Robert M Simon

US Patent:

52634051, Nov 23, 1993

Filed:

Mar 1, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/024642

Inventors:

Robert M. Simon - Livingston NJ

Assignee:

ESP Products, Inc. - New York NY

International Classification:

A23L 118

US Classification:

993237

Abstract:

A hot air corn popping machine supplies popped corn which is useful as a packaging material. Unpopped kernels are fed into a hopper and through a motorized feed unit and sensor switch which provide controlled amounts of kernels into a popping chamber within a heating chamber. A blower motor provides pressurized air through heating coils around the popping chamber to pop the corn and direct the popped corn through an exhaust system. A ramp having a grating at the lower end separates unpopped kernels which are collected for recycling. The popped corn is blown upward through an exhaust tube for collection by an external collector. Cooler air from the blower motor is circulated around the outer surfaces of the heating chamber and other areas within the relatively air tight enclosure to prevent overheating and provide efficient operation. Various sensing and timing circuits control the sequence of operation of the feeder and blower motors and heater coils.