Patent ID: 6192789
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: A47J

Abstract:
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 and means for activating said conveyor belts to move the food items through said toasting chamber;b) a heat-conductive specifically shaped platen removably positioned between said conveyor belts to toast the food items as they are moved by said conveyor belts through said toasting chamber, said specifically shaped platen shaped so as to compress said food items as they are moved by said conveyor belts through said toasting chamber;c) first and second heaters positioned within said toasting chamber, said first heater positioned in proximity to the first conveyor belt and said second heater positioned in proximity to the second conveyor belt; andd) first and second tensioners, said first tensioner engaging the first conveyor belt and said second tensioner engaging the second conveyor belt, said tensioners shaped so that said toasting chamber features at least one pathway that continuously tapers inward to a point of minimum thickness so that food items are compressed as they travel through the at least one pathway so that they are heated internally by said heaters, said pathway then continuously expands outward again.