Popcorn machines and associated methods of manufacture and use are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a popcorn machine includes a housing, and a corn mover and a trough positioned within the housing. The corn mover is rotatably mounted within the trough, and the trough can be fixed relative to the housing. The popcorn machine can further comprise a heat source and an air mover positioned within the housing. In operation, the air mover is configured to direct heated air from the heat source toward corn kernels moved through the trough by the corn mover.

A popcorn popping machine which pops popcorn in batches/cycles. A sensor on a popcorn popping machine senses pops of popcorn in the kettle. A system computer controller monitors the rate of popping sensed by the sensor and uses the beginning of the decline in the rate of popping as a basis for controlling heat to the kettle during a given cycle/batch. Activation of the dump mechanism, which terminates the popping cycle/batch, is initiated when the computer controller detects a predetermined programmed minimum pop count rate after the heat has been turned OFF.

A popcorn popping machine which pops popcorn in batches/cycles. A sensor on a popcorn popping machine senses pops of popcorn in the kettle. A system computer controller monitors the rate of popping sensed by the sensor and uses the beginning of the decline in the rate of popping as a basis for controlling heat to the kettle during a given cycle/batch. Activation of the dump mechanism, which terminates the popping cycle/batch, is initiated when the computer controller detects a predetermined programmed minimum pop count rate after the heat has been turned OFF.

A popcorn popper configured to cook popcorn includes a vessel and an electric heating element which heats the vessel. A vibration element vibrates the vessel and a controller controls the heating element and the vibration element. A temperature sensor is in communication with the controller such that the controller can receive temperature readings from the temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of the vessel. The controller activating the heating element to heat the vessel which contains the popcorn until the temperature sensor indicates that a first temperature has been reached. The controller, based on readings from the temperature sensor, maintains the vessel at a second temperature by controlling a power setting of the heating element and the controller activates the vibration element to vibrate the vessel which thereby vibrates the popcorn. The controller after maintaining the vessel at the second temperature, reduces the power of the heating element.

A popcorn popper configured to cook popcorn includes a vessel and an electric heating element which heats the vessel. A vibration element vibrates the vessel and a controller controls the heating element and the vibration element. A temperature sensor is in communication with the controller such that the controller can receive temperature readings from the temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of the vessel. The controller activating the heating element to heat the vessel which contains the popcorn until the temperature sensor indicates that a first temperature has been reached. The controller, based on readings from the temperature sensor, maintains the vessel at a second temperature by controlling a power setting of the heating element and the controller activates the vibration element to vibrate the vessel which thereby vibrates the popcorn. The controller after maintaining the vessel at the second temperature, reduces the power of the heating element.

A system for popping popcorn includes a housing, a container positioned in the housing, a cooking vessel removably supported in the housing and containing unpopped popcorn kernels, wherein the cooking vessel comprises a ferromagnetic material, a coil that creates an oscillating magnetic field that interacts with the ferromagnetic material of the cooking vessel and generates an amount of heat in the cooking vessel, and a separate receiving vessel for receiving popped popcorn positioned adjacent the cooking vessel, wherein the receiving vessel is configured to move relative the cooking vessel.

A system for popping popcorn includes a housing, a container positioned in the housing, a cooking vessel removably supported in the housing and containing unpopped popcorn kernels, wherein the cooking vessel comprises a ferromagnetic material, a coil that creates an oscillating magnetic field that interacts with the ferromagnetic material of the cooking vessel and generates an amount of heat in the cooking vessel, and a separate receiving vessel for receiving popped popcorn positioned adjacent the cooking vessel, wherein the receiving vessel is configured to move relative the cooking vessel.

A system for popping popcorn includes a housing, a container positioned in the housing, a cartridge containing unpopped popcorn kernels removably supported in the container, wherein the cartridge includes ferromagnetic material, a coil that creates an oscillating magnetic field that interacts with the ferromagnetic layer of the cartridge and generates an amount of heat in the cartridge, a vibrator coupled to the container for vibrating the container and the cartridge, and a receiving vessel for receiving popped popcorn positioned adjacent the container.

A system for popping popcorn includes a housing, a container positioned in the housing, a cartridge containing unpopped popcorn kernels removably supported in the container, wherein the cartridge includes ferromagnetic material, a coil that creates an oscillating magnetic field that interacts with the ferromagnetic layer of the cartridge and generates an amount of heat in the cartridge, a vibrator coupled to the container for vibrating the container and the cartridge, and a receiving vessel for receiving popped popcorn positioned adjacent the container.

A base assembly integrated into an appliance including a lower frame and an upper operating component. A plurality of inter-assembleable and planar shaped members include each of a bottom and upwardly supported and interconnected front, back and sides, these collectively defining an enclosure having an upper surface adapted to support the operating component and a lower surface adapted to secure upon the lower frame. Mounting hardware including at least a plurality of threaded fasteners secures the bottom to locations along the front and back. Pluralities of vertically spaced tabs and opposing vertically spaced slots are configured along each of opposite edges of the sides and along each of first and second pairs of opposite edge extending brackets secured to each of the front and back and which overlap the side edges. The planar shaped members and mounting hardware are adapted to being shipped in a first flat-packed arrangement and subsequently assembled on site in a second use arrangement.