Process for moving food objects through a frying tank

DETAILED DESCRIPTION We claim: 1.
A process for moving small food objects through a hot liquid in a frying tank by a pusher bar conveyor having spaced pusher bars, comprising: heating the liquid in the tank to a frying temperature and creating liquid currents in the liquid; placing the objects into the liquid in front of the bars of the conveyor; and intermittently moving the bars at a generally constant speed through the liquid, for creating repetitive wave motions in the liquid to push the objects toward the next forward bar and overcoming the heat created liquid currents in the liquid thereby moving the objects in a straight path through the liquid to avoid misalignment.
2.
The process of claim 1, said step of intermittently moving the bars including creating an eddy pulling current behind the next most forward bar to draw the objects forward toward the next most forward bar with each intermittent motion of the bars.




Description:
DESCRIPTION 1.
Technical Field This invention pertains to doughnut frying machines and, more particularly to improvements in conveyors and drive mechanisms for such frying machines.
In addition, the invention pertains to methods and apparatus for moving objects to be fried through a hot liquid in a frying tank.
2.
Background Art Frying machines, particularly those for frying small doughnuts or other food objects, must be easy for the operator to use and to clean at the end of a frying operation.
In addition, these machines tend to be sold in high volumes, at low cost and must have a minimum number of components to be marketable.
A machine is disclosed in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,346,649 which accomplishes some of these objectives.
This invention is an improvement of the machine in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,346,649.
A difficulty in moving objects to be fried through the hot frying liquid of a frying tank is that the heating element at the bottom of the tank creates eddy currents in the liquid which causes the objects being moved through the liquid to circulate in irregular paths