Abstract:
A device for making omelets has a conveyor ( 3, 4 ) for transferring plates ( 7 ) linearly through the device from a position for supplying each plate with omelet batter to a position for removal of a finished omelet from the device. The device has at least two separately controllable induction heaters ( 13 ) positioned under the conveyor ( 3, 4 ) in two treatment stations, the plates ( 7 ) being of magnetic material, and at least one infrared heater ( 11 ) positioned above the conveyor.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a device and a method for making omelets, the device having a conveyor for transferring plates linearly through the device from a position for supplying each plate with omelet batter to a position for removal of a finished omelet from the device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The hen egg is a universally available foodstuff, and an omelet is a nourishing and popular dish all over the world. In certain instances it may be desired to provide the omelet with a filling of meat, pork, shrimp, mushroom, vegetables or the like, either in a stew or au naturel.  
         [0003]     It may be desirable in for example a restaurant in a big store to serve omelets in large quantities at short times but yet custom-made according to the order of each individual customer.  
         [0004]     Omelet making devices for fulfilling at least certain of the above needs are known.  
         [0005]     There are two main types of known omelet making devices, namely on one hand rotary or carousel devices and on the other hand linear devices, i e devices with an endless conveyor belt for transferring the omelet forward during its manufacture. The former rotary type has certain drawbacks with regard to versatility, handling and space requirements, and the present invention is concerned with the latter type.  
         [0006]     A typical example of an omelet preparing device or machine of the latter type, forming the state of the art for the present invention, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,269. In this rather complicated machine, where the omelets are folded around fillings or inclusions, the heating is conventionally attained by means of burners from below and electrical heating coils from above.  
         [0007]     In modern days, time is of essence. In a restaurant with a great flow of customers it is important to serve the ordered custom-made omelet as quickly as possible (in most cases with a filling or topping of the customer&#39;s choice). With a shorter serving time (without in any way sacrificing the appearance or quality of the served omelets) an improved utilization of the restaurant space and other facilities will be obtained.  
         [0008]     The main object of the invention is accordingly to coagulate or cook an omelet in the shortest possible time without impairing the visual or gastronomic quality of the served omelet and with full controllability.  
       THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In a device for making omelets according to the invention this is obtained by at least two separately controllable induction heaters positioned under the conveyor in two treatment stations, the plates being of magnetic material, and at least one infrared heater positioned above the conveyor.  
         [0010]     By the use of these heating means with suitable control means it is possible to reach a target time of 20 seconds or less.  
         [0011]     In order to obtain a neat and suitable construction, which easily can be adopted to different needs, each separate treatment station of the device can comprise a module in a modular system.  
         [0012]     It is important to obtain the desirable controllability for the device, and for that reason means are provided for driving the conveyor stepwise and giving a certain stop-time for each plate in each treatment station.  
         [0013]     In the simplest form, designed for making plain omelets without any filling, the device can contain the following treatment stations (each with an induction heater) in order: an omelet batter dispenser and an infrared heater, before a station for removal of a finished omelet.  
         [0014]     In most cases, the customer wants an omelet with filling, typically a stew, for example stew of mushroom, asparagus or shrimp, or a dry filling, such as ham, cheese or the like.  
         [0015]     For such purposes stations with filling dispensers can be arranged before and/or after the station with infrared heater, because in certain cases it may be desirable to dispense the filling in the partly cooked omelet so as to integrate it therein, whereas in other cases it is better to finish the omelet and then to dispense the filling on top of it.  
         [0016]     Induction heaters for cooperation from below with the magnetic plate can be provided in desired treatment stations. By an operating induction heater in a certain treatment station the omelet batter on the plate will be heated. If an induction heater is provided in every treatment station, the different heaters can be controlled so as to provide the desired cook result.  
         [0017]     An even more effective device can be accomplished by arranging another conveyor or even more conveyors in parallel with the first conveyor. Such added conveyors shall preferably have separate drive means.  
         [0018]     In a practical set-up different parameters with regard to omelet thickness, cooking degree, browning, and filling (or even more than one filling) can be determined by an operator or even by the customer himself by pressing relevant buttons for the device.  
         [0019]     In the method according to the invention the objects of the invention are obtained by the combination of primary coagulation of the omelet batter by separately controllable induction heaters from below in at least two treatment stations, the plates being of magnetic material, and browning of the top surface of the omelet by infrared heating from above. 
     
    
     THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The invention will be described in further detail below under reference to the accompanying drawings, in which  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a side-view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention,  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the same device,  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, and  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the device of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     An omelet-making device according to the invention may have a conventional supporting structure or stand  1 , possibly provided with lockable wheels  2  for enabling its easy transfer on a floor.  
