Contact toaster

A device for toasting food items comprising:

• a) a housing having an inlet for receiving the food items, an outlet for discharging the food items after they are toasted and a toasting chamber located between the inlet and the outlet, said toasting chamber having first and second conveyor belts disposed therein with a platen positioned between them, said first conveyor belt having a first platen-facing portion in a spaced apart relationship with said platen so as to define a first pathway therebetween and said second conveyor belt having a second platen-facing portion in a spaced apart relationship with said platen so as to define a second pathway therebetween;
• b) means for activating said first and second conveyor belts to move the food items through said first and second pathways;
• and
• c) first and second tensioners, said first tensioner engaging the first platen-facing portion of the first conveyor belt and said second tensioner engaging the second platen-facing portion of the second conveyor belt, said first and second tensioners shaped so that said first and second pathways taper inward to points of minimum thicknesses and then expand outward again;
• whereby said food items are compressed and released as they travel through said first and second pathways so that they are heated internally by heat from said platen in a sponge-like manner.

A device for toasting food items comprising:

• a) a housing having an inlet for receiving the food items, an outlet for discharging the food items after they are toasted and a toasting chamber located between the inlet and the outlet, said toasting chamber having first and second conveyor belts disposed therein with a platen positioned between them, said first conveyor belt having a first platen-facing portion in a spaced apart relationship with said platen so to define a first pathway therebetween and said second conveyor belt having a second platen-facing portion in a spaced apart relationship with said platen so as to define a second pathway therebetween;
• b) means for activating said first and second conveyor belts to move the food items through said first and second pathways;
• and
• c) first and second tensioners, said first tensioner engaging the first platen-facing portion of the first conveyor belt and said second tensioner engaging the second platen-facing portion of the second conveyor belt, said first and second tenisoners shaped so that said first and second pathways taper inwardly to points of minimum thickness and then expand outward again wherein said first pathway tapers inwardly more abruptly than said second pathway;
• whereby said food items are compressed and released as they travel through said first and second pathways so that they are heated internally by heat from said platen in a sponge-like manner.