Charles D Ferguson

46466274, Mar 3, 1987

Apr 29, 1985

6/728208

William Bartfield - Sherman Oaks CA
Charles L. Ferguson - Deerfield NH

Prize Frize, Inc. - Palm Springs CA

A47J 3712

99330

Apparatus and method for preparing hot food products in portions of predetermined size by rehydrating a dehydrated food product to provide a dough that can be shaped and heated. The apparatus includes means for storing bags of dehydrated product and for opening individual bags as needed to maintain a desired level of dehydrated product in a hopper. Rehydration means are provided, including a metering chamber to meter a portion of the dehydrated food product, and a rehydration head to uniformly wet the dehydrated food product to form a coherent dough. The dough is passed through a forming means to form it into predetermined pieces that are extruded from a forming chamber, and a wire knife passes linearly across the forming chamber to separate the extruded product therefrom. A product transfer conveyor is provided to convey the shaped dough pieces to a fryer vessel in which heated frying oil is provided. The fryer vessel is evacuated when the fryer is not in use, and a recirculation system is provided to periodically recirculate heated frying oil to the frying vessel to maintain it at an elevated temperature and ready for use.

46180737, Oct 21, 1986

Apr 29, 1985

6/728523

William Bartfield - Sherman Oaks CA
Charles L. Ferguson - Manchester NH

G07F 1112

221 11

A cup dispenser for housing a plurality of stacks of nested cups in side-by-side relationship and including a dispensing device to sequentially dispense cups from one of the stacks in a dispensing column. A pair of helical feed coils are provided to advance the stacks of cups sequentially to the dispensing column. A support in the form of a pivotable platform is provided below the dispensing column to receive and support the stacks as they enter the dispensing column and drop through a dispensing column opening in order to avoid damage to the outwardly extending lip of the lowermost cup by virtue of the weight of the stack. The support is particularly suitable to catch falling stacks of cups that include packaged materials that are provided with the cup, such as seasonings or condiments carried in the recess at the base of the cups.