration to which the food product is subjected.
In the present embodiment, and in accordance
with the cooking process hereinabove described, a
cooking time of approximately one hundred sec
onds has been found satisfactory. This has been
based upon speed of travel of the lower run 41 of
the conveyor, corresponding to a length of travel
in the oil of approximately eight inches per
minute and a speed of rotation of the frankfurter
while in contact with theoil of approximately
twenty revolutions per minute.

As previously stated, when the cooking opera

tion has thus been completed, the cooked product
is elevated and withdrawn from the oil and for
product in the oil to approximately only the
this purpose, as will be clear from Figures 6, 7
thickness of the batter coating at the bottom of
the frankfurter, at which position the frankfurter 75 and 8, the lower run 41 of the conveyor is moved

celeration of cooking speed.

It has been found that the submersion of the

has
.

upwardly, and around idler wheels 19 de?ning a

delivery endnf thev .conveyorediegeet the far end
of the receptacle {59. While traversing-this deliv
ery end of the conveyor. pins ti and.

of the impaling pins. In otherwords, ~the der

livery arms 8,! swing into. and out of, frankfurter

receiving position in the interval between passing
of the successive pairs-of impaling pins. This is
best accomplished by imparting to the arm shaft

are re

tracted from the opposite ends of the frankfur

ters,,and the frankfurters, thus being released,

93 in irregular angular velocity, so, to rapidly

insert the arms into receiving position and rapid
ly displace the armsoutvof. such position in the

are deposited upon- delivery arms 3| which carry

the frankfurters onto the upper end 82 of a de

livery chute 83 extendingdromthe, machine. Re

traction of the pins 4i and?g.

interval of time between, thepassage of the pins.

irregular angular velocity of rnoyementof
thearrns lisraiforded bythe segmental gear shown

here effected by a

pair'of cams 84 and 86"'mo_nted , terioijlybf

and at the opposite sides of co v o v chaiiis52

and 53 and having 'anilarcuate-zforma generally

aligned (with the arcuate eonrse of movement of

the conveyor around the delivery end. Elliev

inF-ieure9, All of the.. movingparts. of the machine are.

15

0am
84 and
faces.
are and
.fvrmed
38. QIT$+Q~
With pui-w-erdly
:fQl" 9115555931511?
_,
.

with the inner sides of the heads 5? and >53; of

the Pins '0? effect their putwetdgetrectien 1.3.1 0m

preferablyv driven from asingle electric motor 9_'!

mounted-honithe-frarne generallybelow the re
eeiil end of the machine" This motor is con
nected bya drive belt Hiito a sheave 99 mounted
in ahge'arboxwt at theside?of the machine,
the seee'vebeinesecilree to a transversely extend

the space between the conveyors, and from the 20

shaft IOI upon which the elevator cylinder
ends of the frankfurters, while the pins are car
28 is mounted, see Figure 4. A chain drive
ried around the delivery end of the conveyor.
sprocket I02 is also secured on shaft Iill and en
Desirably, a plurality of quadrant-shaped guard
meshed with the chains 52 and 53 of the main
plates 89 are positioned with their arcuate pe
conveyor 39, see Figure 3. vLikewise secured to
ripheries 9I substantially aligned with the course
the shaft IilI within the gear casing I06 is a gear
of movement of the pins 4| and 42 so as to guide
I03 which is enmeshed with a second gear I04
the frankfurters released from the pins onto the
mounted on another transverse drive shaft I06.
delivery arms SI. The transverse spacing of the
The latter supports for rotation therewith drive
outer guard plates 89 is somewhat less than the
sprockets IIJ'I engaged with the conveyor chains

length of the frankfurters, and preferably out

wardly extending stop pins 92 are secured at

the upper ends of plates serving to engage and
positively stop the continued movement of the
frankfurters with the conveyor. As will be best
seen from Figure 6, the arrangement of the cams 35

