Contact toaster
AssigneeMarmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc.
InventorSteven Shei
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A contact toaster includes a vertically arranged central platen with a first toasting surface that is contoured and a second toasting surface. A heating element is configured to heat the first and second toasting surfaces. A first compression plate is spaced apart from the first toasting surface to define a first slot between the first compression plate and the first toasting surface. A second compression plate spaced apart from the second toasting surface to define a second slot between the second compression plate and the second toasting surface. The first compression plate and the second compression plate are selectively movable from respective first positions away from the central platen to respective second positions proximate to the central platen.
Claims15
A contact toaster for toasting a food product having a first food product portion and a second food product portion, the contact toaster comprising:
- a central platen arranged vertically within the contact toaster, the central platen including a first toasting surface and a second toasting surface generally opposite the first toasting surface, wherein the first toasting surface is convex and the second toasting surface is planar;
- a heating element configured to heat the first and second toasting surfaces;
- a first compression plate spaced apart from the first toasting surface to define a first slot between the first compression plate and the first toasting surface, wherein the first compression plate is concave and complementary to the first toasting surface;
- a second compression plate spaced apart from the second toasting surface to define a second slot between the second compression plate and the second toasting surface, wherein the second compression plate is planar;
- wherein the first compression plate and the second compression plate are selectively movable from respective first positions away from the central platen to respective second positions proximate to the central platen;
- and
- wherein the first toasting surface is shaped to conform to a surface of the first food product portion and the second toasting surface is shaped to conform to a surface of the second food product portion.
A contact toaster for toasting a food product having a first food product portion and a second food product portion, the contact toaster comprising:
- a central platen arranged vertically within the contact toaster, the central platen including a first toasting surface and a second toasting surface generally opposite the first toasting surface, wherein the first toasting surface is contoured;
- a heating element configured to heat the first and second toasting surfaces;
- a first compression plate spaced apart from the first toasting surface to define a first slot between the first compression plate and the first toasting surface;
- a second compression plate spaced apart from the second toasting surface to define a second slot between the second compression plate and the second toasting surface;
- wherein the first compression plate and the second compression plate are selectively movable from respective first positions away from the central platen to respective second positions proximate to the central platen;
- and
- wherein the first toasting surface is shaped to conform to a surface of the first food product portion and the second toasting surface is shaped to conform to a surface of the second food product portion;
- wherein the central platen is selectively movable between a toasting position in which the central platen is positioned between the first and second compression plates and a cleaning position in which the central platen is out of alignment with the first and second compression plates;
- and
- wherein the contact toaster further comprises a first wiper and a second wiper respectively configured to wipe the first toasting surface and the second toasting surface as the central platen moves between the toasting position and the cleaning position.
A contact toaster for toasting a food product having a first food product portion and a second food product portion, the contact toaster comprising:
- a central platen arranged vertically within the contact toaster, the central platen including a first toasting surface and a second toasting surface generally opposite the first toasting surface, wherein the first toasting surface is contoured;
- a central heating element configured to heat the first and second toasting surfaces;
- a first compression plate spaced apart from the first toasting surface to define a first slot between the first compression plate and the first toasting surface, the first compression plate comprising a first plate heating element;
- a second compression plate spaced apart from the second toasting surface to define a second slot between the second compression plate and the second toasting surface, the second compression plate comprising a second plate heating element;
- wherein the first compression plate and the second compression plate are selectively movable from respective first positions away from the central platen to respective second positions proximate to the central platen;
- and
- wherein the first toasting surface is shaped to conform to a surface of the first food product portion and the second toasting surface is shaped to conform to a surface of the second food product portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.