         [0026]     Two endless conveyors  3  and  4  (see  FIG. 2 ) are supported in parallel on the stand  1 . Each conveyor has two end pulleys  5  (to the left in the drawings) and  6  (to the right). Drive means (not shown), such as an electric motor, may be associated with the right pulley  6  for driving the upper part of the endless conveyor  3  or  4  in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 1 . The two conveyors  3  and  4  are preferably driven independently of each other and in a stepwise sequence as will be more apparent below.  
         [0027]     Each conveyor  3  or  4  is preferably made of a non-magnetic material, such as Teflon®. It may comprise links with carriers or a belt-like structure. It is provided with fixed positions equidistantly spaced along the conveyor  3  or  4  for removable or loose plates  7 . Each plate having a certain depth is made of a magnetic material and may have a diameter of say 230 mm and may be relatively thin. Each plate  7  may have a coating of Teflon® or a similar non-sticky material.  
         [0028]     A superstructure  8  with open ends is supported by the stand  1  over each conveyor  3  and  4 . For hygenic reasons, the superstructure  8  may for example be made of stainless steel plate. As will appear more clearly below, the superstructure  8  is preferably modular in its construction.  
         [0029]     The different shown modules or treatment stations will first be very briefly described and thereafter slightly more detailed.  
         [0030]     In the set-up shown in  FIG. 1 , the different stations contain in order an omelet batter dispenser  9 , a first filling dispenser  10 , an infrared or IR heater  11 , and a second filling dispenser  12 .  
         [0031]     In all the stations there may be an induction heater  13  arranged immediately under the upper part of the conveyor  3  or  4  and thus under each plate  7 .  
         [0032]     The process of making an omelet starts by pouring omelet batter from its dispenser  9  onto a plate  7  placed thereunder in the first station of the device. The omelet batter dispenser  9  may be a cooled container (with a volume of say 5 litres) for omelet batter (made on site or bought ready-made on the market) and may have electrically controlled dispensing means for dispensing the desired amount of omelet batter on the plate  7 .  
         [0033]     Automated means for placing the plate  7  on the conveyor  3  or  4  may be used, and the plate  7  may possibly initially be provided with a thin oil coating. As an alternative, the omelet batter may contain a certain amount of oil.  
         [0034]     If an induction heater  13  under the omelett batter dispenser  9  is operated, a fast initial stiffening or coagulation of the batter may be obtained for its easier continued handling in the device.  
         [0035]     In a second station filling may be provided onto or perhaps rather into the omelet batter on the temporarily stopped plate  7  from the first filling dispenser  10 . Each such filling dispenser is shown as being of the revolver-type, so that it may contain for example six different fillings and may be turned around its vertical axis for bringing the desired filling in position for dispensing in the desired quantity on the omelet-battered plate  7  thereunder.  
         [0036]     Heating may be provided by the induction heater  13  also at this station for coagulation of the batter and browning of its lower surface in contact with the plate  7 .  
         [0037]     In the third station an appetizing browning of the upper surface of the omelet and/or filling may be provided by the IR heater  11 . This IR heater may be of the type that provides-its heat almost instantly. Its maximum power may for example be some 1 kW, and its power may have to be controlled in order to obtain the desired browning.  
         [0038]     In the fourth station there is a second filling dispenser  12  for such fillings that are suitable for filling after the omelet in itself has been finished. It may be valuable to provide heating for the second filling dispenser, as the filling therefrom is otherwise not warmed.  
         [0039]     Induction heaters  13  may be provided both in the third and the fourth stations.  
         [0040]     The plate  7  now moves to its rightmost position outside the superstructure  8 , and the omelet thereon is transferred to a customer plate for consumption.  
         [0041]     The modular construction of the device according to the invention is illustrated by the second embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . These figures are only provided with reference numerals to the extent necessary for a proper understanding of the difference in relation to the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0042]     In the second embodiment a second IR-heater station  11 A is added to the first IR-heater station  11 , if the necessary browning can not be obtained in a single one. An induction heater  13  may be provided also in this second station.  
         [0043]     The power of each induction heater  13  may be set according to the requirements, and the different heaters may have or may be controlled to have different output powers in order to obtain the desired result in the desired time-span. It may be a realistic aim to obtain a consumable omelet on a separate plate in a time-span of say 20 seconds from the time when a plate  7  is placed in position under the omelet batter dispenser  9 .  
         [0044]     The device has been shown and described with two parallel conveyors  3  and  4 . However, a single conveyor may of course be used. It is to be repeated, though, that when the device contains two parallel conveyors  3  and  4 , these conveyors may be run completely separate from each other and may even contain different stations and have different operational parameters for obtaining different end results.  
         [0045]     Throughout this description reference has been made to omelet making. However, similar dishes may equally well be prepared in a device and by a method according to the invention. Further, modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.