# US 2013/0276641 A1 · Air popcorn popper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0276641 A1 - Document ID: US20130276641A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/866,981 - Filed: 2013-04-19 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-19 - Assignees: C. Cretors & Company - Applicants: C. Cretors & Company - Inventors: Nenad Vidojevic - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130276641A1 ## CPC - A23L 7/187: Discontinuously-working apparatus - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) ## Abstract Popcorn machines having fan assemblies and heat sources are described herein. The fan assemblies and the heat sources can be configured to provide heat to unpopped corn kernels to produce popcorn without the use of cooking oil. The popcorn machines can be configured for commercial use and can be mounted onto support structures that allow operators to rotate the popcorn machines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A popcorn machine, comprising: a cabinet including a top panel; a perforated receptacle proximate the top panel; a cover assembly attached to the top panel over the perforated receptacle, wherein the cover assembly includes an opening configured to receive unpopped corn kernels for deposit into the receptacle, and wherein the opening is further configured to allow popped corn kernels to exit the machine therethrough; a heat source; and a fan configured to move air past the heat source and through the perforated receptacle to pop the corn kernels therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The popcorn machine of claim 1 wherein the fan is configured to move air past the heat source and through the perforated receptacle to pop the corn kernels in the absence of cooking oil. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The popcorn machine of claim 1, further comprising a frame configured to support the cabinet on a floor, wherein the cabinet is pivotally mounted to the frame and configured to rotate relative to the frame to move the cover assembly from a first height above the floor to a second height, less than the first height, above the floor to facilitate movement of popcorn out of the cabinet through the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The popcorn machine of claim 1, further comprising an air intake regulator disposed on an inlet portion of the cabinet, wherein the air intake regulator is configured to regulate an amount of air flowing into the interior cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The popcorn machine of claim 1, further comprising: a frame configured to support the cabinet on a floor, wherein the cabinet is pivotally mounted to the frame and configured rotate relative to the frame to move the cover assembly from a first height above the floor to a second height, less than the first height, above the floor; and a bumper attached to an underside surface of the cabinet, wherein the bumper is configured to restrict rotation of the cabinet relative to the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The popcorn machine of claim 1, further comprising a recirculation duct configured to draw air from the cover duct into the interior cavity of the cabinet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The popcorn machine of claim 1 wherein the heat source includes a heating element having a plurality of coils configured to produce heat when electric current is applied therethrough. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The popcorn machine of claim 1 wherein the air intake regulator comprises a rotatable disc having a plurality of apertures. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The popcorn machine of claim 1 wherein the cabinet has a height of approximately 15 inches or greater. ### Claim 10 A popcorn machine, comprising: a cabinet including a top panel having a first opening; a receptacle extending downward from the first opening; a cover assembly attached to the top panel over the first opening, wherein the cover assembly includes— a second opening configured to receive unpopped corn kernels for transfer into the receptacle, and further configured to allow popped corn kernels to exit the machine therethrough; and a first duct extending from the first opening to the second opening; a heat source; an air inlet disposed on the rear panel of the cabinet; a fan housed in an interior cavity of the cabinet and configured to move air from the air inlet past the heat source and through the receptacle to pop the corn kernels therein; and a second duct configured to transfer air from the first duct into the interior cavity of the cabinet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The popcorn machine of claim 10 wherein the corn kernels are popped in the absence of cooking oil. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The popcorn machine of claim 10, further comprising a frame configured to support the cabinet on a floor, wherein the cabinet is pivotally coupled to the frame and configured to rotate to move the cover assembly from a first height above a floor to a second height, less than the first height, above the floor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The popcorn machine of claim 10, further comprising a handle attached to the cabinet, wherein the frame is configured to allow the cabinet to rotate in response to a downward force applied to the handle, and wherein rotating the cabinet facilitates removal of one or more unpopped kernels from the bowl portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The popcorn machine of claim 10, further comprising an air inlet regulator disposed on the air inlet and configured to regulate an amount of air flowing into the interior cavity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The popcorn machine of claim 14 wherein the air inlet regulator comprises a rotatable disc having a plurality of apertures ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The popcorn machine of claim 10, further comprising a control unit operably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the control unit is configured to regulate the flow of electric current to the heat source, and wherein the control unit includes a control panel configured to receive user input and display temperature information to a user. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The popcorn machine of claim 10 wherein the heat source includes a heating element having a plurality of coils configured to produce heat when electric current is applied therethrough. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The popcorn machine of claim 10 wherein the heat source is configured to heat air to a temperature between 400 and 460 degrees Fahrenheit.