Abstract:
Doughnut making machine with a metal trough, a heating element, a doughnut pushing chain assembly, a chain drive motor, a doughnut batter hopper, a motorized batter dispensing mechanism, a plurality of chain idler pulleys, a chain drive motor and attached pulley, and doughnut flipping fingers. The is chain is wrapped into a belt and is driven by the chain drive pulley that is in turn driven by the chain drive motor. The chain is wrapped around the idler pulleys in a secure fashion. The dispensing mechanism activates when the belt switch activators contact a dough dispensing switch located on the chain. The batter is dropped into the oil that resides in the trough. The heated oil causes the doughnut mixture to fry. The resulting doughnut shape is propelled forward by chain push fingers. The flipping fingers offer resistance to the doughnut causing it to flip over.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT    
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX  
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]    This invention relates generally to the field of household electric cooking devices and more specifically to a doughnut making machine. 
         [0005]    Doughnuts are a popular treat in many parts of the world. They are typically round and have a hole in the center. They are made of dough and are fried in oil and often covered with a variety of sweet toppings. 
         [0006]    Doughnut making machines are well known and are designed to make doughnuts quickly and in a repeatable manner. 
         [0007]    However, most doughnut making machines are designed for commercial use and not for home use. They tend to cost many thousands of dollars, making it prohibitive for an individual or family to purchase one for home use. Therefore most people buy doughnuts at a retail outlet rather than making them at home. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    The primary object of the invention is to provide a doughnut making machine that can be used in a home environment. 
         [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide a doughnut making machine that is economical to manufacture. 
         [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide a doughnut making machine that automatically flips doughnuts. 
         [0011]    A further object of the invention is to provide a doughnut making machine that can be converted to a potato chip making machine. 
         [0012]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
         [0013]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a doughnut making machine comprising: an outer housing enclosing a metal trough, a heating element, a conveying chain including an attached plurality of evenly spaced doughnut pushing fingers on one side and a plurality of switch activating tabs on the opposite side, a chain drive motor, a chain drive pulley, a removable doughnut mixture hopper including a motorized mixture dispensing mechanism, a temperature sensing switch, a plurality of chain guide pulleys, doughnut flipping fingers, a removable rear panel, a removable transparent housing cover, a power switch, a power cord, a dough dispensing switch, a chain drive power switch, a heater switch, said chain being driven by said chain drive pulley that is in turn driven by said chain drive motor, said chain being wrapped around said idler pulleys, said mixture dispensing mechanism located in a receiving aperture on the top surface of said housing enclosure, said dispensing mechanism activates when said chain switch activator senses the presence of said chain tabs, said doughnut mixture being dropped into said metal trough, said trough having a heating element in intimate contact with its bottom most surface so that oil that resides in said trough can be heated causing said doughnut mixture to fry, said resulting doughnut shape propelled forward by said push fingers, said flipping fingers located mid way along said trough and offering resistance to said doughnut causing it to flip over, said trough including an angled end wall that causes said doughnut to be slid out of said oil and dropped over the end of said trough into an external tray, said trough and said chain drive assembly covered by a removable and replaceable cover, said dispenser motor and said chain drive motor and said heating element powered by said power cord that is plugged into a 120 VAC outlet and said power switch activating said belt drive motor and said heating element. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the invention with transparent lid removed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front section view of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the invention 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a section view of a first doughnut position 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a section view of a second doughnut position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a section view of a third doughnut position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a a section view of a fourth doughnut position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a section view of a potato slicer accessory for the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a potato slicer accessory for the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  we see a perspective view of the invention  100 . The housing consists of a molded front, bottom and side portion  6  and a removable rear panel  2 . A transparent viewing panel  36  shown in  FIG. 4  has been removed in the  FIG. 1  view to show internal components such as trough  42 , doughnut pushing arms  12  and doughnut flipping arm  14 . Doughnut dispensing assembly  50  is removable and replaceable so that doughnut batter can be poured into a hopper  63  shown in  FIG. 2 . Metal trough  42  can retain hot cooking oil  28  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Doughnuts are formed and dropped from doughnut making assembly  50  and float on top of hot cooking oil  28 . The doughnut is pushed along by pushing arm  12 . When the doughnut is fully cooked, it slides out of chute  4  into a waiting tray or dish of the user&#39;s choosing. When the user opens door hatch  8 , it releases oil disposal tray  24  so that it can be pulled out from the side of the housing  6 . Used oil can be drained from trough  42  by removing threaded closure  26 . The used oil drains down to disposal tray  24 . The tray  24  is then pulled out and the oil  28  is disposed of. Switch  20  turns on, or off the oil heating element  77 . Switch  22  turns on or off the chain drive motor  80 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows a front section view of the invention as defined by section line  102  shown in the  FIG. 11  top view drawing. The components of doughnut making assembly  50  are enclosed in housing  66 . Gear motor  56  rotates cam  52  which in turn presses down on dispensing arm top  58 . When the cam  52  pushes down on the spring biased  60  arm top  58 , it forces the dispensing arm bottom  72  to move down thereby letting a controlled amount of doughnut batter  62  drop into hot oil  28  residing in oil trough  42 . The