MACHINE FOR PUFFING POPCORN AND OTHER GRAINS AND SEEDS

Abstract

The present invention refers to the manufacturing of devices for the production of snacks. Specifically, to the manufacture of devices which allow grains and seeds to increase its size by incorporating air and making them crunchier but less harsh at the same time and more particularly to achieve a grain and seed bursting equipment, which overcomes the resistance that a high viscosity fluid such as sucrose caramel opposes. Structurally, the popping machine for corn and other grains and seeds is characterized by comprising a base structure, on which there is a discharge hopper for collecting the popped product in its lower part, and in the upper part there is a concentric hexagonal burner, a base, which in its central part presents the union of two bolts, attached to a third bolt with draggers which is placed inside the main container with a lid.

Claims

1. Popping machine for corn and other grains and seeds characterized by comprising a base structure, on which a discharge hopper for harvesting the burst product is arranged in its lower part, and in its upper part includes a concentric hexagonal burner, a base, which in its central part presents the union of two bolts, where a third bolt with draggers is attached, which is placed inside the main container with a lid.

2. Popping machine for corn and other grains and seeds, as described in the previous claim, characterized by having a disk with the bolts projected upwards, which is fixed to a geared motor activated thereof, causing the bearing of the draggers in the main container to homogenize the product contained.

3. Popping machine for corn and other grains and seeds, as described in the previous claim, characterized by a base with nails and hinges bent towards the center which have the capability of rotating in a pivoting way, to deposit the product in the discharge hopper to pack or bag it.

4. Popping machine for corn and other grains and seeds, as described in claim 2, characterized by the operation of the bolt with draggers which is by means of the use of an inverted T-shaped bolt, which fits the bolt with the upper projections and when the geared engine is activated, it starts the operation of the draggers, and when the container is tilted, it stays in the main container allowing to stop the equipment's bearing. Once it returns to its original position, it restarts the process.

5. Popping machine for corn and other grains and seeds, as described in the previous claim, characterized by the fact that the draggers are arranged on a central bolt, with 2 at the proximal end meeting each other and 2 other upper bolts placed on a slope.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] FIG. 1 is an exploded view or drawing of the entire popcorn device.

[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates the burner in detail.

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates on its lower side the hole in the container through which the bolt passes. This bolt includes the draggers at its upper end.

[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates the detail of the disc with the peripheral bolts projected upwards and at the opposite end its attachment to the geared motor shaft.

[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates the inverted T-bolt to which a central bolt with the draggers is attached.

[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates the upper bolt to which the draggers are solidly fixed.

[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates the detail of the container lid with the rod that allows the lid to be rotated upwards and the product to be removed after it was burst.

[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates the bass on which the burner and container are supported

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] For the detailed description of the invention, which is the one that gives the enabling character to this patent, we will rely on the figures provided with illustrative, but not restrictive purposes, which are an integral part of the present description.

[0036] FIG. 1 is an exploded view or drawing of the entire popcorn device. Element 1 is the support structure or skeleton of the device. It is formed by vertical profiles 2, horizontal profiles 3 forming the main structure. Immediately, it has profiles 4 attached to the main structure, which because it is in cantilever requires additional supports 5, where the discharge hopper will be supported in which the contents of the container will be emptied for subsequent packaging or bagging

[0037] In one of the modalities, the bursting device has a support (not illustrated) at the bottom of the support structure where the geared motor will be supported to cover the inside of the main structure 1, this support has two side covers (8 and 10), and a rear cover 9. At its top end, the main structure 1 has what could be called a top cover 11, where the base of the burner will be supported 12

[0038] The top cover 1 comprises two holes, a central one 13 and another one loaded towards an edge 14. The first one has the function of allowing the passage of a bolt 18 which at one of its ends, the lower one, will be mechanically connected to the upper end of the geared motor shaft. At the upper end, this bolt ends in a disk with two diametrically opposed vertical bolts near the periphery of the disk. Between these vertical bolts there shall be a separate horizontal bolt, in the middle of which a vertical pin 19 shall be fixed solidly to the upper bolt 16 comprising the lower and upper draggers.

[0039] In the hole 14 loaded towards one of the side edges, it will pass from the bottom to the top of the lid, the tube that conducts the gas that will feed the burner, this is not illustrated in this figure.

