Self Contained Popcorn Popper

Abstract

An improved popcorn popper ( 10 ) has effluent filtration structure to treat the oil laden vapor and steam effluent from popping popcorn within the popper and with discharge of effluent having less than 5 milligrams of particulates per cubic meter of effluent discharged directly into the area in which the popper ( 10 ) is located. There is no need for external hoods or for external ducting of effluent to outside the area and facility in which the popcorn is popped. The filtering is carried out within the popper ( 10 ). A fire suppression system is provided to handle fires even within the kettle ( 14 ). Methods are disclosed.

1 . A self-contained popcorn popper for use in an area, comprising:
 a cabinet including a popcorn receiving chamber having a top wall;   a popcorn popping kettle assembly including a kettle and a kettle top located entirely within the popcorn receiving chamber and spaced from the top wall thereof;   a popped popcorn bin in the popcorn receiving chamber for receiving popped popcorn from the kettle;   a filter passage having an inlet located below the top wall of the popcorn receiving chamber so as to be located inside the popcorn receiving chamber of the cabinet, said inlet being in fluid communication with said kettle assembly;   a plurality of filtration stations within the filter passage for removing particulates from a vapor effluent issuing from the popping of popcorn in said kettle; and   a blower for sucking vapor effluent into said inlet and through said passage so as to discharge filtered effluent into said area located outside of said cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . A popper as in  claim 1  wherein said inlet, passage and blower are contained in said cabinet. 
     
     
         3 . A popper as in  claim 1  wherein the blower is located entirely outside the popcorn receiving chamber. 
     
     
         4 . A popper as in  claim 2  wherein said blower includes an effluent outlet discharging into said cabinet and said effluent being vented outwardly of said cabinet into said area. 
     
     
         5 . A popper as in  claim 4  wherein said inlet is located in an upper portion of said cabinet and said blower is located in a lower portion of said cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . A popper as in  claim 2  wherein said cabinet has two opposite sides which are each open for operator access therein. 
     
     
         7 . A popper as in  claim 1  wherein said cabinet has two opposite sides which are each open for operator access therein. 
     
     
         8 . A popper as in  claim 1  wherein said inlet comprises a vapor oil baffle. 
     
     
         9 . A popper as in  claim 8  wherein said plurality of filtration stations comprises first and second filters, sequentially disposed in said passage downstream of said baffle, said first filter filtering salt and grease particulates from said effluent after passage thereof past said baffle and said second filter filtering smoke particulates from said effluent downstream of said first filter. 
     
     
         10 . A popper as in  claim 1  wherein said inlet of said filter passage is unconnected from said kettle and said kettle top. 
     
     
         11 . A popper as in  claim 1  wherein said kettle top is moveable relative to said inlet. 
     
     
         12 . A popcorn popper for use in an area, comprising:
 a cabinet including a popcorn receiving chamber having a top wall;   a popcorn popping kettle assembly including a kettle and a kettle top located entirely within said popcorn receiving chamber and spaced from the top wall thereof;   a filter passage with an inlet located in an upper portion of said popcorn receiving chamber below the top wall, said inlet being in fluid communication with said kettle assembly;   a plurality of filtration stations in said passage; and   a blower operably coupled to said passage for sucking vapor effluent from said kettle into said inlet and through said filtration stations;   said blower having a discharge outlet for discharging filtered vapor effluent into said area located outside of said cabinet.   
     
     
         13 . A popper as in  claim 12  wherein the blower is located entirely outside of the popcorn receiving chamber. 
     
     
         14 . A popper as in  claim 12  wherein said passage inlet comprises a vapor oil separating baffle for receiving oil laden vapor and separating therefrom oil therein. 
     
     
         15 . A popper as in  claim 14  wherein a first filtration station downstream of said baffle in said passage comprises a particulate filter for removing grease and salt particles from said effluent. 
     
     
         16 . A popper as in  claim 15  wherein a second filtration station downstream of said first filtration station in said passage comprises a filter for removing smoke components from said effluent. 
     
     
         17 . A popper as in  claim 12  wherein said kettle has a lid and further including an oil baffle in said lid, said baffle being open for selective passage of a fire suppressant agent into said kettle. 
     
     
         18 . A popper as in  claim 12  wherein said inlet of said filter passage is unconnected from said kettle and said kettle top. 
     
     
         19 . A popper as in  claim 12  wherein said kettle top is moveable relative to said inlet. 
     
     
         20 . A popcorn pass-through popcorn popper for use in an area, comprising:
 a cabinet having two opposite open sides providing access to a popcorn receiving chamber having a top wall;   a popcorn popping assembly including a kettle and a kettle top located entirely within said popcorn receiving chamber and spaced from the top wall thereof;   a vapor effluent treating passage for filtering vapors issuing from the popping of popcorn in said kettle assembly during a popping operation and for discharging filtered effluent into the environment in which said popper is located;   an inlet of said vapor effluent treating passage being disposed in an upper portion of said popcorn receiving chamber and below the top wall, said inlet being in fluid communication with said kettle assembly;   a plurality of filtration stations in said passage; and   a blower for sucking effluent into said inlet and through said passage so as to discharge filtered effluent into said area located outside of said cabinet.   
     
     
         21 . A popper as in  claim 20  wherein said passage and blower are disposed within said cabinet. 
     
     
         22 . A popper as in  claim 20  wherein the blower is located entirely outside of the popcorn receiving chamber. 
     
     
         23 . A popper as in  claim 20  wherein said blower has an outlet disposed for discharging effluent from said passage into said cabinet. 
     
     
         24 . A popper as in  claim 20  wherein said inlet of said vapor effluent treating passage is unconnected from said kettle and said kettle top. 
     
     
         25 . A popper as in  claim 20  wherein said kettle top is moveable relative to said inlet.