Griddle cake machine

Oct. 16, 1951

2,571,344

C. E. DASHWOOD

GRIDDLE CAKE MACHINE

Filed May 6, 1947

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C. E. DASHWOOD

GRIDDLE CAKE MACHINE

Oct. 16, 1951

Filed May 6, 1947

2,571,344

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Oct. 16, 1951

2,571,344

C. E. DASHWOOD

GRIDDLE CAKE MACHINE

Filed May 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3

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Patented Oct. 16, 1951

2,571,344

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,571,344 ,

GRIDDLE'CAKE MACHINE

Charles E. Dashwood, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to C.

Application May 6,

Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in griddle cake machines and more particularly to that type of machine which is described in companion application for Letters Patent Serial No. 704,788, filed October 21, 1946, and assigned to myself. In the machine set forth in said application, which for convenience is termed the Dashwood machine, each griddle cake is turned over on a stationary griddle to bake both sides and is discharged from the machine after being baked. An automatically controlled amount of batter is also placed on the griddle before each baking operation, all of said functions being in time controlled sequence, whereby griddle cakes of regulated size are automatically produced, said cakes being thoroughly and not over or under baked.

It has been found that in the use of the Dashwood machine there is a tendency for the griddle cakes to stick to the griddle which causes the peel to function improperly, thus leaving portions of the cakes adhering and sticking to the griddle, which is highly objectionable. It is an object of the present invention to overcome this objection in a simple and effective manner. It is further an object to improve the speed and smoothness of operation of the machine through the use of an improved form of peel which most effectively cleans and removes all objectionable Particles of a cake during each pick up movement. Another object is to apply these improved features to a plurality of peels in the machine so that in cooperation they assist in producing a plurality of griddle cakes simultaneously without any of the objectionable features produced by the type of peel employed in the Dashwood machine.

Among other objects are maximtun simplicity of construction and increased effectiveness in use.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the type of machine of the general character set forth in said companion application above identified, showing my improved peel applied thereto and in position to turn or flip a griddle cake over on the griddle; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan of a detail portion of the griddle cake machine at enlarged scale showing a set of my improved peels juxtaposed to the griddle in position to engage griddle cakes thereon; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the griddle cake machine and the peels shown in Fig. 3, the supporting shaft for the peels being illustrated in section; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, showing the peel in raised position which is assumed when turning a griddle cake over after baking on one side; Fig. 6 is a plan of a detail portion of one of my improved peels shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a section at enlarged scale taken on the line 7—7 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a section at enlarged scale taken on the line 8—8 of Fig.

E. Doolin

1947, Serial No. 746,186 (CI. 99—423)

3; Fig. 9 is a section at enlarged scale, taken on the line 9—9 of Fig. 6; Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are plan views of alternative constructions of my improved peel; Fig. 15 is a side edge elevation of 5 the structure shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 16 is a section of a detail taken on line IS—16 of Fig. 10; Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 18 is a section of a detail at enlarged scale taken on line 18—18 of Fig. 11; Fig.

19 is a side edge elevation of the structure-shown in Fig. 12; and Fig. 20 is a section at enlarged scale taken on the line 20—26 of Fig. 13.

In Figs. 1 and 2 are illustrated a griddle cake machine of a type illustrated in the -companion 15 application above identified, to which my improved peel is applicable, and in which for convenience, the supporting base in the present application is correspondingly identified by- the reference ordinal 21, the stationary griddle is·' in20 dicated by 22 and the reciprocable carriage members are indicated by 85. In the companion application the carriage members 83 are reciprocated forwardly and backwardly on the base- 24, through cooperating actuating mechanism and 25 cause the peels 91 in the first forward movement to engage and flip the griddle cakes 93, over on the griddle. The peels are next returned tostarting position by the carriage. After baking the griddle cakes on both sides for a predeter30 mined period the peels are again moved forward and remove the griddle cakes onto an inclined receiver 89. The peels are finally returned by the reverse movement of the carriage supports 85- tostarting position in readiness to repeat the oper35 ation. These movements are in synchronism with each other and with the operation of anoverhead batter feed reservoir 26.