IS and 2I, the sprockets In! de?ning the delivery

end 26 of the conveyor I8. Rotation of the shaft

53 of the batter roller is effected by a belt I08
mounted on sheaves I09 and III on shafts NH
and 59 respectively. The drive connection for
the shaft 93 of the delivery arms 8| is taken off
84 and 86 is such as to cause a complete retrac
from the conveyor 39 at the discharge end there
tion of the pins M and 42 prior to their reaching
of by means of a sprocket II2 mounted on the
the pins 92, whereby the inner extremities 49
side of the machine in alignment with and close
and SI of the impaling pins will clear the stop
proximity to the idle wheels I9 and enmeshed
pins 92. The pins 92, aside from positively de 40 with chain 43. The shaft II3 of the sprocket
?ning the end position of the frankfurters as
H2 is journalled for rotation in a gear case II4
carried by the conveyor, also assist in detach
within which and secured to shaft H3 is a gear
ment of the impaling pins from the frankfurters
II6 which is constantly enmeshed with a gear

where part of the fritter casing extends length

II'I mounted on a stub shaft II8. A segmental
wise of the frankfurter by a distance greater 45 gear H9 is mounted for rotation with gear
than the retraction of the pins. In such case,
II"! and is engageable with a complementary
the positive stopping of the frankfurters by pins
segmental gear I2I of smaller diameter secured
92 causes the pins to shear through and become
to the arm shaft 53 which extends into the casing
detached from such fritter extensions.
I4, it being noted that the engagement of the
Delivery arms 8! are mounted centrally of their 50 segmental gears H9 and I2I imparts an accel
length on a horizontal shaft 93 positioned in end
erated movement to the shaft 93 corresponding to
wise spaced relation to the arcuate peripheries
the movement of the arms 8I into and through
of guard plates 89 and through the arcuate plane
their receiving and delivery operation as above
of the guard plates, it being noted that the spac
described. Also mounted on shaft 93 in align

ing of the arms SI along the shaft 93 is such as 55 ment with gear I I! is another segmental gear I22
to position the arms between the guard plates.
arranged to enmesh with gear II1 during the
Also, as will be best seen from Figure 8, the arms
arc of movement when segmental gears I2I and
8! , as viewed in side elevation, are curved to pro
I22 are out of engagement. Segmental gear I22
vide concave portions 94 approximately aligned
has a diameter somewhat greater than gear 1,
with the descending frankfurters released at stop 60 so that during the period of engagement of these
pins 92, so as to support the frankfurters with
two gears there is a deceleration of the speed
their length transversely arranged with respect
of rotation of the arm shaft 93.
to the machine. Drive means is provided for the
I claim:
shaft arm 93 so as to rotate the concave arm
1. The process of cooking a frankfurter which
portions aforesaid through an arc in excess of 65 consists in coating a frankfurter with batter,
90 for delivery of the frankfurters onto the top
and rotating said frankfurter in hot oil with said
82 of the delivery chute, the latter being provided
frankfurter submerged in the oil by a depth ap
with spaced ?ngers 95 staggered transversely
proximately equal to the thickness of the batter
from the arms BI, to thereby permit the move
coating thereon.
ment of arms through the ?ngers for transfer 70 2. The process of cooking a frankfurter which
of the frankfurters. Since the arc of rotation
consists in applying a coating of batter to a
of the arms 8! intersects the course of move
frankfurter, supporting said frankfurter at its
ment of the frankfurter impaling pins 4| and 42,
opposite ends so as to leave substantially its
the arms 8| must be swung into frankfurter re
full length exposed and unattached, positioning
ceiving position in timed relation to the passage 78
said frankfurter in a bath of hot oil with the

2,589,364

11
length of the frankfurter substantially parallel
to the surface of said oil and submerged in said
oil by a depth approximately equal to the thick
ness of said batter coating, and rotating said

frankfurter about its longitudinal axis.

12

a longitudinal path substantially parallel to the

surface of said oil and rotating said frankfurter
in a direction contra to its direction of longitu
dinal movement whereby maximum surface dis
placement of the frankfurter in the oil is e?ected.

3. The process of cooking a frankfurter which

consists in coating a frankfurter with batter, and
rotating said frankfurter in hot oil with said
irankfurter suspended in the oil above the ?oat
level of the coated frankfurter in the oil.
4. The process of cooking a frankfurter which
consists of applying a coating of batter to a

The following references are of record in the

?le of this patent:

Irankfurter, supporting said frankfurter at its

UNITED STATES PATENTS

GEORGE J. WRIGHT.
RALPH J. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED

opposite ends so as to leave substantially its full

length exposed and unattached, positioning said

frankiurter over a bath of hot oil with the length

of the frankfurter substantially parallel to the

surface of the oil and submerged in said 011 by
a depth approximately equal to the thickness of

said batter coating, moving said frankfurter along 20

Number
1,492,603
1,706,491
1,778,485
1,990,412
2,140,163

Name

Date

Matson ____________ __ May 6,

Jenkins __________ __ Mar. 26,
Davidson __________ __ Oct. 14,
Merritt -_ ___________ __ Feb. 5,
McKee ____________ __ Dec. 13,

1924
1929
1930
1935
1938