Cooking computer
AssigneeThe Frymaster Corporation
InventorGerald F. Waugh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cooking computer for use with a deep fat fryer having a temperature sensing probe as disclosed herein. The temperature sensing probe feeds a signal to a microprocessor. The microprocessor provides internal cook cycle timers which are alterable by signals from the temperature probe to correspond to changes in the rate of cooking of a commestible. Up to 12 recipes, each of which include a cooking time and a temperature compensation, can be stored in an EAROM. Cooking times and time compensation factors stored in recipes are user alterable through a keyboard.
Claims17
A cooking computer for use with a deep fat fryer comprising means for sensing a temperature of a quantity of shortening in a well of a deep fat fryer, means for storing a cooking time, means for timing a cooking cycle of a product within said shortening using said cooking time and periodically adjusting said cooking time by applying a time compensation factor to compensate for changes in said temperature of said shortening, the magnitude of said periodic adjustments being proportional to said time compensation factor and a difference between a set point temperature and a temperature of said quantity of shortening, means for storing a signal determinative of the magnitude of said time compensation factor for a given temperature condition, control panel means for changing said stored cooking time and said time compensation factor in a reprogramming operation, and means for providing a termination signal indicative of the termination of a cooking cycle.
A deep fat fryer comprising a frypot having heating means located therein for heating shortening, means for sensing a temperature of a quantity of said shortening in said frypot, means for storing a cooking time, means for timing a cooking cycle of a product within said shortening using said cooking time and periodically adjusting said cooking time by applying a time compensation factor to compensate for changes in said temperature of said shortening the magnitude of said periodic adjustments being proportional to said time compensation factor and a difference between a set point temperature and a temperature of said quantity of shortening, means for storing a signal determinative of the magnitude of said time compensation factor for a given temperature condition, control panel means for changing said stored cooking time and said time compensation factor in a reprogramming operation, and means for providing a termination signal indicative of the termination of a cooking cycle.
A cooking computer for use with a deep fat fryer comprising a variable resistance for sensing a temperature of a quantity of shortening in a frypot of a deep fat fryer, an analog to digital converter converting an analog signal from said resistance means to a digital signal, a microprocessor which employs a stored program for processing the binary signal from said analog to digital converter, said microprocessor performing a timing function for the timing of a product immersed in said shortening and periodically adjusting said cooking time by applying a time compensation factor to compensate for changes in said temperature of said shortening, the magnitude of said periodic adjustments being proportional to said time compensation factor and a difference between a set point temperature and a temperature of said quantity of shortening whereby the cooking time is decreased when said shortening temperature exceeds said set point temperature, means for storing a digital signal determinative of the magnitude of said time compensation factor for a given temperature condition, means for storing a cooking time, control panel means for changing said stored cooking time and said time compensation factors in a reprogramming operation, and means for controlling a basket lift of a deep fat fryer to provide a basket lift raise signal upon termination of said cooking cycle.
A deep fat fryer comprising a frypot having heating means located therein for heating shortening to a preselected cooking temperature, means independent of said heating means for sensing a temperature of said shortening in said frypot, means for storing a cooking time, a means for timing a cooking cycle of a product within said shortening using said cooking time and periodically adjusting said cooking time by applying a time compensation factor to compensate for deviations of said sensed temperature from said preselected temperature, the magnitude of said periodic adjustments being proportional to said time compensation factor and said deviation, means for storing a signal determinative of the magnitude of said time compensation factor for a given temperature condition, and means for providing a termination signal indicative of the termination of a cooking cycle.
A cooking appliance comprising:
- means for heating a cooking medium;
- means for sensing a temperature of said cooking medium;
- means for storing a cooking time;
- means for timing a cooking cycle of a product within said cooking medium using said cooking time and periodically adjusting said cooking time by applying a time compensation factor to compensate for changes in said temperature of said cooking medium, the magnitude of said periodic adjustments being proportional to the time compensation factor and a difference between a set point temperature and a temperature of said cooking medium;
- means for storing a signal determinative of the magnitude of said time compensation factor for a given temperature condition;
- control panel means for changing said stored cooking time and said compensation factor;
- means for providing a termination signal indicative of the termination of a cooking cycle;
- and
- means for receiving said termination signal and for removing said product from said cooking medium.
A cooking appliance comprising:
- means for heating a cooking medium;
- means for sensing a temperature of said cooking medium;
- means for storing a cooking time;
- means for timing a cooking cycle of a product within said cooking medium using said cooking time and periodically adjusting said cooking time by applying a time compensation factor to compensate for deviations of said sensed temperature from a preselected temperature, the magnitude of said periodic adjustments being proportional to said time compensation factor and said deviation;
- means for providing a termination signal indicative of the termination of a cooking cycle;
- and
- means for receiving said termination signal and for removing said product from said cooking medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.