Three peels 91, or any suitable number’ are shown or specified as in the Dashwood machine,. 40 each peel however in my improved construction consists of a thin blade or plate as shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive. These plates are secured at their rearward end portions to tilelower side of a transverse shaft 23, the mode of 45 connecting being by screws or bolts 24 (Fig. 4), or other suitable fastening means which engage through a center pivot hole 25 (Fig. 6), and.a pair of side slots 27. The slots permit swinging movement and adjustment in fastening, each 60 plate, whereby the forward sharpened edge; portion of the plates may be adjusted to .slide under; the griddle cakes and .in close contact over the surface of the griddle, thereby cleaning - the; griddle automatically by each stroke of the peels; 55 Each peel plate is provided with three or any number of longitudinal slots 28, as in the Dashwood machine, but these slots have been found to be ineffective in relieving adhesion and- surface tension of the cakes on the griddle as the 60 cakes are lifted, turned or slid off of the griddle.

They permit unwanted fragments of food to fallor drop below the peels, that would be messy- to

2,871,344 the food product which is being processed or that would interfere with the preferred direction of travel of the griddle cakes. To reduce adhesion, surface tension and surface travel resistance on the griddle, I provide the peel with two or any suitable number of parallel longitudinal cake lifting and guiding track rails 29, which are disposed as shown between the slots 28. Each rail consists of a section of flexible wire or rod, preferably composed of smooth surfaced metal or other suitable material, the ends 30 of which are engaged downwardly through perforations 31 in the peel plate (Fig. 9), so as to hold the rails firmly in place on the surface of the peel. In this manner the track rails can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement. The track rails may be of any suitable size, length, number and spacing that will assist in releasing the griddle cakes from the griddle and in guiding them in a forward path.

The shaft 23 upon which the peels are carried is mounted upon the outer end portions of a pair of rocker arms 32 (Fig. 4), which are underslung by coaxially disposed pivot connections 33 on the pair of carriage members 85. In this manner the peel plates are normally supported at a lowered inclination so as to more effectively scoop up the griddle cakes during the functioning of the peels. Also in the turnover cycle of operation of the peels, the griddle cakes have a shorter distance to drop or travel onto the griddle or other processing surface from the peel. The shorter distance to drop or travel avoids splashing of the batter and assists in producing griddle cakes of more even thickness and more even texture and color on both sides and consequent eye appeal and quality.

Various modifications in the construction of my improved peel are contemplated within the spirit of the invention, among which are the following: In Figs. 10, 15 and 16 the longitudinal side edges of the slots 28 are turned up and form pairs of longitudinal and parallel track bars or rails 35, which function in the same manner as that of the track rails shown and described in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive, to break the surface tension and strip the griddle cakes off of the griddle, leaving a clean surface on the griddle.

In Figs. 11, 17 and 18 the peel plate 91 is provided with a corrugated surface, the corrugations 36 being elevated above and traversing the surface of the peel longitudinally. In this modification longitudinal slots are omitted and the corrugations are relied upon to break the adhesion and surface tension of the cakes. The forward portions of the corrugations and the forward contact edge portion of the peel plate are tapered and blended to a sharp cutting edge 37, which serves to assist in engaging the cakes and guiding them onto the surface of the peel during each cycle of operation.

In Figs. 13 and 20 a suitable number of longitudinal rails 38 are formed by lancing the plate 91 constituting the peel and turning up one edge along each lance. It is also contemplated that both edges may be turned up to form a pair of rails.

In Figs. 12 and 19, the peel is formed by a series of parallel, longitudinal and transversely spaced rails 40, of suitable number, size and cross sectional shape, which are spot welded or suitably fastened to a transverse mounting plate 41. The forward ends of these rails are fastened by welding or other suitable means in transverse spaced relation to each other on a forward transverse griddle contact blade 42. The rails and contact blade are tapered and blended at 43 to a transverse comparatively sharp forward edge.

My invention is applicable for various uses within the spirit thereof, and is not confined to making griddle cakes. For instance it may be used for frying, cooking or processing eggs, egg omelets, hamburger, sausage patties, meat cuts, cakes, and various food ingredients or other articles.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the construction which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the spirit thereof and the scope of the following claim.