[0040] On the upper cover 11, the burner base formed by a laminated sheet is placed. This base is also the support for the container 15. For the burner support, the base has a series of nails projected towards the center at the lower end. To support the container, near its upper end, the burner also has a series of nails and hinges, so that in addition to supporting the container, it has the capacity to pivot, to deposit the product in the discharge hopper and be able to pack or bag it. For this purpose, the container includes a front window with a spillway.

[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates the burner in detail. In order for this burner, to provide the necessary amount of calories from the combustion gases, besides having a dimension very close to the diameter of the container, has two concentric hexagonal rings, thus achieving a more homogeneous heat transfer in the main container 15, having the option of regulating the intensity of the flame by means of a key that regulates the flow of gas to the burners. The aforementioned is possible thanks to the fact that these rings have holes around its periphery where the combustion of the gas will come out in the form of a flame, thus avoiding the carbonization of the product that is contained inside.

[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates on its lower side the hole 20 of the container through which the pin passes at its upper end, comprising the draggers. The container has a flange at the top which is made up of 3 sheets joined in such a way that they have the shape of a funnel, in which it has a decrease in length of its ends, one of them is wider and joined to the container, and another at the opposite end, less wide, as an exit for when the product is finished.

[0043] Likewise, on the opposite side of the product's outlet flange there is a protrusion 22 which consists of a tube which serves as a support and has the capacity to pivot, to deposit the product in the discharge hopper and be able to pack or bag it.

[0044] FIG. 4 illustrates the detail of the disc with the peripheral bolts projected upwards and at the opposite end its connection to the geared motor shaft. Both pins 23 are similar in size and whose end is given in a conical shape and are arranged in such a way that an inverted T-shaped bolt can be incorporated between them, and when the geared motor is activated the mechanism that will allow the correct transfer of heat of the product on the oil in a homogeneous way begins to rotate. The method of assembly with the main container is by means of an independent assembly of the geared motor, since at the end of the popcorn burst process, the inverted bolt may be removed but not the lower pin.

[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates the inverted T-shaped bolt on which a central shaft with the draggers is fixed. This T-shaped bolt performs the function of a device bearing with the draggers, this bolt in its lower part, thanks to its characteristic, fits on the disc with peripheral bolts, and it also has the functionality of, once the bursting of the grains placed in the main container is finished, it allows the emptying of the product, tilting the container, and when it is placed in its natural position it sets again between the lower bolts and consequently, the machine is activated again.

[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates the upper bolt to which the draggers are solidly fixed, at the bottom it is attached to the inverted bolt FIG. 5, in the lower section there is a pair of draggers 24 placed opposite to each other, which will have the function of homogenizing the product that has not yet burst, so that subsequently the bolts 25 placed in the upper part of the pin, which are placed opposite but unevenly, perform their function, homogenizing the product already popped, which will be taking a greater height in the container, these draggers as a whole are going to present the functionality of allowing the incorporation of caramels, which by their rheology, will not present any difficulty when distributing and finishing the bursting of the main product.

[0047] FIG. 7 illustrates the detail of the lid of the container with the rod 26 that allows to turn the lid upwards in order to extract the product after bursting. This lid is circular, but in its secant, it presents a movable tab directed towards the lower part, which when bursting the popcorn, due to the inertia of the popping process of the product, will allow its exit gradually.

[0048] FIG. 8 illustrates the base on which the burner and the container are supported. This base has nails 27 and hinges, projected towards the center, these tabs will allow the correct fastening of the main container, and at the same time have the capacity to pivot, to deposit the product in the discharge hopper and be able to pack or bag it.

[0049] On the other hand, the container has some joint elements, which correspond to other hinge elements which as a whole make possible for the container to be tilted in order to remove the burst grains and seeds.

[0050] The invention has been sufficiently described so that a person with average knowledge in the matter can reproduce and obtain the results mentioned in the present invention. However, any skilled person in the field of technology covered by the present invention may be capable of making modifications not described in this present application; nevertheless, if for the application of these modifications in a given product or in the manufacturing process thereof, the matter requested in the following claims is required, such structures shall be included within the scope of the invention.