RONALD WYNN WILLIAMS
Pilots at County Rd 308, Florence, AL

6280786, Aug 28, 2001

Jun 22, 1998

9/102125

Ronald S. Williams - Florence AL
Ricky L. Goodell - Florence AL
James R. Anthony - Florence AL

Sara Lee Corporation - Winston-Salem NC

A23B 500, A23L 1002, A23L 131

426305

An apparatus for preparing and cooking corn dogs (batter-coated wieners on a stick) which has a receiving bin, a loading apparatus, and a collecting and aligning system for arranging the wieners to receive sticks that form a handle for the finished product. The sticks are inserted into the wieners, and the stick impaled wieners are moved through a coating bin where batter is applied. They then progress to a fry tank containing hot grease where they are cooked. Preliminary heaters are positioned near the loading device and the collection and aligning system to bring the temperatures of the wieners up to around 80. degree. Fahrenheit prior to insertion of the sticks, application of the batter, and introduction to the fryer. The method for utilizing the apparatus is included and enables the product to achieve faster cooking times and higher production by applying heat at at least two locations to the wieners as they move toward the fry tank for cooking.