oil is heated by heating element  77 . The ideal temperature of three hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit is maintained by temperature sensing switch  78 . After dispensing, the cam  52  then rotates up so that dispenser arm bottom  72  seals the opening in hopper  63  thereby retaining the remainder of the batter  62  until the next dispensing event. The dispensing events are controlled by micro switches  78  and  54 . Tabs  76  located on the outside of chain drive  74  are evenly spaced so that when a tab  76  pushes down on the lever arm of micro switch  78 , the doughnut dispensing drive motor  56  is activated, When the drive motor  56  turns the cam  52  one complete revolution, the cam lobe interacts with the lever arm of the normally on micro switch  54  causing the switch to move to the off position thereby turning off drive motor  56  until it is triggered by the next tab  76  on chain  74  as it makes its way around the course defined by chain drive wheel  88  and chain guide wheels  90 ,  32  and  34 . An alternate method of activating dispensing motor  56  is to use a photo diode  30  which watches for the doughnut pushing arms  12  as they pass by causing the drive motor  56  to receive power. This method would require a micro processor and associated electronics mounted on a PC board. The drive chain  74  is made of links. Certain links each include a receiving aperture for accepting push arm  12 . The arm  12  extends into trough  42  and then bends ninety degrees and forms pushing fingers as shown in  FIG. 1 . The gear motor  56  of the chain  74  is timed to cause one push arm  12  to travel the length of the trough  42  in approximately forty seconds. It takes a doughnut twenty seconds to be cooked on one side, and another twenty seconds to be cooked on the opposite side. Large drive gear  84  is driven by motor gear  82  powered by 120 VAC electric motor  80 . The drive chain  74  includes notches  75  that are engaged by corresponding ribs located on a concentric rib  86  that is protruding from the large drive wheel  88 . This engagement causes the drive chain  74  to be transported around guide wheel  90  and guide rollers  32 ,  34 . As the push finger  12  nears the end of its journey in oil  28 , it pushes the doughnut up the ramp  43  at the end of trough  42  and finally down ramp  11  and continuing down ramp  4  which has been folded out as indicated by dotted line  5 . The dispensing assembly  50  is removably attached to the housing by telescoping cylindrical shapes  68 ,  70 . Electrical contacts located within the walls of each cylinder  68 ,  70  allow electricity to be passed to the dispensing motor  56  from a power source located below in the main housing  6 . Batter hopper  63  can also be removed for cleaning or filling and then replaced into an aperture in housing  6 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of the invention  100 . The dimensions of the invention are approximately twenty two inches in length as shown by dimension arrow  13  and twelve inches high as shown by dimension arrow  15 . This relatively small size makes the invention ideal for use in a home environment where counter space may be limited. Careful attention has been given to the design of all components of the invention to enable it to be as compact as possible. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows a rear perspective view of the invention  100 . The rear panel  2  is designed to be removable and replaceable by the user. When it is removed, the entire chain drive including push fingers  12  and idler rollers  32 ,  34 ,  90  are removed as one assembly allowing for easy cleaning of the push fingers. The chain drive motor  80  and gear  82  remain within housing  6 . In this view, power cord  40  can be seen. Plug  41  fits into a standard 120 VAC household socket. Dispenser assembly retaining socket  68  can be clearly seen, as can transparent lid  36 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  show the flipping sequence of a doughnut  98  as push arm  12  causes the doughnut  98  to interact with flip arm  14 . As the push arm  12  transports the doughnut  98 , floating in oil  28 , the doughnut  98  encounters flip arm&#39; 14  approximately half way along the length of its travel in trough  42  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Push arm  12  continues to urge doughnut  98  forward where the leading edge of the doughnut  98 B encounters the flipping fingers  14 . The interaction with flipping fingers  14  causes the doughnut to begin to rotate so that one side of the doughnut  98 A is lifted out of oil  28 . Continued pushing as shown in  FIG. 7  causes the doughnut  98  to begin to flip. Pushing arm  12  and flipping arm  14  are made of thin stainless steel and are somewhat flexible which helps facilitate the flipping action. The push fingers  12  are interlaced with the push fingers  14  so that fingers  12  can travel past fingers  14  without interfering with each other.  FIG. 8  shows the doughnut  98  in a flipped position as indicated by the fact that end  98 A is now at the leading edge and  98 B is at the trailing edge. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  shows an alternate dispensing assembly  200  that is designed to slice potato&#39;s and allow them to drop into the hot oil  28 . By removing the doughnut dispensing assembly  50  and replacing it with potato chip making assembly  20 , the present invention  100  doubles as a potato chip making machine. Potato&#39;s are placed in hopper  206 . Drive motor  202 , located within housing  204  turns a wheel  208  having a drive arm  216  pinned to it causing the drive arm  216  to move in a reciprocating fashion causing cutting blade  210  to move forward and backward thereby slicing the potato&#39;s that exit the bottom  207  of hopper  206  to be sliced and then to drop though aperture  212  and into the oil  28  held within trough  42 . The push fingers  12  move the chips down the length of the trough until they are pushed out ramp  4  and into a waiting tray or dish supplied by the user.  FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the potato chip slicing assembly showing more clearly the elements of the assembly including hopper  206 , drive motor  202 , drive wheel  204 , connecting pin  218 , reciprocating drive arm  216  and knife assembly  210  which travels back and forth in track  214 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 11  shows a top view of the invention  100  and includes section line  102  which informs the section drawing shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0034]    The above description and drawings show that the present invention provides an easy, economical and compact way to make doughnuts or potato chips. It is intended for household use and therefore has been designed for easy cleaning and for safe usage of adults having no special skill in doughnut making. Whereas commercial doughnut making machines cost, at a minimum, $3,500.00, the doughnut making machine of the present invention can be purchased for under $200.00. 
         [0035]    While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.